Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | DNA Funded | ThinkCapital |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 80% (up to 90%) | Up to 90% |
| First Payout | 14 | 14 |
| Payout Frequency | From day 14 (day 7 with add-on) | Bi-weekly (weekly add-on available) |
| Max Account Size | $200,000 | $600,000 |
In this independent head-to-head comparison of DNA Funded vs ThinkCapital, 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.
ThinkCapital: Backed by ThinkMarkets Broker. 4.6/5 Trustpilot. Fee Refunded on First Payout. Scales to $1.5M.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, ThinkCapital scores 8.8/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: DNA Funded scores 7.9/10 vs ThinkCapital at 8.8/10.
Minimum Fee: DNA Funded starts from $25; ThinkCapital starts from $39. DNA Funded is cheaper at entry level.
Profit Split: DNA Funded offers 80% (up to 90%); ThinkCapital offers Up to 90%. DNA Funded has the higher split.
Platforms: DNA Funded supports TradeLocker; ThinkCapital is on ThinkTrader, TradingView, MT5.
Tradeable Markets: DNA Funded covers Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto; ThinkCapital offers Forex, Metals, Commodities, Crypto, Indices.
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how DNA Funded and ThinkCapital compare on pricing.
DNA Funded challenge fees start from $25.
ThinkCapital challenge fees start from $39. They have funded over 20,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $4,000,000+.
On entry-level pricing, DNA Funded 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%). ThinkCapital profit split: Up to 90%. DNA Funded delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: DNA Funded pays From day 14 (day 7 with add-on); ThinkCapital pays Bi-weekly (weekly add-on available). 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 ThinkCapital:
ThinkCapital is the proprietary trading arm of ThinkMarkets — a multi-regulated institutional broker with global operations. The prop firm is headquartered in London, UK, and is led by CEO Faizan Anees. ThinkCapital holds a 4.6/5 Trustpilot rating from 470+ reviews and has funded 20,000+ traders with $4M+ in verified payouts. Maximum initial account is $600,000, scaling to $1,500,000. Platforms: ThinkTrader, TradingView, and MetaTrader 5.
The backing of ThinkMarkets is a meaningful structural advantage: unlike standalone prop firms, ThinkCapital operates within an established, multi-regulated broker’s infrastructure. Challenge fees are refunded with the first funded payout across all evaluation programs.
Lightning – 1-Step ($59-$1,099 for $5K-$200K): Single phase, 10% profit target. Daily loss: 3%. Max drawdown: 6% trailing. Minimum 3 profitable trading days. Up to 90% split. News trading: restricted. A 4-minute trading blackout applies around ForexFactory red-folder events on Lightning accounts. EAs not permitted during evaluation; supported on funded MT5/TradingView accounts. Fee refunded on first payout. Best for structured traders comfortable with tighter drawdown and news restrictions.
Dual Step – 2-Step ($59-$1,099 for $5K-$200K): Phase 1: 8% target. Phase 2: 5% target. Daily loss: 4%. Max drawdown: 8% static. Up to 90% split. Dynamic leverage up to 1:100. Dual Step Swing variant allows news trading. Fee refunded on first payout. The most popular program — wider drawdown than Lightning, two-phase structure builds consistency. Optional Swing add-on enables event-driven trading strategies.
Nexus – 3-Step ($39-$749 for $5K-$200K): Phase 1: 7%. Phase 2: 6%. Phase 3: 5%. Total combined target: 18%, achieved across three progressively confirmed stages. Daily loss: 4%. Max drawdown: 8% static. Leverage 1:100. Up to 90% split. News trading restricted. Lowest entry fee in the lineup — $39 for a $5K account. Suited for methodical traders who want the lowest upfront commitment and three-stage consistency verification.
Bolt – Instant Funding ($49 for $2.5K, up to $50K): No evaluation required. Direct funded access from $2.5K with leverage up to 1:50. Up to 90% split. No profit target to begin trading; scaling requires meeting performance milestones. Verify full drawdown parameters and rules on the ThinkCapital website for Bolt accounts.
ThinkCapital offers purchasable add-ons for additional features including: weekly payouts (base is bi-weekly), EA allowance on challenge accounts, 90% profit split uplift (base varies), and Swing mode (news trading). These add-ons carry an additional cost of approximately 25% per feature on top of the base challenge fee. This modular structure lets traders pay only for features they need — but traders wanting news trading and EAs should factor the add-on costs into total outlay.
Platforms: ThinkTrader (proprietary), TradingView (integrated), MetaTrader 5. Instruments: Forex, Metals, Commodities, Crypto, Indices. The ThinkMarkets infrastructure provides institutional-grade liquidity and execution across all instrument categories.
ThinkCapital earns a 7.8 BestProp score. The ThinkMarkets backing is the defining differentiator: an established multi-regulated institutional broker providing infrastructure, counterparty credibility, and execution quality that standalone prop firms cannot match. 4.6/5 Trustpilot from 470+ reviews. Three evaluation tracks (1-Step, 2-Step, 3-Step) plus instant access, with Nexus starting at just $39. Fee refund on first payout. Scales to $1.5M. The modular add-on system lets traders pay for exactly the features they need.
Key considerations: news trading is restricted on Lightning and Nexus without the Swing add-on (4-minute blackout around red events), EAs require a funded account or an add-on purchase, and the base bi-weekly payout cycle requires an upgrade for weekly cash flow. Add-ons at ~25% per feature can push the effective cost meaningfully above the base fee for traders wanting full flexibility. Overall ThinkCapital is an excellent choice for traders who value institutional broker backing and a structured, transparent program — particularly on the Dual Step and Nexus tracks.
Overall, our independent scoring gives ThinkCapital the edge in this 2026 comparison. However, both firms have their merits. If DNA Funded 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, ThinkCapital scores higher overall (8.8/10). The best choice depends on your trading style, preferred instruments, and account size.
DNA Funded offers a lower entry-level challenge fee. However, always compare the full account sizes you plan to trade before deciding purely on price.
DNA Funded offers the higher profit split. DNA Funded: 80% (up to 90%). ThinkCapital: Up to 90%.
EA policies: DNA Funded — check the review. ThinkCapital — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: DNA Funded — check the review. ThinkCapital — check the review.
Read the full DNA Funded review → · Read the full ThinkCapital review →
Based on our scoring methodology, ThinkCapital 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 ThinkCapital offers 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 ThinkCapital takes approximately 14 day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither DNA Funded nor ThinkCapital 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.
