The top prop firms in 2026 are Apex Trader Funding, Topstep, Tradeify, Lucid Trading, Take Profit Trader and My Funded Futures for futures, and FTMO, The5ers, FundingPips and FundedNext for forex. On Trustpilot they score from 3.7 (Topstep) to 4.9 (My Funded Futures), and most pay 80% to 100% of profits. The table compares each firm's rating, price, rules, payout terms and platforms, checked on 10 Oct 2026.
Quick comparison table (checked on 10 Oct 2026):
| Firm | Market | Trustpilot score (10 Oct 2026) | Account sizes | Price from | Drawdown and key rule | Profit split and payouts | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Trader Funding | Futures | 4.2 (21,282 reviews) | 25K to 150K | $167 one-time (25K Intraday Trail, list price) | End-of-day or intraday trailing; 1 day minimum to pass | 100% of requested rewards in Sim Funded; payouts every 5 trading days | Tradovate, Rithmic, WealthCharts |
| Topstep | Futures | 3.7 (14,927 reviews) | 50K to 150K | $49/month (50K) plus $149 on passing, or $95/month with no activation fee | Maximum Loss Limit; best day under 55% of the profit target | 90/10; payouts after 5 winning days of $150+ | TopstepX only for new accounts |
| Tradeify | Futures | 4.4 (5,068 reviews) | 25K to 150K | $99 one-time (25K Growth) | End-of-day drawdown (Select); no activation fee | 90/10 on Sim Funded accounts | Tradovate (NinjaTrader, TradingView), Rithmic, WealthCharts |
| Lucid Trading | Futures | 4.4 (6,729 reviews) | 25K to 150K | $123 one-time (25K LucidPro, list price) | End-of-day drawdown; no activation fee | 90/10 on LucidPro, LucidFlex and LucidDirect | 10+ platforms incl. NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView |
| Take Profit Trader | Futures | 4.4 (10,869 reviews) | 25K to 150K | $150/month (25K Test) plus $130 PRO activation | End-of-day trailing in the Test; best day under 50%, 3 days minimum | 80/20 in PRO from day one above the buffer; 90/10 in PRO+ | 15+ platforms on CQG or Rithmic |
| My Funded Futures | Futures | 4.9 (22,320 reviews) | 25K to 150K | $153 one-time (50K Builder, list price) | End-of-day trailing (Builder) or intraday (Rapid funded) | 80/20 every 48 hours (Builder); 90/10 daily (Rapid) | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Quantower, ATAS |
| FTMO | Forex and CFDs | 4.8 (54,230 reviews) | $10K to $200K | $99 one-time ($10K 2-Step) | 2-Step: 5% daily, 10% maximum loss; 1-Step: 3% daily, 10% end-of-day trailing | 80% (2-Step, up to 90% with scaling) or 90% (1-Step); first reward after 14 days | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView |
| The5ers | Forex and CFDs | 4.7 (39,620 reviews) | $2.5K to $100K (High Stakes) | $19 one-time ($2.5K High Stakes) | High Stakes: 5% daily, 10% maximum loss | 80% rising to 100% (High Stakes) | MT5 |
| FundingPips | Forex and CFDs | 4.5 (70,270 reviews) | $5K to $100K (challenges); Zero to $200K | $33 one-time ($5K 2 Step Pro) | 2 Step Standard: 3% or 5% daily, 10% static maximum loss | 60% to 100%, set by the payout cycle you choose | MT5, cTrader, Match-Trader |
| FundedNext | Forex and CFDs | 4.5 (81,348 reviews) | $5K to $200K (Stellar); $2K to $20K (Instant) | $32.99 one-time ($5K Stellar Lite) | Stellar 2-Step: 5% daily, 10% maximum loss | 80% (95% with a lifetime add-on) | MT4, MT5, cTrader, Match-Trader |
Trustpilot scores and review counts are as shown on each firm's trustpilot.com page on 10 Oct 2026. Prices are list prices on each firm's own site that day, before promo codes.
A prop firm gives traders access to its capital, usually in a simulated account, once they pass an evaluation or buy a funded account, and pays them a share of the profits. For the basics, read what a prop firm is.
Funded account types
The best funded trading accounts let you trade a prop firm's capital after a one-step, two-step or three-step evaluation, or with instant or direct funding, and pay you 80% to 100% of profits. Popular programs include FTMO's 1-Step and 2-Step Challenges, The5ers' High Stakes and Hyper Growth, Topstep's Trading Combine and Elite Trader Funding's Direct to Funded accounts (checked on 10 Oct 2026).
Each type trades speed for rules. A one-step evaluation can be passed in one phase, a two-step or three-step evaluation splits the target into smaller phases, and instant or direct accounts skip the evaluation but come with their own drawdown and consistency rules.
| Account type | How it works | Programs that offer it | Key rules (checked on 10 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-step evaluation | Hit one profit target without breaking the loss limits, then move to a funded account | FTMO 1-Step Challenge; The5ers Hyper Growth; Topstep Trading Combine; Bulenox Qualification | FTMO 1-Step: 10% target, 3% maximum daily loss, 10% end-of-day trailing maximum loss, best day no more than 50% of positive days' profit. The5ers Hyper Growth: 10% target, 3% daily loss, 6% stop out, up to 100% split. Topstep: one rule (stay above the Maximum Loss Limit), best day below 55% of the profit target. Bulenox: no minimum trading days. |
| Two-step evaluation | Pass two phases, a higher target first and a lower one second | FTMO 2-Step Challenge; The5ers High Stakes | FTMO 2-Step: 10% then 5% targets, 5% maximum daily loss, 10% maximum loss, at least 4 trading days, refundable fee. The5ers High Stakes: 10% then 5% targets, 5% daily loss, 10% maximum loss, $2.5K to $100K accounts, 80% to 100% split. |
| Three-step evaluation | Three smaller phases for a lower entry fee | The5ers Bootcamp | 6% target in each step, 5% maximum loss, $20K to $250K plans, up to 100% split. |
| Instant funding | Start on a funded (simulated) account with no evaluation target | Goat Funded Trader Instant | No phase 1 profit target; on the plan shown on its site, 3% maximum daily loss, 5% maximum loss and a 15% consistency rule. |
| Direct to funded (futures) | Buy a sim-funded futures account and skip the evaluation | Elite Trader Funding Direct to Funded; Bulenox Fast Track | Elite Trader Funding DTF: no evaluation phase, end-of-day or static drawdown, overnight and weekend holds allowed, one-time fee. Bulenox Fast Track: one-time fee from $338 to $788, no profit target, no minimum trading days. |
If your strategy needs options rather than forex or futures, compare funded options accounts before choosing a firm.
Top Firms for Futures Traders
Six of the ten firms fund futures traders on CME Group products. Each gets a short summary here; our full list of futures prop firms covers more firms and every rule in depth.
1. Apex Trader Funding
Apex Trader Funding sells one-time evaluations from 25K to 150K, with an end-of-day or intraday trailing drawdown, a one-day minimum to pass and Standard or No Activation Fee options. Its homepage says traders keep 100% of requested rewards in Sim Funded accounts, with payouts every 5 trading days and up to 20 accounts per trader. The 25K Intraday Trail evaluation lists at $167; code SAVENOW took it to $13.36 on 10 Oct 2026.
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2. Topstep
Topstep sells its Trading Combine in 50K, 100K and 150K sizes at $49, $99 or $199 a month on the Standard path, plus $149 when you earn an Express Funded Account, or $95, $149 or $229 a month with no activation fee (checked on 10 Oct 2026). It pays a 90/10 split, and Express Funded payouts need 5 winning days of $150 or more; after 30 winning days of $150 or more in a Live Funded Account, payouts become daily. New accounts trade on TopstepX only: "TopstepX™ is the only available trading platform."
3. Tradeify
Tradeify sells one-time Growth, Select and Lightning Funded accounts from 25K to 150K, with no activation fees. A 25K Growth evaluation costs $99, the Select plan uses an end-of-day drawdown, and Lightning Funded skips the evaluation from $345. Sim Funded accounts pay 90/10, and traders pick Tradovate, Rithmic or WealthCharts at checkout.
4. Lucid Trading
Lucid Trading sells one-time LucidPro, LucidFlex, LucidDaily and LucidDirect accounts with no monthly or activation fees. A 25K LucidPro evaluation lists at $123 with an end-of-day drawdown, and funded payouts on LucidPro, LucidFlex and LucidDirect are 90/10. It supports 10+ platforms, including NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Tradesea and Sierra Chart.
5. Take Profit Trader
Take Profit Trader runs a one-step Test from $25,000 to $150,000 on a monthly subscription, then charges a one-time $130 PRO activation fee (waived with its NOFEE40 code on 10 Oct 2026). PRO accounts pay 80/20 with withdrawals from day one once the balance clears the buffer, and PRO+ live accounts pay 90/10. Its PRO rules say: "We do not allow any automated or bot trading of any kind."
6. My Funded Futures
My Funded Futures sells one-time Builder, Rapid, Rapid EOD and Pro plans with no activation fee. The 50K Builder lists at $153 with an end-of-day trailing drawdown, an 80/20 split and payouts every 48 hours, while the 50K Rapid lists at $209 and pays 90/10 daily; code CLUB took 40% off on 10 Oct 2026. Platforms include NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Quantower and ATAS.
Top Firms for Forex Traders
Four of the ten firms fund forex and CFD traders. For more firms and full rule tables, see our ranking of the best forex prop firms.
7. FTMO
FTMO runs a 2-Step Challenge (10% then 5% targets, 5% daily and 10% maximum loss, 80% split rising to 90% with scaling) and a 1-Step Challenge (10% target, 3% daily loss, 10% end-of-day trailing maximum loss, 90% split). Accounts run from $10,000 to $200,000, the first reward can be claimed 14 days after the first trade, and the Scaling Plan can reach $2 million. Platforms are MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, and U.S. traders join through FTMO's partnership with OANDA.
If FTMO's rules don't suit you, compare these FTMO alternatives. You can also read how FundingPips and FTMO compare.
8. The5ers
The5ers runs High Stakes (2-step), Hyper Growth and Pro Growth (1-step) and Bootcamp (3-step) programs on MT5. High Stakes starts at $19 for a $2,500 account and pays 80% rising to 100% as the account scales, with a 5% daily and 10% maximum loss. Its rules ban high-frequency trading (HFT). See The5ers payout rules for withdrawal terms.
9. FundingPips
FundingPips offers 1-Step, 2-Step and instant Zero accounts on MT5, cTrader and Match-Trader. A $5,000 2 Step Pro costs $33, and the 2 Step Standard uses 8% then 5% targets with a 10% static maximum loss. The split depends on the payout cycle you choose, from 60% weekly to 100% monthly on the 2 Step Standard; see FundingPips payout rules.
10. FundedNext
FundedNext's Stellar challenges run from $5,000 to $200,000, and Stellar Instant accounts from $2,000 to $20,000, with prices from $32.99 for a $5,000 Stellar Lite. The Stellar 2-Step uses 8% then 5% targets, a 5% daily and 10% maximum loss, and an 80% reward share (95% with a lifetime add-on). It supports MT4, MT5, cTrader and Match-Trader; U.S. clients trade on Match-Trader only. Our FundedNext vs FTMO comparison goes deeper.
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Other Firms to Consider
Five more forex prop firms sell the same funded account types but didn't make the ten above: Maven Trading, FXIFY, Blueberry Funded, E8 Markets and City Traders Imperium. The table shows each firm's programs, account sizes, lowest list price and profit split, checked on 11 Oct 2026 on each firm's own site.
| Firm | Account types | Account sizes | Price from (list) | Profit split |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maven Trading | 1-Step, 2-Step and 3-Step, Instant, Mini, Buy Now Pay Later | $2K to $100K | $13 ($2K 3-Step) | 80% (70% on Mini); payouts every 10 business days on Standard |
| FXIFY | One, Two and Three Phase, Instant Funding, Lightning | $5K to $400K | $39 | Up to 100%, depending on plan and add-ons |
| Blueberry Funded | Flex 1 Step, 1-Step, Prime 2-Step, Instant | $2.5K to $200K | $37 ($2.5K Prime 2-Step) | 80% (85% on Flex 1 Step) |
| E8 Markets | E8 One, E8 Signature, E8 Pro | $5K to $500K (E8 One) | $48 ($5K E8 One) | 80% on the default E8 One setup |
| City Traders Imperium | 1-Step, 2-Step, Instant Funding, Direct Funding | $2.5K to $100K | $29 ($2.5K 1-Step) | Up to 100% |
City Traders Imperium's Direct Funding is a forex version of the direct-to-funded accounts above: it skips the evaluation, runs from $5,000 to $80,000 and starts at $229. Platforms differ by firm, so check that yours is supported before you buy.
How to Choose a Prop Firm
Pick the market first: the six futures firms fund CME futures, and the four forex firms fund forex and CFDs. Then compare the cost model. Topstep and Take Profit Trader bill monthly until you pass, while Apex Trader Funding, Tradeify, Lucid Trading, My Funded Futures and the four forex firms charge a one-time fee.
Check payout terms next. Splits run from 60% to 100%, but the wait before the first payout, payout caps and consistency rules often matter more than the headline split.
Trustpilot scores show how traders rate each firm, not how likely you are to pass. For industry numbers, see our prop firm pass rates and payout statistics.
Conclusion
Selecting the right proprietary trading firm is all about finding one that aligns with your trading style and goals. For intraday strategies, compare the day-trading prop-firm shortlist and its account restrictions rather than the overall ranking alone.
For futures, Topstep suits traders who want one platform and a monthly plan, Apex Trader Funding, Tradeify, Lucid Trading and My Funded Futures sell one-time evaluations, and Take Profit Trader pays from day one in PRO. For forex, FTMO has the highest Trustpilot score of the four forex firms (4.8), The5ers has the cheapest entry ($19), FundingPips lets you choose your payout cycle, and FundedNext has the most Trustpilot reviews.
Each firm has its strengths - whether it’s affordability, evaluation processes, or market specialization. The key is to choose a firm that aligns with your trading capital, market preferences, and profit objectives.
FAQs
How do FTMO's 1-Step and 2-Step Challenges differ?
FTMO's 2-Step Challenge has two phases: a 10% profit target, then a 5% target in Verification, with a 5% daily loss limit, a 10% maximum loss and at least four trading days. It pays an 80% split that can rise to 90% through the Scaling Plan.
The 1-Step Challenge has a single 10% target, a 3% daily loss limit, a 10% end-of-day trailing maximum loss and a best-day rule, and it pays 90% from the start. The 1-Step suits traders who want one phase; the 2-Step gives more room on daily losses.
How do the payout structures of Topstep and The 5%ers compare, and what do they mean for traders?
Topstep pays a 90/10 split (traders who joined its new dashboard before January 12, 2026 keep 100% of their first $10,000). Each Express Funded payout is capped at 50% of the account balance, up to a cap by account size, and traders need five winning days of $150 or more before they can request a withdrawal.
The5ers' High Stakes program starts at an 80% profit split, which rises to 100% as traders scale the account.
For traders, Topstep's structure offers a fixed 90% split but caps each Express Funded payout. The5ers' High Stakes starts lower but can reach a full 100% split for traders who keep scaling.
What should traders look for when evaluating proprietary trading firms based on market access and available instruments?
When choosing a proprietary trading firm, it's crucial to examine the kind of market access they provide. Do they offer direct market access (DMA), or will you be trading through intermediaries? This distinction can significantly affect your trading experience.
You'll also want to check the variety of trading instruments available. For stocks, forex, futures, or options, make sure the firm's offerings align with your trading strategy and goals.
Equally important are factors like fill quality, available liquidity, and the firm's approach to risk management. These elements play a big role in how smoothly and securely you can trade. Lastly, confirm that the firm adheres to relevant regulations, such as FINRA’s Market Access Rule, to ensure you're working within a safe and reliable trading environment.
