Key Options at a Glance:
- BettorEdge: No fees, 100% payouts to winners, live leaderboards, secure payments, and real money available in 45+ states.
- CBS Sports: Free to use with real-time updates, expert analysis, and exciting non-monetary prizes like Final Four tickets.
- ESPN Tournament Challenge: Free, supports up to 25 brackets, live updates, and exclusive tools for ESPN+ subscribers.
- Yahoo Sports Tourney Pick'em: Free, supports multiple brackets, and offers $25,000 prizes for both Men's and Women's tournaments.
- Run Your Pool: Advanced customization, multiple pool formats, and tiered pricing for larger groups.
- Splash Sports: Real-money pools with live leaderboards, multiple payment options, and automated payout management.
Quick Comparison Table:
Platform | Cost | Payouts | Key Features | Best For |
BettorEdge | Free | 100% to winners | No fees, secure payments | Real-money brackets |
CBS Sports | Free/Free to Play | Non-monetary prizes | Expert analysis, Final Four tickets | Casual players |
ESPN | Free/Free to Play | Non-monetary prizes | 25 brackets, live updates | Fans managing multiple brackets |
Yahoo Sports | Free/Free to Play | $25,000 prize pools | Supports Men's & Women's tournaments | Competitive players |
Run Your Pool | Tiered fees | Full payouts minus fees | Custom scoring, advanced tools | Large organizations |
Splash Sports | Fee-based | Payouts minus service fees | Real-money pools, automated payouts | Big real-money pools |
Choose the platform that fits your needs - whether it's free tools for casual play or secure management for real-money competitions.
How to play NCAA March Madness Men's Bracket Challenge in 2025
1. BettorEdge
BettorEdge stands out as a top choice for hosting March Madness bracket pools, offering a user-friendly experience with automated leaderboards, secure payments, and automated payouts. BettorEdge makes it easy to fill out your bracket and send to a friend making it a top choice for bracket pools.
Here’s what sets BettorEdge apart:
- 100% Winner Payouts: Every dollar in the pool goes to the winners - no hidden fees.
- Automated Payments: Deposits and withdrawals are handled seamlessly through a secure Plaid integration, Paypal or Debit/Credit Card.
- Top-Level Security: Bank-grade protection ensures your funds and transactions are safe.
You can access your bracket on the iOS app (via the Apple App Store), the Android app (available on their website), or directly through their web platform at play.bettoredge.com.
Not only can you fill out brackets on BettorEdge for free or real-money. You can also send bets to friends leveraging their best-in-class social betting exchange.
BettorEdge is legally available in over 45 states, and their dedicated support team is ready to help keep your tournament running smoothly.
2. CBS Sports
CBS Sports provides a user-friendly platform packed with features for tournament enthusiasts. Here's a closer look at what it offers:
Key Features:
- Free entry and the ability to create private pools for tournaments
- Real-time updates with news and expert analysis
- A mobile app that delivers a smooth experience, instant updates, and expert insights
Prize Opportunities: The 2025 CBS Sports Bracket Challenge comes with exciting rewards, such as:
- Prizes for participating in both men's and women's brackets
- No entry fees or hidden costs
CBS Sports also enhances your bracket decisions with detailed statistics and trends, offering valuable insights for participants.
"CBS Sports is free... and the actual user interface experience is SO MUCH BETTER than dealing with the loooong. sloooow dated user-interface of ESPN." - Bee Gee, Amazon Customer Reviewer
While the platform shines in many areas, some users have noted occasional difficulties with bracket navigation and tracking teams via the app. However, regular updates aim to address these issues, making CBS Sports a reliable choice for both casual fans and serious competitors.
3. ESPN Tournament Challenge
ESPN Tournament Challenge is one of the most popular college basketball bracket games, with over 20 million brackets filled out last year. A recent redesign has improved the platform, aligning it with the expectations of modern-day users.
Highlights of the Platform:
- Create up to 25 brackets and join up to 10 groups.
- for an easy-to-navigate bracket overview.
- Detailed Matchup Previews with in-depth stats.
- BracketCast for live score updates.
- Support for dark mode.
- Fully optimized for mobile use.
These updates make it accessible and enjoyable for both casual and die-hard fans.
The game is free to play, but ESPN+ subscribers gain access to exclusive tools. For the 2024 tournament, ESPN introduced enticing prizes, including twenty $5,000 grand prizes and twenty-five $1,000 first prizes, totaling $125,000 in winnings.
"Completely Rebuilt By Fans, For Fans" - ESPN Press Room U.S.
Improvements and Growth
The 2024 redesign has made the platform easier to use and more functional. The Women's Tournament Challenge, in particular, has seen a 23% jump in participation compared to the previous year . Whether you're using the web or mobile version, managing multiple brackets and tracking the tournament's progress is now more intuitive.
Feature | Description |
Group Results Forecast | Predicts standings within your groups. |
Perfect Bracket Tracker | Monitors the remaining perfect brackets. |
Second Chance Brackets | Lets users create new brackets mid-tournament. |
Expert Analysis | Offers professional insights and predictions. |
The platform avoids intrusive ads or in-app purchases that could disrupt the experience. With its mix of user-friendly features, attractive prizes, and smooth performance across devices, ESPN Tournament Challenge is a top pick for March Madness fans.
4. Yahoo Sports Tourney Pick'em
Yahoo Sports Tourney Pick'em is a popular platform for March Madness fans, offering a user-friendly way to dive into the tournament action. Each user can create up to 10 brackets and enter each one into as many as 15 groups. The platform provides automatic score updates after games, making it easy to keep track of your progress. You can access it on desktop, mobile web, or through the Yahoo Fantasy App. Plus, it supports brackets for both the Men's and Women's tournaments. For those managing groups, Yahoo offers a variety of tools to make the experience seamless.
Group Management and Customization
If you're the group commissioner, you have full control over your pool. You can tweak group settings, set up custom scoring systems, and adjust privacy options to suit your group's needs. This flexibility allows you to create a tournament experience that feels tailored to your preferences.
Feature | Details |
Bracket Limit | Up to 10 brackets per user |
Group Entry Limit | Up to 15 groups per bracket |
Score Updates | Updates available the next morning |
Tournament Coverage | Both Men's and Women's brackets |
Platform Access | Desktop, mobile web, Yahoo Fantasy App |
Prize Structure
Yahoo keeps things exciting with a free-to-play model that offers some impressive rewards.
Scores are updated as games conclude, with results ready by the following morning.
Yahoo Sports Tourney Pick'em blends ease of use with competitive fun, making it a great choice for both casual fans and die-hard bracket challengers.
5. Run Your Pool
Run Your Pool is a great option for organizers who want advanced customization. It offers a variety of NCAA Basketball Tournament pool formats, including traditional brackets, squares, head-to-head, survivor, and Pick X pools.
Features and Functionality
This platform simplifies tournament management with tools like configurable scoring, automatic deadlines, communication boards, and detailed reporting. Participants benefit from real-time updates, automated scoring, and a private message board to discuss the action.
Feature | Description |
Pool Formats | Offers 5 NCAA tournament formats |
Real-time Updates | Automatic score updates and standings |
Communication | Private message board for participants |
Management Tools | Custom scoring, deadlines, and reporting |
Platform Access | Accessible via a web-based interface |
Fee Structure
Run Your Pool uses a tiered pricing system based on the number of participants in your pool:
- Up to 10 Entries: $15
- Up to 50 entries: $1.25 per entry
- 51-200 entries: $1.00 per entry
- 201-500 entries: $0.75 per entry
- 500+ entries: $0.50 per entry
User Experience
The platform is praised for its easy-to-use design and responsive customer support. Panama Jack, Program Director at WGLX Radio, shared his experience:
"We've run both a [NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament] and a Pro Football Pool through RunYourPool.com. It's easy to set-up and easy for the players to use. But what I was most impressed with compared to other sites we have used, is the quick response we received if we had any questions or concerns."
Important Considerations
The free version is ideal for casual games, but if you're organizing real money competitions, you'll need to upgrade through Splash Sports. With over 600,000 contests hosted and more than 1 billion picks processed, Run Your Pool is a trusted choice for managing March Madness brackets.
6. Splash Sports
Splash Sports is a popular platform for hosting March Madness pools, with users across the US and Canada . It offers a range of tools to make managing brackets easy and efficient.
Platform Features
Here’s what makes Splash Sports stand out:
Feature | Description |
Game Formats | Offers options like Survivor, Pick'Em, and Confidence pools |
Payment Options | Accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, ACH, PayPal, and Venmo |
Real-time Updates | Includes live leaderboards and detailed stats tracking |
Legal Coverage | Supports real-money contests in most US states and Canada |
Account Integration | Connects easily with RunYourPool and OfficeFootballPool accounts |
Fee Structure and Payouts
Splash Sports takes a percentage of contest entry fees to cover costs like payment processing, security, and platform development. While some users mention that service fees affect payouts, they also acknowledge the platform’s extensive features as a fair trade-off.
User Experience
Many users praise Splash Sports for simplifying the often-complicated task of managing payouts. Here’s what some commissioners had to say:
"I have been running contests with college buddies for years but it was such a pain to collect and pay out all the winnings. Now, Splash handles all that for me."
"I hated using sports books because I knew the odds were literally stacked against me. Now I just have to play my friends to win."
Important Considerations
Before setting up a pool on Splash Sports, keep these points in mind service fees are deducted from winners’ payouts.
Which Platform Should You Choose?
Pick a platform that aligns with your preferences, budget, and style of play.
Free vs. Paid Options
BettorEdge stands out by offering fee-free play, ensuring all funds go back to the winners. Here's a quick comparison of popular platforms:
Platform | Entry Fees | Platform Fees | Payout Structure |
BettorEdge | Free or Real-Money options available | No fees: 100% of funds to winners | 100% to winners |
CBS Sports | Free | None | Non-monetary |
ESPN | Free | None | Non-monetary |
Yahoo Sports | Free | None | Non-monetary |
Run Your Pool | Per Bracket Cost | Per-entrant fee | Full payouts minus fees |
Splash Sports | Fees Taken from Winnings | Service fees deducted from payouts | Winner payouts reduced due to fees |
This breakdown gives you a clear view of entry costs and payout structures, helping you make an informed decision.
Security and Payment Features
BettorEdge offers a secure, automated payment system that simplifies deposits and payouts, making transactions hassle-free.
User Experience and Accessibility
BettorEdge boasts a 5/5 rating from 170+ reviews [7], with users appreciating its easy-to-navigate interface and automated pool management. Across platforms, bracket management is made simple, so you can focus on the game.
Best Platform Recommendations
Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:
- For casual players: CBS Sports, ESPN, or Yahoo Sports are excellent for non-monetary pools.
- For real-money brackets: BettorEdge is the go-to choice. Its no-fee structure ensures the winnings stay with the players.
- For larger organizations: Run Your Pool offers advanced bracket management tools, though its per-entrant fees are worth noting. Splash Sports can also handle big pools but deducts service fees, which may impact payouts.
BettorEdge’s no-fee bracket model ensures maximum payouts for winners, making it a standout option.