The cheapest prop firm isn't always the one with the lowest sticker price. What you really pay to get funded is the evaluation price, plus any activation fee when you pass, plus resets or extra months if it takes longer than planned. Here's how the big firms stack up on each.
What actually drives the cost
| Firm | Activation fee | How the evaluation is billed | Smallest account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex | Yes, unless you buy the No Activation Fee version | One-time (Legacy: monthly) | 25K |
| Lucid | None | One-time | 25K |
| Tradeify | None | One-time | 25K |
| Take Profit Trader | None | Monthly until you pass | 25K |
| Vest Markets | None | One-time | $500 Instant |
The cheapest way in, by situation
- Smallest possible spend: Vest's smallest account is a $500 Instant account, with no evaluation to pass, though it trades equities, crypto and FX rather than futures.
- Cheapest path to a funded futures account: a 25K evaluation at a firm with no activation fee, such as Lucid or Tradeify, means the up-front price is the whole cost of getting funded.
- Apex on a budget: the standard EOD and Intraday plans are cheaper up front; the No Activation Fee versions cost more now but nothing when you pass. If you expect to pass, add the activation fee to the standard price before you compare.
- Take Profit Trader: billed monthly, so a fast pass is cheap and a slow one adds up. It suits traders confident they'll pass within the first month.
Skip the evaluation to save time
Lucid Direct and Tradeify Lightning start you funded. There's no test to fail, so you never pay for an evaluation twice.
Always use a code
Every firm here takes code RIPS at checkout. Compare today's prices on PropFirms.gg →
Cheapest prop firms FAQ
What's the cheapest way to get a funded futures account? A 25K evaluation at a firm with no activation fee, such as Lucid or Tradeify, with code RIPS at checkout.
Do prop firms charge an activation fee? Apex does on its standard plans. Lucid, Tradeify, Take Profit Trader and Vest don't.
Related: Best futures prop firms · Lucid promo code · Tradeify promo code
Plan details from each firm's own pages, as linked from PropFirms.gg.
Sources: Apex EOD evaluations, Lucid general FAQ, Tradeify Lightning funded accounts, Advantages of PRO, Vest Capital program.