Disclaimer: The prop firm industry moves fast — rules, pricing, fees, and payout structures can change at any time. Everything in this guide reflects research current as of April 2026. Always visit each firm's official website to confirm details before signing up.
Pretty Profitable · GWORLz Cohort Resource
Prop Firms 101
Everything you need to know — broken all the way down.
Let's start from the very beginning — no experience required.
The Simple Version
A prop firm (short for proprietary trading firm) is a company that gives you access to their money to trade with. Instead of risking your own $50,000 or $100,000 in the market, you use theirs — and you keep a big cut of whatever you make.
Think of it like this: the prop firm is the investor, and you're the trader. They bankroll the operation, you do the work, and you both get paid when you're profitable.
Why Do Prop Firms Exist?
Prop firms make money by having skilled traders operate with their capital. They don't need every trader to win — they just need disciplined, consistent traders who follow rules and generate returns. In exchange, they take a small percentage of your profits (usually 10–20%).
For you, it's a way to access serious buying power without putting your personal finances at risk. You pay a relatively small fee, prove you can trade, and suddenly you're working with $50K–$150K in sim-funded capital.
💡
Important: Most prop firm accounts — including all the ones in this guide — are simulated funded accounts. Your trades run in a real-market simulation, but the payouts you receive are real cash from the firm. This is the standard model industry-wide in 2025–2026.
How the Process Works
Step 1
Evaluation — Pay a fee to access a simulated account. Hit a profit target without violating the loss rules. This proves you can trade.
Step 2
Get Funded — Once you pass, you receive a funded (simulated) account with real payout rules. This is where you make money.
Step 3
Request Payouts — Trade, accumulate profits, and withdraw your split. Usually 80–100% of profits go directly to you.
Step 4
Scale — Many firms grow your account over time. Top performers may eventually transition to live funded accounts trading real capital.
Section 02
Key Terms & Concepts
Before diving into each firm, get these terms locked in. This is your foundation.
Evaluation / Challenge
The test you take to prove you can trade. Hit a profit target without violating loss rules within a set time frame — pass it and you get funded.
Profit Target
The amount of profit you need to hit to pass the evaluation. Usually 6–10% of your account size (e.g., 6% of a $50K account = $3,000).
Drawdown
How much your account is allowed to drop before it's closed. The single most important rule in prop trading. See Section 03 for the full breakdown.
Max Loss Limit (MLL)
The absolute floor your account cannot touch. If your balance reaches this level, your account is terminated immediately — no exceptions and no recovery.
Trailing Drawdown
A drawdown limit that follows your highest balance upward as you profit. As you make money, the floor rises with you. It stops trailing at specific milestones depending on the firm.
Static Drawdown
A drawdown limit that is fixed and does not move. Once locked in, it stays there regardless of how much profit you make. The most favorable drawdown model.
Daily Loss Limit (DLL)
The max you're allowed to lose in a single trading day. Depending on the firm, hitting it either pauses your trading for the day or fails your account entirely.
Consistency Rule
A rule requiring no single day to represent too large a percentage of your total profits. Prevents "one lucky day" traders from getting paid and ensures you're consistently profitable.
Profit Split
How profits are divided between you and the firm. A 90/10 split means you keep 90 cents of every dollar you earn — the firm keeps 10.
Payout Cycle
The set of requirements you must meet before requesting a withdrawal. Varies by firm — daily, weekly, or after a minimum number of profitable trading days.
Activation Fee
A one-time fee some firms charge after you pass your evaluation, before your funded account is activated. Not all firms charge this — it's an important cost factor.
Sim-Funded Account
A simulated account that mirrors live market conditions. Trades don't hit the real market, but your payout checks are real money deposited by the firm.
Section 03
Drawdown Explained
This is THE most important concept in prop trading. Get this down before anything else.
What Is Drawdown, Really?
Drawdown is the prop firm's built-in safety net — the maximum amount your account balance can fall before the account gets closed. Every firm has a drawdown rule, but how they calculate it is what separates the forgiving firms from the brutal ones.
Think of it like a trapdoor in the floor beneath your feet. The trapdoor is set at a specific dollar level. The moment your account balance touches it — the account is done. Game over. No appeals, no "I was about to recover." The key question is: does that trapdoor move while you're trading?
With EOD drawdown, the trapdoor stays in place all day long, no matter what happens intraday. With intraday trailing drawdown, the trapdoor literally moves upward every time you make money — making it harder to survive a normal pullback the more successful you are in a session.
EOD Drawdown vs. Intraday Trailing Drawdown
✅ End-of-Day (EOD)
The floor only recalculates once — at market close. You can dip hundreds of dollars intraday and fight your way back without any consequence. The firm only looks at where you end the day, not where you dipped to during it.
⚠️ Intraday Trailing
The floor chases your equity peak in real time — tick by tick. Every dollar you make in an open trade, the floor rises by a dollar. So a $3K winner that pulls back $2,001 kills your account — even though you're up overall and haven't exited the trade yet.
Real-World Scenarios: EOD vs. Intraday — Same Trade, Different Outcome
Same trader. Same trade. Same market move. The only difference is the drawdown rule — and it determines whether you survive or get wiped.
EOD Account
The "Up Big, Gave Some Back" Trade
Setup: You start with a $50K account, $2,000 EOD trailing drawdown. Floor sits at $48,000.
During the session: You get into a long NQ trade, ride it up $3,200 unrealized. Then news hits, it pulls back $1,900. You exit the trade up $1,300 on the day.
Result with EOD: ✅ Safe. Your floor was at $48K all session. You close at $51,300. The floor now moves to $49,300 for tomorrow. You lived, you profited, you move on.
Intraday Trailing Account
The "Up Big, Gave Some Back" Trade
Setup: Same $50K account, same $2,000 drawdown — but it's intraday trailing. Floor starts at $48,000.
During the session: You ride NQ up $3,200 unrealized. As your balance hit $53,200, the floor trailed up to $51,200. Then it pulls back $1,900 to $51,300. You think you're fine — you're still up on the day.
Result with Intraday: ❌ Account closed. At the peak of $53,200, the floor moved to $51,200. Your balance hit $51,300 — just $100 above the floor. One more tick down, and the account liquidated automatically. Mid-session. Before you could even exit.
EOD Account
The "Bad Morning, Recovered" Day
Setup: $50K account, $2,000 EOD trailing floor at $48,000. You have a rough morning — down $1,400 by 10 AM.
What happens: You take a break, reassess, come back and trade clean in the afternoon. You recover $900 and close the day down only $500.
Result: ✅ Floor was at $48K the whole time. You close at $49,500 — well above it. Tomorrow's floor updates to $48K (unchanged because you closed lower than your previous high). You live to trade another day.
Intraday Trailing Account
The "Bad Morning, Recovered" Day
Setup: Same $50K account, $2,000 intraday trailing drawdown. Floor starts at $48,000.
What happens: You take two trades in the morning — the first one runs to +$800 unrealized. The floor moves to $48,800. Then that trade reverses and you lose $1,000 on it. Your balance is now $49,000. Floor is $48,800. You have $200 of breathing room total.
Result: ❌ One more small loss and you're done. A trade that ran $800 in your favor actually made your day harder by raising the floor, leaving you almost no room to recover from the reversal.
🔒 Static Drawdown — The Best Kind
Static drawdown means the floor is set once and never moves again. Several firms switch from trailing drawdown during the eval to static drawdown once you're funded. The moment that floor locks, no matter how much profit you make, your downside doesn't grow. Profits above the floor are entirely yours — no creeping risk.
Think of it like this: once static drawdown kicks in, you've essentially earned your safety net back. The firm is saying "you've proven yourself — go trade freely." Your floor sits at the starting balance level, and it stays there forever.
Firms with static drawdown on funded accounts: Tradeify SELECT, MFFU Core & Pro, Lucid Pro & Flex. This is one of the most valuable features to look for when comparing firms.
📌
Quick Rule of Thumb: If you're a trader who has normal intraday swings — entries that go against you before they work, or sessions where you lose early and recover — you want EOD drawdown. Intraday trailing is for traders with very tight entries who almost never let a trade run against them significantly. If that's not you, intraday trailing will eventually wipe you out on a perfectly good trade.
Section 04
Consistency Rules Explained
The rule most traders don't fully understand until it blocks their payout. Let's fix that right now.
What Is the Consistency Rule?
The consistency rule is a payout restriction that limits how much of your total profits can come from any single trading day. Most firms express it as a percentage — for example, a 40% consistency rule means no single day can represent more than 40% of your total profits at the time you request a payout.
This rule exists because prop firms don't want to pay out traders who "got lucky once." They want to fund consistent, repeatable performers — not someone who had one monster day and immediately tried to withdraw everything.
The consistency rule doesn't stop you from having big days. It doesn't limit your profits while you trade. It only affects when you're eligible to request a payout. If you're blocked by the rule, you keep trading until your big day is diluted enough by other profitable days that it no longer represents too large a percentage of your total.
⚠️
Important distinction: The consistency rule almost always applies to the funded account payout phase, not the evaluation. Most firms let you pass the eval however you want — one big day, ten small ones, whatever. The rule kicks in when you're trying to get paid on the funded side.
How to Calculate Whether You Pass
The math is simple. Take your biggest profit day and divide it by your total profits for the cycle. If that number is below the rule's threshold, you can request a payout. If it's above the threshold, you need to keep trading until it comes down.
Formula
Biggest Day ÷ Total Cycle Profits = Consistency % This number must be at or below the firm's consistency limit to request a payout.
Example (40% Rule)
Biggest day: $1,200 · Total profits: $3,200 · Percentage: 37.5% ✅ Under 40% — eligible to request payout
Blocked Example
Biggest day: $1,800 · Total profits: $3,200 · Percentage: 56.25% ❌ Over 40% — need to keep trading to dilute that big day
How to Fix It
Keep trading profitable days to raise your total. Once total profits reach $4,500+, that $1,800 day drops to 40% or below and you become eligible.
Consistency Rule — Pass vs. Fail
Both examples use a 40% consistency rule. Same big day. Different outcome based on total profits.
✅ Eligible for Payout
Mon
$800
Tue
$1,200
Wed
$500
Thu
$600
Total: $3,100Biggest day: $1,20038.7% ✓
Tuesday was the biggest day at $1,200 — but it's only 38.7% of the $3,100 total. Under the 40% limit. Payout eligible. ✅
❌ Payout Blocked
Mon
$1,200
Tue
$300
Wed
$300
Thu
$200
Total: $2,000Biggest day: $1,20060% ✗
Same $1,200 day — but with only $800 total from other days, it represents 60% of $2,000. Way over the 40% limit. Keep trading to dilute it. ❌
How Different Firms Apply the Rule
Topstep
No consistency rule on funded accounts. Trade however you want — no day is ever "too big" for a payout request.
Apex
50% rule on funded Performance Accounts — no single day can be more than 50% of total profits at payout time. Applies at payout request only, not during daily trading.
Lucid Pro
40% rule on funded accounts — your biggest day must be 40% or less of your total payout cycle profits.
Lucid Flex
No consistency rule once funded — one of only a few firms with this. Only applies 50% during the eval phase.
Lucid Direct
20% rule — the strictest consistency rule of any account on this list. No single day can be more than 20% of cycle profits. Requires very even profit distribution.
Take Profit Trader
No consistency rule on funded PRO accounts. Daily payouts with no day-by-day restrictions whatsoever.
Tradeify SELECT
40% rule during eval — no single eval day can be more than 40% of total eval profits. No consistency rule once funded on Core & Scale plans.
MFFU Core/Pro
50% rule during eval — no single day more than 50% of eval profits. No consistency rule once funded.
MFFU Rapid
Consistency rule applies — verify exact percentage on their site as this can update.
Strategies to Stay Consistent
Understanding the rule is one thing — building habits around it is how you actually stay funded long-term.
Track daily %
After every trading day, calculate your biggest day as a % of your total. Don't wait until payout day to find out you're blocked — know your number every single session.
Don't withdraw too early
If you have one big day and three small days, resist the urge to request a payout immediately. Give yourself a few more profitable sessions first to bring that percentage down before submitting the request.
Size down after big days
After a monster day, consider trading smaller the next few sessions. You don't need to risk as much — you just need consistent, smaller wins to dilute the big day's percentage.
Choose firms that match your style
If your trading style naturally produces a few big days and lots of average days, avoid firms with strict consistency rules (like LucidDirect at 20%). Stick to firms with 40–50% rules or no rule at all.
Losing days don't help
Red days don't reduce your biggest day's dollar amount — they reduce your total profit. A losing day actually increases your big day's percentage. Always try to keep bad days small and controlled.
💡
Bottom line: The consistency rule doesn't punish you for being profitable — it rewards traders who are consistently profitable. If you can string together solid days rather than relying on one or two big wins, the rule becomes a non-issue. It's actually a healthy trading habit disguised as a firm requirement.
Firm 01
Topstep
Topstep
The original — founded 2012, Chicago-based, the firm that invented the eval model
Who They Are
Topstep is the original futures prop firm — they invented the evaluation model back in 2012. Based in Chicago, they have over a decade of track record and have paid out millions to funded traders. Their evaluation is called the Trading Combine®, and they're known for being structured, educational, and transparent about how everything works.
In 2023, they moved from a 2-step evaluation to a single-step model. They also launched TopstepX™ — their own proprietary trading platform. As of late 2025, Topstep fully acquired the ProjectX technology stack, and TopstepX™ is now the only platform they offer. No NinjaTrader, no Tradovate, no other options — just their own platform. It includes built-in TradingView charting, mobile browser support, and their proprietary Tilt™ indicator.
✓ EOD Drawdown✓ 1-Step Eval✓ 100% First $10K✓ Path to Live AccountTopstepX™ OnlyMonthly Subscription Fee
Evaluation — Trading Combine®
Account Sizes
$50K at $49/mo · $100K at $99/mo · $150K at $149/mo
Profit Target
$3,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 — that's 6% of each account size
Max Loss Limit
$2,000 / $4,500 / $6,000 — breach this and the account is terminated immediately
Drawdown Type
EOD Trailing — your floor updates once at end of day based on closing balance. Intraday dips do not move the floor. You can be down mid-session and fight back — you only fail if you're below the MLL at the close.
None during eval — just hit the target without breaching the max loss limit
Platform
TopstepX™ only — Topstep's proprietary platform. This is the only option available. Built-in TradingView charts, The Tilt™ indicator, and full mobile browser support.
Reset Fee
$49 / $99 / $149 per account size. Free reset included with monthly renewal if account is in failed status at renewal date.
Exchange Data
1 exchange data fee covered per month (CME by default). Additional exchanges cost $133/mo each.
Funded Account Rules
Activation Fee
$149 one-time after passing (a no-fee path also exists for $129)
Profit Split
100% of your first $10,000 earned → then 90/10 (you keep 90%) after that
Payouts
Available after a minimum of 5 winning days. After 5 payouts, you are moved to a live funded account — trading real capital provided by Topstep.
Max Accounts
Up to 5 funded accounts simultaneously
Drawdown
EOD trailing continues on the funded account — same forgiving structure as eval
Scaling
Contract limits grow progressively as your end-of-day balance increases
Firm 02
Apex Trader Funding
Apex Trader Funding
Massive scale · Near-constant sales · 100% first $25K · Fully overhauled March 2026
Who They Are
Apex launched in 2021 in Austin, Texas and is now one of the biggest futures prop firms by volume — over $721 million in reported payouts. Founded by Darrell Martin, Apex is known for running constant sales (often 80–90% off), making evaluations some of the most affordable entry points in the industry.
In March 2026, Apex completely overhauled their model. Monthly recurring fees were replaced with one-time payments, several punishing rules were removed, and traders now choose between two drawdown models at signup: EOD Trailing or Intraday Trailing.
Activation Fee — Check Site✓ 100% First $25K✓ Up to 20 AccountsEOD or Intraday — You ChoosePayout Ladder (first 6 capped)
6% of account size — e.g., $3,000 for a $50K account
Drawdown Choice
You pick at signup: EOD Trailing (floor recalculates at end of day; includes a Daily Loss Limit that pauses trading for the day if hit but does not fail your account) or Intraday Trailing (floor moves with your real-time equity high — harder, no daily loss limit).
Min Trading Days
1 day — you can pass in a single session if you hit the target cleanly
Eval Window
30 calendar days to hit your target
Consistency Rule
None during eval — make your profits however your strategy dictates
Platforms
Rithmic · Tradovate · NinjaTrader 8 (free license included) · TradingView · WealthCharts. All platform and data fees included — no hidden costs.
Activation Fee
Apex charges an activation fee after passing — the exact amount changes frequently. Check their site for the current fee before signing up.
Funded Account — Performance Account (PA)
Profit Split
100% of your first $25,000 → then 90/10 after that
Consistency Rule
50% rule — no single trading day can represent more than 50% of your total profits when requesting a payout. Applies at payout time only, not during daily trading.
Payout Eligibility
After 5 qualifying trading days with at least $50 profit each. Payouts processed weekly.
Payout Ladder
First 6 payouts have increasing caps per cycle. After the 6th, all caps are removed.
Contract Size Warning
Contract limits on the PA are significantly lower than during eval. Example: $100K eval = 16 minis → PA drops to 6 minis. Test your strategy at the PA contract limit before counting on it.
Max Accounts
Up to 20 Performance Accounts simultaneously
DCA Allowed
Adding to a losing position is permitted as long as you stay within the risk rules
Firm 03
Lucid Trading
Lucid Trading
Fastest payout processing in the industry · Founded 2025 · Multiple account types for every style
Who They Are
Lucid launched in 2025 and is the newest firm on this list — but grew faster than almost any prop firm in history. Founded by AJ Campanella, Lucid built its reputation on three things: ultra-fast payouts (often processed in under 15 minutes), EOD trailing drawdown across all account types, and one-time fees with no monthly subscriptions.
Lucid offers four account types: LucidPro (structured path with 3-day payout cycles), LucidFlex (most flexible — no daily loss limit, ever), LucidDirect (instant-style funding, skip the eval), and LucidMaxx (invite-only, daily payouts for top performers). As of February 2026, the escrow system was eliminated and LucidBlack was retired — both incorporated into the updated LucidPro.
✓ Under 15-Min Payouts✓ EOD All Accounts✓ One-Time FeesNewest Firm on This ListShorter Track Record
EOD Trailing → Static — floor only moves at end of day. Once you reach starting balance + profit target, the trailing stops and locks into static. Your floor freezes from that point forward.
Consistency (Funded)
40% rule — no single day can represent more than 40% of your payout cycle profits
Profit Split
90/10 — you keep 90% on all funded accounts
Payout Frequency
Every 3 calendar days once requirements are met — fastest structured cycle available
Up to 5 total funded accounts across LucidPro and LucidDirect combined
LucidFlex — Maximum Flexibility
Daily Loss Limit
None — ever. Not during eval, not once funded. Only the EOD max loss limit applies. One of the most unique features of any firm in this guide.
Consistency (Eval)
50% — largest single day must be 50% or less of total eval profit
Consistency (Funded)
None — once funded, zero consistency restrictions. One of the only firms offering this combination anywhere.
Payout Frequency
5 profitable trading days per payout cycle
Payout Caps
$1,500–$4,000 per cycle depending on account size — lower than some competitors
Best For
News traders, momentum traders, anyone trading through high-volatility events who hates daily loss limits
LucidDirect — Skip the Evaluation
Structure
No evaluation — pay a one-time fee and start trading funded immediately
Consistency Rule
20% — strictest of all Lucid types. No single day can be more than 20% of total profits per cycle.
Payouts
Request once you have $500 minimum profit and meet consistency rules. No mandatory wait period as of 2026.
Best For
Confident, experienced traders who want to skip the eval and get straight to trading funded capital
Firm 04
Take Profit Trader
Take Profit Trader
Daily payouts · No daily loss limit · No funded consistency rule · 15+ platforms
Who They Are
Take Profit Trader (TPT) launched in 2021 and built a strong reputation by combining three standout features: daily payouts, no daily loss limit, and no funded consistency rule. Together, these make it one of the most trader-friendly rule sets available anywhere.
TPT runs a clean three-tier system: Test account (eval) → PRO (funded) → PRO+ (invitation-based top tier). They support 15+ platforms — the broadest platform selection of any firm on this list. One-time $130 activation fee after passing, then no recurring costs beyond your trading.
✓ Daily Payouts✓ No Daily Loss Limit✓ No Funded Consistency Rule✓ 15+ Platforms✓ No Activation Fee
Evaluation — Test Account
Account Sizes
$25K · $50K · $100K · $150K (monthly subscription while in eval)
Profit Target
6% of account size
Min Trading Days
5 days minimum
Drawdown
EOD Trailing — floor recalculates at end of day only. Intraday dips will not close your account.
Daily Loss Limit
None — removed entirely in January 2025 across all tiers. You only manage one rule: the trailing drawdown.
Consistency Rule
None during eval
Platforms
NinjaTrader · Tradovate · TradingView · Sierra Chart · Quantower + 10 more — widest selection of any firm in this guide
Funded Account — PRO
Activation Fee
None currently — verify on their site as this can change
Profit Split
90/10 — you keep 90%
Payouts
Daily — one of only two firms in the industry with true daily withdrawals. Processed within 24–48 hours.
Consistency Rule
None — once funded, no day-by-day profit restrictions. Have a massive day and get paid on every dollar of it.
Daily Loss Limit
None on all PRO tiers. One rule to manage — the trailing drawdown — not two.
Max Accounts
Multiple accounts allowed simultaneously — verify current limit on their site
PRO+ Tier
Top performers get invited to PRO+ for additional scaling opportunities and enhanced terms
Firm 05
Tradeify
Tradeify
Highest-rated 2025 · Best payout process · Most user-friendly onboarding · No activation fee
Who They Are
Tradeify is led by CEO Brett Simberkoff and won three major industry distinctions in 2025 via PropFirmMatch: Highest Rated Prop Firm (4.8 stars, 131+ verified reviews), Best Payout Process, and Most User-Friendly Platform & Onboarding. Those awards are earned — their onboarding genuinely stands out.
Their flagship is the SELECT Plan — a clean 1-step evaluation with EOD drawdown and zero activation fee. They also offer Growth (EOD drawdown) and Lightning Funded (no eval, immediate funding). The Advanced plan (intraday drawdown) was discontinued for new purchases in December 2025.
✓ Highest Rated 2025✓ No Activation Fee✓ Daily Payouts (SELECT Flex)✓ Static Drawdown When Funded
Evaluation — SELECT Plan
Account Sizes
$50K · $100K · $150K
Structure
1-step — hit the profit target, pass, get funded. No second phase.
Drawdown
EOD Trailing at 3% — floor only moves at end of day. 3% of account size is your max allowable loss at any close.
Consistency (Eval)
40% rule — no single day can represent more than 40% of your total eval profits
Activation Fee
$0 — one-time eval cost covers everything. No fee after passing.
Platforms
ProjectX · Quantower · Tradovate · NinjaTrader · TradingView. Free platform access and real-time data included.
Built-In Journal
Trade journal included — review and track your performance throughout the challenge
Funded Account Rules
Profit Split
90/10 — you keep 90%
Payouts
Daily on SELECT Flex — one of only two firms with true daily withdrawals (alongside TPT)
Drawdown (Funded)
Static — once funded, the floor locks at starting balance + $100 and stops trailing entirely. Your downside never creeps upward as you profit. This is a major benefit.
Consistency (Funded)
None on SELECT Core & Scale — once funded, no daily profit restrictions. Trade your natural style.
Daily Loss Limit
Dynamic soft system — hitting the DLL threshold pauses trading for the day but the account stays active. No account failure.
Max Accounts
Multiple accounts allowed — verify current limit on their site
Path to Live
Consistent top performers may be moved to Live Funded accounts after 4+ payouts or reaching $80K in total payouts
Lightning Funded
Skip the eval entirely — one-time fee of $349–$729 depending on account size. Note: cannot be reset if failed.
Firm 06
My Funded Futures
My Funded Futures (MFFU)
Budget-friendly · No activation fees · 4.9 Trustpilot · 72K+ active traders
Who They Are
My Funded Futures launched in late 2023, is led by Matthew Leech, and holds a 4.9 Trustpilot rating with over 11,000 reviews — one of the highest satisfaction scores of any firm in this guide. Based in Dover, Delaware, actively pursuing NFA and CFTC compliance.
In July 2025, MFFU replaced their entire legacy plan structure (Starter/Expert/Milestone) with three new options: Core, Rapid, and Pro. At the same time, they eliminated activation fees entirely — a meaningful cost advantage over firms that still charge them.
✓ No Activation Fee✓ 4.9 Trustpilot✓ Lowest Monthly Cost80/20 Split on Core & Pro$100K Cumulative Cap on Pro
The Three Plans — Which One Is Which
Core Plan
Budget entry. $77/mo for a $50K account. 2-step eval. EOD 3% trailing drawdown. 80/20 profit split. Best for beginners or cost-conscious traders. Payout every 5 winning days, capped at $5,000/cycle.
Rapid Plan
Speed-focused. 2-step eval. Intraday trailing drawdown (4%) — harder than Core. 90/10 profit split — better than Core. Payout available every 1 winning day — fastest cycle of any plan here. Cap: $11,250/cycle.
Pro Plan
Path to live capital. 2-step eval. EOD 3% trailing drawdown. 80/20 profit split. Has a $100K cumulative payout cap — once you hit $100K total payouts, you graduate to a live funded account with real capital.
Evaluation Rules — All Plans
Structure
2-Step — Step 1: hit profit target with drawdown and consistency rules. Step 2: verification phase before full funding activates.
Profit Target
8–12% depending on plan and account size — slightly higher targets than most 1-step firms
Consistency (Core/Pro)
50% rule — no single day can represent more than 50% of total eval profit
Drawdown
Core and Pro = EOD Trailing (3%) · Rapid = Intraday Trailing (4%)
Activation Fee
$0 across all plans — eliminated in July 2025
Platforms
NinjaTrader · TradingView · Tradovate · Volumetrica · ATAS · Quantower · VolsysBook. Real-time data via dxFeed.
Funded Account Rules
Drawdown (Funded)
Static on Core & Pro — once funded, the floor locks and stops trailing. Your profits above the floor are fully yours without the risk of the floor creeping upward.
Consistency (Funded)
None on Core & Pro — once funded, trade freely without day-by-day profit restrictions
Profit Splits
Core = 80/20 · Rapid = 90/10 · Pro = 80/20
Payout Frequency
Core = every 5 winning days · Rapid = every 1 winning day · Pro = bi-weekly
Payout Caps
Core = $5,000/cycle · Rapid = $11,250/cycle · Pro = $100K total cumulative cap (then live account)
Max Accounts
Multiple accounts allowed — stack plans to increase total earning potential across cycles
Section 08
Copy Trading Your Accounts
Running multiple funded accounts? Here's how to make them all work from a single set of trades.
What Is Copy Trading?
Copy trading — also called account mirroring or signal broadcasting — means you execute a trade on one "master" account, and that same trade is automatically replicated across all your other "follower" accounts simultaneously. You trade once. All your accounts follow.
For traders who hold multiple funded accounts across different firms, this is how you scale your income without scaling your screen time. One analysis, one decision, multiple accounts executing the same trade at the same time.
⚠️
Critical rule to know first: Most prop firms prohibit hedging — meaning taking opposing trades (one long, one short) across two accounts at the same firm to guarantee a win on one side. That is a rule violation that can get all your accounts at that firm closed. Copy trading — where you mirror the same direction trade across multiple accounts — is a separate thing and is generally allowed, including across accounts at the same firm. Always read each firm's specific terms before setting anything up.
How It Works in Practice
Master Account
Your primary account where you actively enter and manage trades. Every action here gets broadcast to your followers in real time.
Follower Accounts
Your other funded accounts that automatically mirror the master. They copy entries, exits, stops, and targets — everything.
Sizing
Each follower can be configured at a different contract size. Example: master trades 2 NQ contracts, but a smaller follower copies at 1 contract to stay within that account's limit.
Tools
Common copy tools for futures: Tradovate's built-in copy trading, NinjaTrader's auto-trade synchronizer, TradersPost, and Rithmic order routing. Check which platforms your accounts share before choosing a tool.
✅ Why It's Powerful
Instead of managing 5 accounts manually, you manage 1 and all 5 follow. Your income potential multiplies without multiplying your workload. This is how traders with large account stacks actually operate efficiently.
⚠️ Check Each Firm's Rules
Before setting up copy trading, read each firm's terms on automation and mirroring. Firms like Lucid, Tradeify, MFFU, and TPT tend to be copy-trading friendly. Always confirm for your specific account type before going live.
📐 Size Followers Correctly
Different accounts have different contract limits. If the master takes 3 contracts but a follower is capped at 2, configure the copy system to scale down automatically. Getting this wrong can cause a rule violation.
🔁 Different Firms, One Strategy
Running accounts across Topstep, Tradeify, and Lucid simultaneously — all mirroring one master — lets you combine daily payouts, high profit splits, and no-DLL rules all from a single set of trades.
Section 09
Side-by-Side Comparison
All six firms at a glance — use this as your quick reference.
Firm
Eval Steps
Drawdown
Profit Split
Activation Fee
Daily Loss Limit
Payout Speed
Max Accounts
Consistency (Funded)
Topstep
1-Step
EOD Trailing
100% first $10K → 90/10
$149
No
5 winning days min; live after 5 payouts
5
None
Apex
1-Step
EOD or Intraday (choose)
100% first $25K → 90/10
Varies — check site
Soft pause (EOD only)
Weekly (5 qualifying days)
20
50% at payout
Lucid Pro
1-Step
EOD → Static
90/10
$50
No
Every 3 days
5
40%
Lucid Flex
1-Step
EOD → Static
90/10
$50
No (never)
5 winning days
5
None
Take Profit Trader
1-Step
EOD Trailing
90/10
$0
No (removed Jan 2025)
Daily
Multiple
None
Tradeify SELECT
1-Step
EOD → Static
90/10
$0
Soft pause only
Daily (Flex) or standard
Multiple
None (Core/Scale)
MFFU Core
2-Step
EOD → Static
80/20
$0
No (funded)
Every 5 winning days
Multiple
None
MFFU Rapid
2-Step
Intraday Trailing
90/10
$0
Yes
Every 1 winning day
Multiple
Verify on site
Section 10
Which Firm Is Right for You?
Every trader is different. Use these as a starting point to narrow down where to begin.
Brand new to prop firms
You want structure, education, and a firm with over a decade of track record.
Start with Topstep
On a tight budget
Lowest entry cost, no activation fee, and a structured 2-step process you can learn on.
MFFU Core
Want to stack many accounts
You want to run high volume, take advantage of sales, and scale across multiple accounts fast.
Apex (watch the sales)
Getting paid fast is priority
You want true daily withdrawals and the fastest possible cash turnaround.
Tradeify SELECT or TPT
Trade news / high-volatility
You need freedom during major news events — no daily loss limits, no restrictions on volatile sessions.
LucidFlex or TPT
Want fastest payout processing
Funds in minutes, not days — the fastest possible cash from your trading to your bank.
Lucid Trading
Hate daily loss limits
You don't want any rule that pauses or kills your trading session for being down on the day.
TPT or LucidFlex
Want the cleanest onboarding
You value a polished setup, easy UI, and the highest community satisfaction ratings.
Tradeify
Run automated strategies
You're using algos or signal-based automation and need firm and platform compatibility.
Lucid, Tradeify, or MFFU
Goal is live capital
You want a clear, structured path that eventually transitions you to trading real money.
MFFU Pro or Topstep
💡
Pro Tip: Most serious traders run multiple firms simultaneously. Different firms have different strengths — stacking accounts across 2–3 firms lets you diversify your payout streams and take advantage of each firm's best features. With copy trading set up properly, you can manage all of them from a single set of trades.
Section 11
Full Glossary
Every term you'll encounter in the prop trading world, defined plainly.
Activation Fee
A one-time fee charged by some firms after you pass your evaluation, before your funded account is activated. Ranges from $0 (Tradeify, MFFU) to $130–$149 (TPT, Topstep).
Buying Power
The total capital you have access to trade with inside your funded account. This is the firm's money — you trade it, and keep a split of whatever profits it generates.
Challenge / Evaluation
The test phase of prop trading. Hit a profit target, follow loss rules, pass — then you get funded. Think of it as an audition for the firm's capital.
Consistency Rule
A rule limiting how much of your total profits can come from a single day. A 40% rule means no one day can be more than 40% of your cycle profits. Designed to prove you're consistently profitable — not just lucky once.
Copy Trading
Automatically replicating the same trade from one master account to multiple follower accounts simultaneously. Allows traders managing multiple funded accounts to execute once and have all accounts follow. Generally allowed across multiple accounts including at the same firm — what firms prohibit is hedging, which is deliberately taking opposing positions (long on one account, short on another) to guarantee a win. That's a separate violation from copy trading.
Daily Loss Limit (DLL)
The maximum you can lose in a single day. Depending on the firm, hitting it either pauses trading for the session (soft breach) or closes the account (hard breach).
Drawdown
The maximum your account can fall before it's closed. The most important rule in prop trading. Types include trailing, static, EOD, and intraday — each works differently.
EOD Drawdown
A drawdown floor that only updates once per day at market close. Intraday dips won't move your floor — only where you close the session matters. The most trader-friendly drawdown model.
Equity High / High Water Mark
The highest balance your account has ever reached. With trailing drawdown, your floor follows this number upward. The higher your peak, the higher your floor sits.
Funded Account
The account you receive after passing evaluation. In most cases today, this is sim-funded — you trade in simulation, but payouts are real cash from the firm.
Intraday Trailing Drawdown
A drawdown floor that follows your equity high in real time — including while you're still in a trade. If the trade reverses past the floor even briefly, the account closes immediately. The hardest drawdown model.
Liquidation / Breach
When your account balance touches or crosses the drawdown floor. The account closes automatically with no override. Also called "blowing" the account or failing the eval.
Max Loss Limit (MLL)
The hard floor for your account. When your balance hits this number, the account is done. Absolute bottom — no recovery once crossed.
Payout / Withdrawal
When you request your profits and the firm sends you real money. Methods vary — ACH transfer, wire, Deel, PayPal. This is your actual income from prop trading.
Performance Account (PA)
Apex's name for their funded account. After passing the evaluation, you get a PA — this is where you trade sim capital and request payouts.
Profit Split
The percentage of your profits you keep vs. what goes to the firm. A 90/10 split = you keep 90 cents of every dollar earned. Some firms offer 100% on initial profits up to a cap.
Profit Target
The amount you need to earn in your evaluation account to pass. Usually 6–10% of account size. Example: $3,000 on a $50K account.
Prop Firm
Short for proprietary trading firm. A company that gives traders access to their capital in exchange for a share of profits. You trade, they fund, you both get paid.
Reset
Starting your evaluation over after failing. Most firms charge a reset fee. Some include a free reset if your account is in failed status at the monthly renewal date.
Scaling
Growing your account size as you prove consistent profitability. Hit certain milestones and most firms increase your buying power and contract limits.
Sim-Funded Account
A simulated account that mirrors real market prices but doesn't route orders to the live market. Your payout checks are still real dollars — the firm pays you from their own funds based on your performance.
Static Drawdown
A drawdown floor that is fixed and does not move regardless of profit. Once locked, it stays there forever. The best drawdown model — your risk never increases as you earn more.
Trailing Drawdown
A drawdown floor that follows your highest account balance upward as you profit. As you earn, the floor rises. Typically stops trailing once you hit a specific profit milestone, then converts to static.
Unrealized P&L
Profit or loss on a trade you haven't closed yet. With intraday trailing drawdown, unrealized gains move your floor upward — even while you're still in the trade — making pullbacks extremely dangerous.