13
Prop Firm Comparison · Independent · Updated Rules

Find Your
Ideal Prop Firm.

Every major prop firm compared side by side — Forex/CFD and Futures. Verified rules, real data, no fluff. The clearest guide to getting funded in 2026.

13
Firms Reviewed
95%
Max Profit Split
$4M
Max Capital
$32
Cheapest Entry
24h
Fastest Payout
All Firms

Compare Prop Firms

Forex/CFD and Futures are fundamentally different — browse all or filter by type. Click "Full Rules" on any card for the complete breakdown.

Filter:
Forex & CFD Prop Firms
Synthetic contracts on a demo account. One-time challenge fee. Overnight & weekend holding allowed. Fees typically refunded after passing.
Top Pick
FundedNext
FN
FundedNext
Forex / CFD
95%
Max Split
$32
From
$4M
Max Capital
15% profit share during challenge 24h payout guaranteed No time limit US traders welcome Prop Firm of Year 2025
Phase 1 target8% (Lite/2-Step) · 10% (1-Step)
Phase 2 target4% (Lite) · 5% (2-Step)
Daily drawdown3% (1-Step) · 4% (Lite) · 5% (2-Step)
Max drawdown6% (1-Step/Lite) · 10% (2-Step)
Min trading days2 (1-Step) · 5 (others)
News tradingYes — 40% profit cap near events
Weekend holdingAllowed
EAs / botsMT4/MT5 only — not cTrader
Payout24h guaranteed · $1K if late
Scaling+40% every 4 months → $4M
Trustpilot4.5 / 5 · 55,000+ reviews
Best Value
TradingFunds
TF
TradingFunds
Forex / CFD
90%
Max Split
$9
Setup Fee
$600K
Max Account
Pay after you pass No stop loss required Payout in ~8 hours Account doubles at +8%
1-Step target10%
2-Step Ph1 / Ph26% / 6%
Daily drawdown4–5%
Max drawdown8%
Stop loss requiredNo
News tradingFully allowed
Weekend holdingAllowed
Min trading days4 days
Time limitNone
ScalingAccount doubles at +8% profit
Goat Funded Trader
GFT
Goat Funded Trader
Forex / CFD
90%
Max Split
~$22
From
$2M
Max Capital
5 platforms incl. MT5 & cTrader Scale to $2M · 4-stage plan Bi-weekly payouts First 2 payouts capped at 6% Goat Guard auto-close at 2%
1-Step target10%
2-Step GOAT Ph1/Ph28% / 6%
Daily drawdown4%
Max drawdown6% (1-Step) · 10% (2-Step GOAT)
Goat Guard (funded)Auto-close at 2% floating loss
Daily profit cap$3,000 on funded accounts
News tradingYes — 1% cap near events
Time limitNone
FunderPro
FP
FunderPro
Forex / CFD
90%
Max Split
Thu.
Auto Payout
$200K
Max Account
Automatic payout every Thursday Commission on every repurchase USDC payouts (ERC-20) No time limit · EAs allowed
Payout scheduleEvery Thursday — automatic
Min payout$50
Payout currencyUSDC (ERC-20)
EAs / BotsAllowed
Weekend holdingAllowed
Time limitNone
Fee refundYes
Industry Leader Since 2015
FTMO
FT
FTMO
Forex / CFD
90%
Max Split
~€155
From
$2M
Max Capital
Most trusted brand · since 2015 No time limit · 4 min trading days Trustpilot 4.8 / 5 US clients not accepted
Phase 1 target10%
Phase 2 target5%
Daily drawdown5%
Max drawdown10%
Best Day Rule1 day ≤ 50% of total profit
Weekend holdingEval only — not on funded (standard)
US clientsNot accepted
Starting split80% → 90% via scaling
Payout1–2 business days
BrightFunded
BF
BrightFunded
Forex / CFD
100%
Max Split
~€49
From
$400K
Max Alloc.
No consistency rules 24h payout guaranteed Trade2Earn loyalty tokens MT5, cTrader, DXtrade
Phase 1 target8%
Phase 2 target5%
Daily drawdown5%
Max drawdown10%
Consistency ruleNone
Time limitNone
150+ instrumentsForex, crypto, commodities, indices
Blue Guardian
BG
Blue Guardian
Forex / CFD
85%
Max Split
24h
Payout
$400K
Max Alloc.
Jan 2026: fee refund moved to 4th payout. FOMC trades restricted on funded.
$15M+ paid · blockchain verified Fee refunded on 4th payout FOMC news restricted (funded)
Phase 1 target8%
Phase 2 target5%
Daily drawdown3%
Max trailing drawdown6%
Guardian ShieldAuto-closes at 1% float loss (funded)
News tradingRestricted 5min before/after (funded)
FOMC eventsNot allowed on funded accounts
Fee refund4th payout (changed Jan 2026)
The5ers
T5
The5ers
Forex / CFD
100%
Max Split
50%
Starting Split
$4M
Max Account
Real live accounts — not simulated 100% split after scaling Since 2016 50% starting split
Account typeReal live funded accounts
Starting split50%
Max split100% after scaling milestones
Max account$4M High Stakes plan
Founded2016 · Israel
Futures Prop Firms
Real CME exchange contracts (ES, NQ, CL, GC…). Monthly subscription model. Positions must close before end of session — no overnight holds. Not comparable to Forex/CFD firms.
Top Pick · Trustpilot 4.9
Alpha Futures
AF
Alpha Futures
Futures
90%
Max Split
$79/mo
Subscription
4.9★
Trustpilot
Feb 2026: AlphaTicks/ProjectX discontinued. Now: Tradovate, NinjaTrader, Quantower, TradingView.
EOD trailing drawdown — best in industry 1-step evaluation only Path to live funding (Alpha Prime) Advanced plan: no consistency rule No overnight positions
Standard 50K$79/mo · 6% target · $149 activation
Advanced 50K$139/mo · 8% target · 90% from day 1
Drawdown modelEOD trailing (not intraday)
Max loss limit4% (Std) · 3.5% (Advanced)
Consistency rule40% Std · None on Advanced
News tradingAllowed
OvernightNot allowed · flat by 4:20PM ET
PlatformsTradovate, NinjaTrader, Quantower, TradingView
4.9★ · 11,000+ Reviews
MFFU
MFFU
My Funded Futures
Futures
90%
Max Split
$77/mo
Subscription
4.9★
Trustpilot
No daily loss limit — any plan No activation fees EOD drawdown on Core & Pro Overnight on Core & Pro 6 platforms incl. ATAS Tier 1 news restricted
Core plan$77/mo · $50K · EOD · 80% split
Rapid planOne-time fee · Intraday · 90% split
Pro plan$229–477/mo · EOD · 80% · $100K cap then live
EOD drawdown3% — locks at starting balance +$100
Daily loss limitNone on any plan
Consistency50% eval · 40% Core funded · None Rapid/Pro
News tradingRestricted — flat 2min before/after Tier 1
PlatformsTradovate, TradingView, NinjaTrader, Quantower, ATAS, Volumetrica
Trending 2026
Lucid Trading
LT
Lucid Trading
Futures
90%
Max Split
~$130
From (50K)
15min
Avg Payout
No DLL on LucidFlex Zero funded consistency (LucidFlex) EOD drawdown — all plans News trading — NFP, FOMC, CPI all allowed One-time fee — no subscription No overnight · flat by 4:45 PM EST
LucidFlex~$130 · No DLL · No funded consistency
LucidPro (Feb 2026)$94–$259 · 40% funded consistency · 3-day payouts
LucidDirectInstant funded · 20% consistency · 100% first $10K
LucidMaxxInvite-only · daily payouts
Drawdown modelEOD trailing — all plans
News tradingFully allowed — NFP, FOMC, CPI
OvernightNot allowed · close by 4:45 PM EST
Payout speed~15 minutes average
PlatformsRithmic, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, Quantower
Tradeify
TRD
Tradeify
Futures
90%
Max Split
$59
One-time
$750K
Max Funding
One-time fee — not a subscription EOD trailing drawdown $750K — highest in futures No overnight positions
Fee modelOne-time (no subscription)
Drawdown modelEOD trailing — same as Alpha Futures
Max funding$750K — highest in futures space
OvernightNot allowed
PlatformTradovate
Trustpilot4.7 / 5
Topstep
TS
Topstep
Futures
90%
Max Split
~$49/mo
Subscription
2012
Founded
Pioneer firm since 2012 100% profit split on first $10K Education & coaching included $30 withdrawal fee per payout No overnight positions
Profit split100% first $10K · then 90%
Session closeMust be flat by 3:10 PM CT
OvernightNot allowed
Withdrawal fee$30 per payout request
PlatformsNinjaTrader, TopstepX
Trustpilot4.5 / 5
Major Changes — Apex 4.0
Apex
ATF
Apex Trader Funding
Futures
100%
Max Split
~$47/mo
Subscription
$300K
Max Account
Apex 4.0 (March 2026): overnight banned. Gold, Silver, Copper all suspended — no return date.
Frequent promo discounts No overnight trading Gold & metals suspended Intraday trailing drawdown
Drawdown modelIntraday trailing
OvernightBanned since Apex 4.0
Gold / MetalsAll suspended — no return date
PlatformsNinjaTrader, Tradovate
Trustpilot3.8 / 5
TakeProfitTrader
TPT
Take Profit Trader
Futures
90%
PRO+ Split
Day 1
First Payout
$150K
Max Account
Payout from day 1 on PRO PRO+ uses real live accounts 3 free account resets 50% consistency rule Max 50 trades per day
PRO split80%
PRO+ split90% — real live funded account
DrawdownEOD trailing
Consistency rule50% cap on best day
Max trades/day50 on PRO
Account resets3 free resets
News tradingAllowed
OvernightNot allowed
Trustpilot4.4 / 5
Also on Futures
FundedNext Futures
FN
FundedNext Futures
Futures
80%
Split
~$70
From
$100K
Max Account
EOD trailing drawdown — all plans One-time fee — no subscription 3 plans: Rapid, Legacy, Bolt Path to live after $100K profits 80% split — no scaling on futures 40% consistency rule
Legacy (25K–100K)~$70–$150 · 5% target · 4% EOD drawdown
Rapid (25K–100K)~$130–$279 · faster payouts · 4% EOD drawdown
Bolt (50K only)~$100 · 6% target · $1K daily loss limit
Drawdown modelEOD trailing — all 3 plans
Profit split80% flat — no scaling on futures
Consistency rule40% — applies at various stages
OvernightNot allowed
PlatformsTradovate, NinjaTrader
PayoutEvery 3 days · 24h processing
Path to liveYes — after $100K total profits
NoteCompletely separate from FundedNext CFD — different KYC, different rules
New · Beta 2026
Tenacity Trading
TEN
Tenacity Trading
Futures
100%
Payout
~$100
Entry Fee
Beta
Status
Launched January 2026 — still in beta phase. Only 21 Trustpilot reviews. Verify rules directly before purchasing.
No evaluation — competition model No daily loss limit No consistency rules No trailing drawdown 100% payout approval claimed Very new — limited track record
ModelCompetition-based — not a traditional evaluation
Daily loss limitNone
Consistency ruleNone
Trailing drawdownNone
Payout approval100% guaranteed (claimed)
Path to liveYes — direct after competition
PhasesSingle phase competition
FoundedJanuary 2026 — beta phase
Team size3 employees — very early stage
Trustpilot~21 reviews only — not enough data
Side by Side

Detailed Comparison

Select which firms to include. CFD and Futures are always separate — click a name to toggle it.

One-time fee · Demo account · Overnight & weekend allowed · Fees refunded on pass

Criterion FundedNext TradingFunds Goat Funded FunderPro
Min Price$32$9~$22~$49
Phase 1 Target8–10%6–10%8–10%
Phase 2 Target4–5%6%5–6%
Daily Drawdown3–5%4–5%4%
Max Drawdown6–10%8%6–10%
Max Split95%90%90%90%
Max Capital$4,000,000$600K$2M$200K
News TradingYes*YesYes*Yes
Weekend HoldingYesYesYesYes
US ClientsYesYesYesYes
Payout24h guaranteed~8h2 daysEvery Thu.
Trustpilot4.54.0
Start Start Start Start
The Process

How Does It Work?

From signing up to your first payout — four clear steps that apply to every firm on this site.

01
Choose a Firm
Compare pricing, rules, and profit splits. Pick the firm that fits your market, budget, and trading style. Pay attention to drawdown limits.
02
Pass the Evaluation
Trade on a simulated account. Hit the required profit target without breaching the daily or maximum drawdown. Most firms have no time limit.
03
Get Funded
Once you pass, the firm provides an account loaded with their capital. You trade under their rules. Your own money stays completely untouched.
04
Collect Profits
Generate profits, meet any minimum requirements, and submit a payout request. You keep 80–95% of what you make. Some firms process in under 24 hours.
Why Prop Trading

Trade Bigger. Risk Less.

Prop firms give skilled traders access to large capital without risking their own savings.

Massive Capital Access
Trade $25K to $4M without depositing your own funds. Your buying power multiplies instantly.
Capped Downside Risk
You only risk the challenge fee — typically $30 to $300. The firm absorbs all trading losses.
80–100% Profit Split
Keep the vast majority of every winning trade. At 90%, a $5,000 profit month pays you $4,500.
Build a Track Record
A funded account history proves your skill to investors and employers. Worth far more than a demo account.
Fast Payouts
FundedNext pays within 24h. TradingFunds in as little as 8h. FunderPro every Thursday automatically.
Trade Any Market
Forex, CFD, indices, metals, crypto — or US futures on the CME. Choose the market you know best.
Key Terms

Trading Glossary

The 12 terms that matter most before choosing a prop firm.

Profit Split
The % of profits you keep. At 80%, a $1,000 profit means $800 for you. Higher is better — our partner firms offer 80–95%.
Daily Drawdown
Max loss allowed in one trading day, including open floating losses. Exceeding it immediately fails or closes the account.
Max Drawdown
Total maximum loss across all days. A hard ceiling — breach it and the account is permanently closed.
EOD Trailing Drawdown
Drawdown floor only adjusts at market close. Intraday spikes don't raise it. Used by Alpha Futures & Tradeify — the most forgiving model.
Intraday Trailing
Drawdown floor chases every tick of unrealized profit in real time. A reversal after a spike can immediately fail the account. Used by Apex 4.0.
Scaling Plan
Firm increases your account after profit milestones. FundedNext: +40% every 4 months up to $4M. Goat Funded Trader: 4 stages up to $2M.
Consistency Rule
Caps how much profit can come from a single day (e.g. 40–50%). Prevents passing on one lucky trade. Removed on LucidFlex & some Alpha plans.
CFD vs Futures
CFDs are synthetic broker-priced contracts. Futures are real CME exchange contracts. Different fees, rules, platforms — never compare them directly.
Instant Funding
Skip the evaluation and access a funded account immediately. Usually costs more and comes with stricter drawdown rules.
Monthly Subscription
Most futures prop firms charge a recurring monthly fee. The evaluation has no time limit — but costs accumulate the longer it takes to pass.
Profit Target
Minimum % profit needed to pass the evaluation. Typically 6–10% in Phase 1, 4–5% in Phase 2 for Forex/CFD firms.
Expert Advisor (EA)
Automated trading bot. FundedNext (MT4/MT5), Goat Funded Trader, TradingFunds allow EAs. Alpha Futures: semi-automated only with supervision.
Common Questions

FAQ

Everything you need to know before choosing a firm — including the latest 2026 rule changes.

What's the difference between Forex/CFD and Futures prop firms?+
Forex/CFD firms use synthetic demo accounts — you trade virtual prices with a one-time challenge fee. Futures firms use real CME exchange contracts. They charge monthly subscriptions, require positions to be flat by end of session, and drawdown is calculated differently. You cannot compare them on cost or drawdown structure.
Which firm is best for a beginner?+
TradingFunds' Pay After You Pass model (from $9) means you only pay if you succeed — zero risk on a failed attempt. FundedNext Stellar Lite (from $32) is also beginner-friendly with no time pressure. For Futures, Alpha Futures Standard at $79/mo has the most forgiving drawdown model in the industry.
What happened with Apex Trader Funding (Apex 4.0)?+
In March 2026, Apex released Apex 4.0 with two major changes: overnight trading is now completely banned, and Gold, Silver, Copper, Platinum, and Palladium are all suspended with no return date. If your strategy involves gold or multi-session trades, Alpha Futures, Lucid Trading, or Tradeify are better alternatives right now.
What is EOD trailing drawdown and why does it matter?+
EOD (End-of-Day) trailing drawdown only recalculates at market close, not during the session. With intraday trailing (Apex), if your account peaks at $107K but closes at $105K, the floor already moved to $103K — even though you gave back the gains. EOD trailing (Alpha Futures, Tradeify, Lucid Trading, MFFU Core/Pro) only adjusts based on your closing balance.
Are challenge fees refundable?+
FundedNext refunds on 1st payout (3rd for Stellar Lite). TradingFunds refunds on 2nd. Goat Funded Trader and FunderPro also refund. Blue Guardian now refunds on the 4th payout (changed January 2026). FTMO refunds on first reward. Futures subscription fees (Alpha Futures, Apex, Topstep) are not refunded.
Can I trade gold with a funded account?+
Yes on all Forex/CFD firms. For Futures, Alpha Futures, Lucid Trading, Tradeify, and Topstep allow gold futures. Apex suspended all gold and metal contracts in March 2026 with no return date.
Is FundedNext available in the US?+
Yes. FundedNext relaunched for US traders in November 2025 via Match-Trader, a compliant platform for US residents. FTMO, by contrast, does not accept US clients.
How fast are payouts processed?+
FundedNext: within 24 hours, with $1,000 compensation if missed. TradingFunds: as fast as 8 hours. FunderPro: automatically every Thursday. Lucid Trading: ~15 minutes average. Alpha Futures: within 48 business hours. My Funded Futures (MFFU): varies by plan. FTMO: 1–2 business days.
Can I trade with automated bots (EAs)?+
FundedNext allows EAs on MT4 and MT5 (not cTrader). Goat Funded Trader and TradingFunds are flexible. BrightFunded allows EAs. FTMO allows EAs but restricts overused third-party bots. Alpha Futures allows semi-automated only with active supervision. Always verify before purchasing a challenge.
Is prop trading legal?+
Yes in most countries. Forex/CFD prop accounts are simulated — you trade virtual capital while the firm pays real profits from its revenue. Futures prop firms involve real CME instruments. The5ers is unique in offering actual live funded accounts. Always read a firm's legal disclosures before purchasing.