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Prediction Markets

US Prediction Markets | Best Event Trading Apps & Sites for 2026

About the writer

Bob Duff has been an authoritative voice in gambling and sports betting since 2016. Based in Windsor, Ontario, he’s authored more than 25 books, including well‑received biographies of Johnny Bower, Desmond Howard and Gordie Howe . Bob has covered top events across the sporting world—from the Super Bowl to the Stanley Cup Finals and March Madness—and has earned awards from the Ontario Newspaper and Professional Hockey Writers’ associations. He regularly contributes expert analysis and state-based guides to LocalsInsider.com on legal gambling venues in each US state and writes for respected sites such as NJ.bet, Gambling.com.

Compare the best prediction markets and apps in the USA for 2026, including Kalshi, Polymarket and Robinhood. See fees, markets and availability.

Prediction markets have gone mainstream in the U.S., giving users a way to trade on outcomes in sports, politics, elections, economics, crypto and current events. But with platforms ranging from CFTC-regulated exchanges to crypto-based markets, choosing the right one isn’t always straightforward.

We compared the best prediction markets and prediction market apps for 2026, including Kalshi, Polymarket, Robinhood, DraftKings Predictions and other leading platforms. Our rankings consider fees, market selection, usability, regulation and U.S. availability to help you find the best prediction market site for the events you want to trade.

What are Prediction Markets?

Prediction markets sit in a unique space between trading and gambling, and the legal landscape is still evolving. Some platforms operate under federal oversight (CFTC), others run on crypto infrastructure, and a few fall into grey areas depending on your state.

For young people, prediction markets are the primary option, as many states limit sports betting to those under 21. So from 18 to 21, prediction markets are often the only practical regulated option.

There is also the tax-code treatment. Prediction-market winnings may be treated more like capital gains or financial trading income, and potential losses may be deductible in a way betting losses are not. This is why sportsbooks might be killed off over time: prediction markets can be easier to access and understand, and potentially better from a tax perspective.

To make sense of it, we researched the best (currently) prediction market apps and sites available in the U.S. right now — focusing on legality, usability, fees, promos, and real availability in 2026.

If you’re curious how prediction markets actually work — or thinking about trying them — our reviews and guide break down the top legal platforms in the U.S. to trade predictions, how they compare, and what to know before trading real money.

Prediction Market Sites & Apps | TOP US List

  • Kalshi – Best fully regulated prediction platform, top app, US.
  • Robinhood (Prediction Markets) – Best site for beginners
  • DraftKings Predictions – Best new mainstream app
  • Polymarket – Best-rated crypto prediction market
  • Crypto.com (Nadex Markets) – Best hybrid (crypto + fiat)
  • FanDuel Event Markets – Best for sports predictions
  • Fanatics Predicts – Fast-growing sportsbook-backed app
  • theScore Bet (Prediction Markets) – Best new event prediction app
  • PrizePicks Forecasts – Simplified prediction-style gameplay
  • Underdog Fantasy Predictions – Best for casual users
  • Interactive Brokers (ForecastTrader) – Best for economic & macro events
  • NinjaTrader (via Tradovate) – Best for commodities & financial markets
  • Railbird Exchange – New federally licensed exchange (2026)
  • Novig – New app to watch
  • Manifold Markets – Best for community & experimental markets
  • PredictIt – Best for political forecasting
  • Iowa Electronic Markets – Academic & research platform

TOP Prediction Markets in 2026: Our Reviews

DraftKings Predict – New & Live App

new prediction market app USA

New DraftKings Predictions is a federally regulated prediction markets app launched on December 2025, designed to bring event-based forecasting to a mainstream sports audience.

Instead of traditional betting odds, users trade simple Yes or No contracts tied to real-world outcomes, with prices reflecting implied probability. Markets currently cover sports events (such as game results and season milestones) alongside financial and economic indicators, with entertainment and culture markets expected to expand in 2026.

Built on DraftKings’ sportsbook technology and media ecosystem, the app is positioned as a more intuitive alternative to sports betting, especially for casual users who prefer probabilities over lines. DraftKings Predictions is available to eligible users across 38 U.S. states, including several where traditional sports betting is not yet legal.

Trade predictions – here is our DraftKings app review and promo codes.

Kalshi

Kalshi app

A New York-based startup, Kalshi was the first prediction site in the market to be regulated by the CFTC. The site offers prediction markets on individual sporting events, as well as futures markets on season outcomes.

Sports offered include football, basketball, hockey, soccer, tennis, and esports.

There are also prediction markets for politics, economics, financial markets, and pop culture-related issues. In 2024, Kalshi was the first US site to offer action on a US Presidential election in nearly 100 years.

You are choosing either a yes or no outcome with Kalshi’s prediction market contracts. Kalshi is offered in 46 of 50 states. Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, and Ohio are the prohibited states.

Read our review of Kalshi and the promos they offer.

Robinhood

Robinhood

During a recent earnings call, Robinhood revealed that the majority of its $1 billion in trades moved over the last quarter was earned in the sports event prediction market. The Robinhood prediction markets hub and all corresponding contracts are made available across the US market through the use of Kalshi’s platform.

Robinhood’s description of the prediction trading market is that it is at the intersection of news, economics, politics, sports, and culture. The site just announced it would be adding markets for pro and college football regular-season games in time for the 2026 season. Robinhood’s prediction markets are accessible in 49 of 50 states. Maryland is the lone exception. They claim that they already have 25 million active users.

You don’t pay any commission or foreign exchange fees—just a tiny 0.03% charge when moving money in or out of USD. On top of that, they pay 4% interest on any cash you’re not investing, insured by the FDIC up to $2.5 million.

  • Android: 4.2 (510k+ ratings), ~200k downloads/month
  • iOS: 4.3 (2M+ ratings), ~400k downloads/month

Crypto.com

crypto com app

Crypto.com first entered the sports end of prediction markets in time to offer contracts on the 2026 Super Bowl game. Unlike many of its rivals, Crypto.com’s prediction markets focus solely on sports outcomes, offered through its subsidiary Nadex. Crypto.com provides markets on North American football, basketball, hockey, and European soccer. 

Despite what the company name suggests, this is not a crypto-only site. You can play the site’s prediction markets with Bitcoin or Ethereum. Or you can choose to invest in contracts with fiat currency. You win the equivalent of $100 with every successful contract. Crypto.com’s prediction markets can be accessed in all 50 US states, and they claim that over 150 million people are using crypto.com worldwide.

Polymarket Prediction Markets – Largest

Polymarket prediction app

The world’s largest prediction market site, Polymarket app is poised to re-enter the US market following the company’s acquisition of the derivatives exchange clearinghouse QCEX. Polymarket had been banned from the US and was under investigation by the US Department of Justice, accused of accepting US customers without being regulated in the US market. The company has since been cleared of all charges.

Founded in 2020 by Shayne Coplan, Polymarket is an American cryptocurrency-based prediction market, headquartered in Manhattan, NY. Launched in 2020, it offers a platform enabling investors to make trades based on a number of future outcomes. Polymarket offers thousands of markets in politics, world events, pop culture, and sports. 

Through the acquisition of QCX Exchange, Polymarket has CFTC approval to operate anywhere in the United States.

  • Android: Rated about 3.2 from ~5.47K reviews; 110K+ downloads
  • iOS: Rated 4.8 based on reviews

Here is our review of the Polymarket app.

Interactive Brokers, IBKR

IBKR Mobile app

In 2024, Connecticut-based Interactive Brokers launched ForecastTrader. This web platform was designed exclusively for trading forecast contracts. Through ForecastEx, Interactive Brokers offers event contracts on political, economic, and financial market questions. 

These exchange-traded investment instruments pay out $1 if a particular event happens. An example of such an event would be deciding whether to go with a yes or no answer on whether the Fed will raise interest rates. If you go with yes and it happens, you win $1. If it doesn’t happen, you end up with nothing. Interactive Brokers customers with permission to trade futures on the site can use ForecastTrader to speculate on outcomes in economic data, climate events, and even elections.

Interactive Brokers doesn’t offer sports prediction markets. The site is available in all 50 states.

With IBKR Lite, U.S. residents can trade U.S. stocks and ETFs at $0 commission, while IBKR Pro charges between $0.0005–$0.0035 per share (or $0.005 flat) depending on the tier. Options cost $0.15–$0.65 per contract, futures $0.25–$0.85 per contract, and forex trades use tight spreads (as low as 1/10 pip), with mutual funds either free (No Transaction Fee funds) or capped at 3%/$14.95 per transaction.

Android – GlobalTrader: Rated 4.2 from ~1.4K reviews; 106K+ downloads

Ninja Traders

ninjatrader app

Ninja Traders is a brokerage outfit that offers prediction markets as one of its products. This is done through a partnership with Tradovate. NinjaTrader doesn’t provide prediction markets on sporting events. The company offers event contracts on financial market questions. 

These include what the various financial markets, such as the Dow Jones, S&P, or NASDAQ will close at by the end of the day’s trading. You can also take out contracts on the daily closing price of gold, silver, copper, crude oil, or natural gas.

Successful trades will earn you $100. Ninja Traders is accessible in all 50 US states.

Railbird Exchange

Railbird prediction and trade

A trading company founded in New York in 2021, Railbird Exchange recently gained a license to operate as a federally regulated prediction market. In June, the CFTC granted Railbird a licence to operate as a designated contract market. The site is expected to launch later this year. 

Railbird will allow users to trade event contracts on the outcomes of real-world events. The events can involve everything from economic indicators and public policy to entertainment or cultural trends. People who take out contracts must choose a position on the outcome of these real-world events. You must back the event to happen, or not to happen. 

Railbird is expected to be available in all 50 US states. Already, there is speculation that sports betting giant DraftKings is looking into either partnering with or purchasing some or all of Railbird Exchange to be able to access the lucrative prediction market.

Manifold

manifold prediction app

A cryptocurrency-based platform, Manifold is offering prediction markets on politics, economics, financial markets, and pop culture questions. Players can invest and win virtual money, called “mana,” or use a form of cryptocurrency called “sweepcash.” Sweepcash can be accumulated and later traded for real-money dollars. A 5% fee will be incurred to make this cash transaction. However, if you choose to donate your sweepcash to charity, the 5% fee is waived. 

Manifold is offered in 46 of 50 US states. The site is not available in Delaware, Idaho, Michigan, or Washington.

PredictIt

predict it

PredictIt.org was launched in 2014 by Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. The platform operates under a “No Action” letter from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), allowing it to function legally within specific guidelines. The stated purpose of PredictIt is to facilitate research into the way markets forecast events.

At PredictIt, the focus is solely on political outcomes. It’s important to keep in mind that PredictIt operates under preset legal guidelines. This factor may place limits on what the site can offer in terms of trading markets.

Players can invest up to $850 in any individual contract. PredictIt is available in each of the 50 US States.

Iowa Electronic Markets (IEM)

The IEM is an online futures market where contract payoffs are based on real-world events such as political outcomes, companies’ earnings per share (EPS), and stock price returns. The market is operated by the University of Iowa Henry B. Tippie College of Business faculty as an educational and research project. It operates in the not-for-profit realm.

Iowa and other colleges use these predictions as a pedagogical tool. The schools have found them to be an excellent method for students to focus attention and gain hands-on experience with real-world markets. As a research tool, the markets also provide educators with an unparalleled laboratory in which they can study individual trading behavior and market-level performance.

Trading accounts can be opened for amounts ranging from $5 to $500. Participants use their funds to buy and sell contracts. You can invest up to $500 in any specific contract. The IEM is accessible in all 50 US states. 

Interactive Tool · Locals Insider

Find Your Prediction Market App

Answer 4 quick questions and we’ll match you with the best legal U.S. platforms in 2026 — based on what you want to trade, your experience, and where you live.

1 · Interest 2 · Experience 3 · Currency 4 · State Match

What do you want to predict?

Pick the category that interests you most — it’s the biggest filter.

How experienced are you?

This decides whether you’d prefer a polished beginner interface or pro trading tools.

Cash or crypto?

Some platforms are dollar-only, others run on crypto rails, some support both.

Which U.S. state are you in?

Availability varies by state — Kalshi is restricted in 4 states, Robinhood in 1, others are nationwide.