Why Use a Prop Firm Comparison Tool?
Choosing a prop trading firm is one of the most impactful decisions you’ll make as a trader. Challenge costs, drawdown rules, profit splits, and scaling plans all vary dramatically—sometimes in ways hidden from the marketing pitch. A prop firm comparison tool cuts through the noise, letting you weigh exact numbers side by side so you can make a genuinely informed call.
Key Metrics to Compare
Before diving into the numbers, here are the prop firm specs that matter most for risk and returns:
- Drawdown limits: Both max and daily drawdown—these define your risk buffer.
- Profit target: How much you must earn to pass the challenge.
- Profit split: Your cut of profits—and does it scale up?
- Account sizes: Range and max buying power offered.
- Challenge cost: Entry fee or monthly subscription.
- Allowed instruments: Forex, futures, crypto, etc.
- Leverage: Impacts sizing and risk.
- Trading rules: News trading, weekends, EAs, payout speed, and more.
What’s often missed: the trade-offs between these factors. A low challenge fee may come with strict rules or tiny drawdown. A high profit split may have a tough profit target. Below, we break down these nuances by the numbers.
Side-by-Side: Top Prop Trading Firms Compared
| Firm | Rating | Max/DD (Daily) |
Profit Target |
Profit Split |
Account Sizes |
Challenge Cost |
Leverage | Trading Days |
News/ Weekend |
Markets | Payouts | Scaling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTMO | 4.8 | 10% 5% |
10% | 80/20 → 90/10 |
$10K–$200K | $155–$1,080 | 1:100 | 4 | Yes/ Yes |
FX, Ind, Cmd, Crypto, Stocks | Monthly | Up to $2M |
| E8 Markets | 4.5 | 8% 5% |
8% | 80/20 | $5K–$250K | $48–$988 | 1:50 | 5 | Yes/ No |
FX, Ind, Cmd, Crypto | Fast | Performance-based |
| FundedNext | 4.6 | 10% 5% |
10% | 80/20 → 90/10 |
$6K–$200K | $59–$999 | 1:100 | 5 | Yes/ Yes |
FX, Ind, Cmd, Crypto | Varies | Up to $4M |
| The5ers | 4.3 | 6% 3% |
6% | 50/50 → 100% |
$6K–$100K | $95–$875 | 1:30 | 3 | No/ No |
FX, Metals, Ind | Varies | Up to $4M |
| Apex Trader Funding | 4.4 | 6% 0% |
6% | 100% first $25K → 90/10 |
$25K–$300K | $147–$657 | Full | 7 | Yes/ No |
Futures | Frequent | 20 accts |
| TopStep | 4.5 | 4% 2% |
6% | 90/10 | $50K–$150K | $49–$149/mo | Full | 5 | Yes/ No |
Futures | Weekly | Live funded |
| MyFundedFX | 4.4 | 8% 5% |
8% | 80/20 → 92.75% |
$5K–$300K | $49–$1,499 | 1:100 | 3 | Yes/ Yes |
FX, Ind, Cmd, Crypto | Varies | Up to $600K |
| My Funded Futures | 4.9 | 4% 0% |
6% | 80/20 → 90/10 |
$50K–$150K | $77–$477/mo | Full | 2 | No/ Yes |
Futures | Fast | Pro: $100K payout |
| Funded Trading Plus | 4.5 | 6% 4% |
10% | 80/20 → 100% |
$5K–$200K | $119–$999 | 1:30 | 0 | Yes/ Yes |
FX, Crypto, Ind, Cmd | Day 0 | Up to $5.25M |
| Goat Funded Trader | 4.4 | 6% 4% |
10% | 80/20 → 95% |
$5K–$200K | $47–$997 | 1:100 | 4 | Yes/ Yes |
FX, Metals, Cmd, Ind, Crypto | Bi-weekly | Performance-based |
| Blue Guardian | 4.6 | 6% 4% |
10% | 85/15 → 90/10 |
$10K–$200K | $87–$897 | 1:100 | 5 | No/ Yes |
FX, Crypto, Ind, Cmd | 24h | Up to $4M |
| Lux Trading Firm | 4.2 | 6% 0% |
10% | 80/20 | $100K–$1M | $299–$4,999 | 1:10 | 0 | No/ Yes |
FX, Ind, Cmd, Metals | Varies | Up to $10M |
| City Traders Imperium | 4.3 | 10% 5% |
10% | 80/20 → 100% |
$2.5K–$100K | $39–$549 | 1:30 | 0 | Yes/ Yes |
FX, Ind, Cmd, Crypto, Metals | Monthly | Up to $4M |
| Tradeify | 4.6 | 4% 2.5% |
6% | 90/10 | $50K–$150K | $139–$509 | Full | 1 | Yes/ No |
Futures | 60min | After 5 payouts |
| Take Profit Trader | 4.5 | 4% 2.2% |
6% | 80/20 → 90/10 |
$25K–$150K | $150–$357 | Full | 5 | Yes/ No |
Futures | Daily | PRO+ after $5K |
How to Read the Table
Look at more than just the headline profit split. For example, FTMO scales from 80/20 to 90/10, but you must hit a 10% profit target with a 5% daily drawdown cap—on a $100K account, that’s $5,000 daily risk. E8 Markets offers a lower 8% profit target and cheaper challenges, but only 8% max drawdown and no weekend holding. MyFundedFX advertises a split up to 92.75%, but rules and drawdowns vary by challenge format, so you need to check the fine print.
Don’t just chase the highest profit split or lowest fee. Use the PropSurvivalEngine comparison tool to filter by the rules and risk parameters that match your strategy.
Non-Obvious Trade-Offs Most Traders Miss
- Drawdown: Static vs. Trailing
Some firms (e.g., City Traders Imperium, Lux) offer static drawdown, which doesn’t shrink as you profit. Others use trailing drawdown, which can quickly eat into your breathing room after a winning streak. - Daily Loss Limits
Firms like Apex Trader Funding and My Funded Futures have no daily drawdown, giving more flexibility. In contrast, TopStep and FTMO enforce daily loss caps—easy to breach in volatile markets. - Scaling Reality
Many firms advertise scaling up to $2M, $4M, or even $10M—but require multi-stage profit milestones and strict consistency. For example, FundedNext’s $4M scale requires months of consistent profitability; Lux Trading Firm’s $10M target demands repeated 10% returns with tight risk. - Profit Split Progression
Several firms (FTMO, FundedNext, Funded Trading Plus) start at 80/20 and scale up to 90% or even 100%—but only after hitting payout milestones. Apex offers 100% of the first $25K, then drops to 90%. - Challenge Cost vs. Rules
Cheap challenges (E8 Markets from $48, City Traders Imperium from $39) often come with stricter drawdowns or lower leverage. Higher fees (Lux up to $4,999) may buy you larger accounts or more generous rules—but not always. - Market Access
Futures-only firms (Apex, TopStep, My Funded Futures) are out of reach for forex and crypto traders. Conversely, The5ers, Funded Trading Plus, and Lux do not offer crypto or stocks. - Payout Speed and Consistency
Tradeify and Blue Guardian promise payout within 60 minutes or 24 hours, respectively. FTMO and TopStep pay monthly or weekly. Make sure this matches your cash flow needs. - Rule Complexity
The5ers and Lux have strict risk controls (e.g., mandatory stop-loss, single trade profit caps, or no EAs), which can trip up algorithmic or high-frequency traders. Blue Guardian’s “Guardian Shield” auto-closes trades at small losses if breached twice.
Always read the full rulebook. Many firms terminate accounts for violations like trading during news, holding over weekends, or using certain EAs—even if you’re profitable. Use the PropSurvivalEngine health grades to spot firms with the most trader-friendly rule sets.
Case Study: Choosing the Right Prop Firm for Your Style
Scenario 1: Aggressive Forex Day Trader
If you scalp EUR/USD with high leverage and want maximum flexibility, MyFundedFX and FTMO stand out. Both allow news trading, EAs, and weekend holding. MyFundedFX offers up to 92.75% split, but rules vary by plan—double-check if your strategy fits.
However, FTMO’s 10% profit target with a 5% daily drawdown is demanding. On a $50K account, that means you can’t lose more than $2,500 in a single day. If you want a lower bar, E8 Markets has only an 8% profit target and unlimited time, but you lose weekend holding.
Scenario 2: Futures Trader Seeking Fast Payouts
For futures, My Funded Futures boasts a 4.9/5 rating, just 2 minimum trading days, and no daily loss limit. Their EOD trailing drawdown is more forgiving than intraday trailing (used by some rivals), and payout is rapid. Tradeify lets you pass the challenge in a single day and offers a 60-minute payout target, but their real-time drawdown enforcement can be brutal.
TopStep and Apex are also established, but TopStep’s 2% daily loss cap on a $100K account means a $2,000 daily risk limit. Apex gives you 100% of your first $25K profit, but beware the monthly subscription model and trailing drawdown.
Scenario 3: Swing Trader or Overnight Holder
If you hold trades over weekends or through news, filter for firms allowing both. Funded Trading Plus and City Traders Imperium allow overnight and weekend holding, EAs, and news trading. But Funded Trading Plus enforces a trailing drawdown that shrinks after withdrawals, and City Traders Imperium has lower leverage (1:30) and smaller starting accounts.
Blue Guardian permits weekend holding and offers a base 85% profit split, but you cannot trade news on funded accounts—potentially a dealbreaker if you rely on event-driven moves.
Scenario 4: Scaling to Large Accounts
If your goal is a $1M+ funded account, Lux Trading Firm offers scaling to $10M, but at a high cost ($299–$4,999) and with strict rules (1:10 leverage, mandatory stop-loss, no EAs). FTMO and FundedNext scale to $2M and $4M, respectively, but require sustained profitability and milestone achievements.
Use the PropSurvivalEngine calculator to stress-test your trading plan against each firm’s drawdown, profit target, and rules. See how often your approach would pass or fail—before risking a challenge fee.
Hidden Costs and Gotchas
- Trailing Drawdown After Withdrawals: Funded Trading Plus and others reduce your risk buffer after each payout. If you withdraw $5K, your max drawdown shrinks, raising the risk of sudden termination.
- Monthly Subscription Models: TopStep, My Funded Futures, and Apex all charge monthly. If you pass quickly, this is cheap—but if you need months to qualify, costs add up fast.
- Payout Minimums: FundedNext enforces minimum withdrawal amounts, so you may wait longer for your first payout.
- Rule Changes: Newer firms sometimes tweak rules or splits with little notice. Always check the latest terms before buying a challenge.
- Refunds: Some firms refund your challenge fee only after a set number of payouts (e.g., Blue Guardian after 4th payout), not upon passing.
Challenge fees are non-trivial. Failing a $1,000 challenge because you misunderstood a trailing drawdown or news rule is a 100% loss. Use the comparison tool to filter for your actual strategy requirements.
How to Use the PropSurvivalEngine Comparison Tool
Our prop firm comparison tool lets you:
- Filter by drawdown type, max % allowed, and daily caps
- Sort by profit split, payout speed, or challenge cost
- See only firms allowing EAs, weekend holding, or news trading
- Compare scaling plans and account size progression
- Click for in-depth rule breakdowns and risk health grades
Don’t just look at averages—customize for your exact approach. For example, filter for static drawdown, 1:100 leverage, and weekend holding to see which firms actually support your style.
Bottom Line: Choosing the Right Prop Firm
No single prop firm is “best”—the right match depends on your strategy, risk tolerance, and payout needs. Here’s how to decide:
- If you want the highest trust and established track record: FTMO
- If you need low-cost, low-profit target, and unlimited time: E8 Markets
- If you want to scale big with instant funding options: Funded Trading Plus or The5ers
- If you’re a futures trader: My Funded Futures, TopStep, or Apex
- If you want the highest split and flexibility: MyFundedFX or Goat Funded Trader
But each comes with trade-offs—tight drawdown, complex rules, or hidden fees. Use the PropSurvivalEngine prop firm comparison tool to run the numbers and filter for the actual rules that fit your trading edge. Don’t risk your challenge fee—get specific, and use all the data before you click buy.
A data-driven comparison tool is essential for serious traders. Use it not just to compare splits and drawdowns, but to surface the non-obvious pitfalls and find the prop firm that truly matches how you trade.