How we pick and rank prop firms
The short version: we rank firms on their rules, their cost and how reliably they pay. How much a firm pays us is not part of the ranking.
Disclosure: some links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. See the full affiliate disclosure. This page is general information, not financial advice.
What we rank on
- Rules: drawdown type (we prefer static or end-of-day over intraday trailing), profit target, daily limits, consistency and hold-time rules, minimum trading days.
- Cost: evaluation price, activation fees, reset cost, and what it realistically costs to retry.
- Reliability: payout speed and process, regulator warnings, removed or falling review scores, and complaints we can verify.
Commission size is never a ranking input. Firms that pay us get the same scrutiny as firms that don't, and a firm's red flags stay on its page even if that costs us clicks.
Every recommendation names its downsides
Every firm we cover gets a "watch out" section. If we can't find a downside we say what we couldn't check, rather than leaving it out.
"Traded" versus "research only"
- Traded: I bought and used the evaluation or account myself. First-person statements are limited to this.
- Research only: I haven't traded the firm. The page is built from the firm's own site and help centre plus public reviews, and it says so, for example "I haven't traded this firm" or "it hasn't paid me yet".
Evaluations are simulated accounts, not live capital, and we say so wherever it matters.
Sources and dates
Prices and rules come from the firm's own pages where possible, then reputable reviewers. Where sources disagree we say "sources differ" or leave the number out. Pages show when they were last updated, and we aim to recheck monthly. Prices and rules change without notice, so confirm them on the firm's site before you buy.
How we earn
We earn commission from some firms and tools when you buy through our links. Which ones, and which we cover without being paid, is on the affiliate disclosure page. Found an error? Email fundedledger@gmail.com and we'll check it.
More: About the author · Best prop firms · Guides
Risk warning: Trading futures, forex and CFDs carries a high risk of loss. Prop firm evaluations use simulated accounts, not live capital, and most people who buy one do not pass. Past results, including mine, do not guarantee future results. Nothing on this site is financial advice.