The main alternatives to Polymarket are Kalshi, PredictIt, Manifold Markets and broker-listed event contracts. If you're comparing Polymarket alternatives, which one fits depends above all on where you live, then on fees, the markets you want and liquidity.
The Kalshi Academy is an official Polymarket affiliate partner, so we only link to Polymarket. The other platforms are described here for comparison.
Polymarket alternatives at a glance
| Platform | Type | Money | Who can use it | How it charges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalshi | CFTC-regulated exchange | US dollars | US residents; check Kalshi for other countries | Trading fee by formula |
| PredictIt | Political market | US dollars | US residents | 10% of profits + 5% on withdrawals |
| Manifold Markets | Community forecasting | Play money | Anyone | No real-money fees |
| ForecastEx | Broker event contracts | US dollars | Interactive Brokers clients | Per-contract pricing |
| Robinhood | Broker event contracts | US dollars | Robinhood users where offered | Per-contract fee |
Kalshi
Kalshi is the main Polymarket competitor in the US.
Is Kalshi legit?
Yes: it's a CFTC-designated contract market and requires full KYC. It trades in dollars rather than crypto. Its published fee schedule charges takers round up(0.07 × contracts × P × (1 − P)), so fees peak at 50¢ — similar in shape to Polymarket's formula. "demo.kalshi.co" is Kalshi's demo environment for testing, not a separate exchange.
Kalshi or Polymarket?
Kalshi if you're in the US and want a dollar account on a long-established regulated exchange; Polymarket US if you want Polymarket's markets in the US; international Polymarket if you're outside the US in an eligible country. The full comparison, including fees, is in Polymarket vs Kalshi.
PredictIt
PredictIt is a US political market that has run since 2014. In 2025 it raised its per-contract limit to $3,500 (from $850). Costs are high: a 10% fee on profits and a 5% fee on withdrawals, so you need a bigger edge to break even. Compare in Polymarket vs PredictIt.
Manifold Markets
Manifold uses play money ("mana"), so there's no cash at risk. It's a good place to practise forecasting and test your calibration before trading real money. See also paper trading prediction markets.
Broker event contracts
Some brokers offer event contracts inside their existing apps: Interactive Brokers' ForecastEx, Robinhood and Coinbase and Crypto.com. They're convenient if you already use the broker, but the choice of markets and liquidity can be narrower.
How to pick the best Polymarket alternatives in 2026
The best Polymarket alternatives 2026 has to offer depend on five checks:
Use the checklist in best prediction markets:
- Availability — is it legal and offered where you live?
- Regulation — who oversees it?
- Fees — per trade, on profits, on withdrawals?
- Liquidity — can you get in and out near the displayed price?
- Resolution — who decides the outcome, and how are disputes handled?
A note on "bet on anything" sites
Sites promising you can bet on anything with no checks are a red flag. Stick to regulated or well-known platforms, and never bypass country restrictions.
Related guides
Next step
In the United States, the regulated route is the Polymarket US app. Read our guides on signing up and depositing to get started, start small and only use money you can afford to lose.