Futures trading can be quite expensive, and when our account is small, it’s difficult to cover the costs and even make a profit on top of that.
The solution that a lot of traders find is to apply to a futures funded account from a proprietary firm.
In this article, you’ll learn what are the top best futures trading prop firms and you’ll be able to compare them to choose the best one for your personal situation.
The Top 3 Best Futures Prop Firms
Let’s start with the list of the 3 best futures proprietary trading firms.
Topstep
Rating: 4.9
REVIEW
Topstep is a Futures prop firm, located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded in 2010. Read the full Topstep review
FEATURES
Instruments: Equity Futures, Foreign Exchange Futures, Agricultural Futures, Energy, Interest Rates Futures, Metals Futures.
Max balance: $150,000
Profit split: 90%
Cost: from $165/month
Platforms: TSTrader, NinjaTrader, Quantower, TradingView, Sierra Chart, T4, Jigsaw Daytradr, Multicharts, R|Trader Pro, VolFix, Trade Navigator, ATAS OrderFlow Trading, MotiveWave, Bookmap, Investor/RT
Apex Trader Funding
Rating: 4.9
REVIEW
Apex Trader Funding is a Futures prop firm, located in Austin, Texas, USA. It was founded in 2021. Read the full Apex Trader Funding review
FEATURES
Instruments: Equity Futures, Foreign Exchange Futures, Agricultural Futures, Energy, Interest Rates Futures, Metals Futures, Crypto Futures.
Max balance: $300,000
Profit split: 90%
Cost: from $137/month
Platforms: NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Wealthcharts (web platform), Trader, ATAS, Bookmap, Edgeclear, Finamark, Jigsaw Trading, Motivewave, Quantower, Rithmic, Sierra Chart, Volfix, and Rithmic
The Trading Pit
Rating: 4.8
REVIEW
The Trading Pit is a Futures, and Forex prop firm, located in Liechtenstein. It was founded in 2021. Read the full The Trading Pit review
FEATURES
Instruments: Forex, Indices, Metals, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto, Equity Futures, Foreign Exchange Futures, Agricultural Futures, Energy, Interest Rates Futures, Metals Futures, Crypto Futures.
Max balance: $5,000,000
Profit split: up to 80%
Cost: from €99/month
Platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ATAS, Quantower, R/Trader, Bookmap, Sierra Charts, Jigsaw, and Volfix
Other Interesting Futures Prop Trading Firms
These futures prop firms are not at the top 3, but are also interesting, and generally not really far away from the previous ones in terms of quality and services provided.
How Should I Choose A Futures Prop Firm
If you are undecided between two or more futures prop trading firms, you can use our prop firm comparison tool. Just choose the firms that you want to compare and immediately check the results with a detailed comparison.
Compare Any Prop Firm
How Were These Futures Prop Trading Firms Chosen And Rated
The futures prop firms that appear here were rated based on different factors, which include:
- Difficulty: How easy it is to pass the prop firm challenges or evaluations.
- Futures platforms: The range of futures trading platforms available.
- Customer support: How fast and reliable the prop firm’s customer support is in solving your problems and answering your questions.
- Profit split: How much of the profits the prop firm shares with you.
- Instruments: How vast the range of futures instruments available to trade is.
- Cost: How much does a futures funded account cost to apply and maintain.
- User Rating: How good the futures prop firm is rated by other users.
What Can You Trade On A Futures Prop Firm
Typically, you can trade CME Futures Assets with futures prop trading firms. That includes CME, CBOT, NYMEX, and COMEX.
The instruments available in the vast majority of the futures proprietary trading firms are:
- Equity Futures
- Foreign Exchange Futures
- Agricultural Futures
- Energy Futures
- Interest Rate Futures
- Metals Futures
- Crypto Futures
How Big Are The Funded Accounts
The maximum futures prop firm’s funded accounts typically go from $150,00 to $400,000.
These accounts are not limited by margin but by the maximum number of contracts that you can trade based on the account size. This is a typical characteristic of futures trading funding.
How Much Is The Profit Split
For instant funded accounts, the profit split is not big, usually around 50%.
For funded accounts after a challenge, the payout is between 80% and 90%. This means that the futures proprietary firm only keeps 10% to 20% of the profits that you made.
Besides that, it’s also normal that the trader gets 100% of the first profits. This ranges between the first $5,000 and $10,000 in profits.
What Trading Platforms Are Available?
The vast majority of the most popular futures trading platforms are supported by futures prop firms.
Just to mention some: Ninjatrader, Rithmic, Bookmap, Agena Trader, Motive Wave, Photon, Collective2, InsideEdge Trader, Optimus Flow, ScalpTool, Medved Trader, Quantower, Trade Navigator, Overcharts, Sierra Chart, Volfix, TigerTrade, MultiCharts, QScalp, QST, TSLAB, and more.
Are Futures Prop Firms Legit?
Yes, Futures prop trading firms are legit and exist as real companies. The vast majority is registered in the US.
If you read the individual review for each prop firm you’ll find more details about the company and how to contact them.
Advantages Of Futures Prop Firms
- When trading Futures, you are trading a “real market”
- You don’t need to risk your own capital to trade.
- You can get funded with big-sized accounts, so you don’t need to overleverage and gamble your small account to potentially make decent profits.
- You are forced to follow proper risk management rules.
Disadvantages Of Futures Prop Firms
- A lot of futures trading platforms are paid, although some futures prop firms may offer them for free, during the challenge phase and also after you get a funded account.
- The real-time data is frequently paid as an extra. Some prop firms may offer it for free though.
- There’s a monthly cost associated, even after you pass the challenge and get a futures funded account.
- They keep a small part of the profits for them.
Learn More
- What is prop trading
- Prop firms comparison tool
- List of thebest prop trading firms
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
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Futures Trading Prop Firms
Futures trading can indeed be expensive, especially for traders with small accounts. Many traders opt for futures funded accounts from proprietary firms to overcome this challenge. These firms offer various features and benefits, making them an attractive option for traders. Let's delve into the concepts related to futures trading prop firms mentioned in the article.
Top 3 Best Futures Prop Firms:
-
Topstep:
- Located in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
- Founded in 2010.
- Offers instruments such as Equity Futures, Foreign Exchange Futures, Agricultural Futures, Energy, Interest Rates Futures, and Metals Futures.
- Max balance: $150,000.
- Profit split: 90%.
- Cost: from $165/month.
- Supported platforms: TSTrader, NinjaTrader, Quantower, TradingView, and more.
-
Apex Trader Funding:
- Based in Austin, Texas, USA.
- Established in 2021.
- Provides instruments including Equity Futures, Foreign Exchange Futures, Agricultural Futures, Energy, Interest Rates Futures, Metals Futures, and Crypto Futures.
- Max balance: $300,000.
- Profit split: 90%.
- Cost: from $137/month.
- Supported platforms: NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, and more.
-
The Trading Pit:
- Located in Liechtenstein.
- Founded in 2021.
- Offers a wide range of instruments, including Forex, Indices, Metals, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto, and various types of futures.
- Max balance: $5,000,000.
- Profit split: up to 80%.
- Cost: from €99/month.
- Supported platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ATAS, Quantower, and more.
Other Interesting Futures Prop Trading Firms: Several other futures prop firms, not in the top 3, also offer compelling features and services, making them worth considering for traders with specific requirements.
Choosing a Futures Prop Firm
When choosing a futures prop firm, traders can utilize a prop firm comparison tool to compare different firms based on various factors such as difficulty, futures platforms, customer support, profit split, instruments, cost, and user ratings.
Instruments Available in Futures Prop Firms
Futures prop trading firms typically offer a wide range of instruments for trading, including:
- Equity Futures
- Foreign Exchange Futures
- Agricultural Futures
- Energy Futures
- Interest Rate Futures
- Metals Futures
- Crypto Futures
Funded Accounts and Profit Split
The maximum funded accounts offered by futures prop firms typically range from $150,000 to $400,000. Additionally, the profit split for instant funded accounts is usually around 50%, while for funded accounts after a challenge, the payout ranges between 80% and 90%.
Trading Platforms
Most popular futures trading platforms are supported by futures prop firms, providing traders with a variety of options for executing their trades.
Legitimacy of Futures Prop Firms
Futures prop trading firms are legitimate entities, with the majority being registered in the US. Traders can find more details about each prop firm in individual reviews, including information on the company and how to contact them.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Futures prop firms offer several advantages, such as the ability to trade in a "real market" without risking personal capital, access to large-sized accounts, and enforced risk management rules. However, there are also disadvantages, including monthly costs, paid trading platforms, and a portion of profits being retained by the firm.
I hope this information provides a comprehensive understanding of futures trading prop firms and assists in making informed decisions. If you have further questions or need more details on any specific aspect, feel free to ask!
