Top 5 Apps to Bet with Friends in 2026

Greg Kajewski
4 hours ago
7 min read

Betting with friends has come a long way from Venmo side bets and messy group chats. In 2026, social betting apps make it easy to wager directly with people you know, track results automatically, and keep everything organized in one place.

Some platforms focus on casual, non-monetary competition. Others emphasize low fees or simple peer-to-peer wagers. A few stand out by combining real-money betting, social features, and performance tracking into a single experience.

Here are the top apps to bet with friends in 2026 and how they compare.

BettorEdge: An all-in-one peer-to-peer sports betting platform that combines betting, social groups, and performance tracking in one place.
Wager Lab: A social betting app that uses virtual currency instead of real money, making it legal everywhere and ideal for casual bets on sports, entertainment, and current events.
BetOpenly: A true peer-to-peer sports betting platform where users set their own odds and pay a low 1% fee on matched wagers.
BroThrow: A marketplace-style betting app that connects users directly, with wagers settled outside the platform.
Other Apps: Emerging platforms with unique features like gamification and live streaming.

These apps simplify betting, track results, and let you connect with friends in a competitive, hassle-free way.

Quick Comparison:

App	Key Feature	Fee Structure	Best For
BettorEdge	No high house fees, social leaderboards	Free/$100 monthly, Premium	Sports betting with friends
Wager Lab	Virtual currency, legal everywhere	Free, optional purchases	Non-monetary bets
BetOpenly	Custom odds on any sport	1% fees, flexible setup	Creative, personalized bets
BroThrow	Marketplace for direct betting	Fee-free, optional PRO plan	Transparent, direct betting
Other Apps	Gamification, live streaming	Varies	Niche or interactive betting

These platforms are reshaping how you connect, compete, and wager with friends.

1. BettorEdge

BettorEdge delivers one of the most complete social betting experiences available today. With tens of thousands of active users and hundreds of millions in matched market orders, it is legal for real-money peer-to-peer sports betting in more than 45 U.S. states.

What sets BettorEdge apart is how everything lives in one place. Betting, social interaction, group competition, and historical performance tracking are all built directly into the platform, removing the need for outside tools or manual tracking.

BettorEdge Groups allow users to create private or public betting communities with friends, coworkers, or leagues. Each group includes chat, leaderboards, and automated tracking so everyone can see how they stack up. Users can also follow friends or influencers through the social feed, where bets can be copied or countered instantly.

The platform makes it easy to find people you already know by syncing contacts, enabling quick head-to-head challenges. Groups can be used for everything from weekly NFL pick-em contests to longer-term competitions with real payouts.

Instead of betting against a sportsbook, users place wagers directly with other people in a true peer-to-peer marketplace. Odds are shaped by supply and demand, not a hidden house edge.

Every wager is tracked automatically. Users can review past performance, filter results by sport or league, and analyze trends over time without leaving the app. Optional premium subscriptions unlock higher limits and additional features, while light processing fees apply only to certain orders.

A verified user summed it up well:

"On BettorEdge, you're placing wagers with real people, which cuts out 'the house' completely. Which means you can finally make money betting on sports!" – John81433, Verified User

By removing the high traditional house structure, BettorEdge naturally lowers the break-even point for bettors, giving users a more efficient way to participate in sports markets while staying connected to a broader betting community.

Customization Options

BettorEdge supports a wide range of betting formats, including limit orders that let users set their own prices. Groups can be customized with names, invite codes, descriptions, and profile images.

Additional features include:

Pick’ems and Auction Squares
Flash Markets for real-time micro-betting
Leaderboards to track performance
Options to donate a portion of your winnings to charity

With strong user ratings and multiple industry recognitions, BettorEdge stands out as the most complete option for betting with friends in 2026.

Community Engagement

BettorEdge’s emphasis on community trust is evident in its stellar ratings and industry recognition. The platform boasts a 4.5-star rating on the Apple App Store and a perfect 5.0-star rating from user reviews on its website. It’s also been honored as "Rising Star of the Year" at the SBC Awards and has received multiple industry nominations.

To enhance the user experience, BettorEdge provides automated tracking tools that support its social features. These include detailed performance charts and ROI tracking, allowing users to compare their success with friends over time. This commitment to transparency and user satisfaction solidifies BettorEdge as a go-to platform for peer-to-peer sports betting.

2. Wager Lab

Wager Lab takes a different approach by focusing entirely on virtual currency rather than real money. Because no cash changes hands, the app is legal in all 50 states and requires no deposits.

Instead of wagering money, users and friends decide what’s at stake. That could mean bragging rights, a dinner, or a friendly dare. The app tracks everything automatically, keeping the experience light and competitive.

Wager Lab supports private leagues, office pools, and season-long competitions. The app records wins and losses and provides a feed with news, predictions, and betting ideas. Users can chat, compare rankings, and follow trends across a wide range of topics.

One of Wager Lab’s biggest strengths is variety. Bets aren’t limited to sports. Users can wager on TV shows, award ceremonies, politics, and other cultural events.

It’s important to note that Wager Lab does not support real-money betting. It works best for groups looking for fun competition without financial risk.

3. BetOpenly

Low-Fee Peer-to-Peer Betting

BetOpenly charges a flat 1% fee on matched wagers, making it one of the lowest-cost real-money peer-to-peer betting platforms available. There is no traditional vig, and pricing stays transparent from start to finish.

The platform works best for users who want simple, direct sports bets with minimal fees and full control over how wagers are structured.

4. BroThrow

BroThrow operates as a marketplace for betting with friends and other users. Instead of acting as the house, the platform connects people who want to bet against one another and lets them negotiate terms.

Users can create private groups or browse public wagers, similar to how listings work on online marketplaces. Transparency is a core focus, and bettors always know who they’re wagering against.

External Settlement Model

One key distinction with BroThrow is that the platform does not hold or settle funds internally. Once a bet is agreed upon, users handle payments through external services such as PayPal or Venmo.

This approach allows BroThrow to remain fee-free on standard bets, but it also introduces additional coordination and trust between participants. For some groups, that flexibility is appealing. For others, it adds friction compared to platforms that manage payments and payouts directly.

BroThrow also offers an optional PRO plan for users who want higher limits and advanced tools.

Premium Seup Structure

One of BroThrow’s biggest draws is its fee-free betting. If you bet $10, you stand to win $10 - no commissions or hidden fees like those typically charged by sportsbooks. CEO Brady Sharp explains:

"BroThrow is just a marketplace, like Craigslist or Facebook. Since BroThrow isn't the house, there's no charge for placing wagers".

The platform is free to join for standard social betting. However, users can upgrade to a PRO account for access to higher betting limits and advanced analytics. Because BroThrow doesn’t handle the actual money - users complete transactions directly through third-party payment apps - there are no hidden platform charges.

5. Other Apps Worth Trying

Beyond the major platforms, several newer apps are experimenting with different formats. Some focus on niche sports or local communities. Others lean into gamification with achievements, streaks, or live interaction.

A few platforms are beginning to integrate live streaming or interactive features that let friends watch games together while placing bets in real time. Fee structures vary widely, ranging from subscriptions to ad-supported models.

These apps can be a good fit for users looking for something specialized or experimental.

Conclusion

Social betting apps have made it easier than ever to wager with friends without relying on spreadsheets or endless message threads. Automated tracking, transparent pricing, and direct peer-to-peer wagering have changed how people compete and connect.

Wager Lab is ideal for casual, non-monetary competition. BetOpenly offers a low-fee way to place custom sports bets with people you trust. BroThrow provides a marketplace approach for groups comfortable handling payments externally.

BettorEdge stands out by combining all of these elements into a single platform. With real-money betting, social feeds, group competitions, and built-in performance analytics, it delivers the most complete experience for betting with friends in 2026.

For users who want everything in one place, BettorEdge sets the standard.

FAQs

Social betting apps bring a whole new level of interaction to wagering by offering a peer-to-peer betting experience. Instead of betting against a traditional bookmaker, you can place bets directly with friends or other users. Plus, there’s no house edge or built-in commission (vig) to worry about. These apps also spice things up with features like leaderboards, social feeds, and head-to-head challenges, turning betting into a more interactive and community-driven activity.

On the flip side, traditional sportsbooks stick to the old-school model where you bet against the house. They often come with hidden fees and lack the social and personalized touches that make betting with friends so much more enjoyable.

What are the benefits of using a peer-to-peer betting platform with friends?

Peer-to-peer (P2P) betting platforms let you skip the middleman and bet directly with other users, giving you better odds and letting you keep more of your winnings. Since there’s no traditional sportsbook taking a cut, every bet is matched with another user, and transactions are tracked in real time. This means you always know exactly who you’re betting against and how payouts are calculated.

These platforms also bring a social element to betting. You can challenge your friends to head-to-head wagers without paying any fees, follow their bets, and even compete on private or public leaderboards that track stats like win streaks and overall returns. Plus, built-in analytics let you review your performance and tweak your strategy - all within the platform.

With features like lower fees, customizable wagers, and interactive social tools, P2P betting platforms make it easy to connect with others and enjoy a more rewarding betting experience.

Can I create custom bets on topics beyond sports with these apps?

Wager Lab gives you the freedom to create custom bets on almost any topic, making it perfect for those who want to explore options beyond traditional sports. On the other hand, platforms like BettorEdge, BetOpenly, and BroThrow cater specifically to fans of sports betting.