Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | BrightFunded | thePropTrade |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 80% → 100% | 80% (up to 90%) |
| First Payout | 30 | On demand |
| Payout Frequency | Bi-weekly (weekly add-on available) | On demand |
| Max Account Size | $200,000 | $100,000 |
Winner: BrightFunded
In this independent head-to-head comparison of BrightFunded 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.
BrightFunded: Static Rules. Fast Payouts. Zero Fees.
thePropTrade: Start Any Evaluation for $9.99. Pay Activation Only After Passing. Full Refund on First Payout.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, BrightFunded scores 8.9/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: BrightFunded scores 8.9/10 vs thePropTrade at 7.5/10.
Minimum Fee: BrightFunded starts from €55; thePropTrade starts from $9.99. thePropTrade is cheaper at entry level.
Profit Split: BrightFunded offers 80% → 100%; thePropTrade offers 80% (up to 90%). BrightFunded has the higher split.
Platforms: BrightFunded supports cTrader, MT5, DXtrade; thePropTrade is on MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker.
Tradeable Markets: BrightFunded covers Forex, Crypto, Indices, Commodities (150+ assets); thePropTrade offers Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities.
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how BrightFunded and thePropTrade compare on pricing.
BrightFunded challenge fees start from €55. The firm has operated since 2023. They have funded over 27,500+ traders. Total payouts to date: $7M+.
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.
BrightFunded profit split: 80% → 100%. thePropTrade profit split: 80% (up to 90%). BrightFunded delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: BrightFunded pays Bi-weekly (weekly add-on available); thePropTrade pays On demand. Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.
Here is our full independent review of BrightFunded:
BrightFunded launched in September 2023 with offices in Dubai, Amsterdam, and Warsaw, and has paid out $7M+ to 27,500+ active traders. The firm focuses on a single, well-built evaluation path — a two-phase challenge with static drawdown rules, no consistency requirements, and one of the faster payout processes in the industry (4–8 hours typical, 24-hour maximum guarantee).
Unlike firms that offer 1-step, instant funding, and multiple program types, BrightFunded deliberately keeps its structure simple: one evaluation model, six account sizes, and a clean set of rules. This makes it easy to understand what you’re buying and what’s expected.
BrightFunded suits forex, indices, and multi-asset traders who want predictable, static drawdown rules and no consistency requirements. The static 5%/10% drawdown — which never trails regardless of account growth — means you always know exactly where your limits are. The no-consistency-rule policy means you can make 80% of your profit target in a single trade if your strategy calls for it.
The 30-day wait for the first funded payout and bi-weekly default payout cycle make BrightFunded less suited to traders who need frequent cash flow. If you can absorb that waiting period, the 4–8 hour actual processing time and zero-fee withdrawals are genuinely strong.
BrightFunded offers one evaluation format in six account sizes:
Fees are charged in EUR and are refundable as an optional add-on at checkout (not automatic — you pay extra to guarantee fee refund on your first payout):
BrightFunded’s checkout includes optional upgrades that customise your challenge:
BrightFunded also runs a Trade2Earn loyalty program that awards token rewards for trading activity — an unusual feature in the prop firm space worth monitoring as it develops.
BrightFunded earns a 7.9 BestProp score. The static drawdown rules, zero-fee withdrawals, no-consistency-rule policy, and 4–8 hour payout processing are all genuinely strong features. The 100% profit split after the third scaling event is one of the more generous long-term rewards structures available.
The trade-offs are the 30-day first payout wait, fees charged in EUR (not USD), and the optional rather than automatic fee refund. For traders with a multi-month time horizon who want clean, predictable rules and fast payouts once they’re funded, BrightFunded delivers well above its price point.
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 BrightFunded 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, BrightFunded scores higher overall (8.9/10). 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.
BrightFunded offers the higher profit split. BrightFunded: 80% → 100%. thePropTrade: 80% (up to 90%).
EA policies: BrightFunded — check the review. thePropTrade — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: BrightFunded — check the review. thePropTrade — check the review.
Read the full BrightFunded review → · Read the full thePropTrade review →
Based on our scoring methodology, BrightFunded 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.
BrightFunded offers 80% → 100% 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.
BrightFunded 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 BrightFunded 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.
