Betfair vs William Hill
On raw pricing, Betfair leads: across our sampled odds it offered the best price on roughly 49% of markets against William Hill's 15%, with a tighter average margin (4.6% vs 7.2%). William Hill answers with a stronger Bet Builder score and a marginally higher licence-safety rating. Both hold UK Gambling Commission licences, both process withdrawals within 0–24 hours and both take a £10 minimum deposit — so the decision comes down to whether you value keener prices (Betfair) or a slightly broader same-game Bet Builder and long-standing brand familiarity (William Hill).
Here is the detail behind those scores, feature by feature, so you can pick the account that matches how you actually bet.
| Betfair | William Hill | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.9 | 7.8 |
| Licence | UKGC ✓ | UKGC ✓ |
| Best price share | 77% | 6% |
| Avg. margin | 2.0% | 7.7% |
| Min deposit | 10 | 10 |
| Withdrawal time | 0–24h | 0–24h |
| Payments | Debit Card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Trustly | Debit Card, PayPal, Apple Pay |
| Apps | iOS/Android | iOS/Android |
| Find My Best Betting Site | Find My Best Betting Site |
Odds comparison
Odds comparison: we'd point most people to Betfair here — it scores 8.9/10 in our rating, William Hill 7.7/10.
Markets & coverage
Markets & coverage: both score well in our rating (8.8/10 and 8.5/10) — this one won't decide it.
Live betting
Live betting: we'd point most people to Betfair here — it scores 8.7/10 in our rating, William Hill 8.2/10.
Payments & payouts
Payments & payouts: both score well in our rating (8.4/10 and 8.4/10) — this one won't decide it.
Withdrawal time
Withdrawal time: both score well in our rating (8.5/10 and 8.2/10) — this one won't decide it.
App & mobile
App & mobile: both score well in our rating (8.5/10 and 8.4/10) — this one won't decide it.
Bet Builder
Bet Builder: we'd point most people to William Hill here — it scores 7.9/10 in our rating, Betfair 7.4/10.
Licence & safety
Licence & safety: both score well in our rating (9.3/10 and 9.2/10) — this one won't decide it.
Betfair — Pros / Cons
- ✓ Licensed and regulated locally
- ✓ Responsive customer support
- ✓ Solid live betting section
- ✗ No real bet builder
William Hill — Pros / Cons
- ✓ Polished, easy app
- ✓ Great local payment support
- ✓ Licensed and regulated locally
- ✗ Odds are competitive but not always the best
Quick verdict: who should pick which
Choose Betfair if pricing is your priority. Its best-price share of nearly 49% and lower 4.6% average margin mean you are more likely to get the top available odds on a given selection. It also edges William Hill on odds rating (8.9 vs 7.7), market coverage (8.8 vs 8.5), live capability (8.7 vs 8.2) and withdrawals (8.5 vs 8.2), and it adds Trustly as a payment option.
Choose William Hill if you build a lot of same-game multiples or prefer an established high-street name. It rates higher on Bet Builder (7.9 vs 7.4), licence safety (9.3 vs 9.2), app (8.5 vs 8.4) and support (8.2 vs 7.9).
The gaps on safety, app and payments are small; the gap on odds pricing is the one genuine dividing line.
Head-to-head ratings table
All ratings are on a 0–10 scale from BETAURO's scoring data. Higher is better.
- Odds: Betfair 8.9 | William Hill 7.7 — Betfair
- Market coverage: Betfair 8.8 | William Hill 8.5 — Betfair
- Sports depth: Betfair 8.6 | William Hill 8.6 — tie
- Live capability: Betfair 8.7 | William Hill 8.2 — Betfair
- Bet Builder: Betfair 7.4 | William Hill 7.9 — William Hill
- Licence safety: Betfair 9.2 | William Hill 9.3 — William Hill
- Payments: Betfair 8.4 | William Hill 8.4 — tie
- Withdrawals: Betfair 8.5 | William Hill 8.2 — Betfair
- App: Betfair 8.4 | William Hill 8.5 — William Hill
- Features: Betfair 8.6 | William Hill 8.3 — Betfair
- Support: Betfair 7.9 | William Hill 8.2 — William Hill
Betfair takes five categories, William Hill four, with two ties. The margins are narrow everywhere except odds.
Odds and margins: the clearest difference
This is where the two bookmakers separate. Across a sampled set of markets, Betfair returned the best available price on 48.6% of selections (278 markets sampled), while William Hill did so on 14.7% (266 markets sampled). Betfair's average margin came in at 4.6%, William Hill's at 7.2%.
A lower margin means the bookmaker builds less into its prices, so more of the true value stays with you. Over a season of Premier League, Champions League or ATP Tour betting, that difference compounds. If you line up prices before placing a bet — and you should — Betfair is the stronger sportsbook on this measure.
William Hill's odds are still competitive on many events, and no single bookmaker leads on every market. But on the sampled evidence, Betfair is the pricing pick. Compare current numbers on our betting odds pages before you stake.
Sports and competitions
Both cover the full UK spread: Football, Horse Racing, Tennis, Darts, Cricket, Rugby, Golf and Basketball. Sports depth is level at 8.6 each, so neither leaves obvious gaps for a mainstream bettor.
For football you get Premier League, Championship, Serie A, Ligue 1, Champions League, Europa League, Copa Libertadores and the World Cup at both. Tennis fans have ATP and WTA Tour coverage; basketball bettors get the NBA and EuroLeague; cricket followers have Test Matches. Horse Racing — a core UK market — is well served by both brands.
Where Betfair's higher market-coverage score (8.8) shows is in the breadth of markets within each event rather than the sports list itself.
In-play and live streaming
Both offer Live Betting, Cash Out and Live Streaming. Betfair rates higher on live capability (8.7 vs 8.2), which reflects a stronger in-play experience for markets such as live football and tennis.
Streaming availability depends on the event and, for racing, may require a funded account or a qualifying bet — a standard industry condition rather than a difference between these two. If watching and betting in-running matters to you, Betfair's edge on live capability is worth weighting.
Bet Builder and features
William Hill's features list explicitly includes Bet Builder, and it scores higher here (7.9 vs 7.4), so it is the pick for combining shots, cards, goalscorers and match result into a single same-game bet. Betfair also offers Bet Builder-style features, but William Hill grades better on this specific tool.
Betfair counters with a higher overall features score (8.6 vs 8.3) and a listed Fast Payout capability. Both include Cash Out for locking in returns or cutting losses before an event ends. For heavy Bet Builder users, William Hill is the natural home; for everything else, Betfair's wider feature strength shows.
Payments, deposits and withdrawals
Both take a £10 minimum deposit and both quote withdrawal times of 0–24 hours, so cashing out winnings is comparable. Payments rate 8.4 each.
The difference is method choice. William Hill supports Debit Card, PayPal and Apple Pay. Betfair supports those three plus Trustly, giving it an extra route for open-banking transfers. If you specifically want Trustly, Betfair is the only one of the two that lists it.
Betfair also edges withdrawals (8.5 vs 8.2). Actual payout speed depends on your method and any identity checks — UKGC-licensed operators must verify accounts, which can delay a first withdrawal at either brand. See our Fast Payout and PayPal betting sites pages if payout speed and method are your priorities.
Apps and mobile
Both provide iOS and Android apps. William Hill scores marginally higher on app (8.5 vs 8.4) — a difference small enough that either app should serve you well for pre-match and in-play betting, Cash Out and live streaming on the move.
For a wider look at mobile options, our betting apps hub ranks the leading UK apps side by side.
Licensing and safety
Both William Hill and Betfair are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), the regulator for betting in the United Kingdom. That means both must meet UKGC rules on fund protection, fair terms, identity verification and responsible-gambling tools, and both operate with an 18+ minimum age.
On our licence-safety score they are effectively level: William Hill 9.3, Betfair 9.2. William Hill's 1934 founding date gives it one of the longest track records in UK bookmaking; Betfair, launched in 2000, is younger but equally well established under the same regulatory framework. Whichever you choose, you are dealing with a properly licensed operator — check the UKGC register yourself if you want to confirm current status.
Support
William Hill rates higher on support (8.2 vs 7.9). For most bettors the gap is minor, but if you value fast help with account, payment or verification queries, William Hill has the slight edge on our scoring. Neither score suggests a poor experience.
FAQ
Is Betfair or William Hill better for odds?
Betfair, on the sampled evidence. It offered the best available price on around 49% of markets versus 15% for William Hill, with a lower average margin of 4.6% against 7.2%. Betfair also holds the higher odds rating (8.9 vs 7.7).
Which has the better Bet Builder?
William Hill. It lists Bet Builder among its features and rates higher on it (7.9 vs 7.4). Betfair offers same-game features too, but William Hill grades better for building combined selections.
Are both licensed in the UK?
Yes. Both William Hill and Betfair are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and operate under an 18+ minimum age. Licence-safety scores are close: William Hill 9.3, Betfair 9.2.
How long do withdrawals take at each?
Both quote a withdrawal window of 0–24 hours. Actual timing depends on your payment method and any identity checks required under UKGC rules. Betfair rates slightly higher on withdrawals (8.5 vs 8.2).
What is the minimum deposit at Betfair and William Hill?
Both have a £10 minimum deposit.
Which payment methods do they support?
William Hill supports Debit Card, PayPal and Apple Pay. Betfair supports those three plus Trustly. If you want Trustly, Betfair is the option that lists it.
Do both have apps?
Yes, both offer iOS and Android apps. William Hill scores marginally higher on app quality (8.5 vs 8.4).