The short answer
We could not confirm that Vipbox holds rights to the sport it shows, and illegal streams are risky: when a seller of illegal streams was jailed in June 2026, the Premier League warned they “can expose fans to serious risks, including fraud, malware and identity theft” [1]. Watching legally can cost nothing: in the UK, BBC iPlayer carries Match of the Day and Six Nations rugby with a TV Licence [4] [5] [7], and ITVX is free with ads [12]. In Ireland there’s RTÉ Player [6]. For more sport, DAZN and ESPN are paid options [23] [27].
Checked 3 October 2026. Sports rights are sold country by country and season by season, so check what your local service carries.
- Best free (UK)BBC iPlayerMatch of the Day, Six Nations, Wimbledon [4] [5] [11]
- Best free (Ireland)RTÉ PlayerSix Nations rugby [6]
- Best for tennisTennis TV2,500+ ATP matches a year [17]
- Best for NFL outside USDAZNNFL Game Pass in 200+ markets [23]
Is Vipbox safe and legal?
It isn’t safe, and we could not confirm that it’s legal: illegal streams expose fans to “fraud, malware and identity theft” [1], in the UK their users can be prosecuted under Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006 [2], and we found no proof that Vipbox holds rights to the matches it streams. We don’t link to it or to sites that copy it.
What the authorities say
On 23 December 2025, FACT and police contacted more than a thousand users of illegal streams to warn them, and Merseyside Police said these services often carry malware that can lead to stolen banking details [2].
In a 2024 Crimestoppers survey, about a third of people in the UK said they, or someone they know, had been a victim of fraud, hacking or scams through illegal streaming [3].
The 10 legal Vipbox alternatives compared
Free options exist in the UK and Ireland: BBC iPlayer, ITVX and RTÉ Player [7] [12] [16], plus Tennis TV’s free highlights [18]; DAZN (with some free events), ESPN, YouTube TV, F1 TV, NBA League Pass and FanCode are paid [25] [28] [33] [39] [42] [45].
| Service | Cost | Where | Sports |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBC iPlayer | Free (TV Licence required) [7] | UK only [8] | Match of the Day (all 380 PL games), Six Nations, Wimbledon [4] [5] [11] |
| ITVX | Free with ads; Premium £5.99/month [12] | UK only [15] | Six Nations (10 live games a year) [5] |
| RTÉ Player | Free [16] | Worldwide player; some sport Ireland-only [16] | Six Nations (men’s, women’s, U20) [6] |
| Tennis TV | Free highlights; paid live [18] | Most countries [20] | 2,500+ ATP matches a year [17] |
| DAZN | From £25.99/month (UK); pay-per-view extra [25] | NFL Game Pass in 200+ markets [23] | NFL Game Pass, Super League Basketball, boxing pay-per-view [23] [24] [25] |
| ESPN Select / Unlimited | $13.99 / $31.99 a month [28] | Not stated | LALIGA, FA Cup, NHL, PGA TOUR; NFL and NBA on Unlimited [26] [27] |
| YouTube TV | $82.99/month (Sports Plan $71.99) [33] | US only [35] | ESPN, NFL Network, NBA TV, FS1; NFL Sunday Ticket add-on [32] |
| F1 TV Pro / Premium | Paid (by country) [39] | Selected countries [40] | F1, F2, F3, F1 ACADEMY [38] |
| NBA League Pass | Paid (by package and region) [42] | Worldwide; blackouts in US/Canada [43] | NBA games, NBA TV [42] |
| FanCode | Match, tour, monthly or annual passes [45] | India [40] | Cricket, F1, MotoGP, football, tennis [45] |
The 10 best legal ways to watch live sport
The best are BBC iPlayer and ITVX in the UK [7] [12], RTÉ Player in Ireland [16], Tennis TV for the ATP tour [17] and DAZN for NFL Game Pass outside the US [23]; all ten are reviewed below.
1BBC iPlayer
Best for: free football highlights and rugby in the UK
- Cost
- Free (TV Licence required) [7]
- Free?
- Yes [7]
- Where
- UK only [8]
- Devices
- Smart TVs, Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, consoles, mobile, web [9]
- Replays
- Yes (MOTD up to 7 days) [10]
The BBC has highlights rights to all 380 Premier League matches each season from 2025/26 to 2028/29, shown on Match of the Day [4]. It shows 5 men’s Six Nations matches a year and every Women’s Six Nations match [5], and it has streamed Wimbledon 2026 on Centre Court and the 2026 FA Cup Final in Ultra HD [11].
Match of the Day goes on demand from midnight after it airs and stays up until the next episode or for 7 days [10]. You need a TV Licence to watch or download anything, and watching without one is a criminal offence with a fine of up to £1,000 [7]. Streaming works only in the UK [8], on smart TVs, Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, games consoles, phones and browsers [9].
Pros
- Free with a TV Licence
- Ultra HD for big events
- Highlights of every Premier League game
Cons
- UK only
- Highlights, not live Premier League
2ITVX
Best for: every England Six Nations match, free
- Cost
- Free with ads; Premium £5.99/month [12]
- Free?
- Yes [12]
- Where
- UK only [15]
- Sports
- Six Nations (10 live games a year) [5]
- Devices
- Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, Samsung, LG, consoles, mobile [13]
- Replays
- On demand [12]
ITV shows 10 live Six Nations matches a year, every England game included [5]. ITVX asks for your postcode to work out which region’s rights apply, and most viewers in Scotland are in the STV region, so most ITV1 shows aren’t on ITVX for them [14].
Premium (£5.99 a month) removes ads on demand, but live TV still has ads [12]. It runs on almost every TV platform [13], but not outside the UK [15].
Pros
- Free live rugby
- Many devices
Cons
- UK only
- Scotland’s ITV1 is on STV instead
3RTÉ Player
Best for: Irish viewers
- Cost
- Free [16]
- Free?
- Yes [16]
- Where
- Worldwide player; some sport Ireland-only [16]
- Sports
- Six Nations (men’s, women’s, U20) [6]
- Devices
- Browsers, iOS, Android, Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick [16]
- Replays
- On demand; no live rewind [16]
- The catch
- No downloads; some sport geo-blocked [16]
In 2026 RTÉ shows 8 men’s Six Nations fixtures, 2 of them with Ireland, plus 7 women’s and 7 U20 fixtures, sharing the rights with Virgin Media until 2029 [6].
The player works worldwide, but “certain programmes can only be viewed within the Republic of Ireland or on the island of Ireland”, and you can’t rewind live TV or download programmes [16].
Pros
- Free
- Many devices
Cons
- Some sport is Ireland-only
- No downloads
4Tennis TV
Best for: ATP tennis
- Cost
- Free highlights; paid live [18]
- Free?
- Highlights [18]
- Where
- Most countries [20]
- Sports
- 2,500+ ATP matches a year [17]
- Devices
- Web, iOS, Android, LG, Samsung, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Roku [21]
- Replays
- All year round [22]
- The catch
- No Grand Slams or WTA [17]
Tennis TV is the ATP’s official service, with more than 2,500 live matches a year from every Masters 1000, 500 and 250 event and the ATP Finals; it does not have the Grand Slams, the Davis Cup or the WTA [17].
A free account gets daily highlights and interviews [18], matches stay on demand all year round [22], and paid streams are usually up to 1080p HD [19]. It isn’t offered in Cuba, Iran, North Korea or Syria [20].
Pros
- Free highlights
- Every ATP tour match
- Replays all year
Cons
- No Grand Slams
- Live matches are paid
5DAZN
Best for: NFL outside the US, and boxing
- Cost
- From £25.99/month (UK); pay-per-view extra [25]
- Free?
- Some events (Super League Basketball) [24]
- Where
- NFL Game Pass in 200+ markets [23]
- Devices
- iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV [25]
- Replays
- Full replays, condensed games (NFL) [23]
- The catch
- Pay-per-view costs extra [25]
In 2026, NFL Game Pass on DAZN shows every game live in more than 200 markets, with RedZone, NFL Network and full replays; some blackouts apply in the UK and Ireland [23]. Every 2026/27 Super League Basketball game is free to watch on DAZN worldwide [24].
In the UK, subscriptions start at £25.99 a month, and pay-per-view events cost £12.99 to £25.99 on top [25].
Pros
- NFL in 200+ markets
- Some free events
Cons
- From £25.99 a month in the UK
- Pay-per-view extra
6ESPN Select / Unlimited
Best for: US sport
- Cost
- $13.99 / $31.99 a month [28]
- Free?
- Not stated
- Where
- Not stated
- Devices
- Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox, PlayStation, mobile [29]
- Replays
- On demand [31]
- The catch
- Blackouts; location access required [30]
ESPN Select, formerly ESPN+, costs $13.99 a month and ESPN Unlimited $31.99 a month [28]. Select carries more than 30,000 events, including every LALIGA and FA Cup match, the NHL and PGA TOUR [26], and Unlimited adds all the ESPN networks, with the NFL and NBA [27].
Both plans include on-demand replays [31]. It runs on Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, Xbox, PlayStation and phones [29], and you need location access turned on, with games in a team’s home area possibly blacked out [30].
Pros
- Every LALIGA match
- 30,000+ events
Cons
- Blackouts
- Location access required
7YouTube TV
Best for: US cable sports without cable
- Cost
- $82.99/month (Sports Plan $71.99) [33]
- Free?
- 21-day trial [33]
- Where
- US only [35]
- Sports
- ESPN, NFL Network, NBA TV, FS1; NFL Sunday Ticket add-on [32]
- Devices
- Smart TVs, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, consoles, mobile [36]
- Replays
- Unlimited cloud DVR [34]
The Sports Plan includes 34 channels, among them NBC, FOX, ABC, CBS, ESPN, NFL Network, NBA TV and FS1, and NFL Sunday Ticket is an add-on [32]. The main plan costs $82.99 a month, with a 21-day free trial [33].
The cloud DVR has unlimited space [34], 4K needs the 4K Plus add-on [37], and the service is “only available in the United States” [35]. It works on smart TVs, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku TVs, consoles and phones [36].
Pros
- Unlimited DVR
- NBC, FOX, ABC, CBS and ESPN
Cons
- US only
- $82.99 a month
8F1 TV Pro / Premium
Best for: every F1 session
- Cost
- Paid (by country) [39]
- Free?
- Not stated
- Where
- Selected countries [40]
- Sports
- F1, F2, F3, F1 ACADEMY [38]
- Devices
- Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV, Roku [41]
- Replays
- Full race replays [39]
- The catch
- Not sold in every country [40]
For 2026, F1 TV streams every Grand Prix, Sprint, Qualifying and practice session live, along with F2, F3 and F1 ACADEMY [38]. Access gives live timing and race replays, Pro adds live sessions and onboard cameras, and Premium adds 4K HDR and Multiview on up to 6 devices [39].
Pro streams on Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV and Roku [41]. Pro and Premium are sold only in some countries: in the UK and Ireland F1 is on Sky Sports and Channel 4, and in India on FanCode [40].
Pros
- Onboard cameras on Pro
- 4K on Premium
Cons
- Not sold in the UK, Ireland or India
9NBA League Pass
Best for: NBA fans outside the US
- Cost
- Paid (by package and region) [42]
- Free?
- Not stated
- Where
- Worldwide; blackouts in US/Canada [43]
- Sports
- NBA games, NBA TV [42]
- Devices
- iPhone, iPad, Android, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast [44]
- Replays
- Full and condensed; archive since 2012-13 [42]
- The catch
- US/Canada blackouts [43]
League Pass offers games live, full replays, condensed games, NBA TV and an archive back to 2012-13, and Premium allows 3 streams at once and offline downloads [42]. It runs on iPhone, iPad, Android, Apple TV, Android TV and Chromecast [44].
Every game is live everywhere except the US and Canada, where local and national games are blacked out and appear on demand later [43].
Pros
- Every game outside the US and Canada
- Archive since 2012-13
Cons
- Blackouts in the US and Canada
10FanCode
Best for: sport in India
- Cost
- Match, tour, monthly or annual passes [45]
- Free?
- Not stated
- Where
- India [40]
- Sports
- Cricket, F1, MotoGP, football, tennis [45]
- Devices
- Phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs (2 at once) [45]
- Replays
- Highlights and full replays (F1) [46]
- The catch
- India-focused [40]
FanCode is F1’s broadcaster in India [40] and shows races live with qualifying highlights and full replays [46]. Passes cover cricket, F1, MotoGP, football and tennis, by match, tour, month or year, on 2 devices at once [45].
Pros
- Pay per match or tour
- F1 in India
Cons
- India-focused
Free, legal highlights
Highlights cost nothing: Channel 4 shows F1 race and qualifying highlights in the UK and Ireland [47] [48], and the Sky Sports Premier League YouTube channel posts highlights from every Premier League game [49].
Which service should you choose?
For free sport, choose BBC iPlayer or ITVX in the UK and RTÉ Player in Ireland [7] [12] [16]; otherwise choose the paid service that carries your sport, as below.
- UK, freeBBC iPlayer and ITVX [7] [12].
- Ireland, freeRTÉ Player [16].
- TennisTennis TV [17].
- NFL or NBA outside the USDAZN NFL Game Pass or NBA League Pass [23] [43].
- USESPN, or YouTube TV for the networks [28] [35].
- IndiaFanCode for F1 and cricket [40] [45].
Related guides
For films and series, see Vegamovies alternatives. For anime and manga, see MangaPark alternatives. More sport is in Sports, and the earnings of the athletes behind it are in Sports Stars, for example Luke Littler’s net worth.
Questions people ask
Is it illegal to watch Vipbox?
We could not confirm that Vipbox has the rights to what it streams, and in the UK users of illegal streams can be prosecuted under Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006 [2].
What are the best free Vipbox alternatives?
BBC iPlayer and ITVX in the UK [7] [12], RTÉ Player in Ireland [16], Tennis TV’s free highlights [18], and free Super League Basketball on DAZN [24].
Can illegal sports streams give my device a virus?
Yes. The Premier League warns of “fraud, malware and identity theft” [1], and Merseyside Police warned of malware that can steal banking details [2].
How can I watch the Premier League legally for free?
In the UK, every match’s highlights are on BBC iPlayer’s Match of the Day [4], and the Sky Sports Premier League YouTube channel posts highlights [49].
Sources
- Premier League, man sentenced for supplying illegal streams, 2 June 2026: https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4672515/premier-league-statement-man-sentenced-to-prison-for-supplying-illegal-streaming-services-and-loaded-firesticks
- FACT, warning to illegal streamers after joint police investigation: https://www.fact-uk.org.uk/fact-warns-illegal-streamers-following-joint-investigation-with-police/
- Crimestoppers, the scale of illegal streaming, August 2024: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/news-media/news/2024/aug/lifting-the-lid-on-the-scale-of-illegal-streaming
- Premier League, UK broadcast rights 2025/26 to 2028/29: https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/3807882
- Six Nations, UK free-to-air deal: https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/m6n/news/uk-free-to-air-tv-deal-announced-for-six-nations-rugby
- Six Nations, free-to-air coverage in Ireland until 2029: https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/m6n/news/free-to-air-six-nations-rugby-coverage-confirmed-in-ireland-until-2029
- BBC iPlayer Help, TV Licence: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/questions/about-bbc-iplayer-and-our-policies/tv-licence
- BBC iPlayer Help, watching outside the UK: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/questions/watching-outside-the-uk/outside-uk
- BBC iPlayer Help, supported devices: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/questions/supported-devices
- BBC iPlayer Help, Match of the Day availability: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/questions/programme-availability/motd-availability
- BBC iPlayer Help, Ultra HD content: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/questions/programme-availability/uhd-content
- ITV Help, what is ITVX Premium: https://help.itv.com/support/solutions/articles/204000073712-what-is-itvx-premium-
- ITV Help, TVs and platforms for ITVX: https://help.itv.com/support/solutions/articles/204000073719-which-tvs-and-streaming-platforms-can-i-watch-itvx-on-
- ITV Help, why ITVX needs your postcode: https://help.itv.com/support/solutions/articles/204000073717-why-do-you-need-my-postcode-
- ITV Help, watching abroad: https://help.itv.com/support/solutions/articles/204000073892-i-m-abroad-and-can-t-watch-shows
- RTÉ Player FAQ: https://www.rte.ie/player/en_IE/profile/faq
- Tennis TV, what can I watch: https://support.tennistv.com/hc/en-us/articles/21142679835420-What-can-I-watch-on-Tennis-TV
- Tennis TV, registered (free) account: https://support.tennistv.com/hc/en-us/articles/21873231702300-What-can-I-watch-with-a-registered-account
- Tennis TV, stream quality: https://support.tennistv.com/hc/en-us/articles/21873798421404-How-good-is-the-stream-and-video-quality-on-Tennis-TV
- Tennis TV, country availability: https://support.tennistv.com/hc/en-us/articles/21873885536028-Is-Tennis-TV-available-in-my-country
- Tennis TV Support, apps and devices: https://support.tennistv.com/hc/en-us/articles/21873203501084-How-to-download-the-Tennis-TV-app
- Tennis TV Support, what is Tennis TV: https://support.tennistv.com/hc/en-us/articles/21142724729500-What-is-Tennis-TV
- DAZN Group, NFL Game Pass 2026: https://dazngroup.com/press-room/dazn-brings-fans-closer-to-every-moment-of-the-2026-nfl-season-with-nfl-game-pass/
- DAZN Group, Super League Basketball free worldwide 2026/27: https://dazngroup.com/press-room/super-league-basketball-and-dazn-extend-partnership-to-bring-every-2026-27-season-game-for-free-to-fans-worldwide/
- DAZN, App Store (GB): https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/dazn-watch-live-sports/id1129523589
- ESPN Support, ESPN Select content: https://support.espn.com/hc/en-us/articles/40375658660244-What-is-the-available-content-on-ESPN-Select
- ESPN Support, ESPN Unlimited content: https://support.espn.com/hc/en-us/articles/40375771733652-What-is-the-available-content-on-ESPN-Unlimited
- ESPN Support, plans and prices: https://support.espn.com/hc/en-us/articles/40375475974036
- ESPN Support, devices: https://support.espn.com/hc/en-us/articles/40375532710164-What-devices-support-ESPN-Select-and-Unlimited
- ESPN Support, blackout policy: https://support.espn.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001482992-What-is-the-Blackout-Policy
- ESPN, the new ESPN plans: costs and key facts: https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/45989279/what-new-espn-dtc-service-plans-costs-key-facts
- YouTube TV, Sports Plan: https://tv.youtube.com/learn/sportsplan/
- YouTube TV, plans: https://tv.youtube.com/welcome/
- YouTube TV Help, DVR: https://support.google.com/youtubetv/answer/7129564?hl=en
- YouTube TV Help, availability: https://support.google.com/youtubetv/answer/7300225?hl=en
- YouTube TV Help, supported devices: https://support.google.com/youtubetv/answer/7129767?hl=en
- YouTube TV Help, 4K Plus: https://support.google.com/youtubetv/answer/10383365
- Formula 1, F1 TV 2026 features: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/f1-tv-announces-2026-presenter-line-up-and-expanded-regional-features.4NSIEaN3T7NgKvLyq4T1QV
- Formula 1, F1 TV Premium tier: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/f1-tv-launches-new-f1-tv-premium-subscription-tier.46ULoJHnve3zgO0pmiKzrF
- Formula 1, broadcast information: https://www.formula1.com/en/information/f1-broadcast-information.45y3LNsT1D6VoK0ZmX8ciJ
- Formula 1, how to stream on F1 TV (devices): https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/how-to-stream-the-2026-british-grand-prix-on-f1-tv-premium.46HEIayTXYPo4szwO12ekg
- NBA League Pass Support: https://support.watch.nba.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000585974-NBA-League-Pass
- NBA League Pass Support, blackouts: https://support.watch.nba.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002481154-League-Pass-Blackouts
- NBA League Pass Support, supported devices: https://support.watch.nba.com/hc/en-us/articles/360056385214-Supported-Devices-Requirements
- FanCode, subscribe: https://www.fancode.com/content/subscribe
- FanCode, Formula 1: https://www.fancode.com/formula1
- Channel 4, Formula 1: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/formula-1
- Channel 4 FAQ, watching in another country: https://www.channel4.com/4viewers/faqs?faqs=can+I+watch+all4+in+another+country
- Sky Sports Premier League, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkySportsPremierLeague
