The most established prop firm model. Two phases, lower fees, longer track records. Independent scoring across 7 categories. Built for traders who want the most trusted route to funded capital. Updated May 2026.
A 2-step challenge is the classic prop firm evaluation. Phase 1 has a higher profit target (typically 8–10%), Phase 2 verifies your consistency at a lower target (5%). Pass both without breaching drawdowns and you receive a funded account.
2-step is the cheapest route to large capital and the model used by the most established firms in the industry — FTMO, The5ers, Alpha Capital. The trade-off is time: it takes longer than instant or 1-step. The advantage is lower upfront cost and access to firms with the longest payout track records.
These firms have either ceased operations or have documented systemic payout failures. View the full Firms to Avoid page →
True Forex Funds shut down operations May 2024 and is on the CFTC's Registration Deficient List. ~$1.2M in trader payouts never paid. The firm is no longer accepting new traders or processing payouts. Do not purchase.
Over 7,000 documented frozen payouts since 2024 with unresolved community complaints continuing into 2025. Even though the website remains active, the firm has shown a sustained pattern of payout denials. Treat as unsafe.
Multiple reports of withdrawal requests ignored or denied. Very low Trustpilot review count for claimed trading volume. The founder of PropFirmVerify was personally burned by this firm — that direct experience is part of why this comparison site exists.
Each firm is scored out of 100 across 7 independent categories. Scoring is based entirely on documented data — commission relationships have no influence on rankings.
Verified payout history, community evidence, Trustpilot withdrawal reviews. Heavy penalty for documented denials or delays.
Are rules publicly documented, specific, and unambiguous? Vague or changeable terms are penalised heavily.
No daily drawdown, no consistency rules, EAs allowed, news/weekend freedom. More freedom = higher score.
Starting split and maximum achievable split. Firms with 80%+ starting and 90%+ achievable score highest.
Account fee relative to capital offered. Refundable fees score better. Hidden fees are penalised.
Maximum achievable account size, scaling mechanics, and path to $1M+.
Founding year, operational history, regulatory transparency, ownership disclosure.
All data was gathered from official firm websites, official helpdesks, verified community reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, and independent review sites (TradersUnion, ForexPropReviews, TraderFuel, DailyForex). Data is current as of May 2026.
Some links on this site may be affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you purchase an account. This does not affect scores or ranking positions. Scores are calculated from documented data and community evidence only.
Important: Prop firms operate with simulated/virtual capital in most jurisdictions. They are not regulated financial institutions. You are not investing real money on their behalf. Your fee purchases a trading simulation. Read the full T&Cs of any firm before purchasing.
Rules change frequently. Always verify current rules directly with the firm before purchasing an account. This site is for informational comparison only and does not constitute financial advice.