Best Prop Firms for Beginners 2026: Start Your Funded Trading Journey
Starting your prop trading journey? Choosing the right firm as a beginner can mean the difference between frustration and funded success. Here are our top picks.
Profit Split
80-90%
Max Funding
$400,000
Evaluation
1-Step to 3-Step
What Beginners Should Look For
Key Criteria
As a beginner, prioritize education, forgiving rules, and proven payouts over aggressive profit splits.
| Priority | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Free trial/demo | Practice before spending money |
| Educational resources | Learn proper risk management |
| Forgiving drawdown | Room to recover from mistakes |
| Clear rules | Know exactly what's allowed |
| Proven payouts | Don't risk with unverified firms |
#1: FTMO (Best Overall for Beginners)
Top Pick for Beginners
FTMO's free trial and industry-best trading dashboard will teach you more about trading than most paid courses.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Free Trial | ✅ Yes, 14 days |
| Profit Split | 80-90% |
| Evaluation | 2-Step |
| Dashboard | Industry-leading analytics |
| Support | 24/7 customer service |
| Payout History | 100% reliability |
Why Best for Beginners:
- Free trial teaches without risk
- Dashboard shows exactly where you're making/losing money
- 100% payout track record = no stress about getting paid
Pros
- Free trial available
- Best analytics dashboard
- 24/7 support
- 100% payout reliability
Cons
- Most expensive challenges
- News trading restricted (Standard)
- 2-step evaluation takes longer
#2: Topstep (Best Free Education)
For Learning Traders
Topstep includes free coaching from professional traders—worth hundreds of dollars at trading schools.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Free Coaching | ✅ Yes, included |
| Profit Split | 90% |
| Evaluation | Trading Combine |
| Drawdown | EOD (very forgiving) |
| Focus | Futures only |
Why Great for Beginners:
- Free coaching teaches proper habits
- EOD drawdown forgives intraday mistakes
- Well-structured program builds discipline
#3: The 5%ers (Best Affordable Start)
Low Entry Point
The Bootcamp program lets you start with a small upfront fee and pay the rest only after passing.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Bootcamp Price | Low upfront, rest after |
| Profit Split | 50% → 100% |
| Scaling | Up to $4 million |
| Time Limit | Up to 1 year |
| Style | Weekend/overnight allowed |
Why Great for Beginners:
- Low financial risk to start
- Generous time limit (no rushing)
- Profit split increases with experience
#4: FundingPips (Best Budget Option)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Starting Price | $32 (lowest in industry) |
| Profit Split | 80% → 100% |
| Payouts | Weekly (Tuesdays) |
| Drawdown | Balance-based |
Why Great for Beginners:
- Ultra-low entry point ($32)
- Weekly payouts motivate consistency
- Balance-based drawdown is forgiving
#5: Funded Trading Plus (Best Forex)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Evaluation | Relaxed rules |
| Profit Split | 80-90% |
| Scaling | Available |
| Unique | Multiple challenge types |
Why Great for Beginners:
- Multiple program options
- Relaxed rules for learning
- Good community support
Comparison Table
| Firm | Free Trial | Starting Price | Education | Drawdown Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTMO | ✅ | €155 | Dashboard | Equity-based |
| Topstep | ❌ | $165 | Coaching | EOD |
| The 5%ers | ❌ | Low + later | Resources | Static |
| FundingPips | ❌ | $32 | Limited | Balance-based |
Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
Pros
- Start with free trial if available
- Use smallest account size first
- Focus on one strategy only
- Journal every trade
Cons
- Buying largest account immediately
- Switching strategies mid-challenge
- Ignoring drawdown rules
- Trading before reading all rules
The Smart Beginner Path
Recommended Approach
Don't rush. The money you save learning on free trials is money you keep for funded trading.
Month 1: Practice
- Complete FTMO free trial
- Trade demo account on your broker
- Journal every trade with reasons
Month 2: Small Account
- Buy smallest challenge available ($10K-$25K)
- Trade same strategy as practice
- Don't care about speed—focus on rules
Month 3+: Scale Up
- Only buy larger accounts after passing 1-2 small ones
- Your confidence and skills will be proven
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Recommendation
If you're truly a beginner:
- Use FTMO's free trial to learn their dashboard
- Practice on demo for at least a month
- Buy smallest account ($10K-$25K) at chosen firm
- Scale up only after passing first evaluation
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