What you are signing up for
A prop firm evaluation is a two-part test where you trade with virtual funds to prove you can manage risk. If you reach the profit target—the specific amount of gain required to pass, usually between 8% and 10%—the firm gives you access to a funded account where you keep a share of the profits.
- Atlas Funded offers a wide variety of entry points. You can start with a standard 2-step evaluation (two phases to pass) for $79 (the $10,000 account) or try their "Access" program, which costs just $5 to start the evaluation, though you must pay an activation fee once you pass.
- The Trading Pit is a more established European firm. Their smallest evaluation is a $2,500 account that costs $29. For a standard $10,000 account, you will pay $99.
How hard each one is
The most important rule in any challenge is the drawdown, which is the maximum loss you are allowed to hit before your account is closed and you fail the test.
- Atlas Funded uses a static drawdown for its standard plans. This means your loss limit is fixed based on your starting balance and does not move. For a $100,000 2-step account, you fail if you lose 10% ($10,000) in total or 5% ($5,000) in a single day.
- The Trading Pit uses a mix of rules. Their 2-step accounts also use static limits (usually 10% total loss). however, their "Instant" accounts use a trailing drawdown, which is a loss limit that moves up as your account balance grows. If you make a profit, the floor follows you, giving you less room for error if you later have a losing streak.
How long it takes
In the past, firms forced you to pass within 30 days, but both of these firms now offer unlimited trading days, meaning you can take as long as you need to reach your goal. However, there are minimum trading days, which are the fewest days you must place a trade before being allowed to move to the next phase.
- Atlas Funded: You must trade for at least 3 days in each phase.
- The Trading Pit: You must have 3 "profitable days," meaning days where you earn at least 0.5% of the starting balance. This is harder for a beginner because a flat day does not count toward your progress.
Where beginners fail
Most beginners fail because of the consistency rule, a restriction designed to ensure your success isn't just one lucky trade. It requires your profits to be spread out across multiple days.
- The Trading Pit has a 50% consistency rule on some accounts. This means no single day can account for more than half of your total profit. If you have one massive win, you will have to keep trading and earning more to "balance out" that big day.
- Atlas Funded is more lenient. They do not have consistency rules on their standard 1-step and 2-step accounts. However, they do have a "Scalping" rule: on funded accounts, they will deduct profits from trades held for less than 3 minutes.
What happens if you make it
Once you pass, you receive a profit split, which is the percentage of the gains you are allowed to withdraw as real money.
- Atlas Funded gives you a 90% profit split by default, which can be increased to 100% with certain add-ons. They pay out every 14 days, but they offer "Daily" plans where you can request money more frequently.
- The Trading Pit offers an 80% profit split. They also pay out every 14 days. Their scaling plan—a system that increases your account size if you are consistent—is very clear: your balance increases by 25% every time you reach a 10% profit target and meet certain time requirements.
If it is your first time
For a total beginner, Atlas Funded is the better choice for three reasons. First, they offer a free trial ($1,000 simulated account), which allows you to practice their dashboard and rules without spending a cent. Second, their "Access" plan allows you to experience a real evaluation for just $5. Finally, the lack of a "profitable days" requirement makes the path to being funded much smoother than at The Trading Pit, where you are forced to hit specific daily targets just to move forward.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm offers a free trial for beginners, Atlas Funded or The Trading Pit?
Atlas Funded offers a free $1,000 simulated trial to any verified person, allowing you to practice before buying. The Trading Pit does not offer a free trial option; you must purchase an evaluation to start trading.
Is the profit split higher at Atlas Funded or The Trading Pit?
Atlas Funded offers a higher base profit split of 90%, which can reach 100% with specific add-ons. The Trading Pit offers a fixed 80% profit split for its traders.
Which firm has a cheaper entry-level evaluation, Atlas Funded or The Trading Pit?
Atlas Funded is cheaper to start due to its "1 Step Access" plan, which has an initial evaluation fee of only $5. The Trading Pit's cheapest entry is a $2,500 account that costs $29.
Which firm offers more trading platforms, Atlas Funded or The Trading Pit?
Both firms offer MetaTrader 5. However, Atlas Funded also provides TradeLocker and MatchTrader, while The Trading Pit offers MetaTrader 4 and cTrader.
