Lottery · Tool Face-Off

Powerball vs Mega Millions

Quick answer

Two titans of American lottery, nearly identical in odds and format — but Powerball edges out Mega Millions on jackpot consistency and brand recognition, while Mega Millions holds the all-time record payout.

Our pick

Powerball

The red-ball giant that broke the billion-dollar barrier first.

3.8★

Mega Millions

Home of the all-time record jackpot and that golden Mega Ball.

3.6★

Base Ticket Price

$2 per play

Starting Jackpot

$20 million

Jackpot Odds

1 in 292.2 million

1 in 302.6 million

All-Time Record Jackpot

$2.04 billion (Nov 2022)

$1.602 billion (Aug 2023)

Draw Days

Mon, Wed, Sat

Tue, Fri

Power Play / Megaplier Add-on

$1 extra (up to 10x)

$1 extra (up to 5x)

States Available

45 states + DC & USVI

Match-5 (no ball) Prize

$1 million

Draws Per Week

Overall Odds (any prize)

1 in 24.9

1 in 24

Double Play Add-on

Yes ($1 extra, select states)

Online Purchase Availability

Select states only

Powerball

Availability★★★★½

Jackpot Size★★★★½

Ticket Price★★★½☆

Draw Frequency★★★★☆

Odds of Winning★★☆☆☆

Secondary Prizes★★★★☆

Starting Jackpot★★★★☆

Mega Millions

Availability★★★★½

Jackpot Size★★★★★

Ticket Price★★★½☆

Draw Frequency★★★★☆

Odds of Winning★½☆☆☆

Secondary Prizes★★★½☆

Starting Jackpot★★★½☆

Worth knowing

Powerball made history in January 2016 with the first-ever lottery jackpot to exceed $1 billion.
Mega Millions' $1.602 billion jackpot in August 2023 was won by a single ticket in Florida.
Both lotteries changed their matrix in 2015–2017 to intentionally make jackpots harder to win, driving bigger rollovers.
Powerball added a third weekly draw (Monday) in August 2021 to accelerate jackpot growth.
Lump-sum cash options are typically 60% of the advertised jackpot — before taxes bite another 30–37%.

The Powerball $2.04 billion jackpot winner waited over three months to come forward — probably still checking the ticket for the 90th time.

If you want

You want more chances to play each week

Powerball draws three times a week vs. Mega Millions' two, so you get 50% more shots at disappointment.

→ Pick Powerball

If you want

You're a pure jackpot chaser who only cares about the top prize ceiling

Mega Millions has produced the largest single jackpot in history and its prize pool has hit $1B+ multiple times.

→ Pick Mega Millions

If you want

You want the best multiplier for non-jackpot prizes

Powerball's Power Play goes up to 10x vs. Mega Millions' 5x cap, meaning secondary wins hit harder.

→ Pick Powerball

If you want

You just want the slightly better overall odds

At 1 in 292M vs. 1 in 302M, Powerball's jackpot odds are marginally kinder — every little bit counts when you're dreaming.

→ Pick Powerball

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