Best Betting Apps UK

Our picks for the best Betting Apps in April 2024

To simplify the process of choosing the best betting app, we have categorised them below based on popular sports and features. Our review process involves testing various betting apps, ranking them based on key criteria, and providing a first hand analysis of each app.

Best Betting App for Football: Unibet

Unibet's football betting app stands out for its live streams, odds boosts, and unique bet builder. With 'Bet and Watch' you can stream top leagues like Ligue 1 and LaLiga by placing a bet 24 hours before the game.

Daily 'Uniboosts', offer enhanced odds on football singles and accumulators. The Unibet bet builder allows up to 12 selections, mixing markets from different matches, and offers a daily odds boost. These features solidify Unibet as a top football betting site with an industry-best app.

Alternative: Betfred is another stand-out football betting app you could consider. Their 'PickYourPunt' for tailored bets or features like Double Delight and Hat-Trick Heaven on selected First Goalscorer bets makes it an ideal betting app for premier league betting.

Best Betting App for Horse Racing: BoyleSports

BoyleSports' app stands out for horse racing, offering live streams from UK races and money-back specials, including a free bet if your horse finishes second to the starting price favourite.

BoyleSports also provide 'Best Odds Guaranteed' and a 'Fair Play Free Bet,' where you receive a free bet if your horse fails to start. The app also provides free betting tips from horse racing experts, strengthening BoyleSports' position among the top horse racing betting apps

Best Betting App for Odds Boosts: Kwiff

Kwiff, is a top app for enhanced odds. The odds on your bet could get 'Kwiffed', a sudden improvement in your bet's odds, applicable to any sport, odds, or stake.

The 'Supercharged Cash Out' feature is unique to Kwiff. When activated, this can add value to a cash out figure and is possible to receive whether your bet is winning or losing. 

Meanwhile, the 'Supercharge Your Weekend' provides enhanced odds on any market with a weekend accumulator of three or more legs. 

Best Live Betting App: bet365

Bet365 offers more live streams than other UK betting app, allowing you to watch various sports on different devices. Football, tennis, basketball, horse racing and greyhound racing are among the options for live streaming. All you need is a funded account or to have placed a bet in the previous 24 hours.

The 'Edit Bet' feature at bet365 is particularly intriguing. It allows you to add, swap, or remove selections and increase the stake on unsettled bets, both pre-match and in-play.

Best Spread Betting App: Spreadex

Spreadex is the only betting app that allows you to place sports spread bets in the UK. For the uninitiated, spread betting rewards accuracy and penalises inaccuracy. Basically, the more accurate your prediction, the more you stand to win. However, the more inaccurate, the greater your losses.

Before getting involved with spread betting it's important to be aware that this form of betting may result in losses exceeding your initial stake, so there is greater risk at play compared to standard fixed odds betting.

Punters who are comfortable with and fully understand spread betting will find Spreadex's betting app ticks all the right boxes. Use the bonus code Indy2024 to sign up with Spreadex and get £40 in free bets from a £10 deposit. 

Choosing the Best Sports Betting Apps

To identify the best sports betting apps we consider various factors. Below, we outline the criteria used at The Independent to rank and review UK betting apps.

App Experience

Optimal speed and usability set the best betting apps apart, providing a quicker and more convenient betting process than traditional browsers. Some apps even offer useful notifications, such as alerts for races involving horses you've previously won money on.

Customer Feedback

User reviews provide insights, but personal testing is essential. We personally sign up for and test betting apps to give you a direct insight into how they perform and what the user experience is like.

Licensing and Regulation

The UK Gambling Commission is the regulatory body of bookmakers in the UK. A betting app regulated by such an authority adheres to a code of practice and commits to keeping bettors' personal data safe. They must also have responsible gambling information and tools available.

Offers and Promotions

Betting apps compete for business through welcome offers, which usually provide free bets once you have signed up, made a deposit and placed your first bet. The welcome bonus should have real value and there should be regular promotions for existing customers after you've signed up.

Value of Odds

Online betting allows for easy comparison of odds across bookmakers. We conduct comprehensive odds comparison tests to identify apps that consistently provide fair odds. Bookmakers can sometimes have differing odds, but you can also take the SP on sports such as horse racing. For more info on what SP means in betting, take a look at our explainer page.

Customer Support

Responsive customer support, available through channels like live chat and email, reflects an app's commitment to its users. Our reviews consider the friendliness and helpfulness of customer support agents.

Market Variety

A top-tier betting app should come with a diverse range of markets. Whether you're into football, horse racing, tennis, or snooker betting, there should be numerous options available. We look for apps that provide not just UK markets, but international ones as well.

Payment Options

Secure deposit and withdrawal methods are crucial, including debit cards, e-wallets and bank transfers. Minimum deposit amounts can vary but with some betting sites, you only need to deposit £5 to begin with. The best apps prioritise quick pay out speeds, allowing users to withdraw winnings promptly and efficiently.

Best Sports Betting App Bonuses and Free Bets

Here's a quick overview of some of the most common bonuses and promotions you'll find at leading sports betting apps.

Free Bet Welcome Offers: Make a deposit and place a real-money bet to unlock free bets. Free bet credits are for betting and cannot be withdrawn.

One of the best examples of a free bet welcome promo is the bet £10 get £30 in free bets offer that is available with many of the leading bookmakers. Bookmakers should also provide special offers for the big sports events throughout the year.

Cashback Sign-Up Offers: Receive a refund on a portion of losses over a specified time. For example, get 10% cashback on lost bets in your first week.

Odds Boosts: Odds boosts offer enhanced prices for existing customers or in welcome offers. For instance, a favourite may see a significant boost to attract new users.

Acca Insurance: Reclaim your stake (usually as a free bet) if one leg of an accumulator fails. Accumulators typically need at least four or five legs to qualify.

Money-Back Specials: Get your stake refunded if a specific event occurs in a race or match. Examples include refunds for close horse races or 0-0 draws in football.

Early Payouts: Some apps pay out winnings early if your bet looks likely to win. Look for apps offering early payouts when your backed team goes two goals ahead.

Best Odds Guaranteed: Relevant for horse or greyhound racing, punters can take an early price on a runner and if the starting price (SP) is higher than their original bet, the bookie will pay out winnings at the higher odds.

Free Bet Club: An attractive promo for existing customers, the many free bet club sites offer punters the chance to win free bets on a weekly basis.

How to download iPhone and Android Betting Apps

1. Sign Up and Claim a Bonus: Use one of the links on this page to register for a licensed betting app and claim a welcome offer.
2. Visit the Store: Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad, or the Google Play Store if you're using an Android device.
3. Search for the Betting App: In the search bar, type the name of your desired betting platform. Most reputable betting apps are available on the App Store and the Play Store.
4. Download the Betting App: Once you locate the app, click on the 'Get' button on the App Store or 'Install' on the Play Store. The app will then download and install onto your device.
5. Sign In: Using the details you signed up with on your browser, sign in using the betting app's login screen.

Betting App Payment Methods

Our featured betting apps offer flexible payment options for smooth and secure transactions.

1. Debit Cards: Ensure secure deposits with Visa and Mastercard.
2. E-wallets: Enjoy swift and secure transactions through PayPal and Neteller.
3. Prepaid Cards: Maintain control and anonymity with paysafecard and ecoPayz.
4. Pay-by-Phone: Easily deposit using Apple Pay and Google Pay. Benefit from quick deposits and withdrawals with pay-by-mobile casinos.

What To Bet On This Week

The Champions League takes precedence in the sporting world this week. There will be no British teams in action but we have two intriguing semi finals nonetheless.

Tuesday will see Bayern Munich host the football bookmakers' favourites, Real Madrid, while PSG also travel to Germany to take on Borussia Dortmund, the outsiders in the Champions League odds.

Simon Sinclair has provided his Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid tips and predictions, and he thinks it is going to be a tight affair between the two European powerhouses.

On the domestic front, we will find out who will be joining Leicester in the Premier League next season as the Championship promotion race goes down to the wire at the weekend. Ipswich and Leeds are tied on 90 points, but the Tractor Boys could be three clear before the final day, as they take on Coventry in a mid-week game. 

Our football tipster, Chris Rivers, believes it could be a big night for the away side in his Coventry vs Ipswich betting tips.

Horse racing betting sites will be busy this week as the Punchestown Festival gets underway. There will be a host of Grade 1 races up for decision across the week as racing fans get a final chance to see the best horses in National Hunt racing take each other on this season.

In the flat racing sphere, the first Classics take place this week at Newmarket. The 1000 and 2000 Guineas will both go to post, as potential stars of the sport attempt to announce themselves on one of the biggest stages of the year. On the other side of the globe, the Kentucky Derby will see the world's best go toe to toe in the famous American race.

Elsewhere in sport, snooker betting sites will be busy adjusting odds as the World Championship continues, and the Premier League darts reaches night 14 as the players head to Aberdeen. 

Darts betting sites are finding it hard to separate Luke Humphries and Luke Littler in the Premier League darts odds, and things could look a lot different after Thursday night in Scotland.

Responsible Gambling

Enjoy our recommended list of the best betting apps responsibly with these tips:

1. Set Limits: Establish a budget before playing.
2. Take Breaks: Maintain a healthy balance by enjoying breaks.
3. Self-Exclusion: Consider this option if needed.
4. Recognise Signs: Be aware and seek help if needed.

All licensed betting apps and websites must give users the option to self-exclude, which should be utilised the moment a customer realises their gambling has become problematic. 

Should you wish to seek help for gambling-related harm, there are several charities and institutions you can turn to for support, advice and information:

• GamCare
• GambleAware
• Gamblers Anonymous
• NHS

Best Betting Apps UK: The Independent View

Everyone has different preferences when it comes to betting and punters should select the app that caters to their own needs. 

Our selection includes a variety of options to meet individual preferences. When selecting a betting app, think about your intentions and be confident that the apps and offers featured on our page come from licensed, reputable betting companies.