Underdog Fantasy vs PrizePicks: Battle of the DFS Powerhouses

Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks stand out as two DFS platforms offering their own special twists on traditional fantasy gameplay. 

Both platforms have carved out niches by simplifying the game mechanics compared to the classic season-long leagues, focusing instead on daily and weekly contests. On top of that, if you know what you're doing, you stand to make a decent amount of money playing them.

While they sound similar, there are a few key differences between Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks.

What Sets Each Platform Apart?

The DFS sites are fairly similar, but there are a few major differences between the two.

Underdog Fantasy

Launched in 2020, Underdog Fantasy has quickly gained popularity, particularly for its Best Ball tournaments. This is where Underdog really shines, though, as they offer other games as well.

Best Ball is where participants draft a team at the start of the season and then watch as their lineup is automatically optimized each week. This "set it and forget it" approach removes the need for weekly roster management, appealing to both casual fans and seasoned DFS enthusiasts. No more adjusting your lineups to account for injuries or bad games, which all players get from time to time.

PrizePicks:

On the other hand, PrizePicks, which started in 2015, focuses on player performance predictions rather than team-based outcomes. 

Players on PrizePicks predict whether athletes will be over or under certain statistical thresholds, like points scored or yards gained, in their respective games.

This model feels a lot like prop betting, making it a favorite among those who prefer individual player focus over team strategies.

Sure, Underdog Offers this style of play as well with their Pick'ems, but PrizePicks is the OG of pick 'em style play.

Bonus Offers and Promotions

Both DFS platforms are aggressive in their use of bonus offers and promotions to attract and retain users, but their approaches differ ever so slightly.

Underdog Fantasy

Underdog Fantasy comes out of the gates swinging when it comes to promotions. Their current promotion is on par with some of the best promos in the industry. 

We particularly like the Pick 'em Special, which allows a bonus pick on a game of your choice. What does that mean? On top of the deposit match (don't skimp on this), you'll get one bonus pick, and if you win, you will keep the bonus. How sweet is that?

PrizePicks

Just like Underdog and most other major DFS sites, PrizePicks is going with the flow with the standard 100% deposit match with a limit of $100. So, if your initial deposit is $100, they'll give you $100 in bonus credits, so you'll have a total of $200 to play with.

These two bonuses are almost the same as the standard in the industry, the deposit match up to $100. 

Gameplay Experience

The foundation of any daily fantasy sports platform is the gameplay experience, and here is where Underdog and PrizePicks diverge significantly.

Underdog Fantasy

Underdog's foundational gameplay is draft-based. Users select their players via a draft for tournaments or pick them directly in shorter-term games. The platform offers a variety of modes, including head-to-head matchups, tournaments, and, as we mentioned before, Best Ball leagues.

They do offer their Pick 'em games, which are great and eerily similar to that of PrizePicks, but at the heart of Underdog is their Best Ball. We really can't blame them, as PrizePicks has realized that the prop-bet style of play is a favorite of many DFS players. So much so that even DraftKings introduced their Pick 6 platform to compete in this arena.

PrizePicks

PrizePicks eliminates the concept of drafting a team and instead centers on predicting player performance across multiple sports.

Users select from two to five players and predict whether they will exceed predefined fantasy score thresholds in their games. Think of it as a parlay of prop bets. This setup makes it easier for users to engage without the need for in-depth knowledge of player rosters or team dynamics.

Mobile App Functionality

A solid mobile experience is expected these days for fantasy sports enthusiasts who like to make decisions on the go. Both platforms offer mobile apps available on iOS and Android, but they cater to different user experiences. We got our hands dirty with these apps and here's what we've found.

Underdog Fantasy

Underdog's app is well-regarded for its user interface, which is clean and intuitive, facilitating easy navigation and management of fantasy teams. The drafting process was particularly smooth, with real-time updates and notifications that kept us engaged throughout the entire time we were playing on it.

PrizePicks

PrizePicks' app focuses more on simplicity and speed, allowing users to make quick selections. The interface is straightforward, providing super-easy access to different sports and player selections without overwhelming the user with too much information at once. What we liked the most is that we were greeted by the hottest prop-style picks right up front on the homescreen. Almost no navigating around to find what we wanted.

User Support and Community Engagement

Both platforms understand the importance of community and support, but Underdog Fantasy unquestionably wins out for customer service.  

Underdog Fantasy

Underdog provides comprehensive support through live chat, email, a detailed FAQ section, and even social media.

They also foster a community through active social media engagement and podcasts, offering strategy tips and player updates.

We've reviewed plenty of DFS sites over the years and Underdog offers some of the most comprehensive support in the industry. 

PrizePicks

PrizePicks offers a similar range of support options, including live chat and email. The biggest drawback with PrizePicks is that their FAQ section isn't as robust as Underdog's and they're not as responsive on social media.  

That's not to say you can't get help. In our tests, we had to wait under 2 minutes to reach their support team via the live chat feature on their app. That's pretty impressive, as many DFS sites only offer email and an FAQ section.

Who's the King of DFS? Underdog Fantasy or PrizePicks?

Choosing between Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks will largely depend on what type of fantasy sports experience you are seeking.

We feel that casual players would most likely gravitate toward Underdog Fantasy as you can make your draft and get a bit lazy there afterwards. The Best Ball style of play is perfect for those that want to "set it and forget it." 

For the newbies, PrizePicks might be more your speed. It's super simple and easy to get started. You're presented with some of the most popular picks right up front. There's not much to it and it's a great way for a novice DFS play to get started.

As for the pros, either platform would be suitable. It really boils down to what you're after. 

If you prefer traditional team-based fantasy with an innovative twist, Underdog's Best Ball leagues and varied contest formats might be more appealing. However, if you enjoy the simplicity of player performance predictions without the complexity of team management, PrizePicks offers a compelling format.

Both platforms provide strong bonus offers, user-friendly apps, and engaging gameplay experiences, making them excellent choices for any DFS enthusiast.