Kayo Sports Review & Guide
When it comes to catching sport on the big screen, it’s hard to look past Kayo. A relative newcomer to the Australian streaming and entertainment market, Kayo has quickly asserted itself as one of the go-to services for local sports fans, regardless of what team you follow, or which league they play in. If you’re thinking about getting a Kayo subscription, read on to find out all you need to know about Kayo Sports with this Canstar Blue guide.
What is Kayo Sports?
Kayo is a streaming service that’s built solely on sport. That’s right, no movies, no latest releases from the big time TV shows, just sports. From local leagues such as the NBL through to sports and competitions from overseas, such as the NBA, MLB and NFL, with hours of on-demand coverage available for most sports and leagues. That means you can actually tune into your favourite team without sacrificing sleep, or maybe even try watching a new sport altogether – there’s new content uploaded daily.
How much does Kayo Sports cost?
Kayo has multiple monthly subscriptions to choose from – the One Plan ($25/month) and the Basic Plan ($35/month) – although it has also offered cheap introductory deals in the past to entice new customers to sign up, so it pays to keep an eye out for any potential discounts.
| Brand | Subscription Type | No. of Screens/same time viewing | Advertised Cost^^/month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Kayo One Subscription
min. cost $25 over 1 month |
1 | $25 | Go To Site |
|
Basic Subscription
min. cost $30 over 1 month |
2 | $35 | Go To Site |
 |
^^View important information | |||
What’s the difference between the Kayo plans?
With three options to choose from, which plan is the best fit for you, and what’s the difference? The main difference is how many screens you can simultaneously stream on, with the One plan offering one stream and the Basic plan allowing for streaming on two screens. While this isn’t a huge jump, it can be a handy option for larger households, or for when there’s plenty of sports on.
Kayo offers HD streams regardless of which plan you decide on, allowing you to watch your favourite sport in 1080p quality, with the quality adjusting depending on your internet connection and speeds. However, Kayo doesn’t currently offer any stream in 4K definition.
| One Plan | Basic Plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per month | $25 | $35 |
| Number of screens you can watch at once | 1 | 2 |
| On-demand sports | ||
| High Definition streaming | ||
| ‘Key Moments’ match highlights | ||
| Split screen view | ||
| No spoilers | ||
| Watch across all compatible devices |
How do I upgrade my Kayo subscription?
If you’re looking to treat yourself to a higher subscription from Kayo, you can upgrade via the ‘My Account’ section of the Kayo website or app, where you’ll be given access to your new subscription plan immediately, although you’ll be charged pro-rate immediately as well.
What is Kayo Freebies?
Kayo Freebies is the new free offering from Kayo Sports, giving viewers a taste of sports, talk shows and documentaries, all without having to sign up to a plan. Offering similar features to the full Kayo plans, Kayo Freebies only offers select content, with that content changing each month to cover different sporting events and talk shows. Kayo Freebies is also different to the free trial that Kayo Sports currently offers.
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How can I watch Kayo Sports?
There are a number of ways to catch all the action on Kayo, including on your phone, tablet, home TV as well as your laptop or desktop computer. Kayo is available on both iOS and Android operating systems, as well as Telstra TV, Chromecast, and internet browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Microsoft Edge, allowing you to watch the game regardless of your tech choices.
- A Kayo Smart TV app is available on select Android, Samsung, Hisense, LG and Telstra TVs, although states that an app is being developed for other Smart TV brands.
Can I watch Kayo overseas on my device?
Kayo can only be used within Australia, even with a VPN, meaning if you’re travelling overseas, you’ll have to settle for the local sporting scene.
What sports can you watch on Kayo?
Kayo is home to more than 50 sports, covering the following:
- American Football
- AFL
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Boxing & MMA
- Cricket
- Cycling
- Darts
- Extreme Sports
- Field Hockey & Ice Hockey
- Football
- Formula One & Motorsport
- Golf
- Horse Racing
- Rowing
- Rugby League
- Sailing
- Surfing
- Swimming
For a full list of what’s available on Kayo, head to our complete list here, or check out Kayo’s range of documentaries and highlight reels to keep you going during the off-season.
Can you record sports on Kayo?
Kayo doesn’t offer a recording feature on its live streams, but does allow you to pause live streams so you don’t miss the action, with a rewind feature also available, allowing you to go back up to 2.5 hours of the video progress timeline.
Sign up to BINGE!
Are you looking for something binge-worthy? Why not check out BINGE? With multiple subscription plans available, you can choose a plan that suits you (or your family) and settle in for a night on the couch with a wide range of movies and shows!
| Brand | Subscription Type | No. of Screens/same time viewing | Advertised Cost^^/month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $10 over one month |
1 | $10 |
Go To Site |
|
min. cost $19 over one month |
2 | $19 |
Go To Site |
|
min. cost $22 over one month |
4 | $22 |
Go To Site |
|
^^View important information | |||
Kayo Special Features
In addition to a wide-variety of live sports and sporting documentaries, Kayo also has a number of special features up its sleeve to help make game time more convenient (and exciting) for your viewing pleasure. Kayo special features include:
- SplitView: SplitView allows viewers to watch multiple matches at the same time, splitting your mobile into two screens, or your laptop or TV into four to help you keep track of multiple matches and codes. You can change how you alter the splitscreen action, opting for one larger window and three smaller windows, or four evenly split windows if you’re on a larger screen, with the ability to also toggle sound between windows if something exciting happens in one match.
- Key Moments: Key Moments is an optional video available on the video player timeline, which showcases the major highlights from matches. Not available on all matches, you can also turn off Key Moments if you don’t want any spoilers.
- No Spoilers: Speaking of spoilers, Kayo offers the ‘No Spoilers’ feature, which turns off all live and final scores to ensure the match you’ve been waiting to watch isn’t spoiled. All scores are turned off on the home screen, saving you from accidently seeing anything while you’re browsing.
- Interactive Stats: If you’re a stats fanatic, Kayo has you covered, with Interactive Stats available on select cricket, AFL, NRL and A-League matches. Interactive Stats allows you to create your own stats covering the major areas of the sport or match, allowing you to customise your viewing experience to become a true armchair expert.
- Kayo Minis: Another option for those pressed for time, Kayo Minis are a highlight package to give you the best bits of the match in a 30-min video. While only available for a number of sports and competitions, it does save you if you’re running short on time but still want to catch the match.
- Pop-out Video: Similar to SplitView, Kayo’s Pop-out feature allows you to keep an eye on the game while using your device for other functions.
- From Start: If you’ve missed the kick-off, no problem! Kayo’s ‘From Start’ features allows you to watch an on-demand replay of the match from the beginning, allowing you to tune in on what you’ve missed out on.
- Multiple Camera Views: To help immerse fans into their sport of choice, Kayo has a number of camera options available, although this will depend on the sport that you’re watching. For example, racing fans will have the option to switch to ‘RaceView’, which opens up multiple camera angels to help viewers experience the race.
- Notifications: Kayo allows you to set notifications on your favourite sports and teams, ensuring that you don’t miss your team hitting the field. You can set notifications via the Settings menu on your profile.
How much data does Kayo Sports use?
There’s not much worse than your internet cutting out in the dying minutes of a tied game, especially when you’re not close to the TV. While you can always buy a data-heavy phone plan if you’re really worried about being without internet, finding out how much data Kayo uses may save you some heartbreak down the line, although how much data the Kayo app uses depends on the quality you prefer to watch the action in.
Kayo Vs. Foxtel
Until recently, Foxtel was the biggest player on the streaming scene, with plenty of Aussies turning to the service for sports, movies and everything in between. But with Kayo seeming to take the market by storm, what are the main differences between the two big hitters?
| Features | Kayo Basic Plan | Foxtel Plus with Sports HD package | Foxtel Now Essentials with Sports package |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installation Fee | $0 | $100 | $0 |
| Monthly Cost | $35 | $59.20 – $74 | $54 |
| Lock in contract | No | 12 month contract or monthly subscription | No |
| Free Trial | Yes | No | No |
| Number of simultaneous streams | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| HD Streaming | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Comparison correct as of February, 2023.
While Kayo predominantly features sporting events and documentaries, Foxtel’s content is more spread out over a number of sporting channels, such as Fox Sports and ESPN, while also providing sport specific channels like Fox Cricket and Fox League.
With both offering coverage in high definition, as well as giving you the option to catch the action on-demand, deciding between the two will depend on what you (or who you’re sharing the subscription with) are looking to get out of it. If you’re focused on just sports, or you’re looking to stick to a budget, Kayo may be more up your alley, but if you’re looking to watch movies in the off season, subscribing to Foxtel gives you the option to catch a latest release when the full-time whistle blows.
Is a Kayo subscription worth it?
It can be tough to decide which streaming services are really worth it, but the great thing about Kayo is you’ll never watch the same thing twice! The sporting drama comes thick and fast, so if you have a need for speed, don’t want to miss a kick, and generally just love sports from all over the world – especially the U.S. – Kayo is a budget-friendly no-brainer.
Just make sure your favourite leagues and teams are included. While Kayo covers most sporting bases, it doesn’t have absolutely everything. Plus, some niche sports can come and go depending on the broadcasting rights, so keep your eyes peeled. But if you’re favourite teams are covered, Kayo represents one hell of a good deal. And if you’re not 100% sure, check out what other sports streaming platforms are available in Australia to see if you’ve backed the right team.
What’s the best way to get Kayo Sports?
If you’re looking to sign up to Kayo, simply visit the Kayo website and click on the ‘Sign Up’ button, or on which plan you’re looking to subscribe to. You’ll be taken to a new screen, where you’ll be asked to create an account, as well as enter payment details. You can also sign up via the App Store, although you’ll have to sign up via your browser if you’re using an Android device.
Telstra internet or phone customers can also sign up to a Kayo Sports subscription, and often at a discounted rate, provided their current plan meets the eligibility terms and conditions.
About the author of this page
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Site Editor, Dean Heckscher. He’s our resident expert on all things automotive, health & fitness, streaming and more. Dean is also one of Canstar Blue’s customer research report producers, helping to turn complicated subjects into easily-digestible information for our readers. He’s passionate about helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services.
Picture credits: leolintang/shutterstock.com, Chaay_Tee/shutterstock.com
Frequently Asked Questions about Kayo Sports
If you wish to cancel your Kayo subscription, you can do so via the ‘My Account’ section of the website or app. Cancelling your subscription takes effect at the end of the current monthly subscription period, with no pro-rate refunds available, meaning you won’t get a refund if you cancel halfway through the month.
You can watch Kayo on your TV either through the Smart TV app, or through other compatible devices such as Chromecast and Telstra TV, depending on what TV model and brand you have. If you’re not sure if your TV is compatible, check out Kayo’s full list of compatible devices on its website.
Kayo is owned by Streamotion, which is what you’ll likely see on your bill if you purchase a Kayo subscription. Streamotion is a wholly owned subsidiary of Foxtel Management Pty Ltd, meaning that Kayo is technically owned by Foxtel, although operates as a separate business.
Kayo costs between $25 and $35 per month, depending on which plan you sign up to. The One Plan will set you back $25 per month, while the Basic Plan costs $35 per month.