Best Prop Trading Firms (Leading Firms Only)
Proprietary or prop trading is an increasingly popular investment method, and plenty of firms are joining this rising sector of the industry. In this form of trading, financial firms profit from market activity, rather than commissions on client trades. If you can trade successfully and follow market trends, these companies will speed up your journey toward financial independence.
Traders on prop platforms trade in cryptocurrencies, fiat currencies, stocks, bonds, commodities, and other financial instruments. Finding a platform that deals in assets that are up your alley, under conditions that suit you, can be challenging. To help out, we’ve compiled a list of best prop trading firms for you to choose from.
Top Prop Trading Firms for September 2024
The 5%ers
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
The 5%ers
- Several account models
- Instant funding
- Rich selection of trading tools
- Monthly salary
- Bonuses
- Faster scaling plan in the industry
- Unlimited time on all programs
The Trading Pit
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
The Trading Pit
- Four tools and four platforms supported
- Up to $320,000 payout for CFD trading
- Progressive payout increase
- No hidden fees
- Low latency and transactional costs
- FREE trading platforms
- No time boundaries
- In-depth mentorship and educational support
- Cross-platform compatibility
Funding Traders
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Funding Traders
- 25% growth scaling plan every 3 months
- Knowledge hub and community support
- Account merging allowed
- Permits news trading
- Unlimited trading period
FundedNext
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
FundedNext
- 15% profit share from the start
- High profit split
- An account manager for every trader
- Relaxed trading rules
FX2 Funding
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
FX2 Funding
- One-stage evaluation
- No time limits
- No stop loss required
- Doesn't require credit checks or collateral
Darwinex Zero
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Darwinex Zero
- No limitation rules (no min/max drawdown - no max loss)
- Monthly capital allocation (even in negative months)
- Available to traders worldwide
- External investor funding
FTMO
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
FTMO
- 90:10 payout ratio
- Free mobile app
- Unlimited trading period
SabioTrade
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
SabioTrade
- 1-step assessment without time limit
- No limits on payouts
- Unique prop trading environment with integrated traderoom
- Smart custom-designed platform by Quadcode
- Free trading signals, training & educational materials
- Generous leverage
- 7-days trial
- User-friendly interface & 24/7 support
FXCI
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
FXCI
- Bi-weekly payouts
- Copy trading, martingale, hedging and news trading allowed
- No consistency rule
- Easily tailor your challenge to your specific needs
- No stop-loss requirements
- No position lot size limit
- Withdrawals in 24 hours
4PropTrader
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
4PropTrader
- Futures trading only
- Industry-high payout rates
- Zero platform fees
Trade The Pool
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Trade The Pool
- First specialized stock trading prop firm
- 1-step evaluation
- One-time fee
- Over 12,000 symbols to trade with
- Allows shorting penny stocks
Liberty Market Investment
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Liberty Market Investment
- 100% profit on the first $30,000
- No registration fees
- Wide selection of futures exchanges
- Trader tournaments
City Traders Imperium
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
City Traders Imperium
- Free course before enrolling in the Evaluation program
- Well-known for trading forex pairs
- Online material for traders
Best Prop Firms Available in 2024 - Our Picks:
- The Trading Pit - Best for futures traders
Funding Traders - Highest profit split
- Darwinex Zero - Best for experts
4Prop Trader - Great for futures trading
Liberty Market Investment - Multiple funding paths
City Traders Imperium - Great for begginers
How We Evaluate Prop Trading Firms
The key to success with prop trading is finding the right prop firm to work with. Many companies are competing for new traders with advertised benefits and higher profit cuts. However, profit margins aren’t the only important criterion, and there are several factors to consider before committing to a specific firm.
Reputation
Due to the well-established presence of bad actors within the prop trading industry, a good reputation takes lots of work to build up. We’ve examined what users have to say about their experience on each platform and how the company handled any issues their traders faced.
Whether in a large or small organization, complaints that haven’t been clearly resolved are reflected in the company’s Trustpilot rating. The time it takes for the firm to onboard new traders and if it’s making on-time payments are some of the most important factors that reflect how reputable the company is.
Available Assets
What do you specialize in? Some prop firms have a variety of assets for trade, while others prefer to have traders focusing on a select few. You’ll likely have a choice of futures, stocks, forex, and other commodities.
Even though some are specifically designated, like forex prop trading firms for example, they can also include trading with cryptocurrencies and precious metals.
Fees & Subscription Costs
Fees and profit margins will be determining factors for any prospective trader on the hunt for a platform. You’ll have to make a financial commitment before being accepted as a regular trader and recieving prop firm funding, and some platforms have a higher barrier to entry than others.
The initial one-time fee for the evaluation process varies significantly; on the plus side, some companies do offer a refund for that payment.
Trading Platform and Trading Style
Check what trading platform the proprietary firm is using. When it comes to forex trading, the best prop firms implement MT4, MT5, and cTrader platforms, while others may emphasize technical analysis vs. fundamentals on which your potential investments are built.
Your approach to researching before making an investment may make or break your trading experience with some of the firms on this list.
Customer Support
Having a good support lifeline from the firm you are trading with is going to be essential. You may have important questions or issues to be resolved with your payments, profit splits, platform features, or just about anything else.
That’s where readily available support of a prop firm is incredibly helpful, and an extensive knowledge base will save you the precious time you need to dedicate to research and trading.
FAQ
Is proprietary trading legal?
It depends on the person making the trades: In most situations, prop trading isn’t illegal, unless you are working for some of the most influential banks in the world. Due to the 2008 financial crisis, banks are no longer allowed to conduct proprietary trades.
Which prop firm is better than FTMO?
While FTMO is easily considered one of the leading platforms for prop trading, some alternatives are popular among traders. Some of these are Topstep, The 5%ers, FundedNext, and others that we listed here.
Are prop trading firms worth it?
Prop trading is a legitimate method of earning huge profits by making trades. Users who can make it through evaluation quickly get access to funded accounts and can start trading with the firm’s capital, which in some instances can amount to millions of dollars.
Do prop traders make money?
Yes, they do. Successful proprietary traders can expect to earn between $100,000 and $200,000 per year. Entry positions earn somewhat less, but most prop trading firms pay their traders competitively.
How do prop trading firms make money?
The main way prop trading firms earn money is by taking a percentage of each trader's profit, usually somewhere between 10% to 50%. There are also some companies which may charge for services like coaching and account opening.
Which prop firm is best for scalping?
We'd recommend looking at Topstep or FTMO if you're looking for a good prop firm for scalpers in 2024.