Cheapest futures prop firm, ranked by true cost

The cheapest firm isn't the one with the lowest sticker price. It's the one with the lowest total: evaluation + activation fee + any resets. Here's that total for every firm we track (50K account, list prices, verified 2026-09-27).

If you pass on the first try

1. FTMO: $119 ($119/mo, first month + $0 activation)
2. Alpha Futures: $129 ($129/mo, first month + $0 activation; monthly fee once funded)
3. FundedNext: $141.99 ($141.99 one-time + $0 activation)
4. Tradeify: $145 ($145 one-time + $0 activation; monthly fee once funded)
5. Lucid Trading: $192 ($192 one-time + $0 activation; monthly fee once funded)
6. Topstep: $198 ($49/mo, first month + $149 activation; monthly fee once funded)
7. MyFundedFutures: $209 ($209 one-time + $0 activation; monthly fee once funded)
8. Take Profit Trader: $300 ($170/mo, first month + $130 activation; monthly fee once funded)
9. IQ Capital: $308 ($179 one-time + $129 activation; on sale ~$18 (2026-09-27), verify at checkout; monthly fee once funded) New firm (2025), limited independent payout history
10. Bulenox: $323 ($175 one-time + $148 activation; monthly fee once funded)
11. Apex Trader Funding: $680 ($590 one-time + $90 activation; monthly fee once funded)

If you need 2 retries

1. Topstep: $296 (each retry: $49 reset)
2. FundedNext: $307.97 (each retry: $82.99 reset)
3. Tradeify: $335 (each retry: $95 reset)
4. FTMO: $337 (each retry: $109 reset)
5. Alpha Futures: $347 (each retry: $109 reset)
6. Lucid Trading: $422 (each retry: $115 reset)
7. Bulenox: $479 (each retry: $78 reset)
8. Take Profit Trader: $498 (each retry: $99 reset)
9. MyFundedFutures: $627 (each retry: no resets: buy again at $209)
10. Apex Trader Funding: $1,860 (each retry: no resets: buy again at $590)

Firms without resets are counted at the price of a new evaluation per retry. Monthly plans cost more if you need extra months. Discounts can change the order: enter your checkout price in the calculator.

Looking for the overall pick? See Futures prop firms by true cost (2026) and how to pass each firm's challenge.

Head-to-head comparisons

• FTMO vs Topstep
• Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep
• FundedNext vs FTMO

Rules explained

• Apex Trader Funding rules
• Topstep rules
• FTMO rules
• IQ Capital rules

Guide: how to work out true cost yourself