NFL+ and NFL Sunday Ticket both provide access to NFL football, but they solve very different problems.
NFL+ is primarily designed for local and national games on mobile devices, NFL Network, audio, preseason coverage and replays, while NFL Sunday Ticket specializes in out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
The biggest difference is therefore not simply price. It is which games you can actually watch live.
NFL+ vs NFL Sunday Ticket at a Glance
| Feature | NFL+ | NFL+ Premium | NFL Sunday Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local live games | Yes, phone/tablet | Yes, phone/tablet | No |
| National prime-time games | Yes, phone/tablet | Yes, phone/tablet | No |
| Out-of-market Sunday afternoon games | No | No | Yes |
| NFL Network | Yes | Yes | No standalone replacement |
| NFL RedZone | No | Yes | Optional bundle/add-on |
| Full game replays | No | Yes | Focused on live Sunday Ticket games |
| Condensed replays | No | Yes | Not the main feature |
| All-22 coaches film | No | Yes | No |
| Out-of-market preseason | Yes | Yes | No |
| Postseason live | Local/national on mobile | Local/national on mobile | No |
| Watch eligible live games on TV | Limited by NFL+ restrictions | RedZone/replays supported; live local/prime-time restrictions remain | Yes |
| 2026 price | $6.99/month or $49.99/year | $14.99/month or $99.99/season | Varies by plan and customer status |
The NFL currently lists NFL+ at $6.99 per month or $49.99 annually, while NFL+ Premium costs $14.99 per month or $99.99 for the season.
NFL Sunday Ticket pricing is more complicated because YouTube offers different rates for new and returning customers, standalone subscriptions and YouTube TV subscribers.
What Is NFL+?
NFL+ is the league’s own streaming subscription for viewers in the United States.
According to the NFL’s official explanation of NFL+ and NFL+ Premium, the standard NFL+ plan includes:
- Live local regular-season games on phones and tablets
- Live nationally televised and prime-time games on phones and tablets
- Live postseason games available under the same mobile restrictions
- NFL Network
- Live out-of-market preseason games
- Home, away and national radio broadcasts
- NFL programming and NFL Films content
- Highlights
NFL+ is therefore useful for viewers who primarily watch on a phone or tablet and do not need every out-of-market Sunday game.
NFL+ Price in 2026
The current standard pricing is:
- $6.99 per month
- $49.99 per year
Taxes and third-party billing charges can vary.
What Does NFL+ Premium Add?
NFL+ Premium includes everything in the basic plan and adds several important features:
- NFL RedZone
- Full game replays
- Condensed game replays
- All-22 coaches film
- NFL Pro
The current price is:
- $14.99 per month
- $99.99 per season
NFL RedZone is particularly significant because it provides live Sunday afternoon whip-around coverage across the league.
However, upgrading to Premium does not turn NFL+ into NFL Sunday Ticket.
The NFL explicitly states that NFL Sunday Ticket is not included with either NFL+ or NFL+ Premium.
What Is NFL Sunday Ticket?
NFL Sunday Ticket is designed for fans who want to watch Sunday afternoon regular-season games that are not being broadcast in their local market.
For example, a Buffalo Bills fan living in California may be unable to receive many Bills Sunday afternoon games through their local CBS or FOX station. Sunday Ticket fills that out-of-market gap.
YouTube’s official NFL Sunday Ticket documentation states that the package covers Sunday afternoon regular-season games that are unavailable through local broadcasts in the viewer’s area.
Sunday Ticket can be purchased in two main ways:
- As an add-on to an eligible YouTube TV subscription
- As a standalone subscription through YouTube Primetime Channels
You do not need YouTube TV if you purchase the standalone Primetime Channels version.
What Games Does NFL Sunday Ticket Include?
NFL Sunday Ticket primarily covers:
Out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season games on CBS and FOX.
That distinction matters.
Sunday Ticket does not function as an all-inclusive NFL subscription.
The standalone Sunday Ticket package generally does not include:
- Games broadcast locally in your market
- Sunday Night Football
- Monday Night Football
- Thursday Night Football
- Most digital-exclusive games
- Preseason coverage
- Postseason games
- The Super Bowl
YouTube specifically notes that locally televised, nationally broadcast, digital-exclusive, preseason and postseason games fall outside the core standalone Sunday Ticket package.
That is why someone trying to stream every NFL game without cable will generally need additional services beyond Sunday Ticket. Our NFL live streaming guide for every network and game type breaks down those additional requirements.
NFL Sunday Ticket Price in 2026
Pricing depends on whether you are a new or returning subscriber and whether you purchase through YouTube TV or YouTube directly.
As of September 2026, YouTube currently advertises:
| Subscriber | YouTube TV Add-on | Standalone on YouTube |
|---|---|---|
| New Sunday Ticket customer | $240/season | $240/season |
| Returning customer | $378/season | $480/season |
YouTube also offers installment options in eligible locations.
If you purchase Sunday Ticket through YouTube TV, you must maintain the required active YouTube TV subscription to continue using the add-on.
Promotional prices can change, and YouTube sometimes offers separate discounts through partners, YouTube Premium, ID.me or other eligibility programs. Check the price shown on your account before purchasing.
NFL+ vs Sunday Ticket: The Biggest Difference
The easiest way to understand these services is to look at where the game is being shown.
NFL+ focuses on your local and national games
If the game is available through your local market or a nationally televised NFL broadcast, NFL+ may provide mobile access subject to its live-game restrictions.
Sunday Ticket focuses on games outside your market
If a Sunday afternoon CBS or FOX matchup is not being shown in your local area, Sunday Ticket is designed to give you access to it.
That means these services are largely complementary rather than interchangeable.
Can NFL+ Replace NFL Sunday Ticket?
Not if your goal is to watch a specific out-of-market team’s Sunday afternoon games live.
NFL+ does not include the complete Sunday Ticket package. The NFL states this directly in its support documentation.
Suppose you live in Miami but follow the Seattle Seahawks. If a Seahawks Sunday afternoon game is not airing on your local CBS or FOX affiliate, standard NFL+ does not suddenly unlock that out-of-market broadcast.
Sunday Ticket is the service designed for that situation.
NFL+ Premium may still let you watch the replay afterward, but that is different from watching the full game live.
Does NFL Sunday Ticket Include NFL RedZone?
RedZone can be added to Sunday Ticket, but the services are not inherently the same product.
YouTube offers NFL RedZone as an optional Sunday Ticket bundle. YouTube TV customers can also access RedZone through its Sports Plus offering without necessarily purchasing Sunday Ticket.
The difference is straightforward:
- Sunday Ticket: full broadcasts of eligible out-of-market games.
- RedZone: jumps among Sunday afternoon games and focuses on scoring opportunities, touchdowns and important moments.
NFL+ Premium already includes NFL RedZone, which makes it an attractive option for viewers who want league-wide Sunday action but do not need to watch one out-of-market game from beginning to end.
NFL+ vs Sunday Ticket for Watching on TV
This is another major distinction.
NFL+ restricts live local and prime-time regular-season and postseason games to phones and tablets because of broadcast-rights limitations.
NFL+ Premium allows supported connected devices for features such as RedZone and game replays, but upgrading does not remove the phone/tablet restriction from eligible live local and prime-time games.
NFL Sunday Ticket, by contrast, is designed for normal television viewing through supported YouTube and YouTube TV apps in addition to mobile and browser access.
For people planning to watch most games on a large television, this difference can be substantial.
Which Service Fits Different NFL Fans?
You mainly follow your local team
NFL+ may cover many of the games available locally or nationally, especially if watching on a phone or tablet is acceptable.
An antenna or another service may still be more appropriate for television viewing.
You follow a team that is outside your local market
NFL Sunday Ticket is the more relevant product because its main purpose is unlocking eligible out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
You mainly want NFL RedZone
NFL+ Premium includes RedZone without requiring a complete live TV subscription or Sunday Ticket.
You want replays and coaches film
NFL+ Premium is the stronger fit because it includes full replays, condensed games and All-22 footage.
You want every NFL game live
Neither service alone provides everything.
A complete setup can require some combination of local networks, ESPN/ABC, NBC or Peacock, Prime Video, Netflix, NFL Network and Sunday Ticket depending on the schedule.
Do You Need Both NFL+ Premium and Sunday Ticket?
Some fans can benefit from having both, but there is significant overlap in the broader NFL experience.
A combination of Sunday Ticket + NFL+ Premium gives you:
- Out-of-market Sunday afternoon games
- NFL RedZone
- Full and condensed replays
- All-22 coaches film
- NFL Network
- Game audio
- Out-of-market preseason games
However, even that combination does not automatically solve every live broadcast requirement.
Prime Video exclusives, Netflix games and other network-specific broadcasts can still require separate access.
Before subscribing to both, identify the specific games and features you actually need.
FAQs
Is NFL Sunday Ticket included with NFL+ Premium?
No. NFL Sunday Ticket is a separate subscription distributed through YouTube and YouTube TV. NFL+ Premium includes RedZone and replays but not Sunday Ticket.
Can I watch out-of-market games live with NFL+?
NFL+ includes live out-of-market preseason games, but it does not provide the complete out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season package offered by Sunday Ticket.
Is NFL RedZone included with NFL+ Premium?
Yes. NFL RedZone is included with NFL+ Premium along with full and condensed replays, All-22 coaches film and NFL Pro.
Can I buy NFL Sunday Ticket without YouTube TV?
Yes. NFL Sunday Ticket is available as a standalone YouTube Primetime Channel. A YouTube TV subscription is only required when you choose the YouTube TV add-on version.
Does NFL Sunday Ticket include playoff games?
The standalone Sunday Ticket package is centered on out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season games. Postseason broadcasts are not part of the standard Sunday Ticket coverage and require the appropriate national broadcaster or streaming service.
Final Takeaway
NFL+ and NFL Sunday Ticket should not be treated as competing versions of the same subscription.
NFL+ is an inexpensive way to get NFL Network, mobile access to eligible local and prime-time games, preseason coverage, audio and other league content. NFL+ Premium adds RedZone and a strong replay package.
NFL Sunday Ticket serves a much narrower but important purpose: watching eligible out-of-market Sunday afternoon games live.
For a fan who follows a local team, NFL+ may provide more relevant value. For someone living outside the broadcast market of the team they follow, Sunday Ticket solves a problem NFL+ cannot.
Fans who want RedZone, replays and out-of-market full games may find value in using both.
