NFTs or Non-Fungible Tokens are the next step in digital ownership with the help of blockchain technology. They’ve been around since 2014, but they reached a new level of popularity in early 2022 and have been going strong since. In fact, in early 2023, NFT trading volume reached a new high of 946 million USD.
Suffice it to say, interest in these digital ownership certificates is still quite high. If you’re planning on investing in NFTs, make sure to select the best Polygon NFT marketplace for your needs. Not sure which one to choose? Read on to find out my top Polygon NFT marketplaces and what makes them better than the rest.
Top 5 Polygon NFT Marketplaces
Based on my experience with various NFT platforms, these are the best 5 Polygon NFT marketplaces I personally recommend!
#1. OpenSea
OpenSea entered the crypto market back in 2017 and has since become the biggest name in the world of NFTs.
Out of all the Polygon NFT marketplace I tried when compiling this list, OpenSea takes the #1 spot. The sheer variety of NFT collections on this platform is enough to put this above others, but that’s not all.
OpenSea is also completely non-custodial. In other words, users make trades directly with each other and not through the platform as a middleman.
This makes transactions on OpenSea safe and near-instantaneous. You can also purchase Polygon NFTs on this marketplace without any gas fees. That said, OpenSea does charge a 2.5% fee on all secondary sales, which is lower than many of its competitors.
Key features and benefits
#2. PlayDapp
PlayDapp integrates NFTs and Web3 technology in gaming. To summarize, the PlayDapp marketplace allows developers to sell in-game NFTs — like unique skins and items — with the help of the Polygon blockchain.
For developers, the PlayDapp SDK makes it exceptionally easy to complement crypto technology into their games for digital collectibles. For consumers like me, the PlayDapp C2C marketplace provides a legit platform for trading in-game items with other players.
At the time of writing, PlayDapp already features NFTs for several Polygon-based games. These include Along with the Gods, ZED Run, and my personal favorite, League of Kingdoms.
The best part about PlayDapp for me, however, is that you don’t need crypto to start playing its games. Then, if you like the game and would like to upgrade or customize it with in-app items, the marketplace is filled with the stuff you need.
Key features and benefits
#3. TofuNFT
TofuNFT is also a multi-chain NFT marketplace with complete Polygon support similar to OpenSea. The factor that solidified its spot on my list is just how convenient and seamless this marketplace is.
For example, the TofuNFT supports Trust Wallet, Wallet Connect, TokenPocket, MetaMask, imToken, Coinbase Wallet, SafePal, and MathWallet for payments. So, no matter which crypto storage platform you prefer, you’ll be able to purchase NFTs without any friction.
Another key advantage of TofuNFT I noticed is that it allows both fixed-price and auction sales. So, you can either purchase whichever NFT you like near-instantaneously or try to get a deal in auctions.
Key features and benefits
#4. Refinable
Refinable is one of the youngest marketplaces on my list with an initial launch date of April 2021. Yet, despite its newcomer status, Refinable has become one of my favorite names in the Polygon NFT marketplace industry.
At the time of writing, Refinable has a trading volume of more than 3.5 million USD. This marketplace also features over 550 NFT collections, many of which caught my attention with their sheer artistry during my time on this platform.
Refinable also garners a sizable community with more than 150,000 followers across different platforms. This is great for both sellers and buyers as a higher demand increases the quantity and quality of supply which, in turn, boosts demand further.
One thing that shocked me (in a good way) when researching Refinable is that the king of YouTube, MrBeast himself has invested in this platform.
Key features and benefits
#5. NFTrade
NFTrade is one of the most transparent Polygon NFT marketplaces I've used in my years of exploration in the crypto market. Real-time info about NFTrade is available on DappRadar where users can check out stats like trade volumes, latest sales, and historical marketplace activity.
That said, the most significant feature of NFTrade for me is the ability to purchase NFTs with fiat currencies. This removes one of the biggest hurdles new users face when purchasing NFTs, especially if they’re not familiar with cryptocurrencies.
Not only that, but trades on NFTrades also have zero transaction fees, which almost sounds too good to be true.
Key features and benefits
Comparison of the Top Picks
Each one of the five Polygon marketplaces I chose is an ideal option for most NFT creators and collectors on their own. But, this makes me curious, how do they stack up against each other? Let’s find out.
User interface and experience
Our overall experience with these NFT marketplaces was quite smooth across the board. I did not experience any issues or setbacks during my time with these platforms.
The user interface was also quite decent for all five of my picks. I was able to navigate the marketplace and find the collections I wanted with ease. That said, I would like to give a special shout-out to TofuNFT for having a very intuitive UI.
Security and transparency
All of the NFT marketplaces I recommended above excel in these departments. OpenSea for example tightened its security further in 2022 with new features to prevent fraud and scams.
However, the marketplace that takes the cake in terms of transparency is definitely NFTrade. Its detailed stats on DappRadar allows both customers and creators to evaluate the platform before spending their time and money on it.
Variety of NFTs available
As far as NFT variety is concerned, nothing else even comes close to OpenSea. It is the largest NFT marketplace so I expected a large number. But, I was still a bit surprised to learn that there are over 2 million NFT collections on this platform with more than 80 million total NFTs.
Community and support
I might sound like a broken record here but community is a strong point of all the Polygon NFT marketplaces I've listed above. OpenSea, of course, has the largest following with over 2 million followers on Twitter alone.
Here I'd also like to point out Refinable as an honorable mention with its community of 150,000 followers across social media.
Gas fees and transaction speed
Here’s how these Polygon NFT marketplaces compare in terms of fees and speed:
Transaction fees
Gas fees
Gas fee is determined by the underlying network conditions and demand. You can check live gas fees for the Polygon network on sites like Polygonscan.
Transaction speed
In my experience, NFT transaction speed on all five of these marketplaces is near-instantaneous. You might experience some delays if the Polygon network is congested, but that is quite rare.
Criteria for the Best Polygon NFT Marketplace
So far, I've discussed Polygon NFT marketplaces based on my own experience and expectations. But, what if you want to find the right marketplace on your own? In that case, you’ll have to evaluate the available options under certain criteria.
Here are the factors that I considered when compiling my list:
User interface and experience
The platform should be easy to navigate. Its UI should be intuitive enough that even completely new users can easily find what they’re looking for, be it a certain blockchain or a specific collection.
Security and transparency
The marketplace you choose should have a high level of security, both for its own servers and users. In this regard, try avoiding NFT platforms that have a history of getting hacked. While they might have tightened up their security since then, I believe that it’s best to just avoid the risk.
Variety of NFTs available
Look up how many different NFT collections a marketplace has. In general, the more the better. Of course, artwork quality and uniqueness is also a factor that you should keep in mind.
Community and support
A larger and more dedicated community can indicate the liquidity of a marketplace. As an NFT creator, the last thing you want is to get stuck with a marketplace with no buyers.
Gas fees and transaction speed
The Polygon NFT marketplace you choose should have low fees to avoid overpaying for your NFT trades. Transactions on that marketplace should also be fast so you don’t have to wait minutes between each purchase.
Understanding Polygon
From what I know, Polygon is an innovative Layer 2 solution that has revolutionized the digital landscape. The main purpose of this blockchain network is to improve the functionality of Ethereum but with scalability in mind.
Its Layer 2 status makes it faster than the underlying Ethereum layer while also making it easier to develop for. Polygon also alleviates congestion and exorbitant gas fees, fostering a seamless user experience.
All in all, Polygon harnesses the power of smart contracts, ensuring swift transactions and enhancing security. By combining the robustness of Ethereum with its own cutting-edge technology, Polygon provides an excellent base for the development of NFT marketplaces.
Polygon also allows interoperability between different blockchain networks, which further increases its viability for multi-chain NFT marketplaces.
Related: How many people own NFTs?
Conclusion
As I've established so far, if you’re interested in either creating or collecting NFTs, you have to choose the right marketplace first. Choosing the wrong one can become a waste of time, money, or both.
Luckily for you, the five Polygon NFT marketplaces I've chosen are some of the best in the industry. Each of them also offers some unique benefits to their users. So, make sure to check them out, explore their collections, read about their creator benefits, and you’ll surely find one that fits your needs and requirements.