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Richard C
Richard C

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Prop firm rules compared (Oct 2026)

#trading #propfirm #daytrading #beginners

Not financial advice. Rules change, verify with the firm before buying. Checked Oct 2026.

👉 Get the Prop Firm Rules Cheat Sheet (xlsx)

Prop firm challenges look alike until you read the rules. Below is one representative plan from each of 10 popular firms, with every value taken from the firm's own website or help center in October 2026.

The comparison

Firm Plan Max drawdown Daily loss limit Profit target Min trading days Payout split Price
FTMO $100K 2-Step 10% static ($10,000) 5% ($5,000) 10% then 5% 4 per phase 80% (up to 90%) €540 one-time, refundable with first reward
Topstep $100K Trading Combine $3,000 end-of-day trailing None by default (optional $2,000) $6,000 None fixed (min 2 days; 55% consistency target) 90% $99/month + $149 activation
Apex Trader Funding 100K Intraday Trail $3,000 intraday trailing None $6,000 None 100% $790 one-time (30-day eval) (promo $79 at check, Oct 2026)
The5ers $100K High Stakes 8% 4% 8% then 5% 3 profitable days 80% (up to 100%) $455, refunded on passing
FundedNext $100K Stellar 2-Step 10% static 5% 8% then 5% 5 per phase 80% $549.99
FundingPips $100K 2-Step Standard 10% static 3% or 5% 8% then 5% 3 per phase 60% / 80% / 100% by payout cycle $652
E8 Markets $100K E8 One $6,000 dynamic $4,000 $9,000 1 80% $488
Take Profit Trader $100K Test $3,000 end-of-day trailing None $6,000 3 80% (90% in PRO+) $330/mo + $130 activation
Alpha Capital Group $100K Alpha Pro 10% 10% static 5% 10% then 5% 3 per phase 80% $497 (bi-weekly) / $447 (on-demand)
My Funded Futures $50K Rapid ($50K size) $2,000 end-of-day trailing None $3,000 2 90% $209 one-time

List prices shown; most firms run promo codes that change often. My Funded Futures is listed at $50K because that is the size its plan page prices.

What the rules mean

Max drawdown: static vs trailing. This is the most you can lose before the account fails.

  • Static (FTMO, FundedNext, FundingPips, Alpha Capital): the floor is fixed at your starting balance minus the limit. On a $100K account with 10%, you fail at $90,000, no matter how high you climb first.
  • Trailing (most futures firms): the floor follows your highest balance upward. End-of-day trailing (Topstep, Take Profit Trader, My Funded Futures) only moves at the close; intraday trailing (Apex) moves with open profit in real time, so a winning trade that reverses can tighten your floor. Trailing usually stops once it reaches the starting balance.

Daily loss limit. A cap on how much you can lose in one trading day, usually measured from the day's starting balance or equity. Breaking it fails the account at most forex/CFD firms; several futures firms have no daily limit at all.

Profit target. The gain needed to pass. Two-step challenges have one target per phase (often 8–10%, then 5%); one-step evaluations have a single target.

Minimum trading days. The fewest days you must trade before passing. Some firms also use a consistency rule (for example, Topstep's best day should stay below 55% of the profit target), which effectively stops you passing on a single lucky day.

Payout split. Your share of profits once funded. A 90% split means you keep $90 of every $100 in profit. Some firms raise the split over time or offer it as a paid add-on.

Before you buy

Read the firm's current rules page, check the exact plan size and drawdown type, and note any activation or monthly fees on top of the challenge price.

Rules change, verify with the firm before buying. Checked Oct 2026.

👉 Get the Prop Firm Rules Cheat Sheet (xlsx)

Related tool: once you've picked a firm, the Trader's Edge Journal tracks your trades and performance in Google Sheets.
Trader's Edge Journal

By Richard C · AIL Studio

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