Prediction Markets · Fees

Prediction Market Fees Compared in 2026

Compare documented prediction-market fee structures across Polymarket, Kalshi, Coinbase and Crypto.com.

4 ranked picksCompared by access, fees and market fitData: Platform terms reviewed August 21, 2026

Why trust Coin Interest Rate?

Our team independently tracks and reviews crypto rates, rewards and product features to help readers compare more than the advertised rate. We use official provider websites, product documentation and other relevant sources when evaluating products.

80+ crypto platforms tracked across staking, lending, cards and other digital asset products.
Hundreds of rates tracked alongside features, availability and key risk factors.
Independent comparisons. Compensation does not guarantee favorable coverage. Editorial control remains ours.

Read our full methodology

There is no universal cheapest prediction market because fees can depend on category, contract price, order type and payment method. Compare the official fee schedule with the charge shown in the order preview, then account for spreads, slippage and funding costs.

Risk note: Event contracts can expire worthless. Prices are market-implied probabilities rather than reliable forecasts, and fees, spreads, liquidity, eligibility and resolution rules can materially affect outcomes. Disclosure: Some outbound links may compensate Coin Interest Rate, but compensation does not determine inclusion or category awards.

The short list

Platforms at a glance

1Transparent fees

Polymarket

App access

International web platform

2$1 contracts

Crypto.com

App access

Crypto.com App with separate prediction onboarding

3No-fee funding options

Kalshi

App access

Web and mobile account

4Upfront fee disclosures

Coinbase

App access

Coinbase account and predictions balance

Compare the picks

Compare taker and maker charges, deposit costs, spreads and the fee shown for the actual order. A zero maker fee does not guarantee the lowest total execution cost.

Pick	Category	Availability	Funding	Fee structure	Market coverage
Polymarket	Transparent fees	International users only; restricted countries excluded	Crypto and USD deposits	Category-based taker fees; makers pay no trading fee	Sports, Elections, Macro, Crypto, AI
Crypto.com	$1 contracts	United States	Crypto conversion and USD	$0.01–$0.0175 taker fee on $1 contracts; $0 maker and settlement fee	Sports, Politics, Macro, Finance
Kalshi	No-fee funding options	U.S. and eligible international countries	USD funding	Transaction fees vary by market and expected contract earnings	Sports, Elections, Macro, Crypto, AI
Coinbase	Upfront fee disclosures	U.S. residents, excluding Nevada	USD and USDC prediction balance	Fee breakdown shown before each order	Sports, Crypto, Macro

Detailed review

Platform details and tradeoffs

#1 · Transparent fees

Polymarket

App access

International web platform

Platform type: International crypto prediction market
Availability: International users only; restricted countries excluded
Funding: Crypto and USD deposits

International Polymarket publishes category-specific taker curves, zero maker fees and fee-free geopolitical markets.

Why consider it

+Maker orders are not charged a trading fee.
+Official documentation publishes category formulas and examples.

Tradeoffs to check

!Taker costs vary by category and probability, and U.S. residents cannot use Polymarket.com.
!Polymarket.com excludes U.S. residents and other restricted jurisdictions; physical-location rules also apply.

Visit PolymarketTerms reviewed August 21, 2026Polymarket fee schedule

#2 · $1 contracts

Crypto.com

App access

Crypto.com App with separate prediction onboarding

Platform type: Crypto app with prediction trading
Availability: United States
Funding: Crypto conversion and USD

Crypto.com publishes a simple current range for $1 prediction contracts, with zero maker and settlement fees.

Why consider it

+$0 maker fee.
+Published $0.01–$0.0175 taker range for $1 contracts.

Tradeoffs to check

!Different contract values or updated schedules can change the effective cost.
!Prediction trading is offered through Crypto.com Derivatives North America and requires its own onboarding.

Full review Visit Crypto.comTerms reviewed August 21, 2026Crypto.com prediction trading

#3 · No-fee funding options

Kalshi

App access

Web and mobile account

Platform type: Regulated event-contract exchange
Availability: U.S. and eligible international countries
Funding: USD funding

Kalshi documents market-dependent transaction fees and several funding methods without processing fees.

Why consider it

+ACH, wire, PayPal and Venmo deposits list no processing fee.
+Fee preview is available before purchase.

Tradeoffs to check

!Transaction fees vary with expected earnings and special events can differ.
!Kalshi fees and available contracts can vary by market, event and jurisdiction.

Full reviewTerms reviewed August 21, 2026Kalshi fee information

#4 · Upfront fee disclosures

Coinbase

App access

Coinbase account and predictions balance

Platform type: Crypto exchange with prediction markets
Availability: U.S. residents, excluding Nevada
Funding: USD and USDC prediction balance

Coinbase shows the fee breakdown before an event-contract order is placed.

Why consider it

+Fee visible at confirmation.
+Integrated predictions balance.

Tradeoffs to check

!A single public headline rate is not supplied for every contract.
!Coinbase currently limits prediction markets to U.S. residents and excludes Nevada.

Full review Visit CoinbaseTerms reviewed August 21, 2026Coinbase prediction markets

What to compare before choosing

1.Use current first-party fee documentation and confirm the final charge in the order preview.
2.Check maker, taker, settlement and funding costs where they apply.
3.A platform is not called cheapest when the exact fee depends on contract price, category or order type.
4.Spreads, slippage and network or payment-provider charges can exceed the displayed trading fee.

Read the full Coin Interest Rate methodology

Why prediction-market fees are hard to compare

Some platforms charge against expected contract earnings, some use category and price curves, and others show a fee only at order confirmation. The same dollar trade can therefore cost different amounts at 20% and 50% implied probability.

Execution price matters too. A platform with a smaller explicit fee can still cost more when the bid-ask spread is wide or liquidity is thin.

Maker versus taker orders
Contract price and category
Deposit and withdrawal costs
Spread, slippage and early exit

Use the order preview as the final check

Fee schedules can change. Before submitting a trade, compare the total cash required, expected payout and any charge for closing the position early.

Frequently asked questions

Which prediction market has the lowest fees?

There is no universal answer. Polymarket publishes zero maker fees and category-based taker fees, Crypto.com publishes a current $1-contract range, and other platforms calculate or disclose fees per order.

Are maker orders free?

International Polymarket and Crypto.com currently document zero maker fees, but verify that the specific product and order qualify.

Are spreads a fee?

A spread is not normally labeled as a fee, but it is a real trading cost because it affects entry and exit prices.