There is no single prediction market that is cheapest or best for everyone. Compare the exact product you can use, the event you want to trade, and its all-in cost—not just a headline fee. Polymarket.com and Polymarket US are separate products, and their markets, fees, and access rules should not be treated as interchangeable.
How do Polymarket and Kalshi compare?
The practical comparison is between the product available to you and the specific event you want—not two brand names in the abstract. Fees vary with price, order type, series rules, and possible rebates. Market listings, liquidity, and contract terms also differ.
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| Comparison | Kalshi | Polymarket |
|---|---|---|
| Products and access | Check current account eligibility and location rules for the product you intend to use; the reviewed schedule does not provide a complete access matrix. | Polymarket.com says trading is blocked for US visitors and directs them to Polymarket US. The two products have separate documentation and fee schedules. |
| Example taker fee at a $0.50 contract price | $1.75 per 100 contracts under the general schedule effective July 7, 2026. Series-specific multipliers may differ. | Polymarket US lists a maximum standard taker fee of $1.74 per 100 contracts under the schedule effective October 1, 2026. |
| Markets | The fee schedule names series across areas including sports, politics, economics, finance, entertainment, and technology; it is not a complete live-market catalogue. | The international homepage displays categories including sports, politics, crypto, esports, finance, geopolitics, technology, culture, economy, and weather; categories are not a fixed inventory for every product. |
| Other costs to check | ACH deposits and withdrawals are free under the schedule; card deposits can incur up to 2%, and third-party crypto processing charges may apply. Wire costs may vary by bank. | Include the applicable product’s funding or withdrawal costs, spread, and slippage when comparing. Do not assume international-product terms apply to Polymarket US. |
Fee figures are schedule examples, not proof that one platform is cheaper for every trade. The fee formulas, execution roles, rounding, and rebate conditions differ. A fair comparison uses the same event, price, size, and order type, then accounts for spread and funding costs.
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The answer depends on the trade. Under Kalshi’s general schedule effective July 7, 2026, the example taker fee is $1.75 per 100 contracts at a $0.50 price. Its general formula is round up(M × 0.07 × C × P × (1−P)); the general maker formula uses a 0.0175 coefficient, and series-specific multipliers may differ. Kalshi says there is no membership or settlement fee. Its schedule also lists free ACH deposits and withdrawals, a maximum 2% card-deposit charge, possible third-party crypto processing charges, and wire charges that may vary by bank. It does not support wire withdrawals below $500,000. See the Kalshi fee schedule and Kalshi’s customer information.
#1 Best Overall
Polymarket US’s schedule, effective exchange-wide at 10 a.m. ET on October 1, 2026, gives standard taker fees as Fee = Θ × C × p × (1−p), with a listed coefficient of 0.0695. At $0.50, the listed maximum taker fee is $1.74 per 100 contracts. The schedule also lists a maker rebate coefficient of −0.0125, or $0.31 per 100 contracts at $0.50, and prior-month taker-volume rebate tiers beginning at $250,000. That rebate depends on meeting the stated tiers; it is not an automatic discount for every user. Details are on the Polymarket US fee schedule.
These midpoint examples are close, but neither determines the all-in cost of a trade. A market order that crosses a wide spread, an order that moves a thin market, fee rounding, funding charges, or an ineligible rebate can change the effective cost. Compare the fees shown for the actual series and order you plan to place.
Is Polymarket available in the US?
Polymarket.com explicitly says trading is blocked for US visitors and points them to Polymarket US. Polymarket US has separate documentation, API workflows, fees, and settlement descriptions, so references to “Polymarket” need to specify which product is meant. The international homepage does not establish which states or countries can use either product, nor does the reviewed material provide a complete jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction eligibility list. Check the current terms, account eligibility, and location rules for the exact service before relying on access. See Polymarket.com and Polymarket US.
The CFTC explains that regulated markets and intermediaries are subject to specific protections and rules, and cautions customers about trading with unregistered entities. Its guidance does not resolve an individual user’s eligibility on a particular platform. Read the current product terms and applicable regulatory information rather than assuming access from a platform’s name or website availability. See the CFTC’s prediction-market guidance.
Which platform has the markets you want?
Polymarket.com’s international homepage currently groups listings under categories such as sports, politics, crypto, esports, finance, geopolitics, technology, culture, economy, and weather. Kalshi’s fee schedule names series in areas including sports, elections and politics, economic indicators, finance, entertainment, and technology. Those category lists are not directly comparable inventories: one is a homepage display and the other is a fee document, and neither establishes how many relevant markets are active at a given moment. Browse the exact product and search for the event, outcomes, and time horizon you care about.
For a useful comparison, inspect more than whether a market exists:
- Market fit: Are the listed outcomes and deadline the ones you want?
- Liquidity and exit: Is there enough trading activity to enter or exit at a reasonable price before resolution?
- Spread and slippage: How far apart are buy and sell prices, and could your order move the market?
- Rules: What exact event and evidence determine settlement, and how are ambiguous or exceptional cases handled?
Why contract rules and resolution sources matter
A similar-looking event on two platforms may not settle the same way. Polymarket US says each market’s description and rules identify its resolution criteria and sources. Examples include government data, sports league results, named financial benchmarks, and specified news sources. Resolution timing varies with the event and the verification required. Its standard winning shares settle at $1 and losing shares at $0, but a market can specify alternative terms. Read the particular market’s rules and sources before trading; see Polymarket US’s resolution information.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe CFTC notes that event contracts are often yes/no contracts with fixed payouts, but can also combine contracts, offer multiple-choice outcomes, or use ranges with partial payouts. Contract wording therefore matters to the result, not just to the platform’s general description. The same guidance explains that a contract price reflects traders’ perceived probability; it is not a guarantee that the event will happen. The CFTC’s consumer guidance puts it plainly: “All speculation involves risk.” Read Understanding Prediction Markets and Event Contracts.
Quick Recap
Best Value
A practical checklist before choosing
- Confirm access: Open the exact product you intend to use and check its current eligibility and location terms.
- Find the event: Compare the actual outcomes, deadline, and contract rules—not broad category labels.
- Estimate all-in cost: Check the series-specific fee, maker or taker status, applicable rebates, rounding, funding and withdrawal charges, spread, and likely slippage.
- Check the exit: Look at available liquidity and whether you can close the position before settlement at a price you consider fair.
- Verify settlement: Identify the named resolution source, settlement timing, payout structure, and any market-specific exceptions.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
