Betfair vs Paddy Power
On raw price data, Betfair is the sharper book. Across a sampled 213 markets, Betfair posted the best available price 53.1% of the time and ran an average margin of 4.29%. Paddy Power, across 195 sampled markets, topped the price on 12.3% of selections at a 6.93% average margin. That is roughly a 2.6-percentage-point margin gap in Betfair's favour, which compounds fast on multiples and high-turnover accounts. Both hold Irish market access, both take €10 minimum deposits and both process withdrawals inside 0–24h — so the decision comes down to price versus product. Paddy Power counters with a stronger app, a native Bet Builder and wider payment support including Apple Pay and Revolut Pay.
| Betfair | Paddy Power | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.8 | 8.1 |
| Licence | GRAI ✓ | GRAI ✓ |
| Best price share | 42% | 29% |
| Avg. margin | 3.7% | 7.1% |
| Min deposit | 10 | 10 |
| Withdrawal time | 0–24h | 0–24h |
| Payments | Debit Card, PayPal | Debit Card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Revolut Pay |
| Apps | iOS/Android | iOS/Android |
| Compare Odds | Compare Odds |
Odds comparison
On Odds comparison the numbers favour Betfair: 8.9/10 against 7.8/10 for Paddy Power.
Markets & coverage
On Markets & coverage the numbers favour Betfair: 8.8/10 against 8.3/10 for Paddy Power.
Live betting
On Live betting the numbers favour Betfair: 8.7/10 against 8.2/10 for Paddy Power.
Payments & payouts
On Payments & payouts the two measure effectively level (8.5/10 vs 8.4/10).
Withdrawal time
On Withdrawal time the two measure effectively level (8.6/10 vs 8.5/10).
App & mobile
On App & mobile the two measure effectively level (8.8/10 vs 8.4/10).
Bet Builder
On Bet Builder the numbers favour Paddy Power: 8.0/10 against 7.4/10 for Betfair.
Licence & safety
On Licence & safety the two measure effectively level (9.2/10 vs 9.2/10).
Betfair — Pros / Cons
- ✓ Consistently near the best price
- ✓ Deep market menus per event
- ✓ Licensed and regulated locally
- ✗ No real bet builder
Paddy Power — Pros / Cons
- ✓ Low payout latency
- ✓ Licensed and regulated locally
- ✓ Responsive customer support
- ✗ Odds are competitive but not always the best
Price and margin: the numbers that decide it
Best-price share is the share of sampled markets where an operator offered the top available odds. Average margin is the built-in bookmaker overround — lower means more of the theoretical value returns to the bettor.
- Betfair: 53.1% best-price share, 4.29% average margin (213 markets sampled)
- Paddy Power: 12.3% best-price share, 6.93% average margin (195 markets sampled)
Betfair tops the price on more than half of sampled selections and runs a margin roughly a third tighter than Paddy Power. For a bettor placing regular singles across football, horse racing or tennis, that margin difference is the single most important line on this page: it is a persistent drag on Paddy Power returns that no promotion fully offsets over a season.
Our odds ratings reflect this: Betfair scores 8.9 for odds against Paddy Power's 7.8. Market coverage is close (8.8 vs 8.3) with Betfair marginally ahead on breadth of priced-up markets.
Where Paddy Power closes the gap
Price is not the whole product. Paddy Power leads on several product-quality ratings:
- App: 8.8 vs Betfair 8.4
- Withdrawals: 8.6 vs 8.5
- Payments: 8.5 vs 8.4
- Bet Builder: 8.0 vs 7.4
- Features: 8.4 vs 8.6 (Betfair narrowly ahead)
Paddy Power's feature set lists Live Betting, Cash Out, Bet Builder, Live Streaming and Fast Payout. Betfair's listed features are Live Betting, Cash Out, Live Streaming and Fast Payout. The practical distinction: Paddy Power carries a native Bet Builder in its supplied feature list, which matters for same-game combinations on the Premier League, Champions League and GAA fixtures.
Both operators score identically on licence safety (9.2), so neither has a regulatory edge for Irish players.
Payments and withdrawals
Both accept Debit Card and PayPal, both set a €10 minimum deposit, and both quote withdrawal times of 0–24h. The difference is breadth at the deposit end.
Paddy Power's supplied methods: Debit Card, PayPal, Apple Pay and Revolut Pay. Betfair's supplied methods: Debit Card and PayPal.
For Irish bettors who fund accounts through Revolut Pay or Apple Pay, Paddy Power is the only one of the two with those rails in its data. If you bank exclusively through PayPal or card, the two are equivalent on funding, and their withdrawal windows are effectively the same. See our PayPal betting sites and Revolut Pay betting sites lists for wider context.
Sports and market depth for Irish bettors
Both books cover the core Irish card: Football, Horse Racing, GAA, Rugby, Tennis and Golf. On sports depth ratings the gap is narrow — Betfair 8.6, Paddy Power 8.4 — with Betfair also ahead on live capability (8.7 vs 8.2).
For horse racing, the tighter Betfair margin is meaningful because racing overrounds are typically wider than football, so a book running 4.29% on average returns more to the punter across a card than one at 6.93%. For same-game and combination bets on football competitions such as the Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Champions League, Paddy Power's Bet Builder is the relevant differentiator.
GAA and Rugby coverage is comparable; on price, Betfair's higher best-price share means it is more often the top quote when you line the two up on the same selection.
Apps: Paddy Power ahead on rating
Both operators offer iOS and Android apps. Paddy Power rates 8.8 on app against Betfair's 8.4 — the widest product-side gap in Paddy Power's favour on this page. If your betting is primarily mobile and you value in-app Bet Builder construction, that rating gap is the strongest single argument for Paddy Power.
Betfair's app rating remains high in absolute terms; the lower score reflects a relative comparison, not a weak product. For a broader view, see betting apps Ireland.
Verdict: pick by priority
The data splits cleanly by what you optimise for.
Choose Betfair if price is your priority. A 53.1% best-price share and a 4.29% average margin make it the value pick, and it also edges live capability, odds and market coverage. Over a high-volume season, the tighter margin is the compounding advantage.
Choose Paddy Power if product breadth matters more than the last decimal of value. It leads on app (8.8), carries a native Bet Builder, and supports Apple Pay and Revolut Pay alongside card and PayPal — useful for mobile-first bettors and those funding via Revolut.
Both are equal on licence safety (9.2) and withdrawal speed (0–24h). Many Irish bettors hold both: Betfair for price on singles and racing, Paddy Power for same-game builds and mobile convenience. Full profiles are in the Betfair review and Paddy Power review.
FAQ
Does Betfair or Paddy Power offer better odds?
On sampled data, Betfair. It posted the best available price on 53.1% of 213 sampled markets versus 12.3% of 195 for Paddy Power, and ran a lower average margin of 4.29% against 6.93%. That makes Betfair the stronger value option across singles and racing.
Which has the better app?
Paddy Power rates higher on app quality at 8.8 versus Betfair's 8.4. Both offer iOS and Android apps. Paddy Power also carries a native Bet Builder in its feature list, which suits mobile same-game betting.
Do both take Revolut Pay and Apple Pay?
No. Paddy Power's supplied payment methods include Apple Pay and Revolut Pay alongside Debit Card and PayPal. Betfair's supplied methods are Debit Card and PayPal only. Both set a €10 minimum deposit.
How fast are withdrawals at each?
Both quote a withdrawal window of 0–24h, so there is no material speed difference between Betfair and Paddy Power on the supplied data. Both also list Fast Payout as a feature.
Are both licensed for Irish bettors?
Both are licensed and score 9.2 on licence safety, with Paddy Power's regulator listed as the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI). The minimum betting age in Ireland is 18. Neither holds a regulatory advantage over the other.
Which is better for horse racing?
Betfair, on price. Racing markets typically carry wider overrounds, so Betfair's 4.29% average margin returns more to the punter across a card than Paddy Power's 6.93%. Sports depth ratings are close (8.6 vs 8.4).