Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | DNA Funded | thePropTrade |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 80% (up to 90%) | 80% (up to 90%) |
| First Payout | 14 | On demand |
| Payout Frequency | From day 14 (day 7 with add-on) | On demand |
| Max Account Size | $200,000 | $100,000 |
In this independent head-to-head comparison of DNA Funded 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.
DNA Funded: 10-Day Rapid Challenge. 24-Hour Entry from $25. $600K Scaling.
thePropTrade: Start Any Evaluation for $9.99. Pay Activation Only After Passing. Full Refund on First Payout.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, DNA Funded scores 7.9/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: DNA Funded scores 7.9/10 vs thePropTrade at 7.5/10.
Minimum Fee: DNA Funded starts from $25; thePropTrade starts from $9.99. thePropTrade is cheaper at entry level.
Profit Split: DNA Funded offers 80% (up to 90%); thePropTrade offers 80% (up to 90%). thePropTrade has the higher split.
Platforms: DNA Funded supports TradeLocker; thePropTrade is on MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker.
Tradeable Markets: DNA Funded covers Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto; thePropTrade offers Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities.
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how DNA Funded and thePropTrade compare on pricing.
DNA Funded challenge fees start from $25.
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.
DNA Funded profit split: 80% (up to 90%). thePropTrade profit split: 80% (up to 90%). thePropTrade delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: DNA Funded pays From day 14 (day 7 with add-on); thePropTrade pays On demand. Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.
Here is our full independent review of DNA Funded:
DNA Funded is led by CEO Martin Doepke and registered in Saint Lucia. The firm offers five distinct challenge types including a genuinely unusual 10-day Rapid Challenge and a 24-hour micro-challenge entry point from just $25. Maximum scaling reaches $600,000. Trading is conducted exclusively on TradeLocker.
One important cost factor to understand before joining: DNA Funded charges a flat $5 commission per non-crypto trade and a 0.1% fee on crypto trades. This is separate from the challenge fee and applies on funded accounts. For high-frequency traders executing many positions per day, this commission structure adds meaningful ongoing cost that should be factored into profitability calculations before choosing this platform.
DNA Funded suits traders who want a wide range of challenge formats – from a $25 24-hour entry challenge all the way to a $200K two-phase evaluation. The Rapid Challenge is the most distinctive offering: a strict 10-calendar-day window with a 5% profit target, designed for traders who want fast confirmation of their edge without an open-ended evaluation period.
USA and Canadian traders are excluded. Grid and martingale strategies are prohibited. News trading is allowed but restricted to a 5-minute window before and after major releases.
Single platform: TradeLocker. Instruments: forex, indices, commodities, stocks, cryptocurrencies (all CFDs). Restricted countries: USA, Canada, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, Cuba, Crimea region.
DNA Funded earns a 6.7 BestProp score. The 10-day Rapid Challenge and $25 24-hour entry challenge are genuinely unique formats not available at most competitors. The programme variety (5 types) is solid and the 5% Rapid target is accessible.
The per-trade $5 commission is the most significant negative in the platform – it adds cost that compounds quickly for active traders and is not present at most competing firms. The Trustpilot score of 3.8/5 from 72 reviews is a small sample but moderate. The 5% cap on the first 3 payouts, $50 bank transfer fee, and single-platform limitation (TradeLocker only) further constrain the value proposition. DNA Funded is worth considering specifically for the Rapid Challenge format – for general prop trading the commission structure warrants careful analysis before committing.
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 DNA Funded 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, DNA Funded scores higher overall (7.9/10). 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. DNA Funded: 80% (up to 90%). thePropTrade: 80% (up to 90%).
EA policies: DNA Funded — check the review. thePropTrade — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: DNA Funded — check the review. thePropTrade — check the review.
Read the full DNA Funded review → · Read the full thePropTrade review →
Based on our scoring methodology, DNA Funded 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.
DNA Funded offers 80% (up to 90%) 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.
DNA Funded processes first payouts in 14 day(s), while thePropTrade takes approximately On demand day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither DNA Funded 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.
