Ever dreamed of trading with big capital but without risking your own? Welcome to the world of prop trading firms. These firms provide traders with the capital to execute their strategies, and in return, you share a percentage of the profits.
In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at the best prop trading firms across a variety of markets—from Forex and stocks to options, futures, and crypto. We’ll break down what to look for when selecting a firm and highlight the ones with the best profit-sharing models in each asset class.
What Is a Proprietary Trading Firm?
A proprietary trading firm (or prop firm) is a financial services company (bank, broker, or fund) that uses its own capital to trade financial markets, unlike traditional investment firms that manage client funds. Think of it as a high-stakes poker game where the house (the prop firm) provides the chips, and the trader gets a share of the winnings based on performance.
Most prop firms offer traders access to substantial capital, and in return, traders share a portion of the profits—sometimes as high as 100%. It’s a win-win if you’ve got the skills to trade successfully.
That said, there are a LOT of proprietary trading firms available today, and more are added every day, so here are the best prop trading firms based on what you want to trade. However, before we get into the full list, here are some of my personal favorites:
Expert Opinion:
- Best Prop Firm For Beginners: FTMO
- Best Prop Firm For High-Profit Splits: The 5%ers
- Best Prop Firm For Education and Training: City Traders Imperium (CTI)
- Best Prop Firm For Cheap Entry Fees: FundedNext
Comparing the Best Prop Trading Firms by Asset Class
From forex to crypto, each proprietary trading firm offers unique opportunities tailored to specific trading styles. We’ll explore what makes these firms stand out. And don’t worry, I’ll help you decide the best prop firms for you after the list, so stick around!
Best Forex Prop Trading Firms
One of the most common types of proprietary trading firms you’ll find is forex, but the following two are the ones I recommend.
FTMO
FTMO is a prop firm that you really can’t go wrong with. It’s one of the most trusted prop trading firms out there, with an average of 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot out of 18k reviews!
- Offers a structured two-phase challenge for evaluation.
- Profit splits range from 80% to 90%.
- Account sizes are available from $10K to $2M (Automatic scaling).
- Provides risk management tools, including:
- Maximum 10% drawdown.
- 5% daily loss limit.
- Offers great support with active community engagement.
- Offers resources like webinars, trading tips, and performance tracking.
- Free demo account.
The 5%ers
The 5%ers is another prop trading firm with a stellar reputation and nearly perfect reviews. It has a 4.9 rating out of 5 on Trustpilot, with over 11k reviews!
- Instant funding with One Step Program
- One-time fee
- Salary offer.
- Profit split starts at 50%, fast scaling up to 100% for top performers.
- Account sizes range from $25K to $200K.
- Real-time performance tracking tools.
- Community-driven with regular feedback tools and peer interaction.
Prop firm or your capital, you’re always going to need a fast, reliable connection when trading in the Forex market. That’s why you should get yourself an affordable, 10Gbps, 99.5% uptime Forex VPS from Cloudzy so that you never have to worry about losing thousands due to poor connection!
Start Blogging
Self-host your WordPress on top-tier hardware, featuring NVMe storage and minimal latency around the world — choose your favorite distro.
Get WordPress VPS
Best Stocks Prop Trading Firms
While there aren’t as many proprietary trading firms for stocks as opposed to Forex, these two are the best prop trading firms for stocks because of their reputation, stock focus, and various unique features.
Trade The Pool
Exclusive to stocks and developed by the same company behind The 5%ers, Trade The Pool is a popular prop firm with over nine years of longevity.
- Unlimited buying power.
- Profit split up to 80%
- Account size ranges from $20K – $160K, with scaling based on performance
- Strategy adjustment tools, performance-based guidance, growth potential, and educational resources.
- 4% maximum daily drawdown.
- Scaling plan based on performance. Each time you reach a 10% target, Buying Power and Daily Pause increase.
- Assets: Stocks, ETFs, CFDs.
The Trading Pit
The Trading Pit is one of the newer prop firms around (est. 2021); it was founded by two experienced traders with over 15 and 28 years of trading experience, making it a dependable firm that knows what it’s doing.
- Profit Split: 70%-80%.
- Account Size: $5K – $150K with scalability up to $5M.
- Risk Management: Daily loss limits and maximum account drawdowns; trailing and static options available.
- No platform fees.
- Educational content and mentorship opportunities
Best Options Prop Trading Firms
Unfortunately, there aren’t that many good prop firms for options, but the following are ones that I’ve heard good things about from my colleagues in the industry.
Funder Trading
Funder Trading isn’t as well-known as some of the others on this list; however, it’s the only one that offers options for funding without requiring certification or even upfront capital. Plus, they have fantastic educational resources and support.
- 80-100% profit split (100% until startup fees are paid, then 80/20 split).
- Options and stocks accounts up to $200K in funding.
- VIP Chicago-based help desk, 80+ hours of educational content from coach Michael Patton, and daily live trading room with him, the custom-built dashboard for personalized analytics and trade feedback.
- Scaling plan based on performance.
Maverick Trading
Maverick has a lot of mixed reviews, but that’s due to their traditional look at prop trading; they only fund committed traders who are willing to go through rigorous training and are willing to pay the real costs of becoming a genuine, successful trader. Plus, they’ve been around for nearly 30 years, so they know their stuff.
- Funding from $25K to $800K.
- Profit splits start at 70%, increasing to 80% with milestones.
- Requires training, certification exams, and simulated trading before funding.
- Regular coaching, live sessions, and one-on-one mentorship.
- Collaborative trading community with webinars and forums.
- Video courses, strategy development, and psychology workshops.
- Strict risk management with drawdown limits and reviews.
- Liquid U.S. stocks and options.
Best Futures Prop Trading Firms
While there are plenty of well-known names in the best prop firm for future discussion, the following ones have fantastic reviews and have been in the industry for a good while, namely, Topstep.
Topstep
Topstep is another well-established prop trading firm with over 13 years of longevity, a broad range of account sizes, and great scalability.
- Commission free.
- Profit splits start at 80% and can go up to 90%.
- Account sizes from $50K to $500K, scalable with success.
- Extensive educational resources.
- Strong risk management systems.
- Active community and support.
MyFundedFutures
There aren’t many strong MFFU competitors since they’ve got great prices, fantastic support, and an active and supportive community backing them.
- You keep 100% of the first $10,000 above the buffer zone.
- 90/10 profit split.
- Account sizes go up to $600K, with flexible scaling options.
- No daily loss limits; instead, maximum trailing End of Day (EOD) drawdown of 4%.
- Clear, simple one-step evaluation process.
- Only one minimum trading day.
Best Crypto Prop Trading Firms
Finally, for crypto, I believe that there is no real reason to opt for any other prop firm than the two I’ve mentioned below, as they are arguably the best crypto prop trading firms around.
FundedNext
A huge variety of account sizes and packages, various challenges and competitions, clear rules and guidelines, and fast payouts; what else could you want?
- Profit splits: Up to 95%.
- Account sizes: $5K to $300K, scaling available.
- Offers flexible challenge types.
- No evaluation deadlines.
- Swing trading, intraday traders, scalpers, use of EAs, overnight and weekend holdings.
City Traders Imperium (CTI)
Regarding the previous question, if your answer was lower fees, instant funding, and funded trader salaries, then go for this one. I’m pretty sure there isn’t anything you could want that isn’t available between the two.
- Profit splits: Up to 100%.
- Account sizes: $2,500 – $100,000, scaling available.
- 1&2-step evaluation and instant funding.
- Loyalty program incentives.
- Various educational sources.
| Firm | Profit Split | Account Size | Payout Frequency | Processing Time | Platform |
| FTMO | 80% – 90% | $10K – $2M | Biweekly | 1-2 business days | MT4, MT5, TradingView |
| The 5%ers | 50% – 100% | $25K – $200K | Biweekly | 1-2 business days | MT5 |
| Trade The Pool | Up to 80% | $20K – $160K | Biweekly | 1-2 business days | TraderEvolution |
| The Trading Pit | 70%-80% | $5K – $150K (up to $5M) | Weekly | Same day – 7 business days | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, and others supported |
| Topstep | 80% – 90% | $50K – $500K | Biweekly | Daily | TopstepX, others supported |
| Funder Trading | 75% | Up to $200K | Weekly | 1-3 business days | TrueEdge Pro |
| Maverick Trading | 70% – 80% | $25K – $800K | Monthly, disbursed 1st of the month | Not specified | Interactive Brokers |
| MyFundedFutures | 90% | Up to $600K | Weekly | 6 hours – 3 days | TradingView, Tradovate, NinjaTrader |
| FundedNext | Up to 95% | $5K – $300K | First payout monthly, then biweekly | 5 hours | cTrader, MT4, MT5 |
| City Traders Imperium | Up to 100% | $2,500 – $100,000 | Minimum 10 days or $100 or 2% net eligible profit (whichever is greater) | 1-2 business days | MT5, MatchTrader |
How to Choose the Best Prop Trading Firm
If you’re still not sure about which prop firm is the right one for you or are considering one that I haven’t mentioned, keeping in mind the following factors and aspects should help you find a good prop trading firm that suits your needs. It’s worked for me, and it should work for you!
Reputation
One of the most important things to consider is the prop firm’s reputation:
- Preferably opt for prop firms with 5+ years of longevity.
- Newly established prop firms go through a lot of turmoil before solidifying their place; some are just scammers.
- FTMO and The 5%ers are the best prop trading firms in terms of good reputation.
- Topstep and Maverick are great examples of longevity, with over 13 years and 28 years, respectively.
- Check reviews on websites like Trustpilot.
- Make sure they are related reviews.
- Sometimes, due to similar names, people accidentally post negative reviews about a pop firm, complaining about a poor-quality bag they bought!
Start Blogging
Self-host your WordPress on top-tier hardware, featuring NVMe storage and minimal latency around the world — choose your favorite distro.
Get WordPress VPS
Fees, Profit Sharing, and Withdrawal
The prop firm must provide clear details on profit splits (is it fixed or does it scale?), fees (are they one-time, monthly, or annual? Any hidden fees?), and withdrawal processes (how often? Is there a minimum? How is payment made?).
The best prop trading firm is a firm with:
- At least 70% profit splits (e.g., FTMO, Topstep) or scalable terms up to at least 90% (The 5%ers, etc.)
- Transparent one-time or fixed monthly fees.
- Flexible withdrawal terms, biweekly payouts at the latest, practical or no minimum or limits, and offering quick process times, say, 24-48 hours (Trade The Pool, The 5%ers, etc.)
Lastly, since many traders opt to receive their payout in the form of crypto, I’ve made a detailed list of the cheapest cryptocurrencies to transfer so that you don’t pay extra for gas fees!
Risk Management and Educational Support
No matter who you are, risk management is key in any kind of trading. Look for firms with:
- Daily loss caps (e.g., 5% with FTMO).
- Drawdown limits (e.g., 10% trailing with MyFundedFutures).
- Good, high leverage (up to 1:100 with FundedNext).
- Be aware: some prop firms offer 1:100 initially, then lower to 1:5 if you risk 1%/trade. Double-check on forums.
Lastly, educational resources are always useful:
- Webinars, strategy guides, interactive live sessions (e.g., Funder Trading).
- Personalized coaching programs (Maverick Trading).
- Free demo accounts (FTMO).
If you trade using MT4, here’s a helpful guide on tools and techniques for risk management on MT4.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of my advice on prop firms, do your due diligence. Read and understand the terms, conditions, and FAQs, and check forums and social media for insights—that way, you can’t go wrong!
