Those deep in the DFS app world will likely be familiar with Thrive Fantasy and the app they've built to make inroads within an increasingly crowded market. For those who have yet to cross paths with Thrive, we tested the app and researched user experience examples to provide insight into what new users can expect if they download it.
From their variety of DFS contests to their more generous odds in the pick 'em category, we'd like to walk you through the experience of using the Thrive Fantasy app for your DFS wagering.
Final Verdict:
While the Thrive Fantasy app lacks the features and user experience you will find in other DFS apps, it makes up for it with a wide variety of contests and the highest payouts in the industry.
Substantial welcome bonus is 2.5x the average DFS promotion.
Visually appealing app that is easy to use.
Best odds and highest payouts for most parlay entries.
Cons
No live customer support.
Slow withdrawal process with inconsistent approval times.
2x playthrough required for all bonus funds.
Thrive Fantasy was launched in 2016 and has built a user-friendly, crisp-looking mobile app. It could still be considered up-and-coming but has aspects rivaling the best in the business.
They have set forth creative DFS contests in prop pick'em format, invested in their app's user experience and sleek display appearance, and offer one of the most generous new player bonus offers in the industry.
In-App Experience and Gameplay
Thrive Fantasy offers both DFS contests and prop Pick' Em options for users to take advantage of. Their contests reflect their growth stage, with a maximum of 1,125 entries allotted in their headliner Sunday contest for Week 17 of the NFL season as an example.
Thrive's unique approach to DFS contests is fun, turning a lineup into a prop builder that offers roughly 20 player totals to choose from and allowing users to pick 10 to form their entry. Not all props carry the same odds, and if a player with longer odds to cash their prop does win, those entrants get a nice boost to their lineups.
The entries with the most correct props, depending on the odds, get rewarded. In this case, users must finish in the top 266 entries to earn the minimum payout of $35 for a $25 buy-in.
In the Pick' Em tab, Thrive has done an excellent job creating an interface that draws in the users and doesn't require much work to find a particular prop. Players can be searched for in the bar at the top of the screen, and any prop available to a specific player can be selected from one view.
For instance, when checking out Dak Precott's offerings on the Pass Yards dropdown, users can instantly choose over/under for that number as well as scroll horizontally to his totals for Completions, Rush Yards, Longest Completion, and Pass Attempts. This makes for an effortless experience if the user knows the player or game they're looking for.
Pick'em Odds and Contest Payouts
Thrive's group of available sports and leagues makes them worth considering as an outlet for DFS action. Their DFS contests feature the following leagues:
NFL
NBA
NHL
MLB
PGA Tour
UFC
Premier League
La Liga
UEFA Champions League
eSports
One omission from that list that makes it less competitive is college sports. There aren't NCAA football or basketball wagering options available for DFS contests, which has become more prevalent in recent years on other apps and could be a nice addition.
Another limitation is that their prop engine, the Pick' Em tab, consists of only NFL and NBA player over/unders. While other apps allow for multi-sport bet slips across a broad array of sports and leagues, Thrive is currently marketing themselves elsewhere.
Their scaled payout structure mirrors other DFS apps in the contest and prop space, with a little extra juice in favor of the user for those on the Thrive Fantasy app. Their two-leg bet slip comes with a 3.2x payout, 6.67% higher than the 3x multiplier of most competitors, and the best value for the money of their options.
Thrive's bet slip is similar to Underdog's and offers a five-player maximum capacity but adds slightly more to each payout amount.
For their DFS contests, the app does offer smaller but guaranteed payouts. The high-end of the industry, places like FanDuel and DraftKings, differs from where Thrive is looking to compete currently, but that can benefit users.
Contests with several hundred or even 1,000+ entry spots are still guaranteed even when all those spaces aren't filled, and that could be common on the app from the contests we saw available for NFL games. None of the NBA contests we found had guaranteed payouts, so this is worth monitoring for those looking to take advantage of limited fields.
Thrive Fantasy Deposits and Payouts
Thrive offers a 100% deposit match up to $250, one of the higher amounts in the daily fantasy sports industry.
There is a catch, though. Several of the big competitors in the DFS and pick 'em space offer lower deposit matches but only require a 1x playthrough of bonus funds. A player making a deposit and leveraging this promotion from Thrive would have a nice bonus pool to wager from, but they'd have to wager it twice over to make it eligible for withdrawal.
This may be a dealbreaker for some who don't have the patience or desire to wait that long before realizing the benefit of this deposit match. Considering the 45-day window where this bonus is eligible, it may or may not work best, depending on each user's needs.
In terms of options available to deposit and withdraw funds, Thrive is somewhat limited. Credit cards and PayPal are easy deposit methods that make the initial buy-in seamless.
As for how users can process a withdrawal, they'd be limited to an online banking connection or using Prizeout to shop or get a gift card to a preferred retailer. Adding PayPal as a withdrawal method is a much-needed upgrade.
Customer Support
Thrive Fantasy offers no live customer support for users experiencing issues or needing answers to questions. The Contact Us section lists an email address as the only method to communicate questions and inquiries.
This likely contributes to negative experiences users may have had with Thrive and applies especially in disputes with withdrawals. Several reviews note trouble withdrawing funds, even when putting aside those upset with the playthrough statute.
Questions about getting money from an app are an understandably crucial element of any sportsbook or DFS app experience. Given the available withdrawal options, it is no surprise that negative reviews cite what can become a long and convoluted process for players requesting a payout.
Thrive Fantasy FAQ
Need some quick answers to some basic questions about Thrive Fantasy? You've come to the right spot! Our staff has dug through some of the most commonly asked questions to bring you the following FAQ section.
Are there any age restrictions on Thrive?
Yes, customers must be at least 18 years old to play DFS games on Thrive Fantasy. However, check the rules in your state. For example, folks in Alabama and Nebraska must be at least 19 to participate. In Arizona, Massachusetts, Louisiana, and Iowa, DFS players have to be 21 or older.
How do I use the Thrive Fantasy promo code?
It's easy! Simply enter promo code EWB when prompted after signing up for your Thrive account. After doing this, you'll get a 100% deposit bonus that caps out at $250. This is one of the top bonus offers in the country for a DFS app!
What customer service options does Thrive have?
Thrive is very responsive via email and they can be reached at [email protected] in that way. If you want to speak to a customer service rep, you can call them at 800-260-1935. Thrive can also be found on X.
What is one key advantage of using Thrive?
Aside from a great bonus, Thrive doles out some of the highest payouts in the DFS world. Folks who enter 2 picks correctly get a 3.6x payout. Three picks correct gives out a 6.2x payout. Finally, winning all 4 picks producing an astounding 11x payout!
Review Summary
Thrive Fantasy still has some growth to do and features to add to compete at a higher level with their DFS peers. Still, they've done a good job separating themselves in the margins with payouts and user experience in a way that could form a solid foundation for their efforts.
If you're looking to exploit better odds on DFS action, Thrive is an app you can't miss.
The concerns about the support and withdrawal processes should be noticed, but the amount of feedback there makes us think some change is likely on the horizon. There's a reason the apps that dominate the space continue to re-claim users who have tried other apps and not had the best experience.
The devil you know is preferable to the one you don't, and Thrive Fantasy has the chance to make up ground in this race with some investments in the proper areas that the users are communicating.
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Best DFS Sign-Up Bonus in the Game
Rated 4.0 out of 5
April 5, 2024
I must admit that I came to Thrive Fantasy simply because of their unbelievable bonus offer. While that is more than impressive, I was shocked at how generous Thrive's payouts are when you win. Try them out!
Nicholas Berault is a proud Penn State alum whose past work has been featured on FantasyPros. He is an avid golfer and a collector of pin flags and sneakers. As a senior writer at EatWatchBet, Nicholas serves as an NFL, CFB, and NBA betting analyst.
