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Category-based rankings across all tracked futures prop firms.
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Pay a monthly evaluation fee → trade a simulated account toward a profit target → get funded → keep a % of real profits. Most futures firms use a trailing end-of-day drawdown, meaning your max loss floor locks in at each day's closing balance high. Unlike forex CFD firms, futures prop accounts trade actual CME instruments (NQ, ES, CL, GC, etc.) through regulated brokers.
Drawdown floor advances only at end-of-day close. If you're up $2K intraday and give it back, your floor doesn't move. Only locks in when you close the day up. Used by Apex, Bulenox, TradeDay, Leeloo, Tradeify, and most newer firms.
Floor advances in real-time as your balance increases. If you're up $2K at 10am, your floor locked in immediately — any pullback from that high counts against your drawdown. Used by TopstepTrader. Requires tighter risk management.
Fixed from starting balance — never moves. Less common in futures (more common in forex props). Gives the most room but means a larger potential loss before termination.
Most popular desktop platform for futures. Supports Rithmic data feed. Home of custom indicators, strategies, and add-ons. Free for simulation — brokerage required for live trading.
Cloud-based platform — web, desktop, and mobile. Acts as both broker and platform. Commission-based pricing. Popular for its simplicity and cross-device sync.
Not a charting platform — Rithmic is a data feed and order routing infrastructure. Used with NT8, Sierra Chart, and other platforms. Known for low-latency connectivity to CME Group.
Advanced, highly configurable charting platform. Steep learning curve but extremely powerful. Supports Denali and Rithmic data feeds. Popular with institutional and algo traders.
Order flow analysis platform. Exclusive to TopstepTrader among prop firms. Premium footprint / delta / volume profile tooling. EU-based software.
Finamark is Earn2Trade's proprietary platform. R|Trader Pro is Rithmic's own native front-end, supported by Take Profit Trader. Both are simpler alternatives to NT8.
From paying your evaluation fee to receiving your first payout — a plain-English walkthrough of every stage, every rule type, and every risk you need to understand before spending a dollar.
| Account Size | Typical Eval Fee | 6% Target | First Payout (90%) | ROI on Eval Fee | Max DD Dollar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $80 | $1,500 | $1,350 | 16.9× | $1,500 |
| $50,000 ★ | $130 | $3,000 | $2,700 | 20.8× | $3,000 |
| $100,000 ★ | $197 | $6,000 | $5,400 | 27.4× | $6,000 |
| $150,000 | $297 | $9,000 | $8,100 | 27.3× | $9,000 |
| $250,000 | $517 | $15,000 | $13,500 | 26.1× | $15,000 |
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