IT General

How to watch the 2026 NFL preseason at a glance: ESPN Unlimited $299.99/year (save $59.89) Get Deal YouTube TV Sports free 10-day trial, then $54.99/month for 12 months (save $120) Learn More ESPN Unlimited + NFL+ Premium bundle $39.99/month (save $4.99/month) Get Deal Fubo Sports $54.99/month for 1 month (save $10) Get Deal NFL+ Premium $79.99/year (save $20) Get Deal

While preseason might not bring all the action of the regular season, which kicks off in September, it does give football fans a glimpse into the new talent pool for 2026. You'll see the 2026 NFL Draft Class take the field in hopes of earning starting spots on each team. And, of course, scout players for your fantasy team and build up excitement for the best time of year.

Watching live sports, particularly football, is exceedingly complicated in the streaming era. Yes, that even includes the preseason schedule. So, I've done the grunt work for you and broken down the necessary details you need to know to tune in. Here's a handy watch guide for the 2026 NFL preseason so you don't miss out on your team's early exhibition games.

When is the 2026 NFL preseason?

The 2026 NFL preseason begins with the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. ET, featuring the Carolina Panthers vs. the Arizona Cardinals. The official preseason schedule then runs from Aug. 13 through Aug. 29, with the regular season kicking off on Sept. 9.

How to watch NFL preseason games live

There are 48 games total in the 2026 NFL preseason schedule; 32 of those games will be broadcast on either ESPN/ ESPN Unlimited or NFL Network. The other games will be dispersed between Prime Video and your local CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox stations.

The good news is all of these networks will also carry regular season games. So, if you make the investments now in your streaming lineup, you'll be set for the full NFL season. The bad news is, you'll need at least a couple different subscriptions to watch your home team. While there are a number of different ways to gain access to every game, I recommend one of two options. You can buy a digital antenna for access to local networks (CBS, NBC, Fox) and sign up for subscriptions to ESPN with NFL Network and Prime Video. Or you can sign up for a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV or Fubo to get access to local networks as well as ESPN and NFL Network in most markets. Unfortunately, you'll still need to sign up for Prime Video separately if you're not already a Prime member. Make note that blackout restrictions apply to local broadcasts, just as they do in the regular season. To access out-of-market preseason games, you'll need an NFL+ subscription.

Note: The only preseason game on Prime Video is the Aug. 27 matchup between the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots. Feel free to skip the Prime Video subscription for preseason if you don't care about this game.

Let's break down what those two options would cost you.

Option 1: Digital antenna + ESPN/NFL Network + Prime Video

Digital antenna options and prices vary depending on the range. Do a quick search of how far you live from your local TV stations by miles, and be sure to grab an antenna that has a range of at least that far. Mashable's sister site, PCMag, has some recommendations if you need help in your search. On average, you're looking at about a $30 to $40 purchase. That will grant you access to local games on Fox, CBS, and NBC. In order to access the 32 games on ESPN and NFL Network, you'll need an ESPN Unlimited subscription with the NFL+ Premium add-on (scroll down to the "Looking for more?" section on the ESPN website). This will cost you $39.99 per month for the bundle. Throw Prime Video into the mix for $8.99 per month, and you have a grand total of around $80 to $90 for a month. After your initial investment in the digital antenna, however, that price will go down to just $49 per month for the ESPN bundle and Prime Video, making this a better deal in the long run.

Option 2: Live TV streaming service + Prime Video

Another smart option to watch preseason NFL games is to sign up for a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV. Recently, YouTube TV added a more affordable Sports Plan, which grants you access to NBC, CBS, FOX, NFL Network, and ESPN — all of the networks you'll need for the preseason. It'll only cost you $54.99 per month for your first year, which is a pretty solid deal. All you'll need in addition to the YouTube TV Sports Plan is a Prime Video subscription for $8.99. That brings the grand total to $64 for a month.

The best streaming deals for the 2026 NFL preseason Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN ESPN Unlimited $29.99/month Learn More

ESPN Unlimited costs $29.99 per month, but you can save $59.89 by signing up for a full year at $299.99. Unfortunately, if you want to bundle it with NFL+ Premium for the ultimate football streaming package, you'll have to stick with the monthly plan. However, you'll save about $5 per month on the bundle deal.

ESPN Unlimited deals:

• ESPN Unlimited annual subscription — $299.99/year $359.88/year (save $59.89/year)

• ESPN Unlimited and NFL+ Premium — $39.99/month $44.98/month (save $4.99/month)

• Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited bundle — $35.99/month $53.97/month (save $17.98/month)

• ESPN Unlimited and Fox One bundle — $39.99/month $49.98/month (save $9.99/month)

Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV Sports plan free 10-day trial, then $54.99/month for your first year Learn More

We're big fans of YouTube TV's massive 100+ channel lineup, which includes nearly all of the networks you'll need to tune into the NFL preseason live. We're even bigger fans of the 10-day free trial offer. We're not so thrilled with the full price of the Base Plan, however, so we recommend going for the new Sports Plan.

YouTube TV will cost you $67.99 per month for your first three months of the Base Plan, then $82.99 per month thereafter. The Sports Plan, on the other hand, is just $54.99 per month for your first 12 months and $64.99 per month thereafter.

YouTube TV deals:

• YouTube TV Sports — free 10-day trial, $54.99/month for your first year $64.99/month (save $120)

• YouTube TV Base — free 10-day trial, $67.99/month for your first 3 months $82.99/month (save $45)

Honorable mention live TV streaming deal:

• Fubo Sports — $54.99/month for 1 month $64.99/month (save $10)

Opens in a new window Credit: NFL+ NFL+ Premium annual plan $79.99
$99.99 Save $20 *Best for out-of-market preseason games* Get Deal

If you're a fan of a non-local team, you'll need an NFL+ plan to watch out-of-market preseason games. Fortunately, NFL+ is running a preseason deal just in the nick of time. Save 20% on an annual plan to NFL+ or NFL+ Premium and catch your favorite team on your mobile devices. Of course, if you're already an ESPN Unlimited subscriber, the best deal is to bundle it with NFL+ Premium for an extra $10 (see above).

Note: Though you can watch out-of-market preseason games, you'll only be able to watch your local in-market games during the regular season with NFL+. I don't know why and I don't make the rules, but it's something to consider.

NFL+ deals:

• NFL+ — $39.99/year $49.99/year (save $10)

• NFL+ Premium — $79.99/year $99.99/year (save $20)

Farewell, Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel).

House of the Dragon's most-hated knight came to the end of his prolonged death march in Season 3, when he took three arrows to the chest and face. But before he met his unceremonious fate, he proved why he called himself the realm's greatest warrior, killing at least 10 enemy soldiers over the course of a brutal ambush.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3, episode 6: We counted Criston Cole's body count in the first 5 minutes. It's more than you think.

Even though Criston makes mincemeat of several Rivermen, Frankel never wanted the fight to feel like a walk in the park.

"The big thing I found with all those fight scenes in general, in medieval-adjacent films, [is that] everyone always looks like it's so easy, and I wanted him to look exhausted," Fabien Frankel told Mashable Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards in a Say More interview.

He continued: "They've been on the road for so long, and we really worked super hard, me and the stunt team, to build the beats in where you find him exhausted, where you find him out of breath."

Criston's rising exhaustion is just one of the many stories House of the Dragon spins throughout the fight scene. Another has to do with Criston's weapons of choice. He begins the fight with a flail, the very same weapon he uses against Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) in their tourney fight in House of the Dragon's very first episode. Later, he picks up a sword, reminiscent of his days in the Kingsguard and as a commander. He also pulls a dagger on his enemies, and this particular dagger is one that Frankel has been eager to use since Season 1.

In Season 1, Criston tries to stab himself with that same dagger, before a young Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey) stops him. He's been carrying around that dagger at his back ever since.

"I had this dagger for a long time, and I wanted to find a reason to use it because it's unbelievably uncomfortable," Frankel said.

Enter Criston's last stand at the Butcher's Ball.

"We were looking for a few extra beats in the fight, and I was like, 'Guys, this is the moment, and the dagger has to come out now,'" Frankel said. "We had that amazing beat, which was so cool. They choreographed that so well, and the weapon progression was really joyful to do."

Watch Mashable's full interview with Frankel above.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Magic: The Gathering has produced plenty of expensive trading cards over its long history, but you do not need to dig through sets from the 1990s to find singles worth hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars.

The current Standard format (used for competitive MTG) stretches from 2023’s Wilds of Eldraine through to Marvel Super Heroes, covering traditional Magic planes alongside Universes Beyond crossovers such as Final Fantasy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Even among these relatively new collections, you can find enough expensive chase cards to fully fund a pension plan and then some.

With that, we’ve checked the top five leading cards from every Standard-legal set using TCGplayer market prices — including those sporting alternate artwork, premium foil aesthetics, and coveted serialized versions. Just like with the most valuable Pokémon cards in the modern TCG, Magic prices can change as more copies are opened and sold, but these are the five most valuable chase cards right now.

Wilds of Eldraine

Wilds of Eldraine is one of the more affordable Standard expansions at the upper end, with none of its five leading cards currently stretching far beyond $50:

• Agatha’s Soul Cauldron (Extended Art, #366): $50.29

• Agatha’s Soul Cauldron (#242): $38.31

• Beseech the Mirror (Extended Art, #336): $35.51

• Beseech the Mirror (#082): $18.73

• Moonshaker Cavalry (Extended Art, #325): $18.56

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan sits at the opposite end of the scale to Wild of Eldraine. Not only are its top five cards dominated by rare borderless Cavern of Souls variants, but the most valuable version carries a market price of roughly $4,900:

• Cavern of Souls (0410a, Borderless, #410a): $4,900

• Cavern of Souls (0410e, Borderless, #410e): $797.16

• Cavern of Souls (0410d, Borderless, #410d): $528.68

• Cavern of Souls (0410c, Borderless, #410c): $480.07

• Cavern of Souls (0410f, Borderless, #410f): $256.52

Murders at Karlov Manor 

Murders at Karlov Manor’s biggest cards have been dominated by serialized versions of familiar Ravnica characters:

• Niv-Mizzet, Guildpact (Serial Numbered, #319): $695

• Vannifar, Evolved Enigma (Serial Numbered, #323): $600

• Trostani, Three Whispers (Serial Numbered, #322): $500

• Rakdos, Patron of Chaos (Serial Numbered, #320): $400

• Lazav, Wearer of Faces (Serial Numbered, #318): $329.99

Outlaws of Thunder Junction

Outlaws of Thunder Junction is considerably cheaper than many of the sets that came before and after. That’s slightly surprising, given Bristly Bill, Spine Sower, and Terror of the Peaks account for four of its five leading cards:

• Bristly Bill, Spine Sower (Extended Art, #338): $62.40

• Terror of the Peaks (Extended Art, #337): $45.76

• Bristly Bill, Spine Sower (#157): $42.35

• Terror of the Peaks (#149): $30.04

• Goldvein Hydra (Extended Art, #341): $12.20

Outlaws of Thunder Junction: The Big Score

The Big Score was released inside Outlaws of Thunder Junction boosters, pushing the wider set’s value much higher than one might normally expect. Its Raised Foil Vaultborn Tyrant and Sword of Wealth and Power sit very comfortably above the main expansion’s biggest pulls, with market prices well over $200 and $150, respectively:

• Vaultborn Tyrant (Showcase, Raised Foil, #061): $220.83

• Sword of Wealth and Power (Showcase, Raised Foil, #064): $164.13

• Vaultborn Tyrant (Showcase, #050): $86.94

• Simulacrum Synthesizer (Showcase, #036): $68.76

• Sword of Wealth and Power (Showcase, #056): $54.32

Bloomburrow

Bloomburrow's animal-focused setting might be an approachable set to dive into, but its most desirable Raised Foils carry some seriously high prices:

• Lumra, Bellow of the Woods (Borderless, Raised Foil, #343): $769.57

• Baylen, the Haymaker (Borderless, Raised Foil, #345): $412.83

• Ral, Crackling Wit (Borderless, Raised Foil, #353): $359.81

• Camellia, the Seedmiser (Borderless, Raised Foil, #346): $244.41

• Vren, the Relentless (Borderless, Raised Foil, #354): $226.66

Duskmourn: House of Horror

Duskmourn: House of Horror has a strong collection of premium cards without reaching the four-figure price brackets of Standard’s biggest releases:

• Valgavoth, Terror Eater (Showcase, Textured Foil, #407): $303.06

• Enduring Vitality (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #404): $282.09

• Overlord of the Balemurk (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #401): $256.26

• Enduring Curiosity (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #398): $197.46

• Overlord of the Hauntwoods (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #405): $191.82

Foundations

Magic: The Gathering’s Foundations offers plenty of recognizable Magic staples, and its Fracture Foil treatments have ended up becoming very high value in terms of chase cards:

• Llanowar Elves (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #439): $778.73

• Doubling Season (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #438): $624.11

• Twinflame Tyrant (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #437): $469.21

• Bloodthirsty Conqueror (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #436): $354.33

• Progenitus (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #441): $294.72

Aetherdrift

Aetherdrift's most valuable cards are relatively cheap compared to other expansions released around the same time. Radiant Lotus and Loot, the Pathfinder lead through their Fracture Foil treatments, but neither currently reaches much beyond $140:                                                                                         

• Radiant Lotus (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #416): $136.34

• Loot, the Pathfinder (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #414): $104.25

• The Aetherspark (First-Place Foil, #496): $86.59

• Chandra, Spark Hunter (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #411): $72.86

• Cursecloth Wrappings (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #410): $51.73

Tarkir: Dragonstorm

Tarkir: Dragonstorm was released with one enormous chase card separating it from almost everything else in the expansion. The serialized Mox Jasper carries a market price of roughly $1,757, putting it more than $1,200 ahead of the Halo Foil Ugin, Eye of the Storms:

• Mox Jasper (Serial Numbered, #419): $1,757.08

• Ugin, Eye of the Storms (Showcase, Halo Foil, #409): $464.06

• Elspeth, Storm Slayer (Showcase, Halo Foil, #411): $303.04

• Craterhoof Behemoth (Showcase, Halo Foil, #414): $270.18

• Dracogenesis (Showcase, Halo Foil, #412): $125.90

Final Fantasy

Magic: The Gathering’s Final Fantasy expansion was one of the most anticipated trading card releases in a long while — and is now one of the most expensive by far. Unsurprisingly, for those who kept up with MTG Final Fantasy at launch, all five of the most valuable chase cards are the Traveling Chocobo variants:

• Traveling Chocobo (Borderless, Japanese Exclusive, #551): $5,950

• Traveling Chocobo (Borderless, Neon Ink Blue, #551c): $1,937.28

• Traveling Chocobo (Borderless, Neon Ink Green, #551d): $1,862.90

• Traveling Chocobo (Borderless, Neon Ink Yellow, #551a): $1,766.81

• Traveling Chocobo (Borderless, Neon Ink Pink, #551b): $1,754.61

Edge of Eternities

Edge of Eternities mixes a single four-figure showstopper with several more moderately priced Fracture Foils. Leading the top five by far is the Singularity Foil version of Sothera, the Supervoid, with a market price of over $1,200, while Icetill Explorer drops to around $348 in second place:

• Sothera, the Supervoid (Singularity Foil, #382): $1,222.82

• Icetill Explorer (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #388): $347.95

• Exalted Sunborn (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #384): $222.85

• Starfield Vocalist (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #385): $196.77

• Sothera, the Supervoid (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #386): $128.71

Marvel’s Spider-Man

Marvel’s Spider-Man unexpectedly included a high-priced Infinity Stone sitting at the top of its rankings, with the borderless Soul Stone carrying a market value of nearly $1,700:

• The Soul Stone (Borderless, #243): $1,698.11

• Spectacular Spider-Man (0235, Borderless, #235): $417.15

• Spectacular Spider-Man (0236, Borderless, #236): $308.02

• Spectacular Spider-Man (0240, Borderless, #240): $267.55

• Spectacular Spider-Man (0238, Borderless, #238): $264.05

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar: The Last Airbender expansion brought the iconic Nickelodeon series’ bending to the tabletop and has one of Standard’s most valuable collections of premium treatments:

• Avatar Aang (Raised Foil, #363): $3,908.42

• Toph, the First Metalbender (Borderless, Neon Ink Foil, #362): $900.80

• Aang, Swift Savior (Borderless, Neon Ink Foil, #359): $534.64

• Katara, the Fearless (Borderless, Neon Ink Foil, #361): $479.35

• Fire Lord Zuko (Borderless, Neon Ink Foil, #360): $466.79

Lorwyn Eclipsed

Lorwyn Eclipsed returned to the land of light and shadow with a noticeably smaller gap between its premium pulls and the rest of the expansion. Bloom Tender leads through its Fracture Foil treatment at approximately $356, followed by Moonshadow at just under $150:

• Bloom Tender (0400, Showcase, Fracture Foil, #400): $355.52

• Moonshadow (0396, Showcase, Fracture Foil, #396): $147.77

• Selfless Safewright (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #401): $75.11

• Spinerock Tyrant (0399, Showcase, Fracture Foil, #399): $74.81

• Winnowing (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #392): $70.75

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles emerged from the sewers and became another heavyweight Universes Beyond release, largely thanks to its beautiful Gold-Stamped borderless cards:

• Leonardo, Sewer Samurai (Borderless, Gold-Stamped, #301): $2,957.03

• Donatello, Mutant Mechanic (Borderless, Gold-Stamped, #302): $2,700

• Michelangelo, Improviser (Borderless, Gold-Stamped, #304): $2,250

• Raphael, Ninja Destroyer (Borderless, Gold-Stamped, #303): $2,175

• Super Shredder (Showcase, Fracture Foil, #295): $320.47

Secrets of Strixhaven

Secrets of Strixhaven has perhaps the most uneven top end of any expansion on this list. Its serialized Double Rainbow Foil Emeritus of Ideation is valued at approximately $2,900, but the second-place card sits at only around $18:

• Emeritus of Ideation (Retro Frame, Serial Numbered, Double Rainbow Foil, #306): $2,900

• Emeritus of Woe (Extended Art, #324): $18.04

• Witherbloom, the Balancer (Borderless, #288): $13.30

• Improvisation Capstone (Borderless, #294): $12.99

• Emeritus of Woe (#080): $12.86

Marvel Super Heroes

Magic: The Gathering’s fun Marvel Super Heroes expansion closes out the current Standard lineup with another hugely valuable Infinity Stone:

• The Mind Stone (Borderless, #386): $1,641.39

• Thanos, the Mad Titan (Borderless, #400): $222.82

• Doctor Doom (Borderless, #394): $150.50

• Ultron, Artificial Malevolence (Borderless, #401): $93.71

• Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu (Borderless, #396): $84.89

TL;DR: Get the iPhone 17 for free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free Switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. Get Deal

While Samsung continues to dominate the news cycle with its latest wave of foldables and smart glasses, we can't simply ignore Apple.

With memory costs creeping up under global RAMageddon supply squeezes, getting your hands on the latest iPhone usually requires a steep upfront cost. However, T-Mobile is cutting through the noise with a major carrier deal: you can score an Apple iPhone 17 for free right now when you switch networks. The best bit? Unlike most promotions that force you to trade something in to qualify, this offer bucks that trend.

To qualify for this promotion, you simply need to switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

T-Mobile finances the $829.99 device balance over 24 months, then applies an equal monthly bill credit to cancel out that fee. You are responsible for local sales tax on the full pre-credit price plus T-Mobile’s standard $35 device connection charge due at checkout. This is a 24-month carrier agreement. If you cancel the service, switch to another plan, or leave T-Mobile before the 24-month period is up, the remaining unpaid device balance becomes due immediately.

If you’re still clutching an iPhone 12 or iPhone 13, you’re missing out on Apple’s most transformative generational leap in years. The iPhone 17 is the first base-model handset built to run Apple Intelligence features without lag. Check out our review for a more detailed breakdown.

If you’re already planning to switch carriers or want a premium unlimited plan with high-speed data, grabbing Apple’s latest flagship for free without giving up your old phone is a no-brainer upgrade.

SAVE $50: You can pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 bundled with a $50 Amazon gift card for $379.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 + $50 Gift Card   Get Deal

Samsung Unpacked brought the usual overwhelming wave of new gear — new Samsung phones, new watches, and even Samsung Galaxy Glasses — because, apparently, Samsung decided to surprise everyone.

Here's where it gets good: Amazon is currently bundling the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 with a free $50 gift card. Pre-order now and it'll ship Aug. 7. It's not just a good preorder deal — it's a good preorder deal with a little something extra tucked in for later.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Unpacked: What to expect from Samsung's new smartwatches

Once it's on your wrist, the Watch 9 tracks your vitals while you sleep and flags anything that's off from your normal patterns, so you get a heads-up on anything that might need your attention. There's also a Fitness Index feature that adjusts its coaching based on what you're training for, whether that's building endurance for a hike or just getting stronger.

The AI assistant skips the wake word entirely — just raise your wrist and start talking, and it's already listening. And instead of making you check five different health stats separately, the watch combines sleep, BMI, activity, and vascular load into one Heart Health Score that tells you how your heart's doing at a glance.

Quick note on the gift card: you'll need to select the gift card bundle variation at checkout to get it, and the offer ends Aug. 6 — a day before the watch even ships. So if you want that $50 gift card, grab the Galaxy Watch 9 asap.

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for just $54.99 (reg. $249.99) and own Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Access with a lifetime license for one PC.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows: Lifetime License $54.99
$249.99 Save $195   Get Deal

So many of us are happy with Microsoft’s classic Office apps, but less enthusiastic about recurring software payments. That’s what makes this version worth a closer look.

Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus is available for $54.99 for a limited time. Instead of signing up for an ongoing Microsoft 365 subscription, you’ll get a lifetime license tied to one Windows PC. That’s also why this version costs less than account-based Office licenses — it’s licensed to a specific device rather than your Microsoft account.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Inside the suite are the apps many people rely on every day:

• Word for document creation and editing

• Excel for spreadsheets and analysis

• PowerPoint for presentations

• Outlook for email

• OneNote for note-taking

• Access for database management

Office 2024 Professional Plus is designed with long-term stability in mind. Rather than frequent feature changes, it focuses on reliable performance, a streamlined interface with Dark Mode support, enhanced security features, and compatibility with Windows 10 and Windows 11.

This makes it a practical choice for professionals, small businesses, students, or anyone who prefers software they can install once and continue using without worrying about another monthly charge.

One important detail: this license is device-linked, not Microsoft account-linked. Once activated, it’s tied to the Windows PC where it’s installed.

Get Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows for $54.99 (reg. $249.99) and enjoy a lifetime license with no ongoing subscription fees.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan for just $69.97 through Aug. 9 and bring leading AI models and other tools into one lifetime workspace.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $69.97
$540 Save $470.03   Get Deal

AI subscriptions aren’t cheap, but it’s manageable if you only use one model like ChatGPT. However, if you need tools for generating images, writing copy, analyzing documents, or translating between languages, a platform like 1min.AI is a more viable option. 

1min.AI gives you lifetime access to some of the most popular AI tools, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Mistral, and many others. It’s also only $69.97 for a lifetime subscription through today (reg. $540).

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

1min.AI runs in your browser and pulls a ton of everyday work into one place. You can research keywords, draft blog posts, rewrite and shorten text, generate social posts, and keep a consistent brand voice across projects.

There are tools to summarize or translate documents, chat with multiple PDFs at once, and spin up slide presentations. For visuals, you can generate images from prompts, upscale low-resolution pictures, remove backgrounds, extend edges, or turn rough sketches into cleaner artwork.

Here’s a small sample of the AI models you’ll get access to:

• GPT-5.5 Pro, GPT-5.4 Pro (OpenAI)

• Claude 4.1 Opus, Claude 4.5 Sonnet, Claude 4.6 Sonnet (Anthropic)

• Gemini 2.5 Flash, Gemini 3.1 Pro

• Llama 3

• Mistral models

The Advanced Business Plan includes 4,000,000 credits each month, plus the chance to earn up to 450,000 more through daily logins and other tasks. Credits are shared across writing, images, audio, and video, so you can lean harder on whichever tools you need that month.

The plan supports up to 20 members, with shared workspaces, an unlimited prompt library, unlimited storage, and unlimited brand voices. If you don’t use all your credits, they just roll over, so you aren’t missing out if you have a lighter month.

It’s currently only $69.97 (reg. $540) to get a 1min.AI lifetime subscription, but that’s only through today, Aug. 9, at 11:59 pm PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

In the age of on-demand everything, it’s no surprise that we can get "dates" (and I use that term loosely) with the tap of a button. Thanks to classic hookup apps like Tinder and newcomers like Pure, finding a sexy new friend can be as straightforward as ordering a pizza. As for the quality? That’s about the same as your pizza — hit or miss, depending on the time of day, where you're located, and how hungry you are.

SEE ALSO: What's dating in 2026 like? Single women tell all.

Fortunately, you’ve got me, your resident dating app expert (though I prefer modern-day Carrie Bradshaw), to guide you to the promised land, aka the best hookup apps.

I’ve spent the past three years (yes, years) researching, downloading, and testing dozens of the top dating apps to find the best ones for all kinds of daters, including the one-night-stand crowd. From discreet sexting apps to dating sites for serious relationships, I've swiped through them all. I also consulted a helpful panel of sex and relationship experts to make sure my picks are solid.

How to get the most out of hookup apps

My number one rule is to be brutally honest about what you want. Are you here for a good time? Own it. That means staying in your lane; don't go looking for a one-night stand on an app like eharmony.

"Hookup apps help prevent situations where people are on mainstream dating sites with the intention of having a casual hookup but are unclear about these intentions," Suzannah Weiss, resident sexologist for Biird and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject, tells Mashable. "They also give women a space to be openly sexual creatures without judgment."

And here's a little secret I picked up from Alexander Liebisch, the CEO and founder of TinderProfile.ai: Timing is everything. He found that people messaging on Tinder's "free tonight" feature after 10 p.m. on a weekend had a 45 percent higher chance of hooking up.

So, whether you're looking for a one-night stand, a regular FWB situation, or just a space to explore your sexuality, I've got you covered. Based on all my hands-on testing and expert consultations, I’ve broken down the best hookup app for every type of person and mood.

Recent updates to this guide

• Hinge: Hinge just keeps getting better, so I’ve bumped it up higher on my list as of October 2025. In our most recent update in July 2026, it still earns the top spot. Its user base is growing, and my own recent tests on the app have been surprisingly positive.

• Sniffies (added September 2025): I've added Sniffies, the map-based app for queer men, because it's been gaining a lot of traction. (It got a little too spicy for Apple and was pulled from the App Store, so it's now technically a dating site.) Don't say I didn't warn you about the NSFW content.

• FetLife (added September 2025): FetLife is my new favorite "Honorable Mention." It's not your typical hookup app; it's more of a social network for the kink community (and, oddly enough, the best hookup app for gamers). Just remember: it's a community, so don't treat it like Tinder.

• Plenty of Fish (removed January 2025): POF went through a rebrand recently, and honestly, I'm not impressed. My latest tests showed they got rid of key features like free messaging for non-matches, and I kept running into the same old profiles.

• Match (removed August 2025): I know some people say they've found casual hookups on Match, but that's not what it's for. Match is where you go to find a serious, long-term relationship, and I still recommend it for that. But for a hookup? You're just fishing in the wrong pond.

Why some popular hookup apps didn't make the cut

You might notice a few apps that pop up in ads or other lists are missing here. That’s intentional. I swipe through the good, the bad, and the downright sketchy so you don’t have to. For an app to make my list, it has to be effective, safe, and worth your time.

Here's a shortlist of apps that didn't make the cut this year:

• Wild: You’ve probably seen ads for this one. On paper, Wild sounds like the perfect casual dating app. In practice, the paywalls are aggressive, the distance filter doesn't work, and you have to pay for anything that's even remotely useful. Unless you're willing to spend serious cash upfront (and hope for the best), the experience feels limited compared to more open apps like Tinder.

• DOWN: This app (formerly "Bang With Friends") is known for its simple "Get Down" vs. "Get Date" feature. It sounds clever, but in reality, the experience is messy at best. Many users report feeling scammed by subscriptions that don't deliver matches, or finding that the few real people on there are... let's say "odd." It’s hard to recommend an app when the main user complaint is "Is anyone real?" Hard pass.

• Facebook Dating: Yes, Facebook has a dating section, and it’s surprisingly massive (and completely free, which is huge). While it's a decent option for casual dating, the vibe tends to be a bit more "friends of friends" and "relationship-focused" than the anonymous, no-strings energy you get from apps like Pure or Feeld. (For Mashable's Chance Townsend, signing up was "the most uneventful dating experience" of his life.) It's worth a shot if you're already on Facebook, but it didn't quite crack my top tier for hookups specifically.

TL;DR: Get the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (256GB, unlocked) for $1,899.99 at Amazon and get a free $350 Amazon gift card bundled in — no trade-in required.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 + $350 Gift Card   Get Deal

Samsung's Unpacked event didn't hold back — new Samsung phones, new watches, and even Samsung Galaxy Glasses all landed within the same event. With that much new hardware announced at once, it can take some digging to figure out which deal on which device is actually worth your money.

Amazon is currently bundling the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 with a free $350 gift card, no trade-in or discount code needed — just the phone at $1,899.99 with the gift card tacked on.

SEE ALSO: How to skip the $1,800 price tag and score a free Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 at AT&T

Unfolded, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 turns into a mini tablet for watching movies and reading books. Whatever you're watching looks immersive on the big screen, and Samsung claims it's the lightest fold they've made yet, so you're not lugging around a brick to get there.

Folded back up, it handles texting and everyday use just like a normal phone. The display also claims the title of the brightest screen on any Galaxy phone, so glare from being outside won't ruin your movie or your doomscrolling session.

On the camera side, you get a 50-megapixel dual camera setup paired with the screen, so you can see your shot clearly before and after you take it. If you're filming something chaotic, Super Steady Video with Horizontal Lock keeps the shot leveled even if you're not.

However, the gift card isn't instant here — you'll get an email once it's available after the phone ships. The offer runs through Aug. 6, so pre-ordering sooner gets you in before the window closes.

Grab the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (256GB, unlocked) at Amazon to claim your bonus.

The Moon is now well into its waning phase, gradually appearing less full as it moves closer to the New Moon. Here's what you can still see on its surface tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, Aug. 1, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waning Gibbous phase, with 93% of its surface visible.

Without visual aids, tonight you should still be able to see the Mare Tranquillitatis, Copernicus Crater, and the Tycho Crater. If you have binoculars will help you see the Alphonsus Crater, Endymion Crater, and the Clavius Crater. Pull out your telescope (if you have one) to see see all clearer, plus the Apollo 14 landing spot, the Rupes Altai, and the Linne Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon goes through a complete cycle of eight phases roughly every 29.5 days. As it travels around Earth, the angle between the Sun, Earth and Moon constantly changes, meaning we see different amounts of the Moon's sunlit side. This is what causes the familiar progression from a thin crescent to a half Moon, then a Full Moon, before the cycle repeats.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a baker.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 1, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Hit the sack

• Green: Iconic movie stars

• Blue: Dig deep

• Purple: Carb-loaded

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Bedding

• Green: Oscar-winning actors since 2010

• Blue: Perform some hole-machining operations

• Purple: Starting with bread shapes

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1147 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Bedding: COMFORTER, SHAM, SHEET, THROW

• Oscar-winning actors since 2010: BALE, JORDAN, PHOENIX, WALTZ

• Perform some hole-machining operations: BORE, COUNTERSINK, DRILL, REAM

• Starting with bread shapes: BOULEVARD, BUNDLE, LOAFER, ROLLS-ROYCE

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 1, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you can laugh it off.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 1, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: "As if!"

The words are related to ridiculousness.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe being unreasonable.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is diagonal.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Get Real.

NYT Strands word list for August 1

• Absurd

• Laughable

• Get Real

• Preposterous

• Ludicrous

• Silly

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a cold treat.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 1, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 1, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Mush.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter S appears twice.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

SLUSH

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Quickness.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

SPEED

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Duck sound.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 1, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

QUACK

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Deadly.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 1 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 1, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

FATAL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Not before.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

AFTER

Final Hurdle hint

A red bird.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

ROBIN

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Lamborghini spent the early 1970s trying to fix a problem most carmakers would have envied: a car that was already a legend yet still had room to improve. That car was the Miura, and “the fix” became the Miura SV, the model Lamborghini credits with starting a naming tradition it still uses today.

TL;DR: Take your coding skills to the next level with the Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 and The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle for just $37.97 (reg. $1,999.99) with code COURSE30 now until Aug. 2.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 + The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle $34.97
$1,999.99 Save $1,965.02   Get Deal

Whether you’re learning to code for work or just mastering this skill as a hobby, the Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 and The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle sets you up for success. This combo gives you the education you need, plus software that makes the process easier.

Right now, you can score it all for only $37.97 with code COURSE30 through Aug. 2.

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These days, you can master new lucrative skills without even setting foot in a classroom. This Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 and The Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle gives you all the tools you need — from the software to the lessons.

Start with Learn to Code with Python 3 taught by Joseph Delgadillo, a best-selling technology instructor ready to show you the ins and outs of coding. These courses were made with beginners in mind, so you don’t need any prior knowledge. He’ll also show you how to learn coding languages like C++ in just four hours, so it’s a great option for busy schedules.

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Type less and code more thanks to IntelliCode, and see a ranked list of next best suggestions as you go. You’ll have CodeLens, which shows you important information about your code to make the process easier.

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Hybrid SUVs have become increasingly efficient, but most earn their reputation by excelling in stop-and-go city driving. Maintaining that efficiency at highway speeds is a much tougher challenge, where the gasoline engine does far more of the work.

It's the final weekend of July, and while we wait for the hot new lineup from HBO Max to arrive for August (with DC's Lanterns and new docuseries Monsters of God on the way), the prestige service still has a few tricks up its sleeve for documentary lovers.

Affordable sports cars are becoming an endangered species. As prices continue to climb and automakers shift their focus toward SUVs and electrification, the number of genuinely fun performance cars that ordinary buyers can still afford has dwindled to just a handful.

While Will Ferrell's golf comedy The Hawk, Josh Duhamel's ranch drama Ransom Canyon, and WWE's Raw float around in Netflix's top spots as we approach the end of the month this weekend, if you're a U.S. subscriber looking for something worth adding to your watchlist, I have a few suggestions you might like.