Futures vs CFD prop firms: key differences
How the two models differ, with data.
Risk warning: Prop firm challenges are paid evaluations on simulated accounts. Most participants do not pass, and the fee is usually lost. Trading leveraged products such as CFDs, spread bets and futures carries a high risk of losing money. Nothing on this site is financial advice. Data may be out of date; always check the firm's own site before buying.
| Firm | Plan | Size | Price | Target | Daily loss | Max loss | Split |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Guardian | Instant | $100,000 | $405 | none (instant) | unknown | trailing (value unknown) | up to 90% |
| Apex Trader Funding | EOD Evaluation 100K | $100,000 | unknown | $6,000 | $1,500 | $3,000 EOD trailing | 100% (on meeting payout eligibility) |
| Topstep | Trading Combine 100K (Standard path) | $100,000 | $99/month | $6,000 | none stated | $3,000 Max Loss Limit | up to 90% |
| Take Profit Trader | Test 100K | $100,000 | $330/month | $6,000 | $2,200 (shown as 'Removed') | $3,000 EOD trailing | 80% (90% on PRO+) |
| Tradeify | 100K Evaluation | $100,000 | $186 | $6,000 | none | $3,000 EOD trailing | unknown |
| Lucid Trading | 100K Pro Eval | $100,000 | $225.4 | $6,000 | $1,800 (shown as OFF) | $3,000 EOD | unknown |
| Alpha Futures | 100K Direct Qualified (no evaluation) | $100,000 | $689 | $6,000 for first payout, $4,000 after | $2,000 | $3,000 EOD | unknown |
| FTMO | 2-Step Challenge | $100,000 | €439 | 10% / 5% | 5% | 10% (static) | 80% |
| FTMO | 1-Step Challenge | $100,000 | €399 | 10% | 3% | 10% (EOD trailing) | 90% |
| FundedNext | Stellar 2-Step | $100,000 | $549.99 | 8% / 5% | 5% | 10% (static) | 80% |
| The5ers | Summer Plan 1-Step (limited-time) | $100,000 | $249 | 10% | 3% | 6% | 75% (per homepage table) |
| The5ers | Summer Plan 2-Step 10/5 (limited-time) | $100,000 | $149 | 10% / 5% | 3% | 10% | unknown |
| The5ers | High Stakes 2-Step (standard) | $100,000 | $405 | 10% / 5% | 4% (as displayed) | 8% (as displayed) | 80% (scales to 100%) |
| FundingPips | 2-Step | $100,000 | $555 | 10% / 8% | 4% | 12% | 85% (95% add-on) |
| Maven Trading | Standard 2-Step | $100,000 | $396 | 8% / 5% | 4% | 8% | 80% |
| Maven Trading | Standard 1-Step | $100,000 | $342 | 8% | 3% | 5% | 80% |
| Alpha Capital Group | Alpha Direct (instant) | $100,000 | $457 | none | 3% | 5% trailing | 90% |
| Alpha Capital Group | Alpha One 6% (1-Step) | $100,000 | $397 | 6% | 3% | 4% trailing | 80% |
| Alpha Capital Group | Alpha Pro 8% (2-Step) | $100,000 | $527 | 8% (phase 2 unknown) | unknown | unknown | 80% (90% add-on) |
| Funded Trading Plus | 1-Step Express | $100,000 | $549.0 | 10% | 4% (balance based) | 6% trailing | 80% (90% add-on +15%) |
| Goat Funded Trader | Instant (default model shown) | $100,000 | $361 | none | 3% | 5% | 90% (100% add-on) |
| FXIFY | Two Phase Classic | $100,000 | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | up to 90% |
FAQ
How do futures prop firm rules differ from CFD firms?
In our data, futures firms state targets and drawdowns in dollars (e.g. $6,000 target, $3,000 EOD drawdown on 100K), while CFD firms use percentages of the account (e.g. 10% target, 10% max loss). Several futures firms also bill monthly.
Which is cheaper?
It depends on how long you take: one-time fees vs monthly subscriptions. Use the calculator to compare.
Related guides
- Cheapest $100K prop firm challenges
- Cheapest 1-step prop firm challenges
- Cheapest 2-step prop firm challenges
- Instant funding prop firms (no evaluation)
- Futures prop firms compared
- CFD & forex prop firms compared
- Prop firms with the highest profit split
- Prop firms with monthly subscription fees
- Prop firms that allow news trading
- UK-based prop firms
- Prop firms that refund the challenge fee
- Which prop firms publish discount codes?
Full comparison table · Cost-per-attempt calculator · Discount codes
Prices in each firm's own currency (€ or $), not converted. Data checked 2026-10-17; always confirm on the firm's site.