# The best Interactive Brokers ForecastTrader alternatives in 2026

> Interactive Brokers' ForecastTrader is cheap and pays interest on positions, but ForecastEx lists no sports, you must be 21 or older, and its volume has fallen sharply since sports trading stopped. These four CFTC-regulated platforms each fill at least one of those gaps.

- URL: https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/interactive-brokers-alternatives/
- Markdown version: https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/interactive-brokers-alternatives/index.html.md
- Last updated: 2026-09-30 (re-checked when an operator changes its terms or a regulator or court acts)
- Author: SafeBet.ai Research Team (SafeBet.ai)
- Editorial policy and advertiser disclosure: https://safebet.ai/editorial-policy/

## Why look for a Interactive Brokers alternative?

- You want sports: ForecastEx has listed no sports contracts since February 2026, while Kalshi, Polymarket US, Robinhood and OG offer them in most states.
- You're 18 to 20: Interactive Brokers requires you to be 21 for event contracts, while the other four platforms we rank generally accept 18-year-olds.
- You want deeper order books: by our tally of ForecastEx's public data, its volume fell from about 197 million contracts in December 2025 to about 19 million in September 2026 (through the 29th).
- You want to deposit by debit card, PayPal or Venmo, which Kalshi and OG accept; IBKR funding runs through ACH, wire, check or USDC.
- You want a dedicated prediction-market app: we found no standalone ForecastTrader app, and it runs inside IBKR's platforms.

## The best Interactive Brokers alternatives

### 1. Kalshi — Best overall (9.6/10)

Kalshi is the natural step up: a CFTC-regulated exchange like ForecastEx, but with sports, combos, far more markets and much deeper liquidity, open to traders from 18. It also pays interest, a 3.25% variable APY on cash and positions for balances of $250 or more, though its taker fee reaches 1.75¢ per contract at a 50¢ price versus ForecastEx's flat 1¢.

[Kalshi review](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/kalshi-review/)

### 2. Robinhood — Best for investors (9.0/10)

Robinhood is the closest match if you like trading from a brokerage account: its app routes orders to Kalshi, ForecastEx, its Rothera joint venture and Crypto.com's exchange, and you only need to be 18. Its commission of up to 1¢ per contract comes on top of exchange fees, trading is app-only, and sports contracts aren't available in Maryland, Nevada, Michigan or Washington.

[Robinhood review](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/robinhood-review/)

### 3. Polymarket — Best for low fees (8.5/10)

Polymarket US offers the sports, politics and crypto markets ForecastEx lacks, with a taker fee of up to 1.74¢ per contract and a rebate for makers, and it accepts users from 18 in most states. It pays no interest, though, takes only debit card, ACH and wire, and isn't available in Nevada.

[Polymarket review](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/polymarket-review/)

### 4. Crypto.com (OG) — Best for flexible deposits (8.6/10)

OG, Crypto.com's prediction-market app, suits you if you want sports and easy funding: PayPal, Venmo, cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay with no OG deposit fee, and a $1 minimum by ACH. Takers and makers both pay formula-based fees, and OG doesn't list any interest on balances.

[Crypto.com (OG) review](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/crypto-com-review/)

## Other options

- **PredictIt:** A politics-only market that runs under a CFTC staff no-action letter rather than as a regulated exchange, open to US users 18 and older. You can hold up to $3,500 per contract, it keeps 10% of profits, and it dropped its 5% withdrawal fee on September 23, 2026.
- **Webull:** Another brokerage route into prediction markets: Webull offers Kalshi-listed contracts in a separate Events account for a 1¢ commission plus Kalshi's 1¢ exchange fee on each opening and closing trade. It offers API access for algorithmic traders, but sports contracts aren't available in Nevada, Maryland, Connecticut or Michigan.

## When to stick with Interactive Brokers

Stay with ForecastTrader if you mainly trade economic data, weather and elections and want cheap mid-priced trades: no commission, a flat 1¢ per contract and a 3.38% APY coupon while you hold. It's also the most convenient option if you already keep your investments at Interactive Brokers.

## Comparison

| # | Prediction market | Score | Regulation | Availability | Markets | Fees | Deposits | Apps | Min. age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | [Interactive Brokers](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/interactive-brokers-review/) | 8.1/10 | CFTC exchange + clearinghouse (ForecastEx) | All states; no exclusions found | Economics, climate, elections; no sports | Flat 1¢/contract; no commission | ACH, wire, check, USDC | IBKR Mobile (iOS, Android), web, desktop | 21+ |
| 1 | [Kalshi](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/kalshi-review/) | 9.6/10 | CFTC exchange + clearinghouse | Most states; limits in NV, MI, WA | Sports, politics, economics, crypto + | Up to 1.75¢/contract (taker) | ACH, card, PayPal, Venmo, crypto | iOS, web; Android not verified | 18+ |
| 2 | [Robinhood](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/robinhood-review/) | 9.0/10 | CFTC-registered broker (FCM) | Most states; no sports in MD, NV, MI, WA | Sports, politics, economics, crypto + | Up to 2¢/contract incl. exchange fee | ACH, instant transfer, debit card, wire | iOS, Android; web is view-only | 18+ |
| 4 | [Polymarket](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/polymarket-review/) | 8.5/10 | CFTC exchange + clearinghouse | All states except NV, per Polymarket US | Sports, politics, crypto, economics + | Up to 1.74¢/contract (taker); maker rebate | Debit card, ACH, wire | iOS, web; Android rollout unclear | 18+ |
| 3 | [Crypto.com (OG)](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/crypto-com-review/) | 8.6/10 | CFTC exchange + clearinghouse (NADEX) | All states per OG; some contracts vary | Sports, politics, crypto, financials + | Up to 1.75¢/contract; makers pay too | ACH, card, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay | iOS, Android, web | 18+ |

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the best alternative to Interactive Brokers for prediction markets?

For most people, [Kalshi](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/kalshi-review/): it's also CFTC-regulated and pays interest, and it adds sports, combos and far deeper liquidity. If you'd rather stay with a broker, [Robinhood](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/robinhood-review/) offers Kalshi and ForecastEx contracts in one app.

### Which ForecastTrader alternative is open to 18-year-olds?

Kalshi, Robinhood and OG accept traders from 18, and Polymarket US does too once you've reached the age of majority in your state. Interactive Brokers requires you to be 21 for event contracts.

### Which alternative pays interest like ForecastEx?

Kalshi: its help center lists a 3.25% variable APY on cash and open positions for eligible US accounts with $250 or more. We found no interest on event-contract balances at Polymarket US, Robinhood or OG.

### Is ForecastTrader cheaper than Kalshi?

On mid-priced contracts, yes: ForecastEx charges a flat 1¢ per contract with no commission, while a Kalshi taker pays up to 1.75¢ at 50¢. Near 10¢ or 90¢, Kalshi's taker fee falls to about 0.63¢, and most Kalshi maker orders are free.

Full ranking: [Best prediction markets in the USA](https://safebet.ai/us/prediction-markets/)