Best Prop Firm of 2025: A Complete Guide to Funded Trading Accounts

Welcome to the definitive guide to the best prop firm of 2025. Whether you’re a seasoned forex trader or a futures enthusiast, finding the right funded trading account can be a game-changer. With the proprietary trading industry booming to a $20 billion valuation in 2025, more traders than ever are leveraging firm capital to maximize their profits without risking their own money.

This comprehensive prop firm comparison will walk you through everything you need to know. We’ll explore the top players, break down their offerings, and help you find the best funded account of 2025 for your specific trading style.

What is a Prop Firm and Why Are They So Popular?

Traders are flocking to prop firm for one primary reason: access to significant capital. Many skilled traders lack the personal funds to generate substantial returns. Prop firm bridge this gap, offering account sizes from 5,000 to over 1,000,000.

This allows traders to take meaningful positions and earn a living from the markets without the immense pressure of risking their life savings.

The Benefits and Risks of Funded Trading

Key Takeaway: Prop trading offers incredible leverage and profit potential, but the evaluation process is designed to be challenging. Success requires discipline and a solid strategy.

Benefits:

Massive Capital Access: Trade with up to $2M+ in firm capital.
Limited Personal Risk: Your maximum loss is the initial evaluation fee. The firm covers all trading losses.
High Profit Splits: Keep 70% to 100% of the profits you generate.
Professional Growth: Learn discipline and risk management within a structured environment.

Risks:

Challenging Evaluations: The statistics are sobering. Only 5-10% of traders pass their evaluation, and just 7% ever receive a payout.
Strict Rules: You must operate within tight constraints, including daily loss limits and maximum drawdown rules.
Evaluation Fees: If you fail the challenge, the upfront fee (ranging from mathCancel auto wrapLong press copy50 to over 1,000) is non-refundable.

2. Our Prop Firm Comparison Criteria

To find the top forex prop firms and futures providers, we analyzed them based on these seven key criteria:

1. Evaluation Process: How many steps? Are the profit targets realistic? Is there a time limit? We look for firms with clear and fair evaluation challenges.
2. Pricing & Fees: We analyze the cost of the evaluation, reset fees, and any hidden monthly charges.
3. Payout Structure & Profit Split: How much of the profit do you keep? How often can you withdraw your earnings? We prioritize firms with high profit splits and fast, reliable payouts.
4. Trading Rules & Drawdown Limits: Strict rules are standard, but some are fairer than others. We examine daily loss limits, maximum drawdown (static vs. trailing), and rules on news trading or holding trades overnight.
5. Scaling Plans: The best prop firms reward consistent traders by increasing their account size. We look for clear and achievable scaling plans.
6. Platforms & Assets Offered: Do they offer the platforms you use (like MT4, MT5, cTrader) and the assets you trade (forex, futures, crypto, indices)?
7. Trust, Reviews & Transparency: We gauge reputation through user reviews, payout proof, and the firm’s overall transparency.

3. Top Prop Firms in 2025: A Detailed Review

Here is our breakdown of the 7 best prop trading firms for 2025, selected from a comprehensive analysis of the leading players in the industry.

Apex Trader Funding

Company Overview: Apex has established itself as a dominant force in the futures trading space. They are renowned for their straightforward, one-step evaluation process and generous payout policies. They focus exclusively on futures, providing a specialized environment for dedicated futures traders.
Evaluation Phases: Simple one-step evaluation. Meet the profit target in as little as 8 trading days without violating the drawdown rule.
Trading Rules: The primary rule is the live trailing threshold. Your drawdown stops trailing once your account balance surpasses the initial balance plus the drawdown amount. No daily loss limits on most accounts.
Profit Split: 100% of the first $25,000 you earn, and 90% after that. This is one of the best splits in the industry.
Payout Frequency: Payouts can be requested every 8 days.
Key Pros & Cons:
- Pros: High profit split, simple one-step evaluation, no daily drawdown, frequent payouts.
- Cons: Futures only, trailing drawdown can be tricky for beginners.
Who it’s best for: Experienced futures traders who are confident in their strategy and want a high, frequent profit share.

Get Funded By Apex

FTMO

Company Overview: FTMO is one of the pioneers and most reputable names in the prop trading industry. They offer a highly structured and professional environment with a focus on trader development, providing excellent educational resources and analytics tools.
Evaluation Phases: A standard two-step process:
Trading Rules: Standard rules with profit targets, minimum trading days, a daily loss limit, and a maximum loss limit. Rules are clear and consistently enforced.
Profit Split: Starts at 80% and can increase to 90% with their scaling plan.
Payout Frequency: Payouts are processed on a monthly basis by default, but can be changed to bi-weekly after the first payout.
Key Pros & Cons:
- Pros: Industry-leading reputation, excellent analytics and educational tools, refundable fee.
- Cons: Two-step evaluation can be lengthy, time limits on the challenge.
Who it’s best for: Serious traders (both forex and other CFDs) who value reputation, support, and a structured path to getting funded.

Get Funded By FTMO

The 5ers

Company Overview: The 5%ers stand out for their unique program variety, offering everything from instant funding to a « Bootcamp » challenge. They aim for long-term partnerships and provide a clear growth path for their traders.
Evaluation Phases: Multiple options:
- Bootcamp: A low-cost, three-stage challenge to prove your skills.
- High-Stakes & Hyper Growth: Instant funding programs where you start trading a live account immediately.
Trading Rules: Rules vary by program, but generally include profit targets, max loss, and daily loss limits. They are known for their flexibility.
Profit Split: Ranges from 50% up to 100% depending on the program and your performance.
Payout Frequency: Payouts are processed on-demand.
Key Pros & Cons:
- Pros: Instant funding options, unique programs, excellent scaling opportunities, trade over 3,000 instruments.
- Cons: Profit split on some instant funding programs starts lower.
Who it’s best for: Traders seeking flexibility. Whether you want a low-cost challenge or immediate access to a live account, The 5%ers has an option.

Get Funded Now

The Funded Trader

Company Overview: The Funded Trader has grown rapidly due to its massive variety of challenges, competitive pricing, and high profit splits. They have built a large and active community and are constantly running promotions.
Evaluation Phases: A wide array of challenges, including:
- Standard, Royal, Rapid, Knight Challenges: Various one-step and two-step evaluations with different rules and objectives.
- Dragon Challenge: A three-step model with higher profit splits.
Trading Rules: Rules are specific to each challenge but generally involve profit targets, daily/max loss, and minimum trading days. They offer a « soft breach » policy which is forgiving.
Profit Split: Up to 95%, with the Knight challenge offering a path to 99%.
Payout Frequency: Varies by program, ranging from every 3-7 days to weekly.
Key Pros & Cons:
- Pros: Huge variety of account types, extremely high profit splits, frequent payouts, active community.
- Cons: The sheer number of options can be overwhelming for new traders.
Who it’s best for: Traders who want options. If you have a specific trading style, there is a high chance The Funded Trader has a challenge tailored to it. Also great for those chasing the highest profit splits.

Get Funded Now

Topstep

Company Overview: Topstep is another futures-focused powerhouse with a long history in the industry. They’ve funded thousands of traders and offer a clear, one-step evaluation called the « Trading Combine. »
Evaluation Phases: A one-step « Trading Combine » where you must meet a profit target while adhering to rules like a maximum loss limit and a consistency target.
Trading Rules: Their main rule is the Maximum Loss Limit, which is based on your end-of-day balance and does not trail intra-day. They also enforce a consistency rule to prevent single large trades from passing you.
Profit Split: 100% of the first mathCancel auto wrapLong press copy5,000 - 10,000 in profit (depending on the account) and 90% after that.
Payout Frequency: Payouts are processed daily, which is a major advantage.
Key Pros & Cons:
- Pros: Long-standing reputation, daily payouts, non-trailing EOD drawdown, great platform choices.
- Cons: Futures only, monthly subscription fee for the combine.
Who it’s best for: Futures traders of all levels. The clear rules and non-trailing drawdown make it more forgiving than some competitors, and daily payouts are a huge perk.

Get Funded By Topstep

Earn2Trade

Company Overview: Earn2Trade is a futures-focused prop firm that stands out with two distinct evaluation pathways designed to accommodate different trader preferences and career goals. They offer a unique scaling approach through their Trader Career Path program and provide extensive educational resources for trader development.
Evaluation Phases: Two distinct programs:
Trading Rules: 10 minimum trading days, consistency rule enforcement, approved trading times only, copy trading prohibited
Profit Split: 80% for the trader across all programs
Payout Frequency: Standard processing with mathCancel auto wrapLong press copy10 withdrawal fee (waived for withdrawals over 500), $100 minimum withdrawal
Key Pros & Cons:
- Pros: Two evaluation paths for flexibility, extensive platform support, strong educational resources, potential to scale to $400K
- Cons: Limited to futures only, specific approved trading times, $10 withdrawal fee for smaller amounts
Who it’s best for: Futures traders seeking flexibility between career-focused scaling programs or one-time evaluations, and those who value educational support

Get Funded By Earn2Trade

Uprofit

Company Overview: Uprofit offers a streamlined approach to prop trading with a simple one-step evaluation process and competitive pricing. They focus on fast payouts and trader-friendly policies, including allowing news trading, which many firms restrict.
Evaluation Phases: Simple one-step evaluation with account sizes of mathCancel auto wrapLong press copy50,000, 100,000, and $150,000
Trading Rules: 5 minimum trading days, 30% consistency rule (best trading day cannot exceed 30% of total profit), news trading allowed
Profit Split: Up to 80% of profits for traders
Payout Frequency: Within 24 business hours – one of the fastest in the industry
Key Pros & Cons:
- Pros: Ultra-fast payouts, simple one-step evaluation, news trading allowed, competitive pricing, low minimum trading days
- Cons: Limited account size options, 30% consistency rule can be challenging, smaller maximum account sizes
Who it’s best for: Traders prioritizing speed and simplicity who want fast access to capital and quick payout processing, especially news traders

Get Funded By Uprofit

4. Prop Firm Comparison: Side-by-Side

Here is a quick-reference table to help you compare the key features of our top-rated prop firms.

Feature	Apex Trader Funding	FTMO	The 5%ers	The Funded Trader	Topstep	Earn2Trade	Uprofit
Asset Class	Futures	Forex, Indices, Crypto, etc.	Forex, Indices, etc.	Forex, Indices, Crypto, etc.	Futures	Futures	Futures & Forex
Evaluation	1-Step	2-Step	Instant or 3-Step	1-Step, 2-Step, 3-Step	1-Step	2 Programs	1-Step
Max Profit Split	90% (100% on first $25k)	90%	100%	99%	90% (100% on first mathCancel auto wrapLong press copy`5k-`10k)	80%	80%
Max Account Size	$300,000	mathCancel auto wrapLong press copy`200,000 (scales to` 2M)	$250,000 (scales)	mathCancel auto wrapLong press copy`600,000 (scales to` 1.5M)	$150,000	$400,000 (Career Path)	$150,000
Payout Frequency	Every 8 days	Monthly/Bi-weekly	On-Demand	Weekly/Bi-weekly	Daily	Standard	24 Hours
Platforms	Rithmic, Tradovate	MT4, MT5, cTrader	MT5	DXtrade, cTrader, Match-Trader	TopstepX, NinjaTrader, etc.	NinjaTrader, R\|Trader, etc.	NinjaTrader, TradingView
Best For	High Payouts (Futures)	Reputation & Support	Flexibility	Account Variety	Daily Payouts (Futures)	Educational Focus	Ultra-Fast Payouts

5. Which Prop Firm Is Right for You?

Choosing the best funded account depends entirely on your needs.

If you are a Futures Trader…
- Apex Trader Funding offers the highest profit split (100% on first $25K, then 90%)
- Topstep provides daily payouts and more forgiving EOD drawdown
- Earn2Trade is ideal for those wanting educational support and flexible evaluation paths
- Uprofit excels with ultra-fast 24-hour payouts
If you are a Forex or CFD Trader…
- FTMO remains the gold standard for reputation and comprehensive support
- The Funded Trader offers unparalleled flexibility with its huge range of accounts and highest potential profit splits
- Uprofit provides futures and forex options with rapid payout processing
If you prioritize speed and efficiency…
- Uprofit leads with 24-hour payout processing – fastest in the industry
- Apex Trader Funding offers payouts every 8 days
- Topstep provides daily payout options
If you are on a budget…
- The 5%ers’ Bootcamp remains the most cost-effective entry point
- Uprofit offers competitive pricing with simple evaluation
If you want educational support…
- FTMO provides excellent analytics and educational tools
- Earn2Trade offers strong educational resources and beginner crash courses
If you want to get funded instantly…
- The 5%ers’ High-Stakes program allows immediate access to live accounts

6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Are prop firms a scam?
A: No, legitimate prop firms are not scams. They operate on a business model where they profit when their traders profit. However, you must perform due diligence, as there are unregulated firms in the space. The firms listed in this guide are well-established and have a long history of paying out traders.

Q: Can I lose more than my evaluation fee?
A: No. With a legitimate prop firm, your risk is capped at the evaluation fee. The firm covers all losses on the funded account.

Q: What happens if I fail the challenge?
A: You lose your evaluation fee and do not get funded. Most firms offer a « reset » option for a discounted price if you violate a rule but have not run out of time, or you can simply purchase a new challenge.

Q: Can I trade the news or hold trades overnight?
A: This depends entirely on the firm and the specific account type. For example, many futures firms like Apex and Topstep allow it, while some forex firms have restrictions around high-impact news events. Uprofit specifically allows news trading, making it a good choice for news traders. Always read the rules carefully.

Q: Which firm has the fastest payouts?
A: Uprofit currently leads the industry with payouts processed within 24 business hours. Topstep offers daily payout processing, while Apex Trader Funding allows payouts every 8 days. The 5%ers offers on-demand payouts for maximum flexibility.

Q: Are there firms that focus on trader education?
A: Yes, several firms offer excellent educational resources. FTMO provides comprehensive analytics and educational tools, while Earn2Trade offers strong educational resources including beginner crash courses and two distinct evaluation paths to match different skill levels.

7. Conclusion: Your Path to a Funded Account in 2025

The world of prop trading has opened up incredible opportunities for talented traders. By partnering with a firm, you can overcome capital limitations and focus on what you do best: trading.

The industry is challenging, but with the right firm, it’s possible to build a successful career.

Our Top Recommendations:

For Futures (High Profit Split): Apex Trader Funding offers the best overall value with 100% on first $25K, then 90%
For Futures (Speed): Uprofit leads with 24-hour payouts and simple evaluation
For Futures (Education): Earn2Trade excels with comprehensive resources and flexible programs
For Forex: FTMO remains the most trusted and professional choice for serious traders
For Flexibility & Variety: The Funded Trader provides an unmatched range of options with up to 99% profit splits
For Speed & Efficiency: Uprofit delivers the fastest payouts in the industry

Ready to take the next step? Choose the firm that best fits your goals from our comprehensive prop firm comparison above and click the link to get started on your evaluation today. With our expanded selection of 7 top-rated firms, you now have more options than ever to find the perfect match for your trading style and goals.

Ready to move beyond surface-level analysis and master the art of your funded account