If you want to watch the NFL Thanksgiving games for free, there are plenty of ways to do it—even if you’re stuck with the in-laws. All three games are being broadcast on network television, so if you’re watching from the comfort of your home, chances are you can pick up the channels with your smart TV or an HD antenna. But if you’ve cut the cord or are looking to stream online, it gets a little more complicated. Not every live TV streaming service offers local channels, and availability can vary within each service varies based on where you’re located. Here’s everything you need to know to live stream NFL Thanksgiving games.
| HOW TO WATCH NFL THANKSGIVING | |
| HULU WITH LIVE TV | TRY NOW |
| SLING TV | TRY NOW |
| FUBOTV | TRY NOW |
| AT&T TV NOW | TRY NOW |
NFL Thanksgiving games live stream: How to watch for free
All of the major TV streaming services offer at least a couple of the major broadcast channels, but not all of them are available live. In those cases, you’ll often get an on-demand version of the channel that lets you watch your favorite shows the morning after they air. Before you choose any of these services, you’ll want to use the included link to check the channel availability in your area. Thankfully, each service comes with a free trial, so you can use the NFL Thanksgiving games as a test run.
1) Hulu with Live TV
- Cost: $54.99 per month ($60.99 per month NoAds)
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, LG, and iOS and Android devices
- Hulu local channels: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, the CW (check your local availability here)
What separates Hulu with Live TV from competitors—besides offering six ESPN channels, seven if you include SEC Network—is that each subscription comes with free access to Hulu’s on-demand library. That means that in addition to more than 55 channels of live TV, you can watch most of your favorite shows on-demand, along with movies, documentaries, anime, and Hulu original series. (Here’s the complete list of Hulu Live TV channels.)
2) Sling TV
- Cost: $30-$45 per month ($10 off first month)
- Sling TV devices: Amazon Fire TVs, Android Fire Stick, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, Oculus Go, Samsung, LG, Portal TV, Air TV, and iOS and Android devices
- Sling TV local channels: NBC, Fox (check your local availability here)
Sling TV is typically our top pick for streaming NFL games, but its lackluster options when it comes to local channels makes it difficult to recommend for NFL Thanksgiving games. That said, it’s still the cheapest way to watch NFL RedZone and gives you the most bang for your buck. Right now, Sling TV is also offering new subscribers a free HD antenna, so you can pick up all the games you’re missing the old-fashioned way too. (Here’s a complete guide to Sling TV channels.)
3) FuboTV
- Cost: $54.99-$79.99 per month (after one week free trial)
- FuboTV devices: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV, Samsung, iOS and Android devices
- FuboTV local channels: Fox, NBC, CBS (check local availability here)
FuboTV is a streaming service that caters specifically to sports fans, with an emphasis on international soccer. In addition to getting access to all four major broadcast channels, a standard package includes NFL Network, which you might need to watch Thursday Night Football, and it’s easy to add NFL RedZone to your package. ESPN is notably missing, but in its place, you’ll get regional sports networks, Big Ten Network, BeIn Sports, and FS1 and FS2. You’ll also get free three-day replay for games and 30 hours of cloud DVR storage. (Here’s the complete FuboTV channels list.)
4) AT&T TV Now
- Cost: $65-$135 per month
- Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
There’s a good chance that you’re already looking to AT&T for your wireless needs. The second you sign up you’ll gain instant access to 45+ channels, including local channels and even free HBO on PLUS and MAX channel suites. Plus, it comes with CloudDVR which lets you record up to 20 hours of TV per month. One account works on two devices, but you can add more devices for only $5.
5) YouTube TV
- Cost: $49.99 per month (free trial)
- YouTube TV devices: Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, Samsung, LG, Vizio, Sharp, Hisense, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
Like Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV offers only one basic channel package, and it’s loaded with sports options, including everything you need to stream NFL Thanksgiving games. You’ll also get a couple of college sports networks and specialty channels like NBA TV and MLB Network. If you have roommates, you’ll be glad to know that you can have up to six accounts per household, and each comes with unlimited cloud DVR. (You can find the full list of YouTube TV channels here.)
6) CBS All Access
Cost: $5.99 per month, $9.99 per month Commercial Free (one week free trial)
Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Android and Android TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Facebook Portal, Xbox One, Playstation 4, Samsung, LG, and Vizio smart TVs
If you’re having trouble picking up CBS in particular, you can always add CBS All Access to your monthly bills. While it’s best known as the exclusive home of Star Trek: Discovery, CBS All Access also lets you watch your local CBS affiliate live and watch all of its shows, both old and new, on-demand. You can also add CBS All Access as an Amazon Prime channel, which comes with a free seven-day trial.
New to cord-cutting? Here are our picks for the best movie streaming sites of 2018 and free live TV apps and channels. If you’re looking for a specific channel, here’s how to watch HBO, Showtime, Starz, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, AMC, FX, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, FS1, TBS, TNT, Golf Channel, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Bravo, Lifetime, Discovery, PBS, the CW, BBC, CSPAN, NBA TV, MTV, the Weather Channel, and NFL RedZone without cable, as well as free movies on YouTube. If you’re on the move, here’s how to watch Fox Sports Go and live stream NBC Sports.
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