In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about free betting apps, which offer a legal alternative for users in states where traditional sports betting isn’t allowed.
You’ll learn how these apps are legally available across the U.S., how to download them, and how to start betting on major sports without spending any money. We’ll also walk you through the sweepstakes model so you can see how Sweep Coins can potentially be redeemed for real prizes.
Helping you find the best free betting apps
While real money sports betting is legal in more states than ever before, it's still far from being widespread. But fear not, as social sportsbook apps are now available in the vast majority of states and you can use them all for free. Just check the banners of this page to find a selection of free betting apps that are legally available in your state.
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Three of the best free betting apps
Every month sees yet another social sportsbook releasing a betting app and this means that you've never had a greater choice in how you can bet on sports for free. While that's good, some of these free betting apps are definitely better than others. So here are three of our favorites to start you off:
| Free betting app | App Store rating | Google Play Store rating | Welcome offer |
| Fliff | 4.8 | 4.8 | 5,000 Fliff Coins and one Fliff Cash |
| Thrillzz | 4.4 | 4.7 | 3,000 Thrillzz Coins and 3 Thrillzz Sweeps Coins |
| Novig | 4.9 | 4.6 | 1,000 Novig Coins and five Novig Cash |
Fliff - One of the biggest free betting apps in the US
- Wide sports coverage
- User-friendly app
- 24/7 customer support
- Not available on desktop
Everyone knows that Fliff is one of the biggest social sportsbooks in the nation and for good reason. The brand launched its free betting apps for iOS and Android devices in 2019 and it hasn't looked back since. This is because these apps offer you a flawless way to bet on dozens of sports and you'll have great fun swiping your way through the seemingly endless betting lines.
The Fliff app is also packed with plenty of fun social features that can see you picking up XP to climb up the leaderboards and claim your bragging rights, while there are lots of bonuses including a big welcome bonus, free credit every two hours and no shortage of odds boosts either. Just note that Fliff cannot be used in Washington or Idaho and that its sweepstakes are unavailable in Tennessee, Nevada and Hawaii.
Thrillzz - Fun and free social betting on this app
- More than 10 sports supported
- Easy sign up process
- No bonus code needed
- Generous welcome bonus
- No web access
This social sportsbook was only launched in 2024, but it's captured the imagination of sports fans who have rushed to download the brand's iOS and Android apps. After all, there isn't any desktop betting at Thrillzz, and the brand uses its app to give you an action-packed way to browse through the massive range of prematch and live odds that cover everything from huge NFL games to college sports and beyond.
Thrillzz is no slouch when it comes to its promo offers either. When you can sign up as a new bettor you'll be granted 3,000 Thrillzz Coins and 3 Thrillzz Sweeps Coins, and after that there are many more ways to pick up Prize Tickets that can potentially be redeemed for cash prizes. Just remember that you cannot sign up here from the states of Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Tennessee or Washington.
Novig - Check out this hot new free betting app
- Sign-up bonus includes 1,000 Novig Coins and 5 Novig Cash
- Live chat support available
- Intuitive interface
- No VIP program
This is a fresh social betting app that is picking up plenty of admirers thanks to its impressive welcome offer of 1,000 Novig Coins and five Novig Cash. Plus you can go on to get a 50% discount on your first Novig Coins purchase up to $25. After this, there are many more promos running from referral deals to daily login rewards.
All of these deals are accessible on the brand's iOS and Android apps, and you should also find flawless ways to bet on all sports ranging from the NFL and NBA through to women's basketball, PGA golf and beyond. There is also an impressive range of betting lines including moneylines, spreads and player props. Once again, there are some unavailable states here which include Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey and Tennessee, but this is a free betting app to keep your eye on.
Walkthrough guide for downloading and using free betting apps
Each of these social sportsbook apps has been created to be as user-friendly as possible. This means that you will just have to take the following steps to download your app and start betting for free:
- Click on any of the links to any of the free betting apps listed in the banners of this page to be taken to the brand's site.
- Download the social sportsbook's app by tapping on the relevant link from the brand's homepage and entering in any required passwords.
- Once downloaded, you can then use the app to create your customer account simply by filling in the registration form with some basic personal information such as your name, email address and date of birth.
- Submit your application and verify your account and identity by clicking on any links sent to your mobile.
- Log into your newly created account and swipe through all of the betting odds.
- Tap on the odds that you want to bet on to have them added to your bet slip.
- Select which virtual currency you want to bet with.
- Enter your virtual stake, double check the details and submit your bets.
How free betting apps work
When people talk about free betting apps, they are probably referring to social betting apps. These are apps that have been created by social sportsbooks to give you a convenient and free way to enjoy betting on sports.
While this is an attractive idea, it's probably best that you don't think of these apps as being free money betting apps. This is because you will be betting with virtual currencies rather than your own cash. Here is a quick crash course in how these social betting apps actually work:
🚫 No Real Money Gambling
You won't actually be betting on sports with your own money via these social betting apps. Instead of this, you will be betting with two forms of virtual currency instead. These will often be called Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, but many social sportsbook brands will opt to call them something different. For example, Fliff calls its virtual currencies Fliff Coins and Fliff Cash, but they should work in a similar way to the virtual currencies found at other social sportsbooks.
🔓 Less Restrictions
The fact that you don't actually gamble on these apps means that there are less restrictions over how you can use them. The social sportsbook apps tend to be available in many states where regular real money sports betting is banned, and the minimum age requirement is usually lower at 18 years compared to the 21 years that is standard for online gambling in the US.
💸 No Need to Pay
The social sportsbooks behind these free betting apps will all operate according to the sweepstakes model. This is where you have to be able to enter their sweepstakes with no purchase necessary. As a result, you should always be able to get free Sweeps Coins via one of the special offers that you can use to enter the sweepstakes while betting on sports for free.
❌ No Direct Winnings
One of the most initially confusing things about these free betting apps is the fact that you cannot directly win money on them. Instead of this, you will be able to redeem your Sweeps Coins winnings for cash prizes once you have fulfilled the playthrough and eligibility requirements.
🚫 No Deposits Possible
These social sportsbook apps are also different from regular sportsbook apps in that they cannot accept your deposits. The closest thing that you get to this is to make a one-off payment to purchase a Gold Coins package. Just remember that Gold Coins can only be used to bet on sports for fun.
Pros and cons of free betting apps vs regular sportsbook apps
It should hopefully be fairly obvious as to why more and more people are choosing to use free betting sites and apps compared to their real money counterparts. However, if you are still sitting on the fence, be sure to keep the following pros and cons in mind:
- Legally available in most states
- Available for all modern mobiles
- Fast and fun to use
- Cannot directly win money
What about social sportsbooks without free betting apps?
It's important to note that there are plenty of excellent social sportsbooks out there that haven't actually created their own mobile apps just yet. Brands like Onyx Odds and Legendz are good examples of this, and these social sportsbooks have prioritized making their websites as user-friendly as possible.
As a result, you can simply visit these social betting sites directly from the browser of your mobile without having to actually download any software. This gives you a faster way to get straight into the betting action and it's nice to find that you get the same experience regardless of whether you are using an iOS or Android device.
While the mobile-optimized nature of these sites is impressive, the overall functionality might fall behind that of an app. Plus you probably won't be able to do things like customize the interface or set your notifications either.
Conclusion - Get ready to download our recommended free betting apps
This guide has revealed that it's never been easier or cheaper to enjoy betting on sports. After all, these betting apps are all wonderfully easy to use and the fact that they come from social sportsbooks means that it won't cost you a single dime to get involved.
Each of the social betting apps listed here is relatively new and this is a testament to just how quickly this mini-industry has taken over the US. For more information on social betting platforms and alternatives, explore our comprehensive sportsbook reviews. So be sure to watch this space to see which free betting apps will offer you an even more enjoyable way to bet on your favorite sports in the future.
Get off to a great start with these social sportsbook bonuses
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Spend $50, Get up to $100 in Fliff Coins
Up to 200 Prophet Cash in first 30 days
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Free betting apps FAQ
How can I bet for free?
Download any of the free betting apps listed in this guide to your device and then create your customer account by filling in the form with your personal information. Once you've done this, you should get some free virtual currencies via the welcome bonus that you can use to bet on sports without spending a single dime.
Can I use these free betting apps with no deposit?
Yes, and this is because you cannot actually make deposits at the social sportsbooks that are behind these free betting apps. Great for enjoying some cost-effective sports betting.
Which are the best free betting apps?
It probably depends on what you are looking for but the apps from Fliff, Legendz, Thrillz, Onyx Odds and Novig are all great fun. Plus you can use these apps in most states across the nation, so there's no reason not to get involved.
Are there any free betting apps for Android devices?
Yes, each of the social sportsbooks featured in this guide have apps for Android smartphones and tablets. You can download these apps for free from Google Play and they should automatically install onto your device.
Can I win money on these free betting apps?
No, you cannot directly win money when using social sportsbooks. However, if you win back enough of the Sweeps Coins form of virtual currency, you can then redeem them for cash prizes.
