Best Forex Prop Firms in 2026

This guide ranks the three forex and CFD prop firms we review in full: FTMO, FundedNext and The5ers. None of them sets a time limit on its evaluations. They differ on price, drawdown, payout speed and scaling. Every reason below comes from each firm's official site, checked on 3 November 2026.

How we picked

We compared the same points at every firm:

• Entry price, refund terms and resets.
• Drawdown type and daily loss limits.
• Targets, minimum days and consistency rules.
• Profit split, payout timing and caps.
• Platforms and limits on news, weekends and EAs.

We don't use pass rates, review counts or testimonials, because firms rarely publish them in a form we can check.

Quick picks

• Best overall: FTMO.
• Best low-cost entry and fastest rewards: FundedNext.
• Best for long-term scaling: The5ers.

FTMO: best overall

FTMO has operated from Prague since 2015. It offers a 1-Step and a 2-Step challenge, priced in EUR, from 10K to 200K.

Why it stands out

• The 2-Step costs €89 for 10K and €540 for 100K. The official page lists the fee as 100% refundable after success.
• The 2-Step has a 5% daily loss and a 10% static max loss, with 10% then 5% targets and 4 minimum days.
• The 1-Step gives a 10% max loss and a 90% split.
• EAs are allowed, and it supports MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView.
• 19% off the 100K challenge is applied automatically right now.

Downsides

• Prices are in EUR, so non-euro traders pay a conversion cost.
• The 1-Step uses an end-of-day trailing max loss, a 3% daily loss and a 50% best-day rule. Its fee isn't refundable.
• Funded Standard accounts restrict news trading and weekend holding. The Swing account avoids this.
• The first payout claim opens 14 days after your first trade.

See the official trading objectives and our FTMO review.

FundedNext: best low-cost entry

FundedNext was founded in 2022 and is registered in Ajman, UAE. It sells Stellar 1-Step, 2-Step and Lite challenges from 5K to 200K.

Why it stands out

• Stellar Lite 5K costs $32.99, the lowest entry price in our database.
• Every Stellar challenge uses a static max loss based on the initial balance.
• The 1-Step pays rewards every 5 business days, including the first.
• The 2-Step fee is refunded with the first reward.
• News trading and weekend holding are allowed on challenge and funded accounts, per the Stellar pages.
• Four platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader and Match-Trader.

Downsides

• EAs are allowed only on MT4/MT5 accounts under $50K, for an extra fee. Larger accounts, and all cTrader and Match-Trader accounts, must trade manually.
• The base split is 80%; 95% needs an add-on.
• 1-Step and Lite fees come back only with the third reward.
• The 1-Step's 6% max loss is tight against a 10% target.
• Some funded rules list a reduced 40% share on news-trading profit.

See the official Stellar Lite page and our FundedNext review.

The5ers: best for long-term scaling

The5ers has run since 2016, with a registered office in London. It offers High Stakes, a 2-Step $100K plan, a 1-Step, Hyper Growth and a 3-Step Bootcamp.

Why it stands out

• High Stakes starts at an 80% split and rises to 100% as the account scales.
• Low-cost options: Hyper Growth at $52, the $20K Bootcamp at $72 in total, and a 2-Step $100K plan from $149.
• High Stakes has a 5% daily loss, a 10% max loss and 3 minimum profitable days per step.
• Overnight and weekend holding are allowed.
• Payouts every two weeks once funded.

Downsides

• Official pages contradict each other on some prices and rules, such as the 1-Step fee.
• Per-payout caps, such as $4,000 on a 100K High Stakes account.
• Refunds are partly paid as Hub Credit, which can't be withdrawn.
• High Stakes bars orders within 2 minutes of high-impact news.
• Accounts close after 30 days without activity.

See the official High Stakes page and our The5ers review.

Side by side at 100K (two-step)

• FTMO 2-Step: €540; 10% / 5% targets; 5% daily; 10% static; fee refunded after success.
• FundedNext Stellar 2-Step: $549.99; 8% / 5% targets; 5% daily; 10% static; fee refunded with the first reward.
• The5ers High Stakes: $545 in the firm's payout example; 10% / 5% targets; 5% daily; 10% max loss; 70% refunded with the first payout.
• The5ers 2-Step plan: $149 or $179; 3% daily; 10% max loss; 75/25 split; $2,000 cap per cycle.

The three main two-step programs have similar headline prices at 100K, though FTMO's is in EUR. FundedNext's lower Phase 1 target is the clearest rules edge.

Side by side at 100K (one-step)

• FTMO 1-Step: €499; 10% target; 3% daily; 10% end-of-day trailing max loss; 50% best-day rule; 90% split.
• FundedNext Stellar 1-Step: $569.99; 10% target; 3% daily; 6% static max loss; 2 minimum days.
• The5ers 1-Step: price shown as both $179 and $249; 10% target; 3% daily; 6% max loss; 50% per-day consistency; 75/25 split.

FTMO gives the most room on one step, but its floor moves up with your end-of-day high.

How to choose

1. Set your budget. FundedNext Lite and The5ers Hyper Growth are the cheapest tickets.
2. Pick a drawdown. All three offer static two-step options. FTMO's 1-Step trails. See trailing vs static drawdown.
3. Check the daily limit. It ranges from 3% to 5%. Our guide to daily loss limits explains how each is measured.
4. Read the payout terms. Look at the first payout date, frequency and caps.
5. Check your strategy fits. News, weekend and EA rules differ at each firm.

For a direct comparison of two firms, read FTMO vs FundedNext.

Frequently asked questions

Which forex prop firm is cheapest?

FundedNext Stellar Lite at $32.99 for 5K. The5ers Hyper Growth costs $52.

Which pays out fastest?

FundedNext's 1-Step, every 5 business days. The5ers pays every two weeks. FTMO's first claim opens 14 days after your first trade.

Do any have a time limit?

No. All three list unlimited trading periods. The5ers closes accounts after 30 days without activity, so you still need to trade.

Which suits a beginner?

A static floor is easier to manage while you learn. FundedNext Lite and FTMO's 2-Step both use one. The5ers' Bootcamp has no daily limit until the Pro Trader stage. Size every trade with our position size calculator.

Which platforms can I use?

FTMO: MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView. FundedNext: MT4, MT5, cTrader and Match-Trader. The5ers: MT5, cTrader and TradingView for non-US clients, and TradingView only for US clients.

Which allows EAs for free?

FTMO, and The5ers on its 2-Step plans with some banned strategies. FundedNext allows EAs only on MT4/MT5 accounts under $50K, for an extra fee.

Bottom line

FTMO is the most established, with a full 2-Step refund. FundedNext has the cheapest entry and fastest rewards. The5ers suits traders who plan to scale over months. Line them up on our comparison page and check current offers on prop firm discounts.

Prices and rules were checked on each firm's official site on 3 November 2026. Confirm current terms on the firm's site before you buy. This is educational content, not financial advice; trading involves risk. FundedKings may earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.