The 7 Cheapest Prop Firms in 2026, Ranked by True Total Cost
The cheapest prop firm by entry fee is not always the cheapest by the time you cash your first payout. Refund timing, payout fees, payment-method surcharges, and the cost of failed retries all matter. This guide ranks the seven largest prop firms by true total cost, not just sticker price.
By John McLaren
Quick answer
The cheapest prop firm by one-time entry fee is FundingPips at $29 for a $5K account. Atlas Funded markets a $1 evaluation but charges the larger funding fee after you pass, so the total cost is comparable to peers. FundedFast is $49 for a $5K account with an 80% profit split; the 90% split is a paid checkout add-on sold only on $50K+ 1-Phase and $100K+ 2-Phase accounts, so it is not available at the $49 tier. Sticker price is only part of the bill, though: how quickly the fee is refunded, what each payout costs in deductions, and what a failed attempt costs to retry separate the genuinely cheap firms from the ones that merely look cheap at checkout. A $29 challenge you fail twice costs more than a $49 challenge you pass once, and a fee refunded with your first payout effectively drops the entry cost to zero. We rank the seven largest prop firms by that true total cost and re-verify each firm's pricing monthly.
Want to test FundedFast for free first?
The FundedFast Open runs every two weeks. $100K virtual account, $25 first-place cash prize, no entry fee, no payment details required. The only genuinely free way to test our platform before you commit.
See the FundedFast OpenHow we score these firms
Four numbers determine real cost: the entry fee, the funding fee at pass (relevant for pay-after-pass firms), when (and whether) the fees are refunded, and the cost of moving money out once you trade. We score each firm on the cheapest available $5K-$10K evaluation, the documented refund policy, and the worst-case payout-method fee for the trader. We flag firms that use a pay-after-pass model (Atlas Funded) because the sticker price is not directly comparable. We exclude firms that bundle the fee into a recurring subscription, since that hides the real cost.
Real total cost, not just sticker price
FundedFast
Our firm- Entry fee ($5K)
- $49
- Refund timing
- On 1st payout
- Profit split
- 80% default, 90% upgrade
- Time limit
- None
- Free entry route
- FundedFast Open
- Entry fee ($5K)
- $29
- Refund timing
- On 1st payout
- Profit split
- 80%
- Time limit
- None
- Free entry route
- —
- Entry fee ($5K)
- $1*
- Refund timing
- On 1st payout
- Profit split
- 80%
- Time limit
- None (5-day min)
- Free entry route
- —
- Entry fee ($5K)
- $38
- Refund timing
- On 1st payout
- Profit split
- 75-100%
- Time limit
- Varies
- Free entry route
- —
- Entry fee ($5K)
- $32
- Refund timing
- On 1st payout
- Profit split
- 80%
- Time limit
- Varies by program
- Free entry route
- —
- Entry fee ($5K)
- $32
- Refund timing
- Never refunded
- Profit split
- 80%, 90% or 100%
- Time limit
- None
- Free entry route
- —
- Entry fee ($5K)
- $91**
- Refund timing
- On 1st payout
- Profit split
- 80-90%
- Time limit
- None
- Free entry route
- —
FundedFast wins 2 of 5 commercial dimensions across all seven firms compared: no time limit and a free entry route via the FundedFast Open. FundingPips has the lowest entry fee at $29; FundedNext and E8 Funding tie for second-lowest at $32, though E8's fee is never refunded, unlike every other firm here. Profit split is close across the board: FundedFast pays 80% by default, level with the flat 80% FundingPips and FundedNext pay, and its 90% add-on is sold only on $50K+ 1-Phase and $100K+ 2-Phase accounts, so it is not available at the $5K tier priced here; E8 Funding lets you buy up to 100% at checkout, and FTMO runs an 80-90% range. Atlas Funded's $1 marketed entry sits behind a pay-after-pass model; the funding fee at pass brings total cost in line with peers.
*Atlas Funded uses a pay-after-pass pricing model: a $1 evaluation entry plus a larger funding fee charged when the trader passes. Five of the other six firms refund the entry fee on your first payout, so the steady-state real cost is zero on every refunded program; E8 Funding's entry fee is never refunded, per its own terms, regardless of outcome. The profit-split column shows the split each firm pays a new trader, or the range available at purchase (FundedFast pays 80% by default and sells 90% as a paid checkout add-on on $50K+ 1-Phase and $100K+ 2-Phase accounts; E8 Funding lets you choose 80%, 90%, or 100% at checkout; Goat Funded Trader starts at 75% and scales to 100% with payouts). Time-limit and free-entry columns are factual: figures come from each firm's published terms as recorded in our competitor data, last verified between April and August 2026. Terms change often, so check the firm's current page before paying. **FTMO prices in euro, not dollars. We show the US-dollar equivalent so every firm in this table can be compared in one currency: EUR 79 converted at the ECB reference rate of 1 EUR = 1.154 USD on 11 August 2026. The amount FTMO actually charges is EUR 79.
Ownership disclosure: FundedFast operates this website, and FundedFast challenges appear in the comparisons below. Every firm, including ours, is assessed against the same published criteria, and we link to each competitor so you can verify our numbers yourself. How we rank and earn is documented in our editorial policy. On this page we assign no firm a single overall score, our own included: each firm carries a narrow, checkable category award instead, several of which go to competitors, plus honest pros and cons. Read our editorial policy
The top 7 compared: category winners
FundingPips
Best for: Lowest one-time sticker, no catchLowest one-time sticker at $29 for $5K, ahead of the $32 tier shared by FundedNext and E8 Funding. Fee refunded on first payout, so steady-state cost is zero.
Pros- Lowest headline entry fee on this list at $29 for a $5K account
- Fee refunded on your first payout, dropping real cost to zero
- No time limit on the evaluation
Cons- Flat 80% profit split with no upgrade option, below E8's purchasable day-one ceiling
- No free-entry route comparable to a live trading competition
From $29Split 80-100%Time NoneFundedFast
Our firmBest for: Split plus a free entry route$49 for $5K with an 80% profit split at that tier, since the 90% add-on is sold only on $50K+ 1-Phase and $100K+ 2-Phase accounts, plus a free Open competition. No time limit and a full fee refund on first payout, though $20 pricier than FundingPips' $29 sticker and $17 pricier than the $32 tier shared by FundedNext and E8 Funding.
Pros- 80% profit split by default, with a 90% paid checkout add-on on $50K+ 1-Phase and $100K+ 2-Phase accounts
- Only firm here with a genuinely free recurring entry route, the FundedFast Open
- No time limit, and the fee is refunded on first payout
Cons- $20 pricier than FundingPips' $29 sticker price, $17 pricier than FundedNext's and E8's $32
- $400,000 maximum funding is the lowest ceiling among the firms compared here
From $49Split Up to 90%Time NoneAtlas Funded
Best for: Lowest upfront number, pay after pass$1 evaluation entry but uses a pay-after-pass model: the larger funding fee is charged once you pass. True total cost is comparable to peers, not radically cheaper.
Pros- $1 evaluation entry is the lowest upfront number on this list by far
- No fixed time limit on the evaluation (a 5-day minimum applies)
Cons- Pay-after-pass model means the real cost only arrives once you pass
- Youngest and lowest Trustpilot-rated firm on this list
From $1Split 80-100%Time None (5-day min)Goat Funded Trader
Best for: Split scales to 100%$38 entry with a split that can scale to 100%, but the 8% trailing drawdown is tighter than peers and triggers more retries in practice.
Pros- Profit split can scale up to 100% across its programs
- Fee refunded on a pass, like FundedFast's
Cons- 8% maximum drawdown is trailing, a stricter constraint than a static cap
- Time limit varies by program rather than being fixed at none
From $38Split 75-100%Time VariesFundedNext
Best for: Second-cheapest entry plus fastest payouts$32 entry, second-cheapest on this list and tied with E8 Funding, with a 24-hour guaranteed payout turnaround. Four program types do add complexity that can push accidental upgrades.
Pros- Second-lowest entry fee on this list at $32, tied with E8 Funding
- 24-hour guaranteed payout turnaround, faster than most firms here
- Fee refunded on first payout
Cons- Four separate program types add complexity that can lead to an accidental upgrade
- Time limit varies by program rather than a single fixed answer
From $32Split 80-95%Time Varies by programE8 Funding
Best for: Split chosen at checkout$32 entry, second-cheapest on this list and tied with FundedNext, with a split you choose at purchase (80%, 90%, or 100%). The fee is never refunded, even on a pass, unlike every other firm on this list.
Pros- Second-lowest entry fee on this list at $32, tied with FundedNext
- Choose your profit split (80%, 90%, or 100%) at purchase, fixed for the life of the account
- No time limit on its evaluation
Cons- Entry fee is never refunded under any circumstance, per its own terms, unlike the six other firms compared here
- Tighter daily drawdown (2.5%) than most peers' 5%
From $32Split 80%, 90% or 100%Time NoneFTMO
Best for: Track record and trustMost expensive entry on this list at EUR 79 (about $91), roughly three times FundingPips' $29 entry. Worth it mainly for FTMO's track record and platform variety.
Pros- Longest documented operating history of any firm on this list, since 2015
- Highest Trustpilot rating among the firms compared here
- No time limit on its evaluation
Cons- Most expensive entry on this list: from EUR 79 (about $91), versus $29 to $49 elsewhere
- Default profit split starts at 80%; 90% requires its Scaling Plan or Premium Programme
From $91 (EUR 79)Split 80-90%Time None
How FundedFast handles this
FundedFast charges $49 for a $5K two-phase evaluation, with two-phase pricing running up to $1,799 at $400K. A separate one-phase track is also available, from $99 at $3K up to $2,999 at $400K, though only the two-phase evaluation includes FundedFast's Scaling program. The fee is fully refunded on your first payout, which means in steady state your real cost is zero. Profit split is 80% by default; the 90% upgrade is a paid checkout add-on sold on $50K+ 1-Phase and $100K+ 2-Phase accounts, so it does not apply to the $49 $5K tier. Payouts go out via PayPal, bank transfer, or crypto with a $50 minimum and no platform-side fees. For traders entering for the first time, the FundedFast Open free competition runs every two weeks with a $25 first-place cash prize and zero entry fee, a way to test the platform without paying. The honest weakness on cost: FundedFast does not match FundingPips' $29 floor, or FundedNext's and E8 Funding's $32 tier, on a one-time-fee model, nor Atlas Funded's $1 marketed sticker, which uses pay-after-pass. On profit split it's roughly a tie with E8 Funding and ahead of the other refunded firms at this tier.
When this is not the right fit
If absolute lowest one-time sticker is your only criterion, FundingPips is lowest at $29, with FundedNext and E8 Funding tied for second at $32. If you specifically want a pay-after-pass model where the headline number is near zero, Atlas Funded markets $1 entry; just budget for the funding fee at pass. If you trade exclusively futures and you are based in the U.S., Topstep or Apex Trader Funding fit better, since they use Tradovate and Rithmic execution and CME-pair coverage that retail-CFD prop firms cannot match. If you need a $3K starter account, no firm in this list offers one in their public catalog; most will steer you to a $5K. And if you are evaluating purely on brand recognition rather than cost, FTMO commands a premium that none of the cheaper firms can match, though the rules and profit splits at the cheaper firms are now generally better. Finally, traders in 40 restricted jurisdictions cannot participate with FundedFast regardless of price; check the eligibility list before paying.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
What is the cheapest prop firm by entry fee?
FundingPips is the cheapest by one-time entry fee at $29 for a $5K account. Atlas Funded markets a $1 evaluation but uses a pay-after-pass model, so the larger funding fee is charged once you pass — total cost is comparable to peers, not radically cheaper. FundedFast is $49 for a $5K account with an 80% profit split; the 90% split is a paid checkout add-on sold only on $50K+ 1-Phase and $100K+ 2-Phase accounts, so it is not available at the $49 tier. All three refund the entry fee on your first payout, so the steady-state real cost is zero.
Is cheaper actually better for prop firm challenges?
Cheaper is better only if the rules and profit split also work in your favor. A $32 entry with a tight daily-loss rule that triggers two retries is more expensive than a $49 entry you pass in one attempt.
Do prop firms refund the entry fee?
Most major prop firms refund the entry fee on the first payout. FundedFast, FundingPips, FTMO, FundedNext, and Goat Funded Trader all follow this practice. E8 Funding is the exception on this list: its own terms state fees are non-refundable under any circumstance. Read the specific policy before paying.
Can I get a free prop firm challenge?
Free entry is rare. The most reliable free option is a live competition like the FundedFast Open, which runs every two weeks with no entry fee, a $100K virtual account, and cash prizes for the top three finishers.
Are there hidden fees in prop firm challenges?
Watch for: payout-method fees (some firms pass on PayPal or wire fees), recurring subscriptions disguised as one-time fees, and paid add-ons that inflate the real cost, like profit-split upgrades. FundedFast's own 90% split is one of those add-ons: the default is 80%, and the 90% upgrade is sold only on $50K+ 1-Phase and $100K+ 2-Phase accounts.
What happens if I fail and retry the cheapest prop firm challenge?
Retry costs the same as the initial entry — there is no discount on a second attempt at any major prop firm. A $29 FundingPips evaluation costs $29 to retry; a $49 FundedFast evaluation costs $49. As a worked example, if you assume a one-in-three chance of needing a single retry, the expected real cost works out to about 1.3x the sticker price. That puts FundingPips at ~$38 expected and FundedFast at ~$64 expected, vs FTMO at ~EUR 103 expected (about $119) — roughly twice to three times more than the cheaper firms.
Do any prop firms charge monthly subscriptions instead of one-time fees?
Some futures-specialty firms do. We exclude subscription-priced firms from this ranking because their steady-state cost is unbounded: on a recurring fee, taking six months to pass costs six times what passing in one month costs, and none of it comes back. Topstep is often assumed to belong in that group and does not: its evaluation is a one-time $49 to $149 depending on account size, though unlike the firms below it does not refund that fee on a pass. One-time fee firms with a refund-on-payout policy (FundedFast, FundingPips, FundedNext, Goat Funded Trader, and FTMO on its two-step route) are categorically cheaper in any realistic scenario.
Ready to start your first challenge?
From $49. No time limit. Up to 90% profit share. Fee refunded on first payout.