Novig vs Polymarket: Sports Trading Fees and Features Compared (2026)

Last reviewed: November 3, 2026

Novig charges no fees on pregame straight trades, while Polymarket US charges takers based on contract price. The difference extends to liquidity rewards: Novig pays eligible makers cash credits on live and futures trades, while Polymarket US pays maker rebates only to traders with at least $10 million in maker volume the prior month and runs separate liquidity reward pools on selected markets. Both platforms let users trade against other participants and set their own prices.

Novig vs Polymarket at a glance

This comparison covers Polymarket US, not the separate international platform at Polymarket.com.

How Novig and Polymarket compare

Novig charges no fees on pregame straight trades

Novig and Polymarket US are both peer-to-peer prediction markets. Prices come from traders placing and accepting orders, instead of a sportsbook setting lines and building a house margin into the odds.

Polymarket US charges takers a fee based on contract price and order size. Its standard fee is highest near 50¢ per contract and decreases as prices approach either 0¢ or $1. Table tennis markets carry a higher taker fee coefficient, 0.10 instead of 0.0695.

Novig makes pregame straight trades free for both makers and takers. Users can accept the best available quote or post their own price without an additional trading fee. Maker fills are also fee-free across live markets and futures. Novig charges taker fees on live straight trades and most futures, while parlays have their fees included in the quoted price. Golf and tennis futures are currently exempt from Novig's futures trading fee.

What does a $50 position pay on Novig vs Polymarket?

Suppose the same pregame game winner is available at 50¢ per contract on both prediction markets. You buy 100 contracts for $50 before fees, and each contract pays $1 if the selection wins.

On Novig, the purchase costs $50 with no trading fee. A winning position settles for $100, leaving $50 in profit.

Polymarket US charges a standard taker fee of approximately $1.74 for those 100 contracts. The total purchase cost rises to $51.74, reducing the profit on a winning position to $48.26.

At identical prices, Novig saves $1.74 on this pregame trade. However, actual contract prices can outweigh that difference. A Polymarket contract offered at 48¢ instead of 50¢ could produce a better net return after fees. For users regularly trading pregame sports markets, Novig's zero-fee structure removes one variable from the calculation. The best price on an individual trade still depends on available orders and liquidity.

Maker rewards on Novig vs Polymarket

Both prediction markets allow users to place limit orders and provide liquidity. Novig charges no maker fee and offers additional cash credits when eligible orders are filled by fee-paying takers. Makers earn a base cash credit at the time of the trade on qualifying in-game live fills and eligible futures fills. Makers who enroll and meet Novig's order standards can earn an additional credit on live fills in major leagues, paid monthly.

Polymarket US pays makers a rebate calculated from contract prices, at a rate set by the maker's volume in the prior calendar month:

Tiers reset on the first of each month. Makers below $10 million in prior-month maker volume receive no rebate. On 100 contracts at 50¢, the rebate runs from about $0.09 in the lowest-paying tier to about $0.26 in the highest. Polymarket US also runs liquidity reward pools on selected markets, which pay resting orders near the best price with no volume minimum.

Novig's Base Maker Credit has no comparable $10 million volume threshold. A qualifying in-game live fill or eligible futures fill earns it whenever the corresponding taker fee is collected, even for users trading at much smaller volumes.

Sports markets, parlays, and trading tools

Novig focuses on sports, covering game winners, spreads, totals, player props, futures, and parlays across major American leagues, along with markets for tennis, golf, MMA, and select soccer leagues.

Polymarket US has a broader catalog, including sports, politics, cryptocurrency, economic indicators, weather, and entertainment. Its sports selection also covers major U.S. leagues and international competitions.

Both prediction markets let users accept available prices or place limit orders at their preferred price. Orders can fill partially or remain unfilled when there isn't enough opposing liquidity. Both also support combinations of outcomes. Novig parlays return a quoted price with the applicable fee included, while Polymarket US Combos carry a separate taker fee. The total cost and payout depend on the selections and available quotes.

Selling positions before settlement

Novig lets traders sell eligible straight positions at current market prices. A position can close for more or less than its original cost, depending on how prices have moved and what other users are willing to pay. Novig also provides automatic early payouts when opposing positions establish a guaranteed minimum return. The guaranteed amount is credited immediately, with any remaining payout settled after the event.

Polymarket US also allows users to sell contracts before settlement, with execution based on available liquidity and applicable trading fees.

Polymarket US vs international: availability and regulation

Polymarket operates separate U.S. and international platforms, with different accounts, trading rules, and funding systems. Polymarket US is a federally regulated exchange that uses U.S. dollars. Its international platform at Polymarket.com uses cryptocurrency-backed trading and blockchain infrastructure. U.S. residents cannot place trades or deposit funds on the international website, so its fees and markets don't apply to Polymarket US.

Novig also operates as a federally regulated CFTC contract market through Ludlow Exchange and is currently available in 46 states plus D.C., excluding Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, and Ohio, for eligible users aged 21 or older. Polymarket US generally allows users aged 18 and older, with trading eligibility subject to location and applicable restrictions.

New-user promotions

Novig currently provides $50 in Trade Credits after a qualifying deposit of $10 or more, without requiring a trade first. The credits are issued in five $10 increments, each expiring after 30 days. They're non-withdrawable and subject to restrictions on eligible contract prices and credit use. Polymarket US offers signup and referral promotions, with amounts and qualifying requirements varying by campaign. Some promotions require a deposit or qualifying trading activity before credits are awarded.

Which is better for sports trading, Novig or Polymarket?

Novig has a clear cost advantage on pregame straight trades, charging no maker or taker fees. Its maker-credit program also rewards eligible users who provide liquidity on live and futures markets without the $10 million monthly maker volume Polymarket US requires for a rebate.

Polymarket US offers a wider range of prediction markets, making it more appealing to traders who want exposure to politics, cryptocurrency, economic events, and other non-sports outcomes.

For users primarily trading sports, Novig's fee-free pregame markets and accessible maker incentives provide a compelling reason to choose its prediction market. Compare the current contract prices on Novig to find the best available entry for your next trade.

Novig vs Polymarket FAQ

Is Novig cheaper than Polymarket for sports trading?

Novig charges no fees on pregame straight trades or maker orders. Polymarket US charges price-based taker fees, with 100 contracts at 50¢ carrying approximately $1.74 in standard fees. Novig also charges fees on certain live trades, futures, and parlays, so the cheaper option depends on the contract price and trade type.

Can you set your own prices on Novig and Polymarket?

Yes. Both prediction markets support limit orders, allowing traders to choose a price and wait for another participant to accept it. Orders are only filled when sufficient opposing liquidity is available.

Does Polymarket offer the same sports markets as Novig?

Both platforms cover major sports outcomes, including game winners and other event contracts. Novig concentrates on sports, with player props, spreads, totals, futures, and parlays. Polymarket US has a broader catalog that includes sports alongside politics, economics, crypto, and other event categories.

Sources

1. Novig: Fees on Novig
2. Novig: Maker Credit Program
3. Novig: Make Orders vs. Take Orders
4. Novig: Straight Trades vs. Parlays
5. Novig: How Selling a Position Works
6. Novig: Early Payouts
7. Novig: Eligibility & Legality
8. Novig: New Member Deposit Program Terms
9. Polymarket US: Trading Fees and Maker Rebates
10. Polymarket US: Product Overview
11. Polymarket US: Market and Limit Orders
12. Polymarket US: Market Structure
13. Polymarket: US vs International Platforms
14. Polymarket US: Official Markets and Categories
15. Polymarket US: Terms of Service