Kalshi vs Polymarket
By MattCS · Updated 27 September 2026
Kalshi scores higher overall (8.0 vs 7.3). Kalshi is stronger on trust & reputation, payments & payouts, bonuses & value.
Scores
8.4
Trust & reputation7.2
9.2
Payments & payouts8.4
5.0
Fairness5.0
9.4
Games9.8
7.6
Bonuses & value6.0
Not scoredDesign & UXNot scored
Side by side
| Kalshi | Polymarket | |
|---|---|---|
| Categories | Prediction markets | Prediction markets |
| Bonus with our code | Referral credits for new verified US users | Fee-free maker trading, no deposit or withdrawal fees |
| Provably fair | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Lowest published house edge | Not published | Not published |
| KYC | Required | Not stated |
| Instant withdrawals | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| License | CFTC designated contract market | None stated |
| Founded | Not stated | 2020 |
| Games | Sports, Esports, Politics, Economics, Crypto, Weather, Culture | Politics, Sports, Esports, Crypto, Economics, Culture |
| Deposit with | Card, Bank transfer, PayPal, Crypto | Crypto |
| Withdraw with | Bank transfer, Card | Crypto |
| Trustpilot | No reviews | No reviews |
Our verdict
Kalshi is the better all-round pick, 8.0 against 7.3.
Pick Kalshi if…
- + A CFTC-designated exchange since 2020, with its own registered clearing house
- + Funded in dollars: debit card, bank, PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, wire or crypto
- + Sports, politics, economics and esports (CS2, LoL, VALORANT)
Pick Polymarket if…
- + The biggest prediction market: politics, sports, crypto and a full esports section (CS2, VALORANT, LoL, Dota 2)
- + Only takers pay fees, geopolitics markets are free, no deposit or withdrawal fees
- + Every price is set by other traders on an order book, not by a bookmaker