Choosing a reliable prop firm can be tough, especially if you want one with a good quality split and reduced fees that still correspond with your trading techniques without compromising. Regardless of where you are in your trading experience, you have probably considered which futures prop firm is the cheapest, right? 

You may have noticed various organizations provide or advertise "cheap" evaluation prices, but does this really mean they are the best option for you?  9 times out of 10, they are not, especially when you see or notice a lack of transparency in profit splits, irregularity in payouts, and trading regulations you can't keep up with; then you will realise that what seems like a cheap offer on the surface is a money-sucking scheme.

So, how do we answer the question all of us are thinking about, which is, "Which futures prop firm is the cheapest?" 

To answer this, you must consider a critical component that many futures traders overlook, which is the value the prop firm is providing in comparison to its cost. Many traders have prioritized price over value, resulting in significant financial losses. To help you comprehend this, we've broken down the concept of value in this context into the following bits:

• Evaluation costs

• Rules and difficulty

• Payout structures

• Scaling opportunities

• Hidden fees (resets, data fees, etc.)

• Long-term profitability

  
  

What attributes define a Futures Firm as "Cheap"?

What defines a futures prop firm as “cheap” isn’t merely an entry fee that starts as low as $25. A Future prop firm is considered inexpensive based on the regulations they impose on their traders, their reliability and consistency with withdrawals, the profit distribution, and the reset fee. 

Below are some pointers to take note of, which show whether your prop firm is cheap or not: 

1. If you notice that you're paying high evaluation rates, it is an indicator that the prop firm may not be cost-effective or costly. However, this is not always the case as some future prop firms charge significant evaluation fees while still offering other advantages that align with your goals, like weekend holding, and no trading days enforcement. But what if you have one that doesn’t charge that much while still giving you other benefits? I bet that is the futures prop firm that you would choose.

2.  If your futures prop firm drawdowns forces you to leave prematurely or during "No News trading" so that you can not trade or capitalize on volatility surges, then the cost might not be worth it, especially when your trading style is built on such trades. This can affect your profit making and or even influencing you to blow your account trying to adapt. A real “cheap” future prop firm guarantees that you will have a just standard while working with them. 

3. Safeguarding your earnings is a principle that should never be compromised, and no matter what the prop firm offers, if they cannot offer this then it isn’t “cheap”. Now, future prop firms that provide profit splitting ratios of up to 90% and 80% are easily available. However, Goat Funded Traders future beats them all as it offers traders profit sharing that reach as much as 100% on their first withdrawals and 95% in subsequent withdrawals.

4. Every trader knows that profit made is only real when money is in your hand, and that is why a futures pro firm is considered cheap when you don’t have to wait multiple days to receive your funds. 

5. And finally, a futures prop firm would be considered very “cheap” if reset fees for prop firm retrials don’t have to be paid; that is, if there were no reset fees, so you could retry as much as possible without paying anything. Now this is just a dream as no prop firm in the world offers it yet, however, we can dream right?

Quick overview of the Cheapest Futures Prop Firms in 2025

1.   Goat Funded Trader

Goat Funded Trader has emerged as one of the most cost-effective options in the 2025 futures prop firm landscape, attracting traders with its remarkably low entry barrier of just $35. This positions it as perhaps the most affordable starting point for traders seeking institutional backing without significant upfront investment. What truly distinguishes Goat Funded Trader is its generous profit-sharing structure, offering between 80-90% of profits to successful traders, placing it among the most competitive in the industry.

A key advantage of Goat Funded Trader is the absence of an activation fee, which many competing firms charge as an additional cost when traders successfully complete their evaluation process. This "no activation fee" policy represents significant savings for traders transitioning from evaluation to funded status, making the total cost of entry substantially lower than many alternatives.

The firm follows the industry-standard model of requiring traders to demonstrate proficiency through an evaluation process before gaining access to funded accounts. However, Goat Funded Trader has streamlined this process to focus on essential risk management skills while maintaining reasonable profit targets, creating a balanced approach that tests trading discipline without imposing unnecessarily restrictive parameters.

For futures traders operating with limited initial capital in 2025, Goat Funded Trader offers a compelling combination of minimal upfront costs, generous profit splits, and a straightforward path to funding. This value proposition has helped the firm gain traction among both novice traders looking for their first funded opportunity and experienced traders seeking to maximize their return on investment when selecting a prop firm partner.

Unlike some competitors that require lengthy evaluation periods, Goat Funded Trader allows traders to potentially complete their qualification process in a relatively short timeframe, similar to Topstep's minimum completion time of just two trading days. This efficiency enables successful traders to move quickly from evaluation to earning real profits with institutional capital.

2.   Topstep

Topstep stands as one of the more established players in the 2025 futures prop trading landscape, offering a structured pathway to funded trading with an initial price point of $165. While this places Topstep at a higher entry cost than ultra-budget options like Goat Funded Trader ($35) or ThinkCapital ($39), the firm compensates with institutional credibility and a well-defined evaluation process.

The firm maintains a competitive 80% profit split for funded traders, which aligns with industry standards but falls short of the 100% return offered by Apex Trader Funding. Topstep processes payouts within 15 days, positioning it in the mid-range for withdrawal speed compared to Apex's 7-day turnaround. This payout timeline, while not the fastest in the industry, provides reasonable access to earnings for successful traders.

What distinguishes Topstep is its two-phase Trading Combine evaluation process, which can be completed in as little as two trading days for highly skilled traders. This efficiency allows traders to potentially move from evaluation to funded status more quickly than firms requiring extended testing periods, creating value despite the higher initial investment.

For 2025, Topstep traders should note the upcoming CME Group fee adjustments scheduled for February 1, which will see per-contract exchange fees increase from $2.10 to $2.13 for certain products. These modest fee increases reflect broader industry trends, with multiple exchanges implementing revised fee structures for 2025, including ICE Futures and CBOE Futures Exchange. 

Topstep's longevity in the prop trading space provides an element of stability that newer, cheaper firms may not match. For traders weighing the $165 entry cost against lower-priced alternatives, this established track record offers assurance that successful traders will receive their profit splits as promised, an important consideration in an industry where firm reliability varies considerably.

The firm also provides educational resources and trading tools that add value beyond the basic funding opportunity, creating a more comprehensive package for traders seeking not just capital access but also professional development resources to improve their trading performance in the increasingly competitive futures markets of 2025.

3.  Apex Trader Funding
Apex Trader Funding has positioned itself as a compelling option in the 2025 futures prop trading ecosystem, offering an attractive combination of higher initial costs but potentially greater returns. With an entry price of $147, Apex sits in the mid-range cost tier-more expensive than budget options like Goat Funded Trader ($35) but more affordable than some established players in the space.

What truly distinguishes Apex Trader Funding is its industry-leading 100% profit split for funded traders, a significant advantage over competitors like Topstep (80%) and Leeloo Trading (80%). This complete profit retention allows successful traders to maximize their earnings once they've passed the evaluation process, creating substantial long-term value despite the higher initial investment.

Apex further enhances its appeal with one of the fastest payout structures in the industry, processing withdrawals within just 7 days. This rapid access to earnings contrasts favorably with Topstep's 15-day timeline, providing traders with quicker liquidity-a crucial advantage for those who rely on trading income for living expenses or who wish to reinvest profits quickly.

The firm's evaluation process focuses on demonstrating consistent profitability while adhering to risk management parameters, similar to other prop firms but with specific metrics tailored to identify traders who can maintain discipline while pursuing the aggressive profit targets that justify the 100% profit split model. This balanced approach tests both trading skill and psychological discipline, key factors in long-term trading success.

For traders evaluating cost-effectiveness in 2025, Apex Trader Funding's value proposition centers on the trade-off between higher initial costs and superior profit retention. The math becomes particularly favorable for consistently profitable traders who can make back the $147 investment quickly through the complete retention of their trading profits, unlike models where the firm claims 10-20% of earnings indefinitely.

While not the cheapest entry point in the market, Apex Trader Funding represents a strategic choice for traders confident in their ability to pass evaluation requirements and generate consistent profits, particularly those planning to trade larger account sizes where the 100% profit split can translate to significantly higher absolute returns compared to firms with lower initial fees but ongoing profit-sharing arrangements.

5. Leeloo Trading

Leeloo Trading has established itself as a noteworthy contender in the futures prop trading space, securing the fourth position among cost-effective options for traders seeking institutional capital. Founded by Jody Dahl and based in London, this firm has carved out a specialized niche by focusing exclusively on futures trading rather than diversifying across multiple asset classes.

What makes Leeloo Trading particularly attractive is their Performance Account option, which eliminates recurring monthly fees once traders successfully pass evaluation. This "funded for life" approach can save traders approximately $200 monthly in subscription costs, creating substantial long-term value despite a higher initial evaluation fee of $77.

The firm offers impressive flexibility with account sizes ranging from $25,000 to $300,000, accommodating both novice traders and experienced professionals looking to scale their operations. Their trading platform provides access to a diverse range of futures markets, including equity futures (ES, NQ), interest rate futures (ZT, ZN), currencies (6B, 6E), agricultural products (ZC, ZS), energy (CL, NG), metals (GC, SI), and even cryptocurrency futures (MBT, MET).

Leeloo Trading's evaluation structure is designed to identify disciplined traders through several account types:

• Foundation Accounts: 6-7% profit targets with 2.5%-6% trailing drawdowns

• Leeloo Bundle Accounts: Similar targets with non-recurring fees between $199-$539

• Entry Accounts: More flexible 2-7% profit targets with static or trailing drawdown options

• Weekly Accounts: 6% profit targets with 5-6% trailing drawdowns.

What truly distinguishes Leeloo Trading is their stellar reputation, evidenced by an exceptional 4.9/5 rating from over 250 Trustpilot reviews. This credibility factor shouldn't be underestimated when evaluating the true "cost" of a prop firm, as reliability in payouts and consistent rule enforcement provide significant value beyond mere fee structures.

The firm's simulated trading platform offers additional value by allowing traders to practice with virtual funds before risking evaluation capital. This educational component helps traders refine their strategies in a risk-free environment, potentially saving substantial money on failed challenges and reset fees.

While Leeloo's $77 evaluation fee exceeds budget options like Goat Funded Trader ($35), the firm compensates through exceptional integrity, educational resources, and realistic fills on Rithmic and Tradovate platforms. Their structure accommodates diverse trading styles, making them suitable for both scalpers and swing traders seeking institutional backing without excessive restrictions.

For traders evaluating the true cost-effectiveness of futures prop firms in 2025, Leeloo Trading represents an excellent middle-ground option that balances reasonable fees with trader-friendly policies and proven reliability.

5. Bulenox Trading
Bulenox has secured the fifth position among cost-effective futures prop firms, offering traders a compelling combination of reasonable pricing and trader-friendly policies. Founded in 2022 and based in the USA, this relatively new player has quickly gained recognition for its distinctive approach to futures trading.

Starting at just $115 monthly, Bulenox provides funded accounts ranging from $10,000 to $250,000, making it accessible for traders at various experience levels. What truly distinguishes Bulenox from competitors is its generous profit-sharing structure, allowing traders to retain up to 90% of their profits, with an exceptional 100% profit retention on the first $10,000 earned.

The firm's evaluation process is streamlined through a one-step Qualification Account system, eliminating the multi-phase challenges that many competitors require. This approach allows skilled traders to access funded accounts more quickly, reducing the time between evaluation and actual profit-making opportunities. If traders need to reset their accounts, they can do so for a reasonable fee of $78.

Bulenox supports trading across more than 40 futures products from major exchanges including CME, NYMEX, COMEX, and CBOT, covering diverse asset classes such as equities, cryptocurrencies, metals, and agricultural products. This wide selection enables traders to implement versatile strategies across multiple market sectors.

Key advantages that position Bulenox as a cost-effective option include:

• No daily loss limits, giving traders more flexibility during volatile market conditions

• Static drawdown approach rather than trailing drawdowns, which many traders find less restrictive

• Free trading terminal access, eliminating platform subscription costs

• Flexible withdrawal options including ACH, wire transfer, PayPal, and cryptocurrency payments

• Occasional promotional periods offering free re-entries for failed evaluations

For risk management, Bulenox implements reasonable parameters with daily loss limits between 2-4% and maximum drawdowns ranging from 10% to 2.2%, depending on account size. These balanced risk controls provide sufficient protection for the firm's capital while allowing traders adequate flexibility to execute their strategies.

While Bulenox's $115 monthly fee is higher than some other options, the firm compensates through its transparent pricing structure, absence of commissions on the first $10,000 account, and trader-centric policies. The firm's commitment to competitive pricing is further demonstrated through their price match guarantee, where they not only match competitors' offers but add an additional 5% discount when account sizes and risk parameters align.

For traders seeking the optimal balance between affordability and trading freedom, Bulenox represents an excellent middle-tier option that delivers professional-grade trading conditions without excessive costs or overly restrictive rules. Its growing reputation for reliability and straightforward policies makes it particularly attractive for intermediate traders looking to scale their operations with institutional capital.

6. The 5%ers 

The 5%ers has established itself as a standout option in the futures prop trading landscape, offering a unique growth-focused model that differentiates it from traditional evaluation-based firms. Founded in 2016 by veteran traders Gil Ben Hur and Yoni Assia, this Tel Aviv-based firm has gained popularity for its progressive scaling system that rewards consistent performance.

Unlike conventional prop firms that charge high evaluation fees, the 5%ers offers a more accessible entry point with accounts starting at just $80 for their Rapid account program. What truly sets the 5%ers apart is their innovative growth model - rather than a one-time evaluation followed by static funding, they provide a clear pathway for account scaling where successful traders can grow their accounts by 4x after demonstrating profitability.

The profit-sharing structure at the 5%ers is highly competitive, with traders keeping up to 70% of profits and the firm taking 30%. While this split might appear less generous than some competitors offering 80-90%, the firm compensates through their exceptional scaling program:

• Level 1: Initial funded account (typically $10,000-$100,000)

• Level 2: Account quadruples after reaching 10% profit target

• Level 3: Account doubles again after reaching 5% profit target

This exponential growth potential means traders can rapidly scale from a $10,000 account to $80,000 by demonstrating consistent profitability rather than paying larger evaluation fees for bigger accounts. 

The 5%ers implements reasonable risk parameters with maximum drawdowns of 4-10% depending on account type, and no daily loss limits - a significant advantage for swing traders who may experience temporary drawdowns during longer-term positions. Their trading rules are designed to identify disciplined traders without imposing excessive restrictions that hamper trading styles.

For futures traders specifically, the 5%ers offers access to major futures contracts across equity indices, commodities, currencies, and bonds through their partnership with leading brokers. Their platform compatibility includes popular trading interfaces like MT4, MT5, and cTrader, providing flexibility for traders with established workflow preferences.

What makes the 5%ers particularly cost-effective is their reset policy - rather than charging full evaluation fees for account resets, they offer discounted "Refundable Fees" where 50% of the reset cost is returned to the trader's funded account upon successful completion of the new evaluation.

The firm's educational resources add substantial value beyond just capital access, with comprehensive trading courses, weekly webinars, and an active community forum where traders can exchange ideas. This educational component helps traders improve their skills while reducing the likelihood of failed evaluations and reset fees.

While The 5%ers may not offer the absolute lowest entry price point in the market, their combination of reasonable initial costs, exceptional scaling potential, and trader-friendly policies makes them one of the most cost-effective options for serious futures traders looking to build a sustainable career with institutional backing in 2025.

Finding the Right Balance between Value and Cost when choosing the cheapest Futures Prop Firm

When evaluating the cheapest futures prop firms in 2025, it's clear that the true cost extends far beyond the initial evaluation fee. The most cost-effective option for traders ultimately depends on their individual trading style, capital requirements, and long-term goals.

Goat Funded Trader stands out with its remarkably low $35 entry point and generous 80-90% profit splits, making it particularly attractive for traders with limited initial capital. This combination of minimal upfront investment and competitive profit retention creates exceptional value, especially when paired with their industry-leading $55 reset fee – significantly lower than most competitors.

For traders prioritizing established reputation, Topstep offers a balanced approach with its efficient two-day minimum evaluation period and 80% profit splits, though at a higher initial cost of $165. Meanwhile, Apex Trader Funding justifies its $147 entry fee through an impressive 100% profit split and rapid 7-day payouts.

The 5%ers provides a unique scaling pathway where successful traders can grow their accounts exponentially, offering tremendous long-term value despite a slightly higher entry cost. Leeloo Trading's "funded for life" performance account eliminates recurring monthly fees, creating substantial savings for consistent performers.

The most affordable option for many traders, especially those new to futures trading, Goat Funded Trader's low cost and high value approach provides an optimal balance, minimal upfront investment, reasonable rules, competitive profit splits, and affordable reset options. This combination creates the best route to funded trading without the excessive costs that can drain a trader's capital before they've had the opportunity to demonstrate profitability.