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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →There is no single prediction-market platform that is cheapest or best for everyone. Compare the specific product you can legally access, the event you want to trade, and its all-in costs and contract rules. In the dated fee examples available as of October 4, 2026, Kalshi charges $1.75 per 100 contracts at a $0.50 price under its general schedule, while Polymarket US lists a $1.74 maximum taker fee at that price. Those near-identical midpoint examples do not establish which platform will cost less for your trade.
Polymarket and Kalshi at a glance
| Comparison | Kalshi | Polymarket |
|---|---|---|
| Product and access | Check current account eligibility and location rules for the product you plan to use; the reviewed sources do not provide a complete current jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction access list. Kalshi fee schedule | Polymarket.com says trading is blocked for visitors in the United States and directs them to Polymarket US. The international site and US service are distinct products; check eligibility and rules for the one you intend to use. Polymarket international homepage Polymarket US |
| Published midpoint fee example | $1.75 per 100 contracts at $0.50 under the general taker schedule effective July 7, 2026. Series-specific multipliers may differ. Kalshi fee schedule | Polymarket US lists a maximum standard taker fee of $1.74 per 100 contracts at $0.50 under its schedule effective October 1, 2026. Polymarket US fee schedule |
| Markets | Its fee schedule names series in areas such as sports, politics, economics, finance, entertainment, and technology, but is not a complete live-market catalogue. Kalshi fee schedule | The international homepage displays categories including sports, politics, crypto, esports, finance, geopolitics, technology, culture, economy, and weather. This is not a promise that every category is available in every product. Polymarket international homepage |
| Contract resolution | Read the rules for the exact market, including how it resolves and what happens in exceptional cases. CFTC consumer guidance | Polymarket US says its market rules identify resolution sources; standard winning and losing shares settle at $1 and $0, respectively, unless market rules specify otherwise. Polymarket US resolution guidance |
Which prediction market has the lowest fees?
The fee schedules provide a useful example, not a universal winner. Kalshi’s general schedule, effective July 7, 2026, gives the taker formula round up(M × 0.07 × C × P × (1−P)), where the schedule defines the variables. Its table shows $1.75 per 100 contracts priced at $0.50. The general maker formula uses a 0.0175 coefficient, and the schedule notes that series-specific multipliers may differ. Kalshi fee schedule
Polymarket US’s exchange-wide schedule took effect at 10 a.m. ET on October 1, 2026. It gives the standard taker formula as Fee = Θ × C × p × (1−p), with a listed coefficient of 0.0695. At a $0.50 price, its listed maximum is $1.74 per 100 contracts. Its maker-rebate coefficient is −0.0125, shown as $0.31 per 100 contracts at $0.50. The schedule also lists taker-volume rebate tiers beginning at $250,000 in prior-month taker volume; that threshold does not mean every trader receives a rebate. Polymarket US fee schedule
Although the two taker examples are close at the midpoint, they use different formulas, rounding, execution roles, and rebate conditions. Actual costs can also change with contract price and series. Compare the same event, price, contract quantity, and order type on both products rather than treating the examples as a general ranking.
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Look beyond the trading fee
Your all-in cost can include the bid-ask spread, slippage, and costs to fund or withdraw an account, in addition to the exchange fee. A displayed fee rate does not show whether there is enough liquidity to fill your order at the quoted price or let you exit later at a fair price.
- Kalshi’s July 2026 schedule says ACH deposits and withdrawals are free, card deposits may incur a fee of up to 2%, and third-party processing fees may apply to crypto payment rails. Wire charges may vary by bank, and the schedule says wire withdrawals are not supported below $500,000. Kalshi fee schedule
- For Polymarket US, check the live schedule and applicable funding and withdrawal terms for your account; the cited fee schedule does not establish a comparable all-in cost for every funding method.
Which platform has the markets you want?
Category lists are a starting point, not a reliable measure of which platform has more useful markets. Polymarket’s international homepage displays categories including sports, politics, crypto, esports, finance, geopolitics, technology, culture, economy, and weather. Kalshi’s fee schedule names series involving sports, elections and politics, economic indicators, finance, entertainment, and technology. The schedule is not a full inventory of active markets, and a category on one product does not establish that a particular event is listed. Polymarket international homepage Kalshi fee schedule
Search both products for the exact event and compare the available outcomes, time horizon, trading activity, and rules. A market that exists but has a wide spread or little liquidity may be less useful than another market with a price closer to what you are willing to accept.
Is Polymarket available in the United States?
Polymarket.com states that trading is blocked for US visitors and directs them to Polymarket US. Do not assume the international product’s markets, funding arrangements, or fees apply to the US service: Polymarket US has separate documentation, API workflows, fee terms, and resolution descriptions. Polymarket international homepage Polymarket US
The sources reviewed do not establish a current access matrix covering every US state or every country for either platform. Before signing up or placing an order, check the current terms, location restrictions, and eligibility requirements for the precise product you intend to use. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission explains that regulated markets and intermediaries are subject to specific rules and protections, and cautions customers about trading with unregistered entities. CFTC consumer guidance
How to compare a specific trade
- Confirm access. Identify whether you are looking at Kalshi, Polymarket US, or Polymarket’s international service, then check current eligibility and location rules.
- Find the same event and outcome. Compare the exact contract wording, outcome choices, and closing or resolution timing; a broadly similar topic may not be the same contract.
- Estimate the full execution cost. Use the relevant fee schedule for your price, quantity, series, and maker or taker order. Include any qualifying rebate, fee rounding, funding charges, spread, and expected slippage.
- Check whether you can exit. Review available liquidity and the price you might receive if you need to sell before resolution, not just the cost of entering.
- Read the resolution rules. Find the named source, decision process, timing, and any exception or alternative settlement term in the specific market’s rules.
Why market prices are not guarantees
A prediction-market price reflects traders’ expectations, not a guaranteed probability or outcome. Contract structures can also differ: the CFTC describes common yes/no contracts with fixed payouts, as well as multiple-choice, combined, or range-based contracts that may have partial payouts. Read the contract’s terms to understand what a position pays if the event resolves in each possible way. The CFTC’s consumer guidance puts the risk plainly: “All speculation involves risk.” Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Understanding Prediction Markets and Event Contracts
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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.
