DraftKings vs FanDuel: Odds, Margins and Feature Comparison
Across a paired sample of 1,066 DraftKings prices and 594 FanDuel prices, DraftKings held the best available line 54.0% of the time versus FanDuel's 36.0%. DraftKings also ran a slightly tighter average margin — 4.25% against FanDuel's 4.45%. On pure pricing, DraftKings edges this matchup. But the two operators are close on almost everything else: identical licence-safety scores (9.3), the same core feature set, and near-identical app ratings (DraftKings 9.2, FanDuel 9.3). This page breaks down where each book wins and why.
| DraftKings | FanDuel | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Licence | State regulators ✓ | State regulators ✓ |
| Best price share | 66% | 40% |
| Avg. margin | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| Min deposit | 10 | 10 |
| Withdrawal time | 0–24h | 0–24h |
| Payments | PayPal, Venmo, Online Banking, Play+ | PayPal, Venmo, Online Banking, Visa |
| Apps | iOS/Android | iOS/Android |
| Compare Odds | Compare Odds |
Odds comparison
On Odds comparison the two measure effectively level (7.9/10 vs 7.8/10).
Markets & coverage
On Markets & coverage the two measure effectively level (9.0/10 vs 8.9/10).
Live betting
On Live betting the two measure effectively level (8.9/10 vs 8.8/10).
Payments & payouts
On Payments & payouts the two measure effectively level (8.8/10 vs 8.7/10).
Withdrawal time
On Withdrawal time the two measure effectively level (8.7/10 vs 8.5/10).
App & mobile
On App & mobile the two measure effectively level (9.3/10 vs 9.2/10).
Bet Builder
On Bet Builder the two measure effectively level (8.9/10 vs 8.8/10).
Licence & safety
On Licence & safety the two measure effectively level (9.3/10 vs 9.3/10).
DraftKings — Pros / Cons
- ✓ Deep market menus per event
- ✓ Licensed and regulated locally
- ✓ Responsive customer support
- ✗ No real bet builder
FanDuel — Pros / Cons
- ✓ Deep market menus per event
- ✓ Licensed and regulated locally
- ✓ Responsive customer support
- ✗ No real bet builder
Odds and margin: the pricing verdict
Best-price share is the share of sampled markets where a book posted the highest available payout. In our head-to-head sample, DraftKings led at 54.0% and FanDuel at 36.0%. The gap is meaningful, though note the sample sizes differ (1,066 DraftKings prices vs 594 for FanDuel), so DraftKings had wider coverage in the markets sampled.
Average margin — the built-in hold across a market's outcomes — favors DraftKings marginally at 4.25% vs FanDuel's 4.45%. That ~0.2 percentage-point difference is small on a single wager but compounds over volume. On margin alone, DraftKings gives back slightly more to the bettor per market.
Editorial read: for line-shopping bettors who care about squeezing the top payout on each market, DraftKings is the stronger default in this sample. FanDuel remains competitive and frequently posts the best line on individual markets — 36.0% is not a rounding error. Anyone chasing value should still hold accounts at both and compare per bet.
Head-to-head ratings table
Category scores (0–10) as supplied. Higher is better.
- Odds: DraftKings 7.9 | FanDuel 7.8
- Market coverage: DraftKings 9.0 | FanDuel 8.9
- Sports depth: DraftKings 8.9 | FanDuel 8.8
- Live capability: DraftKings 8.8 | FanDuel 8.9
- Bet builder / SGP: DraftKings 8.8 | FanDuel 8.9
- Licence safety: DraftKings 9.3 | FanDuel 9.3
- Payments: DraftKings 8.7 | FanDuel 8.8
- Withdrawals: DraftKings 8.5 | FanDuel 8.7
- App: DraftKings 9.2 | FanDuel 9.3
- Features: DraftKings 9.0 | FanDuel 9.0
- Support: DraftKings 8.2 | FanDuel 8.3
The pattern: DraftKings edges pricing, market coverage and sports depth; FanDuel edges live capability, Same Game Parlay, payments, withdrawals, app and support. Most gaps are 0.1 — statistically these are near-twins outside of the odds sample.
Where each book actually wins
DraftKings advantages in this data: - Higher best-price share (54.0% vs 36.0%) - Lower average margin (4.25% vs 4.45%) - Slightly broader market coverage (9.0) and sports depth (8.9)
FanDuel advantages: - Higher Same Game Parlay score (8.9 vs 8.8) and live capability (8.9 vs 8.8) - Faster/stronger withdrawals rating (8.7 vs 8.5) - Marginally higher app (9.3) and support (8.3) scores
Practically, if your core activity is straight bets and totals where top-of-market payout matters, DraftKings is the pricing pick. If you lean heavily on parlays, in-play markets and want the highest-rated app and withdrawal experience, FanDuel closes the gap and arguably leads on the product side.
Sports and league coverage
Both operators cover the full US slate: the NFL and NCAAF, NBA and NCAAB, MLB, NHL, and UFC/MMA. Both also list soccer competitions including the Champions League, Europa League, Serie A, Ligue 1, MLS, Copa Libertadores and the World Cup, plus ATP and WTA tennis and golf.
DraftKings' higher market-coverage (9.0) and sports-depth (8.9) scores suggest a slightly deeper board — more secondary markets and props per event — but the difference is one tenth of a point. For mainstream NFL, NBA and MLB action, both books post equivalent depth. Bettors targeting niche props or lower-tier soccer will notice the coverage edge more than NFL-only bettors.
For per-sport odds and availability, see our American Football odds, Basketball odds and Baseball odds pages.
Apps, live betting and Same Game Parlays
Both operators offer native iOS and Android apps and score at the top of the US market — FanDuel 9.3, DraftKings 9.2. Both support Live Betting, Same Game Parlay, Cash Out, Fast Payout and Live Streaming.
On the two product areas most sensitive to app quality — live betting and same-game parlays — FanDuel holds a fractional edge (live capability 8.9 vs 8.8; SGP 8.9 vs 8.8). If in-play speed and parlay construction are your priority, FanDuel is the marginally higher-rated choice. For pre-match pricing on singles, DraftKings' odds edge outweighs the app gap.
Compare the wider field on our betting apps United States page.
Payments and withdrawals
DraftKings supported deposit and withdrawal methods in our data: PayPal, Venmo, Online Banking and Play+. FanDuel: PayPal, Venmo, Online Banking and Visa. Both list a $10 minimum deposit and a 0–24h withdrawal window.
The practical difference is the funding rail: DraftKings offers Play+ (the prepaid card option common to US sportsbooks), while FanDuel lists Visa. Both share PayPal, Venmo and Online Banking. FanDuel's slightly higher withdrawals score (8.7 vs 8.5) and payments score (8.8 vs 8.7) reflect a marginally smoother cashout profile in the ratings, though headline withdrawal times are identical.
Method-specific options: PayPal betting sites and Venmo betting sites.
Licensing and state legality
Both DraftKings and FanDuel carry a licence in every state where they operate and score 9.3 on licence safety. US sports betting is regulated state by state — an operator licensed in New Jersey by the DGE is not automatically legal elsewhere. Availability, the minimum age (21 in regulated states) and specific rules depend on your state regulator, such as the NYSGC in New York, PGCB in Pennsylvania or MGCB in Michigan.
Both books are live across the major regulated markets including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Colorado, Ohio, Illinois, Arizona, Virginia and Massachusetts. Confirm current status with your state regulator before depositing. More context on our legal betting sites United States page.
Bottom line: which to pick
Pick DraftKings if best-price share and margin drive your decision. In this sample it posted the top line 54.0% of the time at a 4.25% average margin, both ahead of FanDuel — the clearer value pick for straight-bet line shoppers.
Pick FanDuel if you prioritize the product: highest-rated app (9.3), slightly stronger live betting and Same Game Parlay scores, and a marginally better withdrawals rating.
Best practical answer: hold both. They share identical licence-safety, near-identical feature sets and the same $10 minimum. Line shopping between them captures the best of each — DraftKings' pricing lead is real but not absolute at 54–36. Full breakdowns on our DraftKings review and FanDuel review.
FAQ
Does DraftKings or FanDuel have better odds?
In our sample, DraftKings posted the best available line in 54.0% of markets versus FanDuel's 36.0%, and ran a lower average margin (4.25% vs 4.45%). DraftKings has the pricing edge, though FanDuel still leads on many individual markets.
Which app is better rated, DraftKings or FanDuel?
FanDuel scores 9.3 and DraftKings 9.2 on app quality — both among the highest in the US market. Both offer native iOS and Android apps with live betting, Same Game Parlay, cash out and live streaming.
Are both DraftKings and FanDuel legal in my state?
Both carry a licence in every state where they operate and are live across major markets including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio. US betting is regulated state by state, so confirm availability and the minimum age (21) with your state regulator.
What payment methods do DraftKings and FanDuel accept?
DraftKings supports PayPal, Venmo, Online Banking and Play+. FanDuel supports PayPal, Venmo, Online Banking and Visa. Both list a $10 minimum deposit and a 0–24h withdrawal window.
Should I use both sportsbooks?
For value bettors, yes. They share identical licence-safety scores, the same core features and the same $10 minimum, so holding both lets you take the better price per market. DraftKings led best-price share 54–36, but FanDuel frequently posts the top line too.