Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | thePropTrade | FTUK |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 80% (up to 90%) | Up to 80% |
| First Payout | On demand | 14 |
| Payout Frequency | On demand | On Demand (Instant Funding), bi-weekly (Evaluation) |
| Max Account Size | $100,000 | $100,000 |
In this independent head-to-head comparison of thePropTrade vs FTUK, 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.
thePropTrade: Start Any Evaluation for $9.99. Pay Activation Only After Passing. Full Refund on First Payout.
FTUK: Flexible prop trading with Instant Funding, 1-Step, 2-Step, and a Pay After You Pass Flex model.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, FTUK scores 8.6/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: thePropTrade scores 7.5/10 vs FTUK at 8.6/10.
Minimum Fee: thePropTrade starts from $9.99; FTUK starts from $99. thePropTrade is cheaper at entry level.
Profit Split: thePropTrade offers 80% (up to 90%); FTUK offers Up to 80%. thePropTrade has the higher split.
Platforms: thePropTrade supports MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker; FTUK is on MT5, Match-Trader, TradeLocker, FTUK XT.
Tradeable Markets: thePropTrade covers Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities; FTUK offers Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities.
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how thePropTrade and FTUK compare on pricing.
thePropTrade challenge fees start from $9.99. The firm has operated since 2025.
FTUK challenge fees start from $99. The firm has operated since 2021. They have funded over 30,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $12,000,000+.
On entry-level pricing, thePropTrade offers a lower starting fee — an important factor if you are testing with a smaller account first.
thePropTrade profit split: 80% (up to 90%). FTUK profit split: Up to 80%. thePropTrade delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: thePropTrade pays On demand; FTUK pays On Demand (Instant Funding), bi-weekly (Evaluation). Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.
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.
Here is our full independent review of FTUK:
FTUK (Funded Traders United Kingdom) was founded in December 2021 and has since funded over 30,000 traders globally, paying out $12M+. The firm offers three core evaluation tracks plus a Pay After You Pass Flex model and a newer Futures program. FTUK is notable for broad platform support — MT5, Match-Trader, TradeLocker, and their proprietary FTUK XT platform — though MT5 is unavailable for US-based traders.
Instant Funding provides immediate funded access with no profit target and a trailing drawdown of 6%. The 1-Step Evaluation requires a 10% profit target with an 8% trailing drawdown. The 2-Step Evaluation uses 10%/5% phase targets and an 8% static (balance-based) drawdown. The Flex Challenge allows traders to begin an evaluation at no upfront cost, paying only after passing — a meaningful advantage for risk-averse traders.
Instant Funding and 1-Step accounts use trailing drawdown, which follows equity upward and creates a moving floor. 2-Step accounts use static drawdown based on the initial account balance. News trading is prohibited during all evaluation phases but is permitted on funded accounts. There are no profit targets on funded accounts — traders can manage their funded capital freely.
Martingale, tick scalping, latency arbitrage, reverse arbitrage, hedge arbitrage, and cross-account hedging are all prohibited. HFT is banned. Manual trading strategies are fully supported. Weekend and overnight holding are permitted.
Instant-funded accounts pay on demand. Evaluation-funded accounts have a 14-day waiting period before the first payout. Payments are made via Rise or USDT (TRC20 crypto). FTUK offers scaling potential up to $6.4M for top-performing funded traders.
Overall, our independent scoring gives FTUK 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, FTUK scores higher overall (8.6/10). 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. thePropTrade: 80% (up to 90%). FTUK: Up to 80%.
EA policies: thePropTrade — check the review. FTUK — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: thePropTrade — check the review. FTUK — check the review.
Read the full thePropTrade review → · Read the full FTUK review →
Based on our scoring methodology, FTUK 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.
thePropTrade offers 80% (up to 90%) profit split, while FTUK offers Up to 80% profit split. Check each firm's current terms as these can change.
Check our offers page for the latest verified deals on both firms.
thePropTrade processes first payouts in On demand day(s), while FTUK takes approximately 14 day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither thePropTrade nor FTUK 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.
