Polymarket alternatives (and Kalshi alternatives) in 2026: where else to trade predictions
Kalshi, Polymarket US, Robinhood, DraftKings, FanDuel, betting exchanges and free forecasting sites: the best Polymarket and Kalshi alternatives depending on where you live and what you want to trade.
The best Polymarket alternative depends mostly on where you live. In the US, Kalshi and Polymarket's own US exchange cover nearly everything; outside the US, regulated betting exchanges and free forecasting sites fill the gaps where Polymarket is restricted. Here is the full menu, and how to choose.
As of October 2026. Availability, especially for sports, changes often and varies by state and country.
Polymarket and Kalshi alternatives at a glance
| Alternative | What it is | Who can use it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalshi | CFTC-regulated exchange | US residents 18+ | The widest US menu: economics, weather, politics, culture, sports |
| Polymarket US | CFTC-regulated exchange | US residents 18+ | Politics, world events and sports in dollars |
| Robinhood | Broker app routing to exchanges | US customers | Convenience next to your stocks |
| Crypto.com / OG | Exchange and app | US and other markets | Crypto users, sports |
| DraftKings Predictions | Sportsbook brand's exchange | Most US states | Sports fans where sportsbooks are not legal |
| FanDuel Predicts | FanDuel with CME Group | All 50 states (sports in some) | Finance-style contracts |
| Coinbase | Crypto app with a partner exchange | US customers | Existing Coinbase users |
| Betting exchanges (Betfair, Smarkets) | Gambling-licensed exchanges | UK and other licensed countries | Sports and politics where Polymarket is closed |
| Manifold, Metaculus | Play-money and reputation forecasting | Everyone | Practice and forecasting without money |
In the US: the regulated alternatives
Kalshi is the main Kalshi-or-Polymarket choice for Americans and the oldest regulated prediction market in the US. It lists the most markets and is where many other apps route their orders. Review: is Kalshi legit.
Polymarket US is the alternative to the global Polymarket site for Americans: same brand, separate regulated exchange, dollars instead of USDC. How to get started: how to use Polymarket in the US.
Robinhood, Coinbase and Crypto.com put prediction markets inside apps you may already use. Robinhood now also co-owns its own exchange: Robinhood prediction markets.
DraftKings Predictions and FanDuel Predicts come from the sportsbook giants and focus on sports in states without legal sportsbooks, plus financial markets nationwide: DraftKings Predictions and FanDuel Predicts.
Kalshi alternatives
If you want something other than Kalshi, the realistic US options are Polymarket US for politics and world events, the broker apps for convenience and the sportsbook apps for sports. Many of these show Kalshi's own markets under another brand, so check whose exchange you are really trading on. The side-by-side: prediction market apps and Kalshi vs Polymarket.
Outside the US: where Polymarket is restricted
The global Polymarket site is open in most countries but close-only in the UK, France, Germany, Australia and others: the full country list. In those places:
- Licensed betting exchanges such as Betfair Exchange and Smarkets let you back and lay outcomes against other users, including politics. They are regulated as gambling, with the protections that come with it.
- Sportsbooks offer fixed odds on politics and events in many countries.
- Free forecasting sites such as Manifold (play money) and Metaculus (reputation only) let you forecast anything without risking money.
Avoid smaller crypto prediction sites that promise to accept anyone: liquidity is thin, protections are few, and using a VPN to reach a restricted site breaks its terms.
How to choose a Polymarket alternative
- Start with what is legal where you live. It eliminates most options immediately.
- Pick by market. Elections and world events: Polymarket US or Kalshi. Economics and weather: Kalshi. Sports: Kalshi or the sportsbook apps.
- Check depth. A market with $100 on the book is not worth the same as one with $1 million; see slippage, volume and spread.
- Compare total cost: exchange fee plus any app commission. Polymarket fees vs Kalshi fees.
- Compare prices. The same event often trades a few points apart: our live markets page shows Kalshi and Polymarket side by side.
Polymarket alternatives: frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Polymarket in the US?
Kalshi for the widest menu, or Polymarket US if you want Polymarket itself through its regulated exchange.
What is the best Polymarket alternative in the UK?
A licensed betting exchange such as Betfair Exchange or Smarkets, since Polymarket is close-only in the UK.
Is there a free alternative to Polymarket?
Yes: Manifold uses play money and Metaculus scores forecasts without money.
What are the alternatives to Kalshi?
Polymarket US, Robinhood, Crypto.com, Coinbase, DraftKings Predictions and FanDuel Predicts, depending on what you want to trade.
