Where to Watch SNL (Free & Paid Platforms)

October 17, 2025 By Nancy William No Comments 6 minutes

Need that comedy fix? Saturday Night Live is just the variety TV show you need. Not sure where to get all the episodes? We’ve got you covered. This guide shows you where to watch SNL and how to access it while on the move. 

About Saturday Night Live

For nearly five decades, Saturday Night Live has been more than just a TV show; it’s one of the largest cultural touchstones. It’s the watercooler moment everyone is talking about on Monday morning. Regardless of whether the show is a political sketch, it perfectly captures the absurdity of the news cycle. It’s a bizarre digital short that gets stuck in your head, where even the host’s monologue surprises everyone. SNL has everything unique about it, and in most cases, sparks national conversation.

If this picked your brain, and if you’re often asked: “Did you see SNL last night?” Then this guide is for you. You’re also probably going to be asked: “How did you see SNL last night?” With the show’s name being “Saturday Night Live” and aired only on Saturdays, you’re probably not going to be home when it airs on cable television. So, what do you do? Where do you watch it? How do you get the recaps? 

We’ve got you covered. This guide shows you where to watch SNL and how to watch it from any country. You’ll never have to miss an episode again. 

Where to Watch SNL – Get it Officially on NBC

Let’s start with the original method, which is how viewers watched it for years. The show airs live on NBC every Saturday night at 11:30 p.m. Eastern / 10:30 p.m. Central. (Yes, it’s actually live, bloopers and all!).

How to Access NBC to Watch SNL

Saturday Night Live is officially broadcast on NBC. Here is how you can access it: 

1. The Antenna (The Old Fashioned Way)

If you have a good old-fashioned HD antenna plugged into your TV, you can get your local NBC affiliate for free. This is the most straightforward and cost-effective way to watch the show as it happens.

2. Cable/Satellite Subscription

Any standard cable or satellite package (from providers like Spectrum, Xfinity, or DirecTV) will include your local NBC channel.

Where to Watch SNL – Streaming Services with Live TV

Other than traditional cable TV or using an antenna, you can also watch SNL via streaming services with live TV options. These options include: 

• Hulu + Live TV
• YouTube TV
• Sling TV (specifically the Blue or Orange & Blue plans)
• FuboTV
• DirecTV Stream

All these services include your local NBC stations in most major markets, effectively replacing your cable box. You can watch SNL as it airs, and better yet, you can use the cloud DVR that comes with these services to record it. This is a game-changer. You can start the show a little late to skip through commercials, or simply record it and watch it on Sunday morning or whenever you feel. 

Watch SNL On-Demand with Peacock

Peacock is another great option to watch Saturday Night Live. NBCUniversal owns the streaming service, which makes it the official streaming home for SNL. Here is what you get with Peacock: 

• Full episodes are available to stream on Peacock by Sunday morning. This is the easiest and most reliable way to catch up if you missed the live show.
• Peacock’s best feature is its massive back catalog. You don’t just get the new season; you get a huge, searchable library of past seasons and episodes. Want to watch the very first episode from 1975 with George Carlin? It’s there. Want to binge every episode hosted by Adam Driver? You can do that. This is one of the biggest troves for comedy fans.
• If you subscribe to Peacock Premium Plus (the ad-free tier), you also get access to your local NBC live feed. This means you can actually watch SNL live on Saturday night through Peacock, blending the best of both worlds.

If you’re wondering how expensive Peacock is, it offers a very affordable, ad-supported plan, making it arguably the best value for any SNL viewer.

Where to Watch Saturday Night Live for Free

Let’s be honest, not all SNL sketches are watch-worthy. Sometimes, you just want to watch the one viral clip everyone is talking about without sitting through a 90-minute episode. For this, YouTube is the best option. The official SNL YouTube channel is brilliantly managed. Individual sketches are uploaded by Sunday afternoon; all in high quality. Plus, the best part is that they’re free to watch; the cold open, the monologue, Weekend Update, and the best pre-taped films and sketches.

Other than YouTube, you will also find some SNL clips on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter (X), but YouTube remains the most reliable and high-quality source for individual segments.

How to Watch SNL Outside the US

If you’re outside the United States, the viewing options change because most of these streaming platforms have complex licensing deals. In many countries, like Canada, SNL airs on a channel called Global. In the UK, it is known to hop between channels like Sky Comedy and NOW. Plus, the official SNL YouTube channel is often geo-blocked.

Your best option is to check what streaming services are available in your country and whether they offer NBC content or have a paid partnership with NBCUniversal. To check the availability of the services and the show, type “how to watch SNL in [your country]”. This should give you the results you’re looking for. 

If all else fails, your only option is the connect to the best VPN and change your IP address. Only then would you be able to watch SNL outside the US or while traveling. 

How to Watch Saturday Night Live in Other Countries

• Subscribe to FastestVPN. Create your account. 
• Download and install the VPN on your device. 
• Launch the VPN and sign in. 
• Connect to a US VPN server. 
• Access SNL.

Frequently Asked Questions

To Conclude

You now know where to watch SNL and how to watch it outside the US. No matter how you choose to watch, the important thing is that you manage to watch it. Other than that, the best way to enjoy unhindered streaming speeds on these platforms is by using a VPN with whichever streaming platform you go with. FastestVPN does more than just change your location. 

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