Choosing the right prop firm is crucial for your success. With over 100 companies on the market, each with their own rules, costs and advantages, it's easy to get lost. This guide will help you make the optimal choice according to your trader profile.
A bad decision can cost you thousands of dollars and months of frustration. A good decision can transform your trading career in just a few weeks.
Essential Selection Criteria
1. Market Type
Forex
- • Major currency pairs
- • 24h/5d trading
- • Tight spreads
- • MetaTrader 4/5
Ideal for: European traders, beginners, scalping strategies
Futures
- • US indices (ES, NQ, YM)
- • Commodities (CL, GC)
- • Standard/micro contracts
- • NinjaTrader, Tradovate
Ideal for: US day traders, scalpers, experienced traders
💡 Tip: If you're a beginner, start with Forex usingFTMOor Futures withTake Profit Traderwhich is THE absolute reference in futures - ultra-fast payments, 24/7 support and free Pro activation.
2. Evaluation Model
2-Phase Challenge
Most popular. Phase 1 (8-10% profit), Phase 2 (5% profit)
Examples: FTMO, Funded Next, E8 Funding
Instant Funding
No challenge, immediate but smaller account
Examples: The5ers, Blue Guardian
3. Critical Rules to Check
Maximum Drawdown
Standard: 10-12% | Strict: 6-8%
Daily Loss Limit
Typical: 4-5% per day
Consistency Rule
Some limit to 50% profit/day
Minimum Trading Days
Generally 5-10 days
News Trading
Banned by some
Weekend Holding
Positions closed on Friday
4. Cost Structure
50-150€
10K Account
200-400€
50K Account
500-1200€
100K+ Account
💰 Save up to 90%: Use ourexclusive promo codesto drastically reduce costs. For example,Apex Trader Fundingoffers promotions up to 90% OFF. Our code automatically adapts to the best promo of the moment.
Hidden costs to watch out for:
- • Reset fee: $50-100 to restart after failure
- • Data feed: $100-150/month for certain futures
- • Platform fee: $130/month for certain platforms
- • Activation fee: One-time fee after success (rare)
Top 5 Prop Firms by Category
🏆 Best for Beginners
⭐ Excellent Choice for Futures
Take Profit Trader
✅ EXCLUSIVE Advantages:
- • 🎁 Tradovate platform available
- • 💰 24-48h payments (fastest on the market)
- • 📈 Accounts from 25K to 150K
- • 🏆 90% profit sharing
- • ⚡ Consistency rule at only 50% (easy to manage)
- • 🛡️ Exceptional 24/7 customer support
- • 🔄 Up to 3 resets on PRO/FUNDED account (paid) - UNIQUE!
💡 EXCLUSIVITY: Only prop firm allowing up to 3 resets on the PRO/FUNDED account! Not just on evaluations, on the REAL trading account. This is huge for security!
💎 Best Value for Money
Red Flags: Prop Firms to Avoid
No payment proof
No verifiable testimonials or proof of payout
Changing rules
Rule modifications after registration
Payment delays
Repeated excuses for not paying profits
Non-existent support
No response to emails or chat
Amateur website
Spelling mistakes, unprofessional design
🎯 Quick Decision Tree
If you're a beginner (< 1 year experience):
→ Start with FTMO (Forex) or Take Profit Trader (Futures - An excellent choice for serious traders)
Reason: Excellent training, support, active community
If you have a tight budget:
→ Choose Apex Trader Funding with our always up-to-date promo code
Reason: Best discounts on the market, 50K account for ~$30
If you're an experienced trader:
→ Optez pour The5ers (instant funding) ou E8 Funding (fast scaling)
Reason: Fewer restrictions, aggressive scaling possible
If you trade news/volatility:
→ Avoid FTMO and MyForexFunds, prefer Funded Next or The5ers
Reason: No restrictions on news trading
✅ Pre-Registration Checklist
Ready to Make the Right Choice?
Use our tools to compare and save on your first prop firm