Watching sports online has become more accessible due to the various streaming sites available. However, paying for a service to watch your favorite sport may not be a viable option, especially if you have a limited budget. This article focuses on free sites that will provide a great streaming experience.
You can easily access these sports streaming sites on various devices, including PCs, smartphones, laptops, tablets, Roku, and more. Some even feature a chat option letting you interact with other fans.
Legal copyright disclaimer: Here at SecureTools, we do not validate if the streaming sites, apps, or services are licensed for the content they broadcast. Additionally, we do not manage, own, re-sell or administer any streaming website, app, service, app, or add-on. Therefore, you will solely be responsible for the media you view or access.
A quick summary of the top free sports streaming sites
Are you short on time? Then, check out these top ten sports sites for quality streaming online.
- Fox Sports Go – You can enjoy up to four games simultaneously on a split-screen, with smooth device switching.
- Live Soccer TV – Easy to use interface, reliable free streamlining links, real-time games updates.
- SonyLIV – Provides Android iOS apps, live scoreboard, and premium packages with movie channels.
- Cricfree – Comprehensive source of cricket games that boasts international sports channels to watch live games.
- BBC iPlayer – Ad-free streaming, available on a variety of platforms, HD and 4K streams.
- Facebook Watch – Live chat for engagement, simple to access streams, live streaming of various games.
- Volokit – Does not have pop-ups or redirect links, HD quality streaming, regular season, and playoff games.
- BuffStreams – Reliable links to stream live sports, consistent streaming quality without interruptions, fast action buttons.
- BossCast – Features a popular sports channel, live chat service, allows you to change your timezone.
- Reddit – Not a sports portal but an untapped opportunity for smart sports lovers. Upvotes and downvotes make it easy to choose trustworthy links, numerous sports threads, and subreddits.
Why you should consider using a VPN when streaming live sports
There are many reasons why you need a VPN to watch sports online. But, generally speaking, the internet is unsafe, and your privacy and security can be compromised whenever you stumble upon a malicious site. The same holds true for sports streaming platforms too. Using an unsafe or potentially risky site exposes your online privacy to criminal hackers.
Nonetheless, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is handy for doing your activities anonymously. It reroutes your sports streaming traffic through private servers, keeping it away from insecure public servers. This helps to shield your data from snooping eyes.
Moreover, a VPN enhances your security by encrypting your internet traffic. Even if third parties intercept your sports streaming connection, they’ll only see a mass of random numbers and characters. Choose a VPN with AES 256-bit encryption to remain completely safe.
Finally, it will replace your actual IP address with the server’s IP that you use when establishing the VPN connection. Hence, it makes you look geographically located in the country where the server exists. In other words, you’ll be bypassing geo-restrictions and accessing any free sports site you want.
24 top-notch websites for online sports streaming – Detailed list
Like free movie streaming sites, sports portals tend to go offline occasionally. However, the options reviewed below are all working well. Also, we keep updating the list regularly to ensure the page only features functional websites.
Wondering what made us choose these websites for this list? Well, our research includes the following criteria:
- Monthly visitors
- User interface
- VPN friendliness
- Advertising model and ad frequency
- Categories
- Overall popularity
So, if you want to check a sports website for feasible streaming, you can analyze it against these parameters. You are good to go if you find all the boxes satisfactorily ticked.
But if you want some quick suggestions for the best websites to watch your favorite sports, here are the top 24 options for you.
Note: SecureTools (in fact, no one, including the sports platforms owners) cannot guarantee the security of the sports streaming sites listed below at every hour. That is why we encourage you always to use a VPN to protect yourself. SecureTools will not be held accountable for compromised identities or hacked devices as a result of streaming unsafe sports sites.
1. Fox Sports Go
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| foxsports.com/live | 9 million | Yes | 7 |
Fox Sports Go is a popular sports website due to the variety of sporting activities it offers. For instance, you can get MLB, NFL, NBA, Tennis, Premier League, F1, boxing, etc. But unfortunately, it is geo-restricted in the US, so you’ll need a VPN to unblock Fox Sports Go in your country.
You can access the site through your desktop or laptop. There are also Android and iOS apps to help you watch live sporting events whenever you are. Fox Sports Go also works well with Amazon Firestick, Apple TV, Roku, Xbox One, and Google Chromecast.
Pros:
- Split-screen to watch four games simultaneously
- Easy-to-navigate interface
- Switching between devices is seamless
Cons:
- Intrusive ads
2. Live Soccer TV
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| livesoccertv.com | 8.4 million | Yes | 4 |
Live Soccer TV is a free online sports streaming website allowing you to watch various sports. They include Cricket, Soccer, NFL, and Rugby worldwide.
Its interface is easy to use with different categories such as competitions, matches, channels, etc. Interestingly, you can even view past game scores, news, and live matches on the homepage.
Besides the web version, Live Soccer TV has iOS and Android apps to download from respective app stores. Regardless of how you choose to access the streaming service, you’ll get notifications and real-time game updates.
The most significant disadvantage of Live Soccer TV is that some of the streaming links are geo-blocked, depending on the provider. For instance, some streams are restricted in the UK, while others are only available in the US. So you need a VPN to unblock the desired streaming link in your region.
Pros:
- Mobile-friendly design
- Real-time updates on games
- Notifications for upcoming games
Cons:
- Geo-restriction limits access
3. SonyLiv
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| sonyliv.com | 25 million | Yes | 4 |
SonyLiv is the best streaming service to watch major soccer matches if you are a soccer fan. As the name suggests, Sony Group Corporation owns it, and the service offers high-quality streams.
You can enjoy cricket, WWE, MotoGP, tennis, UFC, and NBA on it. However, the site is geo-restricted in many countries, so you’ll require a VPN to change your location and access SonyLIV in the USA and other countries.
Apart from sporting activities, SonyLiv also features movie packages and other entertainment selections. Thankfully, you can access the site through mobile apps. However, please note that most of the content on SonyLIV originates from India, which might be a problem if you don’t understand the language.
Pros:
- Live scoreboard
- Offers mobile apps
- User-friendly interface
Cons:
- Indian language without subtitles
4. Cricfree
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| crickfree.be | 861K | Yes | 7 |
Cricfree is a popular streaming site primarily focused on providing cricket game links. The site manages the links incredibly well, and each stream you choose will work exemplary when watching the match.
Its user interface is easy to navigate, with the streams organized by the sports available. Besides cricket, the streaming site also has links for baseball, hockey, football, soccer, racing, tennis, and boxing.
Aside from the web version, Cricfree also offers iOS and Android apps. That’s how it helps you stay in touch with your favorite sporting activity on the go. However, some streaming links are filled with pop-up ads.
Pros:
- All-inclusive source of cricket matches
- Simple to use interface
- Links for other sports
Cons:
- Distracting pop-up ads on some links
5. BBC iPlayer
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| bbc.co.uk/iplayer | 600 million | Yes | 0 |
BBC iPlayer is a famous UK streaming service that provides a wide range of content. However, like many other platforms today, the site is only available to the UK audience. Thus, you must get a UK IP address to access this site in your region.
iPlayer lets you watch golf, football, soccer, cycling, basketball, cycling, etc. After successfully unblocking iPlayer outside the UK, apart from streaming live content, you’ll also get sports highlights and various other special events. The site organizes all these through different categories and channel filters.
You’ll stream it in this quality as long as the content is recorded in HD. In addition, selected streams are available in the 4K definition. However, there have been complaints that some streams do not consistently maintain high-definition quality.
Pros:
- Available on numerous platforms
- It does not show ads
- 4K streams available
Cons:
- Restricted to the UK only
6. Facebook Watch
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| web.facebook.com/watch/ | 2.8 billion | Yes | 4 |
Facebook Watch is an excellent place to stream various sports. Although only a few official streams are available, you can stream sports through your account for others to enjoy.
If you follow baseball, the site only broadcasts one MLB game weekly during the regular season. However, you won’t have to pay for anything to watch the stream ad-free if you already have a Facebook account.
You only have to head over to your Facebook account and click on the watch icon. Then type the word ‘sports’ in the search bar, and you’ll see the ongoing live matches. If you want a specific game, look for it in the search bar.
Pros:
- A variety of games are available
- Allows you to share the live streams
- Easy to access streams
Cons:
- Limits only one MLB match per week
7. Volokit
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| community.volokit.com | 30K | Yes | 7 |
Volokit is a streaming site where you can watch various sporting events, including MLB, NFL, UFC, NHL, XFL, etc. Furthermore, it allows you to stream regular-season and playoff games in high definition straight from your browser. Remarkably, there is a live chat window to engage with fellow fans throughout the stream.
The site has reliable links that work efficiently, making it an excellent option for free streaming. Fortunately, it does not have redirect links to other websites. In addition, everything is accessible on the site, making navigating simpler than many other options.
You’ll be bombarded with lots of ads when streaming in a small window. However, you can expand the stream to a full screen to avoid these ads. One significant advantage of using Volokit is watching multiple streams at once.
Pros:
- High-quality streams
- Multiple simultaneous streams
- Live events and games
Cons:
- No option to download streams
8. BuffStreams
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| buffstreams.is/indexcracked14 | 20K | Yes | 5 |
BuffStreams is a streaming site that offers sports streams for free. It focuses on reliability and usability for its users by making the website easy to navigate.
Some of the sports it broadcasts include soccer, basketball, football, hockey, racing, WWE, tennis, boxing, rugby, etc. In addition, several fast action buttons make it easy to find streams. They include ‘upcoming,’ ‘live now,’ ‘NHL,’ ‘MLB,’ and ‘NBA.’
Many of the free streams are available in standard definition quality. You can watch some streams in high definition, but they’ll require you to register.
You won’t face any problems watching the matches on your browser if you have sufficient internet speed. Interestingly, the website has a chat window that lets you engage with other fans while streaming the game.
Pros:
- A well-organized site that is easy to navigate
- Chat feature to interact with other fans
- Consistent streaming quality
Cons:
- Some streams require you to register
9. BossCast
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| bosscast.eu | 492K | Yes | 8 |
BossCast provides sports streams from popular channels like Eurosport, NBA TV, ESPN, TSN, etc. In addition, there is a curation system that allows you to stream games and events directly on the homepage.
Like other sites on this list, BossCast offers a live chat where you can talk with other fans while the game goes on. Additionally, the site lets you change the homepage timezone to match your country’s time, giving you access to local tournaments.
However, BossCast has some downsides that can affect your streaming experience. For example, numerous pop-ups and ads make it difficult to enjoy the games. Another major disadvantage is that some links will redirect you to new windows instead of the main homepage.
Pros:
- The live chat is a great feature
- Broadcast sports from popular channels
- Allows you to change the timezone
Cons:
- Aggressive pop-ups
10. Reddit
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| reddit.com | 1.68 billion | Yes | 3 |
Reddit is not a streaming service but an excellent platform for sourcing sports streams. Several subreddits are devoted to providing streams of professional sports such as soccer, baseball, football, basketball, and hockey.
The upvotes and downvotes are very useful as they help you know the best links to stream the games you want. Avoid links with few engagements because they may not have what you are looking for.
There are risks of clicking on links you are unfamiliar with on Reddit. For example, you can download viruses and spyware or be redirected to illegal portals or malicious-looking torrent websites.
Some of the safer subreddits you can get free sports are r/MLB for baseball, r/NCAAbbstreams for college basketball, and r/puckstreams for hockey.
Pros:
- Upvotes and downvotes to help you pick the suitable streams
- Subreddits for different sports
- Dedicated subreddits communities
Cons:
- Some links are potentially risky
11. CBS Sports
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| cbssports.com | 101 million | Yes | 4 |
CBS Sports is a streaming site that provides live sports streams and other sports-related videos and news. Some of the games it features include NFL, NBA, Football, MMA, NHL, NCAA, etc.
On top of the web interface, you can also download the mobile app to enjoy live sporting events remotely. However, CBS requires you to create an account to start streaming content.
The site also features live scores, schedules, match results, highlights, and other interesting information about sports.
CBS is a vast network, so you’ll get official and high-quality streams. However, many people confuse it with Canada’s CBC; while CBC also offers sports programs, CBS is different.
Pros:
- Videos and news related to sports
- CBS mobile apps
- High-quality streams
Cons:
- Requires you to create an account to get started
12. Hotstar
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| hotstar.com | 278 million | Yes | 5 |
Hotstar is a top free sports streaming site with various events, including cricket, baseball, swimming, tennis, etc. Moreover, it allows you to enjoy live streaming in HD quality.
The mobile apps provide convenient access to your favorite sporting activities. However, the platform is only available within the Indian geographic region, but you can use a VPN to unblock Hotstar in your country.
Pros:
- Live stream of various sports
- Smartphone apps
- HD quality streams
Cons:
- Geo-restricted
13. Sportrar.tv
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| sportrar.tv | 595K | Yes | 7 |
Moving on with the best free sports sites, the next is Sportrar.tv on this list. It allows you to stream various popular sporting events like golf, cycling, basketball, tennis, baseball, and more. The minimalist interface makes navigating and finding the sport you want to watch easy.
It does not require you to create an account to get started. If you change the date at the top of the home page, you can view upcoming matches for each sport. There is also an option to set your local time zone.
The website is integrated with Bet365, which shows you betting information, such as odds on various games. However, its biggest drawback is that the streams are not available on the site but rather through external links.
Pros:
- Clean interface that is easy to navigate
- Option to see upcoming games
- Provides betting information
Cons:
- Streams available through external links
14. Stream2watch
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| streams.stream2watch.sx | 520K | Yes | 8 |
Stream2watch provides both live sports streams and live TV. Although the site requires registering an account, it is worth the effort as the links are reliable. Some of the sports available include basketball, boxing, baseball, tennis, football, and cricket.
Notably, the website does not have its own content but hosts other sites’ links for easier access. Unfortunately, some of the links may not work correctly. Hence, you’ll need to proceed by trial and error to find the right one. It is a time-consuming activity and, thus, is a significant downside of this platform.
Nonetheless, the main advantage of Stream2Watch is that it is accessible on any platform, including browsers and mobile apps. However, you will have to deal with intrusive ads.
Pros:
- Broadcasts of global sporting events
- Reliable links
- Easy to navigate homepage
Cons:
- Some links are broken
15. ITV
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| itv.com | 35 million | Yes | 5 |
ITV is an excellent option if you are looking for free sports streaming in the UK. It features major sporting activities such as athletics, tennis, football, handball, NFL, NBA, etc. Apart from sports, the site also offers movies and TV shows, but you have to create an account.
Moreover, ITV.com has a channel dedicated to live matches and recent sports events. The site is easy to navigate, and you can quickly find a movie, TV show, or sporting activity. In addition, you can stream the content on your Android and iOS devices as the design is responsive, like the web interface.
Pros:
- Support multiple languages
- Broadcasts of sports, movies, and TV shows
- Responsive design
Cons:
- Commentators spoil the streaming experience
16. FITE TV
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| fite.tv | 481K | Yes | 2 |
Launched in 2016, FITE TV is a popular freemium sports streaming platform offering live and on-demand content. While it’s a premium website, you can register for free without a credit card. You can start watching immediately with no subscriptions, gimmicks, and hidden fees.
The platform has extensive sports content, including MMA, wrestling, kickboxing, boxing, and many other sports events worldwide. You can access it via a web browser or download the FITE app on your smart TV or mobile device.
The website offers users high-quality streaming with an easy-to-use interface. The site is among the top choices for sports streaming. Besides, it lets you watch past events like fighting, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage. FITE is now also one of the leading streaming services for films, live music events, and stand-up comedy. On it, you can watch shows by famous artists. Some include Black Sabbath, The Rolling Stones, Pitbull, J Balvin, and Iggy Pop.
Furthermore, FITE is compatible with all major devices. That includes tablets, phones, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, and desktop. Additionally, you can stream its content from your mobile to compatible connected TVs.
Pros:
- Good streaming links
- Minimal ads
- Intuitive design
Cons:
- Recurrent misclicks
17. SportLemon
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| http://sportlemons.net/ | 777K | Yes | 0 |
SportLemon is a web platform with a robust broadcasting system. It shows all major sporting activities and does not disrupt the viewing experience with ads like other free streaming sources. Registering an account to get HD live streams and access more features is also an option.
The site has an intuitive layout to let you browse the sport you want to watch quickly. In addition, SportLemon has a variety of sporting events that are rare to find on other websites. After creating an account, you can also download and save matches to watch offline.
Pros:
- Live streams without disruptive ads
- HD streaming
- Offline viewing
Cons:
- Registration is required to access more features
- My connection on-site was not fully secure
18. VIP league
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| vipleague.lc | 148K | Yes | 4 |
VIPLeague is a well-known sports streaming website around the world. It has a wide range of games compared to other sites. The best part is that the site displays all the available sports on the homepage. So you will only need to click on the game you want to watch, and the live stream will start immediately.
Besides watching live streams, you can also read sports news. However, VIPLeague is not accessible in many countries. So, if you find it unavailable in your region, consider using a reliable VPN service like ExpressVPN or NordVPN to unblock it.
Pros:
- Broadcasts a wide range of games
- Easy to access the game to watch
- Sports news available
Cons:
- Not available in some countries
19. LiveScore
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| livescore.com/en | 129 million | Yes | 4 |
LiveScore is a free-to-use information site that brings you lots of sporting activities.
Initially, it was designed to offer live scores of sports matches. However, it started providing live streams for some events due to its increased popularity. There is even an app to access LiveScore on both Android and iOS devices.
The layout of the website is straightforward to use. For example, you can get the list of live sporting events and upcoming matches directly on the homepage. Some available sports include tennis, soccer, basketball, and hockey, among many others.
Pros:
- Dedicated iOS and Android apps
- Simple and easy-to-use design
- Offers live matches of various sports
Cons:
- You have to refresh the page multiple times during streaming
20. Laola1
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| laola1.at | 3.3 million | Yes | 3 |
Laola1 is a sports streaming portal based in Australia. It will enable you to watch free sports stream on both desktop and mobile applications. You can also download and install an APK file to use the app on Smart TVs. So if you are on a budget, this is a great site to watch your favorite sporting activities.
In addition to the free version, Laola1 also has a premium membership. Some of its features include live streams in HD definition, ad-free, and interactive live-stream replay.
However, on the downside, like many other sports streaming sources listed here, you cannot stream Laola1 outside Germany, Australia, and some other selected regions. Luckily, with an Australia VPN, you can access it without problems.
Pros:
- Live streams in HD resolution
- Interactive live stream replays
- Ad-free
Cons:
- Only available in selected countries
21. SportSurge
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| https://sportsurge.club/ | 855K | Yes | 3 |
SportSurge is a relatively new sports streaming site that you should check out. Currently, it offers live streams of sports like football, basketball, hockey, MMA, motorsports, and boxing. The problem is that some links will redirect you to another site.
Although it doesn’t have ads on the interface, you may get ads during live streams. The developers indicate that the ads are to cover the site’s expenses. Fortunately, you don’t need to create an account to start streaming.
Pros:
- The interface is ad-free
- It does not require registration
- Good quality streams
Cons:
- A bit slower streaming experience
22. FootyBite
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| footybite.to | 548K | Yes | 4 |
FootyBite is a free live sports streaming platform that offers live coverage of all sports events. Those include football, hockey, baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, boxing, and wrestling. Although the site is a comparatively new addition to the sports streaming industry, it has earned a favorable reputation. That’s probably because of the comprehensive sports-watching experience it offers to sports enthusiasts.
It’s worth noting that the platform is not restricted to the EPL, Serie A, or La Liga. The site provides updates, news, and statistics on different leagues worldwide. You will likely find fixtures on the platform even if you want to watch MLS or the K-League. News, transfer scoops, and other intriguing details build anticipation as the game gets closer.
One of the most appealing things about Footybite is its interface. The site’s straightforward interface helps users find their desired sports quickly. In addition, its minimal design makes it easy to view any content on any device.
Moreover, Footybite is compatible with various devices like tablets, phones, and desktops. It’s a web-based platform, which means users can watch their favorite sports anywhere without any software or equipment.
Pros:
- Post-game highlights
- Well organized website
- Ad-free streaming
Cons:
- Available only in a few countries
- Some browsers (like Chrome) may mark it as a ‘potentially risky site’
23. ESPN
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| espn.com | 112 million | Yes | 4 |
ESPN is a leading America-based sports streaming channel that sports enthusiasts worldwide love. It was founded in 1979 and has since become a top sports broadcaster. The service offers to stream a wide range of sports events worldwide. It offers live broadcasts, highlights, news, commentary, and analysis on various sports. The sports ESPN covers include basketball, football, cricket, tennis, golf, boxing, and many more.
ESPN boasts an easy-to-use interface and user-friendly navigation that makes accessing news, highlights, analysis, and live broadcasts hassle-free. The service boasts apps for various devices like smartphones, tablets, desktops, etc.
In conclusion, it’s more than just a sports streaming site. It is a sporting encyclopedia that covers everything related to sports. Please note, however, that the site does not stream live sporting events.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Smooth design homepage
- Provides a wide range of sports
Cons:
- It shows distracting ads sometimes
24. MethStreams
| Website URL | Number of monthly visitors | VPN compatible | Ad annoyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| meth.amethstreams.com | 37.8K | Yes | 5 |
This is a clone of the once-popular sports streaming site CrackStreams that is immensely gaining popularity. It offers thousands of live streams in various categories like boxing, College Football, Basketball, Pro Football, MMA, and more.
The site is available on macOS, Android, and Windows, allowing you to watch your favorite sport on various devices. Thankfully, it is effortless to navigate MethStreams, regardless of your device. For example, when you click on an event’s link, the website will reroute you to the live stream page. Otherwise, it will give you a delayed stream option if the event is not live yet.
Pros
- Compatible with many devices
- Offers live streams of various sporting events
- It has a free version
Cons
- The quality of some streams is inferior
My favorite sports stream is blocked. What should I do?
Many sports streaming portals use geo-block to restrict their content to specific countries. As a result, your connection will be blocked if the site is unavailable in your region. The best way to overcome this is to use a VPN service to alter your location. Besides unblocking free sports streaming sites, a VPN provides online security and anonymity.
Our top recommended VPN to access sports streaming platforms is ExpressVPN. It is user-friendly, super-fast, and has remarkable unblocking capabilities. Furthermore, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to enable you to test the service to see if it fits your needs.
Check out whether your country permits streaming sports for free. Remember that some of the above services might not suit your region. So, always ensure you are using a site otherwise allowed access.
Is using websites to watch sports online a safe practice?
Many of the best sports streaming sites listed above are not official platforms. So, you won’t be wrong if you doubt their legitimacy.
However, rest assured that streaming your favorite games via any of those or other websites is neither illegal nor unsafe. Like watching TV shows, movies, and other stuff via different streaming platforms, you are free to watch your favorite sports via websites.
However, you should remain cautious about the kind of information you share online. For example, a free website asking for sensitive data, such as your bank information or billing details, raises a red flag. Unless you trust the website providers, you should avoid such platforms.
Why you should never use a web proxy to watch sports shows online
A web proxy works similarly to a VPN and can even help you bypass restrictions. That’s why many users often confuse the two to access sites offering free sports content. However, please be clear that proxies and VPNs differ despite providing similar functionality.
The problem with proxies is that they don’t use encryption. It means that your internet service providers (ISP) and other third parties can still view your activities. In addition, streaming live sports for free is often an act of piracy, so you should shun proxies to avoid getting into trouble.
Nowadays, you don’t have to break the bank to use a VPN. Instead, you can easily find several cheap premium VPNs that will maintain your privacy and security for only a few dollars a month. So don’t risk getting a legal notification when there are affordable ways to stay safe online.
Streaming service you need to watch sports
The most important thing you need to check for when selecting a sports streaming service is the sports channels it offers.
For example, you will have an easy time if you are an NFL fan. This is because all the NFL games are available on the NFL network and its local broadcast partners like (NBC, CBS, FOX) and ESPN. As a result, you won’t need regional sports networks (RSNs) to stream sporting events.
Unfortunately, the local broadcast channels will air local teams. However, you can opt for DirecTV’s Sunday Ticket or NFL’s Game Pass to watch matches of the out-of-market team. In addition, other sports events like NASCAR races (NBC, Fox, FS1, NBC Sports Network) or PGA Tours events (Golf Channel, CBS, NBC) are broadcasted on national channels.
How to watch international and league-specific sports
Some sports leagues have dedicated streaming services like NFL Sunday Ticket, NBA League Pass, NFL Game Pass, MLB.TV and NHL.TV. So, paying for a full streaming service is unnecessary if you love a specific sport or team.
Usually, these services only air games after they are broadcasted on regular channels. So, they are not ideal if you want to stream your local team in live action. Many of our recommendations above have sports channels for abroad markets. However, you must upgrade your subscription for additional international and regional sports content.
Which streaming service offers live sports
You would most likely want to watch live sporting events and on-demand sports-related content. That is why many of our recommendations above offer live streams regularly. After all, there is no need to cut the cord if you can’t access your favourite sports live.
Shows about sports and commentaries add value, but the services offering them alone don’t qualify as sports streaming sites. That is why we didn’t include services like HBO Max, despite offering sporting shows like Hard Knocks, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, and Ballers.
However, this may change as the service may start to offer live NHL games soon. Also, Starz doesn’t make it to the list, as it requires extra payment to stream live MMA matches. Like cable broadcasts, streaming services face coverage blackouts, so you need a service with local broadcast affiliates and RSNs. This will come in handy if they outbid each other for broadcast rights.
The best streaming service that offers more than sports
Although this article mainly focuses on sports content, our recommendations don’t exist in isolation. The monthly subscription is costly, yet some people in your household is a sports fans. For example, some services have plans of up to $50 per month, which could go higher if you include add-ons.
So, when choosing a sports streaming service, ensure it is valuable to everyone in your household. Thankfully, some services, besides sports, provide other content, like entertainment and news. For instance, ESPN+ and Fox Sports Go prioritize sports content, but BBC iPlayer has on-demand movies and shows and sports content.
Streaming sports: Simultaneous streams, DVR, and resolution
Sports coverage, especially with international events like World Cup or Olympics, may not air at convenient times everywhere. So, you should opt for a streaming platform with excellent DVR functionality if you cannot watch your favourite game for whatever reason.
Many sports streaming services allow you to record content for a specified time, although some allow unlimited recording. However, none currently offer offline viewing, like most on-demand streaming services.
Sometimes two programs may be broadcasted simultaneously, yet no one wants to watch recorded content. In this case, you need a streaming service that offers simultaneous streams.
Unfortunately, the picture quality of most streaming services isn’t as stable as cable TV. A high streaming resolution depends on the broadcast, so some channels or games may be limited to 720p resolution. However, you can improve the stream quality to 1080p by ensuring your internet speed matches the streaming service’s minimum bandwidth requirement. A 4k resolution needs more bandwidth and compatible devices, although only a few services support it.
How to stream live sports for free
You won’t need a subscription to watch some sports online. For instance, major sporting events like The Masters and Super Bowl are available for free online. Also, you can buy a TV antenna to access free over-the-air local channels, but the streaming quality and the number of channels may vary greatly depending on your location.
Peacock TV offers select sports on its free version, but NFL+ has replaced the free tier with a paid plan, although it is affordable. Generally, though, you should be prepared to pay to watch your favorite sporting events.
Moreover, there are illegal options too. For example, you can get a subreddit with a live stream or a sports streaming site with hosted links for sports content. However, we discourage you from using these sites.
Conclusion
The Sports Online Streaming Market size is estimated at $18689.05 Million as per the 2021 statistics, with a projection to reach $93016.95 Million by 2030. That means the industry is estimated to grow at 24.64% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) from 2022 to 2030.
That’s an exceptional estimated growth of the sector; hence, many are joining to entertain users online.
There are hundreds of free online sports streaming platforms today, so finding the best one can be challenging. In addition, it is not possible to find a single site that covers all sports.
Therefore, we have compiled the above options to make choosing the one that meets your needs easier. Furthermore, as it’s an extensive list, you can try multiple sites and see which suits you the best.
However, some of the websites may be geo-restricted and unavailable in your region. Also, remember that some streaming links may be illegal in your country. Likewise, some sites host malicious links and malware.
Hence, the best way to fix these issues is to use a VPN. Our top recommendation is ExpressVPN because it has an impressive unblocking capability and uses state-of-the-art features to protect your security and privacy.
FAQs
Many illegal sites can put you into trouble. However, the ones reviewed in this article are safe to use. Some even have a streaming app enabling you to watch your favorite sporting events on the move.
The easiest way to stay safe when using sports streaming sites is to use a VPN. It encrypts your connection and protects you from your ISP and other third parties. Besides, it will help you access blocked sites to enjoy sports online from anywhere.
Yes, numerous sites broadcast live sporting events. We have included both paid and free options in the list of top websites for online sports streaming. However, the availability of the event you want to watch may be a problem as many websites don’t offer all sports.
There are several websites you can use to watch live sports. Yet, some notable ones include BBC iPlayer, Fox Sports, Hotstar, Streamsports, and Volokit.
Cable TV is a significant source of entertainment for most households. However, if your cable TV is not working for whatever reason, you can use the best sites for online sports streaming listed in this article to watch your desired sports. You can easily access these sites through laptops, PCs, smartphones, and tablets.
Some sports streaming services don’t require creating an account to start watching your favourite sporting event. They include SportSurge, USTVGO, and Stream2Watch.
Most sports streaming services recommended above are compatible with major operating systems. This means you can stream sporting events on your smartphone, tablet, smart TV computer, Amazon firestick, etc.
Some free apps that offer live sports include Fox Sports Go, Peacock TV, CBS Sports, DofuStream, VUit, etc.
Yes, you may encounter streaming delays of up to 40 seconds when streaming online compared to using a cable TV channel. Unfortunately, this can lead to spoilers, which is annoying for sports fans.
Yes, most of the services we’ve recommended above are contract-free, so you can cancel your subscription anytime. Also, some services offer special introductory discounts or free trials, which you can only use once.
Both its official website and the clone of USTVGO are currently unavailable. If you visit, you’ll see the “Sorry, we are closed” message. Our testers and users keep reporting that they cannot load the site, suggesting its demise. Before shutting down, USTVGO was known for its news and entertainment. It also featured many popular sports channels.
