Kalshi vs. Novig: Which Prediction Market Is Better in 2026?

Kalshi vs Novig: Sign-up bonus

Prediction-market sign-up offers vary by platform, and both Kalshi and Novig currently provide promotional value to eligible new customers who complete the required qualifying activity. Kalshi advertises the 'Exclusive $35 Bonus' offer, while Novig offers 'Deposit $10, Get $25'.

Both use a trade-and-get structure, but the qualifying requirements and bonus delivery differ. Kalshi provides one $35 bonus after completing its requirements, while Novig provides five (5) Trade Credits of $5.00 each in bonuses after the qualifying trade.

Overview: Kalshi vs Novig

Kalshi vs Novig pits two of the best prediction market apps in the U.S. against each other. Kalshi vs. Novig comes down to a question I think more traders should ask: Do I want a prediction market for almost everything, or one built entirely around sports? Kalshi covers sports, politics, economics, culture, and more. Novig keeps its attention on sports, with exchange-style trading rather than a traditional sportsbook model. That contrast is sharper than comparing two platforms chasing the same audience. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission still looms over both. I’ll compare their markets, bonuses, fees, trading tools, and availability:

Kalshi vs Novig: Which is best for me?

You’re here for the Kalshi vs. Novig comparison, so I’ll break down where each prediction-market platform stands out and which type of trader each one suits best.

Why use Kalshi in September 2026?

I’d choose Kalshi when my interests extend beyond the scoreboard. Its election markets, economic releases, weather contracts, and entertainment categories give me reasons to explore the platform even when I’m not following a game. The 2026 midterms are a particularly clear example of something I can follow on Kalshi that doesn’t belong on Novig’s sports-only menu.

That flexibility matters more to me than simply having a longer list of markets. I can follow several interests without maintaining separate accounts for each one.

Why use Novig in September 2026?

I’d lean toward Novig when sports are the whole reason I’m opening the app. Its current offering includes pregame and live trading, player props, futures, and the ability to make or take a price. You don’t have to give up exchange-style control just because the platform has a narrower focus.

Novig’s growth also deserves attention. Its $75 million Series B and launch of its federally regulated platform show how much the business has changed. Those developments put it firmly on my comparison list, although funding and growth don’t automatically guarantee the best price on my next trade.

My verdict: Kalshi vs Novig

I wouldn’t decide between them by counting categories alone. Someone who only trades football, basketball, and baseball may get no additional value from election or inflation markets. For that trader, the more important comparison is the price, fees, and available quantity on the sports contract they actually want.

Kalshi vs Novig: Bonus comparison

I’ll review the current prediction market promos from Kalshi and Novig in September 2026, including each welcome bonus, its qualifying requirements, terms, and how the reward is administered.

Kalshi welcome promo

Novig welcome promo

Kalshi vs Novig: Markets and what you can trade

Kalshi and Novig take fundamentally different approaches to market selection. Kalshi offers sports alongside politics, economics, finance, weather, culture, and other event contracts, while Novig focuses exclusively on sports.

Kalshi has the clear advantage in overall category variety, but I don’t automatically consider that better for a sports-focused trader. Novig focuses entirely on games, player props, futures, parlays, and live markets, so sports depth, pricing, liquidity, and fees matter more than the number of available categories.

Kalshi markets

Kalshi's advantage is the range of questions its markets can answer. Beyond sports, its catalog includes elections, economic data, financial prices, weather, and entertainment. It also lists mention markets tied to specified words or phrases being spoken at qualifying events. That makes Kalshi the more useful option when my interests move between games, headlines, and scheduled news events.

Novig markets

Novig’s catalog stays within sports. Its straight trades include moneylines, spreads, totals, player props, and futures, while parlays combine multiple selections into one position. Its parlay system requests prices from market makers rather than simply applying a fixed sportsbook payout table. I see that as a different product focus, not evidence that Novig is a stripped-down version of Kalshi.

Sports 🏆

Kalshi offers sports event contracts across major professional and college leagues, including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, tennis, golf, combat sports, motorsports, and other competitions. Depending on the event, I can find game winners, spreads, totals, player-related markets, futures, tournament outcomes, and live contracts. Kalshi also offers Combos, giving me another way to build positions around multiple sports outcomes.

Novig focuses entirely on sports, with markets covering major leagues and competitions across football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, golf, tennis, combat sports, motorsports, and more. Its selection includes moneyline-style markets, spreads, totals, player props, futures, live markets, and parlays, while its make/take system lets me accept an available price or post my own.

Both operators make our list of top sites for NFL prediction markets. The table below showcases some of the professional sports that can be accessed on Kalshi and Novig: 

Expert Verdict

I give Novig a slight edge for the dedicated sports experience, while Kalshi remains extremely competitive on sports depth. Novig is built entirely around sports and offers particularly strong coverage of the types of markets I’m accustomed to seeing on sportsbooks, but I would still compare the same contract on both platforms before trading because price, liquidity, and available quantity can matter more than the size of the overall sports menu.

Sky Smith Prediction Markets Editor

Politics 🗳️

Kalshi offers one of the deeper political selections among U.S. prediction markets, with contracts covering elections, congressional control, individual races, primaries, government appointments, approval ratings, policy outcomes, and other major political developments. Its election markets can remain active for months, while shorter-term political contracts give me additional opportunities around breaking developments.

Novig does not offer political event contracts. Its sports-only approach means I won’t find presidential, congressional, gubernatorial, policy, or other government-related markets on the platform, regardless of how prominent those events become in the news cycle.

Our guide to political prediction markets goes into even more detail on political trading mechanics.

Expert Verdict

Kalshi wins the politics category by default because Novig does not compete here. That is a major advantage for someone who wants to trade elections alongside sports, but it has little relevance to me if sports are the only prediction markets I’m interested in.

Christian Stringer Prediction Markets Editor

Economics 📈

Kalshi offers economic event contracts tied to some of the biggest scheduled data releases and policy decisions in the U.S. economy. I can find markets covering Federal Reserve interest-rate decisions, inflation, unemployment, GDP, jobs data, recession-related outcomes, and other macroeconomic indicators, with prices moving as new information changes expectations.

Novig does not offer economics markets because its catalog remains entirely focused on sports. I won’t find contracts tied to the Federal Reserve, CPI, GDP, employment reports, interest rates, or other economic releases on the platform.

Expert Verdict

Kalshi is the clear winner for economics, giving me an established selection of contracts around major economic releases and policy decisions. Novig’s lack of economics markets reinforces the central difference between these platforms rather than exposing a weakness in its core sports product.

Sky Smith Prediction Markets Editor

Culture 📺

Kalshi offers culture and entertainment contracts covering major awards, television, movies, music, media, public figures, technology, and other widely followed events. The exact selection changes with the news and entertainment calendar, giving the platform another source of frequently changing markets beyond sports and traditional financial topics.

Novig does not offer culture or entertainment markets. I won’t find contracts tied to awards shows, movies, television, music, celebrities, streaming trends, or similar cultural events because Novig keeps its market selection exclusively within sports.

Expert Verdict

Kalshi wins the culture category with considerably more variety for customers who want to trade entertainment and other public-interest events. Novig offers no direct alternative, although I don’t consider that a meaningful disadvantage for someone specifically looking for a sports prediction market.

Kalshi is also the top pick in our guide to Oscars prediction markets.

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Christian Stringer Prediction Markets Editor

Covers Expert Analysis

"Kalshi is the clear winner for overall market variety, but Novig makes this comparison much closer when I isolate sports. Kalshi lets me move between the NFL, elections, economic releases, weather, finance, culture, and other current events from one account, making it the more versatile prediction market. Novig takes the opposite approach and concentrates its product around sports. If you only want to trade games, player props, futures, parlays, and live sporting events, I don’t consider the absence of politics or economics a major drawback. In that case, I’d compare Kalshi and Novig based on sports-market depth, price, liquidity, fees, and execution rather than simply counting how many total categories each platform offers."

Christian Stringer, Prediction Markets Editor

Does sports-only mean Novig has more sports markets?

Novig, as a sports-only prediction market, doesn't automatically offer more sports contracts than Kalshi. The distinction is more about focus than raw market count. Kalshi has built a substantial sports section while simultaneously offering politics, economics, finance, weather, culture, crypto, and other event markets. Novig dedicates its entire platform to sports.

That difference becomes more noticeable when I look at how the products are organized. Novig revolves around familiar sports markets such as game winners, spreads, totals, player props, futures, parlays, and live trading. Kalshi offers many of those same types of sports contracts, but they exist within a much larger event-trading ecosystem.

For that reason, I wouldn't choose Novig just because it's sports-only, or Kalshi just because it has more categories. If I'm primarily trading sports, I compare the specific leagues and markets I want, along with the available price, liquidity, fees, and order quantity on each platform.

Covers Expert Analysis

"I give Novig an advantage for sports specialization, not necessarily sports-market quantity. Its entire experience is designed around sports, while Kalshi gives me a strong sports product within a much broader prediction market. For a sports-only trader, that makes this comparison considerably closer than the overall market-variety comparison suggests."

Christian Stringer, Prediction Markets Editor

Kalshi vs Novig: Trading mechanics

Both platforms use event contracts rather than the conventional bookmaker relationship. For a standard binary contract, the winning outcome normally settles at $1 and the losing outcome at $0, subject to the contract’s rules and any exceptional settlement provisions.

My basic trading process is similar on either platform:

1. Create and verify an eligible account, then choose a funding method.
2. Find the event and outcome I want to trade.
3. Read the rules, price, quantity, and fees before confirming anything.
4. Accept an available price or submit my own, depending on the order options.
5. Hold through settlement or close an eligible position, where the platform and available liquidity permit. 

Kalshi trading mechanics

Kalshi’s limit orders let me specify the maximum price I’m willing to pay rather than simply accepting the current quote. An order can fill completely, fill partially, or remain unmatched. That control is useful, but it doesn’t guarantee execution. Setting an attractive price does nothing unless another trader is willing to transact.

Novig trading mechanics

Novig describes its core choices as Take and Make. Taking accepts an existing price; making posts a price and waits for a match. Its documented order timers also matter: unmatched pregame make orders cancel when the event goes live, even when the selected duration would otherwise extend beyond that point. Novig also has an API, so I wouldn’t frame this as Kalshi offering advanced trading while Novig only offers simple picks.

Expert Verdict: Kalshi vs. Novig trading mechanics

Both give me meaningful price control. I’d choose between their workflows based on the orders and position-management features I actually need, not an assumption that sports-only means less sophisticated.

Christian Stringer Prediction Markets Editor

Kalshi vs Novig: Pricing and fees

This is one of the most important comparisons on the page. I distinguish the trading fee from the spread, the available price, and any funding charges.

Kalshi pricing and fees

Kalshi’s standard taker formula uses the contract price, quantity, and a 0.07 coefficient, with market-specific multipliers or exceptions. At a 50¢ price, buying 100 contracts under the standard 1× schedule produces a $1.75 trading fee. Some resting orders can fill without a maker fee, but specified markets charge maker fees. I would therefore check the market’s schedule rather than assume every limit order is free. 

Novig pricing and fees

Novig’s schedule distinguishes between trade types. Pregame straight trades are fee-free, while taker fees apply to live straights, most futures, and parlays. Maker fills carry no trading fee. Using 100 contracts priced at 50¢, the published coefficients produce a 75¢ live-straight fee or $1.50 futures fee. Golf and tennis futures are exempt from the futures fee as of September 10. Parlay fees are incorporated into the displayed quote.

Expert Verdict: Kalshi vs. Novig pricing and fees

I give Novig the edge for pregame straight-trade fees. I would not describe the entire platform as fee-free. However, the lowest fee is not necessarily the lowest total cost.

Christian Stringer Prediction Markets Editor

For example: 100 contracts at 48¢ with Kalshi’s standard fee cost approximately $49.75. The same quantity at 50¢ on a fee-free Novig pregame market costs $50. The better underlying price can outweigh the fee difference. Liquidity matters for the same reason. I compare how much I can actually buy or sell near the displayed price, not just total platform volume. A quote available for a small order may not be available for my full position.

Kalshi vs. Novig: Which has better sports liquidity?

Liquidity matters because the displayed price is only useful if enough contracts are available for the trade I want to make. Kalshi benefits from being a larger, more established prediction-market exchange overall, while Novig focuses entirely on sports.

 That makes sports liquidity more nuanced than simply comparing total platform volume. A Kalshi market may offer more available quantity on one game, while Novig may offer a better executable price on another. I compare the price, quantity available at that price, fees, and what my full order would actually cost before deciding where to trade.

I also consider exit liquidity. Getting into a position cheaply matters less if I later have to accept a significantly worse price to close it early.

Expert Verdict: Kalshi vs. Novig sports liquidity

I don't give either platform a blanket advantage for sports liquidity. Kalshi has greater overall scale, while Novig concentrates its trading activity around sports, so I compare the same contract on both platforms before placing a larger trade.

Christian Stringer Prediction Markets Editor

Kalshi vs Novig: Apps and user experience

A fast, reliable app matters in prediction markets because sports contract prices can move quickly as games approach or new information becomes available. Kalshi offers the more established all-purpose trading experience, while Novig provides a more focused sports-first product built around finding markets, comparing prices, and managing positions.

Kalshi app

The Kalshi mobile app offers a polished interface for discovering contracts, monitoring market prices, and managing open positions. On iOS, Kalshi currently holds a 4.8/5 rating, while its Google Play listing also shows a 4.8 rating and more than 1 million downloads.

What I like most about the Kalshi app is how much control it provides without making its huge market selection difficult to explore. Live tracking, limit orders, position management, and quick access to sports and non-sports categories help it stand apart as the more established and versatile mobile experience.

Kalshi iOS app

Expert Verdict: Kalshi vs. Novig apps and UX

Kalshi suits my cross-category browsing; Novig suits my sports-only routine. I would not use app ratings alone to declare a winner on execution quality.

Christian Stringer Prediction Markets Editor

Kalshi vs Novig: Live and in-play trading

Live trading is especially important on prediction markets because prices can move quickly as games unfold. Both Kalshi and Novig let me trade sports markets in real time, but they take different approaches to pricing, fees, and exiting positions.

Kalshi gives me a more traditional exchange-style experience with price limits and the ability to trade in and out as market prices change. Novig’s make/take model is particularly compelling for live straight trades, where its published taker coefficient can make it the cheaper option. For me, the better live-trading platform ultimately depends on the executable price, total trading cost, and how easily I can exit the position.

Kalshi live trading

Kalshi supports live sports trading, with prices changing as events unfold. I can use price limits rather than automatically accept whatever is displayed, although execution still depends on the market reaching my price and having a counterparty.

For live trading, I pay particular attention to the cost of exiting, not just the price of getting in. 

Novig live trading

Novig supports live make/take trading, and its documented live taker coefficient is lower than Kalshi’s standard taker coefficient. That gives it an attractive published fee structure for comparable live straight trades.

However, its cash-out restrictions deserve attention. Novig currently documents cash-out support for eligible straight positions, not parlays or live player props. Availability also depends on market activity, and its help page lists additional restrictions when you hold multiple trades in the same market. 

Expert Verdict: Kalshi vs. Novig live trading

Novig deserves serious consideration for live straight-trade costs. I would still compare the executable entry and exit prices, and confirm that the position supports the exit method I expect.

Christian Stringer Prediction Markets Editor

Kalshi vs Novig: Payments and withdrawals

Payment methods matter beyond simply getting money onto a prediction market. I compare deposit options, withdrawal methods, processing times, minimums, and potential holds before deciding which platform is more convenient.

Kalshi payments 

Kalshi documents a broad selection of funding options, including bank transfers, cards, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, crypto, and wires. Cash App is listed as a deposit option. Fees, holds, and withdrawal eligibility depend on the method used. I like having that choice, but I would check the full funding route rather than assume the most convenient deposit method also provides the quickest withdrawal.

Novig payments

Novig documents bank funding through Aeropay, card and Apple Pay deposits, and stablecoin deposits through Coinflow. Its withdrawal guidance lists bank accounts, debit cards, and Venmo, with a $10 minimum withdrawal. Some withdrawals can process quickly, but manual review and payment-provider processing can extend the timeline. I wouldn’t turn “fast payouts” into a blanket promise of instant access.

Method🏦	Kalshi	Novig
Wire transfer	✅	Not confirmed
Visa debit	✅	✅
Mastercard debit	✅	✅
Crypto	✅	✅
Bank transfer or ACH	✅	✅
Online banking	✅	✅
Cash App	✅	Not confirmed
PayPal	✅	Not confirmed
Venmo	✅	✅
Apple Pay	✅	✅
Google Pay	✅	✅
PayNearMe	❌	Not confirmed

Expert Verdict: Kalshi vs. Novig payments

Kalshi has the broader documented payment selection. Novig covers several useful routes, including bank funding and stablecoins, so the better fit depends on the method I intend to use.

Christian Stringer Prediction Markets Editor

Kalshi vs Novig: Rewards and loyalty

Kalshi and Novig both reward active traders, but their programs work differently. Kalshi focuses more on targeted liquidity and volume incentives, while Novig offers a more traditional rewards experience alongside incentives for providing liquidity.

Kalshi rewards

Kalshi offers liquidity and volume incentive programs on selected markets. Its Rewards area shows participating events, program periods, and reward pools, with separate conditions determining what qualifies. These are not automatic rewards on every trade, and displayed estimates are not final payments. I’d treat them as an additional consideration after assessing the trade itself.

Kalshi also has a separate friend-referral program that rewards eligible existing customers for inviting new users. This works differently from its trading incentives and welcome offer, so I recommend checking my Kalshi referral code guide for the current reward, eligibility requirements, and steps to qualify.

Novig rewards

Novig has a more recognizable consumer rewards structure through its Points program, tiers, and challenges. Its September program advertises a $250,000 reward pool, but individual rewards depend on the program rules rather than a guaranteed amount for every participant.

Separately, qualifying live makers can receive 50% of the taker fee collected on their matched trade through Novig’s Maker Credit Program. That rewards a particular kind of participation, providing eligible liquidity, not simply opening the app or placing any order. 

Expert Verdict: Kalshi vs. Novig rewards and loyalty

I prefer Novig’s more visible rewards structure for a regular sports user. Kalshi’s targeted market incentives may be more relevant to some active traders. Neither would persuade me to increase my trading just to chase a reward.

Christian Stringer Prediction Markets Editor

Kalshi vs Novig: Legal availability and regulation

Kalshi and Novig both operate within the federally regulated event-contract market, with each offering contracts through a CFTC-designated contract market. Kalshi operates through KalshiEX, while Novig’s federally regulated sports prediction market operates through Ludlow Exchange, LLC, which received its CFTC designation in June 2026. The biggest difference for me is availability. Kalshi has broader overall market coverage but currently faces state-specific restrictions affecting sports contracts, while Novig offers its sports-only prediction market across most of the U.S. with three excluded states.

Kalshi availability

Kalshi is available to eligible customers across most of the U.S., although access to specific contract categories can vary by jurisdiction and current legal developments. KalshiEX operates as a CFTC-designated contract market, and Kalshi Klear serves as its affiliated CFTC-regulated clearinghouse.

Sports contract availability is not identical in every state, so I recommend confirming what is displayed in your account before trading. Readers can review our state-specific guides answering questions such as Is Kalshi legal in California? and explore broader pages covering Texas prediction markets, Florida prediction markets, Georgia prediction markets, and New York prediction markets.

Novig availability

Novig is available to eligible customers across most of the U.S., but its current restrictions matter because the platform offers only sports event contracts. Novig operates through Ludlow Exchange, LLC, a CFTC-designated contract market approved on June 16, 2026. Novig currently does not operate in Arizona, Michigan, or Nevada. Eligibility is based on my physical location when I trade, not my state of residence, and the app checks my location when I open it to trade. I must also be at least 21 years old and complete identity verification before trading.

Expert Verdict: Kalshi vs. Novig regulation

Availability is comparable, but some key differences remain. Kalshi restricts sports contracts in Michigan, Nevada, and Washington, while Novig excludes Arizona, Michigan, and Nevada. That gives Kalshi the advantage in Arizona and Novig in Washington. Novig also requires customers to be 21 or older, so I recommend confirming current eligibility before trading.

Christian Stringer Prediction Markets Editor

Kalshi vs Novig: Sports trading availability

Sports event-contract availability is an important difference between Kalshi and Novig. Both platforms offer federally regulated sports markets across most of the U.S., but their state restrictions are not identical. Kalshi currently restricts sports contracts in Michigan, Nevada, and Washington.

Novig offers its sports-only prediction market nationwide except Arizona, Michigan, and Nevada, making overall sports availability nearly identical but creating important differences in Arizona and Washington.

Kalshi provides broad sports-market access across the U.S., with sports contracts currently restricted in Michigan, Nevada, and Washington. Novig has a similarly broad footprint but does not operate at all in Arizona, Michigan, or Nevada.

The biggest differences are therefore Arizona and Washington. Kalshi sports contracts remain available in Arizona, where Novig is unavailable, while Novig currently offers sports trading in Washington, where Kalshi is restricted. Both platforms are unavailable for sports trading in Michigan and Nevada.

Expert Verdict: Kalshi vs. Novig sports trading availability

Kalshi and Novig offer similarly broad sports availability, but their state restrictions differ. Kalshi is available for sports trading in Arizona, while Novig is available in Washington; both restrict sports access in Michigan and Nevada.

Christian Stringer Prediction Markets Editor

Kalshi vs Novig: Customer support

Customer support matters when I need help with account access, deposits, withdrawals, identity verification, or contract settlement. Kalshi and Novig both offer multiple ways to get help, but their support channels, availability, and overall setup differ.

Kalshi customer support

Kalshi recommends contacting support through its in-app or website messenger while logged in. It uses AI assistance with human review when needed and provides email as an alternative when chat is unavailable. It explicitly states that it does not offer phone or text support. I would include the relevant order details and screenshots in my first message rather than open several conversations about the same issue. 

Novig customer support

Novig documents live chat and email support, alongside a Help Center covering account access, payments, trading, and settlement. Its published contact address is support@novig.co. For a grading issue, I would start with the individual contract rules and provide the trade identifier so support can review the correct position. 

Support feature	Kalshi	Novig
Live chat	✅ Yes (in-app/web messenger)	✅ Yes
Live-chat hours	Not publicly listed	N/A
Email support	✅ support@kalshi.com	✅ support@novig.co
Phone or callback support	❌ No	✅ 1-(917)-310-4992
Help Center	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Social support	✅ Discord and X	✅ @novig_app (Twitter)
Access requirements	Chat is available through the app or website; email is used when chat is unavailable	Support options may vary by issue type and account status

Expert Verdict: Kalshi vs. Novig customer support

I would call this a draw on documented access. I have not run a timed support test that would justify claiming either platform responds faster.

Christian Stringer Prediction Markets Editor

Kalshi vs Novig: Conclusion

Kalshi is the stronger all-purpose prediction market for customers who prioritize market depth, category variety, advanced trading tools, and a more established exchange experience. Novig stands out for its sports-only focus, competitive sports pricing, make-or-take trading, and an experience designed specifically around games, player props, futures, parlays, and live markets.

The better choice ultimately depends on what I want to trade. Kalshi has the advantage if I want sports alongside politics, economics, finance, weather, culture, and other events. Novig becomes much more competitive when I compare the platforms strictly for sports, where its specialization, fee structure, and sportsbook-like market selection are genuine strengths.

Final Verdict: Kalshi vs. Novig

I think Kalshi is the better overall prediction market in 2026 because it combines sports with significantly greater category variety and more mature trading functionality. I’d recommend Novig to sports-focused customers who value a dedicated sports experience, competitive pricing, and the ability to set their own prices.

Christian Stringer Prediction Markets Editor

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