In 2024, the following 12 top futures prop firms have excelled in providing funding and profit-sharing opportunities for traders, sharing millions of dollars in profits each month. This article compares and reveals the best futures trading firms worldwide to help you choose the most suitable one for your needs.

These top futures prop firms share a common goal: to help traders enhance their returns by providing ample trading capital. I will regularly update this article to cover new companies entering the market, changes in features, and guide you in selecting the right futures trading firm.

Top 3 Futures Prop Firms

1. Topstep

• Company Overview: Topstep, founded in 2010, is a futures trading firm based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
• Rating: 4.9
• Trading Instruments: Equity futures, forex futures, agricultural futures, energy futures, interest rate futures, metal futures.
• Maximum Account Balance: $150,000
• Profit Split: 90%
• Fees: Starting at $165 per month
• Trading Platforms: TSTrader, NinjaTrader, Quantower, TradingView, Sierra Chart, T4, Jigsaw Daytradr, Multicharts, R|Trader Pro, VolFix, Trade Navigator, ATAS OrderFlow Trading, MotiveWave, Bookmap, Investor/RT
• Pros:
  • • Funded accounts available within as fast as two days.
    • Over a decade of operations, highly trusted.
    • Simple rules with only profit targets and loss limits.
    • Proprietary TopStepX platform with integrated TradingView charts and copy trading features.
    • Performance coaching support available.
• Cons:
  • • Minimum withdrawal amount of $125.
    • Day trading only, no overnight positions allowed.

2. Apex Trader Funding

• Company Overview: Apex Trader Funding, founded in 2021, is a futures trading firm based in Austin, Texas, USA.
• Rating: 4.9
• Trading Instruments: Equity futures, forex futures, agricultural futures, energy futures, interest rate futures, metal futures.
• Maximum Account Balance: $300,000
• Profit Split: 90%
• Fees: Starting at $137 per monthT
• rading Platforms: NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Wealthcharts (web platform), Trader, ATAS, Bookmap, Edgeclear, Finamark, Jigsaw Trading, Motivewave, Quantower, Rithmic, Sierra Chart, VolFix, Rithmic
• Pros:
  • • Single-step evaluation process.
    • 100% of the first $25,000 in profits goes to the trader.
    • No restrictions on news trading.
    • System prevents exceeding maximum position size, reducing account risk.
    • Up to two withdrawals per month.
• Cons:
  • • No overnight positions allowed, but trading is available 23 hours a day.
    • Trailing drawdown updates with open positions, but software easily monitors this.

3. Take Profit Trader

• Company Overview: Take Profit Trader, founded in 2022, is a futures trading firm based in Orlando, Florida, USA.
• Rating: 4.8
• Trading Instruments: Equity futures, forex futures, agricultural futures, energy futures, interest rate futures, metal futures.
• Maximum Account Balance: $150,000
• Profit Split: Up to 90%
• Fees: Starting at $150 per month
• Trading Platforms: NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Rithmic R|Trader, TradingView, Quantower, Bookmap, Investor R/T, MotiveWave, Jigsaw Trader, MultiCharts, Trade Navigator, VolFix, Finamark, ATAS
• Pros:
  • • Fastest payment processing.
    • Funded accounts available within five days.
    • Pro+ accounts are real accounts with real funds flowing into the exchange.
    • Up to 90% profit split.
    • Up to three funded trading accounts available.
• Cons:
  • • Trailing drawdown updates in real-time, but stops after reaching the initial account balance.
    • Day trading only.

Other Noteworthy Futures Trading Firms

MyFundedFutures

• Company Overview: MyFundedFutures is a futures prop company based in Texas, USA, founded in 2022. It is currently one of the newest and fastest-growing companies.
• Rating: 4.7
• Trading Instruments: Stock futures, forex futures, agricultural futures, energy futures, interest rate futures, metal futures.
• Maximum Account Balance: $150,000
• Profit Split: 90%
• Fees: Starting at $100 per month
• Trading Platforms: Ninjatrader, R|Trader, Tradovate, TradingView, Quantower, Sierra Chart, Jigsaw Trading, ATAS
• Pros:
  • • Minimum trading days requirement is 1 day.
    • No daily loss limit.
    • Payouts processed within 24 hours.
    • Only one-step challenge.
    • Trailing stop only updates at the end of the trading day.
• Cons:
  • • No trading education resources, though they can be found online.
    • Discounts are less significant compared to other companies.

There are also other excellent companies whose service quality and offerings are quite good, although they do not rank among the top.

Trading Instruments

In futures prop firms, you can typically trade CME Futures Assets, including products from the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), and New York Commodity Exchange (COMEX).

Most futures prop firms offer the following instruments: equity futures, forex futures, agricultural futures, energy futures, interest rate futures, metal futures, and cryptocurrency futures.

Funded Account Sizes

The funded account sizes at futures prop firms typically range from $150,000 to $400,000. These accounts are not limited by margin but by the maximum number of contracts that you can trade based on the account size, which is a typical characteristic of futures trading funding.

Profit Split

For instant funded accounts, the profit split is usually around 50%. For funded accounts after a challenge, the payout ranges between 80% and 90%, meaning the futures proprietary firm only keeps 10% to 20% of the profits you make.

Additionally, it’s common for traders to keep 100% of the initial profits, typically between $5,000 and $10,000.

Rating Criteria

These futures trading firms are rated based on the following factors:

• Popularity: The firm's popularity in the industry.
• Difficulty: The ease of passing the firm's challenge or evaluation.
• Trading Platforms: The variety of futures trading platforms available.
• Customer Support: The speed and reliability of customer support.
• Profit Split: The proportion of profits shared with traders.
• Tradable Instruments: The breadth of futures instruments available for trading.
• Cost: The fees for applying and maintaining a funded futures account.
• User Rating: Reviews and ratings from other users of the firm.

Advantages ofFutures Prop Firms

• Real Market Trading: You are trading in the real market.
• No Risk to Personal Capital: No need to risk your own capital.
• Large Funded Accounts: Access to large funded accounts without excessive leverage.
• Risk Management: Enforced appropriate risk management rules.

Disadvantages of Futures Prop Firms

• Paid Platforms: Many futures trading platforms require a fee, though some firms may offer free access during the challenge and once funded.
• Real-Time Data Costs: Real-time data usually incurs additional fees, although some firms may provide it for free.
• Ongoing Fees: Even after passing the challenge and getting funded, there are ongoing monthly fees.
• Profit Sharing: Firms keep a portion of the profits.

Through futures prop firms, traders can engage in real market trading without risking their own capital and have the opportunity to manage large accounts. However, there are downsides, such as platform fees and profit sharing. Overall, futures trading firms offer an attractive option for futures traders, helping them achieve success in the market.