Polymarket fees (2026): what the US app really costs
Published May 17, 2026 · Last updated: September 29, 2026
Polymarket US · Deposit $10 get a $25 Trading Bonus!
COLLEGEPMClaim (opens in a new tab)21+ · T&Cs apply
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.
TL;DR
- US traders use the Polymarket US app, which funds and trades in US dollars.
- Trading fees are shown in the app before you confirm an order; check Polymarket's current fee schedule.
- No crypto on-ramp, wallet or network (gas) costs in the US app. The biggest hidden cost is the bid-ask spread on thin markets.
Polymarket US · Deposit $10 get a $25 Trading Bonus!
COLLEGEPM
Claim on Polymarket US (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.
Last checked October 21, 2026
New to this? Read this first
Prediction markets price events in cents, not odds. Here is the vocabulary used on this page, in plain English.
- Price = probability
- A contract that pays $1 trading at 12¢ means the market thinks there's a 12% chance.
- YES / NO share
- YES pays $1 if it happens. NO pays $1 if it doesn't. You can never lose more than you paid.
- Implied chance
- Just the price read as a percentage. A contract at 14¢ implies a 14% chance.
- Vig
- A built-in margin some venues charge. On prediction markets you pay the spread and fees instead.
- Liquidity
- How much money is in the market. More money means you can get in and out at the price you see.
For US traders, Polymarket means the Polymarket US app: CFTC-regulated, funded in dollars. Here's what trading on it actually costs.
What a Polymarket round-trip really costs
Imagine depositing $100 and buying 200 contracts at 50¢. The costs to watch:
- Deposit — you fund in dollars in the app; no crypto conversion or on-ramp fee.
- Buy 200 contracts at $0.50 — the trading fee is shown on the order ticket before you confirm.
- The spread — on a thin market, the gap between bid and ask can cost more than the fee.
- Sell or settle — selling early costs the fee and spread again; holding to settlement pays $1 or $0.
- Withdraw — terms are shown in the app before you confirm.
The practical rule: compare the fee each app shows for the same order, and favor liquid markets where the spread is a cent or two.
Where Polymarket wins on cost
New users: deposit $10 and get a $25 trading bonus with code COLLEGEPM. On a small account, that bonus is worth far more than any fee difference. Polymarket's most popular markets also tend to have tight spreads.
Where Kalshi wins on cost
Kalshi's fee formula is lowest on contracts priced far from 50¢, and it runs on web and Android as well as iPhone.
Practical takeaway
Choose based on the markets you trade, not headline fees. Traders who want the widest catalog should use Polymarket (opens in a new tab). Kalshi (opens in a new tab) is the regulated alternative.
Outside the US, Polymarket's international site works differently: it settles in USDC on the Polygon network, with its own on-ramp and network costs.
Polymarket US is available in 49 states plus D.C. — see where Polymarket is accessible in the US before funding an account.
Price → probability → payout
Contract price in cents (e.g. 14)Amount you put in ($)- Implied chance
- 14.0%
- Contracts
- 143
- Pays back
- $142.86
- Profit if right
- $122.86
A contract settles at $1 if the event happens and $0 if it doesn't, so the price is the market's probability. Every contract you buy at this price pays $1 — the cheaper the price, the less likely the market thinks it is.
Your first trade, step by step
- Fund a small balanceOpen an account, verify your ID, and deposit $10–$20 by debit or ACH. You must be 18+ and in an eligible state.
- Find the marketSearch the event by team, player or headline. Check the price and the volume — thin markets move a lot on small orders.
- Read the price as a probabilityA 23¢ YES contract means the market gives it about a 23% chance. If you think it is higher than that, YES is the value side.
- Place a limit orderEnter the price you want rather than taking the market. You buy shares, not a bet slip — the most you can lose is what you paid.
- Decide your exitYou can sell any time before the event resolves, or hold to settlement where each winning share pays $1.
Ready to try it: open Polymarket (opens in a new tab). 18+, eligible states only. Trade what you can afford to lose.
Sources & further reading
Related reading
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 → How to use Polymarket: a step-by-step beginner's guideHow to set up the Polymarket US app, claim the $25 bonus with code COLLEGEPM, place your first YES/NO trade in ce…Read → Kalshi fees explained: maker, taker, and withdrawalsKalshi charges a tiered trading fee based on contract price and side. Here's the full schedule, how it compares to Po…Read → Prediction market arbitrage: how it really worksArbitrage in prediction markets — across venues, across related contracts, and across no-vig pricing. What works in 2…Read →
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Trade on Polymarket → (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.
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Trade on Kalshi → (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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Polymarket charge to trade?
The Polymarket US app shows the trading fee on each order before you confirm it, and Polymarket publishes its current fee schedule. Check the app, because fee terms can change.
What are the actual costs then?
Two things: (1) the trading fee shown on your order in the app; (2) the spread between bid and ask, which matters most on illiquid markets. Because the US app works in dollars, there are no crypto on-ramp or network fees.
Is Polymarket cheaper than Kalshi?
It depends on the market and your order size, so compare the fee each app shows on the same order. Kalshi's fee is roughly 1–7% per trade depending on price. For new users, Polymarket's welcome offer (deposit $10, get a $25 trading bonus with COLLEGEPM) outweighs fees on small accounts.
Are there withdrawal fees?
Withdrawal terms are shown in the Polymarket US app before you confirm a withdrawal. Your bank may apply its own rules on transfers.
Are there hidden costs in resolution?
No. Contracts settle at $1 or $0. What you pay is the trading fee and the spread when you buy or sell before settlement.
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.
21+ · T&Cs apply · Terms
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.
