San Francisco 49ers
Updated June 2, 2026 · 2026 NFL season coverage
How to Watch the San Francisco 49ers in 2026
Fubo carries 14 of 20 San Francisco 49ers games this season
Fubo is the single most comprehensive streaming option for San Francisco 49ers fans without cable. It carries FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC/ESPN, and NFL Network — every major broadcast network that airs NFL games — plus offers a free trial for new subscribers.
For games not on Fubo's networks (Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix exclusives), you'll need additional subscriptions — covered in detail below.
The San Francisco 49ers are an NFC West team in the National Football League, playing 20 games during the 2026 season — 3 preseason and 17 regular-season matchups across roughly six broadcast partners. Most San Francisco 49ers games this season air on FOX (8 games), CBS (3 games), and NBC (2 games). Thursday Night Football is streamed exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix carries a small number of exclusive games (typically Christmas Day and select international fixtures), and Monday Night Football airs on ABC or ESPN. For viewers without cable, Fubo is the most comprehensive single-subscription option — it carries the major over-the-air networks (FOX, CBS, NBC) plus ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network in most US markets. Fans in San Francisco can also watch local broadcasts free over-the-air with an HD antenna.
Streaming Services That Carry the San Francisco 49ers
Five live-TV streaming services carry NFL games — each with different channel lineups, prices, and trade-offs. Here's how they compare for San Francisco 49ers fans:
Fubo
Recommended for cord cuttersFubo offers the broadest channel lineup for NFL fans without cable. It carries FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC/ESPN, and NFL Network — covering Sunday afternoon games, Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, and most international/special broadcasts. Sports-focused interface with cloud DVR included.
- Most comprehensive NFL channel lineup of any single streaming service
- Free trial available for new subscribers
- Cloud DVR included for recording games
- Multi-screen viewing on phones, tablets, smart TVs, streaming devices
YouTube TV
Carries FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. Also includes NFL Sunday Ticket as an add-on subscription — the only way to watch out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. The most popular live-TV streaming service overall, with strong DVR and multi-stream features.
Hulu + Live TV
Carries the major networks (FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC, ESPN). Doesn't include NFL Network in the base plan but does in higher tiers. Bundle includes Hulu's on-demand library plus Disney+ and ESPN+.
Sling TV
Cheapest option but the most limited. Sling Blue carries NBC, FOX, NFL Network in some markets. Sling Orange carries ESPN. Neither carries CBS, which is a significant gap for San Francisco 49ers fans during CBS broadcast weeks.
DirecTV Stream
Premium pricing but the most cable-like experience. Carries all major NFL networks. The successor to AT&T TV; aimed at viewers willing to pay more for full channel parity with traditional cable.
Watch by Broadcast Network
San Francisco 49ers games this season are distributed across multiple broadcasters. Here's how to access each:
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FOX (8 San Francisco 49ers games this season)
FOX is available free over-the-air with an HD antenna in most US markets. For cord cutters: Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling Blue.
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CBS (3 San Francisco 49ers games this season)
CBS is available free over-the-air with an HD antenna. For cord cutters: Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Paramount+ (with Showtime tier).
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NBC (2 San Francisco 49ers games this season)
NBC is free over-the-air with an HD antenna. Sunday Night Football also streams live on Peacock. For cord cutters: Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV.
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Netflix (1 San Francisco 49ers game this season)
Netflix-exclusive NFL games (typically Christmas Day) require a Netflix subscription. Not available on any live-TV streaming service or cable provider.
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ABC/ESPN (1 San Francisco 49ers game this season)
ABC is free over-the-air with an HD antenna. ESPN airs the Monday Night Football simulcast and is available via Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling Orange, and ESPN+ (in some cases).
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Prime Video (1 San Francisco 49ers game this season)
Thursday Night Football is exclusive to Amazon Prime Video. A Prime Video subscription is required.
How to Watch San Francisco 49ers Games by Type
Sunday Afternoon Games (CBS / FOX)
The majority of San Francisco 49ers regular-season games — 11 of 17 regular-season matchups — air Sunday afternoons on CBS or FOX, depending on the opponent's conference. These are free over-the-air with an HD antenna and available on Fubo, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV. Out-of-market Sunday afternoon games (those not broadcast in your local TV market) require NFL Sunday Ticket, available via YouTube TV as an add-on.
Sunday Night Football (NBC)
The San Francisco 49ers appear on Sunday Night Football 2 times this season. SNF airs on NBC (free over-the-air with an antenna), with simultaneous streaming on Peacock. Also available via Fubo, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV.
Monday Night Football (ABC / ESPN)
The San Francisco 49ers are scheduled for 1 Monday Night Football game. MNF simulcasts on ABC (free over-the-air) and ESPN (Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling Orange, or ESPN+ in some cases).
Thursday Night Football (Amazon Prime Video)
The San Francisco 49ers play 1 Thursday Night Football game this season. TNF is exclusive to Amazon Prime Video — no cable provider, antenna, or other streaming service carries it. A standalone Prime Video subscription works (you don't need full Amazon Prime).
Netflix-Exclusive Games
The San Francisco 49ers have 1 Netflix-exclusive game this season — typically a Christmas Day fixture or special broadcast. Watching requires a Netflix subscription; the game won't be available on any cable provider, antenna, or other streaming platform.
NFL's Own Streaming Services
NFL Sunday Ticket
NFL Sunday Ticket is the only way to watch out-of-market Sunday afternoon games — meaning San Francisco 49ers games when you live outside the team's local TV market. Sunday Ticket is exclusive to YouTube TV (as an add-on) and YouTube Primetime Channels (standalone). It does not include Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, or Thursday Night Football, which are available through their respective broadcast partners.
NFL+
NFL+ is the league's direct-to-consumer streaming service. The base tier streams local and primetime games on mobile devices only (phones and tablets — not TVs). NFL+ Premium adds full-game replays and NFL RedZone. Useful for watching on the go but not a substitute for full live-TV streaming on a television.
NFL RedZone
NFL RedZone is a whip-around channel that cuts to every Sunday afternoon scoring opportunity live. It's available via Fubo, YouTube TV, Sling TV (as an add-on), and NFL+ Premium. Useful for fans who want to follow San Francisco 49ers while also keeping up with the rest of the league.
International Game: San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams
The San Francisco 49ers play an international game against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, September 10 at Marvel Stadium in East Melbourne, Australia. The game is a Netflix exclusive in the United States — a Netflix subscription is required, and no other US streaming or cable service will carry it. Due to the time zone difference, kickoff times for international games are typically morning or midday in the United States.
Compatible Streaming Devices
All major live-sports streaming services support the same set of devices. If you have any modern smart TV or streaming stick, you can watch on it:
- Roku — Roku Streaming Stick, Roku Ultra, Roku-enabled smart TVs (TCL, Hisense, others)
- Amazon Fire TV — Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Cube, Fire-enabled smart TVs
- Apple TV — Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD
- Google Chromecast — Chromecast with Google TV (newer models), older Chromecast streaming devices
- Smart TVs — Samsung Tizen TVs, LG webOS TVs, Vizio SmartCast TVs, Android TV models
- Gaming Consoles — PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
- Mobile — iOS (iPhone, iPad), Android phones and tablets, with the option to AirPlay or cast to a TV
- Web Browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge on Mac and Windows
Free Ways to Watch the San Francisco 49ers
Most San Francisco 49ers games — including all Sunday afternoon broadcasts on FOX and CBS, Sunday Night Football on NBC, and Monday Night Football simulcasts on ABC — are free over-the-air with an HD antenna in the San Francisco market. A basic indoor antenna ($20-$40) pulls all four major networks in clear digital quality. Outdoor or attic-mounted antennas extend range and reliability for viewers further from broadcast towers.
Streaming-service free trials are the other zero-cost option. Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers — enough to watch several weeks of games before deciding to subscribe. YouTube TV typically runs trial promotions during the NFL season. Always verify current free-trial terms on each service's site, as offers change.
The two game types that cannot be watched free are Thursday Night Football (Amazon Prime Video exclusive) and Netflix-exclusive games (Netflix subscription required). There is no legal free streaming option for these — they require their respective paid subscriptions.