Event contracts let traders speculate on real-world outcomes, such as elections, economic reports or weather events. Kalshi is a dedicated, CFTC-regulated platform focused exclusively on event contracts, while Robinhood is a brokerage that provides event contracts through a partnership with Kalshi.
So, should you stop here and use Kalshi? Not necessarily.
If you’re interested in trading prediction markets, we compare Kalshi and Robinhood specifically for event contracts, covering fees, trading experience, availability and support.
Here’s how they compare.
 |  | |
| Best for pure event-contract trading | ||
| Best for event-contract trading within a broader portfolio | ||
| Fees | Variable:(1)
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| Trading experience |
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| Regulation/Oversight | CFTC-regulated exchange | CFTC (via Kalshi partnership) |
| Mobile app reviews | Apple App Store: 4.7/5 stars based on over 18,000 reviews Google Play Store: 4.5/5 stars based on over 2,620 reviews | Apple App Store: 4.3/5 stars based on over 4.6 million reviews Google Play Store: 4.2/5 stars based on over 522,200 reviews |
| Learn more |
| Kalshi | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform type | Dedicated event-contract exchange | Brokerage app integrating event contracts via Kalshi |
| Account types | Individual brokerage | Individual and joint brokerage |
| Event markets* | Comprehensive | Limited |
| Minimum trade size | $0.01 | $0.01 |
| Order types | Market, limit | Market, limit |
| Trading hours | 24/7 (depending on market) | 24/7 (via Kalshi) |
| Fees | Variable, depending on whether you’re a maker or taker and the contract price |
|
| Settlement/payout | Automatic on event resolution | Same as Kalshi |
| Regulation | CFTC-regulated | CFTC-regulated (through Kalshi) |
| Mobile app | iOS/Android | iOS/Android |
| Notes | Purpose-built for prediction markets | Integrates into Robinhood’s broader app; ideal for users already trading stocks, crypto or options |
*May not be exhaustive
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Buy “Yes” or “No” contracts on a specific event. Each contract pays $1 if the event occurs. The platform is designed to be simple, fast and regulated.
The same process and payout apply. While Robinhood offers a good selection of markets in its app, it’s not as comprehensive as Kalshi’s. Traders don’t access a separate Kalshi account — Robinhood handles the integration.
Uses a variable, formula-based fee structure. Fees depend on the contract price and market liquidity, so your exact percentage changes by trade. For many mid-priced contracts, fees are around a few cents per contract, but can be higher or lower depending on where the price sits. This gives Kalshi flexibility but makes costs less predictable.
Fees = round up (0.07 x C x P x (1-P))
P = the price of a contract in dollars (50 cents is 0.5)
C = the number of contracts being traded
round up = rounds to the next cent
Fees = round up (0.0175 x C x P x (1-P))
Robinhood charges a simple, flat event-contract fee — typically $0.01 per contract, per side to Robinhood, plus $0.01 per contract, per side to Kalshi. This makes total costs easier to predict, but means very low-cost contracts (e.g., $0.05 or $0.10) may have a higher effective fee percentage. Robinhood’s commission-free trading — for stocks, options, crypto — doesn’t apply to event contracts.
Kalshi offers a purpose-built interface designed specifically for event-contract trading. Markets are organized by category — e.g., economics, politics, climate — with clear probability indicators, bid–ask spreads, settlement dates and historical trend data. The platform focuses heavily on clarity, speed and decision-making tools, making it easy to compare markets and understand risk.
Because it’s built solely for event contracts, everything — from order placement to portfolio tracking — is optimized for this type of trading. Advanced traders may appreciate the structured layout, deeper market pages and the interface’s overall precision.
Robinhood integrates event contracts directly into its existing brokerage app, making them easy to access for users who already trade stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options or cryptocurrencies. The design is simple and familiar, with clean cards and quick-buy flows.
However, this convenience comes with trade-offs: Robinhood’s event-contract interface is not as detailed or specialized as Kalshi’s. You may see fewer data points and less market-specific context. For casual or occasional traders, this streamlined experience is ideal — but serious event-contract traders may find it less informative than Kalshi’s native platform.
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