Apps Like Polymarket in 2026: First-Hand Comparisons

Find your best Polymarket alternative in seconds

Looking for the best Polymarket alternative? Here's a quick look to help you decide which app to try first, based on your needs:

Apps like Polymarket at a glance August 2026

We've seen an explosion of prediction markets in 2026, with many companies hoping to cash in on "the next big thing" in tech and finance. While Polymarket likes to call itself 'the world's largest prediction market', it's far from the only option available:

*Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Top 6 apps like Polymarket reviewed

Whether you're looking for a permanent replacement for Polymarket or just want to shop around for the best prices, there are a variety of great alternatives:

1. Kalshi - Best for market variety

If you're looking for the app most similar to Polymarket, Kalshi is the place for you. Kalshi is CFTC-regulated and offers the best market variety. You'll find nearly 20 sports markets and 10+ non-sports markets.

Another major positive for Kalshi is how easy it is to use your bank account for funding your account. All accounts at Polymarket need to use third-party services for deposits and withdrawals, as bank accounts can't be directly linked. This isn't the case at Kalshi, where bank accounts, debit cards, and even PayPal can be used.

The fee structure is very similar on these two platforms, though you will pay slightly lower fees on Polymarket than on Kalshi. That said, the bonus from Kalshi promo code SBR35 is better than the one you'll get from Polymarket, as you can deposit a minimum of $10, make $20 or more in trades, and earn $35 in bonuses. The Polymarket welcome offer only requires a $10 deposit, but it also only offers $20 in bonuses.

Best of all, you can use Kalshi in California and many other states where legal sportsbooks don't exist.

2. ProphetX - Best new platform

ProphetX first started operating in 2018. After years as a DFS site, the platform received approval from the CFTC in June 2026 to function as a prediction market app. While you won't find any markets for politics, pop culture, or the weather yet, you will find plenty of sports markets, including futures for all the major leagues and events.

ProphetX currently has a bit of a liquidity problem, which is to be expected for a new app. However, once more people start using the platform as a prediction market, I expect more markets to become available, as there are already plenty of props to choose from, but some are unfillable at this time.

After CFTC approval, ProphetX changed its welcome bonus, offering $20 in bonus funds after $10 worth of trades to all new users who sign up and use ProphetX promo code SBR. 

3. Novig - Best for low-risk, high-reward welcome bonus

Novig is a CFTC-regulated prediction market platform that previously operated as a DFS platform and sweepstakes casino. It took a little while, but Novig eventually got rid of Novig Cash and Novig Coins, and the platform now operates with the same cash model as most other prediction market apps.

The only real downside of Novig is that you won't find any markets outside of sports. Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket offer pop culture, financial, and political markets. Novig makes up for the lack of markets outside of sports with a great fee structure, including no fees on maker or taker orders for pre-game straight bets.

Novig also has an excellent welcome bonus. Just enter Novig promo code SBRBONUS to deposit $10 and claim $25 in bonuses.

4. OG - Great live sports trading

Unlocking the OG promo code can land you $10 in bonuses, which is a bit below average compared to competing brands. The good news is that you only need to trade $10 or more to claim this bonus, making it very affordable to users of all experience levels. 

Of course, welcome bonuses are only good for the initial part of your journey with a platform, so it's good to know that OG.com has plenty of other perks as well. Fees are low, priced at just $0.02 per contract. If you sell a position early, there is an additional $0.02 fee. While these fees can add up, you'll generally find yourself paying less for contracts than at Polymarket, especially for markets priced around $0.50.

Banking methods are another huge perk for OG, as the platform allows for bank transfers, Plaid, debit cards, PayPal, and wire transfers. That said, at this time, bank transfers are the only means of withdrawal. Additionally, crypto is not supported, though if you're looking for an alternative to Polymarket, crypto may be the issue in the first place.

5. Gemini - Best for crypto transactions

Gemini Predictions is the prediction market app of Gemini Exchange, an all-in-one crypto platform that makes it easy for you to trade various cryptocurrencies. If you already use Gemini Exchange, then transitioning to Gemini Predictions will be simple.

Market volume is listed below every event, so you'll never be left wondering how much liquidity there is for markets. Additionally, Gemini doesn't have any trade caps. It also supports plenty of banking methods, a big positive when compared with Polymarket.

However, there are quite a few downsides at Gemini Predictions, including limited markets, and a lack of one of the best prediction market promos. Still, if you prefer using cryptocurrencies, then Gemini Predictions is the best app like Polymarket for you.

6. DraftKings Predictions - Best welcome bonus

DraftKings Prediction starts new users with one of the best welcome offers in the industry. Simply spend $5, and you'll receive $150 in Prediction Dollars without needing a DraftKings Predictions promo code. This is a much larger bonus than you'll find at other prediction market apps. 

DraftKings Predictions features many other perks, such as wide availability and an outstanding app. You'll find sports, political, pop culture, and economic markets on the platform. However, some states only offer sports markets, while others only offer financial markets.

DraftKings Predictions' fee structure is also simpler than you'll find at leading apps. Contracts priced from $0.01 to $0.19 and $0.97 to $0.98 have $0.01 fees, while contracts priced from $0.20 to $0.96 have $0.02 fees.

Event Contract Trading is offered by DraftKings Predictions, a CFTC-registered Introducing Broker and NFA member. Trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. Market availability varies. Eligibility restrictions apply. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time trade req. Max. $150 issued as non-withdrawable Predictions Dollars that expire in 1 year. Reward issued as $50 in Predictions Dollars every 7 days via click-to-claim for 14 days. Click-to-claims expire 7 days after issuance. 7 days = 168hrs. Terms: dkng.co/predictionspromo. Ends 8/23/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

SBR + DraftKings Predicts Partnership: This verified offer automatically applies when you sign up through our exclusive link

Polymarket vs Kalshi: The core comparison

Kalshi and Polymarket are the two largest prediction market apps, which leads to constant comparison between them. Both platforms have excellent liquidity and are CFTC-approved, but beyond that, there are a lot of differences between the operators.

Market availability

In recent months, Polymarket has significantly closed the gap on Kalshi when it comes to market availability. For a period, Kalshi had nearly twice as many sports and non-sports markets as Polymarket, but now there is barely a difference between the two. In fact, I found that Polymarket had the edge in regard to player props for individual games. However, Kalshi still has more options overall.

Fees

Polymarket has the advantage in terms of fees, as contracts priced around $0.50 at Kalshi can end up costing nearly $0.50 more per 100 contracts than at Polymarket. The cheapest fees at Polymarket are $0.05 for 100 contracts, while the cheapest fees at Kalshi are $0.07 per 100 contracts. This may not seem like much, but these small differences will add up over time.

Welcome bonus

Kalshi offers a larger welcome bonus, with $35 in bonuses. However, to earn the bonus, you must make at least $20 worth of trades. The Polymarket bonus is worth just $20, but you also don't need to make any trades to earn it. All you need to do is deposit $10.

State-by-state availability

Polymarket is available in all 50 states plus DC. The only states where Kalshi is restricted are Nevada and Washington. This means that you can use both Polymarket and Kalshi in Georgia, for example, a state where traditional sports betting is illegal.

Funding

Kalshi supports bank transfer, debit cards, credit cards, PayPal, and crypto for deposits and withdrawals. Polymarket supports fiat deposits, but it doesn't allow users to link their US bank accounts. Additionally, users can only withdraw via crypto at Polymarket. That's great for anyone already into the cryptocurrency ecosystem, but less convenient for those who aren't. 

For a more thorough breakdown of how these two giants compare, check out our Polymarket vs. Kalshi page.   

How Polymarket compares to these alternatives

New competition is constantly emerging in the prediction market space, which means Polymarket must continually evolve to remain one of the best platforms in the industry. Here are the key areas where Polymarket surpasses or lags behind the best prediction market apps.  

Where Polymarket still wins

• Polymarket is available in every state, while many competitors are unavailable in some key jurisdictions.
• Polymarket offers deep liquidity on political and geopolitical markets, which is only matched by Kalshi.
• Excellent fee structure, which is often the lowest for 100-contract purchases when compared to other prediction market apps.
• Those who want to use crypto for trading will struggle to find a better option than Polymarket. Polymarket allows users to easily connect their crypto wallets and make fast, blockchain-based transactions.

Where alternatives beat Polymarket

• One of Polymarket's weakest areas is banking methods. Leading competitors offer many more deposit and withdrawal methods. We hope to see Polymarket introduce US bank funding in the future.
• Polymarket doesn't offer ongoing promos or loyalty programs, unlike some alternatives.
• The mobile app isn't as easy to use as other leaders, especially Underdog and Kalshi.
• Polymarket doesn't provide any tax forms, so you'll need to keep track of all your earnings yourself during tax season.

Fee comparison: What you actually pay

While many of the leading competitors have a set fee for every contract, Polymarket has elected to go a different route. The formula is Θ × C × p × (1 − p), for those who are curious, but to put it simply, this means that contracts incur greater fees around $0.50. Contracts that are closer to $0.01 or $0.99 will incur smaller fees.

This model is very similar to Kalshi's structure, but Polymarket's fees are lower across the board. As you'll see in the table below, the most you'll pay for 100 contracts at Polymarket is $1.25, while the most you'll pay for 100 contracts at Kalsi is $1.75.

Rather than using crazy formulas, OG, Underdog, and Gemini have flat fees priced between $0.02 and $0.07. per contract. While these platforms make the math simple for users, it also generally results in higher fees per 100 contracts, especially for those contracts further from $0.50.

State-by-state availability

As you'll see in the table below, Polymarket is unmatched in availability, as it's legal in all 50 states + DC. Underdog is limited in many states, but it's important to note that Underdog products are available in some capacity in all states except for Nevada. 

How to switch from Polymarket

You can switch from Polymarket to a similar app quickly, as long as you are willing to resolve any open positions that you might have. While I'll highlight how to resolve these positions, withdraw your funds, and get started on another platform, you don't need to close your Polymarket account before starting elsewhere. Having accounts on multiple prediction market apps is perfectly legal.

1, Resolve open positions and withdraw funds

To move your money out of Polymarket, you'll first need to resolve any open positions. This means waiting for open contracts to resolve on their own, or selling them early. If there are specific positions you want to replicate on another platform, I recommend checking the price on the new platform to ensure it is comparable to the price at which you're selling. If a position can't be replicated, then you'll need to choose whether you want to close your position or wait until it resolves upon completion.

Once all of your contracts are resolved, you'll want to withdraw your funds. To do this, you need to withdraw USDC from Polymarket to a blockchain network. To get your funds, you'll need to have a USDC wallet. Paste the wallet address and complete the withdrawal. This will cost a standard gas fee, so be prepared for that.

Once you have removed your funds from Polymarket, you can then transfer them from your USDC wallet to your bank account and then deposit them into a new app like Polymarket. Many platforms allow you to transfer crypto funds directly from your wallet, so you can skip this step if you plan to primarily work with crypto.

2. Sign up for a new platform

Whether you fully remove all of your funds from Polymarket or not, you can sign up for any other prediction market platform available in your state. Keep in mind that you will need to fulfill all know-your-customer (KYC) requirements and provide all necessary personal information before trading. Every platform has different requirements for registration.

3. Tax timing

Always be aware of taxes when withdrawing earnings. Polymarket doesn't provide tax documents at the end of the year, so be sure to track your own earnings and withdrawals. Remember, if you withdraw winnings from Polymarket and then deposit them at another platform, you will be required to pay taxes on your Polymarket earnings, regardless of what happens to your money at the new platform.

For questions, we recommend speaking with a certified accountant, as we are not tax professionals, and we can't offer tax advice.

Are apps like Polymarket legal in the US?

Yes, apps like Polymarket are legal in the US. However, despite CFTC regulation, it's rare for these apps to be available in all 50 states plus DC. Many states are engaged in legal battles with prediction markets over who ultimately has jurisdiction over them. Therefore, it is important that you research your own jurisdiction to see which apps are available in your state. However, you can use platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi in New York, Texas, California, Florida, and many other of the nation's most populous states. 

Polymarket has had an up-and-down history in the US, but it is now completely legal in every state after receiving CFTC regulation, and the waitlist for the platform was removed in May 2026.

CFTC regulation

Polymarket and other prediction market apps are regulated by the CFTC. This means these apps operate legally in accordance with US government standards. These apps must adhere to strict safety measures and laws to continue operating, which is why we consider platforms like Kalshi, OG.com, Underdog, and Gemini to be the safest options in the space.

Sweepstakes casinos

Sweepstakes casinos aren't CFTC-regulated, but they still operate legally in numerous US states. Rather than using real money, these brands use virtual currencies that don't have value outside the platform. Essentially, players will register, then either earn coins through daily promotions or buy coin packages to quickly stock up. With these coins, users can play games and then withdraw any winnings for real cash prizes.

Offshore/decentralized sportsbooks

We highly recommend avoiding offshore sportsbooks entirely. These types of sportsbooks don't operate legally in the US, which can make it difficult to withdraw winnings. Many of these sportsbooks have scammed players out of money. Once they do, there's really no way to get the money back, since there are no US laws offering protection.

Tax reporting on Polymarket 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 on the best prediction market apps like Polymarket. If you have any specific questions regarding taxes, you should reach out to a certified accountant or tax professional. 

The IRS hasn't yet issued any guidance for prediction markets. While earnings from prediction markets are taxable, tracking exactly how much taxable income you have can be difficult, as platforms don't have to follow strict US government rules.

Polymarket doesn't send any tax documents, which means that the burden for tracking income falls on your shoulders. Transferring to an app like Kalshi, which provides all users with an annual 1099-B form, can reduce tax stress by outlining exactly what you've earned and what you owe.

Section 1256 is a huge tax win for CFTC-regulated alternatives. All gains and losses are treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term, no matter how long you actually held positions for. While this form is more complicated than a regular 1099, it could save you a lot in taxes at the end of the year.

If you're using crypto platforms to fund your prediction market accounts, then you will need to follow tax reporting laws related to crypto. This can be complicated because taxes are handled differently if you transfer money from an app like Polymarket to your crypto wallet rather than your bank account.

How I tested and ranked these apps

Determining the best apps like Polymarket requires significant research and testing. I put in at least five hours on every app to ensure a great user experience, thoroughly reviewed the available markets and liquidity, and tested features such as customer support and withdrawal speed.

Here's a look at the criteria that I deem most important when testing and ranking prediction market apps like Polymarket.

User experience

User experience is the most important factor in determining a great app like Polymarket. If an app is sluggish, frustrating to navigate, or full of bugs and glitches, then 
I won't recommend it. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what amazing features or markets an app has if you can't even use it correctly.

All of the apps that I recommend provide an excellent user experience and are easy to navigate. I want the app to function well, from registration through withdrawal, making it easy to earn bonuses, deposit, make trades, and cash out. 

For example, when I was testing Kalshi, I registered and deposited $10 in less than five minutes. While I could have deposited just $1, I wanted to earn my $35 in bonus funds, which requires a $10 minimum deposit.

I spent the week trading MLB games, correctly picking the Dodgers and Yankees to win. After I made $20 in trades, Kalshi credited my account with $35 in bonus funds. 

The entire process was simple, and I never needed to contact customer support for help at any point.

Available markets and liquidity

Having a wide variety of markets is key. No one has more markets than Kalshi, as the app is great for sports and non-sports markets. It easily ranks near the top of the best NFL prediction market sites, for example. However, having numerous markets means nothing if there isn't ample liquidity.

Liquidity ensures that your trades will go through. If you want to trade niche markets, prediction market apps need to find other users who will take the opposite side of you. Apps with greater liquidity are more likely to be able to fill your contract.

Security and trust

I only recommend CFTC-regulated prediction market platforms. To operate legally in the United States, platforms must adhere to standards set by the US government. CFTC-regulated platforms have excellent security and have built trust with users over time by paying out earnings and settling all contracts fairly.

Payment methods and withdrawal speed

Polymarket is fairly limited when it comes to available banking methods. However, it's still a great platform. Still, I prefer platforms that offer various banking methods, such as bank transfers, debit cards, PayPal, and crypto. Having numerous options won't make or break an app, but it certainly will help its score.

When it comes to withdrawal speed, I understand that not every method can result in instant cash. However, I want withdrawal speeds to at least meet the industry norm of 1-3 business days for withdrawals and instant deposits. Anything better than that will result in a better grade.

Customer support

Once I join a platform, I ensure that customer support teams are available beyond just AI-powered chatbots. There's nothing more frustrating than having a question and not being able to get an answer. Customer support via email, live chat, phone, or another method is key. If an app only offers AI help or takes more than one day to respond to an email, I dock them points for customer support.

Red flags: Apps like Polymarket to avoid

While the emergence of CFTC-regulated prediction apps in the US is great for those looking to make trades, it's also led to a rise in offshore operators. Offshore operators don't operate under the same legal guidance as US-governed platforms, which means your money is almost completely unprotected. 

Here are some precautions we recommend:

• If a platform is unregulated, avoid it.
• Research platforms to learn about their history of insider trading and market manipulation.
• Don't use an offshore platform if you live in the United States.

Responsible trading

Prediction markets are different from sportsbooks and online casinos, but at the end of the day, you're risking real money when trading. This means that every trade you make at Polymarket could end up costing you money. If you start to feel overwhelmed by the risks of trading, you can set mandatory cool-off periods for yourself or reach out to one of the many nationwide support lines:

1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET