Best betting tools for beginners

Although the concept of sports betting tools is still relatively new to the US betting scene, more advanced tools are being introduced all the time. These tools are designed to help you gain an edge over the sportsbook in various ways, from AI predictions to +EV finders, odds comparisons, and more.

Although these tools are there to help you, some are more advanced and require a steep learning curve before you can maximize their potential. However, there are excellent tools out there that can really assist betting beginners, with no overwhelming features to master.

In this guide, we are going to list the best betting tools for beginners, along with what you should be looking for in a betting tool and how to use them properly.

Best Betting Tools for Beginners

We have reviewed and tested numerous betting tools, and they cater to a wide range of needs. Some are ideal for users who want advanced metrics to support their predictions, some provide helpful alerts when odds shift, and some simply aren’t very good.

Here are some beginner-friendly betting tools available in the US market, each with its own benefits and value.

Our Ranking

Hit the buttons below for a full explainer on why we ranked these where we did.

1

Gambly

2

Linemate

3

PlayerProps.ai

4

HOF Bets

5

OddsJuice

6

Prop Professor

1

Gambly

Betting Tool

4.1/5

OddsPlays Score

3.64/5

User rating (11)

Gambly acts as a handy sports betting assistant, simplifying the entire betting process. The site utilizes AI and focuses very much on convenience, giving users the results they want in a chat-style format quickly and without fuss. If you have experience of using chat-based AI such as Grok or ChatGPT, Gambly has similar functionality but purely for sports betting purposes.

Gambly helps users identify value betting opportunities and then sends wagers directly to sportsbooks, doing all of the ground work for them. All you need to do is ask Gambly what type of bet or odds, or information you are after, and it will deliver results within seconds.

Why Gambly is good for beginners:

• Easy to use
• Produces results in seconds
• No education required to learn how it works
• Can set personalized alerts and notifications.

Value for Money

89

Sports/Markets Coverage

60

Interface & Design

80

ROI Optimization

65

Betting Strategies

75

Pros

Will produce results from queries in seconds

Site is easy to use with a clear and concise design

Latest betting trends available so you can capitalize

Can set your own alerts and notifications

Cons

No betting models available

Deep-linking only available for major US sportsbooks

2

Linemate

Betting Tool

4/5

OddsPlays Score

3.28/5

User rating (18)

Linemate is a great option for betting beginners who are looking into using analytics and data to improve their betting strategy, but are unsure how to go about it. One of the main reasons we have listed this as a beginner betting tool is that it doesn’t overwhelm you with streams of data, which some betting tools do. The affordable pricing also means it’s a suitable choice for newer bettors.

Linemate has a useful player prop tool where you can access historical data, such as hit rates and TDs against specific opposition, to help you make a more informed decision. You can also apply your own filters so you will only get results from the data you are interested in.

Why Linemate is good for beginners:

• Imaginative stats
• Easy to use, customizable filters
• Affordable pricing compared to alternatives
• Can act on trends quickly and easily.

Value for Money

80

Sports/Markets Coverage

70

Interface & Design

65

ROI Optimization

70

Betting Strategies

75

Pros

High quality prop tools

Affordable price compared to alternatives

Easy to use, customizable filters

Can act on trends and insights instantly

Cons

App is very basic with no advanced features

No ability to compare odds from different sportsbooks

Lacks variety, not a lot of features

3

PlayerProps.ai

Betting Tool

4/5

OddsPlays Score

4/5

User rating (7)

PlayerProps.ai is a comprehensive player prop betting tool and is a solid option for both betting beginners and more advanced players. Some beginners may see ‘AI’ in the title and get a bit worried that you may have to go through a learning process of how to use the AI, but that is not the case. While there is a lot of data, it is presented in a way that is simple to digest, with plenty of visual aids and insights.

There is also an active Discord community where you can speak to like-minded bettors about how it all works, best practices, and tips. This is really useful for beginners as they can share knowledge and learn along the way.

Why PlayerProps.ai is good for beginners:

• AI-powered assistant provides fast, accurate results with no learning curve
• Educational content available if needed
• Helps simplify decision-making with trusted data
• Helpful Discord community.

Value for Money

65

Sports/Markets Coverage

75

Interface & Design

90

ROI Optimization

80

Betting Strategies

85

Pros

AI-powered assistant provides fast, accurate results

Latest betting trends give users an edge

Lots of helpful educational content

Custom notifications and alerts

Cons

UI makes a bit tricky to navigate

Limited data for research compared to other tools

No models available

4

HOF Bets

Betting Tool

4.3/5

OddsPlays Score

4.13/5

User rating (16)

HOF Bets is a tool that helps you find value and prop bets, and parlays. It has been designed with users in mind and is mobile-friendly, making it a great option for betting beginners. HOF Bets has prop and parlay cheat sheets with important stats clearly laid out and a matchup grade for a player. The premise couldn’t be simpler: the higher the grade, the greater chance you have of winning the bet.

HOF suits anybody who is relatively new to betting, as although it does provide you with data, there isn’t so much that it’s going to give you a headache. It gives you clear and deep insights into matches from the most popular sports, but you don’t need to work through complicated filters to access this key information.

Why HOF Bets is good for beginners:

• Easy to identify +EV bets
• Excellent parlay optimizer tool
• Cheaper than alternatives.

Value for Money

90

Sports/Markets Coverage

70

Interface & Design

95

ROI Optimization

80

Betting Strategies

40

Pros

One of the best parlay optimizer tools on the market

Helps identify best player prop odds quickly

Makes it easy to identify +EV bets

Cons

Takes a bit of time to get up to speed with how everything works

Optimizer tool can be complicated to use

Subscription is on the expensive side

5

OddsJuice

Betting Tool

3.5/5

OddsPlays Score

4/5

User rating (4)

OddsJuice is a betting tool that uses data to help you make better DFS picks and smarter prop bets. It gives bettors a genuine edge and provides up to 150 profitable picks a day. It is an excellent option for betting beginners as it has a clean dashboard that is very easy to use, and there is only one feature to get to grips with.

The scanner calculates the odds to find the best props and betting lines from sportsbooks and DFS apps. This scanner refreshes every 5 minutes, ensuring that you don’t miss out on the best prices before the odds and lines shift again.

Why OddsJuice is good for beginners:

• Scanner refreshes every 5 minutes with best odds
• Clean, easy to use dashboard
• Lots of educational resources.

Value for Money

75

Sports/Markets Coverage

70

Interface & Design

75

ROI Optimization

70

Betting Strategies

65

Pros

Uses quality data to identify +EV betting opportunities

Focuses on specific strategies such as arbitrage betting

Active Discord community can help you get up to speed quickly

Lots of educational content including online coaching

Cons

Actively following the daily picks is a considerable time commitment

Can become over reliant on daily picks

Lack of features compared to other betting tools

6

Prop Professor

Betting Tool

4.2/5

OddsPlays Score

4.08/5

User rating (13)

Prop Professor utilizes data to help you gain a true edge over the sportsbook. This betting tool provides all of the same data and statistics that sportsbooks use to help bettors make smarter bets. While there are more complex features available, such as data modeling, this tool is very simple to use, and the DFS optimizer and +EV betting features are suitable for beginners.

There are also lots of educational resources available that explain how to maximize the tools that Prop Professor offers. Additionally, there are videos on the Prop Professor YouTube channel that give you a useful explainer of how the tools work. Betting beginners will undoubtedly find these resources beneficial, and there is also a Discord community where you can pick up tips and ideas from fellow users.

Why Prop Professor is good for beginners:

• Easy to use DFS optimizer
• Lots of educational content
• Cheap compared to other betting tools.

Value for Money

85

Sports/Markets Coverage

75

Interface & Design

50

ROI Optimization

80

Betting Strategies

70

Pros

Customizable arbitrage & +EV

Cheap compared to other betting tools

Real-time odds for accurate data points

DFS optimizer with detailed line comparisons

Cons

User odds screen needs more functionality

Limited sportsbooks and DFS apps

Bet trackers would make the service much better

How to Choose Betting Tools & Getting Started

If you are new to betting and are considering joining a betting tool to help get you up and running, there are a few things you should consider. Not every betting tool is the same. Each has its own distinct value and features, and it is about marrying up your requirements with what the betting tool offers. Here are a few quick guidelines to help you pick which tools to start out with:

Most expensive doesn’t mean the best for you

There are some tools out there, such as OddsJam, that offer an excellent service, but are also very expensive to use. Unless you can afford it, it’s not wise to be spending a lot of money every month learning how a tool works while you are not actually getting anything out of it in terms of profits or winning bets. OddsJam is a more complex tool and is beneficial for more advanced bettors. A lot of tools have free trials or free limited versions. It is better to use them while you are learning.

Start simple

We would encourage beginners to start with simpler tools that offer odds comparisons, prop data, and calculators. While things like models and customizable models are great, they are used by more professional bettors.

Keep track of everything

Always keep track of your bets. Note down when they were placed, sport, bet type, odds, stake, and outcome. This will help tell you what works and what doesn’t. There are many tools that offer bet tracking, and they are really helpful.

Add more analytics only when ready

Once you start placing bets and tracking your outcomes, the next stage is to add more meat to the bone by using an AI tool like OpenWager. This adds another layer of analysis to your bets, but only do this when ready; don’t overwhelm yourself with data too early.

Most Helpful Features for Beginners

Beginners could be looking for different things from betting tools, whether it’s help with odds comparisons or just a simple calculator. Here are some of the most useful tools that newer bettors should look out for:

Odds/bet calculators

Calculators are very simple but also easy to use. An odds calculator will allow you to enter a stake to see what you stand to win. It helps you to check that you understand the payout correctly, particularly when the odds format changes from fractional to decimal, etc. Calculators provide you with clarity and ensure there won’t be any surprises.

We have a range of betting calculators free to use, from arbitrage to odds and surebet calculators.

Odds comparison & market scanner tools

Although there isn’t much variance in the odds between the best sportsbooks, even the slightest difference in price can play to your advantage. A tool that allows you to compare odds quickly can ensure you are getting the best value by choosing the best price.

Beginners should look for comparison tools that cover several sportsbooks and the differences in odds so they can choose the best line. You should also be alerted when a true edge appears, so you can jump in and capitalize.

Data & statistics analysis tools

Once you have mastered the basics of how the odds work, you can start to look deeper into data such as player form, matchup trends, historical metrics, head-to-heads, etc. This type of data is vital as it can give you a clearer picture of what is likely to happen in a match. Don’t choose tools that overwhelm you with too much data; you want a clean format that presents the stats in a digestible way.

You also don’t need to be using betting models to begin with. All of this data is there to give you more information so you can make a more educated bet. We would recommend betting on a sport you know well and using the available data to expand on the knowledge you already have.

Value betting tools

There are tools out there that scan the market, in some cases hundreds of sportsbooks, to give users a list of value bets. These are bets where the odds seem under-priced and don’t reflect the true probability, or to help with specific strategies such as matched betting. These tools will help you learn about the value of bets rather than just always going with the favorite. We would also encourage you to use these tools to learn about pricing and what goes into it, rather than just blindly recommending what the tool suggests. It will help you in the long run.

How to Avoid Common Beginner Mistakes

Even though these betting tools are very beneficial and can really enhance your betting strategy, there are still no guarantees in anything as regards to sports betting. Betting is risky by its very nature; these tools can mitigate some of that risk, but there are some things you should avoid to give yourself a better chance of making sustainable profits. Here are things to avoid:

• Betting over your bankroll: Only bet what you can afford. It can be tempting to go chasing, but it never works. Use bankroll management tools to keep your spending in check.
• Picking bets ‘just because’: Always conduct some research before you bet – stats and data tools can help you with this.
• Accept poor odds because you are in a rush: Odds comparison tools will help you select the best line.
• Think all bets are equal: A good value betting tool will show you how the value differs in the odds among several sportsbooks.

You should always be aware of responsible gambling tools, as well, and know when to stop. Also, don’t overspend on subscription packages. If you are just starting out, you will not need advanced AI tools or custom model builders.

Summary

For betting beginners, you are looking for tools that will help you get started rather than going full steam with advanced strategies. Start out with tools such as odds calculators and odds comparison tools, and you will learn as you go along. Then, as you get more comfortable, you can move on to more advanced AI tools and go into even deeper detail on odds, lines, and create projections based on their own models.