Prop trading firms are enormously popular for a good reason. The best proprietary trading firms fully fund trading accounts and pay traders a profit split of up to 100%. The entry-level account size with the top prop trading firms now is around $25,000 but goes into the quarter million if a trader successfully proves that he can generate meaningful returns.
The tradeable assets are typically focused on futures contracts, but various prop firms also allow trading on currencies, metals, bonds, and stocks. We have tested and ranked the best prop trading platforms and firms based on their profit splits, funding capital, trading platform features and costs.
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Best Prop Firms for Futures Trading
Our comparison focuses on the best futures prop trading account offerings because various forex trading prop firms already had to close their business, and it currently appears that futures trading prop firms have, in more cases, real funded accounts and fewer issues with payouts.
We know there are many prop trading firms in the FX segment, but the main problem is that forex prices across brokers, platforms and liquidity providers can differ. In contrast, futures contracts always have official time stamps and can’t vary since they are listed on futures exchanges like the CME.
Okay, enough for the foreword about proprietary trading firms; let’s get into it now and look at the top 5.
1. Earn2Trade
Earn2Trade is also been in the business as a prop firm since 2016. For over 8 years, they have provided various funded trading accounts. They began with a program called Gauntlet, which then developed further into the Gauntlet Mini challenge.
In addition, Earn2Trade also offers a Trader Career Path. In all cases, traders go through a 1-step trading challenge. Once the challenge is completed, the funded trading begins.
The account sizes range from 25K to 400K, with reasonable price points, especially during times when discounts of up to 50% are available.
The available platforms include NinjaTrader, R|Trader and MultiCharts, but also Finamark, Overcharts and Agena Trade, plus about 15 other tools.
The profit split with Earn2Trade is always 80/20, which means that the trader can withdraw 80% of profits.
- Account sizes range from $25,000 to $400,000
- The minimum number of trading days is 10
- Earn2Trade calculates the drawdown level by the end of the day
- Traders can withdraw 80% of profits made in a funded account
- Earn2Trade processes payouts weekly ($100 minimum)
| Product | Account Size | Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Trader Career Path | 25K (TCP25) | |
| Trader Career Path | 50K (TCP50) | |
| Trader Career Path | 100K (TCP100) | |
| The Gauntlet Mini | 50K (GAU50) | |
| The Gauntlet Mini | 100K (GAU100) | |
| The Gauntlet Mini | 150K (GAU150) | |
| The Gauntlet Mini | 200K (GAU200) |
2. Topstep
Topstep is one of the most successful prop trading firms. They have funded traders since 2012 and have paid out more than $40 million in the past 4 years alone. The company is registered in the United States and belongs to the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing firms in the US.
Various things let Topstep stand out from its competition. First of all, the pricing. The regular pricing starts at $165 for the 50K account, and account sizes of $100 and $150K are also available. Furthermore, Topstep offers an excellent education center for beginner traders and covers all types of insights one could look for. From basic trading education to advanced trading strategies and futures trading insights, here you find everything.
With a look at the available platforms, you’ll also be positively surprised. The in-house TopstepX is the most-used platform, but you can also use TradingView, NinjaTrader, Quantower, MultiCharts, Sierra Chart, R|Trader Pro and about 30 other platforms if you like. So, if you are entirely new to trading, using TopstepX is a good choice. If you already have a favorite tool, chances are high that you can continue using it for your funded trading accounts with Topstep.
Finally, traders only have to complete a 1-step challenge in order to get funded. Then, Topstep lets funded traders withdraw 100% of the first $10,000 in profits and then 90%.
- Account sizes range from $50,000 to $150,000
- The minimum number of trading days is 2
- Topstep calculates the drawdown level by the end of the day
- Traders can withdraw 100% of the first $10,000 in profits and then 90%
- Topstep processes payouts daily ($125 minimum)
3. TradeDay
TradeDay was founded in 2020 and is one of the smaller prop firms these days with the potential to grow due to its fair payout policies. Prop traders can choose between account sizes ranging from 10K to 250K and have to complete, like any other prop firm on this list, only one step in order to get funded.
TradeDay recommends using Tradovate as a trading platform, but it is also possible to connect Jigsaw, TradingView and NinjaTrader.
Like Topstep and Earn2Trade, TradeDay calculates the drawdown limit at the end of each trading day and not in real-time. However, TradeDay newly introduced a buffer-zone rule, which means that traders of a funded account first have to make a minimum of profits equal to their drawdown limit value before the first withdrawal can be made.
The discount on the trading accounts is lower than that of competitors and is typically limited to 20%, which is a slight disadvantage for prop traders who want to start a trading challenge at the lowest possible price.
- Account sizes range from $10,000 to $250,000
- The minimum number of trading days is 7
- TradeDay calculates the drawdown level by the end of the day
- Traders can withdraw 100% of the first $10,000 in profits and then 90%
- TradeDay processes payouts daily ($500 minimum)
4. Apex Trader Funding
Apex Trader Funding is one of the newer prop firms and was founded in 2021. Since then, the firm has become popular among the prop firm community. With Apex Trader Funding, you first have to choose between two market data providers, either Rithmic or Tradovate.
Depending on the chosen data feed, you can then select your trading platforms like NinjaTrader 8, Sierra Chart, Quantower, Finamark, etc. You can choose between many different account sizes ranging from 25K to 300K, where $25,000 of the profits in the first account can be withdrawn at a rate of 100% and then 90%.
However, there is one disadvantage to note, which separates Apex Trader from the top 3 in the list of the best prop trading firms. While Topstep, Earn2Trade and TradeDay calculate the drawdown price level at the end of each trading day, Apex Trader Funding does it in real time. This can end up disappointing because if your traded futures contracts make quick profits during a day and you don’t realize profits fast, you can end up being stopped out on the same day if the market consolidates back.
- Account sizes range from $25,000 to $300,000
- The minimum number of trading days is 7
- Apex Trader Funding calculates the drawdown level intraday
- Traders can withdraw 100% of the first $25,000 in profits and then 90%
- Apex Trader Funding processes payouts twice per month ($500 minimum)
5. Take Profit Trader
Number 5 on the list of the top prop firms for futures traders is Take Profit Trade, a company founded in 2022. The ratings on Trustpilot are not as good as for the previous four companies, but still above 4/5 with over 1,000 ratings.
Take Profit Trader knows to convince with five account sizes ranging from 25K to 150K. Another positive aspect is that traders can withdraw profits via Wise in addition to PayPal and various methods via Plaid.
Unfortunately, like TradeDay, they have a buffer-zone rule that requires traders to make profits in the funded trading account first, equal to the drawdown limit, before they can withdraw profits. So, if you chose an account with a $2,000 drawdown limit, you have to make $2,000 in profits in the funded prop account before you can withdraw the profits.
- Account sizes range from $25,000 to $150,000
- The minimum number of trading days is 5
- Take Profit Trader calculates the drawdown level by the end of the day during evaluation, but intraday drawdown calculation in funded accounts
- Traders can withdraw 80%-90% of profits
- Take Profit Trader processes payouts daily (above $250 with $0 withdrawal fees)
What Is The Best Prop Firm for Futures Traders? My Conclusion
After reviewing the prop firm industry, I consider Topstep to be the market leader. They have been in the business for a long time, have an excellent reputation, a strong community, extensive educational material, a great set of trading platforms to choose from and the best pricing among all prop firms.
Topstep is the highest-paying and best prop trading firm in the US. With Topstep, traders keep 100% of their first $10,000 profits and 90% after that. The tools, educational components and payout history know to convince, and the combination of powerful platforms and reasonable prices make it the perfect offer combined with the 70% discount.
What Is Important To Consider When Choosing a Prop Firm?
In my opinion, it’s important to consider the drawdown limit calculation, payout methods, reputation, and pricing the most.
An end-of-day drawdown limit calculation will save you from surprising stopouts during a trading day. A good payout method and policy (including a good profit split) is important since you start in a prop firm with the goal of withdrawing profits once funded. So, it’s important that the payout methods offered match the possibilities you have.
When it comes to reputation, you can use reviews like this and also check out platforms like Trustpilot or YouTube for more insights. Finally, for sure, the pricing plays an important role. Lost costs combined with fair trading rules are the foundation of becoming a successful prop trader.
I consider all five listed companies to be good in this matter. I’d always go with the market leader, but if there is a reason for you to choose one of the other firms, that’s a reasonable decision, too. It’s always good if a market has competition since this encourages companies to make things even better, which then is beneficial for us traders.
See Also: Cheapest Prop Firm