The Prop Trader Toolkit: What You Need and What You Can Skip
A chart platform, your firm's rules and a journal cover most traders. Copiers, VPS and Bookmap are situational. Here's how to tell which are yours.
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Short answer: you need less than you think. Start with a chart platform, your firm's rules written down and a journal. A trade copier, a VPS and an order-flow tool like Bookmap are situational, and none of them makes an evaluation easier to pass. Some firms restrict them: Topstep prohibits VPS use, and copying rules differ by firm.
The toolkit at a glance
| Tool type | Who needs it | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Chart platform (TradingView) | Almost everyone. I use it for my own trades. For futures, a Tradovate account connects to it; Rithmic generally doesn't without a bridge. | TradingView for prop firm traders · TradingView |
| Journal | Anyone running more than a few trades. TradeZella is the only one of the four we compared that advertises prop rule tracking. | Best trading journal for prop traders |
| Backtesting / replay | Traders testing a strategy before risking an evaluation fee. If you already pay for TradingView, try Bar Replay first. | Best backtesting software |
| Trade copier | Only if you run several accounts of your own and each firm allows copying. I've used Tradesyncer for this. Free native copiers may be enough. | Copiers and VPS guide |
| VPS | Mostly unattended bots and desktop copiers. Most hand traders don't need one, and Topstep prohibits it. | Copiers and VPS guide |
| Order-flow heatmap (Bookmap) | Discretionary scalpers on liquid futures who already read liquidity. Costs a plan plus separate futures data. See below. | Bookmap section · Bookmap |
What you actually need
This is my editorial judgement, built from the guides linked above. It isn't a sourced fact or advice for your situation.
- Beginner, one evaluationA chart platform and your firm's rules written on one page. A spreadsheet works as a first journal. No copier, no VPS, no Bookmap. Spend first on the evaluation and on your risk rules.
- Multi-account futures traderA journal that tracks rules per account, and a copier only if every firm allows copying your own accounts (get it in writing; Topstep Live Funded accounts can't use its copier). A VPS only if your copier is a desktop app or you run something unattended, and never at Topstep. Bookmap is optional.
- Bot or automation userFirst check the firm allows bots: see prop firms that allow bots. Then possibly a VPS if the bot needs a PC running all day, a journal to review fills, and a backtester with CME data. Bookmap isn't needed for a bot.
Rules to check before you buy anything
- Copying: usually only between accounts you own, and it differs by firm and account type. Don't assume it's allowed. See the firm-by-firm table.
- VPS: Topstep prohibits VPS and remote servers. Confirm with any other firm.
- Automation: firm policies change; check the bots guide and the firm's current help page.
- Platform fit: check your tool supports your firm's platform before paying. Journals differ on which imports they list.
Bookmap: the one that costs most to try
What it is: an order-flow platform. Its main view is a heatmap of resting limit orders (liquidity) over time, with traded volume drawn on top. It covers futures, stocks and crypto. It's built for discretionary scalpers and day traders reading liquidity on liquid contracts such as NQ and ES.
What it costs: two parts. First, a Bookmap plan. One third-party review lists a free Digital plan with limits, with paid plans such as Global from about $49 a month, but Bookmap's own pricing page couldn't be read when we checked and plan names differ between sources, so check current plans and prices yourself. Second, futures data is billed separately. Bookmap's own data page lists CME-group exchanges at $34 each per month for non-professional users: CME (which includes NQ and ES) and COMEX (gold) are separate exchanges, so an NQ plus gold setup means two. That data service needs a paid Global-level plan, not the free one. Professional rates are higher. Add a plan and two exchanges and it can add up, before any other feed fee.
Which feed: Bookmap connects to several data providers, including Rithmic. Third-party sources say Tradovate alone may give only partial depth and that the common setup is Rithmic market data with orders through Tradovate. I place my Lucid trades through Tradovate, so if I wanted Bookmap I'd have to find out whether I need a separate Rithmic data subscription, and I haven't confirmed that. Rithmic also reportedly restricts logging in from a second device, which can disconnect you.
Prop firm support: Bookmap's page for prop firms says it integrates with Rithmic, Tradovate and NinjaTrader and offers firms bulk licences. It names no firms. Two third-party sites say Bookmap works with certain firms through a Rithmic feed, but at least one earns commissions, and I found no firm help page that mentions Bookmap by name. I'm not going to list firms as "working with Bookmap". Ask your firm's support before paying for data.
Watch out:
- The heatmap can mislead. Large resting orders are often pulled before they fill, so a big wall on screen isn't a promise of support or resistance. That's a limit of reading liquidity, not a bug.
- It shows data; it doesn't enforce your firm's rules. It won't stop you breaching drawdown or consistency limits.
- Costs stack and add-ons are extra. Some Trustpilot reviewers complain about add-on costs, data charges continuing after cancelling and support. I only saw snippets and haven't verified them.
- It's demanding on your PC. Bookmap's system requirements recommend 16 GB RAM, and 32 GB for full-depth feeds such as Rithmic.
- I found no evidence it improves pass rates. Treat it as a "maybe later" tool for traders who already read the order book, not a shortcut.
A free trial is advertised on a broker's Bookmap page, but I couldn't confirm its length or terms.
FAQ
What tools do I need to start with a prop firm?
A chart platform, your firm's rules written down and some way to log trades, even a spreadsheet. That's my editorial view, not a requirement from any firm.
Do I need a VPS?
Probably not if you place orders by hand. A VPS mainly helps unattended bots and desktop copiers. Topstep prohibits VPS use, so check your firm first.
Is trade copying allowed at every firm?
No. Many firms allow it between accounts you own, but rules differ by firm and sometimes by account type, and copying other people's trades is restricted widely. Get the answer in writing.
Do I need Bookmap to pass an evaluation?
No. I found no source showing it improves pass rates. It costs a plan plus separate futures data, and I haven't used it.
Do any of these tools follow my firm's rules for me?
Not by default. A journal such as TradeZella advertises rule tracking, per its own claims, but you stay responsible for every rule. Backtesters and Bookmap don't enforce them.
Related: TradingView for prop firm traders · Best trading journal · Best backtesting software · Copiers and VPS · Prop firms that allow bots · Prop firm rules cheat sheet