USA · Prediction markets · Alternatives

The best Kalshi alternatives in 2026

Kalshi is the biggest US prediction market, but it isn't the cheapest option for every trade, and its sports contracts are blocked in some states. These four CFTC-regulated platforms each beat Kalshi on something specific, from maker rebates to interest on positions.

By SafeBet.ai Research Team Updated September 30, 2026 3 min read

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Best Kalshi alternatives

Checked September 2026

The best Kalshi alternative for most people in the USA is Polymarket. Polymarket US is the closest like-for-like swap for Kalshi: a CFTC-regulated exchange with sports, politics and crypto markets and a slightly lower taker fee of up to 1.74¢ per contract.

1 Polymarket Best for low fees 8.5 /10
2 Robinhood Best for investors 9.0 /10
3 Crypto.com (OG) Best for flexible deposits 8.6 /10
4 Interactive Brokers Best for earning interest 8.1 /10

Why look for a Kalshi alternative?

Your state restricts Kalshi: as of September 30, 2026, court orders block its sports contracts in Nevada, Michigan and Washington. Other platforms have their own state limits, so check each one.
You want lower fees on certain trades: Polymarket US pays makers a rebate, and ForecastEx charges a flat 1¢ per contract, less than Kalshi's 1.75¢ taker fee at a 50¢ price.
You'd rather trade from a brokerage account you already have at Robinhood or Interactive Brokers.
You want to fund by card, PayPal or Venmo without a fee: Kalshi may charge a fee on those deposits (2% on debit cards), while OG charges no deposit fees.

The best Kalshi alternatives in the USA

Polymarket

Best for low fees

8.5 /10

Polymarket US is the closest like-for-like swap for Kalshi: a CFTC-regulated exchange with sports, politics and crypto markets and a slightly lower taker fee of up to 1.74¢ per contract. Makers earn a rebate, and deposits and withdrawals are free. It has much less volume, though, takes only debit card, ACH and wire, and isn't available in Nevada.

Deposit $10, get a $25 trading credit Polymarket US's own new-user offer from October 1, 2026 (it was $50 until September 30). One per person. Credits can't be withdrawn; only the proceeds of trades made with them can be, once your deposit has cleared. Checked Sep 30, 2026.

Regulation: CFTC exchange + clearinghouse
Markets: Sports, politics, crypto, economics +
Fees: Up to 1.74¢/contract (taker); maker rebate

Taker fee tops out at 1.74¢ per contract, just below Kalshi's 1.75¢
Makers earn a rebate of up to 0.31¢ per contract
No deposit or withdrawal fees on card, ACH or wire

Visit Polymarket Polymarket review 18+ · Availability varies by state

Robinhood

Best for investors

9.0 /10

Robinhood lists many of the same contracts, including Kalshi's, in the app you may already use for stocks and crypto. Its commission of up to 1¢ per contract comes on top of exchange fees, so it usually costs more than trading on Kalshi directly, and trading is app-only.

Regulation: CFTC-registered broker (FCM)
Markets: Sports, politics, economics, crypto +
Fees: Up to 2¢/contract incl. exchange fee

Trade event contracts in the same app as your stocks and crypto
Routes to several CFTC exchanges, including Kalshi, ForecastEx and Rothera
Huge volume: a record 13.6 billion contracts traded in Q2 2026

Visit Robinhood Robinhood review 18+ · Availability varies by state

Crypto.com (OG)

Best for flexible deposits

8.6 /10

OG, Crypto.com's prediction-market app, suits you if you want to fund with PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay or Google Pay without an OG deposit fee, or start with as little as $1 by ACH. Its taker fee formula is the same as Kalshi's, but makers pay a fee too, and no reliable volume figures are published for it.

Regulation: CFTC exchange + clearinghouse (NADEX)
Markets: Sports, politics, crypto, financials +
Fees: Up to 1.75¢/contract; makers pay too

No OG fees on PayPal, Venmo, card, ACH or wire deposits
Low minimums: $1 by ACH, $10 by card, PayPal or Venmo
CFTC-regulated exchange and clearinghouse offering sports contracts since December 2024

Visit Crypto.com (OG) Crypto.com (OG) review 18+ · Availability varies by state

Interactive Brokers

Best for earning interest

8.1 /10

ForecastTrader charges no commission and a flat 1¢ per contract on ForecastEx, and pays a 3.38% APY coupon on positions. Since May 2026 IBKR can also route your orders to Kalshi itself. ForecastEx lists no sports, though, and you must be 21 or older.

Get $10 when you open a Prediction Market account Interactive Brokers' own offer, as stated on its ForecastTrader site. We couldn't find full terms at the time of writing, so check the conditions before you apply. Checked Sep 30, 2026.

Regulation: CFTC exchange + clearinghouse (ForecastEx)
Markets: Economics, climate, elections; no sports
Fees: Flat 1¢/contract; no commission

3.38% APY incentive coupon on open positions, paid monthly
No commission and a flat 1¢ per contract on ForecastEx
Beats Kalshi's and Polymarket US's standard taker fees from about 18¢ to 82¢

Visit Interactive Brokers Interactive Brokers review 21+ · Availability varies by state

Other options worth knowing

These aren’t in our top 5, but they can make sense in specific situations.

Novig
A sports-only exchange run by Ludlow Exchange, which the CFTC designated in June 2026. It's open to users 21 and older and isn't available in Arizona, Michigan or Nevada; sources disagree on whether it currently charges trading fees.
PredictIt
A politics-only market that runs under a CFTC staff no-action letter rather than as a regulated exchange. You can hold up to $3,500 per contract, it keeps 10% of profits, and it dropped its withdrawal fee in September 2026.
DraftKings Predictions
DraftKings' event-contract product, now built into its main app; DraftKings launched its own CFTC-designated exchange, DKeX, in June 2026. It offers sports contracts only in the 18 states where DraftKings has no sportsbook, with financial and other markets elsewhere.

When to stick with Kalshi

Stick with Kalshi if you want the deepest order books and the widest choice of markets, from sports and combos to weather, economics and elections. It also pays a 3.25% variable APY on balances of $250 or more, and most maker orders trade free.

Visit Kalshi Read our Kalshi review

Kalshi vs the alternatives

Kalshi compared with its best alternatives
	#1 Kalshi	#4 Polymarket	#2 Robinhood	#3 Crypto.com (OG)	#5 Interactive Brokers
SafeBet score	9.6/10	8.5/10	9.0/10	8.6/10	8.1/10
Best for	Best overall	Best for low fees	Best for investors	Best for flexible deposits	Best for earning interest
Regulation	CFTC exchange + clearinghouse	CFTC exchange + clearinghouse	CFTC-registered broker (FCM)	CFTC exchange + clearinghouse (NADEX)	CFTC exchange + clearinghouse (ForecastEx)
Availability	Most states; limits in NV, MI, WA	All states except NV, per Polymarket US	Most states; no sports in MD, NV, MI, WA	All states per OG; some contracts vary	All states; no exclusions found
Markets	Sports, politics, economics, crypto +	Sports, politics, crypto, economics +	Sports, politics, economics, crypto +	Sports, politics, crypto, financials +	Economics, climate, elections; no sports
Fees	Up to 1.75¢/contract (taker)	Up to 1.74¢/contract (taker); maker rebate	Up to 2¢/contract incl. exchange fee	Up to 1.75¢/contract; makers pay too	Flat 1¢/contract; no commission
Deposits	ACH, card, PayPal, Venmo, crypto	Debit card, ACH, wire	ACH, instant transfer, debit card, wire	ACH, card, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay	ACH, wire, check, USDC
Apps	iOS, web; Android not verified	iOS, web; Android rollout unclear	iOS, Android; web is view-only	iOS, Android, web	IBKR Mobile (iOS, Android), web, desktop
Min. age	18+	18+	18+	18+	21+
Links	Visit Review	Visit Review	Visit Review	Visit Review	Visit Review

Head-to-head: Kalshi vs Robinhood · Kalshi vs Crypto.com's OG · Kalshi vs Polymarket · Kalshi vs Interactive Brokers ForecastTrader

Kalshi alternatives FAQ

What is the best alternative to Kalshi?

For most people, Polymarket US: it's also a CFTC-regulated exchange with sports and politics markets, and its taker fee is slightly lower. If you already invest with Robinhood, its prediction markets hub is the easiest switch.

Which Kalshi alternative has the lowest fees?

It depends on the price. At 50¢, ForecastEx charges a flat 1¢ per contract versus up to 1.74¢ at Polymarket US and 1.75¢ at Kalshi, but near 5¢ or 95¢ the formula-based fees at Kalshi and Polymarket US drop to about 0.3¢. Polymarket US also pays makers a rebate; our fees guide has worked examples.

Can I trade Kalshi markets through another app?

Yes. Since January 2025 the CFTC has allowed brokers to route orders to Kalshi, and Robinhood, Interactive Brokers, Coinbase and Webull all offer Kalshi-listed contracts, with their own fees on top.

Is there a Kalshi alternative for sports in Nevada?

Options are very limited. As of September 30, 2026, Kalshi blocks sports, election and entertainment contracts in Nevada, Polymarket US isn't available there, Robinhood stopped new sports contracts in December 2025, and ForecastEx lists no sports; Crypto.com's exchange lost its Nevada appeal at the Ninth Circuit and has asked the Supreme Court to review it.

Compare the 5 best prediction markets in the USA Ranked on regulation, fees, features and payouts · Kalshi, Robinhood, Crypto.com (OG) and more See the ranking

The facts on this page come from our full reviews, which list their sources: Polymarket, Robinhood, Crypto.com (OG), Interactive Brokers and Kalshi.