Best Prop Firm in 2026: Our Rankings
A good prop firm is first and foremost a company that pays out, with rules you can actually follow. The price of the challenge comes second. We compared four of the firms most used by US and English-speaking traders on their loss rules, prices, payouts, platforms and automated trading.
Our pick: FTMO. It is the oldest and most established of the four, its 2-step rules have no time limit, the fee is refunded with your first profit split, and it is the only one that officially confirms both cTrader and the use of bots.
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2-step challenge rules, side by side
On all three of these offers, the total loss is calculated from the starting balance (static). Phase 2: 5% target at all three. Verified on October 31, 2026.
The rankings in one table
| FTMO | FundedNext | The5%ers | E8 Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | from €89 (2-Step) | 25k: $159.99 on sale (2-Step) | Check on the website | Check on the website |
| Profit split | up to 90% | 80%, up to 90-95% | 80%, up to 100% with scaling | up to 100% advertised |
| Time limit | none | none | none (expires after 30 days of inactivity) | none (1 trade every 60 days) |
| Format | 1 or 2 steps | 1 or 2 steps | 1, 2 or 3 steps | 1 phase |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes | Yes (+$10) | Yes |
| Bots (EAs, cBots) | Allowed, with limits | Not on cTrader, MT4/MT5 under 50k only | Allowed, with conditions | Allowed, with caps |
1. FTMO: the benchmark
Founded in 2014, FTMO has become the best-known brand in the industry and acquired the broker OANDA, a deal completed in late 2025. It offers a 2-step challenge (targets of 10% then 5%, 5% daily loss, 10% total loss, a minimum of 4 trading days per phase, no time limit), a tighter 1-step challenge and an instant account.
The available platforms are MT4, MT5 and cTrader. Bots are allowed, but FTMO prohibits practices that exploit latency or pricing errors, coordinated opposite positions across accounts, and more than 2,000 server requests per day.
The downside: it is not the cheapest, and the 1-Step rules (3% daily loss, a total loss limit that trails your balance, a consistency rule) require discipline.
See FTMO challenges2. FundedNext: the cheapest on sale
FundedNext draws traders in with frequent promotions and a lower phase 1 target (8% instead of 10% on the Stellar 2-Step). The profit split starts at 80% and can go up to 90%, or even 95% with a paid add-on. Payouts on the 1-Step offer are fast: first withdrawal within 7 days, then every 5 business days.
The big drawback for automated traders: bots are prohibited on cTrader and Match-Trader. They are only allowed on MT4/MT5, on accounts under 50k, with a paid add-on.
Read our full FundedNext review
See FundedNext challenges3. The5%ers: for long-term growth
The5%ers stands out with its scaling program, with a profit split that can reach 100%. Its High Stakes challenge follows the classic rules (10% then 5%, 5% daily loss, 10% total loss). You must avoid trading within 2 minutes of high-impact economic news, and the account expires after 30 days without activity. Its one-step Growth program pauses the account after a 3% loss in a day instead of failing it.
See The5%ers programs4. E8 Markets: a single phase, tight rules
E8 Markets now only offers single-phase evaluations. On E8 One, the target is 6%, with a 3% daily loss limit and a 4% total loss limit that trails your profits. E8 Pro targets 8%, but a single day can only count for 2%. No time limit, bots allowed with caps, and a wide choice of platforms including cTrader. The margin for error is slim: experience helps.
Read our full E8 Markets review
See E8 Markets offersHow to choose
- You are new to prop firms: a 2-step challenge with no time limit and a fee refund. FTMO or FundedNext.
- You trade with a cBot on cTrader: FTMO. Read our guide to cTrader-compatible prop firms.
- You are on a tight budget: watch for FundedNext promotions and start with a small account.
Challenges are paid evaluations, and most participants fail. Only buy a challenge with money you can afford to lose. Read the risk warning