If you’ve been trading for a while, you already know futures can be brutal. The leverage is huge, the markets move fast, and one bad decision can wipe you out. That’s why prop firms exist—to give traders access to large capital without risking their own savings. But here’s the truth: not all firms are created equal. Some are fair and supportive. Others? They’re designed to take your money through endless fees, resets, and tricky rules. That’s where honest futures prop firm comparisons can save you a lot of pain—and cash.
Services like Prop Firm Passing Service (PFP) exist because so many traders are tired of failing challenges over and over. The demand is huge, but the key to success is still picking the right firm in the first place.
Why Bother With Futures Prop Firm Comparisons?
A rookie mistake is to jump into the first firm you see because the ad looks good. Don’t. The differences between firms are massive. Some give you fair rules and weekly payouts. Others bury you in restrictions so they can keep your fees.
Comparing futures prop firms helps you avoid wasting money and find the ones that actually want traders to succeed. If you’re looking for the best prop firms for futures trading, you need to check the fine print.
What to Look for When Comparing
When doing futures prop firm comparisons, these are the key things to focus on:
- Evaluation fees – How much are you paying just to take a shot?
- Profit splits – Do you keep 80% of profits… or 90%?
- Trading rules – Watch out for tricky daily drawdowns.
- Platforms – NinjaTrader, Rithmic, or Tradovate—make sure your style fits.
- Payout speed – Weekly payouts are ideal. Waiting a month is a red flag.
If a firm hides any of this, that’s your warning sign.
The Best Futures Prop Firms in 2025
Let’s cut to the chase. Here are some of the most talked-about names, along with their strengths and weaknesses:
- Topstep – The most trusted name, great education, but higher fees.
- Earn2Trade – Good for beginners, but their Gauntlet challenge can get expensive.
- Apex Trader Funding – Cheap evaluations (especially with discounts), but stricter rules.
- Leeloo Trading – Flexible scaling, decent support, fewer platform options.
- UProfit Trader – Simple one-step evaluation, but less brand recognition.
- Bulenox – Affordable, newer, but still proving itself.
- Fidelcrest Futures – Large account sizes, started in forex, expanding into futures.
Quick Futures Prop Firm Comparison Table
| Prop Firm | Evaluation Fee (Approx.) | Profit Split | Platform Support | Payout Speed | Notable Feature |
| Topstep | $150–$375 | Up to 80% | NinjaTrader, Rithmic | Weekly | Strong education, trusted name |
| Earn2Trade | $150–$350 | Up to 80% | NinjaTrader, Rithmic | Bi-weekly | Training-focused Gauntlet |
| Apex Trader | $80–$200 (discounts often) | Up to 90% | NinjaTrader, Rithmic | Weekly | Cheap evals, strict rules |
| Leeloo Trading | $150–$300 | Up to 80% | NinjaTrader, Rithmic | Weekly | Flexible scaling plans |
| UProfit Trader | $150–$250 | Up to 80% | NinjaTrader, Rithmic | Weekly | One-step evaluation |
| Bulenox | $100–$200 | Up to 85% | NinjaTrader, Rithmic | Weekly | Budget-friendly, newer firm |
| Fidelcrest | $200–$500 | Up to 80% | MT5, Rithmic | Bi-weekly | Large account sizes |
The Hidden Costs No One Talks About
Here’s where most beginners get burned:
- Reset fees when you blow a challenge.
- Data fees that eat into your profits monthly.
- Scaling restrictions that stop you from withdrawing right away.
- Overtrading penalties that sneak up on aggressive traders.
All those “small” charges add up fast. That’s why solid futures prop firm comparisons are the difference between keeping profits and being stuck on a hamster wheel.
Pro Tip to Save Time and Money
Let’s be real—most traders fail challenges, even at the best prop firms for futures trading. Futures move too fast, and one mistake ends it. That’s why some traders turn to Prop Firm Passing Service (PFP) to handle challenge passing and account management.
It’s not a magic bullet, but it does help traders avoid wasting hundreds of dollars on failed attempts.
Final Wrap-Up
Futures prop firms are a great opportunity, but only if you play smart. Jumping in blind will cost you more than it should. Careful futures prop firm comparisons help you see past the marketing and choose a firm that actually gives you a fair chance.
The bottom line: Pick wisely, trade with discipline, and use tools like PFP to give yourself an edge. In futures trading, every dollar saved is just as important as every dollar earned.
