Overview
DraftKings and FanDuel together control an estimated 90%+ of the traditional salary-cap DFS market in North America. Both offer daily and weekly contests across NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, PGA, NASCAR, MMA, and soccer. Both are available in nearly every US state and most Canadian provinces under fantasy sports carveouts.
Welcome Bonus Head-to-Head
DraftKings DFS offers a $20 free contest entry on first deposit and often stacks a deposit match up to $500. FanDuel DFS runs a similar $20 first-deposit free entry plus a match. Neither welcome is a true cash bonus — both are contest credits that must be used on salary-cap contests.
Product Depth
DraftKings posts larger guaranteed prize pools (GPPs) including the Millionaire Maker on NFL Sundays, which regularly clears a $20 entry fee into a $1M top prize. FanDuel runs comparable Sunday Million GPPs. DraftKings typically fields more total contest variety — showdowns, tiers, single-game slates — while FanDuel's contest menu is slightly narrower but cleaner.
Pricing / Economics
Both charge rake — the percentage of entry fees the site keeps. Published analysis puts rake in the 11-16% range on most DraftKings contests, with higher-stakes contests carrying meaningfully lower rake (sometimes under 10%). FanDuel's rake is comparable. On high-volume Sunday GPPs, rake is typically the lowest; small-field head-to-heads and 50/50s carry the highest effective rake.
Scoring Differences That Matter
DraftKings awards full PPR (1 point per reception) and includes milestone bonuses (100 rushing yards, 100 receiving yards, 300 passing yards). FanDuel uses half-PPR and no milestone bonuses. This means pass-catching running backs and possession receivers are meaningfully more valuable on DraftKings, while touchdown-dependent players carry relatively more weight on FanDuel. Sharp players build separate player pools for each site.
App + UX
FanDuel's DFS app is faster to load lineups and has a cleaner late-swap flow. DraftKings' app has better stats integration, live matchup data, and contest customization.
Loyalty / VIP
DraftKings DFS ties into Dynasty Rewards, unifying points across DFS, sportsbook, and casino. FanDuel DFS has a lighter loyalty layer, driven largely by contest credit reloads.
Who Should Pick DraftKings
GPP-focused players, PPR-style roster constructors, and anyone who also plays sportsbook or casino on DraftKings.
Who Should Pick FanDuel
Cash game and 50/50 players who prefer half-PPR scoring, and casual users who want a faster, simpler DFS interface.
The Verdict
Play both. Build separate lineups for each — the scoring differences mean a sharp player should never copy-paste a DFS lineup between sites. DraftKings is the better tournament site; FanDuel is the better cash game site. Most DFS grinders play both concurrently.
