Best Prop Trading Firms of 2026

What Makes a Prop Firm Actually “Good”?

After reviewing 50+ prop firms and talking to hundreds of funded traders, here’s what separates the great firms from the merely acceptable:

They don’t change rules mid-challenge. Good firms establish clear guidelines and stick to them. You shouldn’t find out about a new restriction on day 27 of a 30-day challenge.

Their profit splits make sense. If you’re doing the trading and taking the psychological stress, an 80/20 split is the bare minimum. The best firms start at 80% and scale to 90-100%.

Passing the challenge is difficult but fair. Nobody wants a challenge so easy it feels meaningless, but it also shouldn’t require perfect trading for 60 consecutive days. The best firms hit that sweet spot where consistent, disciplined traders can pass within a reasonable timeframe.

Payouts happen when promised. Not “eventually.” Not “we’re processing it.” Not “sorry, there was a technical issue.” The best firms have their payout infrastructure dialed in and send money on schedule.

Support actually helps. When you need assistance, you get a real person who understands trading, not a chatbot or someone reading from a script who has never seen a chart.

The firms in our comparison table above consistently deliver on all five of these criteria. That’s why they made the list.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best prop trading firm overall?

Based on our analysis, TradeDay takes the top spot for futures traders, offering up to 95% profit splits with a straightforward 1-step challenge and excellent trader support. For forex traders, Funded Trading Plus leads with flexible funding options (including instant funding) and support for multiple platforms. The “best” firm ultimately depends on what you trade and what you prioritize, profit split, challenge difficulty, platform options, or account size.

Which prop firm has the highest profit split?

Several firms offer up to 100% profit splits, including TopStep, Apex Trader Funding, My Funded Futures, Elite Trader Funding, and OneUp Trader. However, pay attention to the fine print: some firms start at lower splits (like 80-90%) and scale to 100% as you hit certain profit milestones. TradeDay offers a consistent 80% profit for the trader from day one, up to 95%, which often works out better than firms promising 100% after you’ve made your first $50K.

What’s the easiest prop firm challenge to pass?

My Funded Futures consistently reports higher-than-average pass rates (around 25% vs. the industry standard of 10-15%), and their 1-step challenge can be completed in as few as two trading days. TradeDay and Earn2Trade also have reputation for fair, passable challenges that don’t require you to be a trading robot. That said, “easiest” is relative, if you’re a consistently profitable trader, most 1-step challenges are reasonable. If you’re still learning, even the “easy” ones will be challenging.

Are prop trading firms legit or a scam?

The firms on this list are legitimate businesses that fund profitable traders and process regular payouts. However, the prop firm industry does have some bad actors, firms that make passing nearly impossible, delay payouts indefinitely, or have unclear terms that let them keep your profits. This is exactly why we only list firms with 4.5+ Trustpilot ratings and verified payout histories. Stick to established, well-reviewed firms and read the rules carefully before starting any challenge.

How much does a prop firm account cost?

Challenge costs vary widely based on account size and firm. Futures challenges typically range from $100-$400/month for accounts between $25K-$150K. Forex challenges are often one-time fees ranging from $50-$600 depending on account size. Many firms offer significant discounts (like Earn2Trade’s 60% off or TradeDay’s 30% off), which can make a substantial difference. Look for firms that refund your challenge fee after your first payout, several on our list do this.

Can you actually make money with prop firms?

Yes, thousands of traders earn consistent income through prop firms. However, it’s not easy money. You need to be a genuinely profitable trader with strong risk management and emotional discipline. Most traders fail their first challenge (industry average pass rate is around 10-15%). The key is to treat the evaluation seriously: trade your proven strategy, manage risk carefully, and don’t try to pass in record time. The traders who succeed are those who would be profitable trading their own accounts, the prop firm just gives them more capital to work with.

What’s the difference between 1-step and 2-step challenges?

A 1-step challenge requires you to hit a profit target while following the rules (daily drawdown, max drawdown, etc.) in a single evaluation phase. Once you pass, you’re funded. Most 1-step challenges give you unlimited time to hit the target.

A 2-step challenge has two phases: Phase 1 has a higher profit target (often 8-10%), and Phase 2 has a lower target (often 5%) to verify consistency. Some traders prefer 2-step because it forces them to prove consistency; others find it needlessly complicated. Generally, 1-step challenges are faster if you’re confident in your trading.

Do I need a lot of capital to start with a prop firm?

No, that’s the entire point of prop firms. You pay a relatively small challenge fee (typically $100-$400 for futures, $50-$600 for forex) instead of needing $25K-$100K+ of your own capital. Once funded, you’re trading the firm’s money, not yours. This makes prop trading accessible to skilled traders who don’t have large account balances but can demonstrate consistent profitability.

Which prop firm is best for beginners?

TradeDay stands out for beginners due to their exceptional educational resources (webinars, coaching, trading courses) and reasonable 1-step challenge. Their 40% discount also makes it more affordable to attempt multiple times while learning. Daytraders is another solid choice with their instant funding option, you can start trading a live funded account immediately while learning with smaller size. That said, focus on becoming a consistently profitable trader BEFORE attempting any prop challenge. Prop firms aren’t training programs; they’re looking for traders who already have the skills.

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Why Trust Our Rankings?

We’re not a prop firm, and we don’t have a “house favorite” we’re trying to push. Some of the firms on this list compensate us when you sign up through our links (clearly marked with discount codes), but that doesn’t influence our rankings. The firms at the top of this list earned their spots through consistently positive trader reviews, fair treatment, and reliable payouts.

You can verify everything we’ve said by checking the Trustpilot ratings yourself, reading through trader forums, or testing these firms with your own challenge. We update this comparison monthly to reflect any rule changes, new firms worth considering, or firms that have slipped in quality.

Our goal is simple: help you find a legitimate prop firm that matches your trading style so you can focus on what actually matters, trading profitably.

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Ready to get started? Pick a firm from the comparison above, grab the discount code if available, and make sure to read our detailed review before signing up. Good luck with your evaluation, and we’ll see you on the other side as a funded trader.