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Best Free Fantasy Apps in India (2026)
Since the Online Gaming Act, 2025, India’s big fantasy cricket apps have dropped paid contests and moved to free-to-play formats. Here’s which ones are worth downloading now — and what “free” actually means on each.
✓ No entry fees · ✓ Cricket, football & kabaddi · Updated October 2026
India's Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 bans online money games — whether based on skill or chance — and restricts their advertising and payments. In August 2025, Dream11 paused all paid contests, and other major apps such as MPL and Howzat stopped cash games. Today the leading fantasy apps run free contests, often with non-cash rewards. Rewards and terms change often, so always check each app's official terms.
Free fantasy apps at a glance
| App | Format now | Sports | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dream11 | Free-to-play fantasy leagues | Cricket + many others | The classic fantasy experience |
| My11Circle | Free practice contests & challenges | Cricket and more | “Beat the Expert” style challenges |
| MPL | Moving to free, non-money formats | Fantasy + other games | Variety beyond fantasy |
| Howzat | Free contests with virtual rewards | Cricket and more | Casual free play |
Based on each app’s published terms and listings at the time of writing. Formats can change — check the official app before playing.
The best free fantasy cricket apps
Each app below runs free contests with no entry fee. Download them only from the official app store or website.
Dream11
India’s best-known fantasy app. After paid contests were paused in August 2025, Dream11 describes its fantasy leagues as free-to-play. You still build teams within a credit budget, pick a captain and vice-captain, and earn points from real match performances.
Cricket · Football · Kabaddi · Live sports content
My11Circle
Runs free practice contests with no entry fee, plus “Beat the Expert” challenges where you compare your team against picks linked to cricket experts. A good option if you enjoy testing your cricket knowledge against others.
Cricket · Expert challenges · Cricket news
MPL
MPL has suspended money-based gaming in India and is moving to free-to-play formats. Fantasy sports sit alongside its other casual games, so it suits players who want more than just fantasy cricket in one app.
Fantasy sports · Casual games
Howzat
Howzat has discontinued cash games and tournaments. Its free contests offer rewards as virtual chips rather than real-money winnings, which makes it a simple, low-pressure way to play fantasy cricket.
Cricket · Virtual rewards
Other apps such as MyTeam11, Vision11 and PlayerzPot also offer fantasy formats — check their official terms to confirm contests are free before joining.
How free fantasy cricket works now
The game itself hasn’t changed: you build a team of real players for an upcoming match and score points based on how they actually perform — runs, wickets, catches and more.
What has changed is the money. Under the 2025 Act, apps can no longer charge entry fees for contests with cash prizes. Instead, contests are free to enter and rewards (where offered) are things like virtual coins, badges, leaderboard ranks or promotional benefits.
The upside: you can practise your fantasy skills, follow every match more closely and compete with friends — without risking any money.
Pick a match
Choose an upcoming IPL, international or league fixture.
Build your team
Select players within the app’s credit budget and team rules.
Choose captain & vice-captain
They usually earn bonus points, so pick in-form players.
Join a free contest
Track live points and climb the leaderboard as the match unfolds.
How to avoid fake fantasy apps
✓ Do
- Download only from the Play Store, App Store or the official website
- Read the app's current terms on rewards and contests
- Use a strong password and turn on account security features
- Play for fun and keep track of your screen time
✕ Don't
- Pay a third party for "paid fantasy contests" or "guaranteed teams"
- Share OTPs, passwords or UPI PINs with anyone
- Install APK files from unknown links on Telegram or WhatsApp
- Trust anyone promising cash prizes for fantasy contests
Free fantasy apps: common questions
Are fantasy apps still allowed in India?
Free-to-play fantasy formats are still offered by major apps. What the Online Gaming Act, 2025 bans is online money games — paid entry with the expectation of winning money — along with their advertising and payment processing.
Can I still win money on Dream11?
Dream11 paused paid contests in August 2025 and now describes its fantasy leagues as free-to-play. Check the app’s current terms for any rewards on offer.
Which is the best free fantasy cricket app?
Dream11 is the best known for the classic fantasy experience, My11Circle is great for expert-style challenges, and MPL and Howzat are good for casual free play.
Do free fantasy apps need KYC?
Requirements vary by app and can change. Some may still verify your age or identity — follow the instructions inside the official app and never share documents through unofficial channels.
Is fantasy cricket the same as cricket betting?
No. In fantasy you build a team and score points from player performances; in betting you stake money on match outcomes. See our fantasy cricket guides for the full comparison.
New to fantasy cricket?
Learn how points, captains and team rules work with our beginner-friendly fantasy cricket guides.
18+ only. This page is for information only and isn’t legal advice. Fantasy app formats and rewards change — check each app’s official terms. Play responsibly.