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You can also submit your feedback about any crypto exchange from our rating on the profile page and help us in our mission to provide everyone with the opportunity to objectively evaluate any company based on real and independent reviews.
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Completing the Gerchik&Co challenge took full concentration, but I made it. I chose a $25,000 account and paid 10% extra to increase leverage to 1:100. I trade manually, so I liked that swing strategies are allowed. I submitted a withdrawal via Volet: the money arrived quickly and the fee was only 0.5%. Rules could be more flexible, as copy trading and trading near news are banned. The service is straightforward, and challenge stats and payout history are easy to track in the dashboard.
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Under the Instant Funding programs, there are no time limits for reaching the target profit. However, using identical strategies across multiple accounts is prohibited. Available deposit methods include Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, and cryptocurrencies. Withdrawals can be made via bank transfer or crypto wallets. The company focuses on manual trading without strict time constraints, but with defined technical and procedural limitations.
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SabioTrade is truly top-tier among prop firms. I started with the minimum plan for $119, and the platform turned out to be QuadCode — it runs smoothly and has a mobile app. I trade CFDs on crypto, gold, and indices. Spreads on major pairs start from 0.9 pips, with leverage up to 1:30 — ideal for controlled risk. The selection terms are transparent: daily loss limit is 3%, overall drawdown no more than 10%. Profit sharing goes up to 90% in favor of the trader. I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a real prop account without unnecessary hassle.
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I’ve been trading with FTMO for the second quarter now, and I can say it’s one of the few prop firms that combine flexibility, support, and real growth potential. The entry fee is just €155, and the funding cap goes up to $200,000. Withdrawals are fast, support is responsive, and I haven’t experienced any delays. I passed the test on the first try, which proves that if your strategy works, this place is legit. FTMO also regularly updates its platforms and adds new educational materials, including video lessons, making the learning process much more convenient.
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I’ve been using GoatFundedTrader since early 2024 and I’m pleased that the platform supports trading on MT5, TradeLocker, and Match-Trader. The minimum deposit is just $30, and the maximum simulated capital can reach $400,000, with scaling options up to $2 million. This is truly one of the best offers among prop firms I’ve tested.
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I’ve worked with various prop firms, but Swift Funding left the worst impression. After passing all the challenges and receiving funding, I started experiencing technical problems with the trading platform. After the company shut down, they promised payouts would be processed through MyFundedFX, but the process has been completely vague. Now I’m just waiting, with no guarantees or clear understanding of whether I’ll get anything back.
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FundedNext stands out with its multi-tiered approach to prop trading: you can choose between Evaluation, Express, or Stellar accounts, each with different fees, profit splits, and qualification conditions. I trade on MT4, but the platform also supports MT5 and cTrader. To get started, you only need to pay $49 (Express) or $99 (Evaluation) for a chance to manage between $15,000 and $300,000. Each successfully completed phase earns a bonus — you can get up to 15% commission refund. I appreciated that FundedNext doesn’t restrict trading styles — news trading, hedging, scalping, and even crypto trading are allowed. The conditions are transparent, and all limits are clearly displayed in the dashboard.
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I decided to try prop trading and chose Gerchik&Co because of its strong reputation. The conditions seemed well balanced: 8% drawdown, 5% daily loss, and realistic profit goals. MT5 performs reliably. I appreciated being able to work in euros. Downsides: no scaling and copy trading is not allowed, which limits strategy flexibility. But payouts always arrive on time, and the firm pays 80% of total earnings.
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GoatFundedTrader is perfect for those seeking instant funding and a quick start. The maximum account size is $400,000, and trading accounts can be opened with as little as $30. Good conditions are also offered for cryptocurrency traders: withdrawals can be made directly to a wallet or bank via Rise, which is convenient and fast.
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I came to Gerchik&Co while looking for a prop firm with fair evaluation conditions and transparent rules. What attracted me was their two-phase challenge system: I started with the minimum deposit of $59, chose the Mission plan, and strictly followed the drawdown limit — 10% as outlined. Over three months, I made it to the second phase and earned around 7% profit, though some trades went into the red due to restrictions on trading during news releases. They promise payouts every two weeks, but I haven’t withdrawn yet — building volume first. Overall, I appreciate Gerchik&Co for their strict rules — it reduces the temptation to break money management, and the support team genuinely helps you stay focused. So far, I see that the broker gives you a real shot, but you need to be extremely disciplined.
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Working with FundedNext, I especially appreciated the speed of completing the challenge and the transparency of the terms. To manage up to $200,000, you just need to meet the standard conditions: in the first stage, achieve 10% profit without exceeding a daily drawdown of 5% and a maximum drawdown of 10%. The commission on accounts starts at $49 for the test, and profits are split 80/20 or 90/10 depending on the account type. The minimum lot is 0.01, and the minimum trade size allows even scalping strategies. FundedNext supports withdrawals via PayPal, Skrill, bank cards, and USDT, which is very convenient. I was able to withdraw my first profit within a month, and everything went smoothly.
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I wanted to try prop trading for quite a long time. I chose Starter Prop Trader because of its approach to transparency — you can even see payout statistics from other traders. Funding my account with crypto was convenient. The firm also offers a loyalty program: I got stars back for buying the evaluation, which I then used as a discount. It feels like the firm is aiming for a wide range of traders, but there are definitely quite a few rules. For example, you can't use AI or arbitrage, which kind of limits your freedom in choosing strategies.
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Hola Prime stands out with its transparent payout system and fast 1-hour withdrawals, which is especially important for active traders. EUR/USD spreads start from 0.1 pips, with a commission of $3 per lot on forex pairs, $3 for gold, and $1.5 for other assets. A notable advantage is zero commissions on index and crypto trading, helping reduce costs. The broker also offers trading contests, a partner program, and mobile trading. Withdrawals are free of charge, except via Rise, which has a fixed $25 fee.
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Topstep gives traders the opportunity to trade CME Group futures—including stocks, bonds, commodities, and metals—with leverage of up to 1:100. Opening an account requires just $1, and the minimum trade size is 0.01 lots. All trades on a live account are executed via an ECN model, and trading is facilitated through brokers such as Plus500, NinjaTrader Brokerage, and other regulated partners. According to user feedback, support is available only on weekdays, but customers can reach out through multiple channels. It's also worth noting that Topstep does not offer bonuses or passive income programs, and the participation fee depends on the selected plan.
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I’m working with FundingPips and the experience has been positive. I started with a 2-step evaluation because I was comfortable with the daily loss limit requirements. I passed it on the first try. There are no fees for trading cryptocurrencies and indices. Withdrawals are available via cryptocurrencies or Rise, and my first requests were processed smoothly. I had to get used to the TradeLocker platform, but overall the interface is user-friendly. FundingPips is a good option for active traders who follow risk management rules.
Proprietary trading (also known informally as Prop trading) refers to when a financial institution such as a commercial bank, a brokerage firm or even an investment bank directly trades or invests in activities in the stock market. These organizations can trade bonds, stocks, commodities, derivatives, currencies, and other instruments.
These institutions use their own funds for trading and investing in the stock market and not their clients’ money. So on top of the commission from processing trades for their clients, they can earn the full profits from engaging in the trades as well.
Prop trading has a couple of advantages which we are going to highlight in this section.
Prop trading allows institutions to earn a higher amount of profits than when acting as a broker and earning only commissions.
Prop trading allows a firm to stock up on shares/securities. These inventories can be sold to clients when the market becomes illiquid or when it becomes harder to purchase or sell securities on the open market.
Rebates are defined as compensation given when you add liquidity to the market. All prop trading firms offer rebates, which you are unlikely to get as a retail client.
Because of the nature of business, prop trading firms are usually closely-knit operations involving only a few people. This means that client support is quick and any issues can be solved using a simple phone call. Contrary to trading through a retail broker that has thousands if not millions of customers where sometimes contacting customer service can prove frustrating due to long waiting times.
What this means is that apart from having many open orders, you can also have several filled orders. Leverage limits are usually not strictly enforced in most proprietary firms, especially if you have a track record spanning several years.
If you usually trade mostly in open positions, then prop trading is a better option compared to being a retail client. Some prop trading firms allow you to have more than a thousand open orders at the same time.
If you have less than 25,000 USD to invest then a proprietary account might be a viable go-to. This is because your buying power can exceed anything you get as a retail client.
Even if you have a big bank account, prop trading can still be a viable option. You can have a small deposit then use margin (capital you can afford to lose), and invest the rest of your capital in stocks or mutual funds for capital appreciation.
One huge advantage with prop trading firms is they let you choose among several platforms. This is a huge advantage because as a retail trader, you are usually bound to whatever the retail firm offers you.
To effectively sell short, you first need to locate shares, and prop trading firms allow you to do this. As a retail client, you might have limited opportunities to locate shares and sell short. Some stocks may be on the threshold or ‘hard to borrow’ list and may be unavailable for short selling.
Like all things in life, prop trading also comes with a couple of disadvantages which we are going to highlight in this section.
Most prop trading firms that provide remote trading are not regulated at all. This is a double-edged sword because it is both a good and bad thing. Not being regulated means that there are fewer operating costs. The downside is that without regulation then you are at risk of losing your capital at any time especially if the principals are swindlers. Therefore, you should conduct some research and deep background checks on the company and the managers. If you find any integrity or honesty issues, then ask yourself if it is a risk you are willing to take. Moreover, being unregulated means that a single rogue trader can put the whole firm in jeopardy.
As a prop trader, your deposit is not insured and is liable to fraud and other business risks. This is mostly because of the lack of or minimal regulation. Because of this, it’s advisable for you to only deposit an amount that you can afford to lose. Retail clients on the other hand have their money insured because of strict regulation of retail firms. The good thing is that the deposit can be very small and a decent trader can make a 100% return on the equity per month.
Most prop trading firms charge fees for the software you’re using, especially if you trade remotely. The monthly fees normally start at about 200 USD for software alone. Compared to the fees that retail clients pay then you might find the prop trading fees outrageous.
Even though proprietary trading offers high leverage, this usually applies only to day trading. If you decide to hold an overnight position, then you will most likely not get much leverage. What’s more, most prop firms only offer day trading.
For exceptional traders with great trading strategies, there is a high possibility that someone at the back office is working hard to decode your strategy. There are cases where firms piggyback on clients’ strategies and teach them to computers through machine learning.
Like everything else, proprietary trading firms have their good and bad side. Here is a definitive list of all the pros and cons of proprietary trading:
Proprietary trading is great because:
Financial institutions only get a small portion of the money when trading for external clients through commissions and fees. As a result, the firms may profit less from this income. On the other hand, prop trading accounts allow companies to keep most of their trading profits and boost their yearly return.
For most of those interested in trading, money is a significant deterrent. However, prop trading firms give their traders capital to trade. Prop trading is best suited for those with little to no capital. The only requirement is a small refundable fee for the trading hardware.
A prop trading company accumulates an inventory of assets by making purchases in anticipation that their value will increase with time. This collection of private investments may serve as a buffer for the company against economic slowdowns. The securities also allow the company to provide unforeseen benefits to its customers.
Prop trading firms offer their traders a variety of trading platforms to choose from. This is a massive benefit because most retail traders are often limited to the possibilities that the retail firm gives them, but this doesn’t work for prop firms.
Since prop firms make significant financial contributions, they typically train traders before letting them engage in actual trading. Even though the trader frequently foots the bill for training, it gives them the skills they need to navigate the markets. An amateur trader's development is also aided by working with other traders in the same firm and having access to educational resources with real-world financial market applications.
You need to be careful with proprietary trading because:
While most prop trading firms that offer remote trading are unregulated, this is a doubtful advantage because it has both perks and drawbacks. Although the absence of regulations reduces operational costs, there is always a danger that you could lose your money, especially if the principals are swindlers.
Most prop trading companies charge a fee for the software used, mainly if you trade remotely. The payment could be upwards of $200. The cost could rise significantly when you compare the prop trading fees to what retail clients are expected to pay.
Choosing the best proprietary firm is the first step to ensuring success in trading. A few things to look out for are:
One of the most important things a trader should do is consider the company's reputation. This is because a company's reputation affects its financial success and ability to keep promises. For example, some firms may promise to provide an incredible deal with a very high drawdown, a small profit target, and a considerable profit share, then fail to do all these. Utilizing reviews from TrustPilot and YouTube is the best way to validate the company’s reputation.
Also, look up the company's past operations and operating history. Mainly go for a company that has been in business for over three years. Many prop companies have declared bankruptcy after functioning for roughly a year; therefore, three years in business gives them an upper hand in knowing what they do.
Before joining the account, verify all the basic conditions to clear out any blurred lines. Don’t concentrate on just the financial aspect. Look for how profits are distributed, the maximum draw-back, target profit, and conditions for withdrawing profits.
To establish whether their constraints are fair and reasonable, you must analyze them and use effective scaling strategies. Then, before committing to a tempting profit split, make sure the company pays its traders and can provide proof that they do.
You must also be conscious of the risk you can take while selecting the best prop trading firm.
Top proprietary firms provide more than just trading capabilities. The companies provide traders with additional options, including expert-led training, educational materials, subscriptions to leading trading platforms, and other software. Non-reputable firms, on the other hand, do not go the extra mile to ensure the comfort of their traders.
Often prop trading companies impose a monthly subscription fee. By letting other traders utilize their funds, they ultimately incur a big risk; thus, the monthly fee covers that risk.
For access to the company's funds, platforms, and real-time data, most platforms charge participation fees of between $100 and $150 monthly. Additionally, a few of these websites impose a one-time cost of $100 to $1,000.
While starting to work with a prop firm is not easy, with sheer determination and appropriate planning, you may make your dream a reality. Here is a simplified step-by-step procedure:
The first step to working with a prop firm is a solid strategy. You can choose from various market strategies, including statistical arbitrage, merger arbitrage, index arbitrage, volatility arbitrage, technical analysis, fundamental analysis, or global macro trading.
Once you’ve identified which strategy best works for you, start researching the market. First, look for firms that would suit your needs. Then, use the checklist above to rule out the firms from the reputation to the basic prop accounts conditions, whether they offer extra services, and not forgetting proprietary account costs.
Have a list of which factors you can compromise on and which ones are deal breakers. This will help you narrow down your options.
By this time, you have already narrowed down your options, and getting a closer look at the firm you are interested in is the best route to take. A thorough research can help you better understand the firm’s terms and conditions, and make sure that it fulfills its obligations. Do your due diligence before committing to a firm. You can also read client reviews and consult with your friends or fellow traders.
The last and final step is picking your preferred firm. This last step may be challenging but, once you’ve identified your goals, it’s easy to select a firm that aligns with those goals.
Traders should take a buyer beware approach when assessing a potential prop trading firm to work with. There are variations on the basic offerings among firms, as well as different levels of credibility, professionalism, and reliability of prop trading offerings and business operations. Some research is required to assess the pluses and minuses of each firm. Moreover, requirements for trading implemented by the firm may force users to trade in a way that doesn’t fit their personality. It will not be the best approach for some people, especially if they are relatively new to trading.
Further, prop trading firms and Forex firms in general will usually protect themselves over traders when things go wrong. If everything goes smoothly, there should be no problem. The key thing to remember is that when something is not going right – for example, volatility is very high – widening spreads, slippage issues, technology problems, to name a few, can and do happen. If a trader understands this when joining a prop firm, they will be better able to make a proper decision.
Individuals must possess strong analytical and mathematical skills. Prop traders rely heavily on analyzing market data, identifying trends and patterns, and building financial models. Quantitatively-oriented academic backgrounds in fields like finance, economics, mathematics, statistics, engineering, or computer science are highly desirable.
Aside from technical proficiency, individuals aiming to prop trade must demonstrate certain behavioral attributes. Prop traders need to remain disciplined and stick to predefined risk limits even during periods of market volatility. The role requires mental composure, focus, and ability to think under pressure. Prop traders also need sufficient resilience to withstand the emotional highs and lows associated with trading.
Most of the top prop firms utilize powerful computer algorithms to sift through enormous volumes of data and find lucrative trading opportunities. Then, businesses trade on these possibilities using their capital to turn a profit. Many companies also act as market makers, purchasing and selling assets to add liquidity to the markets. This contributes to ensuring the effective and efficient operation of the markets.
Yes, prop trading firms are not scams if you pick a reputable one. For a one-time fee, traders can have a funded account and access to the capital of prop firms. In addition, they can receive additional money and keep a sizeable portion of their profits if they go on trading profitably.
The main reasons are:
• New talent and fresh perspectives. Established traders at a firm can become set in their ways or fall into habitual patterns. New traders bring new ideas, strategies, and approaches to the table which can improve a firm's overall performance.
• Lower costs. New and junior traders are often willing to work for lower compensation compared to veteran traders.
• Future leadership. Prop trading is a high turnover profession, with many burnouts and flameouts. Firms need to continuously develop new talent to eventually take over senior or leadership roles as veteran traders retire or leave.