How to use Polymarket: the Polymarket app, step by step
To use Polymarket in the US, download the Polymarket US app, sign up with Google or Apple, verify your identity, deposit dollars, then tap Yes or No on any market and enter an amount. Each contract pays $1 if you’re right. This guide walks through every step as of October 2026, from Polymarket US’s own documentation.
First: which Polymarket?
There are two. Polymarket US is the CFTC-regulated exchange (QCX LLC) for American users, available on iPhone, Android and the web and funded in dollars. Polymarket.com is the international, crypto-funded site, and its help centre lists the US as restricted. The two accounts “are not connected.” Everything below is about Polymarket US.
Step 1: Download the Polymarket app
The iPhone app (“Polymarket,” sold by Blockratize Inc.) requires iOS 18.0 or later. The Android app is on Google Play (last updated October 9, 2026). Both are rated 18+. Apple Pay and USDC deposits are iPhone-only. Polymarket US’s App Store listing says trading is “currently unavailable in NV.”
Step 2: Sign up and verify
You “sign up with Google or Apple ID,” and Polymarket creates a username for you. That username also works as your referral code (see our Polymarket referral code guide). Then you complete identity checks. Polymarket US asks for your “date of birth, phone number… legal name, residential address, and Social Security number,” and may ask for a government ID and a selfie. “You must complete KYC before you can deposit funds or trade.” Its participant agreement requires you to be at least 18 and of legal age in your state.
Step 3: Deposit dollars
Go to Portfolio → Deposit. You can pay by debit card, bank transfer (ACH via Aeropay), Apple Pay, PayPal, Venmo, USDC (iPhone) or wire. Card and ACH deposits are limited to “$25,000/transaction, $50,000/day, and $2,000,000 over a rolling 60-day period.” They take 3–4 business days to clear but give you instant buying power. Wires need a $5,000 minimum and arrive in a business day. All deposits must come from accounts in your own name.
Step 4: Place your first trade
Open any market and, per Polymarket’s docs, “select Yes if you think the event will happen or No if you think it will not.” Enter a dollar amount, review the order and swipe up to confirm. Some things to know:
- Prices are probabilities. Yes and No “always add up to $1.00.” Buying Yes at 40¢ means the market gives the outcome about a 40% chance. Our guide to reading implied probability explains the maths.
- Contracts can be fractional, in steps of 0.01 contracts.
- Takers pay a fee of 0.0695 × contracts × price × (1 − price). For example, about 150 contracts bought at 40¢ (≈$60) carry a fee of about $2.50. Our Kalshi fees guide compares this with Kalshi.
Market or limit order? Our quick guide
| You want… | Use | Why (per Polymarket’s docs) |
|---|---|---|
| To get in right now | Market order | It “fills right away… within a price limit based on the price you were quoted” and never rests on the book |
| A better price than the current one | Limit order | It “fills at your limit price or better,” so you can wait for the market to come to you |
| An order that disappears at kick-off | Limit order, “Start of game” expiry | Avoids being filled once live action changes the odds |
| A one-shot attempt | Limit order, “Immediate or cancel” | Fills what it can at your price and cancels the rest |
Step 5: Sell early, or wait for resolution
You don’t have to hold to the end: “You can close your position at any time… the proceeds are added immediately to your cash balance.” If you hold, markets resolve “using the specific sources listed in the rules,” such as official league results, government data or named benchmarks. Sports markets “often resolve shortly after the official result is posted,” while political markets may take longer. Winning contracts settle at $1.00, losing ones at $0.00, and resolutions are final.
Step 6: Withdraw
Go to Portfolio → Withdraw. Money goes back by debit card, ACH, Apple Pay, PayPal, Venmo or USDC. Withdrawals must go to the “original funding source,” first in, first out, and only deposits that have “fully cleared” (3–4 business days) can be withdrawn. Card and ACH payouts take 3–4 business days. Wires aren’t available in the app, so contact support for those. Polymarket US describes withdrawals as free.
What about polymarket.com?
The international site works differently. You fund it with crypto, which is converted to pUSD, a USDC-backed token on Polygon, and markets resolve through the UMA oracle. It isn’t for US residents. If you’re in the US, use the app above, and check where it’s allowed in our prediction market legality tracker. For a full assessment, read our Polymarket review.
Frequently asked questions
Can Americans use Polymarket?
Yes, through Polymarket US, a separate CFTC-regulated app (QCX LLC) funded in US dollars. The international polymarket.com site is restricted for US residents, and its accounts aren't connected to Polymarket US. As of October 2026 Polymarket US's App Store listing says trading is unavailable in Nevada.
Is the Polymarket app on Android?
Yes. Polymarket's Google Play listing (com.polymarket.android) was updated on October 9, 2026 and is rated 18+. The iPhone app requires iOS 18.0 or later. Apple Pay and USDC deposits are iPhone-only.
How do I bet on Polymarket?
Open a market, tap Yes or No, enter a dollar amount and swipe up to confirm. Each contract pays $1 if you're right, so buying Yes at 40¢ means the market prices the outcome at about 40%. You can sell before the market resolves, and takers pay a small fee of 0.0695 × contracts × price × (1 − price).
How long do Polymarket withdrawals take?
Card and ACH withdrawals take 3–4 business days, and money must go back to the original funding source, first in, first out. Deposits must fully clear (3–4 business days) before you can withdraw them. Polymarket US says withdrawals are free.
Sources
- Polymarket US Docs — Sign up
- Polymarket US Docs — Fund your account
- Polymarket US Docs — Place an order
- Polymarket US Docs — Order types
- Polymarket US Docs — Sell early
- Polymarket US Docs — Withdraw funds
- Polymarket US Docs — Fees
- Polymarket US Participant Agreement (eligibility, age)
- Apple App Store — Polymarket (US)
- Google Play — Polymarket
- Polymarket Help Center — Website vs app
- Polymarket Help Center — Geographic restrictions
Last checked:
18+ (21+ where required). Prediction markets involve risk of loss — only trade what you can afford to lose. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (National Problem Gambling Helpline, 24/7).
Last updated 2026-10-17. Not financial or betting advice.