Independently ranking 16 futures prop firms

Best Futures Prop Firms 2026 Ranked & Reviewed

Every ranking is built from a single verified data record. Transparent scores across 16 evaluated firms with no guesswork, no paid placements.

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Noam Korbl, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of BestPropFirms.com

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Compare specific futures programs

The table below compares six selected current futures programs, each at the nominal $50,000 size, with all figures in USD and data checked October 3, 2026. Note that a nominal $50,000 size refers to the program size and evaluation balance, not a universal simulated-funded starting balance; some funded accounts start at zero. Drawdown mechanics differ meaningfully. An EOD trailing floor updates from the highest closing balance, while an intraday-equity trailing floor can rise with unrealized gains. Threshold update timing and breach monitoring are different concepts, so an EOD account can still breach intraday. Published verified charge figures are known fees; the calculator sums only user-selected charges and excludes other costs, so it is not an all-in price. The selected Apex evaluation price is unverified. All findings come from first-party written terms rather than hands-on trading tests, and prices and rules may change.

To interpret drawdown and consistency mechanics, read our explainers on trailing drawdown and consistency rules. For side-by-side detail, see Topstep vs Apex, Topstep vs MyFundedFutures, and Apex vs MyFundedFutures.

Compare futures account rules

Nominal program sizes and separate account stages. Regular prices in USD. Checked 2026-10-03.

Evaluation rules and fees

ProgramFeesTargetDrawdownConsistency and access
TopstepTrading Combine Standard pricing / XFA Standard / no DLL add-on
$50,000.00 [2]
Source noteNominal program size. Starting simulated balances are recorded separately.
Regular evaluation price
$49.00 [1]Evaluation subscription price before taxes. Standard pricing path.
Billing
Monthly [1]Combine subscription cancels after passing.
Activation
$149.00 [1]One-time fee for each earned XFA on Standard pricing.
Paid reset fee
$49.00 [1]50K Standard Combine reset; separate from XFA reactivation.
Profit target
$3,000.00 [3]
Minimum trading days
2 [2]
Limit
$2,000.00 [4]
Calculation
End-of-day trailing [4]
Breach monitoring
Real-time net equity [4]Realized and unrealized losses can breach the current floor intraday.
Breach boundary
At or below the loss floor [4]
Source noteTouching the current loss floor breaches the account.
Floor cap
$50,000.00 [4]
Rule or target
55% [3]
Boundary
At or below the threshold [3]
Basis
Best-day profit divided by total profit [3]Above 55% raises the required profit target. Additional profit must come on a separate trading day.
Access days
Not verified [1]Monthly subscription; a fixed evaluation expiry was not verified.
Apex Trader FundingEOD Evaluation No Activation Fee / PA / Rithmic
$50,000.00 [8]
Source noteNominal program size. Starting simulated balances are recorded separately.
Regular evaluation price
Not verified [18]Exact selector/checkout price not captured. Do not use Legacy subscription prices.
Billing
One-time, 30-day evaluation access [16]
Activation
$0.00 [17]No Activation Fee purchase variant only.
Paid reset fee
Not applicable [16]New products have no reset; failed evaluation requires a new purchase.
Profit target
$3,000.00 [8]
Minimum trading days
No minimum [8]No minimum requirement; may pass in one trading day.
Limit
$2,000.00 [8]
Calculation
End-of-day trailing [8]
Breach monitoring
Real-time net equity [9]
Breach boundary
At or below the loss floor [9]
Source noteTouching the current threshold breaches the account.
Floor cap
$53,000.00 [9]Rithmic/Wealthcharts evaluation floor caps at target-profit balance. Tradovate keeps trailing.
Rule or target
Not applicable [8]No evaluation consistency requirement.
Boundary
Not applicable [8]Not applied.
Basis
Not applicable [8]Not applied.
Access days
30 [16]
Apex Trader FundingIntraday Evaluation No Activation Fee / PA / Rithmic
$50,000.00 [12]
Source noteNominal program size. Starting simulated balances are recorded separately.
Regular evaluation price
Not verified [18]Exact selector/checkout price not captured. Do not use Legacy subscription prices.
Billing
One-time, 30-day evaluation access [16]
Activation
$0.00 [17]No Activation Fee purchase variant only.
Paid reset fee
Not applicable [16]New products have no reset; failed evaluation requires a new purchase.
Profit target
$3,000.00 [12]
Minimum trading days
No minimum [12]No minimum requirement; may pass in one trading day.
Limit
$2,000.00 [12]
Calculation
Intraday trailing [12]
Breach monitoring
Real-time net equity [13]
Breach boundary
At or below the loss floor [13]
Source noteTouching the current threshold breaches the account.
Floor cap
$53,000.00 [13]Rithmic/Wealthcharts evaluation floor caps at target-profit balance. Tradovate keeps trailing.
Rule or target
Not applicable [12]No evaluation consistency requirement.
Boundary
Not applicable [12]Not applied.
Basis
Not applicable [12]Not applied.
Access days
30 [16]
MyFundedFuturesBuilder Default / 2000 MLL / current one-time purchase
$50,000.00 [21]
Source noteNominal program size. Starting simulated balances are recorded separately.
Regular evaluation price
$153.00 [21]
Billing
One-time [23]
Activation
$0.00 [21]
Paid reset fee
Not verified Exact current Builder reset price not verified.
Profit target
$3,000.00 [21]
Minimum trading days
1 [21]
Limit
$2,000.00 [21]
Calculation
End-of-day trailing [21]
Breach monitoring
Not verified [21]Guide describes open-equity breach determination at day end. Continuous intraday enforcement is not explicitly verified.
Breach boundary
Not verified Exact touch versus below operator not verified for this stage.
Floor cap
Not verified [21]The guide gives a general +100 locking statement, without a separate evaluation lock table.
Rule or target
Not applicable [31]Builder has no evaluation consistency rule.
Boundary
Not applicable [31]Not applied.
Basis
Not applicable [31]Not applied.
Access days
Not verified [23]One-time purchase; seven-day inactivity is not a fixed expiry.
MyFundedFuturesRapid Intraday / current one-time purchase
$50,000.00 [30]
Source noteNominal program size. Starting simulated balances are recorded separately.
Regular evaluation price
$209.00 [20] [22]
Billing
One-time [23]
Activation
$0.00 [30]
Paid reset fee
Not verified Current reset availability/price unresolved.
Profit target
$3,000.00 [30]
Minimum trading days
2 [30]
Limit
$2,000.00 [30]
Calculation
End-of-day trailing [30]
Breach monitoring
Not verified [30]Exact intraday enforcement for the evaluation stage not verified.
Breach boundary
Not verified Exact touch versus below operator not verified for this stage.
Floor cap
Not verified Evaluation floor locking not explicitly verified.
Rule or target
50% [31]
Boundary
At or below the threshold [31]
Basis
Best-day profit divided by total evaluation profit [31]
Access days
Not verified [23]One-time purchase has inactivity conditions, not a verified fixed expiry.
TradeifySelect Evaluation 40% / Select Flex / new purchase after 1 Sep 2026
$50,000.00 [25]
Source noteNominal program size. Starting simulated balances are recorded separately.
Regular evaluation price
$165.00 [24]
Billing
One-time [24]
Activation
$0.00 [25]
Paid reset fee
$109.00 [24]
Profit target
$3,000.00 [25]Current dashboard purchase. Legacy accounts retain 2500 target.
Minimum trading days
3 [25]
Limit
$2,000.00 [25]
Calculation
End-of-day trailing [26]
Breach monitoring
Real-time net liquidation value [26]
Breach boundary
At or below the loss floor [26]
Source noteNet liquidation value touching the current loss floor breaches the account.
Floor cap
Not applicable [26]Evaluations do not lock their drawdown floor.
Rule or target
40% [25]50% add-on excluded.
Boundary
At or below the threshold [25]
Basis
Best-day profit divided by total evaluation profit [25]
Access days
Not verified Not verified for this exact evaluation stage.

Simulated funded rules and payout conditions

ProgramAccount stateDrawdownPayout conditionsPayout limits
TopstepTrading Combine Standard pricing / XFA Standard / no DLL add-on
$50,000.00 [2]
Source noteNominal program size. Starting simulated balances are recorded separately.
Environment
Simulated [5]
Starting balance
$0.00 [5]
Limit
$2,000.00 [4]
Calculation
End-of-day trailing [4]
Breach monitoring
Real-time net equity [4]
Breach boundary
At or below the loss floor [4]
Source noteTouching the current loss floor breaches the account.
Floor cap
$0.00 [4]
Cap condition
EOD balance reaches 2000, or first payout, whichever occurs first [4]
Consistency
Not applicable [5]XFA Standard has no payout consistency target. XFA Consistency is a separate path.
Boundary
Not applicable [5]No consistency rule on selected funded path.
Winning days
5 [6]
Minimum winning day
$150.00 [6]
Buffer
Not applicable [6]No separate safety-net earning threshold stated for XFA Standard; loss floor still applies.
Minimum request balance
Not verified Not verified for this exact simulated-funded stage.
Other conditions
  • Five non-consecutive winning days per cycle
  • After the first payout: at least 0.01 net profit since the prior payout
  • First payout sets MLL to zero; qualifying-day count restarts
  • Request and payment fees may reduce cash received
[6]
Trader share
90% [6]New trader terms. Pre-12-Jan-2026 legacy concession excluded.
Minimum request
$125.00 [6]
Maximum request
$2,000.00 [6]50K XFA Standard without DLL offer. Also limited to 50% of balance.
Balance share cap
50% [6]
Maximum payout count
Not verified Not verified for this exact simulated-funded stage.
Apex Trader FundingEOD Evaluation No Activation Fee / PA / Rithmic
$50,000.00 [8]
Source noteNominal program size. Starting simulated balances are recorded separately.
Environment
Simulated [10]
Starting balance
$50,000.00 [9]Displayed 50K PA balance; profits are simulated.
Limit
$2,000.00 [10]
Calculation
End-of-day trailing [10]
Breach monitoring
Real-time net equity [10]
Breach boundary
At or below the loss floor [9]
Source noteTouching the current threshold breaches the account.
Floor cap
$50,100.00 [9]
Cap condition
Highest EOD balance reaches 52100 [9]
Consistency
50% [11]Strictly below 50%, unlike inclusive 50% rules.
Boundary
Below the threshold [11]
Winning days
5 [11]
Minimum winning day
$250.00 [11]
Buffer
$2,100.00 [11]Lifetime profit safety net, separate from the 50100 drawdown floor.
Minimum request balance
$52,600.00 [11]
Other conditions
  • Five qualifying days need not be consecutive
  • Only profit above the lifetime safety net can be withdrawn
  • Sixth approved payout closes the PA
  • Account balance must remain eligible while a request is processed
[11]
Trader share
100% [11]100% of approved simulated PA payout, not the separate live split.
Minimum request
$500.00 [11]
First approved request cap
$1,500.00 [11]First approved payout cap; subsequent caps stored separately.
Caps by approved payout
  1. Payout 1: $1,500.00
  2. Payout 2: $1,500.00
  3. Payout 3: $2,000.00
  4. Payout 4: $2,500.00
  5. Payout 5: $2,500.00
  6. Payout 6: $3,000.00
[11]
Balance share cap
Not verified Not verified for this exact simulated-funded stage.
Maximum payout count
6 [11]
Apex Trader FundingIntraday Evaluation No Activation Fee / PA / Rithmic
$50,000.00 [12]
Source noteNominal program size. Starting simulated balances are recorded separately.
Environment
Simulated [14]
Starting balance
$50,000.00 [13]Displayed 50K PA balance; profits are simulated.
Limit
$2,000.00 [14]
Calculation
Intraday trailing [14]
Breach monitoring
Real-time net equity [14]
Breach boundary
At or below the loss floor [13]
Source noteTouching the current threshold breaches the account.
Floor cap
$50,100.00 [13]
Cap condition
Highest intraday equity, including unrealized gains reaches 52100 [13]
Consistency
50% [15]Strictly below 50%, unlike inclusive 50% rules.
Boundary
Below the threshold [15]
Winning days
5 [15]
Minimum winning day
$200.00 [15]
Buffer
$2,100.00 [15]Lifetime profit safety net, separate from the 50100 drawdown floor.
Minimum request balance
$52,600.00 [15]
Other conditions
  • Five qualifying days need not be consecutive
  • Only profit above the lifetime safety net can be withdrawn
  • Sixth approved payout closes the PA
  • Account balance must remain eligible while a request is processed
[15]
Trader share
100% [15]100% of approved simulated PA payout, not the separate live split.
Minimum request
$500.00 [15]
First approved request cap
$1,500.00 [15]First approved payout cap; subsequent caps stored separately.
Caps by approved payout
  1. Payout 1: $1,500.00
  2. Payout 2: $2,000.00
  3. Payout 3: $2,500.00
  4. Payout 4: $2,500.00
  5. Payout 5: $3,000.00
  6. Payout 6: $3,000.00
[15]
Balance share cap
Not verified Not verified for this exact simulated-funded stage.
Maximum payout count
6 [15]
MyFundedFuturesBuilder Default / 2000 MLL / current one-time purchase
$50,000.00 [21]
Source noteNominal program size. Starting simulated balances are recorded separately.
Environment
Simulated [21]
Starting balance
$0.00 [21]
Limit
$2,000.00 [21]
Calculation
End-of-day trailing [21]
Breach monitoring
Not verified [21]Exact real-time enforcement is not clear in this plan-specific guide.
Breach boundary
Not verified Exact touch versus below operator not verified for this stage.
Floor cap
$100.00 [21]General account-rule lock at starting balance plus 100. Live table separately says zero.
Cap condition
Loss floor reaches starting balance plus 100 [21]
Consistency
50% [21]
Boundary
At or below the threshold [21]
Winning days
Not applicable [21]Requires two trading days, not a winning-day dollar threshold.
Trading days
2 [21]
Minimum winning day
Not applicable [21]No daily dollar minimum stated in payout criteria.
Buffer
$2,100.00 [21]
Minimum request balance
$2,600.00 [21]
Other conditions
  • First payout: at least 500 net profit above 2100 buffer
  • Later payouts: at least 500 net profit since prior approved payout
  • At least two trading days and inclusive 50% consistency each cycle
  • First request no earlier than 48 hours after first simulated-funded trade
[21]
Trader share
80% [21]
Minimum request
$500.00 [21]
Maximum request
$2,000.00 [21]
Balance share cap
Not verified Not verified for this exact simulated-funded stage.
Maximum payout count
5 [21]
MyFundedFuturesRapid Intraday / current one-time purchase
$50,000.00 [30]
Source noteNominal program size. Starting simulated balances are recorded separately.
Environment
Simulated [30]
Starting balance
$0.00 [30]
Limit
$2,000.00 [30]
Calculation
Intraday trailing [30]
Breach monitoring
Real-time net equity [32]
Breach boundary
Below the loss floor [30]
Source noteCurrent plan-specific article says below the $100 locked floor breaches. Other generic descriptions may differ.
Floor cap
$100.00 [30]
Cap condition
Trailing floor reaches 100; high-water equity reaches 2100 [30]Plan-specific help takes precedence over older generic drawdown text.
Consistency
Not applicable [30]No simulated-funded consistency rule.
Boundary
Not applicable [30]Not applied.
Winning days
Not applicable [30]Daily requests rely on buffer and minimum, not a five-winning-day cycle.
Minimum winning day
Not applicable [30]Not stated as a requirement.
Buffer
$2,100.00 [30]Realized-profit buffer must be earned before a request; separate from 100 loss floor.
Minimum request balance
Not verified [30]Buffer unlock is verified, but exact retained balance/withdrawable amount interaction is not fully stated.
Other conditions
  • First request: at least 24 hours after first simulated-funded trade, with buffer and minimum satisfied
  • Daily cadence: every 24 hours
  • Tier 1 news trading is prohibited in simulated-funded stage
[30]
Trader share
90% [30]
Minimum request
$500.00 [30]
Maximum request
Not verified No explicit maximum request amount verified for Rapid Intraday; Rapid EOD rules must not be substituted.
Balance share cap
Not verified Not verified for this exact simulated-funded stage.
Maximum payout count
Not verified Not verified for this exact simulated-funded stage.
TradeifySelect Evaluation 40% / Select Flex / new purchase after 1 Sep 2026
$50,000.00 [25]
Source noteNominal program size. Starting simulated balances are recorded separately.
Environment
Simulated [28]
Starting balance
$50,000.00 [27]
Limit
$2,000.00 [27]
Calculation
End-of-day trailing [26]
Breach monitoring
Real-time net liquidation value [26]
Breach boundary
At or below the loss floor [26]
Source noteNet liquidation value touching the current loss floor breaches the account.
Floor cap
$50,100.00 [26]
Cap condition
EOD balance reaches 52100, or payout is requested, whichever occurs first [26]
Consistency
Not applicable [27]No consistency rule once funded.
Boundary
Not applicable [27]Not applied.
Winning days
5 [27]
Minimum winning day
$150.00 [27]
Buffer
Not applicable [27]Select Flex has no payout buffer. Select Daily 2100 buffer does not apply.
Minimum request balance
Not applicable [27]No separate minimum balance requirement; winning days, request cap and loss floor still apply.
Other conditions
  • Five new winning days per payout cycle
  • After first payout: positive net profit since prior payout
  • Only one pending request per account
  • Payout request can lock loss floor to 50100 immediately
[27]
Trader share
90% [27]
Minimum request
$250.00 [27]
Maximum request
$2,500.00 [27]50K Select Flex purchased after 1 Sep 2026; old 3000 cap excluded.
Balance share cap
50% [27]50% of total profit position: current balance minus starting balance.
Maximum payout count
Not verified Not verified for this exact simulated-funded stage.

Estimate known fees

Enable JavaScript to estimate selected charges. Verified prices are shown in the table.

    Verified evaluation, paid reset and activation charges only. Data, platform, commissions, taxes and other charges are excluded. Reset credits and promotions are not applied. One-time access limits still apply. Passing and payout eligibility are separate.

    The 5 Highest-Scoring Futures Prop Firms in 2026

    FXIFY Futures leads on 88/100, ahead of FundedNext Futures (88) and Blueberry Futures (85), across all 16 futures prop firms we track. Scores come from verified data, and change only when a firm's data does.

    See all rankings

    Scores are produced by our published methodology. See the full rankings for every firm we track.

    1. 1. FXIFY Futures 88/100
    2. 2. FundedNext Futures 88/100
    3. 3. Blueberry Futures 85/100
    4. 4. The5ers Futures 82/100
    5. 5. Alpha Futures 80/100

    All Prop Firms Ranked

    Sorted by our score, filter and search below

    Search by firm name, filter by evaluation type, broker backing or active offer, and sort by BPF Score or rank. All 16 futures prop firms stay on the page — nothing is hidden behind pagination.

    All 16 futures prop firms we track, ranked by BPF Score
    Country Profit split Challenge from Platforms Promo Review
    1
    FXIFY Futures logo
    FXIFY Futures     		88 Excellent out of 100 IE 100% $89 Tradovate, TradingView, NinjaTrader 15% OFF Read Review Visit FXIFY Futures
    2
    FundedNext Futures logo
    FundedNext Futures     		88 Excellent out of 100 AE 95% $79.99 Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView 10% OFF Read Review Visit FundedNext Futures
    3
    Blueberry Futures logo
    Blueberry Futures     		85 Great out of 100 AU 90% $110.40 BlackArrow No Offer - Read Review Visit Blueberry Futures
    4
    The5ers Futures logo
    The5ers Futures     		82 Great out of 100 IL 80% $59 BlackArrow No Offer - Read Review Visit The5ers Futures
    5
    Alpha Futures logo
    Alpha Futures     		80 Good out of 100 GB 90% $89 AlphaTrader, TradingView, WealthCharts, Quantower, DeepChart No Offer - Read Review Visit Alpha Futures
    6
    MyFundedFutures logo
    MyFundedFutures     		72 Fair out of 100 US 90% $105 Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Quantower No Offer - Read Review Visit MyFundedFutures
    7
    One Up Trader logo
    One Up Trader     		72 Fair out of 100 US 100% $65 NinjaTrader, R|Trader Pro, Sierra Chart, ScalpTool, Volfix.net, Agena Trader, Bookmap, Jigsaw Trading, MultiCharts, Medved Trader, Track 'n Trade, Trade Navigator, MotiveWave, InsideEDGE Trader, Vetta, iTrader, Order Flow Trading, Photon Trade No Offer - Read Review Visit One Up Trader
    8
    Tradeify logo
    Tradeify     		70 Fair out of 100 US 90% $99 Tradovate, NinjaTrader, WealthCharts, TradeSea No Offer - Read Review Visit Tradeify
    9
    TradeDay logo
    TradeDay     		70 Fair out of 100 US 90% $131 Tradovate, Rithmic No Offer - Read Review Visit TradeDay
    10
    E8 Markets logo
    E8 Markets     		68 Below Avg out of 100 US 100% $40 Match-Trader, MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker, E8 Futures Platform, Tradovate No Offer - Read Review Visit E8 Markets
    11
    Apex Trader Funding logo
    Apex Trader Funding     		61 Poor out of 100 US 100% — Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts, NinjaTrader, RTrader Pro No Offer - Read Review Visit Apex Trader Funding
    12
    Topstep logo
    Topstep     		57 Poor out of 100 US 90% $49 TopstepX, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Tradovate, Quantower, T4 No Offer - Read Review Visit Topstep
    13
    The Trading Pit logo
    The Trading Pit     		51 Poor out of 100 LI 80% $49 cTrader, NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Rithmic, Quantower, ATAS, Volsys, Volumetrica, TradingView No Offer - Read Review Visit The Trading Pit
    14
    Goat Funded Futures logo
    Goat Funded Futures     		39 Poor out of 100 AE 100% $134 Quantower, Deepmap, NinjaTrader Prop, Tradovate Prop, Deepcharts, TickBlaze No Offer - Read Review Visit Goat Funded Futures
    15
    Earn2Trade logo
    Earn2Trade     		73 Fair out of 100 US 80% $150 NinjaTrader, Finamark, Rithmic, Tradovate, BlackArrow, TradingView No Offer - Read Review Visit Earn2Trade
    16
    Elite Trader Funding logo
    Elite Trader Funding     		48 Poor out of 100 US 100% $75 TradingView, NinjaTrader, Tradovate, R | Trader Pro, EdgeProX, Sierra Chart No Offer - Read Review Visit Elite Trader Funding

    Every figure in this table is taken from each firm’s own published challenge terms, payout policy and fee schedule, cross-checked against its Trustpilot profile for the trust component. Last verified . 2 of the 16 firms currently carry a verified discount code. Scores are produced by our published methodology.

    What the 2026 rankings show

    We track 16 futures prop firms in this ranking, of which 16 carry a full score. FXIFY Futures leads on 88/100, ahead of FundedNext Futures on 88/100 , with the lowest scored firm at 39/100. Scores come from seven weighted criteria - challenges, spreads, markets, payouts, platforms, trust and support - applied identically to every firm, with no paid placement.

    Entry pricing starts at $40 for the cheapest evaluation we list. Profit splits reach 100% at the top of the table. The fastest first payout on record is 1 day after funding. 3 of these firms offer an instant funding route that skips the evaluation entirely. 2 carry a verified discount code.

    Platform coverage is widest on Tradovate (11 firms), NinjaTrader (10 firms) and TradingView (8 firms). Check platform support before rules or pricing: a favourable rule set on an execution platform you dislike is a bad trade.

    The BestPropFirms ranking open on a laptop, showing the scored futures prop firms comparison table

    Buyer's guide

    How to Choose a Futures Prop Firm

    Futures evaluations are priced and risk-managed differently from forex challenges. These five attributes decide the outcome, and each is scored on every firm in the table above.

    1

    Trailing drawdown type

    This is the single biggest difference between futures firms. An end-of-day trailing drawdown recalculates from your closing balance; an intraday trailing drawdown follows your unrealised equity high tick by tick and can close an account on an open position that later recovers. Two firms quoting the same drawdown figure can be far apart in practice.

    2

    Contract limits

    Futures accounts cap how many contracts you may hold at once, and often apply a lower cap during the evaluation than after funding. The cap governs how much size you can express per idea, so read it alongside the profit target rather than on its own.

    3

    Exchange data and fees

    Trading CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX products requires exchange market-data subscriptions, and round-turn commissions apply per contract. Both are recurring costs on top of the evaluation fee, and they are what make a cheap monthly account more expensive than it looks.

    4

    Payout schedule and consistency rules

    Futures firms commonly apply consistency rules that cap what share of total profit a single day may contribute, and hold the first payout behind a minimum number of winning days. A fast headline payout cycle means little if a consistency rule delays your eligibility.

    5

    Platform and order routing

    Futures platforms differ more than forex ones: NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Rithmic and Quantower each expose different order types, DOM behaviour and automation support. Confirm the firm supports the platform and data feed you already trade before comparing anything else.

    How Futures Prop Firms Work

    The table above ranks 16 futures prop firms on their published terms. The numbers that follow explain what sits behind those scores: how futures funding actually works, how it differs from forex and CFD alternatives, which platforms matter, and what the profit-sharing and risk rules mean once you look past the headline figures. Evaluation fees across these firms run from $40 to $1,627, and the highest advertised profit split a trader can reach runs from 80% to 100%. Both ranges are wide, and the reasons for that spread become clearer when you understand the structure of the market.

    What is a futures prop firm?

    A futures prop firm is a proprietary trading company that funds traders to trade futures contracts under the firm’s rules and capital. Performance is tracked against contracts listed on regulated exchanges, including the CME, NYMEX and ICE. The instruments span equity indices, commodities, metals, energy and bonds. A trader passes an evaluation to become funded, then trades within risk controls such as drawdown limits and daily loss limits. That much is common across the category. What differs from the impression many newcomers bring is the technical and legal setting in which the trading takes place.

    Most futures prop firms run evaluations on simulated accounts that mirror live exchange pricing, not live brokerage accounts in the trader’s name. Many keep the funded stage simulated as well, paying the trader’s profit share from the firm’s own funds based on simulated results. A smaller number move consistently profitable traders onto a live exchange account at a later stage. For that reason, the word “futures” does not automatically mean live trading. Whether a firm’s funded stage is simulated or live is worth checking in its terms before purchase, because the distinction affects execution, data fees and how the firm manages its own risk.

    Futures prop firms vs forex prop firms

    The choice between a futures and a forex prop firm is partly about market structure and partly about trading style. The table below sets out the main differences side by side.

    Feature Futures prop firms Forex prop firms
    Market type Centralised - CME, NYMEX, ICE Decentralised, over-the-counter
    Trading hours Limited to exchange hours 24 hours, five days a week
    Contract size Fixed. One E-mini S&P 500 contract is $50 per point Flexible lot sizing
    Leverage 1:10 to 1:50, set by the exchange Up to 1:100 on prop accounts
    Asset classes Indices, commodities, metals, bonds Currency pairs - majors, minors, exotics
    Pricing Transparent and identical for every participant Set by the broker, so it varies between firms
    Market depth High liquidity, limited order flow visibility Deep liquidity, no central exchange

    Futures suits structured traders who prefer regulated exchanges, set contract sizes and access to assets such as commodities, indices and bonds. Forex suits traders who want continuous market access five days a week, higher leverage and the ability to size positions in smaller increments. Neither is inherently better, but they reward different habits. The forex side of the market is ranked separately on the site’s main prop firm rankings page.

    Funded futures accounts vs funded CFD accounts

    A widespread assumption is that funded futures accounts are “real” and funded CFD accounts are not. That framing is wrong. For the large majority of traders, both are simulated through the evaluation and usually remain simulated after funding as well. What genuinely separates them is the instrument traded, who sets the price, the ongoing costs and the leverage available.

    Futures accounts track standardised contracts priced on regulated exchanges. CFD accounts track over-the-counter products priced by the firm’s broker or liquidity provider, covering forex, indices, commodities and crypto. Many futures firms pass on exchange market data fees, and futures contracts roll on a fixed expiry schedule. CFD accounts carry neither of those costs. The figures in the table below are counted across the 16 futures firms and 27 CFD firms ranked on this site, so they describe the market as it currently stands rather than a typical case. Firms that offer both futures and CFDs are counted in each column.

      Funded futures accounts Funded CFD accounts
    What you trade Standardised contracts on regulated exchanges - CME, NYMEX, ICE - covering indices, metals, energy and bonds. Over-the-counter products priced by the firm's broker or liquidity provider, covering forex, indices, commodities and crypto.
    Who sets the price The exchange. Pricing is transparent and identical for every participant. The broker or liquidity provider, so spreads vary between firms on the same instrument.
    Evaluation stage Simulated, mirroring live exchange pricing. Simulated, inside the firm's own risk model.
    Funded stage Usually still simulated, with the firm paying your share from its own funds. A minority move proven traders onto a live exchange account later. Simulated with most firms, managed inside the firm's risk model.
    Entry cost $40 to $1,627 $5 to $5,499
    Profit split ceiling 80% to 100% 80% to 100%
    Ongoing costs Exchange market data fees at many firms, and contracts roll on a fixed expiry schedule. No exchange data fees and no contract expirations.
    Position sizing Fixed contract sizes, capped by the firm's contract limits. Flexible lot sizing and generally higher leverage.

    Which platforms futures prop firms support

    Futures traders need low-latency platforms with depth-of-market data. Platform choice is one of the few things a trader cannot change after buying an evaluation, so it is worth settling before purchase. Across the 16 futures firms ranked on this page, support concentrates on a small number of platforms. The table below lists every platform supported by more than one firm. Platforms offered by only a single firm are excluded, because they do not represent a meaningful choice until that specific firm has already been chosen.

    Platform Firms Available at
    Tradovate 11 of 16 Apex Trader Funding, E8 Markets, Earn2Trade, Elite Trader Funding, FXIFY Futures, FundedNext Futures, MyFundedFutures, The Trading Pit, Topstep, TradeDay, Tradeify
    NinjaTrader 10 of 16 Apex Trader Funding, Earn2Trade, Elite Trader Funding, FXIFY Futures, FundedNext Futures, MyFundedFutures, One Up Trader, The Trading Pit, Topstep, Tradeify
    TradingView 8 of 16 Alpha Futures, Earn2Trade, Elite Trader Funding, FXIFY Futures, FundedNext Futures, MyFundedFutures, The Trading Pit, Topstep
    Quantower 5 of 16 Alpha Futures, Goat Funded Futures, MyFundedFutures, The Trading Pit, Topstep
    Rithmic 4 of 16 Apex Trader Funding, Earn2Trade, The Trading Pit, TradeDay
    BlackArrow 3 of 16 Blueberry Futures, Earn2Trade, The5ers Futures
    WealthCharts 3 of 16 Alpha Futures, Apex Trader Funding, Tradeify
    cTrader 2 of 16 E8 Markets, The Trading Pit

    Profit sharing in futures prop trading

    Profit sharing varies by firm but follows a recognisable shape. Most firms let the trader keep 100% of the first $10,000 to $25,000 in profits, then move to a split of roughly 80% to 90%. Across the futures firms ranked on this page the split ceiling runs from 80% to 100%. Some firms raise the percentage in exchange for consistency, or scale the account size as the trader hits milestones. The headline percentage is rarely the whole story.

    Whether a firm pays during the evaluation stage or only after funding, how often withdrawals are processed, and whether a consistency rule gates them all change what a trader actually collects. Consistency rules are close to universal in this category: 16 of 16 futures firms ranked here enforce one. A consistency rule typically caps how much of a trader’s total profit a single day may represent, which directly limits how quickly a payout can be built. Each firm’s individual review on the site records its own split, schedule and rules. The site also publishes a guide called “how prop firms pay traders” that walks through the mechanics in more detail.

    The risk rules that end funded accounts

    Prop firms impose the risk parameters a self-funded trader would otherwise set for themselves. Breaching one is the most common way a funded account is lost. Trailing drawdowns are close to standard in futures. The loss floor moves up as the account grows, so profit made early does not buy room later. Where the trail stops matters more than the headline drawdown figure. Daily loss limits cap what may be lost in a single session, often as a fixed dollar figure that scales with account size. Contract limits cap how much leverage can actually be taken regardless of the account size on the label. Time restrictions bar trading through high-volatility news at some firms, or require positions to be flat before the close.

    These rules are worth reading before the price, because they decide whether a given strategy is tradeable at a firm at all. A scalper who depends on holding through the close, or a swing trader who works around news events, will find some rulebooks impossible to follow no matter how attractive the split looks. The site publishes detailed guides on trailing drawdown, daily loss limits and risk management for prop traders that explain each mechanism in practice.

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    Our Process

    How We Review Prop Firms

    Research

    We read the firm's official terms, challenge rules, payout policies, and T&Cs. All data sourced directly with no third-party aggregators.

    Score

    Each firm is scored across 7 categories: challenges, spreads, markets, payouts, platforms, trust and support. Challenges and payouts carry the heaviest weights because they decide what you pay and what you take home; support weighs least.

    Publish

    Data stored in one canonical record. Every metric on every page flows from that source with no duplicated values, no stale data.

    Read the full methodology →

    Who's Behind the Scores

    Our Experts

    Justin Grossbard

    Justin Grossbard

    CEO & Co-Founder

    Co-founder of CompareForexBrokers with 10+ years covering brokers and prop firms. Leads the CFD review lane.

     Noam Korbl

    Noam Korbl

    COO & Co-Founder

    Co-founder of BestPropFirms and CompareForexBrokers. Leads the futures and payouts review lanes.

    Read more about the team on our about page.

    Got Questions?

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Everything you need to know about prop trading firms and how we rank them.

    What is a prop trading firm?
    A proprietary trading firm (prop firm) provides traders with capital to trade financial markets. Instead of risking your own money, you trade the firm's capital and share a percentage of the profits. Most firms require you to pass a challenge before receiving a funded account.
    How does the BPF Score work?
    The BPF Score is a 0-100 rating derived from seven weighted criteria: challenges, spreads, markets, payouts, platforms, trust and support. Challenges and payouts carry the heaviest weights. Every score comes from a firm's verified data record, never from user reviews or affiliate incentives.
    What's the difference between instant funding and challenge programs?
    The difference is the evaluation: instant funding skips it, challenge programs require it. Instant funding gives immediate access to a funded account, usually at a higher fee or a lower split. Challenges require hitting a profit target first and usually pay better once passed.
    How do payouts work at prop firms?
    After generating profits on your funded account, you can request a payout according to the firm's schedule (daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly). Payouts are typically processed via bank transfer, cryptocurrency, or payment processors like PayPal. The firm keeps their percentage, and you receive your share.
    Are prop firms legitimate or scams?
    Both exist: established firms that pay as advertised, and operators with unclear rules or delayed payouts. We check every firm's rules against its own published terms and flag unresolved payout or transparency concerns on that firm's review. Transparent rules and a verified payout history are the signals that separate them.
    Can US traders use prop firms?
    Yes, but options are more limited due to regulatory restrictions. Many international prop firms don't accept US clients, while others have specific programs for US traders. We clearly mark which firms accept US traders in our reviews and filters.
    What platforms do prop firms offer?
    Most prop firms offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), or cTrader. Some newer firms also support TradingView for charting with proprietary execution. The platform availability often depends on the broker the prop firm uses for execution.
    How much capital can I get from a prop firm?
    Initial funded account sizes typically range from $10,000 to $200,000. Many firms offer scaling programs where you can increase your account size by demonstrating consistent profitability, with some programs reaching up to $2 million or more.
    How does a futures prop firm evaluation work?
    You buy an evaluation account at a set contract size, then reach a profit target without breaching the trailing drawdown or the contract limit, usually over a minimum number of trading days. Passing moves you to a funded account, sometimes after a short verification stage, where you keep an agreed share of profits. Most futures evaluations are billed monthly rather than as a single fee, so a slow pass costs more than a fast one.
    What is trailing drawdown on a futures prop account?
    Trailing drawdown is a loss limit that moves up as your account grows. End-of-day trailing recalculates once per session from your closing balance, so intraday swings do not tighten it. Intraday trailing follows your highest unrealised equity in real time, which means an open trade that goes well and then retraces can breach the limit without you ever closing a losing position. Which type a firm uses is recorded on every futures firm we cover.
    Do futures prop firms charge exchange data fees?
    Usually yes. Live CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX data carries an exchange subscription, and firms differ on whether they absorb it, bundle it, or bill it to you monthly on top of the account. Round-turn commission per contract applies separately. Both costs are part of the real price of an evaluation and are worth adding to the headline fee before comparing firms.

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