Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | Equity Edge | thePropTrade |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 80% (90% on Instant and VIP) | 80% (up to 90%) |
| First Payout | 30 | On demand |
| Payout Frequency | Bi-weekly (on-demand at VIP) | On demand |
| Max Account Size | $200,000 | $100,000 |
Winner: Equity Edge
In this independent head-to-head comparison of Equity Edge vs thePropTrade, we break down challenge rules, pricing, profit splits, and payout conditions to help you decide which prop firm is the better fit for your trading style.
Equity Edge: 5 Challenge Types from $14. Instant Pro Edge at 90% Split. Scales to $2M.
thePropTrade: Start Any Evaluation for $9.99. Pay Activation Only After Passing. Full Refund on First Payout.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, Equity Edge scores 7.8/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: Equity Edge scores 7.8/10 vs thePropTrade at 7.5/10.
Minimum Fee: Equity Edge starts from $14; thePropTrade starts from $9.99. thePropTrade is cheaper at entry level.
Profit Split: Equity Edge offers 80% (90% on Instant and VIP); thePropTrade offers 80% (up to 90%). thePropTrade has the higher split.
Platforms: Equity Edge supports MT5, Match-Trader; thePropTrade is on MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker.
Tradeable Markets: Equity Edge covers Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities; thePropTrade offers Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities.
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how Equity Edge and thePropTrade compare on pricing.
Equity Edge challenge fees start from $14. The firm has operated since 2025. They have funded over 250,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $4,500,000+.
thePropTrade challenge fees start from $9.99. The firm has operated since 2025.
On entry-level pricing, thePropTrade offers a lower starting fee — an important factor if you are testing with a smaller account first.
Equity Edge profit split: 80% (90% on Instant and VIP). thePropTrade profit split: 80% (up to 90%). thePropTrade delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: Equity Edge pays Bi-weekly (on-demand at VIP); thePropTrade pays On demand. Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.
Here is our full independent review of Equity Edge:
Equity Edge is operated by Equity Edge Ltd (company number 2025-00306), registered in Saint Lucia. CEO Berkay Gurlek leads the firm, which claims 250,000+ traders across 180+ countries and $4.5M+ in 2024 payouts. Five challenge types are available from a $2,500 starting account, with a scaling path to $2,000,000 in simulated capital at VIP status. Trustpilot rating: approximately 4.0/5 from nearly 4,000 reviews.
Trust note: With nearly 4,000 Trustpilot reviews, the sample size is meaningful. A recurring pattern in negative reviews describes payout denials and account closures occurring specifically after significant profits are reached, with traders reporting rule enforcement that felt disproportionate or inconsistently applied. BestProp does not draw conclusions from review patterns alone, but the volume of similar complaints warrants mention. Verify the payout process with a smaller account before scaling capital.
Two rule tiers (Legacy and Swift) apply to both the 1-Step and 2-Step tracks. Legacy accounts have wider drawdown but higher profit targets; Swift accounts have tighter drawdown and lower targets:
1-Step Legacy: 10% profit target. Daily drawdown: 4%. Max drawdown: 6% trailing. 80% profit split.
Fees: $2.5K: $22 | $5K: $27 | $10K: $50 | $25K: $119 | $50K: $259 | $100K: $489
1-Step Swift: 8% profit target. Daily drawdown: 3%. Max drawdown: 5% trailing. 80% profit split.
Fees: $2.5K: $14 | $5K: $18 | $10K: $39 | $25K: $109 | $50K: $239 | $100K: $379
2-Step Legacy: Phase 1: 10%, Phase 2: 5%. Daily drawdown: 4%. Max drawdown: 6% trailing. 80% split.
Fees: $2.5K: $23 | $5K: $29 | $10K: $54 | $25K: $139 | $50K: $269 | $100K: $499
2-Step Swift: Phase 1: 10%, Phase 2: 5%. Daily drawdown: 3%. Max drawdown: 5% trailing. 80% split.
Fees: $2.5K: $16 | $5K: $20 | $10K: $42 | $25K: $129 | $50K: $249 | $100K: $429
Instant Pro Edge (no evaluation): No profit target. Daily drawdown: varies. Max drawdown: trailing. 90% profit split (higher than challenge track).
Fees: $2.5K: $22 | $5K: $45 | $10K: $68 | $25K: $138 | $50K: $159 | $100K: $277 | $200K: $550
Note on drawdown: All accounts use trailing max drawdown – the minimum equity threshold rises as account balance grows. Traders who build profit early reduce their usable drawdown buffer over time.
Five tiers from Level 1 (20% capital increase per milestone) through VIP status. VIP unlocks 90% profit split, on-demand payouts processed within 48 hours, and up to $2,000,000 in simulated capital. Confirm current VIP criteria directly with support before targeting this path.
Platforms: MT5, Match-Trader. Instruments: Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities. Payout frequency: bi-weekly (on-demand at VIP). Methods: Crypto, Bank Wire, PayPal. Payment accepted via Credit/Debit Card, PayPal, Bank Wire.
Restricted countries (23 total): USA, Canada, Russia, Belarus, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela, Yemen, North Korea, Afghanistan, and others – check at checkout for the current full list.
Equity Edge earns a 6.5 BestProp score. The fee structure is genuinely competitive – $14 for a $2,500 Swift 1-Step is among the lowest entry points in the industry. Five program types give traders meaningful choice between risk/reward structures, and the Instant Pro Edge 90% split with no profit target is accessible. The $2M VIP scaling ceiling is ambitious.
The Trustpilot pattern of complaints specifically tied to payout denials post-profit is the primary concern, and it is significant at nearly 4,000 total reviews. Saint Lucia registration provides limited regulatory protection. All drawdown is trailing (tightens as profits build), which requires active position management. Start with a Swift 1-Step at the $2,500 size to test the payout experience before committing larger capital.
Here is our full independent review of thePropTrade:
thePropTrade is operated by The Prop Trade Ltd (registration 2025-00866, Saint Lucia) and QuantElite FZCO (Dubai Silicon Oasis, UAE), led by CEO Katarina K. The firm registered in 2025, making it one of the newest entrants in the prop trading space with a very limited public track record. Platforms include MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and TradeLocker. Maximum account size is $200,000, with leverage up to 1:100. The firm serves all instruments except jurisdictions on FATF/EU/UN sanctions lists, and excludes China and Vietnam.
thePropTrade’s signature offering is PayFlex Edge — a distinctive pay-to-start model where the upfront evaluation cost is $9.99 for all account sizes. An activation fee (paid only after passing the evaluation) varies by account size and is refunded on the first funded payout.
How it works: Pay $9.99 to begin the evaluation regardless of account size. Complete the 6% profit target. Upon passing, pay an activation fee (see table below). The activation fee is refunded on your first funded payout — making the long-run cost zero if you trade profitably.
Evaluation parameters (all sizes): 6% profit target. Daily loss limit: 4%. Max drawdown: 6% trailing lock — the drawdown ceiling adjusts with equity gains and locks the floor at the highest reached level. Minimum 3 profitable trading days required (with at least 0.5% profit each). No maximum time limit. Swap-free accounts available. No consistency rule.
Activation fees by account size (post-pass):
The overall price is comparable to standard single-phase programs — the innovation is the cost split: risk only $9.99 to attempt, pay the remainder only after proving profitability.
Profit split: 80% (up to 90% with scaling milestones). Payouts on demand. Instruments: Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities. All three platforms (MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker) available on funded accounts. No maximum lot size restrictions. Swap-free accounts available.
Platforms: MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradeLocker — full three-platform flexibility is uncommon at this price point. Instruments: Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities. Leverage up to 1:100.
thePropTrade earns a 6.2 BestProp score. The $9.99 pay-to-start structure is genuinely innovative and removes the most common barrier to entry in prop trading — the fear of paying full price and failing. For a trader with a proven strategy, risking $9.99 to attempt a $100K evaluation (full activation fee refunded if funded) is a compelling proposition. Three supported platforms (MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker) and swap-free accounts add structural quality. On-demand payouts remove payout cycle delays.
The primary concern is the firm’s age: registered in 2025 with registration number 2025-00866, thePropTrade has an extremely limited public operating history. No verified Trustpilot score is publicly confirmed. The CEO is identified only by first name and initial publicly. Trading rules for EAs, news, and overnight holds are not clearly published. Saint Lucia/Dubai dual-entity structure adds a layer of opacity. Traders should proceed with small account sizes first and verify all rules directly with support before committing to larger activation fees. A promising concept; the track record needs time to build.
Overall, our independent scoring gives Equity Edge the edge in this 2026 comparison. However, both firms have their merits. If thePropTrade better matches your specific trading style, instruments, or preferred platform, it may still be the right choice for you.
Use our comparison table above and review the challenge fees at both firms before making your final decision. Both offer risk-free evaluation programs — the challenge fee is the only money at risk.
Based on our independent scoring, Equity Edge scores higher overall (7.8/10). The best choice depends on your trading style, preferred instruments, and account size.
thePropTrade offers a lower entry-level challenge fee. However, always compare the full account sizes you plan to trade before deciding purely on price.
thePropTrade offers the higher profit split. Equity Edge: 80% (90% on Instant and VIP). thePropTrade: 80% (up to 90%).
EA policies: Equity Edge — check the review. thePropTrade — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: Equity Edge — check the review. thePropTrade — check the review.
Read the full Equity Edge review → · Read the full thePropTrade review →
Based on our scoring methodology, Equity Edge edges ahead in this comparison. However, the best choice depends on your trading style, preferred platform and account size. Read the full breakdown above for a detailed verdict.
Equity Edge offers 80% (90% on Instant and VIP) profit split, while thePropTrade offers 80% (up to 90%) profit split. Check each firm's current terms as these can change.
Check our offers page for the latest verified deals on both firms.
Equity Edge processes first payouts in 30 day(s), while thePropTrade takes approximately On demand day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither Equity Edge nor thePropTrade are regulated in the traditional financial sense — prop firms operate as private companies providing traders access to simulated or real capital. Always read the terms and conditions carefully before participating in any prop challenge.
