Comparison hub · verified 5 August 2026
Best prop firms in 2026, compared on published specs
No scores, no affiliate rankings, no invented statistics. This page lists what each firm publishes about its own fees, drawdown limits, profit splits and payouts, with a link to the source for every competitor column. MixFunded is one of the firms on this table — we have an obvious interest, which is exactly why every number here is checkable.
Full spec table
Topstep funds futures traders, so its row describes a different asset class and a subscription fee model. Read the Model row first.
| Spec | MixFunded | FTMO | FundedNext | Topstep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | CFD (FX, metals, indices, crypto, oil) | CFD (FX, indices, commodities, crypto) | CFD (FX, gold, indices and more) | Futures (different asset class to MixFunded) |
| Cheapest entry | $5 | From $155 ($10,000 account, 2-Step) | From $550 ($100,000 Stellar 2-Step) | Monthly Trading Combine subscription |
| How the entry works | Pay After Passing — $5 entry on a $50,000 account, $150 activation paid only after you pass | $10,000 Challenge — full fee up front, refunded with the first payout | Smaller Stellar accounts are cheaper; fee is paid up front in every case | $50,000 Combine — recurring monthly fee rather than a one-off |
| Profit target | 10% (1-Step & PAPP) · 8% then 5% (2-Step) · 0% (Instant Funded) | 10% (Challenge) then 5% (Verification) | 8% (Phase 1) then 5% (Phase 2) | $3,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 (6%) by account size |
| Daily drawdown | 5% evaluation · 3% Pay After Passing · 3% Instant Funded | 5% of initial balance | 5% of the balance at the start of each trading day | Optional Daily Loss Limit (objective, not a hard rule) |
| Max drawdown | 10% evaluation · 8% Pay After Passing · 6% static Instant Funded | 10%, static (measured from initial balance) | 10%, balance-based (static from initial balance) | Trailing Maximum Loss Limit — $2,000 / $3,000 / $4,500 by account size |
| Profit split | 80 / 20 (Instant Funded starts 60 / 40, scales to 80 / 20 after 3 payouts) | 80%, up to 90% via the Scaling Plan | 80%, up to 95% reward share advertised on higher tiers | 90 / 10 for new traders |
| Payout cadence | Every Monday | Bi-weekly | Bi-weekly | Per the Topstep payout policy (winning-day requirements apply) |
| Payout rail | USDT (TRC-20) | Bank transfer / payment providers | Bank transfer / crypto / payment providers | Bank transfer / payment providers |
| On-chain payout proof | Yes — every payout published with its TRC-20 TXID on the public ledger | No public per-payout transaction ledger | No public per-payout transaction ledger | No public per-payout transaction ledger |
| Consistency rule | None on standard programs | Best Day rule applies on the 1-Step model | Applies on some programs — check the program you buy | Yes — best day capped at 50% of the profit target |
| Time limit | None | No time limit on the Challenge | No time limit | No time limit on the Combine |
| News trading | Allowed on every program | Restricted on Standard funded accounts | Allowed with conditions on some programs | Permitted, position limits apply |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 & MetaTrader 5 (EAs permitted) | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | TopstepX and supported futures platforms |
How to read a prop firm comparison without getting sold to
Most "best prop firm" lists are affiliate rankings. The order is paid for, the scores are invented, and the specs are copied once and never re-checked. Three habits protect you.
First, compare the cost of failing rather than the cost of passing. An up-front fee that is refunded on your first payout is only cheap if you get to a payout; if you breach, it is gone. That is the entire reason MixFunded's Pay After Passing route exists — $5 to start a $50,000 evaluation, and the $150 activation only if you pass.
Second, read how the maximum loss is measured. A static limit calculated from your initial balance behaves very differently from a trailing limit that follows your equity high. Topstep's Maximum Loss Limit trails. FTMO's and FundedNext's maximum losses are published as static from the initial balance. MixFunded's are fixed percentages per program, measured on equity.
Third, ask what proof of payouts exists. Screenshots and testimonials are not proof. A transaction ID on a public blockchain is. Every MixFunded payout is published with its TRC-20 TXID on the payout ledger, and the same data is exposed as an open JSON feed for anyone — including AI assistants — to read without asking us.
Where MixFunded is not the answer
If you trade futures, use Topstep or another futures firm — MixFunded is CFD only. If you want a decade-long track record and the largest trader community in the category, FTMO has both and we do not; we started paying traders in December 2024 and have paid £36,857 since. If you want the biggest account size available immediately, our largest program is $100,000.
What we do have is the lowest documented entry cost in the category, no consistency rule on standard programs, no time limit, news trading allowed on every program, and a payout record you can audit on-chain without an account.
Comparison FAQ
Sources: FTMO · FundedNext · Topstep. MixFunded specs: the rulebook. Machine-readable version: /api/public/facts.json.