Cheapest Prop Firms in 2026
Price matters—especially when you're budgeting for 2-3 evaluation attempts. We compared the 100K account price across every firm on our site and ranked the cheapest options that are still worth your money. No point saving $50 on an evaluation if the firm has a 3.0 Trustpilot and dodgy payout history. These five firms offer rock-bottom prices with solid reputations across forex and futures.
Top 5 Cheapest at a Glance
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The Best Budget Pick in Forex
At $183.50 for a 100K 3-Step account (reg $367), Blue Guardian is the cheapest way to access a 100K forex funded account—and unlike The5ers Bootcamp, there's no additional unlock fee after passing. The 3-Step breaks the target into manageable 6% phases with 4% daily loss and 8% max drawdown. 90% profit split with weekly payouts—the fastest regular payout cycle you'll find. The 24-hour payout guarantee is unique: if they don't process within 24 hours, you get 100% of profits. Also offers cheaper alternatives: 2-Step Pro at $232 and 2-Step Standard at $289.50. Max allocation $400K. Based in Dubai. Full review here.
Cheapest Long-Term Cost in Forex
For Traders' 3-Step at $261.75 (reg $349) isn't the absolute cheapest upfront—but it becomes the best value long-term because of one unique perk: after your first withdrawal, you receive a free challenge account of the same size. That effectively halves your cost per funded account over time. The 3-Step has 4%-4%-6% targets, 3% daily loss, 5% max drawdown. Profit split starts at 80% and scales +5% per payout up to 90%. Also offers 1-Step ($351.75, 9% target), 2-Step ($411.75), and Instant Master ($516.75). Payouts via Rise Pay ($50 fee for $500+) and Direct Crypto USDC ($25 fee). Min payout $100. Supports cTrader, MT5, and TradeLocker. Full review here.
Under $100 to Start — But Read the Fine Print
The5ers Bootcamp at $99.75 for a 100K account (5% auto-discount, reg $105) is the lowest upfront cost in forex prop trading. The catch: after passing all 3 phases (6% target each, 5% max drawdown), there's a $205 unlock fee to activate your funded account—making the true total $304.75. Still cheaper than most competitors, and you only pay the unlock fee if you actually pass. The Bootcamp starts at 50% profit split, scaling to 100% over time. For traders with more budget, the High Stakes 2-Step at $475.95 starts at 80% split with 10% max drawdown and no unlock fee. 9+ years in operation with a 4.8 Trustpilot. Payouts via Bank Transfer, Crypto, and Rise. Supports cTrader and MT5. Full review here.
The Absolute Cheapest Evaluation in Prop Trading
Bulenox Option 1 at $23.65/month for a 100K account (code GUIDE) is the cheapest prop firm evaluation you'll find anywhere—forex or futures. You get 12 minis / 120 micros, a $6,000 profit target, and $3,000 max loss with Intraday trailing drawdown. Profit split is 100% on your first $10,000, then 90% after. The important caveat: there's a $248 activation fee when you pass and move to a funded account—so your total cost to get funded is $271.65 plus however many months of eval. Option 2 (EOD trailing, better for most traders) is $118. Also supports QScalp, ScalpTool, NinjaTrader, and Quantower. Payouts every 10 trading days via ACH, Wire, PayPal, or Wise. 40% consistency rule on funded accounts only. Full review here.
Best Price-to-Split Ratio in Futures
DayTraders offers the best deal in futures prop trading when you factor in the profit split: $65 for a 100K Static account (code GUIDE, 80% off regular $325) with a 100% profit split on every account. That's the only firm offering 100% split at this price point. The Static account has a $5,750 profit target, $1,500 max loss (static drawdown), and 4 minis / 40 micros. Scalping explicitly allowed with no hold time. News trading unrestricted. 50% consistency rule during evaluation. Payouts every 8 days with automatic approvals via Plane. $130 activation fee after passing—so total cost to funded is $195. Max allocation $1.5M across 5 accounts. Full review here.
Side-by-Side Price Comparison
| Firm | Market | 100K Price | Activation | Total to Funded | Profit Split | Trustpilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Guardian | Forex | $183.50 | None | $183.50 | Up to 90% | 4.1 ⭐ |
| For Traders | Forex | $261.75 | None | $261.75 | 80-90% | 4.2 ⭐ |
| The5ers | Forex | $99.75 | $205 unlock | $304.75 | 50→100% | 4.8 ⭐ |
| Bulenox | Futures | $23.65/mo | $248 | $23.65/mo + $248 | 100%→90% | 4.8 ⭐ |
| DayTraders | Futures | $65 | $130 | $195 | 100% | 4.6 ⭐ |
Blue Guardian 3-Step price shown (reg $367). For Traders 3-Step price shown (reg $349). The5ers Bootcamp price shown (reg $105). Bulenox code GUIDE. DayTraders code GUIDE. "Total to Funded" = evaluation price + activation/unlock fee.
How to Think About Prop Firm Costs
The sticker price of an evaluation is just part of the picture. Here's how to calculate the true cost of getting funded.
Upfront Price vs Total Cost to Funded
Most cheap evaluations have an activation or unlock fee after you pass. Bulenox costs $23.65/month (progress doesn't reset) plus $248 to activate after passing. DayTraders is $65 + $130 activation = $195 total. Blue Guardian at $183.50 has zero activation—what you see is what you pay. Always check our individual reviews for the full breakdown before buying.
Monthly Subscriptions vs One-Time Payments
Futures firms typically charge monthly subscriptions (you keep paying until you pass or cancel). Forex firms are usually one-time payments. If you're confident in your strategy, a one-time payment is cheaper. If you need multiple months to pass, monthly subscriptions can add up fast. Use our Consistency Calculator to estimate how long your strategy would take to hit the target.
Budget for 2-3 Attempts
Most traders don't pass on their first try. Budget accordingly: if an evaluation costs $183.50, plan for $370-$550 total. This is why the cheapest firms matter—3 attempts at Blue Guardian ($550.50) costs less than a single attempt at some premium firms. Wait for sales and discounts—firms regularly run 50-80% off promotions.
Free Account Perks
For Traders is the only firm offering a free challenge account after your first payout. That means your second funded account effectively costs $0. Over time, this makes For Traders the cheapest firm per funded account—even though the upfront price isn't the absolute lowest.
When Cheap Becomes Too Cheap
We deliberately excluded firms with Trustpilot scores below 4.0 from this list. A $15 evaluation from a firm with 2-star reviews and payout complaints isn't a deal—it's a gamble. Every firm on this page has a 4.1+ rating and a verified payout track record. Check our forex comparison or futures comparison tools to filter by both price and reliability.
Pro Tip: Start with the cheapest firm that matches your market (forex or futures). Pass your evaluation, get your first payout to confirm withdrawals work. Then you'll know whether to stick with that firm or move to a different one. Use our Forex Calculator or Futures Calculator to plan your risk, and read our risk management guide before trading.
Compare All Prices
See every firm's pricing, filter by account size, and grab the latest discount codes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest prop firm in 2026?
For forex, Blue Guardian's 100K 3-Step at $183.50 is the cheapest with no activation fee. For futures, Bulenox at $23.65/mo is the lowest monthly cost (with a $248 activation after passing). DayTraders at $65 with $130 activation offers the cheapest total cost to funded in futures at $195.
What is an activation fee?
An activation or unlock fee is charged when you pass your evaluation and transition to a funded account. Not all firms charge one—Blue Guardian and For Traders have zero activation fees. Bulenox charges $248, DayTraders $130, and The5ers Bootcamp has a $205 unlock fee. Always factor this into your total budget.
Is it worth buying the cheapest evaluation?
Yes, as long as the firm is reputable. All five firms on this page have 4.1+ Trustpilot ratings and verified payout histories. Cheaper evaluations let you take multiple attempts within the same budget—and most traders need 2-3 tries to pass.
Which cheap firm has the best profit split?
DayTraders offers 100% profit split on all accounts at just $65. Bulenox gives 100% on your first $10,000 then 90%. Blue Guardian offers up to 90% with weekly payouts. The5ers Bootcamp starts at 50% but scales to 100% over time.
Should I buy a monthly subscription or one-time evaluation?
Depends on how quickly you'll pass. One-time payments (forex firms, Bulenox, DayTraders) are cheaper if you pass within 1-2 months. Monthly subscriptions (most futures firms) are better if you need flexibility to cancel. Use our Consistency Calculator to estimate your timeline.
When do prop firms have sales?
Most firms run promotions during major holidays (Black Friday, New Year, summer). Some firms like DayTraders have permanent discount codes. Check our deals page for current codes—we update it regularly with the latest offers across all firms.
What other guides do you have?
We have guides for beginners, scalpers, swing traders, Indian traders, EU traders, US traders, UK traders, African traders, Australian traders, and more on our Best Prop Firms hub.