Prop Trading
Best Prop Trading Firms 2026
Compare the leading proprietary trading firms by challenge fees, profit targets, profit splits, and payout reliability. Find the right funded account for your trading style.
What Are Prop Trading Firms?
Proprietary (prop) trading firms provide traders with funded accounts to trade with. Instead of risking your own capital, you trade the firm's money and keep a share of the profits, typically between 75-95%.
To access funding, most firms require you to pass an evaluation or challenge. This is a simulated trading period where you must hit a profit target while staying within strict risk limits (maximum daily and overall loss). Once you pass, you receive a funded account and can start earning real money.
Prop firms have become hugely popular because they lower the barrier to entry for talented traders. Instead of needing $50,000-$100,000 in personal capital, you can access the same account size for a one-time challenge fee of a few hundred dollars.
8 firms found
| # | Firm | Score | Challenge From | Profit Split | Max Account | Platforms | Payout | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FTMO Est. 2015 · Prague, Czech Republic | 9.2 | $155 | Up to 90% | $200,000 | MetaTrader 4MetaTrader 5+2 | Bi-weekly (every 14 days) | Review |
| 2 | FundedNext Est. 2022 · Ajman, UAE | 8.7 | $59 | Up to 95% | $100,000 | MetaTrader 4MetaTrader 5+1 | Bi-weekly (every 14 days) | Review |
| 3 | The5ers Est. 2016 · Ra'anana, Israel | 8.4 | $95 | Up to 80% | $100,000 | MetaTrader 5 | Bi-weekly | Review |
| 4 | TopStep Est. 2012 · Chicago, USA | 8.3 | $49 | Up to 90% | $150,000 | TopStepXTradingView+1 | Weekly (after initial waiting period) | Review |
| 5 | Funded Trading Plus Est. 2021 · London, United Kingdom | 8.1 | $119 | Up to 90% | $200,000 | MetaTrader 4MetaTrader 5 | Bi-weekly | Review |
| 6 | E8 Markets Est. 2021 · Dallas, USA | 8.0 | $228 | Up to 95% | $250,000 | MetaTrader 4MetaTrader 5 | Bi-weekly | Review |
| 7 | Alpha Capital Group Est. 2021 · London, United Kingdom | 7.7 | $97 | Up to 80% | $200,000 | MetaTrader 5 | Bi-weekly | Review |
| 8 | Lux Trading Firm Est. 2021 · London, United Kingdom | 7.5 | $299 | Up to 75% | $200,000 | MetaTrader 4MetaTrader 5+1 | Monthly | Review |
All Prop Firms
FTMO
Est. 2015 · Prague, Czech Republic
FundedNext
Est. 2022 · Ajman, UAE
The5ers
Est. 2016 · Ra'anana, Israel
TopStep
Est. 2012 · Chicago, USA
Funded Trading Plus
Est. 2021 · London, United Kingdom
E8 Markets
Est. 2021 · Dallas, USA
Alpha Capital Group
Est. 2021 · London, United Kingdom
Lux Trading Firm
Est. 2021 · London, United Kingdom
Prop Firm Disclaimer
Prop trading firms are not regulated financial institutions. Challenge fees are non-refundable in most cases. Past performance of funded traders does not guarantee future results. Always read the full terms and conditions before purchasing a challenge. This comparison is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
Prop trading firms — common questions
Are prop trading firms regulated?
Most prop firms are not regulated brokers — they are software or education companies selling a paid evaluation, so broker protections such as FSCS or ICF do not apply and your evaluation fee is at risk. Judge a firm on its payout track record and the clarity of its rules rather than on a licence.
Is FTMO legit, and does it pay out?
FTMO is the longest-established funded-trader firm (founded in Prague in 2015) with a widely-documented payout record and profit splits up to 90%. It is a proprietary-trading evaluation provider, not a regulated broker: a funded FTMO Account trades the firm's simulated capital under a profit-share agreement, not your own live brokerage account.
How does a prop firm challenge work?
You pay a one-off fee for an evaluation with a profit target and strict daily and overall drawdown limits. Pass it — some firms add a second verification step — and you receive a funded account, keeping a share of the profits, commonly 80–90%. Most failed challenges are lost to a drawdown rule rather than a losing strategy, so read the rules in full before paying.
Which is the best prop firm in 2026?
FTMO leads on track record, payout reliability and platform choice (MT4, MT5, cTrader and DXtrade), with TopStep and The5ers strong alternatives. The right firm depends on your strategy, the drawdown limits and whether news and weekend trading are allowed — compare the rules, not just the headline profit split.
Latest analysis
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