Best Futures Prop Firms

Topstep, with an overall score of 89/100, offers a straightforward yet comprehensive path to funded trading, making it ideal for futures traders at all levels. Its three-step evaluation structure—Trading Combine, Express Funded Account, and Live Funded Account—focuses on risk management and performance consistency, without pressuring traders with time limits.

Topstep also offers access to high-quality trading platforms like NinjaTrader and commission-free TopstepX, supporting a variety of trading styles and preferences.

Topstep is the Best Futures Prop Firm Overall

Topstep, based in Chicago, is the top prop firm for traders seeking funded futures accounts. With a three-step evaluation and high-profit payout (100% on the first $10,000, then 90%), Topstep prioritises real-world trading experience and flexibility.

The Trading Combine, with no time limits, lets you progress at your own pace, followed by a simulated profit-earning stage and finally, a Live Funded Account. You can access 32 futures markets and choose from major trading platforms like NinjaTrader and TradingView, or opt for commission-free futures trading on TopstepX.

The prop firm’s competitive pricing reflects real trading costs with monthly fees in the Trading Combine and exchange fees in the Live Funded stage, preparing you for real capital management. If you are serious about futures trading, Topstep combines practical funding, support, and flexible terms, setting a high bar in the prop trading industry.

Key Features

• Evaluation Process: No time limits in the Trading Combine, allowing traders to reach targets at their own pace, such as $3,000 for a $50K account.
• Platform Options: Access to platforms like commission-free TopstepX, NinjaTrader, TradingView, and others.
• Futures Market Access: Includes 32 futures markets, covering forex, indices, and commodities.
• Profit Split: High payout structure, with 100% on the first $10K in profits, then a 90%.

Trading Costs and Fees

Topstep’s pricing structure closely resembles real trading costs, with monthly fees for the Trading Combine and additional expenses in the Live Funded Account.

1. Trading Combine Fees: Monthly subscriptions for the Trading Combine range from $49 for a $50K account to $149 for a $150K account. These fees cover access to Topstep’s evaluation platform and replicate the experience of maintaining a real trading account.
2. Express Funded Activation Fee: A one-time $149 fee applies when traders move to the Express Funded Account stage, where they continue trading in a simulated but profit-bearing account without further monthly fees.
3. Live Funded Account Fees: Once in the Live Funded Account, traders pay $135 per month per exchange for market data fees. This cost is essential for those accessing futures data from major exchanges like CME, NYMEX, COMEX, and CBOT, and can add up for traders needing multi-exchange access.
4. Additional Trading Fees: For platforms other than TopstepX, traders may face per-trade costs, including commission, clearing, and exchange fees, further aligning with actual futures trading costs.

Topstep’s pricing creates a realistic environment but requires budgeting to manage recurring fees, especially if you need data from multiple exchanges.

Support and Community

Topstep provides 24/7 support through live chat, email, and phone, backed by an automated chatbot that escalates complex queries to human agents.

Educational resources like TopstepTV, free webinars, and an active Discord community of over 86,000 members provide extensive support if you need it.

Final Verdict on Topstep

Our in-depth analysis revealed Topstep as the best futures prop firm thanks to its structured evaluation, high profit payout, and extensive support. However, traders should factor in monthly and data fees as they budget for long-term trading on the platform.

Topstep ReviewVisit Topstep

The Trading Pit scored 70/100 overall, with both futures and CFD trading and scaling opportunities up to $5 million. The prop firms evaluation process is relatively flexible, providing futures traders with multiple account levels and both trailing and static drawdown options. Traders also benefit from a variety of platform choices and weekly payout schedules, with a great mix of futures and CFD trading features.

The Trading Pit provides access to a mix of CFD and futures markets with various platforms, ensuring that you can select a setup tailored to your trading style.

With a maximum profit split of 80%, a weekly payout system, and a flexible scaling plan, The Trading Pit is well-suited to experienced traders looking to expand their funding.

Key Features

• Evaluation Process: Requires meeting a profit target (10% for Lite/Standard and 8% for Executive/VIP accounts) and staying within daily loss limits, such as a 5% daily cap on Lite accounts.
• Platform Options: Offers MT4 and MT5 for CFD trading and Rithmic and other platforms for futures, including access to Quantower, ATAS, and Bookmap.
• Futures Market Access: Rithmic data connects to exchanges like CME and Eurex, providing futures trading in indices, commodities, and more.
• Profit Split: 70%–80% profit split across different account types.

Trading Costs and Fees

The Trading Pit’s fee structure depends on the account type and trading platform. Fees are as follows:

Challenge Fees: Range from $99 for Lite accounts to $999 for VIP accounts.
Monthly Data Fees: Fees apply for futures accounts and include $35 Rithmic login, $37.50 for CME bundle, and €20 for Eurex.
Reset/Extension Options: For those needing additional time or resets due to rule breaches, options are available, starting at $49.
Traders should budget for additional platform and data fees, particularly if they choose advanced platforms like ATAS or Bookmap.

Support and Community

The Trading Pit offers multi-channel support, including live chat, email, and phone assistance. The firm maintains a small but active presence on social media and hosts a modest Discord community of around 1,800 members, providing channels for general discussion, platform support, and educational resources. Additionally, the firm offers educational e-books, webinars, and an economic calendar.

Final Verdict on The Trading Pit

The Trading Pit delivers a balanced range of features and flexibility for CFD and futures traders, with an overall score of 70/100. With competitive profit-sharing, an array of platform options However, the $250K funding cap and high evaluation fees could be limitations for some.

MyFundedFutures scored 58/100 in our review, offering futures traders a range of account options with flexible payout terms. With 100% profit on the first $10,000, followed by a 90% split, it’s a suitable choice for traders focused on high returns.

Platform options like NinjaTrader and TradingView provide usability for both new and experienced futures traders.

MyFundedFutures is best suited to futures traders who prefer a direct, futures-only trading firm with simple account options. With account sizes up to $250,000, it offers a viable pathway for traders looking to scale profits, but strict rules and consistency requirements may limit more aggressive trading styles.

Key Features

• Evaluation Process: Offers Starter, Milestone, and Expert accounts with varied profit targets, drawdown rules, and evaluation fees.
• Platform Options: Provides access to popular futures trading platforms like NinjaTrader and Tradovate, along with TradingView for enhanced charting.
• Futures Market Access: Allows trading across a wide range of futures products, from equity indices to commodities.
  Profit Split: Generous 100% on the first $10,000, then 90% on profits thereafter.

Trading Costs and Fees

• Account Fees: Monthly fees for Starter and Expert accounts range from $80 to $375 depending on the account size, while Milestone accounts feature a one-time fee starting at $229.
• Commissions: Round-trip commission fees for Tradovate and Rithmic vary across asset classes, such as $4.26 for E-mini NASDAQ on Tradovate and $4.30 on Rithmic, aligning with typical industry rates.

Traders should consider the ongoing monthly fees and commission costs when choosing an account, as they impact overall profitability.

Support and Community

MyFundedFutures provides a range of educational content via YouTube and an active Discord group of over 66,000 members. However, its primary customer support relies on a chatbot, with no live phone or chat support for more complex issues. Traders looking for a high level of support may find this limiting.

Final Verdict on MyFundedFutures

MyFundedFutures earned a score of 58/100, reflecting its strong profit-sharing and dedicated futures trading setup. However, limitations in support and payout flexibility may affect traders who require more personalised assistance or frequent withdrawals.

Apex Trader Funding scored 45/100, providing futures traders with account options up to $300,000 and a 100% profit split on the first $25,000 in earnings. With platform options like NinjaTrader and TradingView, Apex offers solid tools, but the high monthly fees and limited educational resources reduce its appeal for anyone looking for long-term value and support.

Apex Trader Funding offers both Rithmic and Tradovate accounts to suit varied trading styles. Tradovate accounts support multi-device access and integration with TradingView, while Rithmic accounts are better suited for advanced traders focused on low-latency, high-performance trading.

With a range of contract limits and drawdown options, traders have some flexibility to tailor accounts to their preferences.

Key Features

• Evaluation Process: Apex’s evaluation has a one-step model with a profit target starting at $1,500 for smaller accounts and up to $20,000 for larger ones. There’s a minimum of seven trading days required to qualify, with fixed targets per account size rather than percentages.
• Platform Options: Tradovate offers web-based, desktop, and mobile access with TradingView integration, while Rithmic accounts provide compatibility with NinjaTrader, making it ideal for high-speed trading needs.
• Futures Market Access: Apex offers a total of 46 futures markets, covering a range of assets like currency pairs, indices, agricultural commodities, energy, metals, and cryptocurrency micros.
• Profit Split: Traders keep 100% of the first $25,000 in profits, then a 75-90% split applies based on performance and account type.

Trading Costs and Fees

Apex Trader Funding’s fee structure includes monthly fees, activation costs for funded accounts, and per-trade commissions.

• Monthly Fees: Range from $147 to $687 based on account size and type (Tradovate or Rithmic).
• Activation Fees: Once funded, there’s an activation fee that can be paid monthly or as a one-time fee, with options starting at $85.
• Commission Fees: Vary by platform, starting at $1.55 per side for Tradovate accounts and $1.99 per side for Rithmic.
• Data Fees: Level 2 market data is available for an additional $41 per month plus a $2 processing fee for CME Bundle subscribers.

Support and Community

Apex provides 24/7 online support through an FAQ and platform guides. While basic queries are covered, support depth is limited compared to other prop firms.

Apex also has a community Discord with around 22,000 members, creating a shared space for discussion, although it’s not as extensive as top-rated firms.

Final Verdict on Apex Trader Funding

Apex Trader Funding offers solid initial profit payouts and platform variety, but high fees and limited support resources may be considerations. With a score of 45/100, it’s a fit for experienced traders looking for essential futures funding but may not appeal to those seeking comprehensive educational support or larger trading communities.

Earn2Trade earnt a modest overall score of 42/100, with its primary strength being solid educational resources. For beginners and traders looking to build a disciplined approach to futures trading, Earn2Trade’s learning resources and structured evaluation make it appealing. However, the challenge structure may be limiting for experienced traders, and the evaluation criteria are relatively rigid compared to other firms.

Earn2Trade partners with proprietary trading firms like Helios Trading Partners and Appius Trading Limited to offer funded accounts to traders who successfully complete their evaluation programs.

Key Features

• Evaluation Process: Earn2Trade offers programs like the Trader Career Path and the Gauntlet Mini, requiring traders to meet specific profit targets and adhere to risk management rules over a set period.
• Platform Options: Supports platforms such as NinjaTrader, Finamark, and R Trader, catering to various trading preferences.
• Futures Market Access: Allows trading across CME Group futures, including equity indices, commodities, and more.
• Profit Split: Traders retain 80% of their profits upon securing a funded account.

Trading Costs and Fees

• Evaluation Fees: Monthly fees range from $150 to $550, depending on the chosen program and account size.
• Data Fees: Additional costs may apply for market data, especially for professional traders.
• Withdrawal Fees: A $10 fee is charged per withdrawal, waived for amounts over $500.
  Support and Community

Earn2Trade provides customer support through email and live chat. The platform also offers educational materials, webinars, and a community forum for traders to engage and share insights.

Final Verdict on Earn2Trade

Earn2Trade presents a viable option for traders aiming to enter the futures market with structured educational support and clear evaluation processes. However, the platform’s limitations to futures trading, monthly fees, and stringent evaluation criteria may require careful consideration.