Cross-platform arbitrage is the most mathematically rigorous strategy in prediction markets. When the same event is priced differently on Polymarket vs. Kalshi — or on prediction markets vs. sportsbooks — you can lock in guaranteed profit regardless of the outcome. The challenge is execution: finding spreads fast, executing both legs reliably, and accounting for fees on every platform.

This guide ranks the best cross-platform arbitrage bots and tools available in 2026.

For platform-specific arb bots, see Best Arbitrage Bot for Polymarket and Best Arbitrage Bot for Kalshi.


Three Types of Prediction Market Arbitrage

1. Cross-Platform Arb (Polymarket ↔ Kalshi)

The same event priced differently across platforms. Most consistent edge in 2026.

Example: “Will the Fed cut rates in March?”

  • Kalshi YES price: 62¢ → Kalshi NO price: 38¢
  • Polymarket YES price: $0.57 → Polymarket NO price: $0.43

Buy YES on Polymarket ($0.57) + Buy NO on Kalshi (38¢ = $0.38) = $0.95 total cost. One of them pays $1.00. Guaranteed $0.05 profit (5.3% return) before fees.

2. Prediction Market ↔ Sportsbook Arb

When prediction market odds diverge from sportsbook lines on the same event (common in sports markets).

3. Intra-Platform Arb

Within a single platform — correlated markets diverging, or YES+NO mispricing. Thinnest spreads, highest competition.


Quick Rankings

RankBotPricePlatformsBest For
1PolyArb Pro$149-399/moPolymarket + KalshiFastest cross-market detection
2CrossMarket Agent$500 one-timePolymarket + Kalshi + sportsbooksWidest platform coverage
3ArbScanner$79-199/moPolymarket + KalshiBudget-friendly with alerts
4SpreadHunter$299 one-timePolymarket onlyIntra-Polymarket arb
5OctoBot (Arb)Free-$99/moPolymarket + limited KalshiOpen-source flexibility

How Cross-Platform Arb Works

Price Normalization

The first challenge is comparing prices across platforms with different formats:

def normalize_price(polymarket_price=None, kalshi_price=None):
    """Convert to common 0-1 probability format."""
    if polymarket_price is not None:
        return polymarket_price       # Already 0.00-1.00
    if kalshi_price is not None:
        return kalshi_price / 100     # Convert cents to 0.00-1.00

Edge Calculation After Fees

A raw spread means nothing without accounting for fees:

def calculate_arb_edge(yes_price_a, no_price_b, fee_a=0.02, fee_b=0.02):
    """Calculate arbitrage edge after platform fees."""
    cost_yes = yes_price_a * (1 + fee_a)
    cost_no = no_price_b * (1 + fee_b)
    total_cost = cost_yes + cost_no
    payout = 1.00  # Winner pays $1.00
    edge = payout - total_cost
    roi = edge / total_cost * 100
    return {"edge": edge, "roi_pct": roi, "total_cost": total_cost}

For live arb detection, use the Cross-Market Arb Finder or the Arbitrage Calculator.


Detailed Reviews

1. PolyArb Pro

The fastest cross-platform arb scanner, monitoring Polymarket and Kalshi in real-time via WebSocket feeds.

Strengths:

  • Sub-second detection via WebSocket streams on both platforms
  • Automatic price normalization and fee-adjusted edge calculation
  • Configurable minimum edge thresholds (default: 2% after fees)
  • Position limits and risk controls per market
  • Dashboard with real-time arb heatmap

Limitations:

  • Monthly subscription ($149-399/mo) reduces net profitability on thin spreads
  • Requires funded accounts on both platforms
  • No sportsbook integration

Best for: Serious cross-market arb traders who want the fastest detection and reliable execution.

2. CrossMarket Agent

The widest platform coverage, scanning Polymarket, Kalshi, and sportsbook odds.

Strengths:

  • Three-way arb scanning: Polymarket ↔ Kalshi ↔ sportsbooks
  • Uses OddsPapi data for sportsbook integration
  • One-time purchase ($500) — no recurring fees
  • Self-hosted for maximum control and latency optimization

Limitations:

  • Requires technical setup (Python environment, API keys for each platform)
  • Sportsbook execution is manual (alerts only) — auto-trade only on Polymarket/Kalshi
  • Learning curve for configuration

Best for: Developers who want maximum flexibility and the widest opportunity set.

3. ArbScanner

Mid-tier scanner with good detection and an alert-only mode for manual execution.

Strengths:

  • Clean dashboard with visual arb identification
  • Alert-only mode (email, Telegram, Discord) for manual traders
  • Good documentation and onboarding
  • Budget-friendly at $79-199/mo

Limitations:

  • Slightly slower than PolyArb Pro on detection
  • Limited risk management features compared to premium options
  • No sportsbook integration

Best for: Traders who want to verify arbs manually before executing, or who prefer a lower price point.

4. SpreadHunter

Focused on intra-Polymarket arbitrage — correlated market divergence and YES+NO mispricing.

Strengths:

  • Deep Polymarket-specific analysis
  • Correlation detection between related markets
  • One-time purchase ($299)
  • Clean codebase for customization

Limitations:

  • Polymarket-only — no cross-platform arb
  • Intra-market spreads are thin and competitive
  • Requires significant capital for thin-spread strategies

Best for: Technical traders focused exclusively on Polymarket who want intra-platform spread capture.

5. OctoBot (Arb Module)

Open-source trading bot with a community-built arbitrage plugin.

Strengths:

  • Free base version with open source code
  • Active community with regular updates
  • Visual configuration interface
  • Extensible to other platforms via plugins

Limitations:

  • Arb detection is slower than dedicated scanners
  • Limited Kalshi integration compared to Polymarket
  • Community-maintained — quality varies by plugin

Best for: Developers who want to experiment with arb strategies without upfront cost.


Capital Requirements

StrategyMinimum per PlatformRecommended TotalWhy
Cross-platform arb$1,000$5,000-10,000Capital split across venues
Intra-platform arb$500$2,000-5,000Thin spreads need volume
Sportsbook arb$1,000$5,000+Sportsbook limits on arbers

See Also


Rankings updated March 2026. Not financial advice. Built for builders.