The four bet exchanges, compared honestly
BetTrading.net connects to Betdaq and Smarkets today. Matchbook is coming soon, followed by Betfair. All four matter for UK and Irish trading, each has real strengths and real weaknesses, and this guide compares them plainly — so you can decide where your money works hardest before you connect it.
New to exchanges entirely? The BetTrading.net website has a plain-English introduction to bet trading and to how exchanges work — open BetTrading.net in your browser and choose Help. For the words you will meet in this application, see Terminology.
At a glance
Figures checked 9 August 2026 — commission rates and API terms change; each exchange's own page below links to the source.
| Betdaq | Smarkets | Matchbook | Betfair | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connectable in BetTrading.net | Yes — at launch | Yes — at launch | Coming soon | Coming soon |
| Standard commission (UK/IE) | 2% | 2% (1% Pro tier) | 2% | 5% base, reducible via rewards scheme |
| High-winner surcharge | No | 3% tier for the most profitable accounts | No published equivalent | Yes — surcharge above £25k rolling profit (the Premium Charge's successor) |
| Liquidity profile | Moderate; best on UK/IE racing & football | Good on football & politics; growing racing | Good on racing & US sports | Deepest overall — the benchmark |
| Sports coverage | Core UK sports | Broad, incl. politics markets | Racing, football, US sports focus | Broadest |
| In-play betting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| API access | £250 one-off fee + application | Free, via approved request form | No key needed; usage-based fees | Free delayed key; £499 one-off live key |
| Full guide | Betdaq | Smarkets | Matchbook | Betfair |
Why choose, when you can connect them all?
The honest answer to "which exchange is best?" is "for which market, on which day?" Betfair usually has the deepest book, but Betdaq, Smarkets and Matchbook regularly show a better price after commission — liquidity and value move around.
That's the problem BetTrading.net was built for. Connect any or all of the exchanges we support — Betdaq and Smarkets today, with Matchbook and then Betfair to follow (Pro supports every available exchange simultaneously) — and:
- Cross-provider price routing shows every connected exchange's prices side by side in one window, highlights the single best price each way, and routes your click to whichever exchange holds it.
- Order broadcasting places one bet across every linked exchange simultaneously, capturing fragmented liquidity in a single click.
- One market tree, one balance view, one trade history — across all of them.
The guides
- BetdaqThe long-running challenger with a flat 2% commission. Connectable now.
- SmarketsThe modern, low-commission exchange with a free API. Connectable now.
- MatchbookRacing and US-sports specialist with the easiest API access. Coming soon.
- BetfairThe original and biggest — deepest liquidity, higher costs. Coming soon.
Exchange trading is for adults aged 18 and over, and every strategy carries risk. Set limits, and if gambling stops being fun, talk to BeGambleAware.org — free and confidential.