How to Choose a Futures Prop Firm
A neutral checklist for comparing futures prop firms before you pay, covering rules, total cost, payouts, refunds, data, platforms and transparency.
Updated 2026-10-16 · 7 min read
Start with the rules, not the price
Two firms with the same headline account size can be very different to trade. Compare the rules first, then the cost. A cheap evaluation with a drawdown that does not suit your style is the more expensive choice.
The 12 points
| # | Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simulated or live capital? | Sets what "funded" means and who pays your profit share. |
| 2 | Drawdown type (intraday, end-of-day, static)? | Decides how you size and manage open profit. |
| 3 | Daily loss limit? | An extra hard limit to fail on. |
| 4 | Consistency rule, to pass or when funded? | Can block payouts from a single large day. |
| 5 | Minimum trading days and time limits? | Affects how fast and how calmly you can pass. |
| 6 | Contract limits and scaling? | Caps your size on every day. |
| 7 | Total cost: evaluation, renewals, activation, data? | The real price is the sum, not the sticker. |
| 8 | Payout rules: minimum, caps, frequency, method? | Decides when and how you are paid. |
| 9 | Refund policy and breach policy (reset or permanent)? | Know the downside before you pay. |
| 10 | Platforms and market data included? | A data fee can add a recurring cost. |
| 11 | Support speed and a status page? | Matters most on the day something breaks. |
| 12 | Are all rules published in plain language in one place? | Hidden clauses are the main source of disputes. |
How Strike Funded answers the same questions
- Simulated accounts, stated plainly; profit share paid from the firm's own funds.
- Intraday trailing drawdown including open profit; it locks at the starting balance.
- No daily loss limit; no consistency rule to pass; minimum one trading day.
- Same contract limit in evaluation and funded; no scaling levels.
- Evaluation billed monthly until you pass, breach or cancel; one-time activation fee; Level 1 data included.
- Payouts reviewed by the finance team, by ACH (US) or Wise (elsewhere); see the payout rules.
- All sales final, a breached account is permanent (see the Refund Policy).
- Rules published in the Knowledge Base; live status page linked from it.
Red flags
- Guaranteed-income language.
- Rules that change after purchase.
- Unclear whether accounts are simulated.
- Endless countdown discounts.
- No terms, no company details, no human support.
Compare the total cost, not the sticker price
Add up every cost you will actually pay before you are funded: evaluation fees for each month you need, any activation fee, platform licences and market data. A hypothetical example: a firm charging a one-time fee with a separate monthly data fee, versus one that bills the evaluation monthly with data included. The cheaper-looking one can cost more if you need several months, so estimate how long you realistically need and multiply.
- Evaluation fee × the months you expect to need (if billed monthly).
- One-time activation or re-attempt fees.
- Platform licence and market data, if not included.
- Whether a failed attempt can be reset or must be bought again.
Questions to ask support before you buy
- Is the drawdown calculated on open profit, and does it ever stop trailing?
- Is there any rule that applies only after I am funded?
- What is the exact payout process and the longest a request can take?
- What happens to my account and fees if I breach on the first day?
- Where do I see live platform status and the full written rules?
A firm that answers these in writing, clearly and without hedging, is easier to trust than one that points you to a sales page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important thing to compare between futures prop firms?
The rules — especially drawdown type, daily loss limits, consistency rules and payout terms — before the price.
Are cheaper futures prop firm evaluations better?
Not necessarily. Compare total cost and whether the rules fit how you trade. A rule you cannot trade under makes any price expensive.
Should I trust a futures prop firm that promises guaranteed profits?
No. Trading futures involves substantial risk, and no firm can honestly guarantee profits.
Keep reading
Strike Funded accounts are simulated: no personal capital is placed at risk and no live market execution takes place. Trading futures involves substantial risk; this page is educational, not financial advice, and nothing here promises results.