The Short Version
Every prediction market platform we cover is reviewed against a consistent set of criteria. We test each platform with real funds before publishing rankings. Scores are weighted across seven categories, ranging from regulatory status (most heavily weighted) to promotional value (lightly weighted). Specific category rankings (best regulated, best for sports, best for beginners) re-weight the same criteria to reflect the priorities of each audience.
We do not accept payment for ranking placement. We earn affiliate commissions on some links, but commissions never influence ranking decisions. Read the full methodology below.
Scoring Criteria & Weights
- 25%
Regulatory Status & Trust
CFTC oversight, segregated customer funds, dispute recourse, transparency of terms, and verifiability through public regulatory registers. Federally regulated platforms outscore unregulated alternatives where the underlying licensing is verifiable.
- 20%
Liquidity & Market Depth
Cumulative trading volume, average order book depth on flagship markets, and bid-ask spreads at common trade sizes. Liquid markets price events more accurately and let traders enter and exit positions cleanly.
- 15%
Fees & Total Cost
Maker fees, taker fees, embedded spreads, and effective round-trip cost on common trade sizes. Lower total cost retains more trader edge across many trades.
- 15%
Market Range & Coverage
Total active markets, breadth across categories (politics, economics, crypto, sports, weather), and depth within each category. Wider coverage means more opportunities to find an edge.
- 10%
User Experience & Mobile
Mobile app polish, onboarding flow, deposit and withdrawal speed, and customer support quality. We test every platform on iOS and Android where applicable.
- 10%
Resolution Speed & Reliability
Average time from event conclusion to market settlement, dispute rate, and how the platform handles ambiguous outcomes.
- 5%
Promotional Value
Welcome offers, ongoing promotional credit, and loyalty programs. Weighted lightly because promo value compounds slowly relative to structural cost.
Hands-On Testing Process
We open accounts on every platform we cover and trade with real money. Reviews include direct experience of signup flow, identity verification, deposit methods, market navigation, order placement, position management, withdrawal, and customer support response. We test on both iOS and Android where the platform offers mobile apps.
Quarterly retests catch changes to fee schedules, regulatory status, and platform features. When a platform ships meaningful updates between quarterly reviews, we update affected rankings within two weeks.
Editorial Independence
PredictSites earns affiliate commissions on some links to platforms we review. Commission rates vary across operators but ranking decisions are made before commission rates are considered. Some platforms in our top rankings have lower commission rates than competitors ranked below them.
We do not accept payment for ranking placement, sponsored reviews, or guaranteed positions. If we identify a genuine platform problem (poor user experience, regulatory issues, withdrawal complaints), we report on it regardless of whether we have an affiliate relationship with that platform. Read our full affiliate disclosure for the complete picture.
Category-Specific Weights
Best-of pages re-weight the seven core criteria to match each audience. The best regulated prediction markets ranking emphasises regulatory status, customer protections, and dispute recourse. The best sports prediction sites ranking emphasises sports market depth, live in-game options, and accuracy tracking. Each best-of page lists its specific criteria and weights at the bottom of the article.
Editorial Team
Reviews and rankings are written by John Harris, our Lead Analyst, and fact-checked by Sarah Chen, our Senior Research Editor, before publication. Read more about the team on our about page.
See the rankings in action
Browse our full prediction site rankings and platform reviews.
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