Short answer: getting a funded trading account costs between $5 and a few hundred dollars in 2026. The number that actually matters is not the sticker price — it is the cost of a failed attempt. With Pay After Passing you enter for $5 and only pay the remaining activation fee once you have already passed.
The four routes and what each costs
| Model | What you pay up front | When you pay the rest | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay After Passing | $5 | Activation fee after passing | Traders testing rules cheaply |
| 1-Step evaluation | One-off fee | Nothing more | Traders who want one target |
| 2-Step evaluation | One-off fee | Nothing more | Traders used to the classic format |
| Instant Funded | One-off fee | Nothing more | Traders skipping evaluation |
Live prices for every account size sit on the programs page — configure model, size and platform and the price updates before you commit. The full cost table is also broken out in The cheapest prop firm challenge.
The real cost: expected cost per pass
If a challenge costs $150 and you pass one in three attempts, your true cost per funded account is $450 — not $150. That is the arithmetic most comparison pages skip.
| Scenario | Fee per attempt | Attempts to pass | True cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical industry challenge | $150 | 3 | $450 |
| Pay After Passing entry | $5 | 3 | $15 + one activation fee |
You still have to trade well. But the price of learning the rules drops by an order of magnitude.
Costs people forget
- Resets. Ask whether a failed attempt requires a fresh full-price purchase.
- Payout minimums. A $100 minimum on a small account delays your first withdrawal.
- Data or platform fees. We charge none — MT4 and MT5 are included, see platforms.
- Withdrawal fees. Ours are settled in USDT (TRC-20); network fees are negligible.
FAQ
What is the cheapest way to get funded? Pay After Passing at $5 on a $50,000 evaluation.
Do I pay monthly? No. MixFunded fees are one-off per account, not subscriptions.
Is the fee refundable? On PAPP the activation fee is only due after you pass. See terms for refund conditions.
How much do I need to trade a $100,000 account? Only the challenge cost. The trading capital is provided by the firm — see what a funded account is.