Sports Streaming · Tool Face-Off

NFL Sunday Ticket vs DirecTV Stream

Quick answer

NFL Sunday Ticket is the go-to for hardcore football fans who need every out-of-market game, while DirecTV Stream is a broader live TV replacement that happens to carry sports — pick based on whether your obsession is football-specific or channel-wide.

Our pick

NFL Sunday Ticket

Every out-of-market NFL game, all season long

3.7★

DirecTV Stream

Live TV replacement with a solid sports backbone

3.7★

Starting Price

~$349/season (YouTube TV add-on) or ~$449 standalone

~$64.99/mo (Entertainment tier)

Out-of-Market NFL Games

Yes — all Sunday afternoon games

No — local/national broadcasts only

Monday Night Football

No (ESPN/ABC exclusive)

Yes (ESPN included in most tiers)

Thursday Night Football

No (Prime Video exclusive)

Partial (Amazon channel add-on available)

Total Live Channels

0 (sports-only, no live TV channels)

65–140+ depending on tier

Local CBS/NBC/FOX Affiliates

Yes (most markets)

RedZone Add-On

Yes — included in premium tier (~$100 extra standalone)

Yes — available as Sports Pack add-on (~$14/mo)

Simultaneous Streams

Up to 2 (standalone) / depends on YouTube TV plan

Up to 20 (Unlimited tier)

DVR / Cloud Storage

Limited replay, no true DVR

Unlimited cloud DVR

Contract Required

Season-long commitment (annual)

No contract on streaming plan

Device Support

Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Android, iOS, web

Free Trial

5-day free trial

NFL Sunday Ticket

Ease of Use★★★★☆

NFL Coverage★★★★★

Device Support★★★★½

Value for Money★★★☆☆

Streaming Quality★★★★½

Non-Football Content★☆☆☆☆

DirecTV Stream

Ease of Use★★★½☆

NFL Coverage★★★☆☆

Device Support★★★★☆

Value for Money★★★☆☆

Streaming Quality★★★★☆

Non-Football Content★★★★½

Worth knowing

NFL Sunday Ticket moved from DirecTV satellite to YouTube TV/Primetime Channels in 2023 — a massive shake-up for football fans.
DirecTV Stream still carries ESPN, FS1, NFL Network, and regional sports networks in higher tiers — making it a genuine multi-sport hub.
NFL Sunday Ticket covers roughly 100+ out-of-market games per season; that's nearly every Sunday slate minus your local blackouts.
DirecTV Stream's top-tier 'Ultimate' plan can exceed $150/mo, making it pricier than many traditional cable packages.
NFL Sunday Ticket offers a student discount (~$109/season) that makes it genuinely competitive in value.

NFL Sunday Ticket used to be DirecTV's crown jewel for 29 years — then Google swooped in and bought the rights, making DirecTV and Sunday Ticket literal exes who now compete for your wallet.

If you want

You're a diehard fan whose team is always out-of-market

Nothing else gets you every Sunday afternoon game — Sunday Ticket is the only legal streaming option for full out-of-market coverage.

→ Pick NFL Sunday Ticket

If you want

You want to cut the cable cord entirely and keep all your sports

DirecTV Stream covers NFL Network, ESPN, local channels, and regional sports — it's a full TV replacement, not just a football patch.

→ Pick DirecTV Stream

If you want

You want NFL RedZone without paying for a full TV service

Sunday Ticket's premium bundle includes RedZone and is self-contained — no bloated channel packages required.

→ Pick NFL Sunday Ticket