The Cheapest Prop Firm for Futures Traders
Every Futures Prop Firm's Real Price, Side by Side
$55 to $673. That's the real range of what a funded futures account costs in 2026. Same goal, same markets, 12x price difference. If you're searching for the cheapest prop firm, most comparison sites won't tell you this because they only show the sticker price.
Sticker price is a lie. Some firms charge one-time fees. Others charge monthly subscriptions that drain your account while you practice. Some hit you with activation fees AFTER you pass. The real question isn't "what's the cheapest first payment?" It's "what's the total cost of getting funded?"
We compared 7 firms. Here's what each one actually costs if you take 1 or 3 months to pass:
| Firm | Lowest Price | Model | Activation Fee | Total if Pass in 1 Month | Total if Pass in 3 Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phidias 25K Static | $55 | One-time | $0 | $55 | $55 |
| TPT 25K | $90/mo | Monthly | $0 | $90 | $270 |
| TopStep 50K | $109 | One-time | $0 | $109 | $109 |
| Tradeify 50K | $111/mo | Monthly | $0 | $111 | $333 |
| MFFU 50K | $126 | One-time | $0 | $126 | $126 |
| Apex 25K | $177 | One-time | $99 | $276 | $276 |
| Bulenox 50K | $175/mo | Monthly | $148 | $323 | $673 |
Pricing as of March 2026. "Total" columns include activation fees. Promotional discounts may apply.
The Phidias 25K Static stays at $55 whether you pass in week one or month three. Meanwhile, TPT's $90/month becomes $270 after three months. That's nearly 5x the cost for the same account size.
One-time payment firms (Phidias, TopStep, MFFU) don't punish you for taking your time. Monthly firms (TPT, Tradeify, Bulenox) get more expensive with every billing cycle. And firms with activation fees (Apex $99, Bulenox $148) hit you again after you pass.
If you're not certain you'll pass in 30 days, one-time payment with no activation fee is the safest bet.
The cheapest entry point in futures prop trading: Phidias 25K Static at $55. One-time payment. No activation fee. No monthly fee. No payout fees. You can be funded in 48 hours.
See all Phidias account types and pricing →
20,000+
Funded Traders
$2.95M
Paid Last 90 Days
0
Payout Denials
1
Choose your account type
Static: Static Drawdown & Direct access to live.
Fundamental: Classic intraday evaluation account.
Swing: Classic evaluation account with the ability
to hold your positions overnight.
10K Drawdown Challenge: Our monthly trading
challenge with a $10K live account as the prize.
Your payment option
One-Time Payment
Enjoy a reduced rate with a one-time payment.
No activation fees to pay after passing the evaluation.
Evaluation
Payment in two steps:
1️⃣ When purchasing the evaluation
2️⃣ Then activation of the funded account once the
evaluation is validated.
- No Monthly Subscription
- Evaluation & Activation Included
- No Rush To Pass Evaluation
- Lifetime Funded Account
$25K Static
CASH activation fee : $83 $0
Profit target : $1,500
Max Contracts : 2 minis (20 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $500
Drawdown type : Static
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed 
Or Rithmic 
Minimum trading days : 1
*Price excluding taxes
$25K Static
CASH activation fee : $83
Profit target : $1,500
Max Contracts : 2 minis (20 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $500
Drawdown type : Static
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 1
*Price excluding taxes
Your payment option
One-Time Payment
Enjoy a reduced rate with a one-time payment.
No activation fees to pay after passing the evaluation.
Evaluation
Payment in two steps:
1️⃣ When purchasing the evaluation
2️⃣ Then activation of the funded account once the
evaluation is validated.
- No Monthly Subscription
- Evaluation & Activation Included
- No Rush To Pass Evaluation
- Lifetime Funded Account
$50K Fundamental
CASH activation fee : $149 $0
Profit Target : $4,000
Max Contracts : 10 minis (100 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $2,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$100K Fundamental
CASH activation fee : $149 $0
Profit Target : $6,000
Max Contracts : 14 minis (140 micros)
Maximum drawdown: $3,000 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$150K Fundamental
CASH activation fee : $169 $0
Profit Target : $9,000
Max Contracts : 17 minis (170 micros)
Maximum drawdown: $4,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$50K Fundamental
CASH activation fee : $149
Profit Target : $4,000
Max Contracts : 10 minis (100 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $2,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$100K Fundamental
CASH activation fee : $149
Profit Target : $6,000
Max Contracts : 14 minis (140 micros)
Maximum drawdown: $3,000 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$150K Fundamental
CASH activation fee : $169
Profit Target : $9,000
Max Contracts : 17 minis (170 micros)
Maximum drawdown: $4,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
Your payment option
One-Time Payment
Enjoy a reduced rate with a one-time payment.
No activation fees to pay after passing the evaluation.
Evaluation
Payment in two steps:
1️⃣ When purchasing the evaluation
2️⃣ Then activation of the funded account once the
evaluation is validated.
- No Monthly Subscription
- Evaluation & Activation Included
- No Rush To Pass Evaluation
- Lifetime Funded Account
$50K Swing
CASH activation fee : $149 $0
Profit Target : $4,000
Max Contracts : 10 minis (100 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $2,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Overnight & Overweek : 1 mini contract allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$100K Swing
CASH activation fee : $149 $0
Profit Target : $6,000
Max Contracts : 14 minis (140 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $3,000 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Overnight & Overweek : 2 mini contracts allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$150K Swing
CASH activation fee : $169 $0
Profit Target : $9,000
Max Contracts : 17 minis (170 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $4,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Overnight & Overweek : 3 mini contracts allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$50K Swing
CASH activation fee : $149
Profit Target : $4,000
Max Contracts : 10 minis (100 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $2,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Overnight & Overweek : 1 mini contract allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$100K Swing
CASH activation fee : $149
Profit Target : $6,000
Max Contracts : 14 minis (140 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $3,000 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Overnight & Overweek : 2 mini contracts allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$150K Swing
CASH activation fee : $169
Profit Target : $9,000
Max Contracts : 17 minis (170 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $4,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Overnight & Overweek : 3 mini contracts allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$10K Drawdown Challenge
Winter Summit Edition
$24,000 Cash Prizes to Win!
Maximum drawdown : $10 000 EOD (End Of Day trailling)
Number of entries : Unlimited
Max Contracts : 25 minis (250 micros)
Over night & Over week-end : 25 mini contracts allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Current challenge timeline: Start on January 2nd and ends on February 28th. Results are announced 1st of March.
*Price excluding taxes
The evaluation price is just the front door. Here's every cost that can hit you after you sign up:
Activation fees
You passed the evaluation. Now pay again to actually trade a funded account. Apex charges $99 and Bulenox charges $148. That's money on top of everything you already paid during evaluation.
Phidias, TopStep, MFFU, Tradeify, and TPT charge $0 activation fees.
Monthly subscriptions that keep running
At Apex ($167/mo), Bulenox ($175/mo), Tradeify ($111/mo), and TPT ($90-$102/mo), your subscription runs until you cancel. Failed a month? That's another charge. Took a break? Still charging. Forgot to cancel after blowing your account? Still charging.
One-time payment firms (Phidias, TopStep, MFFU) charge once. If you fail, you buy a new evaluation when you're ready. No pressure, no recurring drain.
Reset fees
Violated a rule and want to try again without buying a new account? That's a reset. These typically range from $49-$149 depending on the firm and account size. They add up fast if you're still learning.
Platform lock-in
TopStep now requires their proprietary TopStepX platform for new accounts. Level 2 data costs $34.25/month extra. At Phidias, you choose your own platform (NinjaTrader, TradingView, Quantower, and more).
Payout processing fees
TopStep charges a $30 processing fee per withdrawal. Request 4 payouts in a month and that's $120 just in processing. Most other firms including Phidias don't charge processing fees on standard withdrawals.
| Hidden Cost | Phidias | TopStep | MFFU | Tradeify | Apex | Bulenox |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activation Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $99 | $148 |
| Recurring Sub | None | None | None | $111/mo | $167/mo | $175/mo |
| Payout Fee | $0 | $30/each | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Platform Lock | Your choice | TopStepX only* | Your choice | Your choice | Your choice | Your choice |
*New TopStep accounts (July 2025+) can only use TopStepX. Legacy accounts retain access to other platforms.
TopStep's $109 upfront looks clean. But the $30 payout fee on every withdrawal and the mandatory TopStepX platform are costs that other firms don't charge. Make 10 payouts and that's $300 in processing fees alone. At Phidias, you pay $0 per payout and trade on whichever platform you prefer.
$55
Phidias total cost (3 months)
$673
Bulenox total cost (3 months)
That's $618 you keep in your pocket by choosing Phidias over Bulenox. Even against TopStep ($109), you save $54 upfront and hundreds more in payout fees over time.
20,000+ Traders Already Funded
$2.95M paid out in the last 90 days. Zero payout denials.
Join Them →Cheap AND Good: What You Actually Get at Each Price
Low price means nothing if the rules are designed to make you fail. Here's what the three cheapest one-time payment prop firms actually give you for your money:
| What You Get | Phidias $55 | TopStep $109 | MFFU $126 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account Size | 25K | 50K | 50K |
| Drawdown Type | $500 Static | EOD Trailing | EOD Trailing |
| Swing Trading | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Payout Speed | 1-4 hours | 1-3 business days | ~1 minute |
| Payout Fee | $0 | $30 per withdrawal | $0 |
| Consistency Rule (Eval) | None | 50% target | None |
| Min Trading Days | None | 5 days | Varies |
| Platform Freedom | Your choice | TopStepX only | Your choice |
| Live Account Path | ✓ Direct to live | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
The Phidias 25K Static is a smaller account. But for $55, you get no consistency rule, no minimum trading days, no payout fees, platform freedom, and a direct path to live. You can pass in a single day and request your first payout the next morning.
TopStep gives you a bigger account at $109, but locks you into their platform, charges $30 per withdrawal, and requires 5 minimum trading days with a 50% consistency target.
MFFU at $126 has no consistency rule and fast payouts, but no path to live capital and payout caps during the first 60 days on Starter plans.
The cheapest option isn't always the one with the lowest number on the sticker. It's the one that costs you the least on your way to getting paid.
Real Payout
Harsh R. (India) withdrew $23,00 from his Phidias account. Approved in under 4 hours. $0 in fees.
1
Choose your account type
Static: Static Drawdown & Direct access to live.
Fundamental: Classic intraday evaluation account.
Swing: Classic evaluation account with the ability
to hold your positions overnight.
10K Drawdown Challenge: Our monthly trading
challenge with a $10K live account as the prize.
Your payment option
One-Time Payment
Enjoy a reduced rate with a one-time payment.
No activation fees to pay after passing the evaluation.
Evaluation
Payment in two steps:
1️⃣ When purchasing the evaluation
2️⃣ Then activation of the funded account once the
evaluation is validated.
- No Monthly Subscription
- Evaluation & Activation Included
- No Rush To Pass Evaluation
- Lifetime Funded Account
$25K Static
CASH activation fee : $83 $0
Profit target : $1,500
Max Contracts : 2 minis (20 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $500
Drawdown type : Static
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 1
*Price excluding taxes
$25K Static
CASH activation fee : $83
Profit target : $1,500
Max Contracts : 2 minis (20 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $500
Drawdown type : Static
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 1
*Price excluding taxes
Your payment option
One-Time Payment
Enjoy a reduced rate with a one-time payment.
No activation fees to pay after passing the evaluation.
Evaluation
Payment in two steps:
1️⃣ When purchasing the evaluation
2️⃣ Then activation of the funded account once the
evaluation is validated.
- No Monthly Subscription
- Evaluation & Activation Included
- No Rush To Pass Evaluation
- Lifetime Funded Account
$50K Fundamental
CASH activation fee : $149 $0
Profit Target : $4,000
Max Contracts : 10 minis (100 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $2,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$100K Fundamental
CASH activation fee : $149 $0
Profit Target : $6,000
Max Contracts : 14 minis (140 micros)
Maximum drawdown: $3,000 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$150K Fundamental
CASH activation fee : $169 $0
Profit Target : $9,000
Max Contracts : 17 minis (170 micros)
Maximum drawdown: $4,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$50K Fundamental
CASH activation fee : $149
Profit Target : $4,000
Max Contracts : 10 minis (100 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $2,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$100K Fundamental
CASH activation fee : $149
Profit Target : $6,000
Max Contracts : 14 minis (140 micros)
Maximum drawdown: $3,000 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$150K Fundamental
CASH activation fee : $169
Profit Target : $9,000
Max Contracts : 17 minis (170 micros)
Maximum drawdown: $4,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
Your payment option
One-Time Payment
Enjoy a reduced rate with a one-time payment.
No activation fees to pay after passing the evaluation.
Evaluation
Payment in two steps:
1️⃣ When purchasing the evaluation
2️⃣ Then activation of the funded account once the
evaluation is validated.
- No Monthly Subscription
- Evaluation & Activation Included
- No Rush To Pass Evaluation
- Lifetime Funded Account
$50K Swing
CASH activation fee : $149 $0
Profit Target : $4,000
Max Contracts : 10 minis (100 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $2,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Overnight & Overweek : 1 mini contract allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$100K Swing
CASH activation fee : $149 $0
Profit Target : $6,000
Max Contracts : 14 minis (140 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $3,000 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Overnight & Overweek : 2 mini contracts allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$150K Swing
CASH activation fee : $169 $0
Profit Target : $9,000
Max Contracts : 17 minis (170 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $4,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Overnight & Overweek : 3 mini contracts allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$50K Swing
CASH activation fee : $149
Profit Target : $4,000
Max Contracts : 10 minis (100 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $2,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Overnight & Overweek : 1 mini contract allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$100K Swing
CASH activation fee : $149
Profit Target : $6,000
Max Contracts : 14 minis (140 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $3,000 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Overnight & Overweek : 2 mini contracts allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$150K Swing
CASH activation fee : $169
Profit Target : $9,000
Max Contracts : 17 minis (170 micros)
Maximum drawdown : $4,500 EOD (End Of Day)
Daily loss limit : None
News Trading : Allowed
Overnight & Overweek : 3 mini contracts allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Minimum trading days : 3
*Price excluding taxes
$10K Drawdown Challenge
Winter Summit Edition
$24,000 Cash Prizes to Win!
Maximum drawdown : $10 000 EOD (End Of Day trailling)
Number of entries : Unlimited
Max Contracts : 25 minis (250 micros)
Over night & Over week-end : 25 mini contracts allowed
Data Feed : dxFeed Or Rithmic
Current challenge timeline: Start on January 2nd and ends on February 28th. Results are announced 1st of March.
*Price excluding taxes
Frequently Asked Questions About Cheap Prop Firms
What is the cheapest futures prop firm in 2026?
The absolute cheapest entry point is the Phidias 25K Static account at $55 (one-time payment). For 50K accounts, TopStep at $109 and Phidias at $116 are the cheapest one-time options. TPT starts at $90/month for a 25K, but that's a recurring charge that gets more expensive every month you trade.
Are cheap prop firms legit?
Price alone doesn't determine legitimacy. Some of the most affordable prop firms (Phidias, TopStep, MFFU) have strong track records with real payouts and transparent rules. What matters more than price is the drawdown type, payout reliability, and whether the firm's rules are designed for traders to succeed or fail. Read reviews, check payout proof, and understand the rules before you sign up. Our guide on whether prop firms are scams or legit covers what to look for.
Is it better to choose a one-time payment or monthly subscription prop firm?
If you're confident you'll pass within 30 days, a monthly subscription can be cheaper upfront. If you want to take your time without accumulating fees, one-time payment is the safer choice. Most traders take 2-4 months to pass, which makes one-time payment firms significantly cheaper in practice. After just 3 months, a TPT 25K subscription ($270) costs nearly 5x more than a Phidias 25K Static ($55). For a full breakdown, read our best futures prop firms comparison.
What hidden fees should I watch out for with prop firms?
The most common hidden costs are: activation fees (Bulenox $148, Apex $99), payout processing fees (TopStep $30 per withdrawal), platform lock-in (TopStep requires TopStepX for new accounts, Level 2 data at $34.25/mo extra), and reset fees when you need to restart. Always calculate the total cost of getting funded, not just the entry price.
Can I get a funded account for under $100?
Yes. Phidias offers the 25K Static at $55 as a one-time payment with no additional fees. TPT offers a 25K at $90/month, but that's recurring. The Phidias 25K Static has no minimum trading days and no consistency rule, making it the fastest and simplest path to a funded account under $100.
What's the cheapest way to get a 50K funded account?
For one-time payments: TopStep at $109, then Phidias at $116, then MFFU at $126. For monthly: Tradeify starts at $111/month but costs $333+ after 3 months. The cheapest total cost depends on how fast you pass. If it takes more than one month, one-time payment wins.
Do cheap prop firms pay out reliably?
Price and payout reliability are not connected. Phidias ($55 for 25K Static) processes payouts in 1-4 hours with $0 fees. MFFU ($126 for 50K) advertises 1-minute processing. TopStep ($109 for 50K) takes 1-3 business days and charges $30 per withdrawal. Look at the firm's payout track record, not its price tag. Check our daily payout prop firm guide for speed rankings.
Why are some prop firms so much more expensive than others?
Monthly subscription firms (Tradeify, TPT, Apex, Bulenox) charge ongoing fees because their business model depends on recurring revenue. The longer you take to pass, the more they earn. One-time payment firms (Phidias, TopStep, MFFU) charge once and make money from profit splits on funded accounts. Neither model is inherently wrong, but you should understand how each firm makes its money.
Stop Overpaying to Trade
25K Static: $55 | 50K Fundamental: $116 | 150K Fundamental: $172.60
One-time payment. No monthly fees. No activation fees. No payout fees. Ever.
Join 20,000+ funded traders | $2.95M paid in the last 90 days
See All Account Prices →