Educational Guide

What Is a Funded Trading Account & How to Get One

A funded trading account is provided by a proprietary trading firm that lets you trade with the firm's capital instead of your own money. After passing an evaluation or challenge, traders receive access to accounts ranging from $5,000 to $400,000 and keep a share of the profits they generate.

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By:BrokerAnalysis Research Desk
Fact-checked by:BrokerAnalysis Editorial Team

What Is a Funded Trading Account & How to Get One

A funded trading account is provided by a proprietary trading firm that lets you trade with the firm's capital instead of your own money. After passing an evaluation or challenge, traders receive access to accounts ranging from $5,000 to $400,000 and keep a share of the profits they generate. FTMO currently leads this shortlist based on our prop-firm review score.

Sources & References

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What Is a Funded Trading Account?

A funded trading account is provided by a proprietary trading firm that gives you access to the firm's capital to trade financial markets. Instead of risking your own money, you trade with the firm's funds and keep a share of the profits you generate — typically between 80% and 95%.

Funded accounts are available for both forex/CFD markets and futures markets, with account sizes ranging from $5,000 to $400,000 depending on the firm and program you choose.

How to Get a Funded Account

There are two main paths to getting a funded trading account:

Evaluation / Challenge

Pass a 1-step or 2-step evaluation by hitting a profit target while staying within drawdown limits. This is the most common and affordable path. Fees range from $25 to $1,080.

Instant Funding

Skip the challenge entirely and start trading immediately. Higher fees but no risk of failing an evaluation. Available from firms like Instant Funding, GFT, and FunderPro.

Key Things to Know

  • You don't own the capital — You trade with the firm's money and share profits.
  • Rules must be followed — Drawdown limits, trading hours, and instrument restrictions apply.
  • Profit splits vary — Most firms offer 80%–95%, with some offering 100% on initial earnings.
  • Payouts are regular — Most firms pay bi-weekly or monthly, with minimums from $50–$500.
  • Scaling is possible — Many firms increase your account size as you demonstrate consistent profitability.

Tips for Succeeding with a Funded Account

  1. Start with a smaller account size until you are consistently profitable
  2. Prioritize risk management over profit targets
  3. Study the specific rules of your firm thoroughly before trading
  4. Develop a clear trading plan and strategy
  5. Keep a trading journal to track your performance
  6. Do not overtrade — quality over quantity

Recommended Prop Trading Firms

Prop Firm Score Max Capital Profit SplitAction
FTMO
FTMO
Verified 2026
9/10$200,000Up to 90%
Instant Funding
Instant Funding
Verified 2026
8.8/10$120,000 (scaling doubles the account every 10% gained, up to $1.28M)80% (up to 90% with the paid add-on)
The Trading Pit
The Trading Pit
Verified 2026
8.7/10$200,00080%
8.6/10$100,00080%–100%
SabioTrade
SabioTrade
Verified 2026
8.5/10$650,00080% on the $20K and $50K tiers, 90% from $100K upward
Earn2Trade
Earn2Trade
Verified 2026
8.5/10$200,000 purchasableTiered: 50% below the tier threshold, 80% above it (e.g. $3,000 on TCP100)
Think Capital
Think Capital
Verified 2026
8.5/10$100,00080%–90%
FundedNext
FundedNext
Verified 2026
8.4/10$200,00080%–95%
The5%ers
The5%ers
Verified 2026
8.4/10$500,000 via High Stakes scaling (the homepage advertises up to $4,000,000 across programs)80%–100%
Top One Trader
Top One Trader
Verified 2026
8.4/10$300,000 on Two-Step PRO and Nova; $200,000 on the other modelsUp to 90% on One-Step FLASH and Instant Funding; up to 100% on Two-Step PRO, Instant Prime and Nova
Showing 1 to 10 of 33 firms
33 Firms matches
FTMO logo
FTMOTop pick

Czech Republic • 9+ yrs

9.0
Lowest fee$89
Starts at$10,000
Max alloc$400,000
PayoutsOn demand after 14 days
Top Markets
ForexIndicesCommodities
Top Platforms
MT4MT5
Challenge Type

1-Step Challenge, 2-Step Challenge

Instant Funding logo

United Kingdom • 2+ yrs

8.8
Lowest fee$49
Starts at$625
Max alloc$2,500,000
Payouts14 days after your first trade, then weekly. Withdrawals start at $25 and are processed within 48 business hours.
Top Markets
ForexIndicesCommodities
Top Platforms
MT5cTrader
Challenge Type

Instant Funding Clarity, One-Phase Clarity, IF Micro Clarity, Evolve (futures-style)

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

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

Earn2Trade logo
Earn2TradeReviewed

United States • 6+ yrs

8.5
Lowest fee$150
Starts at$25,000 (Trader Career Path)
Max alloc$400,000
PayoutsWeekly
Top Markets
Futures
Top Platforms
NinjaTraderTradovate
Challenge Type

Trader Career Path®, The Gauntlet Mini™

SabioTrade logo
SabioTradeReviewed

Cyprus • 3+ yrs

8.5
Lowest fee$119
Starts at$20,000
Max alloc$650,000
PayoutsWeekly
Top Markets
ForexIndicesCommodities
Top Platforms
SabioTrade Platform (Web-based)
Challenge Type

Assessment (1-Step)

Think Capital logo

Australia • 2+ yrs

8.5
Lowest fee$39
Starts at$2,500
Max alloc$600,000
PayoutsEvery 14 days, or 7 days with a paid add-on
Top Markets
ForexIndicesCommodities
Top Platforms
ThinkTraderTradingView
Challenge Type

Lightning (1-Step), Dual Step Intraday, Dual Step Swing, Nexus (3-Step), BOLT (Instant Funding)

FundedNext logo
FundedNextReviewed

United Arab Emirates • 2+ yrs

8.4
Lowest fee$59.99
Starts at$6,000
Max alloc$300,000
PayoutsFirst reward after 21 days, then every 14 days (Stellar 1-Step pays every 5 business days; Stellar Instant pays on demand)
Top Markets
ForexIndicesCommodities
Top Platforms
MT4MT5
Challenge Type

Stellar 2-Step, Stellar 1-Step, Stellar Lite, Stellar Instant

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

Top One Trader logo

United States • 3+ yrs

8.4
Lowest fee$69
Starts at$5,000
Max alloc$300,000
PayoutsFirst payout 14 days after funding, then every 14 days (weekly with the Weekly Payout Add-On)
Top Markets
ForexIndicesCommodities
Top Platforms
MatchTraderTradeLocker
Challenge Type

One-Step FLASH, Two-Step PRO, Instant Funding, Instant Prime, Nova Challenge

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)

Blueberry Funded logo

Australia • 3+ yrs

8.3
Lowest fee$44
Starts at$5,000
Max alloc$200,000 purchasable (scaling to $2,000,000 simulated)
PayoutsBi-weekly (14-day cycle)
Top Markets
ForexIndicesCommodities
Top Platforms
MT4MT5
Challenge Type

1-Step, Flex 1 Step, Prime 2-Step, Instant Elite, Instant Lite

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