How we rank prediction markets
Every score on this page is a weighted average of five criteria, explained in full on How we rate:
| Criterion | Weight | What we check |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | 25% | Trading formulas, maker/taker, deposit and withdrawal costs |
| Liquidity | 25% | Spreads and depth on popular and niche markets |
| Settlement | 25% | Clear rules, official sources, speed and dispute handling |
| Regulation | 15% | CFTC status, customer-fund protection, company behind it |
| Tools & app | 10% | Order book, limit orders, charts, app quality and ratings |
We don't accept payment for rankings, and none of the platforms on this page is an affiliate partner as of October 2026. We haven't run our own real-money tests; scores are based on published terms, regulator records and independent reporting, cited in each review.
Our top picks at a glance
| Rank | Platform | Best for | Fees | Regulation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kalshi | Almost everyone | Up to ~1.75¢/contract | CFTC DCM |
| 2 | Polymarket | Politics and world events | Up to ~1.74¢ (from 7 Oct 2026); maker rebates | CFTC DCM (US app) |
| 3 | Novig | Cheap sports trading | Free pre-game | CFTC DCM |
| 4 | Robinhood | Existing Robinhood users | Commission up to 1¢ + exchange fee up to 1¢ | CFTC (FCM + exchanges) |
| 5 | ForecastEx | Investors, economics | $0.01 per contract per side + any broker commission | CFTC DCM |
| 6 | FanDuel Predicts | Non-sportsbook states | ~2% of payout | CFTC (CME-listed) |
| 7 | DraftKings Predictions | DraftKings fans | In the price | CFTC (Railbird) |
| 8 | Crypto.com | Crypto users | Per-contract | CFTC DCM |
| 9 | ProphetX | Sports, wide state coverage | 2% of net winnings | CFTC DCM |
| 10 | PredictIt | Political veterans | 10% of profit (withdrawals free since Sep 2026) | No-action relief |
All 10 platforms compared
| Platform | Score | Welcome offer | Min. age | Markets | Taker fee (approx.) | Funding | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalshi | 9.0 | US: trade $25, get a $25+ trading credit via partner codes (reported) | 18+ | Everything | 0.07 × C × P × (1−P), max ~1.75¢ | ACH, debit card (~2%), wire, crypto | All states; sports blocked in some |
| Polymarket US | 8.5 | US app: deposit offers via partner codes (e.g. deposit $10, get $25 trading credit) | 18+ | Politics, sports, culture, crypto | 0.0695 × C × P × (1−P), max ~1.74¢; maker rebate | ACH, card, Apple Pay | Most states; not NV, MI, MD, TN, CT and others |
| Novig | 8.4 | Deposit offers via partner codes (e.g. deposit $10, get $50 in trade credits) | 21+ | Sports only | Free pre-game; small live fee | Bank, card, Apple Pay, stablecoins | ~47 states; not AZ, MI, NV |
| Robinhood | 8.3 | US: free stock (typically $5–$200) for new Robinhood accounts; occasional $0-commission promos | 18+ | Economics, politics, sports | Commission ≤1¢ + exchange fee ≤1¢ | Robinhood balance | Robinhood customers; sports restricted in some states |
| ForecastEx | 8.3 | No sign-up bonus; incentive coupon on open positions | 21+ | Economics, climate, politics | $0.01 per contract per side + broker commission | IBKR account | IBKR clients, US and abroad |
| FanDuel Predicts | 8.2 | Trade $1 a day for 5 days, get $100 in bonus (selected states) | 18+ | Sports (non-sportsbook states), finance | ~2% of potential payout | Debit card, Apple Pay, online banking | All states for non-sports; sports in ~18 |
| DraftKings Predictions | 8.0 | US: trade $5, get $150–$200 in Predictions Dollars (recent offers, reported) | 18+ | Sports, finance, culture | Built into the price | DraftKings banking | ~38 states + DC |
| Crypto.com | 7.9 | Welcome offers for new Crypto.com users (e.g. up to $50, terms apply) | 18+ | Sports-first, economics | Per-contract fees, volume discounts | Fiat and crypto | Most states; sports excluded in several |
| ProphetX | 7.7 | Partner offers (e.g. trade $50, get $75) | 19+ | Sports | ~2% of net winnings (reported) | Bank, card, crypto | 48 states + DC (reported) |
| PredictIt | 6.8 | None | 18+ | Politics only | 10% of profits | ACH, card (fee) | US residents |
Fees and availability as published or reported in October 2026; they change often. Full fee maths in prediction market fees compared.
Best overall: Kalshi
Kalshi is the most complete regulated prediction market in the US: thousands of markets across politics, the economy, sports, weather and culture, the deepest order books, transparent fees and lots of ways to fund your account. Its fees aren't the lowest, but limit orders and bank deposits keep them down. Read our Kalshi review.
Best for politics: Polymarket
The world's best-known prediction market now has a CFTC-regulated US app, maker rebates and some of the deepest political markets anywhere. Taker fees are now in line with Kalshi's; Android and desktop access is still limited in the US, and it's unavailable in more states. Read our Polymarket review.
Best for beginners: Robinhood
No new account and a familiar app. Robinhood's commission is capped at a penny per contract, but the exchange adds up to another penny, so it isn't the cheapest. The menu is smaller and tools are basic. Read our Robinhood review.
Best for sports: Novig
Zero fees on pre-game straight trades make Novig the cheapest way to back a team, though it's sports-only and not in Arizona, Michigan or Nevada. ProphetX covers more states, and FanDuel Predicts and DraftKings Predictions offer sportsbook-style apps in states without legal sports betting. Compare with betting in prediction markets vs sportsbooks.
Best for investors: ForecastEx
Interactive Brokers' exchange is strong on economics, rates and climate, and available to eligible clients well beyond the US. No sports. Read our ForecastEx review.
Other platforms you'll see advertised
Several brokers and apps offer event contracts without running their own exchange, usually routing orders to Kalshi or another exchange: Coinbase, Webull, Gemini, Underdog and others. They can be convenient if you already have an account, but the prices come from the underlying exchange, and fees can stack — the broker's plus the exchange's. Several of them were among the ten platforms Ohio ordered to stop sports contracts in October 2026.
Partner sign-up offers (October 2026)
| Platform | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Polymarket US | Deposit $10, get $25 in trading credit |
| Novig | Deposit $10, get $50 in trade credits |
| ProphetX | Trade $50, get $75 |
| FanDuel Predicts | Trade $1 a day for 5 days, get $100 in bonuses (eligible states) |
| Crypto.com | Welcome offers up to $50 for new users |
| Kalshi | Promotions change often |
Offers vary by state and code and change frequently. Credits must usually be traded and can't be withdrawn directly. A bonus is worth far less than a cent saved on every contract you trade.
The legal picture in October 2026
Politics, economics, weather and culture markets are available nationwide on most platforms. Sports contracts are the battleground: blocked in Nevada and Michigan; Ohio told ten platforms to stop by 16 October after winning at the Sixth Circuit; and federal appeals courts are split, with New Jersey asking the Supreme Court to decide. Details in are prediction markets legal? and our October state tracker.
How to choose
- Check your state. Sports contracts are blocked or contested in some states — see are prediction markets legal?.
- Compare total costs, not just bonuses — use our fee calculator.
- Look at liquidity in the markets you'll actually trade — see prediction market liquidity.
- Read the rules before every unusual market — see prediction market resolution.
New to all of this? Start with how prediction markets work. And treat trading as entertainment with a budget — if it stops being fun, stop.
