Prop firm refunds and resets: what you get back

Challenge fees add up fast, especially after a failed attempt or two. Two policies decide how much of that money comes back: fee refunds and resets. This guide explains both, with examples from firms we track.

Refundable fees: what the word really means

A "refundable" fee is rarely refunded when you pass. Most firms return it only after you are funded and receive a payout. If you fail, or never get paid, the fee is gone.

The timing differs by firm and program. Examples from official pages and our database, checked 3 November 2026:

• FTMO 2-Step: the fee is refunded with your first reward.
• FTMO 1-Step: the fee is non-refundable.
• FundedNext Stellar 2-Step: the fee is paid back with your first withdrawal, if you select it when you request.
• FundedNext Stellar 1-Step: for purchases on or after 12 January 2026, the fee comes back with your third reward withdrawal.
• FundedNext Stellar Lite: the fee comes back with your third reward withdrawal.
• The5ers: our database lists High Stakes and 1-Step fees as refundable, and Bootcamp as non-refundable. Check the timing on its site.
• Futures firms such as Topstep, Tradeify, My Funded Futures and Take Profit Trader: our database lists their evaluation fees as non-refundable.

FundedNext's refund article adds two details worth knowing. If you reset, the refund equals the most recent reset fee you paid, not the original fee. And a $25 platform fee for cTrader or Match-Trader is non-refundable, except for US clients.

How to value a refundable fee

A refund only has value if you reach the payout that triggers it. Treat it as a possible rebate, not a discount.

An illustrative example:

• Challenge A costs $300 and refunds with the first payout.
• Challenge B costs $250 and never refunds.
• If you pass and get paid, A costs you nothing net. B costs $250.
• If you fail, A costs $300. B costs $250.

Which is cheaper depends on your honest odds of getting paid. If you are unsure, the lower upfront price may be safer.

Purchase refunds and cancellations

This is a different thing: getting money back for a purchase you no longer want. Most firms say no once you have started.

Topstep's refund policies are a detailed example:

• Refunds are generally not available once a purchase is made.
• A 14-day guarantee covers your first-ever Trading Combine purchase, up to one monthly payment, if you have not passed.
• A forgotten rebill can be refunded within 28 days if the account has no trading activity and the reset credit is unused.
• Activation fees, resets and Back2Funded are non-refundable.

Resets: a second chance for a fee

A reset returns a failed or struggling evaluation to its starting balance. It usually costs less than buying a new challenge. It does not refund anything.

Topstep's reset article explains how its version works:

• A reset restores the starting balance, maximum loss limit, consistency target and trading days.
• You can reset an active Trading Combine at any time, up to 2 resets per account per day.
• Resetting pushes your rebill date to 30 days from the reset purchase.
• Each monthly rebill adds one reset credit, tied to that account size and type.
• Resets do not apply to funded accounts.

Other firms sell resets as a discounted repurchase. Prices and limits vary, so check the firm's site.

When a reset makes sense

A reset is worth it when the account failed for a fixable reason and the reset costs less than a new challenge with a discount code. Ask:

1. Did I break a rule I now understand, or did my strategy simply lose?
2. Is the reset price lower than a new account after discount?
3. Will a reset change any perks, like the size of a refundable fee?
4. Am I resetting to chase losses?

If the last answer is yes, pause. Fast resets after a bad day are a quick way to burn money. Our guide to why traders fail challenges covers this.

Subscriptions vs one-time fees

Some futures firms charge monthly until you pass or cancel. Topstep and Take Profit Trader use subscriptions. Tradeify and My Funded Futures list one-time fees.

With a subscription, a slow pass costs more. With a one-time fee, you pay once but usually get no refund. Add activation fees where they apply. Topstep's Standard Path, for example, lists a $149 activation fee on top of the monthly price. Its No Activation Fee Path has a higher monthly price instead.

Cutting your total cost

• Use a live discount code. Our discounts page lists current deals, such as code CLUB for 40% off at My Funded Futures and NOFEE50 for 50% off plus no activation fee at Take Profit Trader.
• Compare a discounted new account against the reset price.
• Cancel subscriptions you are not using before the rebill date.
• Start with a smaller account while you learn the rules.

Read our guide on using discount codes for more.

Key takeaways

• Refundable fees usually return only after a payout, sometimes the third.
• Purchase refunds are rare once trading starts.
• Resets restart the evaluation but refund nothing.
• Count subscriptions, activation fees and platform fees in your total.

Refund, reset and discount terms change. Confirm current terms on each firm's official site before you buy. This guide is educational and not financial advice. Trading involves risk. FundedKings may earn a commission if you buy through our links or use our codes, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.