The best prediction market apps in 2026

Every venue swears it's the best. Most aren't. Here's the honest 2026 ranking — the one we'd actually send to a friend.

How we ranked them

Every platform is compared on the same six things, read from one shared fact sheet:

1. Regulation status — who oversees the platform, and whether it is a CFTC-regulated exchange or a sweepstakes app.
2. Availability in your state — the platform's own state list. A platform is never recommended for a state it does not serve.
3. Fees — the cost of a round trip, taken from each operator's published fee schedule.
4. Market range — how many college and other markets are listed.
5. Deposits and withdrawals — methods, minimum deposit and how long a withdrawal takes.
6. Sign-up offer — the current new-user offer and what you must do to qualify.

Who tested. Catie Di Stefano, our editor, keeps the fact sheet. Kalshi is tested hands-on from her own funded account (dated screenshots are in our Kalshi review), and the Polymarket review shows the app's own screens. The other platforms are rated from their published rules, fee schedules and offer terms.

Fact sheet last updated

• Polymarket: September 29, 2026
• ProphetX: September 27, 2026
• Rebet: September 30, 2026
• Novig: October 1, 2026
• Kalshi: September 18, 2026
• Robinhood: September 18, 2026
• PredictIt: September 18, 2026

Evidence we check against

• CFTC — list of Designated Contract Markets (DCMs) (opens in a new tab) — U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
• CFTC grants Kalshi DCM designation (Release 8342-21) (opens in a new tab) — U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
• CFTC: contracts and products (opens in a new tab) — U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
• KalshiEX v. Flaherty (3rd Cir. Apr 6, 2026) (opens in a new tab) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (via Justia)
• KalshiEX v. Assad (9th Cir. Aug 28, 2026) (opens in a new tab) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• KalshiEX v. Schuler / Orgel (6th Cir. Sept 25, 2026) (opens in a new tab) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (via Justia)

Federal appeals courts are split on whether states can apply their gambling laws to sports event contracts, so sports availability can change. Fees and offer terms come from each operator's own fee schedule and rules; check them in the app before you deposit. Not legal advice.

For the ranked list below we also weigh app quality (mobile and web experience, order types, charting). Real-money platforms that list college sports rank above play-money and politics-only sites, and CFTC-designated exchanges rank above the sweepstakes app. If you already know what you want to trade, jump to the use-case picks.

1. Kalshi — best overall for US users

Kalshi is, as of 2026, the leading CFTC-regulated US-legal event contract exchange (it is on the CFTC's list of designated contract markets (opens in a new tab)) with a deep menu of markets (politics, economics, sports, climate, culture, the occasional college market). Fees are 1–7% per trade tiered by price. The iOS and Android apps are the best in the category — clean charts, instant fills, fast deposits via ACH or debit card.

Best for: US users who want real money, regulatory protection, and a polished mobile experience. Open a Kalshi account (opens in a new tab). Full breakdown: Kalshi review.

2. Polymarket — best for market selection

Polymarket lists more markets than anyone else — politics, crypto, pop culture, anything the community is willing to bet on. US traders use the Polymarket US app, which is CFTC-regulated and trades in dollars, with a $25 trading bonus for a $10 deposit (code COLLEGEPM).

Best for: Traders who want the long tail of weird markets and the biggest starter bonus. Open a Polymarket account (opens in a new tab).US traders: Polymarket is available via the app in 49 states + D.C. Deposit $10 and use code COLLEGEPM for a $25 bonus. See where Polymarket is available and is Polymarket legal? before signing up.

18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization.

3. ProphetX — best for sports with peer-to-peer pricing

ProphetX is built around sports event contracts, including college football and college basketball. The CFTC register (opens in a new tab) shows ProphetX LLC as a designated contract market since June 11, 2026. You trade against other users rather than a house line, and the fee is a 2% commission on net winnings, with nothing on losing or unmatched trades. It runs on iOS and Android in 49 states plus D.C. (not Nevada). The trade-offs: no politics, admissions or culture markets, and smaller markets can be slow to match.

Best for: sports-only traders who want peer-to-peer pricing with no built-in house margin. Open ProphetX — Trade $50, get $75 with code COLLEGEPM (opens in a new tab). Full breakdown: ProphetX review.

18+ only. New traders only. Offer terms are set by ProphetX and may change. Event contract trading involves risk, including loss of the funds you commit. ProphetX is a CFTC-regulated designated contract market and derivatives clearing organization. Not available in all states.

4. Novig — peer-to-peer sports for users 21 and over

Novig is a peer-to-peer sports app: you trade against other users, not a house line. Novig announced that the CFTC designated its exchange as a contract market on June 16, 2026, and the CFTC register lists Ludlow Exchange, LLC as designated that day (reported by Sports Betting Dime (opens in a new tab)). It is available on iOS and Android in 47 states plus D.C. (not Arizona, Michigan or Nevada) and is for users 21 and over. The trade-offs: sports only, the fee is shown in the app before you confirm rather than on a published schedule we can quote, and trade credits aren't cash.

Best for: sports fans who want peer-to-peer prices and a small starter credit. Open Novig — Deposit $10, get $50 in trade credits with code CPM (opens in a new tab). Details: Novig promo code.

Restrictions & requirements apply. Not available in all states. 21+. Event contract trading involves risk & is not appropriate for all. Consider if it's appropriate for you in light of financial circumstances. See novig.com/terms for information.

5. Rebet — social sweepstakes sports app

Rebet is a different kind of product: a mobile-only social sweepstakes sports app, not a CFTC-regulated exchange. There is no order book and no per-trade commission; the house margin is built into the lines. It covers college football and basketball game lines and props, with a friends layer on top. Rebet is available in 38 states plus D.C. It is not available in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York or Tennessee.

Best for: readers who want a social, game-shaped experience on a phone and live in a state Rebet serves. Open Rebet — Get a 100% purchase match up to $100 with code COLLEGEPM (opens in a new tab). Full breakdown: Rebet review.

Rebet is a social sweepstakes platform, not a CFTC-regulated exchange. New users only. Offer terms are set by Rebet and may change. Not available in all states.

6. Manifold Markets — best free / play-money option

Manifold uses "mana," a free in-app currency. Anyone can create a market in seconds and the community is large and active. It's the best place to learn forecasting hygiene — calibration, position sizing, market-making — before risking real money. Manifold has charitable mana redemptions, but it isn't a real-money exchange.

Best for: learning, casual forecasters, market creators experimenting with new question formats.

7. PredictIt — small but legal

PredictIt runs under a CFTC no-action letter (opens in a new tab) granted to Victoria University of Wellington for academic research. That means strict limits: a maximum $850 invested per market and 5,000 traders per market. The political coverage is the best in the industry, but the position limits make it more of a hobby than a serious venue.

Best for: political junkies who want a regulated US venue and don't mind the small-money cap.

8. Limitless, Drift BET, and other newer entrants

A wave of on-chain venues (Limitless on Base, Drift BET on Solana, Augur V2) is launching through 2026. They're worth watching but liquidity is thin and resolution mechanisms vary. Don't deposit serious money without checking volume and unresolved-market backlog first.

Best prediction market app by use case

1. Best social sports app and largest sign-up match

   Rebet

   Rebet is a mobile-only social sweepstakes sports app with college football and basketball lines, and new users get a 100% purchase match up to $100.

   • Watch out: Not an exchange — you are not trading against an order book.
   • Where: 38 states + D.C. — not AZ, CA, CT, ID, LA, MD, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY or TN.
   • Regulation: Sweepstakes/social model; not a CFTC exchange.

   Rebet — 100% purchase match up to $100! Code COLLEGEPM → (opens in a new tab)

   Rebet is a social sweepstakes platform, not a CFTC-regulated exchange. New users only. Offer terms are set by Rebet and may change. Not available in all states.

   21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

2. Best for beginners, politics and news markets

   Kalshi

   Kalshi is a CFTC-regulated exchange on web, iPhone and Android with a $10 minimum deposit, and it lists politics, economics, climate and culture markets alongside sports.

   • Watch out: Fees peak near 50¢ — the closer to a coin flip, the more you pay.
   • Where: 47 states + D.C. — Michigan, Nevada and Washington excluded.
   • Regulation: CFTC-regulated designated contract market (DCM).

   Kalshi — Trade $25 and Get $25! Code COLLEGEPM → (opens in a new tab)

   Certain limitations apply. The offer is available to new users only, subject to the terms and conditions at kalshi.com/tc/500. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information.

   21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

3. Best for sports with peer-to-peer pricing

   ProphetX

   ProphetX is a CFTC-regulated, sports-first market where you trade against other users, with a 2% commission on net winnings and nothing on losing or unmatched trades.

   • Watch out: Built around sports (check the app for other markets); smaller markets can be slow to match.
   • Where: 49 states + D.C. — Nevada excluded.
   • Regulation: CFTC-approved designated contract market (DCM) and clearing organization (DCO), June 2026.

   ProphetX — Trade $50, Get $75! Code COLLEGEPM → (opens in a new tab)

   18+ only. New traders only. Offer terms are set by ProphetX and may change. Event contract trading involves risk, including loss of the funds you commit. ProphetX is a CFTC-regulated designated contract market and derivatives clearing organization. Not available in all states.

   21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

4. Best market range and a bonus for a $10 deposit

   Polymarket

   Polymarket US has the widest college market menu on our fact sheet and gives new users a $25 trading bonus for a $10 deposit.

   • Where: 49 states + D.C. — Nevada excluded.
   • Regulation: CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization (Polymarket US).

   Polymarket — Deposit $10, Get a $25 Trading Bonus! Code COLLEGEPM → (opens in a new tab)

   18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization.

   21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

5. Peer-to-peer sports alternative for 21+

   Novig

   Novig is a peer-to-peer sports app where you trade against other users rather than a house line, with $50 in trade credits for a $10 deposit.

   • Watch out: Sports only; trade credits aren't cash — read the terms.
   • Where: 47 states + D.C. — Arizona, Michigan and Nevada excluded.
   • Regulation: CFTC-designated contract market (Ludlow Exchange, LLC), June 2026.

   Novig — Deposit $10, Get $50 in Trade Credits! Code CPM → (opens in a new tab)

   Restrictions & requirements apply. Not available in all states. 21+. Event contract trading involves risk & is not appropriate for all. Consider if it's appropriate for you in light of financial circumstances. See novig.com/terms for information.

   21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Which one should you pick?

• US, real money, beginner → Kalshi.
• Widest menu, a bonus for a $10 deposit → Polymarket.
• College sports, peer-to-peer pricing → ProphetX.
• Peer-to-peer sports, 21+ → Novig.
• Social sports app on your phone → Rebet, where it is available.
• Just learning → Manifold.
• Political junkie under $850 budget → PredictIt.

Availability varies by location: check if Kalshi is available in your state, and see where Polymarket is accessible in the US.

Related reading

Kalshi vs Polymarket: which should you use? (2026)A direct comparison of Kalshi and Polymarket across legality, fees, market selection, and payout speed. Includes a re…Read → Kalshi alternatives: every real option in 2026The best Kalshi alternatives in 2026 — Polymarket, PredictIt, Manifold Markets, and the on-chain newcomers. Picked by…Read → Polymarket review (2026): the US app, bonus and verdictPolymarket review for US traders: the CFTC-regulated Polymarket US app, how it trades in dollars, where it's avai…Read → Kalshi review (2026): is it worth using?An independent review of Kalshi — the CFTC-regulated prediction market. We cover signup, market selection, fees, payo…Read →

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best prediction market app overall?

For US users, Kalshi is the best overall — CFTC-regulated, polished mobile apps for iOS and Android, USD funding, and a wide enough menu of markets to be useful. Polymarket wins on raw market selection, through its CFTC-regulated US app.

Which prediction market app is legal in the US?

Kalshi and Polymarket US are both CFTC-regulated: Kalshi as a Designated Contract Market in 47 states plus D.C., Polymarket through its app in 49 states plus D.C. ProphetX (designated June 11, 2026) and Novig's exchange (designated June 16, 2026) are CFTC-designated sports markets. PredictIt operates under a CFTC no-action letter with $850 position limits. Rebet is a sweepstakes app, not a CFTC exchange. Several states dispute sports event contracts in court, so check availability in your state.

What's the best free / play-money prediction market?

Manifold Markets. You get free 'mana' and can create or trade in any market. It's the best way to test your forecasting skill before risking real money on Kalshi or Polymarket.

Does any prediction market app cover college admissions?

Coverage is thin. Kalshi has occasional one-off college markets; Polymarket lists more but they're sporadic. We track every live college market on this site's homepage.

What does the price actually mean?

A contract settles at $1 if the event happens and $0 if it doesn't, so the price is the market's probability. A contract at 23¢ means roughly a 23% chance, and $1 buys about 4.3 shares.

How much money do I need to start?

You can place a real trade with $10–$20. Contracts are priced in cents, so a $20 balance buys dozens of shares on a cheap market. Start small until you have seen a position settle.