Prop Firm Activation Fees Explained: Monthly vs One-Time Pricing

The price on a prop firm's checkout page is often not the full price. Some firms charge again when you pass. Others bill you every month until you do. A few charge for resets, data or reactivation. This guide explains each fee type, shows which of the seven firms we review charge what, and walks through the arithmetic for comparing true total cost. Figures were checked on each firm's official site or help center on 3 November 2026.

What an activation fee is

An activation fee is a one-off charge you pay after passing an evaluation, before the funded account opens. It is a second payment for the same attempt. You only pay it if you pass.

That timing matters. An activation fee costs nothing if you fail, but it adds to the bill exactly when you succeed. Firms that charge one usually offer a lower evaluation price in return.

The three pricing models

One-time evaluation fee

You pay once. There is no rebill and, at most firms using this model, no activation fee. If you fail, you buy a reset or a new account. FTMO, FundedNext, The5ers, Tradeify and My Funded Futures use this model.

Monthly subscription

You pay every billing cycle until you pass or cancel. A fast pass is cheap. A slow pass is expensive. Topstep and Take Profit Trader use subscriptions for their evaluations.

Pay-on-success

You pay part of the cost up front and the rest when you pass. A classic activation fee works this way. So does The5ers' Bootcamp, which splits its fee into an entry fee and a remaining fee due at the Pro stage.

What each firm charges

Topstep

Topstep sells the Trading Combine on two paths. Its pricing article lists:

• Standard Path: $49, $99 or $199 a month for the 50K, 100K and 150K, plus a $149 activation fee "charged once per XFA earned".
• No Activation Fee Path: $95, $149 or $229 a month, with no activation fee.
• Resets: the same as the monthly price for your size and path.
• Other costs: Level 2 data is $38 a month. Back2Funded reactivation costs $599, $699 or $829.

Two details catch people out. Paths cannot be changed after purchase. And promo codes apply to the first month only, unless stated otherwise. Topstep's refund policies say activation fees and resets are non-refundable, even if activated by mistake.

Take Profit Trader

Take Profit Trader bills its Test accounts as a subscription. Our database lists the 50K Test at $170 a month. TPT's homepage lists a "One Time $130 Fee" for the PRO account you move to after passing. The same page shows the NOFEE50 code: 50% off for life and no activation fee. Reset prices were not shown on the pages we checked, so check the firm's site.

Tradeify

Tradeify's pricing reference says all plans are one-time purchases with no recurring billing, and there are no activation fees on any current account type. Reset prices are published:

• Growth: $99, $145, $255 or $369 for the 25K to 150K. Resets cost $60, $95, $169 or $229.
• Select: $109, $165, $265 or $369. Resets cost $75, $109, $169 or $239.
• Lightning Funded: $345 to $796, with no resets available.

The optional 50% consistency add-on for Select raises the price, for example from $165 to $205 on the 50K.

My Funded Futures

My Funded Futures says all plans carry a $0 activation fee, are one-time payments and have no renewals. Our database lists the 50K at $153 (Builder), $209 (Rapid), $225 (Rapid EOD) and $265 (Pro). The homepage also shows code CLUB for 40% off any plan. A reset price was not stated on the pages we checked.

FTMO

FTMO's fees FAQ says it charges only a one-time purchase fee and no recurring fees. The 2-Step fee is refunded once you request your first reward. The 1-Step fee is not refundable. Our database lists the 50K at €319 (1-Step) and €345 (2-Step). Prices are in EUR, so your card may add a conversion charge.

FundedNext

FundedNext's Stellar pages state a one-time fee with no recurring costs. Our database lists the Stellar 2-Step 50K at $299.99 and marks Stellar fees as refundable. Refund timing differs by program, so check FundedNext's help center.

The5ers

The5ers charges a one-time fee on most plans, such as $149 (New) or $179 (Classic) for its $100K 2-Step plan. The Bootcamp works like an activation fee. Its payment FAQ lists:

• $20K: $22 up front, $50 at the Pro stage, $72 in total.
• $100K: $95 up front, $205 later, $300 in total.
• $250K: $225 up front, $350 later, $575 in total.

How to work out the true total cost

Use one formula for every firm:

Total cost = evaluation fees paid + activation fee + resets + add-ons − any refund you actually receive.

For a subscription, "evaluation fees paid" is the monthly price times the number of billing cycles. Be honest about how many cycles you usually need. Then run the numbers for two or three outcomes, not just the best case.

Worked example: Topstep's two paths

Here is the fee-only cost at Topstep's 100K if you pass in a given billing cycle.

• Cycle 1: Standard $99 + $149 = $248. No Activation Fee $149.
• Cycle 2: Standard $198 + $149 = $347. No Activation Fee $298.
• Cycle 3: Standard $297 + $149 = $446. No Activation Fee $447.
• Cycle 4: Standard $396 + $149 = $545. No Activation Fee $596.

At 100K the No Activation Fee Path saves money only if you pass within two cycles. By cycle three the paths are $1 apart.

The break-even point changes with size. The gap in monthly price is $46 at 50K, $50 at 100K and $30 at 150K. Divide the $149 activation fee by that gap:

• 50K: $149 ÷ $46 ≈ 3.2 cycles.
• 100K: $149 ÷ $50 ≈ 3.0 cycles.
• 150K: $149 ÷ $30 ≈ 5.0 cycles.

Pass before the break-even and the No Activation Fee Path wins. Take longer, or never pass, and the Standard Path is cheaper. Our cheapest challenges guide runs the same test at 50K.

Worked example: a subscription with a code

Take Profit Trader's 50K Test at $170 a month, passed in the second cycle:

• Without a code: $170 × 2 = $340, plus the $130 PRO fee, is $470.
• With NOFEE50, if it applies to both cycles: $85 × 2 = $170, with no activation fee.

That is a $300 difference. Confirm at checkout that the discount covers rebills on the plan you choose.

Worked example: one-time fees with a reset

• Tradeify Select 50K with one reset: $165 + $109 = $274.
• My Funded Futures Rapid 50K with code CLUB: $209 × 0.6 = $125.40, which matches the $125 shown on its homepage. A failed attempt means buying again, so check the reset price.

Worked example: a refundable fee

FTMO's 2-Step 50K costs €345 and is refunded once you request your first reward. If you get paid, your net fee is €0. If you fail, it is €345. The 1-Step 50K costs €319 and is never refunded. Treat a refund as a possible rebate, not a discount. Our guide to refunds and resets explains why.

A checklist before you buy

1. Is the fee one-time or monthly?
2. Is there an activation fee, and is it charged per funded account?
3. Can you switch paths later? At Topstep you cannot.
4. What does a reset cost, and are resets allowed on your plan?
5. Does the discount code cover rebills and the activation fee, or only the first payment?
6. Is any part refundable, and after which payout?
7. Are there data, platform or reactivation fees?

Current codes and the date we last checked them are on our prop firm discounts page. To compare full rule sets, use the comparison page.

Common questions

Is an activation fee refundable?

At Topstep, no. Its refund policy says there are no refunds on activation fees, including accidental activations. For other firms, check the terms before you pay.

Which of these firms charge no activation fee?

Tradeify and My Funded Futures state $0 activation on all current plans. FTMO and FundedNext list one-time fees only. Topstep's No Activation Fee Path also has none. Take Profit Trader's NOFEE50 code says you never pay one.

Is a monthly subscription always worse?

No. If you pass in the first cycle, a subscription can be the cheapest route. It becomes costly when you trade slowly or keep an unused account open past its rebill date.

Do discount codes apply to the activation fee?

It depends on the code. Topstep says promo codes apply to the first month only, unless stated otherwise. Take Profit Trader's NOFEE50 waives the activation fee. Read the code's terms at checkout.

Related reading

• Cheapest prop firm challenges
• Prop firm refunds and resets
• How to use a prop firm discount code
• Topstep vs My Funded Futures

Prices and fee terms were checked on official sites on 3 November 2026 and change often, especially during sales. Confirm the final price, activation fee and reset terms on the firm's own site before you buy. This guide is educational and not financial advice. Trading involves risk. FundedKings may earn a commission when you buy through our links or use our codes, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.