Best Futures Prop Firms 2026: Cheapest, Easiest to Pass & Keep
Futures prop firms let you trade a funded account after passing a paid evaluation. Keep a cut of the profits, risk only the eval fee. The catch is that the firms compete on headline price while the real cost and difficulty hide in the drawdown rules, the consistency rules, and the payout gates. This is a working comparison of the major firms as of June 2026, built to answer three questions: what's cheapest, what's easiest to pass, and what's easiest to keep funded and actually get paid.
Prices below are list / typical-sale figures. These firms run near-constant 50-90% off promotions and change rules frequently. Always confirm on the firm's own pricing page before buying, and read the funded-account rules, not just the evaluation rules.
New to prop firms? Start with the plain-English glossary and worked examples below. Then the table will read easily.
How firms are ranked
Each firm is scored 1-5 on four dimensions, then ranked by a weighted score reflecting the priorities that matter most here. cheap to get funded, easy to pass, easy to keep. Payout reliability is a lighter guardrail: a cheap firm that won't pay is worthless. The weighting:
- Pass 30%. Ease of passing the eval (drawdown type drives this).
- Keep 30%. Ease of keeping the funded account (consistency rule, daily loss limit).
- Cost 25%. All-in price to get funded.
- Payout 15%. Pays reliably, no retroactive rule changes.
The result is a tier (S / A / B / C, plus Avoid) and an overall score out of 5. Adjust the weights and every firm re-ranks automatically.
The one rule that decides difficulty: drawdown type
Before price, look at the drawdown mechanic. It's the single biggest driver of how hard a firm is to pass and keep:
- Intraday trailing. Trails your peak unrealized P&L tick by tick. Hardest. (Apex, some Bulenox plans.)
- End-of-day (EOD) trailing. Trails only on the daily closing balance. Medium. (Topstep, Take Profit Trader, Earn2Trade, TradeDay, MFFU.)
- Static / fixed. Never trails; a fixed floor. Easiest. (Phidias, Tradeify static plans.)
A cheap evaluation with an intraday-trailing drawdown is a false economy. You'll fail it and rebuy.
Two columns in the table address the rule that burns most funded traders: the “Profit protected?” column shows whether your accumulated profit shields you (static / locks at break-even) or whether the drawdown keeps trailing your peak. So being up $10k and giving back $3k can still end a trailing account, but never a static one. The “Daily loss limit” column is separate: at most firms a daily-limit breach only locks you out for the day, it doesn't end the account.
Ranked comparison table
| # | Firm | Tier | Score | Cheapest entry | Activation | Eval model | Drawdown type | Daily loss limit | Profit protected? | Profit target | Consistency rule | Funded type | Payout / reliability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MyFundedFutures (MFFU) | S | 4.75 | ~$80-150/mo (50K-150K) | $0 | 1-step, monthly | EOD trailing (no intraday DLL) | None (most plans) | EOD. Locks at break-even | $3,000 (50K) | None on Expert plan | Sim-funded | First payout after ~5 days; fast, reliable No daily loss limit; Expert tier has no consistency rule. Easiest to keep. |
| 2 | Take Profit Trader | S | 4.75 | ~$90/mo (25K) | $0 (no separate funded fee) | 1-step, monthly | EOD trailing | None | EOD. Locks at break-even | $1,500 (25K) | None | Sim → real PRO account | Withdraw from day 1 of PRO; fast Pay-from-day-one model; clean reputation, simple rules. |
| 3 | Phidias | A | 3.95 | ~$55 one-time (25K Static) | $0 | One-time, static plans | Static (no trailing) | None / soft | Static. Never trails | $1,500 (25K) | Plan-dependent | Direct-to-live on static | Newer / smaller firm Cheapest one-time + static drawdown = friendliest rules; smaller/newer, so weigh reliability. |
| 4 | Goat Funded Futures | A | 3.85 | ~$45-120/mo (varies) | $0 options | 1-step / instant, monthly | EOD trailing / static (plan-dependent) | Plan-dependent | EOD / static (plan-dependent) | No minimum on some plans | None on some plans | Sim-funded | Up to 100% split; 2-day payout guarantee Newer, aggressive terms (no min target, up to 100% split, fast payouts). Young track record. Verify reliability. |
| 5 | TradeDay | A | 3.75 | ~$99-165/mo | $0 | Monthly | EOD trailing | Yes. Day lockout | EOD trailing | $2,000 (50K) | Transparent, light | Real funded | Transparent; good standing Clean, transparent rules and EOD drawdown. Underrated for keeping the account. |
| 6 | OneUp Trader | A | 3.75 | ~$125-150/mo (25K-250K) | $0 | 1-step, monthly | EOD trailing (no daily drawdown) | None | EOD trailing | $1,500 (25K) | None | Sim-funded | 100% of first $10k, then 90%; Express funding ~5 days One-step, no daily drawdown, free data/platforms, keep 100% of first $10k. Established and solid. |
| 7 | Topstep | B | 3.60 | $49 / $99 / $199 per mo (50K/100K/150K) | $149 one-time | 1-step Combine, monthly sub | EOD trailing | Yes. Soft threshold (none on TopstepX) | EOD trailing → locks at start | $3,000 (50K) | Scaling + benchmark-day gating | Sim (Express) → real Live Funded | Need 5 benchmark days ($150+); 50% cap until 30 days, then 100% Most established (since 2012); genuinely live final account. Recurring cost adds up. |
| 8 | Tradeify | B | 3.60 | ~$100+/mo or one-time on static plans | $0 options | Monthly or straight-to-sim-funded | Static / EOD (plan-dependent) | Plan-dependent | Static / EOD (plan-dependent) | Varies | Plan-dependent | Sim-funded | Newer; early reputation positive Static-drawdown plans + $0 activation make passing easier; track record still young. |
| 9 | Alpha Futures | B | 3.60 | ~$100+/mo | $0 options | Monthly | EOD / static (plan-dependent) | Plan-dependent | EOD / static (plan-dependent) | Varies | Light | Sim-funded | Newer; growing positive reputation Newer entrant with trader-friendly rules; watch the track record. |
| 10 | Earn2Trade | B | 3.45 | ~$150/mo (Gauntlet Mini) | $0 (rolls to funded) | Monthly | EOD trailing | Yes | EOD trailing | $2,000+ (25K Mini) | Standard rules | Sim-funded | Established; reliable Education-heavy, long-running. EOD drawdown is forgiving. |
| 11 | Bulenox | B | 3.25 | ~$100-175/mo | Varies / sometimes $0 | Monthly | Intraday trailing (or EOD plan) | Plan-dependent | Trailing (or EOD plan) | $1,500 (25K) | Varies by plan | Sim-funded | Generally pays; smaller firm Apex-style budget option. Pick the EOD plan if passing ease matters. |
| 12 | Apex Trader Funding | B | 3.20 | ~$20-35/mo on sale (25K-300K) | ~$130-150 one-time (or lifetime fee) | 1-step, monthly | Intraday trailing | None | Intraday trailing → locks +$100 over start | $1,500 (25K) | 30% rule on payouts | Sim-funded | Pays, but 2025 mass-ban / reliability complaints Cheapest evals via constant ~90% coupons. But intraday trailing is hardest, and payout reputation took hits in 2025. |
| 13 | Leeloo / Legends | B | 3.10 | ~$30-125/mo | Varies | Monthly | EOD trailing | Plan-dependent | EOD trailing | Varies | Standard | Sim-funded | Mixed reviews post-rebrand Budget option; do current due diligence after the rebrand. |
| 14 | Elite Trader Funding (ETF) | C | 2.85 | ~$50-80/mo+ (50K-300K) | $47-80/mo (funded) | Monthly; many eval paths | EOD trailing or static (plan-dependent) | Plan-dependent | EOD / static (plan-dependent) | Varies by path | Varies by path | Sim-funded | ⚠ Payout-denial & mid-evaluation rule-change complaints Wide plan menu, but notable Trustpilot/Reddit complaints of denied payouts, pre-payout 'audits', and rules changing mid-evaluation. Operates and pays many. But read the terms very carefully. |
| - | FundingTicks | Avoid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Winding down (Jan 2026) Retroactively cut earned profits & changed rules (Dec 2025), then announced shutdown. Do not use. |
Ranked by weighted score (Pass 30% · Keep 30% · Cost 25% · Payout 15%). Dots show the per-dimension rating; figures are approximate June-2026 list/sale prices and vary by account size and active promotion.
Glossary. Every term in plain English
The jargon that trips up beginners, decoded. These are the words you'll meet across every firm's rules page.
- Evaluation (Combine / Challenge)
- The paid test you must pass before the firm gives you a funded account. You trade a demo to set rules to prove you're profitable and disciplined.
- Funded account
- The account you get after passing the evaluation. You trade the firm's capital and keep a share of the profit.
- Sim-funded vs Live-funded
- Most 'funded' accounts are still simulated. The firm pays you from its own pocket, your orders don't hit the real market. A few firms (e.g. Topstep's final stage) route real orders. Either way you get paid; sim just means no real fills.
- Profit target
- How much you must earn during the evaluation to pass. Example: +$3,000 on a $50K account.
- Drawdown / Maximum Loss Limit
- The lowest your account is allowed to fall before it's closed. The account-ending floor. This is the rule that matters most.
- Trailing drawdown
- A floor that RISES as your profit rises, following your peak. 'Intraday' trailing follows your highest unrealized profit tick-by-tick (harshest); 'end-of-day (EOD)' trailing only updates on the daily closing balance.
- Static (fixed) drawdown
- A floor that NEVER moves. Once it's set, every dollar of profit becomes a permanent cushion. The easiest type to keep an account alive.
- Daily Loss Limit (DLL)
- The most you can lose in a single day, measured from that day's starting balance. At most firms, hitting it just locks you out until tomorrow. It does NOT close your account.
- Consistency rule
- Caps how much of your total profit can come from one day (commonly best day ≤ 30-50% of total). Stops you from passing on a single lucky day and can delay payouts.
- Activation fee
- A one-time fee to 'switch on' the funded account after you pass the evaluation. Separate from the eval price.
- Reset fee
- A fee to restart a failed evaluation without buying a brand-new one.
- Profit split
- How profit is divided between you and the firm. '90/10' means you keep 90%.
- Payout
- Withdrawing your profit share. Firms gate the first payout behind a minimum number of winning days and sometimes a cap.
- Scaling / position-size limit
- A cap on how many contracts you can trade at once, often growing as the account grows. Breaking it can void the account.
- Contract & micros
- A futures contract is the unit you trade. 'Micros' (MES, MNQ) are 1/10 the size of the standard contract. Far less risk per trade, ideal for beginners and for passing evals safely.
- Breakeven
- When the account is back at its starting balance. Many trailing drawdowns 'lock' here. Once you're up enough, the floor stops rising past your start.
Worked examples
The same rules, shown with real numbers. Including the “I was up $10k and still lost the account” case.
Why you lost the account while “up $10k”. Trailing vs static
- $50K account, $2,500 max drawdown. You're up +$10,000 → balance $60,000.
- TRAILING drawdown: the floor trailed up with you to $57,500.
- You give back $3,000 → balance $57,000 → below $57,500 floor → ACCOUNT CLOSED (even though you're still +$7k).
- STATIC drawdown: the floor stayed fixed at $47,500.
- Same $3,000 give-back → $57,000 is still $9,500 above the floor → account is FINE.
Takeaway: A static (or break-even-locked) drawdown turns your profit into a permanent shield. A trailing one keeps chasing your peak. That's why you got cut.
A daily-loss-limit hit usually does NOT end your account
- $50K account, $1,200 Daily Loss Limit. The limit resets each day from that morning's balance.
- Today you're up +$800, then the market turns and you lose $2,000 on the day.
- You crossed the $1,200 daily limit → the platform flattens your positions and locks you out until tomorrow.
- Your account still exists. You just can't trade again today.
Takeaway: The daily loss limit is a cool-off, not a death sentence. Only the maximum drawdown closes the account. Firms with NO daily limit (MFFU, Apex) skip this lockout entirely.
The consistency rule can block a payout even after you pass
- Goal: +$3,000 profit to pass, with a 30% consistency rule.
- You make it all in two big days: +$2,000 on Monday.
- $2,000 is 67% of your $3,000 total. Way over the 30% cap ($900).
- Target hit, but the consistency rule isn't → payout/pass is blocked until you spread profits out.
Takeaway: Don't make all your money in one day. Aim for several similar-sized green days so no single day exceeds the cap.
All-in cost: monthly fees add up
- Apex: ~$35 eval (on sale) + ~$145 activation = ~$180 to get funded.
- Phidias 25K Static: ~$55 one-time, $0 activation = ~$55 all-in.
- Topstep 50K: $49/mo × 2 months to pass + $149 activation ≈ $247.
Takeaway: A monthly subscription quietly grows the longer your eval takes. One-time or low-activation firms are cheaper if you're not in a hurry.
Cheapest path to a funded account
Apex during a sale has the lowest sticker. Evaluations routinely drop to roughly $20-35 with a coupon. But you pay for it with an intraday-trailing drawdown and the firm's shakier 2025 payout reputation. If you want cheap and friendly rules, Phidias' 25K static plan (~$55 one-time, $0 activation) is the better value: a fixed drawdown is far easier to survive, with no recurring monthly bleed.
Easiest to pass
Any firm with a static or EOD drawdown, a low profit target, and no time limit: Phidias static, Tradeify static plans, and MyFundedFutures. Avoid intraday-trailing evaluations if passing on the first attempt is the priority.
Easiest to keep funded and actually get paid
This is where most traders fail after passing. Usually to a consistency rule (your best single day can't exceed ~30-50% of total profit, so one big win can lock your payout). The firms that avoid this trap:
- MyFundedFutures (Expert tier). No daily loss limit, no consistency rule, fast payouts.
- Take Profit Trader. Pay-from-day-one, EOD drawdown, simple rules.
- TradeDay. Transparent, light rules, EOD drawdown.
Best overall pick
Balancing cost, pass-difficulty, keep-difficulty, and payout reliability, MyFundedFutures is the strongest all-rounder for most traders. Choose Topstep if you value the longest track record and a genuinely live final account (and don't mind the recurring fee), or Take Profit Trader if you want the simplest pay-from-day-one model.
Firm to avoid
FundingTicks. In December 2025 it retroactively changed its rules and reduced already-earned trader profits, then announced a wind-down in January 2026. It's the clearest cautionary tale of retroactive-rule risk in the sector. And a reminder to favor firms with a multi-year record of paying and not rewriting terms.
Bottom line: read the drawdown type first, the consistency rule second, and the price last. The cheapest eval is worthless if the rules make the account impossible to keep.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest futures prop firm in 2026?
The cheapest evaluation depends on account size and how often you reset. Entry-level 50K evaluations from the major firms typically run $50-$170/month, but the true cost includes reset fees, activation/payout fees, and how strict the rules are. A cheaper eval you keep failing costs more than a slightly pricier one you pass once. The article scores each firm on total cost to a first payout, not just sticker price.
Which futures prop firm is easiest to pass?
Ease of passing is driven by the profit target relative to the drawdown, whether the drawdown is trailing or end-of-day, and the minimum trading-days requirement. Firms with end-of-day drawdown and lower targets relative to the buffer are statistically easier to clear. The comparison ranks each firm on an 'easiest to pass' score.
What is the difference between trailing and end-of-day drawdown?
A trailing drawdown follows your account's peak (including unrealized profit) up in real time, so giving back open profit can fail you. An end-of-day (EOD) drawdown only updates based on your closing balance each day, which is far more forgiving. EOD drawdown is one of the biggest factors in keeping an account funded.
What are consistency rules and why do they matter?
Consistency rules cap how much of your total profit can come from a single day (commonly 20-50%). They exist to stop one lucky trade from qualifying a payout. They matter because you can hit your profit target and still be blocked from withdrawing until your profits are spread across more days.
How reliable are futures prop firm payouts?
Payout reliability varies widely. The signals to check are: a published, consistent payout schedule; transparent rules that don't change retroactively; verifiable trader payout proof; and reasonable minimum-days-to-payout. The article weighs payout reliability heavily because the cheapest, easiest-to-pass firm is worthless if it won't pay.
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