Polymarket vs PredictIt
Published 2026-08-07 · Last reviewed 2026-08-07
TL;DR
- Polymarket: Zero trading fees and the widest college market menu, settled in USDC.
- PredictIt: The academic-era politics market — historic, and heavily capped.
- For college markets specifically, Polymarket is the one most readers should open first — anyone who wants the most college markets and pays no per-trade commission.
| PolymarketDeposit $20, Get a $50 Trading Bonus! | PredictIt | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation | US entity operating under a CFTC-registered DCM structure | Operates under a CFTC no-action framework |
| Trading fees | 0% maker and taker; you pay Polygon gas plus 1–4% on-ramp | 10% on profits, 5% on withdrawals |
| College markets | Deepest board — national champion, conference winners, win totals, Heisman, CFB playoff seeding | Essentially none — politics-focused |
| Apps | Web, iOS (US app is iOS-only) | Web only |
| Deposit methods | Card/bank to USDC, crypto transfer | Card, ACH |
| Minimum deposit | $1 (practically ~$20 after on-ramp fees) | $10 |
| Withdrawals | Minutes on-chain; 1–3% off-ramp to fiat | Up to a week; 5% fee |
| US availability | iOS app available in most US states and DC | Nationwide, with per-market position caps |
| Best for | Anyone who wants the most college markets and pays no per-trade commission | Political forecasting hobbyists |
| Watch out for | No Android app in the US yet; on-ramp fees hit small deposits hardest | Position caps and profit fees make it the most expensive option here |
| Sign up | Open Polymarket | No offer tracked |
Fees: what a round trip actually costs
Polymarket charges 0% maker and taker; you pay polygon gas plus 1–4% on-ramp. PredictIt charges 10% on profits, 5% on withdrawals. Headline rates mislead on small balances: on a $20 stake, a deposit or withdrawal fee usually outweighs the per-trade commission, so count the whole round trip before deciding.
College market depth
Polymarket lists deepest board — national champion, conference winners, win totals, heisman, cfb playoff seeding. PredictIt lists essentially none — politics-focused. If you are here for college football or March Madness, depth matters more than a few basis points of fee difference — a market that does not exist cannot be traded at any price.
Access and apps
Polymarket runs on web, ios (us app is ios-only) and is ios app available in most us states and dc. PredictIt runs on web only and is nationwide, with per-market position caps.
The verdict
Pick Polymarket if: anyone who wants the most college markets and pays no per-trade commission. Pick PredictIt if: political forecasting hobbyists. The honest answer for most students is to open the one that lists the markets you actually want and keep the other as a price check.
Frequently asked questions
Is Polymarket or PredictIt cheaper?
Polymarket: 0% maker and taker; you pay Polygon gas plus 1–4% on-ramp. PredictIt: 10% on profits, 5% on withdrawals. Compare on total round-trip cost — deposit fee, trading fee, and withdrawal fee together — not the headline rate.
Which has more college markets, Polymarket or PredictIt?
Polymarket lists deepest board — national champion, conference winners, win totals, heisman, cfb playoff seeding. PredictIt lists essentially none — politics-focused.
Can I use both Polymarket and PredictIt?
Yes. Many traders keep accounts on both and route each trade to whichever venue prices that market better. Nothing stops you from claiming both sign-up offers if you qualify in your state.
Is Polymarket legal in my state?
iOS app available in most US states and DC. PredictIt: nationwide, with per-market position caps. Check the state pages on this site for the current list before depositing.
Sources & further reading
- CFTC — Designated Contract Markets (DCMs)U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- Kalshi Rulebook and exchange rulesKalshi (KalshiEX LLC)
- Polymarket Terms of Use — eligibility and restrictionsPolymarket
Related
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