Start.gg excels at competitive gaming events - it has deep FGC integrations, check-in tools, and a large community. But for a Sunday football league, a padel box, or an office tournament, that depth becomes overhead. Fixture.cc is free, takes 60 seconds to set up, and works for any sport or activity.
Quick verdict
If you are running a competitive esports bracket with Smash Bros or Street Fighter integrations and need a check-in system, Start.gg is the right tool. If you are running a football league, a padel box, a school tournament, or anything outside the FGC, Fixture.cc gets you a public page and live standings in 60 seconds without an account.
Feature comparison
Always free
Fixture.cc
Yes, foreverStart.gg
Free tier + Pro $20/moFull features cost
Fixture.cc
FreeStart.gg
Pro $20/mo - Premier $59/moCreate without signing up
Fixture.cc
No account neededStart.gg
Account requiredView public page without login
Fixture.cc
No login neededStart.gg
No login neededAdmin access model
Fixture.cc
Private access codeStart.gg
Account loginSuitable for sports leagues
Fixture.cc
✓ All sportsStart.gg
Limited (gaming focus)Suitable for esports
Fixture.cc
✓Start.gg
✓Game-specific integrations
Fixture.cc
✗Start.gg
✓ Smash, SF6, etc.Setup complexity
Fixture.cc
Simple - 60 secondsStart.gg
ComplexRound-robin
Fixture.cc
✓Start.gg
✓Single elimination
Fixture.cc
✓Start.gg
✓Double elimination
Fixture.cc
✓Start.gg
✓Swiss system
Fixture.cc
✓Start.gg
LimitedGroup stage + knockout
Fixture.cc
✓Start.gg
✓Shareable public page
Fixture.cc
✓Start.gg
✓Embeddable widget (free)
Fixture.cc
✓ FreeStart.gg
Limited on freeQR code (free)
Fixture.cc
✓ FreeStart.gg
LimitedReal-time sync
Fixture.cc
✓ InstantStart.gg
✓Team logos
Fixture.cc
✓ FreeStart.gg
✓Competition branding
Fixture.cc
✓ FreeStart.gg
Limited on freeScheduled match dates
Fixture.cc
✓ Daily & weeklyStart.gg
BasicMobile app
Fixture.cc
✗ (PWA)Start.gg
✓ iOS & AndroidCheck-in system
Fixture.cc
✗Start.gg
✓Private league option
Fixture.cc
✓ FreeStart.gg
✓ AvailableTeam filter on public page
Fixture.cc
✓ FreeStart.gg
✗ Not availableWhat-if standings predictor
Fixture.cc
✓ FreeStart.gg
✗ Not availableE-Sports mode (best-of series)
Fixture.cc
✓ FreeStart.gg
✓ Deep esports toolsCustom color scheme
Fixture.cc
✓ FreeStart.gg
Paid plans onlyPDF export (free)
Fixture.cc
✓ FreeStart.gg
Not on freeTV Mode
Fixture.cc
✓ Full screenStart.gg
✗| Feature | Fixture.cc | Start.gg |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Always free | Yes, forever | Free tier + Pro $20/mo |
| Full features cost | Free | Pro $20/mo - Premier $59/mo |
| Account | ||
| Create without signing up | No account needed | Account required |
| View public page without login | No login needed | No login needed |
| Admin access model | Private access code | Account login |
| Audience | ||
| Suitable for sports leagues | ✓ All sports | Limited (gaming focus) |
| Suitable for esports | ✓ | ✓ |
| Game-specific integrations | ✗ | ✓ Smash, SF6, etc. |
| Setup complexity | Simple - 60 seconds | Complex |
| Formats | ||
| Round-robin | ✓ | ✓ |
| Single elimination | ✓ | ✓ |
| Double elimination | ✓ | ✓ |
| Swiss system | ✓ | Limited |
| Group stage + knockout | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sharing | ||
| Shareable public page | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embeddable widget (free) | ✓ Free | Limited on free |
| QR code (free) | ✓ Free | Limited |
| Real-time sync | ✓ Instant | ✓ |
| Admin | ||
| Team logos | ✓ Free | ✓ |
| Competition branding | ✓ Free | Limited on free |
| Scheduled match dates | ✓ Daily & weekly | Basic |
| Mobile app | ✗ (PWA) | ✓ iOS & Android |
| Check-in system | ✗ | ✓ |
| Private league option | ✓ Free | ✓ Available |
| Team filter on public page | ✓ Free | ✗ Not available |
| What-if standings predictor | ✓ Free | ✗ Not available |
| E-Sports mode (best-of series) | ✓ Free | ✓ Deep esports tools |
| Appearance | ||
| Custom color scheme | ✓ Free | Paid plans only |
| Export | ||
| PDF export (free) | ✓ Free | Not on free |
| Display | ||
| TV Mode | ✓ Full screen | ✗ |
Why switch
Start.gg is designed around the competitive gaming scene - its UI, community features, and integrations are geared toward Smash Bros, Street Fighter, and similar titles. Fixture.cc works equally well for football, padel, basketball, darts, school sports, and office tournaments, with no gaming assumptions in the interface.
Creating an event on Start.gg involves registration settings, seeding, check-in configuration, and game-specific options. Fixture.cc has three steps - add team names, pick a format, share the link. It is designed for organisers who want a competition page, not a tournament management platform.
Start.gg requires an account for every organiser and participant. Fixture.cc uses a private access code for admin access - no email, no password, no profile. Share the public link with participants and they can view everything without signing up.
Start.gg does not offer free embeddable widgets. Fixture.cc includes an iframe widget that renders your live fixtures and standings on any website - a club site, a school intranet, a community portal - with one line of code.
Fixture.cc exports a print-ready PDF with your full fixture list, standings, bracket diagram, and a QR code that links back to the live page. Useful for sports hall noticeboards, referee packs, and post-season archives. Start.gg does not offer free PDF export.
No account. No learning curve. A shareable competition page in 60 seconds.