Choosing a futures prop firm is one of the most important decisions a funded trader makes. The wrong firm can mean stricter rules, hidden fees, or payout delays. The right one can mean faster funding, better splits, and rules that match your trading style.
We've analyzed the complete rulesets of every major CME futures prop firm. Here's what the data shows.
What We Compared
Rather than relying on marketing claims, we compared firms across these measurable dimensions:
- Evaluation cost — monthly fees, one-time fees, activation fees
- Drawdown rules — type, calculation basis, lock behavior
- Profit split — initial split and maximum achievable split
- Payout speed — minimum payout, frequency, processing time
- Trading restrictions — automation, news, overnight, consistency rules
- Path to funded — minimum days, total estimated timeline
You can see all of this data in our side-by-side comparison tool.
Key Findings
Most Affordable Entry Point
Several firms now offer one-time fee models that eliminate recurring subscription costs. E8 Futures and FundedNext lead here — you pay once and evaluate until you pass (within the time limit). For monthly subscriptions, Trade Day and Legends Trading offer competitive pricing for smaller account sizes.
Check the deals page for current promotions — many firms run 50-80% off sales regularly.
Most Lenient Drawdown
Firms offering static drawdown on funded accounts are the most forgiving. Static means your drawdown floor never moves — you have a fixed safety net regardless of how high your balance goes.
Trade Day offers static drawdown as one of three options per account size. Funded Futures Network uses static drawdown on their funded accounts. Learn more about drawdown types.
Best Profit Split
Alpha Futures leads with a 90% flat profit split on their Advanced and Zero paths — no tiering, no waiting. Apex Trader Funding gives you 100% of your first $25,000 in payouts, then 90% after.
For most traders, the effective split matters more than the headline number. A firm with 80% split but daily payouts and no minimum may pay you more than one with 90% split but $1,000 minimums and bi-weekly cycles.
Fastest Path to Funded
Trade Day requires only 5 minimum trading days with no maximum time limit. Alpha Futures Zero path requires just 3 trading days. Legends Trading requires 5 days with no maximum.
But "minimum days" doesn't mean "average days." Consider the profit target and consistency rules — a $6,000 target on a 100K account is very different from a $3,000 target.
Use the payout simulator to model realistic scenarios.
How to Choose
There's no universal "best" firm — it depends on your trading style:
- Scalpers need firms that allow automation and have no flat-by restrictions
- Swing traders need overnight holding and no news restrictions
- Budget traders should prioritize one-time fees and lower activation costs
- Conservative traders benefit from static drawdown and loose consistency rules
Our trading styles guide breaks this down in detail, and the firm quiz gives you a personalized recommendation based on your preferences.
The Bottom Line
The futures prop firm space is more competitive than ever, which is great for traders. Fees are dropping, rules are getting more lenient, and payout speeds are increasing. The key is matching a firm's specific rules to your specific trading style.
Compare all firms side-by-side or browse the full directory to see every rule, fee, and restriction in one place.