If you’re diving into daily fantasy sports, the two names you’ll hear most often are DraftKings and FanDuel. These giants dominate the DFS landscape in 2025, but which one is right for you? In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know: DraftKings vs FanDuel in terms of contest types, scoring, user experience, payouts and even their backend offerings like the DraftKings API.
FanDuel vs DraftKings (2025): Which DFS Platform Is Better for You?
DraftKings or FanDuel: Quick Comparison
| Feature | DraftKings | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring (NFL) | Full PPR + yardage bonuses | Half PPR, no yardage bonuses |
| Late Swap | ✅ Yes (NBA, MLB, NFL) | ❌ No (lineups lock at contest start) |
| Salary Cap | $50,000 (most sports) | $60,000 (most sports) |
| Lineup Flexibility | More dual-position players | Rigid position requirements |
| Number of Pitchers (MLB) | 2 | 1 |
| Contest Variety | More GPPs, tiers, larger prize pools | Beat-the-score, survivor, quick-pick |
| Loyalty Program | Crown system with tiered rewards | Simple point system, no VIP tiers |
| Best Ball Contests | Larger, flagship tournaments | Smaller leagues, social focus |
| DFS API (Unofficial) | Widely used for player pricing/tools | More restricted in API availability |
| Mobile App | Data-heavy, robust | Cleaner UI, faster for casual users |
Contest Types: DraftKings vs FanDuel
Both platforms offer classic contests like:
- GPPs (large tournaments)
- 50/50s and Double-Ups
- Head-to-Heads
- Single-Game Showdown contests
- Best Ball leagues
- Private leagues with friends
But they differ in unique formats:
- DraftKings features Tiers (no salary cap), 2-pitcher MLB lineups, and larger Best Ball tournaments.
- FanDuel shines with Quick Pick games, Beat-the-Score, Snake Drafts, and Survivor-style eliminations.
If variety matters to you, both deliver — but DraftKings leans into serious volume play, while FanDuel adds casual, game-like twists.
Scoring Differences (NFL, NBA, MLB)
NFL
- DraftKings: Full PPR + 3-point bonuses for 100+ rushing/receiving yards or 300+ passing yards.
- FanDuel: Half PPR, no bonuses. Touchdown-centric builds win more often.
NBA
- DraftKings: Bonuses for double-doubles and triple-doubles; 3-point shot bonus.
- FanDuel: No bonuses, but blocks and steals are worth more (3 points vs DK’s 2).
MLB
- DraftKings: 2 pitchers, granular scoring, includes negative points for hits/walks allowed.
- FanDuel: 1 pitcher, power-hitting rewarded (12 points for HR), no penalties for hits/walks.
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User Experience: DraftKings vs FanDuel App
- DraftKings: More data-rich interface, faster live scoring, and multi-lineup management.
- FanDuel: Clean, beginner-friendly layout, with creative streak challenges and casual games.
Both DFS apps are top-tier in 2025, but DraftKings favors detail-driven users, while FanDuel prioritizes speed and simplicity.
Payouts & Prize Pools
Both platforms pay the top ~20% in GPPs, but:
- DraftKings usually offers bigger top prizes (frequent $1M to first).
- FanDuel occasionally offers flatter payout structures and unique contests with fewer entries.
DraftKings also hosts the Fantasy Football World Championship with up to $15M in total prizes, while FanDuel caps around $6M for its WFFC.
Is FanDuel or DraftKings Better for Beginners?
FanDuel:
- Better for new users.
- Offers quick-pick games, free-to-play contests, and beginner-only lobbies.
- 100% deposit match up to $100 (expiring bonus funds).
DraftKings:
- Better for serious DFS players or those looking to scale up.
- Offers 20% deposit match up to $500, plus VIP-style rewards and achievements.
- More lineup flexibility and deeper stats integration.
DraftKings API vs FanDuel Access
While neither platform provides a public DFS API, developers often use unofficial methods to scrape DraftKings salary data and contest info. This is more common with DraftKings API usage for optimizers and tools like FantasyCruncher or RotoGrinders’ LineupHQ.
FanDuel has tighter rate-limiting and less flexibility, making third-party integrations slightly more difficult.
So if you’re building or using tools that rely on fantasy data programmatically, DraftKings offers more unofficial support.
Verdict: DraftKings or FanDuel?
Ask yourself:
- Want to optimize for scoring quirks and late swap? → DraftKings
- Want fast, simple, casual fun with a clean UI? → FanDuel
- Want to play both? Smart choice. Many DFS pros hedge across both platforms for max +EV.
