Cheapest Prop Firms in 2026: Real Costs Compared

The cheapest prop firm entries in October 2026 are The5ers at $19 for a $2,500 forex account, Breakout Prop at $20 for $5,000 in crypto, FundingPips at $29 and FundedNext at $29.99 for $5,000 in forex, Velotrade at $40 for a $5,000 multi-asset account, and Topstep at $49 a month for a $50,000 futures Combine.

The entry fee is only the first number. This guide compares 11 firms on what a challenge costs per $10,000 of account, whether the fee comes back, what a retry costs and how the drawdown works, all read from each firm's own site on October 20, 2026. It then shows how to work out what getting funded is likely to cost you, which is the number that matters.

Cheapest prop firms compared (October 2026)

Prices are list prices from each firm's official site, checked October 20, 2026, sorted by the cheapest entry. Many firms run permanent promo codes, so the checkout price can be lower. Price per $10K is the cheapest account's price scaled to $10,000 of account size.

Velotrade's live code AITRADE20 takes 20% off, which brings the PRO 1-Step $5K to $32 and the CLASSIC 2-Step $5K to $43. Codes for other firms are collected in our prop firm discount codes guide.

Two notes on reading the table. Futures firms price larger accounts, so their per-$10K figures look low, but you pay a monthly fee (Topstep) or an activation fee once funded. And a refund only helps if you pass and reach a payout.

The real cost of getting funded

What you actually spend to reach a funded account is:

Expected cost = fee x attempts you need, minus any refund you receive after passing

If you assume a fixed chance of passing each attempt, the attempts you need on average are 1 divided by that chance. A 50% chance means 2 attempts on average, a 33% chance means 3.

Worked example: two attempts

Say you fail once and pass on the second try, on a $5,000 account where possible:

Refunds change the order. HyroTrader costs more per attempt than Velotrade PRO, but once the deposit comes back it is cheaper over two attempts, as long as you reach that first payout.

Why a cheap, tight plan can cost more

The cheapest plans tend to have the smallest drawdown. Velotrade's PRO 1-Step asks for a 10% profit target with a 3% static max loss, so a short losing run ends the attempt. The CLASSIC 2-Step costs $14 more at $5K but gives you a 10% static floor (targets of 10% and then 5%). See 1-Step PRO vs 1-Step CLASSIC for how the plans differ.

The pass chances below are assumptions to show the maths, not Velotrade pass rates:

The rule of thumb: the CLASSIC 2-Step is cheaper for you whenever the wider floor raises your chance of passing by more than about 35% (because $54 is 1.35 times $40). If you trade with tight stops and small size, PRO is the cheaper route. If your normal drawdown is close to 3%, the wider floor is likely to save money. A static drawdown helps either way, since the floor never moves up behind you. You can test your own numbers in the challenge pass calculator and the challenge ROI calculator.

The cheapest prop firms, ranked by entry price

1) The5ers, best for the smallest possible first account

HQ: Israel
Cheapest account: High Stakes $2,500 for $19 (Classic version $22)
Price per $10K: $76
Refund: Yes, shown as refunded on the plan table
Drawdown: 10% max loss, 5% daily

The5ers has the lowest absolute entry in this comparison. The $2,500 High Stakes account is a 2-step with a 10% then 5% target, 3 minimum profitable days per phase and MT5 only. On a per-$10K basis it is not cheap ($35 for $5,000, $69 for $10,000), so it suits traders who want to learn the rules on a small account first.

Strengths:

• lowest entry price in the market
• fee refunded once you reach the funded stage
• scaling plan raises the split from 80% toward 100%

Trade-offs:

• MT5 only
• no new orders 2 minutes either side of high-impact news

For a full breakdown, see The5ers review and The5ers vs Velotrade.

2) Breakout Prop, best for the lowest crypto entry

HQ: USA (owned by Kraken)
Cheapest account: 1-Step Turbo $5,000 for $20
Price per $10K: $40
Refund: No
Drawdown: 3% static, 3% daily

Breakout is the cheapest crypto prop firm per dollar of account. Turbo asks for a 9% target inside a 3% static floor, which is a tight ratio. The Pro plan ($33 at $5K, 5% floor) and Classic ($45, 6% floor) buy more room. There is no reset: a failed attempt means a new evaluation.

Strengths:

• lowest price per $10K in crypto
• static drawdown on every plan, no minimum trading days
• on-demand payouts with a $50 minimum

Trade-offs:

• Turbo's 3% floor is tight for crypto volatility
• the 90/10 split is a paid upgrade ($24 on a $5K Turbo)

For a full breakdown, see Breakout Prop review and Breakout Prop vs Velotrade.

3) FundingPips, best for a cheap forex 2-step

HQ: Dubai, UAE
Cheapest account: 2 Step Pro $5,000 for $29
Price per $10K: $58
Refund: No, fees are non-refundable
Drawdown: 6% max loss, 3% daily

The 2 Step Pro is the cheapest forex 2-step at $5K, with 6% targets in both phases and no minimum trading days. You choose weekly payouts at 80% or monthly at 100%.

Strengths:

• low price per $10K ($55 at $10K)
• no minimum trading days on 2 Step Pro

Trade-offs:

• 6% max loss and 3% daily are tighter than most 2-step plans
• funded accounts restrict news trading and need an add-on to hold over the weekend

For a full breakdown, see FundingPips review and FundingPips vs Velotrade.

4) FundedNext, best for a cheap plan with a refund

HQ: UAE
Cheapest account: Stellar Lite $5,000 for $29.99 (list $32.99)
Price per $10K: About $60
Refund: Yes, at the third reward
Drawdown: 8% static, 4% daily

Stellar Lite is a 2-step with 8% and 4% targets and an 8% static max loss. If you want the wider plan, the Stellar 2-Step costs $39.99 for $6,000 with a 10% static max loss, and its fee comes back with the first reward.

Strengths:

• static drawdown on Lite and 2-Step
• fee refunded on both plans once you get paid

Trade-offs:

• Lite's refund only comes at the third reward
• on the Stellar 2-Step, funded traders keep only 40% of profit from news trades

For a full breakdown, see FundedNext review and FundedNext vs Velotrade.

5) Alpha Capital, best for a cheap static 2-step

HQ: UK
Cheapest account: Alpha Pro 8% $5,000 for $37
Price per $10K: $74 ($57 at $10K)
Refund: Not stated on the plan page
Drawdown: 8% static, 4% daily

Alpha Pro is a static 2-step with 8% and 5% targets. Its site says fees start from $27, depending on plan and size, and the $10K account is better value per dollar than the $5K.

Strengths:

• static drawdown with a choice of 6%, 8% or 10% variants
• a Swing variant for overnight and weekend holds

Trade-offs:

• a max risk per asset rule applies on funded accounts
• not available to US residents

6) Velotrade, best for a cheap multi-asset account with no consistency rule

HQ: Hong Kong
Cheapest account: PRO 1-Step $5,000 for $40 ($32 with AITRADE20); CLASSIC 2-Step $5,000 for $54
Price per $10K: $80 (PRO), $108 (CLASSIC 2-Step)
Refund: No
Drawdown: Static on every plan: 3% (PRO), 7% (CLASSIC 1-Step), 10% (CLASSIC 2-Step)

Velotrade is not the cheapest firm on price per $10K. What the fee buys is one simulated account covering crypto (24/7), forex, US stocks, index ETFs and commodities, with a static floor, no consistency rule, no max risk per trade, and news and weekend trading allowed. The split is 80%, or up to 90% with a paid add-on. Payouts are in USDC or USDT, first after 14 days, then weekly.

Strengths:

• static drawdown on every plan
• no consistency rule, 5 minimum trading days and no time limit
• prop firm challenge prices from $40, and $32 with the current code

Trade-offs:

• PRO's 3% max loss is tight, and fees are not refundable
• no CME futures, no MetaTrader (DXtrade only), and payouts are stablecoins, not bank transfer

For a full breakdown, see the Velotrade review.

7) Topstep, best for cheap futures access

HQ: Chicago
Cheapest account: $50K Trading Combine for $49 a month
Price per $10K: $9.80 a month
Refund: Not published
Drawdown: $2,000 max loss limit, end-of-day trailing

Topstep is the cheapest futures route by price per $10K, but it is a subscription. The $50K Combine needs a $3,000 profit with a 55% consistency target. A reset costs $49, and the standard path adds a $149 activation fee when you are funded.

Strengths:

• low monthly price for a $50K account
• reset credit included on each rebill

Trade-offs:

• monthly billing adds up if you take several months to pass
• $149 activation fee on the standard path

For a full breakdown, see Topstep review and Topstep vs Velotrade.

8) HyroTrader, best for crypto traders who expect to pass

HQ: Prague, Czechia
Cheapest account: Two-Step $5,000 for $59
Price per $10K: $118
Refund: Yes, the deposit comes back with the first payout (not on Zero-Step)
Drawdown: 10% max loss, 5% daily

HyroTrader's upfront price is high per $10K, but the Two-Step and One-Step fees are refundable deposits. If you pass on the first try and get paid, your net cost is zero. Execution runs on Bybit or BloFin demo accounts, its own Hyro platform, Tealstreet or Tiger.com.

Strengths:

• refundable deposit on One-Step and Two-Step
• payouts in USDT or USDC within 24 hours, $100 minimum

Trade-offs:

• highest price per $10K among the crypto firms here
• Zero-Step fee is not refundable

For a full breakdown, see HyroTrader review and HyroTrader vs Velotrade.

9) FTMO, best for a refundable fee from an established firm

HQ: Prague
Cheapest account: 2-Step $10,000 for €89
Price per $10K: €89
Refund: Yes, 100% on the 2-Step
Drawdown: 10% static, 5% daily

FTMO's smallest account is $10,000, so its per-$10K price is competitive with forex firms that sell $5K accounts. The 2-Step has 10% and 5% targets, 4 minimum trading days and a refundable fee.

Strengths:

• longest track record here (since 2015)
• refundable fee and a 10% static max loss on the 2-Step

Trade-offs:

• prices are in euros
• funded Standard accounts restrict news and weekend holding

For a full breakdown, see FTMO review and FTMO vs Velotrade.

10) Lucid Trading, best for one-time futures pricing

HQ: Delaware, USA
Cheapest account: 25K Pro for $123 list ($90.60 on sale at the time of our check)
Price per $10K: $49.20 at list price
Refund: Not published
Drawdown: $1,000 max loss, end-of-day trailing

Lucid charges once, with no monthly subscription and no activation fee when funded. The 25K Pro needs a $1,250 profit target. A reset costs $70.

Strengths:

• one-time fee and no activation fee
• end-of-day trailing drawdown, which is gentler than intraday trailing

Trade-offs:

• CME futures only
• the floor still trails, unlike a static drawdown

For a full breakdown, see Lucid Trading review and Lucid Trading vs Velotrade.

11) Apex Trader Funding, best for coupon hunters

HQ: Austin, Texas
Cheapest account: 25K Intraday Trail for $167 list ($16.70 with a coupon code)
Price per $10K: $66.80 at list price
Refund: Not published
Drawdown: $1,000 intraday trailing

Apex's list price is the highest entry here, but it sells evaluations with coupon codes of up to 90% off, which makes the real entry the lowest. Each evaluation expires after 30 days with no reset, and the standard path charges an activation fee when you pass, which coupons do not reduce.

Strengths:

• very low checkout price with a coupon
• an EOD trailing option is also available

Trade-offs:

• intraday trailing drawdown on the cheapest account
• activation fee after passing and a 30-day expiry

For a full breakdown, see Apex Trader Funding review and Apex Trader Funding vs Velotrade.

Left out: DNA Funded

DNA Funded featured in earlier versions of this guide. On October 20, 2026 its homepage still said new orders are paused while MT5 accounts migrate to TradeLocker. See the DNA Funded review for its rules.

Cheapest prop firms for crypto traders

If you only trade crypto, the shortlist is shorter: Breakout Prop from $20, Velotrade from $40, and HyroTrader from $59 with a refundable deposit. We compare them in detail, with costs across multiple attempts, in our guide to the cheapest crypto prop firms.

Hidden costs that offset a low entry fee

• Activation and subscription fees: Topstep bills $49 a month and charges $149 to activate a funded account on its standard path. Apex charges an activation fee after you pass.
• Paid split upgrades: a 90% split is often an add-on. Breakout charges $24 for it on a $5K Turbo, and Velotrade's 90% is also a paid add-on.
• Trading costs: commission and spread on every trade can outweigh a fee difference over a month. Check the actual cost on the instruments you trade.
• Payout minimums and timing: Breakout has a $50 minimum, HyroTrader $100, and FundedNext Lite pays every 10 days. A slow or high minimum delays the money you earned.
• Rules that raise your fail rate: tight floors, intraday trailing drawdown, and funded news restrictions all mean more attempts.

Which cheap prop firm is worth it?

Lowest upfront cost: The5ers ($19) and Breakout Turbo ($20). Both work as a cheap way to learn a firm's rules before you buy a bigger account.

Lowest cost per $10K: Breakout Turbo ($40) in crypto, FundingPips 2 Step Pro ($58) and FundedNext Stellar Lite (about $60) in forex, and Topstep or Lucid in futures if you trade CME contracts. If you already know the size you want, compare firms on the 5K and 10K funded account or the 100K funded account instead.

Lowest net cost if you expect to pass: a refundable fee. FTMO, FundedNext, HyroTrader and The5ers all return the fee in some form, so one successful attempt costs you close to nothing.

Best value when you need room: a static 10% floor, such as FTMO 2-Step, FundedNext Stellar 2-Step or Velotrade CLASSIC 2-Step. The fee is higher, but fewer attempts can make the total lower.

Want one account for crypto, forex, stocks and commodities: Velotrade's PRO 1-Step at $40 covers 24/7 crypto, forex, US stocks, index ETFs and commodities on one account, with no consistency rule. Choose CLASSIC if 3% is too tight for how you trade.

The cheapest entry of all is free: you can win a funded account with no fee through Sprint Trading. And if a firm advertises a free funded account with no deposit, read what that includes first. For the wider field, see our list of the best prop firms, plus best prop firm for forex and best prop firm for futures.

Sources

All pages checked October 20, 2026.

• The5ers, High Stakes program
• Breakout Prop, pricing
• FundingPips, 2 Step Pro and homepage
• FundedNext, CFD challenges
• Alpha Capital, evaluations
• Topstep, Trading Combine pricing
• HyroTrader, challenges
• FTMO, pricing
• Lucid Trading, plans
• Apex Trader Funding, evaluations
• DNA Funded, homepage notice
• Velotrade challenges and rules

Last updated: October 20, 2026. Prices and rules change often. Always check the firm's own site before you buy. This guide is educational and is not financial advice.

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Related reading: Cheapest Crypto Prop Firms in 2026, Prop Firm Discount Codes.