Day one
On the first day, the most visible difference is the cost and the choice of technology. Atmos Funded is positioned as a high-accessibility firm, particularly with its "Nova" challenge, which allows traders to start for as little as $5 (plus a later activation fee). Their standard 1-step $100,000 account is priced at $149, which is significantly lower than the industry average.
Hola Prime, based in Hong Kong, is more expensive at the start. A 1-step Prime $100,000 account costs $579, and their 2-step Pro version is $681. However, they offer a much wider technological array.
- Atmos Funded Platforms: MetaTrader 5 only.
- Hola Prime Platforms: MetaTrader 5, cTrader, MatchTrader, and TradeLocker.
At the entry level, Atmos Funded prohibits news trading (±2 minutes from high-impact events) across all plans. Hola Prime is more flexible: news trading is allowed on all evaluations and Prime accounts, but restricted (±5 minutes) on Pro funded and Direct accounts.
The first months
As the first payouts approach, the focus shifts to consistency rules and risk management. Atmos Funded applies a consistency rule to its 1-Step Plus and Instant accounts (no single day can exceed 45% or 20% of total profit, respectively). This forces a more measured pace during the first few months.
Hola Prime uses a different approach. While they don't have a consistency target to pass the evaluation, they require a minimum of 3 profitable days per biweekly cycle for Pro/Prime accounts.
- Atmos Funded Payouts: Every 14 days for most plans; Nova and Instant are on-demand.
- Hola Prime Payouts: Choice of biweekly, monthly, or on-demand at the time of purchase.
- Minimum Withdrawal: $100 for Atmos; $50 for Hola Prime ($500 if using Rise).
Risk rules during these months are also distinct. Atmos uses trailing drawdowns for its 1-step and Instant plans, which can be harder to manage as the account grows. Hola Prime uses static drawdowns for Pro and Prime, providing a fixed floor that does not move up with profits, which is generally preferred for long-term stability.
The first year
This is where the two firms diverge completely. Atmos Funded does not have a formal scaling program to increase the account balance. Instead, they offer "Atmos Elevate," a bridge to live trading with Taurex after 4 months of consistency and 15% total profit. Their profit split starts at 80% and can reach 90% for consistent performers.
Hola Prime, however, is built for year-long growth through a structured scaling plan.
- Scaling frequency: Every four months.
- Requirements: At least 10% net profit, two profitable months, and two payouts within the cycle.
- Growth steps: 25% increase on the first scaling, 40% on the second, and 50% from the third onward.
- Profit Split: Can reach up to 95% if the monthly cycle is selected.
The ceiling
The "ceiling" represents the maximum amount of capital a trader can eventually manage. For a trader starting today, the destination looks very different at each firm.
Atmos Funded has a hard cap on allocation. A single trader cannot manage more than $400,000 across their accounts. There is no mention of merging accounts to create larger single blocks of capital.
Hola Prime offers a much higher path. While the initial maximum allocation is also $400,000, their scaling program allows a trader to grow their capital up to a maximum of $4,000,000. Furthermore, they allow merging of same-model Pro or Prime funded accounts, provided they have no open trades and the combined size exists in their catalog.
Room to grow
The comparison reveals two different business models. Atmos Funded is an excellent "springboard." Its low entry prices and the Atmos Elevate bridge to a live broker make it ideal for traders who want to earn their first payouts and move toward the real market with their own funds. However, the lack of a scaling program means the growth within the firm itself is limited to the $400k cap.
Hola Prime is designed as a destination for professional traders. Although the "Day One" cost is significantly higher, the combination of static drawdowns, a wide choice of platforms (including cTrader), and a scaling plan that reaches $4 million makes it the superior choice for a trader planning to stay with the same firm for a year or more.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is more affordable for a beginner, Atmos Funded or Hola Prime?
Atmos Funded is significantly more affordable for beginners. Their "Nova" challenge allows entry for just $5, and a standard 1-step $100k account costs $149. In contrast, Hola Prime’s 1-step $100k challenge starts at $579. Atmos Funded provides a much lower financial risk for those just starting their prop trading journey.
Can I use cTrader with Atmos Funded or Hola Prime?
You can only use cTrader with Hola Prime. Atmos Funded is restricted exclusively to MetaTrader 5. Hola Prime offers a much broader selection of trading technology, including cTrader, MatchTrader, TradeLocker, and MetaTrader 5, although using cTrader requires a fixed $20 surcharge.
Which firm has stricter news trading rules, Atmos Funded or Hola Prime?
Atmos Funded has a more uniform restriction, prohibiting trading ±2 minutes from high-impact news across all its plans. Hola Prime is more nuanced: while their Pro and Direct accounts have a stricter 5-minute restriction, their Prime accounts and all evaluation phases allow news trading without limitations, making Hola Prime more flexible for news-based strategies.
What is the maximum capital I can manage at Atmos Funded vs Hola Prime?
The maximum capital at Atmos Funded is capped at $400,000 with no formal scaling plan to increase balance. Hola Prime also starts with a $400,000 standard allocation limit, but their scaling program allows successful traders to grow their account balance up to $4,000,000 over time, offering ten times the growth potential of Atmos.
