Best Apps Like Kalshi in 2026: Tested Alternatives & Comparison

Find your best Kalshi alternative in seconds

Looking for an alternative to Kalshi? My table provides you with the top options across various trading criteria.

Compare Apps like Kalshi May 2026

Top 4 apps like Kalshi reviewed

1. Polymarket - Best overall alternative

The debate of Polymarket vs. Kalshi has been ongoing ever since Polymarket became legal in the US again. This CFTC-approved prediction market app is fee-free for maker orders and doesn't charge withdrawal fees, unlike Kalshi.

The only downside of Polymarket is that it doesn't offer as many market types as Kalshi. For example, Kalshi offers nearly 20 sports markets and more than 10 non-sports categories. Meanwhile, Polymarket sticks to major sports, politics, and economics.

That said, Polymarket is excellent for cost-efficient trading, and if you use our Polymarket promo code SBR, you can deposit $10 and earn a $20 bonus. That's double the $10 Kalshi welcome bonus.

2. OG - Best for welcome bonus

There's no doubt that the OG promo code is the best of any prediction market app. New users can grab up to $100 in bonuses just for depositing and trading $10. However, new users can also receive up to $30 as a no deposit bonus, thanks to how OG.com splits its welcome offer.

Of course, a welcome bonus isn't everything, but OG.com backs up its excellent welcome promo with a platform that is loaded with trading options. OG allows users to trade on sports, politics, culture, and economics. Not only does OG allow users to trade on player props, but the platform also covers sports outside of the Big 4, such as golf, various soccer leagues, college athletics, and F1.

I also love how straightforward the fees are at OG. While other apps have intense algorithms to determine fees for specific trades, OG simply charges between $0.02 and $0.04 for every contract. While this may be more expensive in some instances than what you pay at Kalshi or Polymarket, it's not always the case. And it's nice to know exactly what you're paying and why.

3. Underdog - Best for mobile app

Underdog Predicts is relatively new, as Underdog decided to take a stab at prediction markets after years in the DFS and Pick'em space. 

Underdog used to be all about picking Over or Under on player props, but now the platform has evolved to include Yes or No contracts that can be purchased on sporting events. While the focus of Underdog is on sports, users can also trade on culture markets, such as politics, awards shows, politics, the economy, and business.

The Underdog app is arguably the best there is, as it allows you to seamlessly toggle between predictions, DFS, and Pick'em, so you never waste time navigating what could be a really complex platform. The app currently has a 4.8 rating from both iOS and Android.

Additionally, if you sign up today, you can use our Underdog promo code SBRBONUS to earn $50 in bonus funds after making an initial deposit of at least $10.

4. Gemini - Best for crypto transactions

If you already use Gemini exchange for crypto transactions, then using Gemini Predictions will offer a seamless transition for you. To make predictions, you're using the same app as Gemini exchange, which makes it easy to keep all your assets in one place.

Gemini doesn't have any trade caps, and it makes liquidity easy to spot, with market volume listed below every event. The only real negatives are that Gemini doesn't offer one of the best prediction market promos, and there is limited market selection. While the major sports, and even some minor ones like chess, are covered, there isn't much depth in these categories. Plus, culture markets are very limited.

All of that said, if you're already familiar with Gemini exchange and you want to primarily trade in crypto, Gemini is the best alternative to Kalshi for you.

How Kalshi stacks up to these alternatives

Kalshi is the best-of-the-best when it comes to prediction market apps. However, other apps, especially the four mentioned above, are closing the gap quickly. Here are the areas where Kalshi is still ahead, as well as the ones where Kalshi is starting to lag behind.

Where Kalshi still wins

• No one offers more market coverage than Kalshi. Kalshi allows trading on nearly 20 sports and more than 10 non-sports markets.
• Excellent user interface. While most of Kalshi's alternatives have great mobile apps, none is as simple to use as Kalshi's.
• Liquidity is another area where Kalshi has the edge over most competitors. Because Kalshi is so well known in the industry, you'll rarely ever have trouble filling an order, which isn't always the case with some alternatives.
• Kalshi allows users to contact them and make their own markets. While this is becoming popular at other prediction apps, Kalshi is still the best place to do this.
• Kalshi offers users lots of variety when it comes to transferring money in and out of their accounts. A lot of apps are very limited, sometimes only offering one or two methods, while Kalshi offers plenty including, crypto, PayPal, bank transfer, and debit cards.

Where alternatives beat Kalshi

• Kalshi is only available in 42 states, while platforms like Polymarket and Gemini are available in all 50 states plus DC.
• Kalshi's fees tend to be more complicated and sometimes more expensive than competing apps.
• With a small welcome bonus, Kalshi struggles to compete, as most alternatives offer bonuses between 2x and 5x what Kalshi offers.
• Kalshi doesn't have any ongoing promotions, unlike some prediction platforms that reward existing users for loyalty.

State-by-state availability

The table below shows where Kalshi and the best alternatives to Kalshi are available. While Underdog Predicts is unavailable in 15 states, other Underdog products are available in all states except Nevada.

As you'll see from this table, Kalshi is one of the more limited prediction apps when it comes to state-by-state availability.

Fee comparison: what you actually pay

While some platforms have very standard fees, others, like Kalshi, use complicated algorithms to determine how much you owe for each contract you purchase. 

Kalshi uses the following formula to determine the fee for each contract purchased: 0.07 × C × P × (1 − P). This means that fees range between $0.07 and $1.75 per 100 contracts, and contracts closer to 50 cents have higher fees than contracts at the extremes.

Polymarket's fee structure is very similar. The formula of Θ × C × p × (1 − p) may not mean much to you, but putting it into simple terms, there are greater fees for contracts priced around 50 cents than there are for contracts closer to $0.01 or $0.99.

OG, Underdog, and Gemini have elected to go a much simpler route, with fees set at flat rates ranging between $0.02 and $0.07.

Funding methods & payout speeds

The user experience of a prediction market app is very important, but there are many who would argue that withdrawal speed is even more valuable. After you've earned your money, you'll want to know that you can withdraw it in a timely manner. Here's a look at how long it generally takes for Kalshi and the leading apps like Kalshi to payout earnings via various funding methods.

Apps like Kalshi list

How to switch from Kalshi

Switching from Kalshi to a similar app takes no time at all. This is made easier by the fact that you can have accounts at multiple prediction market platforms at the same time. However, if you're ready to move on from Kalshi and make another app the only platform you use, here's what you should keep in mind.

Resolve open positions

The first thing you're going to want to do before you switch to an app like Kalshi is resolve your open trades. This means selling any contracts that are open, or waiting for your open contracts to resolve after an event goes final.

Withdrawing funds

There is no way to transfer funds directly from Kalshi to another prediction market app. Therefore, you will need to withdraw any money or crypto in your account before you can use it on another platform. This process looks just like any other withdrawal. Unlike switching from one bank to another, you don't need to close your account. Just withdraw how you always have, and the funds will be added to your preferred payout method.

Tax timing

We are not tax professionals, and we cannot offer tax advice. However, when withdrawing, keep your taxes in mind. Because Kalshi is CFTC-regulated and operates similarly to a stock exchange, you will need to pay taxes on any earnings you withdraw. Remember to keep the tax calendar in mind, and reach out to your accountant if you're ever unsure how to move forward.

USDC bridging

If you're using crypto, Kalshi supports USDC bridging. This allows you to move USDC from one blockchain to another. While this will still require you to withdraw your funds from Kalshi, you can use your withdrawal to purchase any of the cryptocurrencies supported by the platform.

Are apps like Kalshi legal in the US?

Yes, apps like Kalshi are legal in the US. All of the apps that we mentioned above are CFTC-regulated, meaning they operate under the jurisdiction of the federal government. That said, there are some similar apps that we recommend you stay away from. Here's a look at the legality of apps like Kalshi.

CFTC-regulated

These are the main prediction market platforms that operate in the US. CFTC regulation essentially means that an app has gone through all the legal processes necessary to operate in the US, and they continue to hold themselves to the standards of the governing body. CFTC-regulated apps include Polymarket, OG.com, Underdog, Gemini, and many more, and they are the safest options for those looking to get started at prediction market platforms.

Sweepstakes casinos

Sweepstakes casinos aren't CFTC-regulated, and instead, their legality is up to individual states. Because of this, these platforms tend to be available in fewer states than CFTC-regulated prediction market apps, as many state governments attempt to shut them down. 

Still, these sweepstakes casinos are fully legal in the states where they operate, and they offer an excellent alternative to online casinos, sportsbooks, and prediction market apps.

Offshore/decentralized sportsbooks

We recommend that you stay away from offshore sportsbooks entirely. Many have come under fire in recent years for not paying out winnings, or shutting down without giving players their money back. These sportsbooks and prediction market apps do not operate legally in the United States, so if anything happens to your money, there's not much that you can do about it. 

Tax reporting on Kalshi alternatives

Disclaimer: We are not tax professionals, and we cannot provide tax advice. The purpose of this section is to simply make you aware of tax reporting with Kalshi and the best prediction market apps like Kalshi. If you have any specific questions regarding taxes, you should reach out to an accountant.

As of May 2026, there hasn't been any guidance from the IRS regarding prediction markets. So while some platforms, such as Kalshi, will provide you with a 1099-B, others won't. Keep track of your earnings throughout the year, as you may need to go in and calculate your total earnings or losses. This could change in the future if the IRS takes a clear stance on how it wants earnings from prediction markets reported.

Section 1256 treats gains and losses as 60% long-term and 40% short-term, no matter how long you actually held your positions. This is much more complicated than a standard 1099, but it may be able to help you save a lot of money in taxes at the end of the year.

If you primarily fund your accounts with crypto, you will still need to report all earnings on the prediction market app like Kalshi that you use, as well as your gains or losses from your crypto wallet.

How we tested and ranked these apps

To determine the best apps like Kalshi, our team of experts spent at least 5 hours on each platform, diving into payment methods, available markets, user experience, fees, and more. Below, I break down what we did and how each category affects our overall rating of each app.

User experience

I consider this to be the most important factor when testing out an app like Kalshi. There is nothing more frustrating than downloading an app and not being able to figure out how to use it. I want simplicity from the moment I sign up through the moment I withdraw my earnings.

Before providing a rating, our teams of experts register with an app, ensuring that welcome bonuses work and there aren't any confusing elements throughout the process. We then deposit real money and make real trades.

For example, when testing Polymarket, I deposited $10 to earn $20 in bonus funds. I then used those funds to trade on the Spurs as NBA champions. While this trade hasn't settled yet, I've been able to monitor the Spurs' odds, so if the price ever gets to a sweet spot, I'll be able to sell my contracts for a profit.

Available markets and liquidity

Having a plethora of available markets is key to the success of any prediction market app. What makes prediction market apps so enticing, aside from their availability in states where sportsbooks can't operate, is the presence of markets that you won't find at standard sportsbooks.

An app will score high if it has plenty of cultural markets, such as awards shows, politics, and the economy, to go along with a healthy number of sports markets. However, having these markets isn't enough. Apps also must have users who fund liquidity and make it so that trades execute, even in more niche markets.

Security and trust

Every app that we recommend is CFTC-regulated, meaning that they have to adhere to strict standards from the US government. If a prediction market app isn't regulated, then we recommend you stay away. 

Payment methods and withdrawal speed

Options are key for transferring funds to and from your account. Some apps are very limited, such as Polymarket, where you can only withdraw via crypto. Since this method might not be ideal for everyone, Polymarket scores lower in this category than Kalshi, where users have plenty of options for both deposits and withdrawals.

However, payout speed is also very important. The apps that we recommend tend to process withdrawals in 1-3 business days, though if you use crypto for withdrawals, you will often see you funds instantly.

Customer support

To score high in customer support, an app must have active customer service reps available to chat as often as possible. Some apps only offer email correspondence, while others offer a live chat but with AI rather than a real person. We look for apps that have human representatives available to assist you with any questions or concerns you have around the clock.

Red flags: apps like Kalshi to avoid

Prediction market apps haven't see the same influx of offshore or illegal operators that we see in the world of sportsbooks. While all of our options above are safe to use, be wary when registering for other platforms and always keep the following red flags in mind:

• Unregulated platforms should be avoided at all costs
• Watch for lesser-known platforms with a history of insider trading and market manipulation
• If you are a US resident, never use a platform that operates offshore, as you won't have any protections should your funds be compromised

Responsible trading

While prediction markets aren't technically considered gambling, you are still risking your money, and there is a chance that you could end up losing funds. Always keep in mind the risks as well as the rewards when trading. If you find that trading on a prediction market platform is no longer enjoyable, and you feel that you have lost control, reach out to one of the many support lines that are available nationwide.