Some fans use a VPN to change their IP address and unblock geo–restricted sports content in different countries. Others might use a VPN to protect their identity from hackers, trackers, and others lurking on unsecured streaming sites. Since many unverified sites don’t host their content, sports streamers can wind up on mysterious domains hosted by third parties. Either way, a VPN like Surfshark covers all the bases. Continue on in our full guide below, and we’ll break down all 28 for you! While cable TV used to be the go-to option for watching sports, the best free online sports streaming sites make it easier than ever to catch the action from anywhere with an internet connection. Whether you’re a fan of football, basketball, soccer, baseball, or any other sport, there are now dozens of free sports streaming sites that offer live broadcasts of games and matches from around the world. In this article, we have reviewed the 28 best free sports streaming sites, so you can enjoy your favorite sports live from any device.
Is it Legal to Stream Sports Games for Free?
It’s generally legal to stream sports games online, as long as you are streaming through an official source. However, some sites often stream copyrighted content, and that could cause legal complications. If you want to stream content that’s not available in your country (due to region-locking), you can use a VPN. Surfshark VPN is an excellent choice, and it hides your identity online. They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can use it to try out different free sports streaming sites without exposing your personal information.
The 28 Best Free Sports Streaming Websites
We’ve compiled this list of the best free sports streaming sites based on a number of factors: The sites mentioned in this article are purely for educational and informative purposes. We do not own, host, resell, or operate any streaming sites or addons. We cannot verify if these sites hold licenses to distribute or stream the content. We strongly recommend that readers do their due diligence before accessing any of these sites, as the user is solely responsible for accessing the media on such sites.
How many sports are covered How invasive and aggressive advertising is (i.e. pop-ups) Ease-of-use How long the site has been around Streaming quality and reliability
So while some sites are officially licensed and sanctioned, they might have limited sports coverage. Others might have every sport you can imagine, but we can’t verify their legitimacy. Since these sites are free, you also might run into standard or low-definition streams, or be prompted to upgrade to HD streams. Here’s our list of the 28 best free sports streaming websites.
1. StreamEast
While StreamEast hasn’t been around as long as some of the other sites on this list, it found its way to the top spot nevertheless. Streams mostly come in at 1080p, and they’re steady and reliable. Pop-up advertisements are at the bare minimum, and with a good ad-blocker, they could be nonexistent. They’re an excellent source for UFC, live PPV boxing, MLB baseball, NFL, NBA, Formula 1, every major league soccer matchup, and more. The site interface is simple, and it caters to live viewers. So you won’t be able to check out any replays. But once you’re on the home page, you’ve got clear layouts for live sporting events, events that happened the day before, and upcoming events set to take place the following day. Hit the site when your event is happening, and chances are it’ll be streaming live on StreamEast. So what’s the downside? Well, since this site hosts outside streams and links, we can’t know if streams are legitimate or completely secure. To ensure their security and privacy, many sports streamers opt for a VPN while browsing online. Visit: StreamEast
2. DaddyLiveHD
DaddyLiveHD has managed to fill the void left by USTVGO when it went down in early 2023. While it has its faults — namely some pop-up ads and some stream buffering — it does make up for it with the variety of HD streams it offers. Streamers have flocked to it as a replacement thanks to its extensive list of 310 channels from the EU, US, and Latin America. DaddyLiveHD also has most (if not all) of the channels sports fans might be interested in, like ESPN, Fox Sports, BT Sports and Sky Sports. Not to mention, DaddyLive offers a detailed schedule of all upcoming events. However, as a browser-based IPTV service, it won’t cover high-profile or PPV main events that aren’t on normal cable television. To do that, you’ll need to check out the No. 1 pick above or look elsewhere on this list. With DaddyLive being an unofficial free sports streaming site, many choose to get a VPN before venturing there. Visit: DaddyLiveHD
3. Live TV (SX)
LiveTV has been around since 2006 and has long been one of the best free sports streaming sites on the web. The site is available in multiple languages, but usually English by default. The sports covered on Live TV include football, boxing, tennis, basketball, and hockey. Their coverage runs the gamut, though, and you’ll be able to find pretty much anything you can imagine. The site is very clean and isn’t completely riddled with pop-up ads. First-timers can usually figure things out fairly quickly. Some great features differentiate Live TV from other free sports streaming websites. It provides a link score for each link to help determine which ones are the best. You can also create an account that helps you keep track of your favorite teams and events, and get betting odds on the website itself. Users of this site have reportedly used anonymous emails or burner emails for signups, though, to protect their privacy. Since it falls under the “unofficial” or “unverified” category, most won’t visit without a VPN. Visit: Live TV
4. 7plus
If you’re not from Australia, you might not have heard of this site. The Seven Network is the Land Down Under’s free-to-air network, which also live streams sports content on their 7plus player. Pro football fans are in luck, as 7plus carries many NFL regular season games, the NFL playoffs, and Super Bowl through at least 2024 when their licensing deal expires. Though you won’t see any major leagues, other than the NFL, the site has plenty of motorsports, cricket, boxing, surfing and other sports to choose from. So what’s the catch? You’ll need a VPN to connect to Australia if you’re not located there. At the time of writing, you could sign up for a free 7plus account by just providing your email address. You’ll be prompted to give an Australian postcode, which you can search for online. This site’s a great option for anyone looking for secured licensed sports streams. While you won’t need a VPN for security and privacy protection for this free sports streaming site, you will need it to change your IP address. Visit: 7plus
5. FOX Sports Live
Ten years later, anyone can use a free hourlong “Preview Pass” to live stream channels like FS1, FS2, Fox Desportes or the Big Ten Network. You’ll need to be connected to the internet from the United States, or use a VPN to connect to a U.S. server. In 2013, Fox Sports launched a way for cable and satellite customers to stream their sports while away from their TV. Once your free hour of streaming runs out, you’ll be prompted to enter a cable TV provider — like Spectrum, AT&T Uverse, or a streaming service like SlingTV — to continue on with full access. However, if you don’t have a TV provider, you could feasibly change your U.S. IP address every hour, and begin a never-ending loop of clearing your cookies and opening incognito windows to keep resetting your free “Preview Pass.” This option was available at the time of writing, so why not give it a shot to watch some free sports on FOX? Unfortunately, you won’t be able to access certain premium content, like the Daytona 500, on the preview. They save that for subscribers. Visit: Fox Sports
6. BuffStreams
Buffstreams is another one of the best free sports streaming sites available online. If you’ve been around the free sports streaming block, you’ll have likely heard of it. The website is designed to maximize usability and reliability for its users. For instance, the site has a number of fast action buttons, such as “upcoming” and “live,” that you can use to find streams easier. The sports available on this website are really quite well-rounded. You can find basketball, soccer, football, hockey, baseball, racing, UFC, WWE, boxing, tennis, golf, rugby, darts, and more. The streams are all available in standard definition for free. You can watch streams in HD but some of the links require you to create an account to begin the stream. There’s also a chat window where you can engage with other people watching the game. Like some of the others, these streams are not hosted by the site. So proceed with care. Visit: Buffstreams
7. BossCast
BossCast offers streams of sports from channels like NBA TV, ESPN, TSN, Eurosport, among others. The website also gives you a curation system that lets you watch games and events directly on its site, making it easier to enjoy the game. As with other streaming websites, BossCast has a live chat service where you can engage with fans and sports communities as the game rolls on. There are a couple of downsides to using BossCast that may impact your viewing experience. One drawback is that there are several aggressive pop-ups and ads that make enjoying the stream difficult. The other downside is that links open on different windows into new sites, causing some redirect headaches. Sports streamers, or anyone for that matter, would definitely want a VPN when winding up on unfamiliar, external streams. Visit: Bosscast
8. Pluto TV
Pluto TV has emerged as one of the premier, legitimate free-to-air TV channels out there. Which also makes it in our list of best free sports streaming sites. The Paramount Global-owned service (CBS is also under that umbrella) opted to release internet TV that operates like old school, over-the-air televison — i.e., regular programming with advertising. In the United States, you won’t get many live events, but you can catch sports highlights from CBS Sports HQ, FOX Sports, the NFL, MLB and PGA channels. For live fighting, you can enjoy some developing leagues on channels like Bellator MMA, FIGHT, Professional Fighters League, Glory Kickboxing and Impact Wrestling. As a bonus, you can change your IP address to Latin America (Panama or Peru, or example) and unlock an entirely different library, including some live Premier League games and replays, as well as live coverage of the Copa Libertadores 2023. Visit: Pluto TV
9. BBC iPlayer
Whether it is Wimbledon tennis, select soccer matches, cricket, basketball, or even snooker tournaments, the BBC iPlayer is an excellent live sports streaming site. The iPlayer lets you watch sports from the U.K. without those annoying pop-up ads, and you can also stream without stressing about malware, excessive tracking, or illegally hosted streams. We’ve used the BBC iPlayer extensively, and you can get it up and running by using a VPN to connect to a U.K.-based server from anywhere in the world. Once you have access to the streaming service (you just need to register with an email and provide a postcode based in the U.K. to get an account), you can watch live sports using the iPlayer interface. You can stream content in HD if it’s recorded in this quality, and there’s an option for 4K streaming, though this is limited to select streams through the Player. Some users, though, have complained that the streaming quality has a tough time staying consistent at high-definition quality if their internet speed drops slightly. You’ll need to get a UK IP address if you’re using this outside England, Scotland, Wales and North Ireland. Visit: BBC iPlayer
10. Live Soccer TV
Live Soccer TV is a free sports streaming website that lets you watch soccer, NFL, cricket, and rugby games. The website has an easy-to-use interface that separates the different sections by matches, competitions, teams, and channels. You can also see the scores for past games and check out live matches and news directly from the homepage. In addition to the browser version of the website, you can also download an Android or iOS app to access different sports links. The broadcasts are provided through a wide variety of sources such as NBCSN, Telemundo, NBCSports, and FuboTV. The biggest drawback to using Live Soccer TV is that some of the streaming links are geo-restricted. This will depend on the streaming provider you choose. Some streams may only be available in the U.S., while others are only viewable in the U.K. This issue can be solved by using a VPN, such as Surfshark to easily route your internet traffic through another country. Visit: Live Soccer TV
11. Sportsurge
Sportsurge has become one of the most reliable go-to platforms for live streamers. So it’s found its way to our list of the best free sports streaming sites. While the links on Sportsurge are all external, they’re vetted and rated by the streaming community, so the most reliable, secure, and least ad-riddled rise to the top. Additionally, Sportsurge provides key information about each stream, such as the framerate of the video and the number of ads one might encounter. The information is laid out nicely in the form of a table which makes it a breeze to assess each stream. In general, streams are reliable, but the definition varies. Keep in mind that you’ll most likely end up on third-party sites, so proceed with caution. A VPN and good antivirus software are key. Visit: Sportsurge
12. SonyLIV
If you’re looking for a streaming service to watch soccer games, SonyLIV is one of your best options. Supported by Sony, this website provides free high-definition quality sports streaming options. You can also stream tennis, cricket, UFC, MotoGP, WWE, and the NBA through SonyLIV. If the site is unavailable in your country, you might need a VPN to change your digital location. You can access the platform on your Android or iOS devices through their respective apps. Sounds perfect, right? The major drawback to SonyLIV is that you’ll need an Indian number to get access. So if you don’t have one, or know someone who can verify your account, you’re out of luck. Visit: SonyLIV
13. FootyBite
FootyBite is another one of the leading free sports streaming sites. Its interface is clean and very easy to use, with minimal ads. The links are reliable and some events are even available in high definition. The streams on FootyBite open on the website itself, without any redirection or pop-ups. As the name suggests, the website is primarily focused on streaming football games. But other sports, such as basketball, hockey, cycling and baseball are also covered. The FootyNews section is another useful feature, as it provides the latest information on football events from the major leagues. All in all, it’s a solid site for people looking for free sports streams. But like many other sites on this list, the legitimacy of where their streams are coming from can’t be verified. Visit: FootyBite
14. ROJADIRECTA
If you want a simple, no-fuss website that provides high-quality football (soccer) streams, then ROJADIRECTA ticks the boxes. The site hosts links for football matches in several countries across different leagues, so there’s almost always something on. To meet their audience’s needs, they’ve also expanded into broadcasting motorsports like Formula 1, combat sports like boxing and UFC, and also basketball, tennis and volleyball streams, among others. The usual caveats that come with external links apply to ROJADIRECTA as well. Some of the links may not work, while others may be in a language you don’t understand. We found the success rate of streams listed on ROJADIRECTA to be a bit better than many competitors, landing it as one of our best free sports streaming sites. Visit: ROJADIRECTA
15. Peacock TV
NBC is one of the leading sports broadcasters in the US, alongside ESPN, FOX and CBS. Just like the other two, NBC also offers live streaming of sports content through a separate platform — theirs is called Peacock TV, available through a website and app. Peacock TV’s free tier has free sports highlights and programming, and you’ve also got free access to live sports channels like NBC Sports, the NFL, WWE and Premier League channels, and NBC Golf. Unfortunately, most live premium events will only be available on Peacock’s paid plan. Peacock’s premium version (still on the lower end at $4.99 per month) has access to most sports content from NBC. If you use a TV service like Dish, Verizon, Spectrum, Cable One, etc. you can often connect for free. Visit: Peacock TV
16. YouTube
Everyone knows YouTube as the free streaming platform for all kinds of videos, from vlogs and reviews to music videos and news pieces. But it’s also home to some exclusive live sports. Navigate to their Live or Sports sections, and oftentimes you’ll have free events live streaming from around the world. Depending on the day, you could live stream an MMA fight in Thailand, a soccer match in Argentina, or select MLB baseball games from the U.S. Some sports channels and organizations, like BT Sports and UEFA, will even air a championship final live on YouTube. Admittedly, though, finding free sports streams on YouTube will take some research and depend on specific promotions. In most cases, top sporting events are only aired on official paid platforms. But YouTube doesn’t fall short here, either. If you’d like, you can get YouTube TV (YouTube’s subscription streaming service) and get access to premium TV channels. This subscription wouldn’t be free but covers most major events and leagues. Want to stick to free sports streaming sites? Then keep an eye on YouTube Live and Sports for the occasional official stream. Visit: YouTube
17. RedBull TV
This one is for fans of adventure sports. Red Bull is one of the most established brands in sports like surfing, motor racing, snowboarding, skating, and so on. It has free live streams for several of these events on its website, Red Bull TV. In fact, you don’t even need to create an account to start watching live sports on the website! The website also provides a host of information on different sports, athletes, and upcoming events. It is a great resource for adventure sports enthusiasts to learn more about the sport and stay up to date. Visit: Red Bull TV
18. Cricfree
Cricfree is one of the best free sports streaming websites that specialize in providing links to cricket games, but also hockey, baseball, soccer, football, boxing, tennis, and racing. The website does a good job of managing its links, ensuring that each stream you pick works well when you go to watch the game. Cricfree also has an easy-to-use interface that organizes the streams by the different types of sports available. In addition to the web version of the streaming version, you can also use the Android or iOS app to stay up-to-date on your favorite sports. As with most of the websites on this list, Cricfree primarily provides links to streams hosted elsewhere online. The downsides to this include coming across potentially geo-restricted sources, as well as accessing websites that use pop-up ads. The geo-restrictions for Cricfree can be lifted with a VPN though. You can try a VPN free for 30 days due to the money-back guarantee, by clicking the orange button below. Visit: CricFree
19. FirstRow Sports
FirstRow Sports is a name that has become synonymous with sports live streams over the years. It is particularly popular amongst football fans. Streams for almost every football match in the world can be found here along with streams for other sports, such as basketball, boxing, UFC, ice hockey, and rugby. Streams are sorted as per different sports, which makes it easy to find the event you’re looking for. All the links provided on FirstRow are external. There is resultantly no guarantee that each stream works properly. In our experience, getting the right stream involves a lot of trial and error. Moreover, most links have at least two pop-up ads, which makes the whole experience less enjoyable. Given that all links are external, you should use a VPN before clicking on links provided by FirstRow. This will help protect your identity and privacy online. Click on the orange button below to get yourself started with a 30-day free VPN subscription. Visit: FirstRow Sports
20. CricHD
Another website that live-streams a variety of sports is CricHD. Of course, the focus is on cricket, but links for motorsports, rugby, hockey, tennis, and boxing are also available. The website is designed in a way that prioritizes functionality. It hardly takes any time to find the event you want to watch and get a working stream. CricHD provides a mix of internal and external links. Internal links, which open on the website itself, work seamlessly. You may encounter a few ads, but that’s about it. External links are less reliable. Some of these don’t even lead to actual streams. So, you must exercise caution in choosing links on CricHD. Like some of the other websites mentioned above, CricHD also features a live chat window. This is usually buzzing with debates and discussions between cricket fans. Visit: CricHD
21. LiveSport24
LiveSport24 has been around since 2008 and has become a popular one-stop shop for live soccer, basketball, baseball, football, racing, ice hockey, and almost any live sporting event you can imagine. The interface is set up simply enough, you can scroll by the latest live broadcasts, or search out sports channels and browse by specific sports. While the usability and functionality of the site are great, you will have to navigate some aggressive and invasive pop-up advertising. Even a good ad-blocker won’t save you from all of them, and to get the streams to work, we had to let the pop-ups run their course. But once through, you do find high-quality, reliable streams. Browsers mark this site as “insecure” upon navigating there, and streams are external links, so make sure to use a VPN before hopping over to protect your privacy, and yourself from potential threats. Visit: LiveSport24
22. ESPN
The ESPN website is a great alternative to its cable services. It provides a litany of great sports content, including live matches, analysis videos, and highlights. ESPN features mostly American sports, such as NBA basketball, NFL and college football, and baseball. It has also started covering MMA and soccer. This is, however, more of a strings-attached free player. While the highlights and analysis videos are free, you will need a subscription to watch live games and matches. You can either use your existing TV/cable subscription to log in or purchase a streaming subscription on the website itself. ESPN is available on PCs, Macs, Android devices, and iPhones, making it easy to watch your favorite sports on the go. Visit: ESPN
23. Facebook Watch
Facebook Watch is a great platform for watching streams of a variety of sports online using your Facebook account. There are a limited number of official sports streams, users can stream sports themselves through Facebook Watch for other fans to enjoy. However, you should also be cautious of inauthentic streams as they may not be what you’re looking to watch and could contain illegal content. All you need to do is log in to your Facebook account, head over to Facebook.com/watch, type sports into the search bar on the left, and select the Live filter option. If you’re looking for a certain game, you should try and search for the name of the team instead of the generic term “sports.” You might get lucky. Visit: Facebook Watch
24. Stream2Watch
Stream2Watch has both live TV and live sports streams available on its website. While you need to create a free account to access the streams, the reliability of the links could make it worth the extra step for some streamers. Some of the sports offered on the website include boxing, basketball, baseball, football, tennis, and cricket. This website doesn’t host its own content but collects links from other sites, so some of the links may redirect to illegal streams in your country or may be broken. Many sports streamers who don’t want to sign up for a site like this have moved to other Stream2Watch alternatives. Visit: Stream2Watch
25. BatmanStream
Another website that provides streaming links for multiple sports is BatmanStream. In fact, the number of sports available on BatmanStream is the highest among all websites listed here. Some of the uncommon sports it covers include fencing, equestrian, handball, and e-sports. The links on BatmanStream are hit or miss. Most of the HQ streams actually lead to a different website which requires a paid subscription to view content. Only some of the “Flash Streams” actually work, and that too after several pop-ups. There are a lot of ads on the site itself, which hinders the ease of use and navigation. The layout is also a little haphazard and may pose challenges to inexperienced users. Visit: BatmanStream
26. Reddit
Of course, many of the sites mentioned above grew in popularity thanks to online streaming communities on social media sites. No site has been more effective in sharing live sports streams throughout the years than Reddit. In the past, official Reddits (organized online communities) were dedicated to free sports streaming, whether was NFL, UFC, boxing or any other sport you can imagine. Due to copyright complaints, many of these groups have been forced to shut down over the years. However, this doesn’t mean that scouring Reddit groups — or even Googling “Reddit free streams + (your desired event)” — won’t turn up reliable recommendations for the sporting events you’re looking for. Chances are, you’ll find your way back to a site that is featured in our list. If you hear of a good new site, let us know in the comments! Visit: Reddit
27. 123TV
123TV is a fairly reliable TV streaming site that offers US sports channels. You won’t find any major PPV events, but you will have access to any sports that are broadcast on channels like ESPN, NBC, CBS, NBA TV, NFL Network, and Showtime, among others. This means live streams for most American leagues, such as the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and NCAA college sports. The interface is one of the most user-friendly we’ve come across. The layout has large icons, and channels provide a schedule of the day’s lineup. All streams open on the website itself, which means limited ads and no directing off the site. Since the site is sorted by channel, and not sports or events, finding a specific game or match might take some research. So what’s the problem? While this site would easily make the top five best free sports streaming sites under normal circumstances, we’ve noticed it hasn’t been working properly this year. Only a select few channels work, and reliability is totally hit or miss. We’ll keep an eye on this one, but for now, it’s staying around the bottom. Visit: 123TV
28. Methstreams (Crackstreams 2.0)
Self-touted as “Crackstreams 2.0,” this site appears to be a revamping of the well-known Crackstreams streaming domain. Methstreams covers a wide variety of sports, though it specializes in combat sports like boxing, UFC and WWE wrestling. While they are few and far between, streams that are available are reliable, steady, and of solid quality. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Sports streamers also won’t be bombarded by pop-up ads. Though they’re there, they can be kept under wraps by a good ad blocker. The main problem here is that users trying to watch premium live events in HD will be redirected to another signup and registration page. Also, many streams appear to be out of date, or not updated regularly. Considering the unsecured nature of Methstreams’ third-party hosted streams that are there, most wouldn’t enter the site without a VPN in tow. Visit: MethStreams
Popular Free Sports Streaming Sites That are Offline
As is the nature of sports streaming sites, sometimes user favorites go the way of the dodo. Here are some big-name sites that have been shut down, transitioned into other services, or otherwise mysteriously disappeared.
Sportrar.tv: This site was once a hotspot for free live streams of all things sports. While the site is still active, you’ll no longer find free live streams here. What you will find, however, is a helpful list of official broadcasters of upcoming games and matches. USTVGO: This minimalist IPTV site was one of the go-to sites for sports streamers. That is, up until early 2023, when USTVGO closed down. Currently, there is no explanation for its or its mirror sites’ disappearance.
Why Should You use a VPN to Stream Live Sports?
Streaming sports is oftentimes one of the most common reasons people use a VPN. A VPN allows you to access otherwise geo-locked content in specific locations. For example, you can use a reliable VPN to connect to Luxembourg and live stream the entire Formula 1 season for free. Another important reason to use a VPN when streaming live sports is so a user can protect themselves from malicious links and third-party trackers. Oftentimes, you’ll see a clear “unsecured site” notification in your web browser when navigating to free sports streaming sites, as they could contain links that are not safe to click on without taking the proper precautions. In addition to using a VPN, it’s critical that you install an effective antivirus program along with a popup ad blocker. Finally, a good VPN offers users a secure internet connection through advanced encryption and an anonymous IP address. So no hackers, scammers, or other lurking third parties will be able to know a streamer’s true identity.
Wrapping Up
There are a lot of great choices when it comes to finding free sports streaming sites online. Whether some of these are geo-locked based on where you live or they provide links to mysterious domains, the issue is easily fixed by a VPN. You should also keep in mind that some platforms and streaming links may not be legal in your country. Always check your country’s laws around streaming and copyright protection before deciding to venture onto free sports streams of live events or games. Also, remember to be cautious when looking for streaming links for live games and events. You could run into many websites that host malicious links and third-party tracking programs. Make sure to double up protection by using a VPN and a strong antivirus program to protect yourself.
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