The funded account comparison that matters — after you pass. We compare maximum capital, profit splits, scaling speed, payout frequency, and withdrawal terms across the top 10 prop firms. Independently researched.
Evaluation Framework
Six post-challenge criteria separate elite funded programs from the rest. This is the framework we used to rank every firm below.
The highest account size you can reach through scaling. A $4M account at 80% split can generate $320K+ annually at just 10% return.
How much of profits you keep. 100% split firms (The5ers at scale, AquaFunded day one) vs 80% baseline firms.
How quickly you grow from starter to max capital. Some firms scale every 10% profit; others require multiple payout cycles.
Bi-weekly vs weekly vs daily. Faster payouts mean better cash flow and faster compounding of withdrawals.
Low or no minimums mean you access profits faster. Most top firms sit between $50 and $100 minimum.
Firm longevity, payout track record, and risk of rule changes post-funding. Established firms reduce platform risk.
Top 5 By Maximum Capital
The5ers offers the highest scaling ceiling in the industry alongside FundedNext. Starting from a $5K or $20K account, traders can scale all the way to $4M through consistent performance.
FundedNext matches The5ers' $4M scaling ceiling and backs it with the strongest payout guarantee in the industry.
The original prop firm with a 10+ year track record. The most established brand in proprietary trading.
Competitive scaling plan with a feature few competitors match: explicit news-trading permission on funded accounts.
Massive social proof and strong brand recognition with the largest active community in the space.
Full Comparison
| Firm | Max Capital | Split % | Scaling | Payouts | Min Withdraw | Years | Trustpilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The5ers | $4M | 80–100% | 10% profit | Bi-weekly | $100 | 9+ | 4.8 |
| FundedNext | $4M | 80–95% | 10% profit | 24hr guarantee | $50 | 3+ | 4.6 |
| FTMO | $2M | 80–90% | 10% profit | Bi-weekly | $100 | 10+ | 4.8 |
| Alpha Trader Firm | $2M | 90% | 10% profit | Bi-weekly | $100 | 2+ | 4.7 |
| Funding Pips | $2M | 80% | 10% profit | Weekly | $50 | 3+ | 4.3 |
| Hola Prime | $2M | 95% | 10% profit | 1-hour | $50 | 2+ | 4.7 |
| My Funded Futures | $150K | 80–90% | Monthly | Daily | $50 | 3+ | 4.9 |
| Apex Trader Funding | $300K | 90–100% | Monthly | Weekly | $100 | 4+ | 4.4 |
| AquaFunded | $1M | 100% Day 1 | 10% profit | Bi-weekly | $50 | 2+ | 4.4 |
| Blue Guardian | $1M | 80–90% | 10% profit | 24hr guarantee | $50 | 5+ | 4.5 |
The Path To $1M+
The step-by-step trajectory of a successful funded trader. Every milestone unlocks more capital and a higher split.
Pass a standard 2-step challenge and begin trading. Monthly target: 5% return = $2,500 gross × 80% = $2,000 paid out.
Hit your first 10% profit target to trigger the first scaling jump. Monthly: $10,000 profit × 85% = $8,500.
After 4–6 scaling hits, reach the $500K tier. Monthly: $25,000 × 90% = $22,500.
Consistent performance over 12–18 months puts you at $1M–$2M. Monthly: $50,000 × 100% = $50,000.
From $50K to $1M typically takes 12–24 months of consistent 5–10% monthly returns.
Many traders reinvest profits rather than withdrawing, accelerating scaling by 30–50%.
Real Earnings At Max Scale
Monthly trader earnings at a 5% return rate, at maximum scaled capital, after profit split.
These are gross figures at maximum scale — most traders never reach max capital. Plan conservatively.
FAQ
A prop firm funded account is a trading account financed by a proprietary trading firm after a trader passes an evaluation challenge. The trader executes trades with the firm's capital and keeps a percentage of the profits (typically 80–100%), while the firm absorbs any losses.
The5ers and FundedNext currently offer the highest scaling ceiling at $4,000,000 in maximum capital. Traders reach this level through consistent performance over 12–24 months of trading.
Scaling plans let traders grow their account size after hitting profit milestones — typically a 10% profit threshold over a defined period. Each scaling step often increases both capital and profit split percentage.
Withdrawal frequency varies: Hola Prime offers 1-hour payouts, My Funded Futures provides daily payouts, Funding Pips runs weekly, and FTMO / The5ers / FundedNext use bi-weekly schedules. FundedNext additionally guarantees a 24-hour payout.
100% profit split is the highest available. AquaFunded offers 100% from day one, while The5ers and Apex Trader Funding offer 100% at their highest scaled tiers. The industry baseline is 80%.
From a $50K starter account, scaling to $1M typically takes 12–24 months of consistent 5–10% monthly returns. Traders who reinvest rather than withdraw profits can accelerate this timeline by 30–50%.
Yes. Funded accounts have maximum daily loss limits and overall drawdown limits. Breaching either rule terminates the account. Most firms allow a one-time reset for a fee.
A challenge is the evaluation phase where you trade demo capital to prove your skill. A funded account is what you receive after passing — real capital where you earn a share of actual profits.
Your account terms after passing matter more than the challenge price. Compare scaling, splits, and payouts before you commit.