Prediction Market Fees Compared
Trading, settlement and withdrawal costs on Polymarket, Kalshi and beyond, with the real net you keep.
Prediction markets hubThe headline trade fee is only part of the cost of a prediction-market trade. What you actually keep depends on the trade fee, settlement, and the money you spend getting funds on and off the platform. This page breaks down each platform’s costs and links to a calculator so you can see the net on your own trade.
Fees at a glance
| Platform | Trading fee | Deposit / on-ramp | Withdrawal / off-ramp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polymarket | Low per-trade fee at the fill | Crypto on-ramp spread + network gas | Wallet in minutes, then off-ramp 1 to 2 days |
| Kalshi | Tiered maker/taker fee | US bank / card | Bank withdrawal, standard clearing times |
| Others | Varies by platform | Varies | Varies |
How prediction-market fees work
Unlike a sportsbook, where the margin is baked invisibly into the odds, a prediction market usually charges a visible fee on the trade and leaves the price to the market. That transparency is an advantage, but it means the true cost is the trade fee plus the friction of funding. Compare like with like by always including the on-ramp and off-ramp.
Polymarket fees
Polymarket charges a small fee at the fill and settles in USDC on Polygon, so network gas is low. The real cost for a South African is the crypto on-ramp: the spread you pay buying USDC through Luno or VALR, and again on the way out. For frequent small trades that friction can outweigh the low trade fee, so batch your funding.
Kalshi fees
Kalshi uses a fee schedule on trades and settles in dollars from a bank, so there is no crypto spread. The trade-off is the US-oriented funding rails. For dollar-funded traders the all-in cost can be simpler to predict than Polymarket’s ramp-dependent model.
The hidden cost: spread and slippage
On thin markets, the gap between the buy and sell price (the spread) and the price movement your own order causes (slippage) can cost more than the stated fee. This is part of the liquidity risk. Favour deep markets and limit orders to keep this cost down.
Work out your real net
Use our prediction market fee calculator to enter your stake, entry and exit price, and platform, and see the net after every cost. For the platform overview, see Polymarket vs Kalshi.
Page FAQ
Does Polymarket charge fees?
Yes, a small fee on the trade, plus low network gas on Polygon. For SA users the bigger cost is usually the crypto on-ramp and off-ramp spread.
What are Kalshi’s fees?
Kalshi uses a trade fee schedule and settles in dollars from a bank, so there is no crypto spread. Verify current rates on the platform.
Which prediction market is cheapest?
It depends on your trade and how you fund. Include on-ramp and off-ramp costs and use the calculator rather than comparing headline rates.
What are gas fees on Polymarket?
Small network fees for transacting on the Polygon blockchain. They are usually minor compared with the crypto on-ramp spread.
Are there withdrawal fees?
Polymarket withdrawals hit a wallet quickly, but the off-ramp back to ZAR costs a spread. Kalshi uses standard bank withdrawal terms.
