Budget FriendlyUpdated in 2026

Cheapest Prop Firm Challenges 2026

Discover the most affordable entry points into proprietary trading. Compare starting fees safely across 33 verified firms before paying for an evaluation phase.

Quick Answer: What is the cheapest prop firm challenge?

The cheapest prop firm challenge currently available gives you a $2,000 funded account for just a $25 evaluation fee. For standard professional $50,000 funded accounts, entry evaluation fees drop as low as $248 if you choose a 2-step challenge. Standard evaluations can be discounted even further utilizing active promotional codes during checkout.

FTMO — Up to 20% Off Challenge Fees

Challenge Fee Comparison Table

Prop Firm Score Starting Fee RefundableAction
FTMO
FTMO
Verified 2026
9/10€89 Yes
Instant Funding
Instant Funding
Verified 2026
8.8/10$49 Yes
The Trading Pit
The Trading Pit
Verified 2026
8.7/10$29 Yes
8.6/10$29 Yes
Think Capital
Think Capital
Verified 2026
8.5/10BOLT Instant $49 Yes
SabioTrade
SabioTrade
Verified 2026
8.5/10$119 Yes
Earn2Trade
Earn2Trade
Verified 2026
8.5/10$150/mo Yes
The5%ers
The5%ers
Verified 2026
8.4/10From $19 Yes
FundedNext
FundedNext
Verified 2026
8.4/10$59.99 Yes
Top One Trader
Top One Trader
Verified 2026
8.4/10$69 Yes
Showing 1 to 10 of 33 firms

Detailed Challenge Grid

Explore evaluations with detailed rules and profit targets.

33 Firms matches
Funded Elite logo
Funded EliteReviewed

United States • 2+ yrs

7.8
Lowest fee$5
Starts at$25,000
Max alloc$300,000 per challenge, $400,000 total live allocation; the Catalyst ladder reaches $1,000,000
PayoutsSelectable 3, 7, 14 or 21 days, with the first payout always after 21 days (Flash Activation is fixed at 14 days)
Top Markets
ForexIndicesCommodities
Top Platforms
MT5Match-Trader
Challenge Type

Flash Activation, Instant (Standard / Elite), Lite 1-Step, Lite 2-Step, 1-Step + Free Retry, 2-Step + Free Retry, Catalyst

Maven Trading logo

Canada • 3+ yrs

8.1
Lowest fee$15
Starts at$2,000
Max alloc$100,000 purchasable (scaling to $1,000,000)
PayoutsEvery 10 business days after your first trade
Top Markets
ForexStocksIndices
Top Platforms
MT5cTrader
Challenge Type

Standard 1-Step, Standard 2-Step, Standard 3-Step, Instant, Mini, Omo 2-Step, Buy now pay later

The5%ers logo
The5%ersReviewed

Israel • 10+ yrs

8.4
Lowest fee$19
Starts atHigh Stakes
Max alloc$500,000 via High Stakes scaling (the homepage advertises up to $4,000,000 across programs)
PayoutsNot published on their public pages
Top Markets
ForexIndicesCommodities
Top Platforms
MT5cTrader
Challenge Type

Hyper Growth (1-Step), Pro Growth (1-Step), High Stakes (2-Step), Bootcamp (3-Step), Futures Day Trade

City Traders Imperium logo

United Arab Emirates • 8+ yrs

8.6
Lowest fee$29
Starts at$2,500
Max alloc$4,000,000
PayoutsFirst withdrawal after 7 days; weekly and anytime payouts at VIP tiers
Top Markets
ForexIndicesCommodities
Top Platforms
MT5Match-Trader
Challenge Type

1-Step Challenge, 2-Step Challenge, Instant Funding, Direct Funding

The Trading Pit logo

Liechtenstein • 2+ yrs

8.7
Lowest fee$29
Starts at$2,500
Max alloc$5,000,000
PayoutsEvery 14 days for any amount above $100, once the minimum trading days are met
Top Markets
ForexFuturesIndices
Top Platforms
MT5Match Trader
Challenge Type

CFD Prime 1-phase, CFD Prime 2-phase, CFD Instant, Futures Challenge, Stocks Challenge

Wickd Funded logo
Wickd FundedReviewed

Global • 1+ yrs

8.0
Lowest fee$29
Starts at$5,000
Max alloc$200,000
PayoutsFixed cycles: every 14 days on the challenge tracks, every 21 days on Instant Funded
Top Markets
ForexIndicesMetals
Top Platforms
WICK (Proprietary In-App Platform)
Challenge Type

1-Step Challenge, 2-Step Challenge, Instant Funded

Funding Pips logo
Funding PipsReviewed

United Arab Emirates • 2+ yrs

8.2
Lowest fee$32
Starts at$5,000
Max alloc$300,000
PayoutsBi-weekly, on flexible reward cycles
Top Markets
ForexIndicesCommodities
Top Platforms
MT5cTrader
Challenge Type

Zero, 1-Step Flex, 2-Step

Darwinex Zero logo

United Kingdom • 6+ yrs

8.1
Lowest fee$35
Starts atMonthly — Forex & CFDs / Stocks & ETFs / Crypto
Max allocNo single cap. Boosters at EUR 25K/50K/100K/200K stack to EUR 500K concurrently; Permanent Allocations at EUR 25K/50K/100K; at GOLD the DARWIN opens to uncapped third-party investor capital
PayoutsOn demand, paid within one business day (DarwinIA allocations are awarded monthly, which is a separate cycle)
Top Markets
ForexIndicesCommodities
Top Platforms
MT5MT4
Challenge Type

Subscription track-record model (DarwinIA)

ONE Funded logo
ONE FundedReviewed

United Kingdom • 2+ yrs

8.1
Lowest fee$35
Starts at$5,000
Max alloc$200,000
PayoutsEvery 14 days by default; 7-day cycle available as a paid add-on
Top Markets
ForexIndicesMetals
Top Platforms
cTraderTradeLocker
Challenge Type

Flash (1-step), Core (2-step), Value (2-step), Instant

Aqua Funded logo
Aqua FundedReviewed

United Arab Emirates • 2+ yrs

7.9
Lowest fee$36
Starts at$5,000
Max alloc$400,000 (Instant; One Step and Two Step cap at $200,000)
PayoutsBi-weekly, first reward after 7 days (on-demand available as an add-on)
Top Markets
ForexIndicesCommodities
Top Platforms
MT5Match-Trader
Challenge Type

One Step, Two Step, Instant Funding, Pro / Elite / Flex / Beginner tiers

Goat Funded Trader logo

United States • 2+ yrs

8.1
Lowest fee$36
Starts at$5,000
Max alloc$800,000
PayoutsBi-weekly, with an on-demand add-on and a reward guarantee (paid within 2 business days or GFT pays an extra $1,000)
Top Markets
ForexIndicesCommodities
Top Platforms
MT5cTrader
Challenge Type

1-Step, 2-Step, Instant Funding, Pay Later

Alpha Capital Group logo

United Kingdom • 3+ yrs

8.3
Lowest fee$37
Starts at$5,000
Max alloc$400,000
PayoutsBi-weekly or on demand
Top Markets
ForexIndicesCommodities
Top Platforms
MT5cTrader
Challenge Type

Alpha One (1-Step, 6% / 10% / 12% variants), Alpha Pro (2-Step), Alpha Direct (Instant)

Challenge Pricing FAQ

What affects challenge price?+

Challenge price is primarily determined by three factors: Maximum account size (more simulated capital costs more), Evaluation type (1-step challenges are generally more expensive per phase than 2-step evaluations due to higher passing risk for the firm), and Drawdown flexibility.

What is a prop firm challenge?+

A prop firm challenge (also called an evaluation) is a test where you must hit a profit target while staying within drawdown limits. Once you pass, the firm gives you a funded account to trade with real capital and share the profits — typically 80%–95%.

How much does a prop firm challenge cost?+

Prop firm challenge fees range from $25 (Maven Trading $2K account) to over $1,800 (FXIFY $400K account). Average fees for a $100K account are $450–$550. Many firms offer promo codes with 20%–80% discounts.

Which prop firm has the cheapest challenge?+

Maven Trading offers the cheapest entry at just $25 for a $2,000 account. For standard $50K accounts, Goat Funded Trader ($248) and Funding Pips ($278) are among the most affordable options.

Are 1-step or 2-step challenges better?+

1-step challenges are faster and simpler — you only need to pass one phase. 2-step challenges have lower individual profit targets but take longer. 1-step is better for experienced traders; 2-step is safer for beginners who want lower per-phase risk.

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