Resolved Markets vs PolyBackTest
PolyBackTest is a hosted AI backtester for Polymarket - describe a strategy in plain English, it writes Python and runs it against a 31-day rolling dataset of BTC, ETH, and SOL markets. Resolved Markets combines a full-archive orderbook data API with its own backtesting stack: a visual Strategy Builder and an AI Backtest Agent across 100+ markets - crypto, sports, economics, weather, and Hyperliquid perpetual futures. Different tools, different jobs.
Last updated:
- 100+Markets covered
- ~20 HzCrypto capture rate
- Full archiveHistorical retention
- Sports, econ, weatherCategories beyond crypto
At a glance
| Dimension | Resolved Markets | PolyBackTest |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Raw orderbook data API + WebSocket + MCP server + visual and AI backtesting tools | AI-powered no-code backtester (data API on Pro plan) |
| Market coverage | BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP + NBA, NFL, EPL + FOMC, NFP + ~30 weather markets + Hyperliquid perps | BTC, ETH, SOL only (XRP listed as coming soon) |
| Polymarket capture rate | ~20 Hz (event-driven, 50 ms throttle) | ~8 Hz |
| Historical retention | Full archive - no retention limit | 31 days then permanently deleted |
| Free tier | BTC + weather, 60 req/min, 24h history | BTC only - last 50 markets per timeframe, unlimited snapshots |
| Paid entry tier | $17/mo (all categories, full history, MCP, 500 req/min) | $19.90/mo (BTC/ETH/SOL data API, no AI) |
| AI backtesting product | Yes - AI Backtest Agent plus visual Strategy Builder on top of the full archive | Yes - natural language to Python to execution, $35/mo |
| WebSocket streaming | Yes - Pro and Enterprise (1 / 10 connections) | Not advertised |
| MCP server | Yes - 6 tools, 2 resources, stdio + HTTP transport | No native MCP |
| Bulk export / ClickHouse | CLI parquet export; Enterprise gets ClickHouse access | REST only |
When PolyBackTest is the better fit
- You want plain-English strategy testing on BTC, ETH, or SOL with no Python required.
- Your research window fits inside 31 days.
- You prefer a managed product with built-in PnL, drawdown, and Sharpe reporting.
When Resolved Markets is the better fit
- Your analysis touches anything outside BTC/ETH/SOL - sports, economics, weather, social, XRP, or Hyperliquid perps.
- You need data older than 31 days - multi-month strategy validation, longitudinal research, or studying market behaviour around dated events (elections, FOMC, sports playoffs).
- You want either approach: bring your own backtester and analysis pipeline (vectorbt, Backtrader, custom Pandas, ClickHouse) or use the built-in Strategy Builder / AI Backtest Agent.
- You are wiring an AI agent to prediction-market data - Resolved Markets ships a native MCP server, OpenAPI 3.1, and llms.txt; PolyBackTest does not.
- You want WebSocket streaming for live trading or dashboards.
Using both together
The two tools are complementary, not strictly competing. A common workflow: run quick plain-English explorations on PolyBackTest for the BTC/ETH/SOL pairs it covers, then use Resolved Markets to extend the same idea across sports, weather, economics, XRP, or Hyperliquid perps, or to validate it with the built-in backtesting tools on multi-month history that PolyBackTest no longer retains.
Frequently asked questions
Is Resolved Markets a backtesting tool like PolyBackTest?
No — Resolved Markets is a raw data API. PolyBackTest is a hosted AI backtester (natural language → Python → execution) with a built-in dataset. Resolved Markets gives you the data feed; you bring your own backtester (vectorbt, Backtrader, custom). The two products serve different needs: PBT for no-code backtesting on BTC/ETH/SOL; Resolved Markets for any analysis pipeline that wants raw orderbook data across crypto, sports, weather, and economics.
How does data coverage compare?
PolyBackTest covers BTC, ETH, and SOL crypto markets only. Resolved Markets covers BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP plus NBA, NFL, EPL sports markets, FOMC and NFP economics markets, ~30 weather markets, and Hyperliquid perpetual futures. If your strategy or research touches anything outside the three crypto pairs, PBT does not have the data.
How does data retention compare?
PolyBackTest retains 31 days and permanently deletes older data. Resolved Markets keeps the full historical archive — every snapshot ever captured remains queryable. This matters for multi-month strategy validation, longitudinal research, and studying market behaviour around specific dated events (elections, FOMC meetings, sports playoffs).
How does capture frequency compare?
PolyBackTest captures Polymarket orderbook at roughly 8 snapshots/sec. Resolved Markets captures at ~20 Hz (1 snapshot every 50 ms) for crypto, ~2 Hz for sports, ~1 Hz for Hyperliquid perps, and ~0.5 Hz for economics and weather. Both store full bid and ask depth; Resolved Markets adds sequence numbers for gap detection and Polymarket event timestamps for end-to-end latency measurement.
How does pricing compare?
PolyBackTest: Free (BTC only, 50 most recent markets per timeframe), Pro $19.90/mo (data API for BTC/ETH/SOL), AI plan $35/mo (~100 backtests). Resolved Markets: Free (60 req/min, 24h history, BTC + weather), Pro $17/mo (500 req/min, all categories, full history, MCP), Enterprise $249/mo. Credit packs ($2 / $10 / $49) are available without changing tier.
Should I use both?
Plenty of teams will. PolyBackTest is a strong choice for plain-English BTC/ETH/SOL backtests; Resolved Markets is the right data feed once you outgrow 31-day retention or need sports/weather/economics coverage that PBT does not offer. The two are complementary, not strictly competing.