Prop firms: rules, payouts & safety
Funded-account programs let you trade the firm's capital after passing an evaluation — but rules and payout reliability vary enormously. Decode the rules, weigh the safety signals, and check the shutdown tracker before you commit.
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Static vs trailing drawdown
A static (fixed) drawdown is measured from your starting balance and doesn't move. A trailing drawdown follows your account's peak upward, so giving back profit can end your account even while you're up. End-of-day trailing only locks in at the close; intraday trailing reacts to peaks during the session — the strictest kind.
Consistency rules
Many firms require that no single day makes up more than a set percentage of your total profit before a payout. This stops one lucky trade from qualifying you — but it can also delay payouts if you have one big winning day.
Payout traps to watch
Watch for: high minimum payout thresholds, long first-payout waiting periods, activation and reset fees that stack up, single-platform dependency, and terms the firm can change retroactively. Cheap challenges with expensive resets can cost more than a fairer, pricier firm.
Rules change often — always confirm current terms on the firm's site. The signals below decode each firm's stated rules into plain English; colour shows how strict a rule is for you, not whether the firm is good or bad.
- End-of-day trailing: The limit trails your balance but only locks in at the daily close — manageable, but it moves up as you profit.
- Consistency rule: A single day can't make up too large a share of profit before payout — steadier trading required, and payouts can be delayed.
- Fee non-refundable: The evaluation fee is generally not returned — factor it into your cost.
- News trading limited: Trading around high-impact news is restricted on some accounts/models — verify before relying on it.
- Trailing drawdown: The limit follows your peak, so giving back profit can end the account even while you're up.
- Fee non-refundable: The evaluation fee is generally not returned — factor it into your cost.
- 3yr track record: A shorter track record — less history to judge payout reliability by.
- End-of-day trailing: The limit trails your balance but only locks in at the daily close — manageable, but it moves up as you profit.
- News trading limited: Trading around high-impact news is restricted on some accounts/models — verify before relying on it.
- Fee non-refundable: The evaluation fee is generally not returned — factor it into your cost.
- 2yr track record: A shorter track record — less history to judge payout reliability by.
- End-of-day trailing: The limit trails your balance but only locks in at the daily close — manageable, but it moves up as you profit.
- Consistency rule: A single day can't make up too large a share of profit before payout — steadier trading required, and payouts can be delayed.
- Fee non-refundable: The evaluation fee is generally not returned — factor it into your cost.
- Activation fee: An activation fee may apply before/after funding — check whether it's one-time or recurring.
- 3yr track record: A shorter track record — less history to judge payout reliability by.
- End-of-day trailing: The limit trails your balance but only locks in at the daily close — manageable, but it moves up as you profit.
- Consistency rule: A single day can't make up too large a share of profit before payout — steadier trading required, and payouts can be delayed.
- Fee non-refundable: The evaluation fee is generally not returned — factor it into your cost.
- Activation fee: An activation fee may apply before/after funding — check whether it's one-time or recurring.
- Consistency rule: A single day can't make up too large a share of profit before payout — steadier trading required, and payouts can be delayed.
- Activation fee: An activation fee may apply before/after funding — check whether it's one-time or recurring.
- End-of-day trailing: The limit trails your balance but only locks in at the daily close — manageable, but it moves up as you profit.
- Fee non-refundable: The evaluation fee is generally not returned — factor it into your cost.
- 1yr track record: A shorter track record — less history to judge payout reliability by.
Full rule comparison
Pick a rule to line up all 9 firms side by side — colour shows how strict each firm's stated rule is.
Challenge fee
What you pay up front to attempt the evaluation.
Monthly Trading Combine subscription (varies by account size)
$155–$1,080 by account size (refundable with first payout)
One-time program fee by account size/model
Monthly Test fee $150–$360 across $25k–$150k
One-time fee by plan/size, roughly $99–$549 list (frequently discounted 30–40%)
Monthly evaluation fee by account size (often discounted)
Monthly evaluation fee (~$99+), frequently discounted
Evaluation fee by model/size; refundable up to 120% at first payout (Stellar 1-Step/2-Step)
One-time fee by program/size — Pro/Flex roughly $100–$420 list (often ~50% discounted); Direct costs more
Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you click some links on our site. This does not cost you extra. Our comparisons are educational and transparent, and our rankings are not affected by commissions.
Risk warning: Trading stocks, options, futures, forex, crypto, CFDs and funded accounts involves risk. You can lose money. This website is educational only and does not provide financial, investment, tax or legal advice.
Funded trading programs have rules, fees, drawdown limits, payout conditions and restrictions. Read the provider's terms before buying a challenge or plan.