Best Daily Fantasy Sports Sites 2024 – Top DFS Platforms Compared

Welcome to our comprehensive Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) guide, your go-to resource for learning how to play and discovering the best DFS sites and apps. We’ll explore the different types of daily fantasy sports contests, the DFS legal landscape, the best tips to increase your chances of success, and everything else you’ll need to know to get started. Let’s dive right in!

Best DFS Site Rating Comparison Table

Most daily fantasy sports sites offer new users a registration bonus or a deposit match promo that gives new users some bonus funds to enter more contests with and try out everything they have to offer. Below our experts highlight the best bonuses available along with each DFS rating.

ATS.io Top 5 Reviewed Daily Fantasy Sports Sites List

Although DraftKings and FanDuel are the two biggest names in the world of daily fantasy sports, there are many other DFS sites that offer thrilling gameplay and huge prize pools. Each daily fantasy app is unique and has something special to offer its customers, but there are five daily fantasy sports platforms that stand head and shoulders above the rest: Underdog Fantasy, OwnersBox Fantasy, ParlayPlay, and Fliff Social Sportsbook.

1. FanDuel DFS – Largest selection of DFS sports contests to choose from.
2. DraftKings Daily Fantasy – Offers free-to-play DFS contests and the hot new pick 6 game.
3. Parlay Play – Best for player prop pick’ems, offers generous no deposit bonus at sign up.
4. OwnersBox – Unique lightning draft contests along with popular pick’em cards.
5. Underdog Fantasy – Offers daily, weekly and season long contests.

#1 FanDuel DFS

Established in 2009 by Nigel and Lesley Eccles, Tom Griffiths, Rob Jones, and Chris Stafford, FanDuel made its mark as a leading Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) provider. Its impact on the fantasy sports realm was almost immediate. By 2010, FanDuel had already hosted its first fantasy football tournament, signaling its solid footing in the industry.

As FanDuel’s influence grew, so did its ambitions. In 2015, it made a significant leap by acquiring numberFire. This was swiftly followed by the incorporation of AlphaDraft within the same year. Both strategic moves played pivotal roles in diversifying the brand and its offerings, further establishing FanDuel as a force to be reckoned with.

#2 DraftKings DFS

The story began in 2012 when a visionary team of executives, formerly associated with the well-known printing entity, VistaPrint, decided to venture into the then-budding world of daily fantasy sports. Armed with a robust financial backing of over $25 million in venture capital, they founded DraftKings. Little did the world know that this company would soon shape the contours of the daily fantasy landscape and become the most dominant DFS site and sportsbook in the US today.

#3 OwnersBox Fantasy

Launched in September 2020, OwnersBox Fantasy offers a versatile and exciting experience to fantasy players all over the United States and Canada. The site covers the four major American professional sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL) and offers two primary types of contests: SuperFlex DFS and Lightning Lineups.

SuperFlex DFS Contests involve building a lineup of players, which includes flex and Superflex roster spots to eliminate the need for kickers or team defenses, while staying under the competition’s required salary cap. Meanwhile, Lightning Lineups contests give competitors a chance to spin a wheel, pick their preferred lineup from the options presented, and win based on your players’ performances.

#4 Parlay Play

ParlayPlay is one of the newest and fastest-growing daily fantasy sports apps on the market. The platform’s games include Higher/Lower contests and Hit-It Contests, both of which combine arguably the two best types of bets (parlays and props).

Similar to online sportsbooks, ParlayPlay allows you to compete against yourself, rather than daily fantasy sharks, in order to win huge prizes and payouts. Overall, ParlayPlay offers an experience like no other to daily fantasy players all over the United States and Canada.

#5 Underdog Fantasy

Underdog Fantasy made its market debut in March 2020 and is backed by a long list of celebrity investors (e.g., Kevin Durant, Jared Goff, and Mark Cuban). The DFS platform offers daily, weekly, and season-long contests, covering more than a dozen different sports. Players will be able to choose between three main types of contests: Best Ball, Battle Royale, and Pick’em.

Best Ball contests offer all the excitement and entertainment of your typical season-long fantasy league without all the stress associated with in-season team management, and they are the most popular options among the site’s players. Underdog Fantasy also provides a top-tier mobile app, allowing for easy navigation between different contests and an overall seamless user experience.

Best DFS Sites By Category

What is the number one fantasy sports app?

The number one fantasy sports app in the United States is FanDuel. FanDuel is highly popular and boasts the largest user base among fantasy sports apps. It offers a wide range of options for creating fantasy sports teams across 17 different sports, including Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Hockey, providing users with numerous opportunities to play and win.

What is the #1 Fantasy Football app?

The #1 Fantasy Football app that we recommend is ParlayPlay. It stands out as a robust and full-featured fantasy sports platform, suitable for both veterans and rookies. ParlayPlay offers an intuitive interface and a wide range of customization options, making it the most widely used platform by far among fantasy football enthusiasts.

What is the biggest Daily Fantasy Sports site?

The two biggest daily fantasy sports sites in the United States are FanDuel and DraftKings. These platforms allow users to create fantasy teams composed of real players from professional sports leagues and compete against other users.

What is the easiest DFS site to win at?

For beginners looking to win in daily fantasy sports (DFS), Underdog Fantasy is often considered one of the easiest DFS sites. They provide a user-friendly platform with a wide range of games and transparent rake fees. As a new player, consider participating in contests like H2H (Head-to-Head), EPE (Early Payout Events), and double-ups, which can offer favorable odds for success on your favorite DFS site.

Up & Coming New DFS Sites To Know About

ThriveFantasy

• Best Feature – Multiple sport markets including Esports
• DFS Site Rating – 3.9 out of 5 stars

ThriveFantasy, which was established in 2016 in New York, New York. Unlike the conventional salary cap-based DFS platforms teeming with expert players, ThriveFantasy offers a unique Player Prop-based DFS experience tailored for everyone, focusing on elite players across major sports.

While ThriveFantasy might not yet hold the same recognition as giants like DraftKings or FanDuel, they have already forged partnerships with NFL heavyweights such as the Los Angeles Chargers and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Moreover, it boasts a presence in over 30 states, the specifics of which are detailed further in this review.

Jock MKT

• Best Feature – Stock market like DFS games
• DFS Site Rating – 3.7 out of 5 stars

Founded in 2020 by Tyler Carlin and backed by an impressive list of investors, Jock MKT has introduced a novel concept to the world of daily fantasy sports (DFS). Available in over 30 states across the U.S., it seamlessly combines the thrill of DFS with the dynamics of a stock exchange, offering a unique way for fans to engage with their favorite sports. Get more details on Jock MKT here.

PrizePicks

• Best Feature – DFS games are exclusively against the house
• DFS Site Rating – 4.4 out of 5 stars

PrizePicks, established in 2015 in the thriving city of Atlanta, Georgia, has dramatically reshaped the landscape of the real-money-based sports gaming industry. In a period where salary-cap-based contests, like those on DraftKings and FanDuel, held significant sway, PrizePicks emerged with a fresh approach. Being a flagship offering of Performance Predictions, PrizePicks proudly stands as the “most prominent independently operated DFS platform in North America.” Their collaboration list boasts names like the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves, and Miami Marlins, with aspirations for more in the pipeline. Read more on Prize Picks.

Fliff

• Best Feature – Social sportsbook gaming
• DFS Site Rating – 4.4 out of 5 stars

Although it may be better categorized as a social sportsbook or sweepstakes platform, Fliff provides just as much excitement and exhilaration as any DFS site out there. Fliff Social Sportsbook is a free-to-play platform that gives users an opportunity to win real cash prizes by making picks just like they would with any standard online sports betting site.

Fliff offers a variety of bet types, including but not limited to moneylines, point spreads, over/under totals, parlays, prop bets, and alternative lines. Players are also offered an immersive social experience, as they can follow their friends’ picks, compete for the top spot on the Fliff leaderboards, and earn badges to showcase their performance. Read more on Fliff Social.

List of other DFS Sites reviewed by experts at ATS.io

What Is Daily Fantasy Sports?

Daily fantasy sports is a unique alternative to the traditional season-long fantasy leagues, which are played by tens of millions of sports fans each year. Instead of drafting a single team at the beginning of the season, DFS players can draft a new team on a daily or weekly basis and compete in a wide range of contests throughout the course of the season.

DFS competitions can vary significantly in terms of the size, format, and rules. However, daily fantasy sports contests will typically require you to act as your fantasy team’s general manager by filling roster spots from a pool of players while remaining under the salary cap provided. You’ll then compete against other participants and have a chance to win your share of the prize pool based on the statistical performance of the players on your team.

The daily fantasy sports industry is currently dominated by two major players: DraftKings and FanDuel. Both platforms provide a variety of contests across many different sports and leagues, ensuring their games cater to players of all interests. There are also plenty of other high-quality DFS sites on the market that have something unique to offer their customers, a few of which are discussed in the next section.

Types of DFS Contests Sites Offer

You’ll quickly find that daily fantasy sports contests can come in all different shapes and sizes. The prize pool, entry fee, scoring system, roster construction, number of participants, and contest duration can all vary depending on the specific rules of the contest you choose to enter. That said, there are certain formats and structures that are commonly adopted and available no matter which platform you use. Five of the most common types of DFS contests are listed and explained below.

Guaranteed Prize Pools (GPP) Tournaments

GPP tournaments are one of the most popular types of DFS contests. In these tournaments, a fixed prize pool is guaranteed regardless of the number of participants. Participants compete against a large field of players, aiming to accumulate the highest score within the contest. GPP tournaments often offer significant prizes, including the chance to win a share of the prize pool, with higher payouts for top-performing participants.

50/50 Contests

In 50/50 contests, participants need to finish in the top half of the field to win. Essentially, if you rank higher than 50% of the participants, you will receive an equal payout regardless of your final position within the top half. For example, if there are 100 participants, the top 50 will win the same payout, while the remaining 50 participants will not receive a prize. These contests offer a higher probability of winning compared to GPP tournaments, making them attractive for more risk-averse players.

Double-Ups

Double-up contests are similar to 50/50 contests, but with a slight variation in payout structure. In double-ups, participants who finish in the top half of the field receive exactly double their entry fee as a prize. For instance, if the entry fee is $10, participants who rank in the top 50% will win $20. This format provides a straightforward and balanced payout structure, making it appealing for players seeking consistent returns on their investments.

Head-To-Head Matchups

Head-to-head contests involve a one-on-one matchup between two participants. Each participant selects a lineup, and the participant with the higher score at the end of the contest wins. In head-to-head matchups, the prize is typically the total entry fees of both participants, minus a small commission or fee charged by the DFS platform. These contests offer direct competition and can be a good way to challenge specific opponents or friends.

Pick’em Contests

Pick’em contests present participants with a set of player matchups or game scenarios. Participants must choose their preferred option for each matchup or scenario. Points are awarded based on the correct picks, and participants with the highest scores win the contest. Pick’em contests test participants’ ability to analyze matchups and make accurate predictions, adding a different layer of strategy compared to traditional player drafting contests.

What Sports Are Offered on Daily Fantasy Sites?

Daily fantasy sports sites offer a wide range of sports for participants to enjoy. While the availability of specific sports may vary slightly between different platforms, here are a few of the options available to DFS players:

• Football (NFL, NCAAF, XFL, USFL, CFL)
• Basketball (NBA, WNBA, NCAAB, EuroLeague)
• Baseball (MLB, KBO)
• Ice Hockey (NHL)
• Soccer (MLS, EPL, Bundesliga, La Liga)
• Golf (PGA, LIV)
• Motorsports (NASCAR, F1)
• MMA (UFC)
• Esports (LoL, CS:GO, Dota 2)
• Boxing (UFC)
• Tennis (ATP, WTA)

Is Daily Fantasy Sports Legal?

Fantasy sports were specifically exempted from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006. In other words, daily fantasy sports are legal and classified as a game of skill according to federal law. However, the specific laws and regulations concerning daily fantasy sports vary across different states.

The vast majority of U.S. states have legalized daily fantasy sports contests or permitted them to exist in a legal gray area, meaning there are no state laws allowing or prohibiting DFS. There are currently five U.S. states that have either forbid daily fantasy sports or currently have no DFS platforms operating within their borders: Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Washington.

In most states, players will only need to be 18 years or older to participate in DFS contests. However, there are a few exceptions. Alabama and Nebraska require DFS players to be at least 19 years of age. In addition, Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, and Massachusetts have mandates in place that require DFS participants to be 21 years or older.

Where Is DFS Available?

Are you unsure if daily fantasy sports is available in your state? We’ve got you covered. Take a look at the table below to find out where six of the best DFS sites (DraftKings, FanDuel, Underdog Fantasy, OwnersBox Fantasy, ParlayPlay, and Fliff Social Sportsbook) are available across the United States.

How To Sign Up & Start Playing

Strategies & Tips for DFS Players

Whether you’re new to daily fantasy sports and looking for some guidance or you’re a seasoned player looking to take your DFS performance to the next level, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some general tips and useful strategies to help increase your chances of success:

• Do Your Research & Stay Informed: Research is crucial in DFS. Stay updated with the latest news, injuries, and lineup changes for the athletes you are considering drafting. This includes monitoring player performance trends, studying matchups, and analyzing relevant statistics. Staying informed allows you to make well-informed decisions and adjust your lineup based on the most up-to-date information.
• Properly Manage Your Bankroll: Set a budget for your DFS activities and avoid overspending. Determine the amount you can comfortably afford to allocate to DFS contests without negatively impacting your financial well-being. You may also want to consider allocating a smaller percentage of your bankroll to large tournaments and focus on cash games or 50/50 contests for more consistent returns.
• Analyze Matchups: Evaluate the matchups your selected athletes will face. Look at statistics such as the opposing team’s defense/offense rankings, player-vs-player matchups, home/away performance differentials, and recent performance trends. This analysis can help you identify favorable matchups and exploit potential weaknesses.
• Review and Learn from Previous Lineups: Regularly review your past lineups and contest results. Analyze both your winning and losing lineups to identify patterns, strengths, and weaknesses. Learn from your mistakes and successes to refine your strategies over time. Continuous self-evaluation is crucial for growth and improvement as a DFS player.
• Utilize Late Swap: If your DFS site allows for late swaps or last-minute substitutions to your lineup, make use of this feature to gain an edge. Monitor news, injury updates, and lineup changes up until game time. Adjust your lineup accordingly to maximize potential points by swapping out any players who become inactive or whose roles change unexpectedly.
• Understand Value and Salary Efficiency: Look for players who offer strong value relative to their salary. Seek out undervalued athletes who have the potential to outperform their cost in terms of fantasy points. Efficiently managing your salary cap by identifying value plays allows you to roster more high-priced, elite performers.

Daily Fantasy Sports FAQ