Comparison

NFL vs NFL Network

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

NFL

Stay connected to the NFL season with live scores, highlights, breaking news, and analysis. Stream live games, listen to audio broadcasts, and access exclusive content with premium subscriptions.

Highlights
  • Live scoring and in-game highlights
  • Breaking news and insider analysis
  • Stream live out-of-market preseason games
  • Stream live local and primetime regular season games
  • Listen to live game audio
  • Watch NFL RedZone and game replays
  • Access player and team performance stats
Read full description

Keep up with the season wherever you go with the official app of the NFL. GET CLOSER TO THE ACTION: - Make the NFL app your central hub for game day and access available NFL content in one place. - Get up-to-the-minute scoring, in-game highlights and drive charts to track every play. - Go deeper into the game with breaking news, key stories, and insider analysis. - Stay connected with the NFL Channel and get FREE NFL content 24/7. START YOUR GAMEDAY WITH NFL+: - Stream live local and primetime regular season and postseason games on phone and tablet. - Watch NFL Network 24/7, including seven exclusive games in the 2026 NFL season! - Watch ad-free highlights from every game. - Listen to live game audio with home, away and national broadcasts for every game of the season. - Get NFL Films’ programming and other on-demand content across devices and ad-free. NFL+ PREMIUM HAS MORE NFL: - Access everything from NFL+ - Watch NFL RedZone across devices to catch every touchdown from every game, every Sunday afternoon during the regular season. - Relive gameday with game replays including full, condensed, and All-22 coaches' films across devices, all ad-free. - Get access to NFL Pro and over 95 unique player and team performance stats and All-22 film for an advanced analytics platform (available on desktop and mobile web). Subscription required for NFL+ and NFL+ Premium. Terms and Conditions Apply. NFL Network and NFL RedZone are available to stream on an authenticated basis for eligible subscribers of participating TV providers! The NFL app allows use of AirPlay when viewing all video-on-demand and select live content. However, the NFL app does not permit outputs from phones or tablets of live games, NFL RedZone or NFL Network to external displays via HDMI, Chromecast, AirPlay, Miracast or other similar streaming functionality. Privacy Policy: https://www.nfl.com/legal/privacy Terms of Service: www.nfl.com/legal/terms

About

NFL Network

Stream live NFL Network programming and NFL RedZone directly to your iPhone or iPad. Access exclusive content including Thursday Night Football, preseason games, draft coverage, and original series. Requires a subscription to a participating cable provider.

Highlights
  • Live Thursday Night Football
  • Preseason game streaming
  • NFL Draft and Combine coverage
  • Original NFL Films series
  • NFL Network shows
  • Live NFL RedZone streaming
Read full description

Exclusive NFL Network programming and NFL RedZone* is now available to fans living in the United States. Using an iPhone** or iPad, fans can watch their favorite NFL content live with a subscription to a participating cable provider. The app features live streaming access to news, highlights, and shows on NFL Network including: * Live Thursday Night Football Games * All Preseason games (either live or re-aired) * Comprehensive coverage of NFL events such as the NFL Scouting Combine, NFL Draft, Free Agency, and NFL Training Camp * Original, Emmy award-winning series from NFL Films * NFL Network shows including: NFL Total Access, A Football Life, Good Morning Football, NFL GameDay and more! * Plus, for eligible subscribers: Get access to live streaming NFL RedZone every Sunday during the Regular Season Please note: This app features Nielsen’s proprietary measurement software which contributes to market research, like Nielsen’s TV Ratings. Please see https://www.nielsen.com/digitalprivacy for more information *Access to NFL Redzone requires a programming package with your provider that includes NFL RedZone **Data usage apples for app download and use

Screenshots

NFL4 screens
NFL Network4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NFL Network at none against NFL's 10. NFL Network also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (35% vs 21%). NFL's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and chart position (#2 vs unranked). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. NFL sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. NFL Network asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NFL Network holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 412K and 83K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of NFL's written reviews are positive against 35% of NFL Network's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NFL ships an update weekly, NFL Network every 3 months. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
NFL versus NFL Network: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNFLNFL Network
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (412K ratings)4.8 (83K ratings) — better
Positive reviews20.5% of reviews34.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings412K — better83K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#2 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.416.4
Further details — not scored
Size235 MB110 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNFL Enterprises LLCNFL Enterprises LLC

Customer experience

NFL

All ratings412,015 ratings
Positive87.6%
Neutral4.0%
Negative8.4%
Written reviews2,005 reviews
Positive20.5%
Neutral6.8%
Negative72.7%

NFL Network

All ratings82,938 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral2.5%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews141 reviews
Positive34.8%
Neutral4.3%
Negative61.0%

User reviews

NFL

From 412K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💻 Great app for following NFL
  • 🌎 Useful for international fans
  • 📊 Provides good stats and information

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find content
  • 🔇 Inconsistent video/audio playback
  • 💰 Expensive subscription with limited features
  • 🔄 Automatic video playback is annoying

NFL Network

From 83K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Works as advertised
  • 💡 Appropriate pricing
  • 🚀 Decent app performance

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
  • 🔒 Lacks support for popular providers
  • 🔋 Frequent disconnections and crashes
  • 👎 Poor customer support

Bugs and requests

NFL

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • News section not working
  • Subscription issues and login problems
  • Streaming problems and black screens
  • Inconsistent performance across devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow casting to TV
  • Improve game replay functionality
  • Add more customization options
  • Provide better score/stat tracking

NFL Network

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Freezes on login screen
  • Inconsistent video playback
  • Incorrect blackout restrictions
  • Fails to recognize paid subscriptions

Requested features

3 requests
  • Expand to full screen option
  • Ability to change login information
  • Support for more streaming devices

In-app purchases

10 purchases

NFL

Subscriptions4
  • NFL+ Monthly$6.991 Month
  • NFL+ Premium$14.991 Month
  • NFL+ Annual1 Year trial$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • NFL+ Premium Annual1 Year trial$99.991 Year
One-time6
  • NFL Game Pass 2019Free
  • NFL RedZone 2019 Pass$19.99
  • 2020 NFL Game Pass$49.99
Show 3 more
  • Season Plus Pass$79.99
  • NFL Game Pass 2017 Subscription$99.99
  • NFL Game Pass 2018$99.99
None

NFL Network

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NFL free?
NFL is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NFL Network free?
NFL Network is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NFL or NFL Network?
NFL Network is rated higher. NFL averages 4.5 out of 5 from 412K ratings, while NFL Network averages 4.8 from 83K ratings.
Do NFL or NFL Network have ads?
Both NFL and NFL Network show ads.
Which is updated more often, NFL or NFL Network?
NFL ships an update weekly, and NFL Network every 3 months. Most recently, NFL was updated on September 25, 2026 and NFL Network on September 25, 2026.

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