In recent years, football scouting has undergone a digital revolution. Video scouting platforms have emerged as essential tools for modern football clubs, complementing traditional live scouting methods. While Wyscout leads the market with coverage of over 600 leagues worldwide, many clubs and scouts are searching for alternatives that better suit their needs and budgets.
The evolution of football video scouting
Video scouting platforms have transformed how football clubs discover and evaluate talent. These tools enable scouts to:
- Analyze players without traveling to matches
- Focus on specific game moments and player actions
- Identify patterns across multiple performances
- Evaluate more players in less time
This technological advancement has made scouting more efficient and accessible than ever before. However, with Wyscout’s dominant position in the market, many organizations are looking for alternative solutions that offer similar capabilities at different price points.
The Hudl acquisition: A market-changing move
In 2021, the sports performance analysis company Hudl made waves in the industry by acquiring both Wyscout and InStat. This strategic move consolidated three major players in the football analysis market under one umbrella. Hudl’s vision mirrors Apple’s ecosystem approach, aiming to create a seamless platform that integrates:
- Match footage
- Performance data
- Advanced analytics
- Team collaboration tools
The acquisition has strengthened Hudl’s position as a global leader in sports video and data analysis, but it has also led some organizations to seek independent alternatives.
Wyscout pricing and packages
What does Wyscout cost? Wyscout offers different subscription tiers for individual scouts and organizations:
Individual packages
- Copper: €299/year (70 minutes of video viewing monthly)
- Mercury: €399/year (170 minutes of video viewing monthly)
Professional packages
- Gold and Diamond packages available (pricing on request)
- Include additional features like full match videos, advanced search, and team rankings
- Enterprise solutions for leagues or organizations are significantly more expensive
Note that individual packages don’t include full match videos or video downloads. For these features and API access, users need to contact Wyscout directly for custom pricing.
While Wyscout’s comprehensive coverage remains unmatched, several promising alternatives have emerged in the market:
Premium Wyscout alternatives
Eyeball
This platform has carved out a unique niche by specializing in youth competitions. Its distinctive features include:
- Extensive coverage of youth leagues and tournaments
- High-quality footage of emerging talents
- Specialized tools for youth player development analysis
Sportsbase
Founded by former InStat employees, Sportsbase brings fresh perspective to video scouting:
- Intuitive interface design
- Competitive pricing structure
- Growing coverage of leagues worldwide
- Strong focus on data analytics
Spiideo
While primarily known for their automated camera systems, Spiideo offers unique advantages:
- Exclusive rights to lower French football leagues
- High-quality automated filming technology
- Integrated performance analysis tools
- Real-time video access
Free alternatives to Wyscout
The reality of video scouting is that truly free alternatives are limited due to licensing costs and technical requirements. However, several platforms offer valuable resources for those working with limited budgets:
YouTube
- Highlight compilations
- Full match recordings (when available)
- Tournament coverage
- Historical matches
Footballia
- Extensive archive of full matches
- Historical football content
- No clip segmentation
- Community-driven platform
FIFA+
FIFA+ has emerged as a valuable resource for scouts, particularly those interested in emerging markets and undiscovered talent. The platform offers:
- Live broadcasts and recordings from lesser-known leagues worldwide
- Comprehensive coverage of competitions in countries like Lebanon, UAE, Mali, Gambia, and Algeria
- Complete match recordings from dozens of leagues
- Official FIFA tournament coverage
- Extensive library of historical FIFA Tournaments
- Documentary content and match highlights
The Gambian GFF league, for example, has become a notable source of talent moving directly to European clubs. Building expertise in these emerging markets through FIFA+ can provide scouts a competitive advantage. All you need to get started is the FIFA+ platform and a digital note-taking tool to track your observations.
Finding broadcast information
One crucial aspect of video scouting is knowing where matches are being broadcast. Websites like LiveSoccerTV provide comprehensive listings of:
- Which channels are broadcasting specific matches worldwide
- Legal streaming services carrying different leagues
- Broadcast schedules for upcoming matches
- Coverage information for leagues across all continents
This information can be invaluable for scouts planning their viewing schedule and ensuring access to matches from their target leagues.
Understanding the limitations
When considering free alternatives, it’s important to understand their limitations:
- No dedicated player clips or specific action compilations
- Limited or inconsistent coverage
- No advanced analytics or data integration
- Time-consuming manual analysis required
Making the right choice
Selecting the right video scouting platform depends on several factors:
- Budget constraints
- Required league coverage
- Specific analysis needs
- Technical requirements
- Team size and collaboration needs
Premium platforms like Wyscout or its alternatives remain the most efficient choice for professional clubs and serious scouting departments. However, smaller organizations and individual scouts can effectively combine free resources with focused analysis methods to achieve their scouting objectives.
Conclusion
While Wyscout maintains its position as the industry leader, the market for video scouting platforms continues to evolve. New competitors with innovative features and specialized focus areas are emerging, providing viable alternatives for different needs and budgets. Whether choosing a premium service or utilizing free resources, aligning the platform’s capabilities with your specific scouting requirements and objectives is key.
Further reading
Video scouting platforms are just one piece of the modern football scouting puzzle. To get a complete understanding of all the tools and technologies available to scouts today, check out our comprehensive Football Scouting Guide section on “Football scouting software, tools and technology.” This guide provides a detailed overview of various scouting tools, from video analysis platforms to data analytics software, helping you build a complete technological stack for your scouting operations.
