Daily Fantasy Sports has undoubtedly changed a lot over the past few years. What started with salary-cap lineups and head-to-head matchups has shifted toward fast, simple pick’em contests.
These are great because all you need to do is pick whether a player will go over or under a stat line. That’s it. It feels like betting, similar to a prop bet, but in most states, it’s legal under fantasy sports laws.
Now, just about everyone from casual fans to sharp sports minds are using these apps to build lineups and chase multipliers.
With so many platforms jumping into the pick’em market, though, it’s tough to know where to play and how to win. Some offer higher payouts while others are easier to use and a few are only legal in certain states.
Platform | Highlights | Bonus |
---|---|---|
Underdog Fantasy | Best overall. 2-5 pick entries, up to 20x payout, includes drafts and best ball. | 50% deposit match up to $1,000 + boosted picks |
PrizePicks | Simplest UI. 2-6 pick entries, up to 25x payout. Strong Flex Play. Fantasy point props. | 100% match up to $100 + “free square” promos |
DraftKings Pick6 | Peer-vs-peer. Leaderboard payouts, high strategy, tied into DraftKings ecosystem. | Play $5, get $50 |
Betr Picks | Beginner-friendly. 2-8 pick entries. Micro-betting on in-game events. | 100% match up to $77 |
ParlayPlay | Unique “Hit It” format. Safer picks with range payouts. Fast payouts & strong support. | 100% match up to $100 + free $5 pick |
Underdog Fantasy has been around since 2020, and it still sets the standard in this industry.
It’s a favorite for both new users and seasoned players because it does more than just one thing really well. They’ve adapted quite a bit since their inception.
The pick’em format is smooth and familiar — choose 2-5 players, predict whether they’ll go higher or lower than their posted stat line, and submit it like a bet slip. Get them all right and you win up to 20x your entry for a 5-pick lineup. If you want a little insurance on this multi-leg parlay, you can choose to protect your ticket and still get paid even if one of your picks misses.
But Underdog isn’t just about pick’em slips, though that’s what we’re focusing on. They still offer daily snake drafts, season-long best ball contests, and a massive range of fantasy drafts against other users. That added variety makes it stand out from the rest of the crowd.
It also helps that the app is probably the best in the market as well. It’s clean, super fast, and doesn’t overload you with stats. You can log in, find props you like, and build a slip in less than a minute.
The welcome bonus isn’t too bad, either — new users get a 50% deposit match up to $1,000. They also offer boosted picks almost daily which really helps ease new users in. The downside with Underdog is that it isn’t available in every state, and cashouts can take longer than they should. Still, if it’s legal where you live, and there’s a good chance it is, this is probably the platform you’ll end up using most.
PrizePicks is the other heavyweight in the pick’em game. If Underdog is your more well-rounded platform, PrizePicks is built for the player who wants a simple, predictable experience. It’s like a streamlined version of Underdog.
There are no drafts or peer matchups. You’re playing against fixed payouts, and that’s part of the appeal. Select 2-6 players, choose more or less for each, and build your entry. The more picks you make, the higher the potential payout which can be up to 25x your stake for a perfect 6-player entry. That’s a tall order, but it’s definitely achievable with the right research.
One of the unique things about PrizePicks is that many of the props are based on fantasy points rather than raw stats. That makes it a little different to evaluate as it encompasses the entire player, but once you get the hang of how the scoring works, it opens up new angles.
The Flex Play option is a big plus on this platform as well. Like insurance, you can win even if you miss a pick or 2. For example, if you hit 5 of 6 picks, you still get 2x your money back. That’s a nice cushion when you’re taking big swings.
The app is well-reviewed, with strong ratings on both the App Store and Google Play. Navigation is smooth, the lines update quickly, and PrizePicks runs frequent promotions—especially during major events like the Super Bowl or NBA playoffs. One of their best offers is the “free square,” which is exactly what it sounds like. They’ll give you a player with an absurdly low line (like a quarterback needing one yard) and that basically becomes a free win in your entry.
The welcome offer is a 100% deposit match up to $100 which is pretty solid for a DFS platform. Sure, that’s smaller than what Underdog gives you, but for many casual players, it’s more than enough to get started with some lineups.
The only real drawback with PrizePicks is state availability. Their pick’em contests are banned in about 20 states, and they’ve had to adjust their formats in places like Florida to stay compliant.
We all know that DraftKings is no stranger to daily fantasy. They’ve been running traditional salary-cap contests for years. However, in 2023, they entered the pick’em space with Pick6, and it’s already making huge waves throughout the industry.
What sets Pick6 apart from the others is its P2P format. You’re not playing against the house like a typical prop bet. Instead, you’re matched against other users, and your payout depends on how your picks rank among all entries. If you’re at the top of the leaderboard, you walk away with more cash, but if your picks fall flat, you get nothing.
This setup changes the entire experience. Instead of simply worrying about whether your picks are right or wrong, you’re competing for a share of a prize pool based on how well you do. That adds a layer of strategy. You might be rewarded for taking contrarian picks that few others are making. The downside is unpredictability. Unlike fixed-payout sites, you won’t know exactly what your entry is worth until results are in and you can see how the other players fared.
The bonus offer is a “play $5, get $50” credit deal, which isn’t huge, but it’s bonus entry money you get to use. You get access to all the major sports, from NFL to UFC to college basketball, and it’s all built into the existing DraftKings app. So, if you already use their sportsbook or DFS features, it’s easy to jump in and get started with Pick6.
Like some of the other platforms, DraftKings Pick6 isn’t available in every state, though. Even though traditional DFS is live in 45 states, Pick6 is only approved in about 30. Again, this is due to the legalities. They also had a hiccup in Maryland, where they got temporarily banned for not meeting regulatory requirements. Still, this is a strong option for players who like to compete and don’t mind a little variance in their DFS experience.
Betr Picks is one of the newer platforms of the bunch, but that doesn’t mean they’re not climbing the ladder. Launched in 2023, it doesn’t try to do everything, and that’s part of the appeal.
If you’re brand new to pick’em DFS and just want something simple, Betr undoubtedly delivers. The app is stripped down and intentionally clean and smooth. You can choose anywhere from 2-8 picks in a slip, with payouts that climb the more legs you add to it. It uses the classic over/under setup, just like most of the other platforms.
What makes Betr stand out from other pick ‘em sites is its micro-betting feature. This lets you place in-game bets on outcomes like “Will this drive end in a touchdown?” or “Will this batter get a hit in this inning?” It’s similar to live-betting you’ll see at some sportsbooks and that real-time action makes games more engaging and is something most other DFS apps don’t offer.
As for the bonus, Betr offers a 100% deposit match up to $77, which is fairly generous for a newer platform but still less than most of the others. It’s available in about half the US right now, though some states limit which game formats are allowed just like the other platforms. The player pool is still small, which means prize pools don’t match the bigger names. But if you’re new and looking for a stress-free entry into the pick ‘em space, it’s worth giving it a shot.
ParlayPlay isn’t the biggest name in Pick ’em DFS, but they’ve got a cult-like following and it’s doing a few things differently that deserve attention.
Like Betr Picks, the app is clean and responsive. It offers two game formats — More/Less and Hit It. The Hit It format is what makes it stand out from the crowd. Instead of just predicting whether a player goes over or under a stat, you choose a range. If one player lands in your chosen range, you get 2x. If both do, you get 6x. It’s not as risky as standard pick’em, hence the payout multipliers and that can appeal to cautious players.
ParlayPlay also focuses on customer service and user trust. They’ve got live chat, phone support, and fast banking systems which are all important for a site still growing its base. The welcome bonus isn’t terrible either as it is a 100% match up to $100 plus a free $5 pick when you sign up, which puts it on par with others.
The downside with this one is reach. ParlayPlay is only live in about 20 states. And the smaller user base can mean fewer contests and less liquidity. That said, the site continues to build a reputation as a reliable, lower-risk alternative to the bigger, flashier platforms.
Of course, we recommend trying them all and at least taking advantage of their bonus offers to see what works for you.
If you want the most complete experience, Underdog Fantasy is still the gold standard. It’s fast, flexible, and undeniably offers the highest payout multipliers in standard games. PrizePicks is a close second for players who value simplicity, fixed payouts, and constant promos. DraftKings Pick6 is the big boy in the room and is for the DFS fan who likes competition and doesn’t mind some payout uncertainty. For beginners, Betr Picks is a smooth entry point with clean design and live micro-betting. And if you want to experiment a bit with new formats that reduce risk, ParlayPlay gives you something different.
Pick’em DFS isn’t going away. But where you play definitely matters. Make sure the app is legal where you live, start with low stakes, and pay attention to line movement. The lines move just like they would in a sportsbook. The right platform can make a big difference in how fun — or in some cases how frustrating — your DFS experience becomes.
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