The best betting apps are no longer judged on odds alone. What separates a good one from a frustrating one is how it behaves at 2.55pm on a Saturday, how quickly a cash out goes through, and how long a withdrawal takes to reach your bank. We compared the leading UK apps on their App Store and Google Play scores, their welcome offers, payout speed and the tools you actually use on a phone.
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Our pick of the best UK betting apps
- Best all-rounder: bet365, with the biggest rating base of any app in our comparison and 24/7 live chat
- Best for Bet Builders and accas: Betway, rated 4.7 on iOS and 4.6 on Android
- Best for horse racing: Betfred, strong on racing and the Totepool, with card withdrawals usually processed within four hours
- Best for sharper prices: Spreadex, with fixed odds and spread betting on one account
- Best exchange app: Smarkets, with a 2% standard commission
- Best for live streaming: Unibet, which streams tens of thousands of events a year
- Best for a personal service: Fitzdares, with phone and text betting through a broker
UK betting apps compared: ratings and offers
Ratings come from the UK App Store and Google Play. Where no score is shown, we could not confirm a reliable figure. Trustpilot rates the company as a whole, not just the app.
| App | App Store (UK) | Google Play | Trustpilot | Welcome offer | Promo Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bet365 | 4.7 (454k ratings) | 4.6 (266k reviews) | 1.3 | Bet £10, Get £30 in Bet Credits | 365GMBLR |
| Betway | 4.7 (47k ratings) | 4.6 (24.1k reviews) | 1.2 | Bet £10, Get £40 in Free Bet Tokens | None needed |
| Betfred | 4.6 (69k ratings) | 4.5 (15.7k reviews) | 3.1 | Bet £10, Get £50 in Free Bets | None needed |
| Spreadex | 4.7 (1.4k ratings) | Not shown | 4.4 | Bet £10, Get £60 in free bets | None needed |
| Unibet | 4.3 (6.7k ratings) | Not shown | 3.3 | Bet £20, Get £40 in Free Bets | None needed |
| Fitzdares | 3.6 (86 ratings) | Not shown | 2.9 | Not published | None needed |
| 10bet | 3.3 (173 ratings) | Not shown | 4.2 | 100% Sports Bonus up to £50 | None needed |
| Smarkets | Not shown | Not shown | 2.2 | 0% Commission for 60 Days | COMMFREE |
Betting app or mobile site: which is better?
Most UK betting now happens on a phone, which is why the highest-rated apps tend to be the simple, stable ones rather than the most feature-heavy.
A dedicated app is usually smoother for live betting: it loads faster, supports Face ID log-in and keeps you signed in. A mobile site needs no download and updates instantly, but can feel slower when traffic spikes. Most regular punters settle on one or two trusted apps and use the browser for the rest.
The best UK betting apps reviewed
bet365: the benchmark for in-play football
bet365 has the largest rating base of any app here, with 4.7 from more than 454,000 ratings on the UK App Store and 4.6 from 266,000 reviews on Google Play. In-play football is its strength, with deep live markets and a Bet Builder on match pages, and live chat runs around the clock.
Welcome offer: Bet £10, Get £30 in Bet Credits with Promo Code 365GMBLR, which does not change the offer amount. Qualifying odds are just 1/5 (1.20).
Strong sides: huge market range, low qualifying odds, 24/7 live chat, a £5 minimum deposit.
Limitations: a 1.3 Trustpilot score, driven mainly by complaints about account restrictions and verification checks.
Betway: the best-rated app for Bet Builders
Owner: Betway Limited (Super Group) | App Store: 4.7 (47k ratings) | Google Play: 4.6 (24.1k reviews)
Betway’s app is clean and quick to use, with the Bet Builder built into football match pages and Betway Boosts offering enhanced prices. Cash Out is available on eligible bets, though it can be suspended while a market is moving.
Welcome offer: Bet £10, Get £40 in Free Bet Tokens: two for Bet Builders and two for accumulators, each needing four or more legs.
Strong sides: polished app on both platforms, simple Bet Builder, regular price boosts.
Limitations: the free bet tokens suit multiples, not singles; live chat hours are not published clearly.
Betfred: best app for horse racing and quick card payouts
Betfred’s app scores 4.6 from 69,000 ratings on iOS and 4.5 on Google Play. Racing is its strongest suit, with Totepool betting in the same account, and debit card withdrawals are usually processed within four hours.
Welcome offer: Bet £10, Get £50 in Free Bets, paid as 3 x £10 Sports Free Bets and 2 x £10 Acca Free Bets. No Promo Code is needed.
Strong sides: the largest headline welcome offer among the big names, fast card withdrawals, strong racing coverage.
Limitations: Tote bets do not count towards the offer; live chat hours are not published clearly.
Spreadex: best for sharp prices and spread betting
Owner: Spreadex Limited | App Store: 4.7 (1.4k ratings) | Trustpilot: 4.4 (2,288 reviews)
Spreadex is unusual in offering fixed-odds betting and sports spread betting in one app. Fixed odds are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, while spread betting is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Racing and football punters will find more depth here than at a standard bookmaker.
Welcome offer: Bet £10, Get £60 in free bets, split between £30 of fixed odds free bets and a set of football and racing spread bets.
Strong sides: competitive football prices, the best Trustpilot score in our comparison, a UK-based sports desk on 08000 526 575.
Limitations: spread betting losses can exceed your deposit, so learn how it works before using the spread free bets.
Smarkets: the exchange app for value hunters
Owner: Smarkets (Malta) Limited | Commission: 2% standard | Trustpilot: 2.2 (626 reviews)
Smarkets is a betting exchange, so you back or lay selections against other users rather than a bookmaker. The 2% standard commission on net winnings is low for the UK, and prices on Premier League football and big race meetings are often better than those at fixed-odds firms. Instant Bank Transfer withdrawals take around 12 hours.
Welcome offer: 0% Commission for 60 Days with Promo Code COMMFREE.
Strong sides: low commission, lay betting, fast bank transfer payouts.
Limitations: there are no bookmaker extras such as acca boosts on the exchange; those sit on SBK, its sister sportsbook. Liquidity is thinner on niche markets.
Fitzdares: a premium racing app with a personal touch
Owner: Fitzdares Limited | App Store: 3.6 (86 ratings) | Trustpilot: 2.9 (364 reviews)
Fitzdares calls itself a premium bookmaker, and the app is calm and racing-led. Best Odds Guaranteed is offered on UK and Irish racing for qualifying accounts, and you can bet by phone, text or email through a broker.
Promo Code: None needed.
Strong sides: racing focus, personal broker service, Best Odds Guaranteed.
Limitations: a small rating base on the App Store; no Google Play score we could confirm.
Ladbrokes: packed with mobile features
Owner: Entain
The Ladbrokes app is one of the busiest on the market. It links to the high-street shops, and games such as 5-A-Side appeal to casual football fans. It can feel cluttered if you only want to place a quick single.
Welcome offer: Bet £5, Get £30, paid as 6 x £5 free bets for selected sportsbook markets.
Strong sides: low qualifying stake, strong football promotions, shop integration.
Limitations: a crowded layout.
Unibet: best for live streaming
Unibet scores 4.3 from 6,700 UK App Store ratings, and its main draw is live streaming of more than 85,000 sporting events a year. Daily Uniboosts add value, and live chat is open 24/7.
Welcome offer: Bet £20, Get £40 in Free Bets for Bet Builders and accumulators. Racing bets do not qualify.
10bet: an app for regular acca punters
10bet has only 3.3 from 173 App Store ratings, but a Trustpilot score of 4.2. Regulars point to acca and Bet Builder boosts of up to 100% and early payouts on football, NBA and NFL.
Welcome offer: 100% Sports Bonus up to £50, with 10x wagering within 30 days.
Newer apps to approach with care
SBK, the sportsbook from the Smarkets team, is built around its app and is clean to use, but some Trustpilot reviewers say it slows down on busy Saturday afternoons. Its offer is Bet £10, Get £40 in Free Bets, paid as £5 tokens that each need four or more legs.
easyBet runs separate apps for its yes or no Predictions markets and its exchange, which shares liquidity with Matchbook. Both have very few ratings so far. 247bet holds a Trustpilot score of 1.6, with complaints focused on withdrawals and account checks, and we could not confirm a dedicated app.
Welcome offers on UK betting apps
| Betting app | Welcome offer | Key requirements | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| bet365 | Bet £10, Get £30 in Bet Credits | Promo Code 365GMBLR; qualifying bets at 1/5 (1.20)+; Bet Credits expire after 7 days | In-play football |
| Betway | Bet £10, Get £40 in Free Bet Tokens | £10 at 2.0+; 4 x £10 tokens needing 4+ legs at 4.0+; 7-day expiry; debit card only | Bet Builders and accas |
| Betfred | Bet £10, Get £50 in Free Bets | £10 first bet at Evens+ by debit card; 3 x £10 sports + 2 x £10 acca free bets; 7-day expiry | Racing and accas |
| Spreadex | Bet £10, Get £60 in free bets | £10 fixed odds single or each-way at 1/2+; fixed odds and spread free bets; 28-day expiry | Racing and football value |
| Unibet | Bet £20, Get £40 in Free Bets | £20 at Evens+, not racing; Bet Builder and acca free bets with 4+ selections | Football and streaming |
| Ladbrokes | Bet £5, Get £30 | £5 first bet at 1/2+ within 14 days; 6 x £5 free bets; 7-day expiry | Casual football punters |
| 10bet | 100% Sports Bonus up to £50 | 10x wagering within 30 days; singles at 2.00+; Skrill and Neteller excluded | Regular acca punters |
| Smarkets | 0% Commission for 60 Days | Promo Code COMMFREE; £10 first deposit by debit card or Instant Bank Transfer | Exchange betting |
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How to choose a betting app
A good betting app should feel almost boring: you tap, the market loads, the bet goes on.
- Test it on a busy day. Saturday football is the real stress test, and large, high rating bases such as bet365’s, Betway’s and Betfred’s are earned over years of peak traffic.
- Count the taps. A simple layout beats a crowded one on a small screen.
- Check withdrawal times. Look these up before you sign up, not after.
- Match it to your sport. Football punters want a good Bet Builder, racing fans want Best Odds Guaranteed, and anyone who lays bets needs an exchange.
- Read the payment exclusions. Several offers exclude PayPal, Skrill, Neteller or prepaid cards.
Signing up without problems later
Download the app through the bookmaker’s own site so you get the genuine listing, and use the name and address that match your bank card, because mismatches are the most common cause of delayed withdrawals. Upload ID as soon as you are asked rather than when you want to cash out, and set deposit limits on day one.
Safer gambling on your phone
Every UK-licensed app has to offer deposit limits, time-outs, reality checks and self-exclusion, usually under “Safer Gambling” or “Responsible Gambling” in the account menu. If you want to block every UK-licensed site at once, register with GAMSTOP, which covers apps as well as websites. For free, confidential advice, visit GambleAware.org or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, open 24 hours a day.
Only stake money you can afford to lose.
Betting apps: frequently asked questions
What is the best betting app in the UK?
On store ratings, bet365 leads with 4.7 from more than 454,000 App Store ratings and 4.6 on Google Play. Betway matches those scores on a smaller base.
Which betting app pays out fastest?
Among the apps we compared, Betfred usually processes debit card withdrawals within four hours, and Smarkets pays Instant Bank Transfer withdrawals in around 12 hours. Your bank may add time after a withdrawal is processed.
Which betting app is best for horse racing?
Betfred for racing depth and the Totepool, Spreadex for markets beyond win and each-way, and Fitzdares for a personal broker service. Unibet and Fitzdares both offer Best Odds Guaranteed on UK and Irish racing.
Do I need a Promo Code to get a betting app welcome offer?
Usually not. Of the apps in our table, only bet365 (365GMBLR) and Smarkets (COMMFREE) use a Promo Code. The others apply the offer automatically or ask you to opt in.
Are betting apps safe to use?
Yes, provided the operator holds a UK Gambling Commission licence and you download the app from the official store listing. Every app in this guide is licensed in Great Britain.
Is a betting exchange app better than a bookmaker app?
An exchange such as Smarkets often has better prices and lets you lay bets, but you pay commission on winnings and there are fewer promotions. A bookmaker app has more features and offers. Many punters use one of each.
Can I use the same welcome offer on the app and the website?
Yes. The welcome offers listed here apply to your account, not the device, so you can sign up on the app or the website. Just claim it once.
Why do some betting apps have low Trustpilot scores but high App Store ratings?
Store ratings come mostly from happy users inside the app, while Trustpilot draws people with a complaint, often about verification or account limits. Look for recurring themes in both.
Related guides
18+ | New customers only | T&Cs apply | GambleAware.org
