Firm comparison
Data updated 2026-08-03How to read this: We track payout-reliability watch-outs for every firm — even large, well-known names, which have also faced payout complaints and disputes — and separate independently verifiable facts from self-reported marketing numbers. A big brand or a big “paid out” figure is not a guarantee.
| Firm | Entry price | Profit split | Drawdown | Consistency rule | Payouts | US | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTMO | from ~$449 ($100k 2-step; range €79–€1,080) | 80% → 90% after first $100k | Static | — | Monthly, on-demand after 14 days · 99.8% on-time | Yes | Phase 1 target unclear (8% vs 10%, unresolved) |
| FundedNext | from ~$33 | up to 95% CFD / 100% Futures | Static | — | Bi-weekly · 24h payout guarantee | No | 3.5% withdrawal fee; Bolt retired 7/2026 |
| Topstep | $49–$149 / mo | 100% of first $10k, then 90% | EOD trailing | ≤40% (Express Funded) | Weekly · $2k–$6k per-cycle cap | Yes | Per-payout cap limits each withdrawal; +$149 activation when funded |
| Apex Trader Funding | ~$131 + $79–99 activation | 100% of first $25k, then 90% | Selectable (intraday / EOD) | 50% | Weekly · 6-payout cap | Yes | 6-payout cap ≈ $18k max on $100k, then account closes; no overnight (4.0) |
| The5ers | from ~$39 (Bootcamp $20) | up to 100% at higher tiers | Static | — | 14-day cycle | Yes | Structured scaling across levels |
| E8 Markets | from ~$40 | up to 100% | Static | — | On-demand | — | Accounts up to $500k |
| Alpha Capital Group | from ~$40 | 80% → up to 90% (scaling) | Selectable (static / trailing) | 40% (Best Day) | Bi-weekly or on-demand | Yes | 2-Minute Rule (≥50% of profit from trades held >2 min); fees non-refundable |
| TakeProfitTrader | from ~$150 / mo (Test $25k; to ~$360) | 80% (PRO) → 90% (PRO+) | Intraday trailing (PRO) | 50% (Test) | Instant · Plaid / PayPal / Wise | Yes | Intraday trailing DD on PRO — top-cited blow-up cause |
| FundingPips | from ~$32 (2-Step $32–$499) | 60–100% by reward cycle (Zero 95%) | Static (Zero: trailing) | — | Weekly to on-demand · $260M+ paid | — | Zero plan trails; On-Demand payout needs 35% consistency; US not confirmed |
New here? What “Drawdown”, “Consistency rule”, “Payout cap” and hidden rules actually mean →
- Drawdown — how your loss limit moves
-
Static — a fixed floor that never moves, so you always know exactly where you're out. Easiest for beginners.
EOD trailing — the floor rises with your best end-of-day balance, updating only once a day.
Selectable — you choose intraday or end-of-day when you buy. If you're new, pick end-of-day.
Intraday trailing — the floor chases your peak balance in real time, counting profit you haven't banked yet — so a trade that's up and then dips can bust you while you're still technically in profit. This is the mechanic that blows up the most accounts.
- Consistency rule — a hidden cap on your payout
- ≤40% / 50% caps how much of your total profit can come from a single day. One big winning day can push you over that cap and block your first payout — even though you clearly made money. “—” means the firm has no such cap.
- Payout cap — a ceiling on money you already earned
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Some firms pay you, but only up to a fixed limit per payout — anything above it is locked until the next cycle. Say you earn $3,800 in a week: the firm approves $2,000 and holds the other $1,800 back.
Many also cap the total number of payouts, then close your account once you hit it — even while you're still in profit. A “100% split” doesn't help if a cap limits what you can actually take out.
- Hidden & auto-enforced rules — surprises that can close the whole account
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Drawdown and payout caps aren't the only things that can cost you an account. A rule you didn't know existed can wipe it too — for example a minimum hold time, where a firm only counts profit from trades held longer than a set number of minutes, or several correlated trades being grouped and treated as a single oversized position.
Automated monitoring can also get it wrong: things like sharing a WiFi network or IP address with another trader can be flagged as copy trading, and closures are often immediate. Before you trust a firm with your time and money, check not just its price and split, but what rules it enforces and how strictly and predictably it enforces them.
Click a column header (Firm, Entry price, Drawdown, Consistency, US) to sort; blank cells (—) always sort last. Colors flag risk: green safest → red riskiest. Prices are indicative entry-tier figures and vary by account size and promotions. Blank cells (—) mean we haven't independently verified that field yet. Always confirm current terms on the firm's site.
Know before a prop firm stops paying
Firms rarely announce a shutdown. They quietly slow payouts and pause new challenges first. Get an email the moment a firm shows those warning signs — before your payout is at risk.
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