Entry price
The cost of starting depends heavily on the chosen evaluation model and account size. Hola Prime targets the entry-level market with very low prices for small accounts, while BrightFunded maintains a more traditional pricing structure for professional sizes.
- 10K Account: BrightFunded costs $87 (2-Step Bright) or $97 (1-Step), while Hola Prime ranges from $69 (Prime) to $109 (Pro).
- 50K Account: BrightFunded costs $277 to $297, whereas Hola Prime is more expensive at $319 (Prime) or $384 (Pro).
- 100K Account: BrightFunded stays competitive at $477 to $497, while Hola Prime jumps to $569 (Prime) or $681 (Pro).
- Instant Funding: Hola Prime offers a Direct Account (no evaluation) for $1049 (100K size), a path BrightFunded does not offer.
- Micro-trading: Hola Prime offers 2K accounts for as little as $9, making the cost of "practice" almost zero.
What you pay while trading
Operating costs are not just the price of the challenge; they are the commissions and surcharges that eat into your profit margins every day.
- Commissions: Both firms charge $3 per lot on Forex.
- EA Trading: At BrightFunded, EAs are allowed for free. At Hola Prime, you must pay a 10% surcharge on the base fee to use EAs, and they are restricted to MT5.
- Swap-Free: Both firms treat this as a luxury. BrightFunded charges a 10% add-on, and Hola Prime also adds 10% to the base price.
- Platforms: BrightFunded offers MT5, cTrader, and DXtrade. Hola Prime includes MatchTrader and TradeLocker, but charges a $20 surcharge for cTrader.
What mistakes cost you
In prop trading, the "cost" of a mistake is the loss of the account and the initial fee. The drawdown rules define how much room you are actually buying for your money.
- Drawdown limit: BrightFunded offers a 6% max drawdown on 1-Step and up to 10% on 2-Step. Hola Prime offers similar limits (6% to 10%), but their Direct accounts use a trailing drawdown, which is "more expensive" in terms of risk because the floor moves up with your balance.
- News Trading: BrightFunded has a "soft breach" policy; if you trade news, they simply deduct the profit. Hola Prime's Pro and Direct accounts are stricter: news trading can lead to account closure (a total loss of your investment).
- Stop Loss: Hola Prime requires a Stop Loss on funded accounts. Forgetting one is not just a risk; it can be a hard breach, costing you the entire account. BrightFunded does not mandate a Stop Loss.
What it costs to get paid
Getting your money out is where the two firms differ most in financial terms.
- Payout Fees: Hola Prime charges a 2.5% fee per payout, with a minimum of $25 for bank wires or $5 for crypto. BrightFunded does not list a specific payout fee, making it cheaper for frequent withdrawers.
- Profit Split: Both start at 80%. However, BrightFunded allows you to buy a 90% split for a 20% upfront add-on. Hola Prime offers up to 95% but with a 20% surcharge on the purchase price.
- Refund of fee: BrightFunded only refunds your fee if you buy the 10% add-on at the start. Hola Prime (Pro/Prime) refunds it automatically, but only after your fourth successful payout, which is a long-term commitment.
Where each one hides its cost
Beyond the sticker price, there are "invisible" costs related to time and rules.
- Consistency and minimum days: Hola Prime requires 3 profitable days per biweekly cycle. This "costs" you time, as you cannot simply hit a big trade and withdraw. BrightFunded requires 5 trading days for evaluation but has no minimum profitable day rule for payouts.
- The "Add-on" Trap: BrightFunded looks cheap, but if you want a refund, 90% split, and weekly payouts, you will end up paying +55% over the base price.
- Inactivity: Both firms will terminate your account after 30 days of inactivity, effectively costing you 100% of your investment if you take a long break.
Cheapest for whom
Hola Prime is the cheapest option for the "hobbyist" trader or those with very little capital, thanks to their $9 and $14 challenges. It is also the only choice if you want to skip the evaluation entirely via their Direct accounts, though you pay a premium for it.
BrightFunded is the cheaper choice for the professional trader targeting 100K or 200K accounts. Even with their add-on system, the base prices for large accounts are significantly lower than Hola Prime's Pro models, and the lack of withdrawal fees makes it more profitable in the long run.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper for a 100K challenge, BrightFunded or Hola Prime?
BrightFunded is cheaper for a 100K account, with prices starting at $477 for their 2-Step Bright model. In contrast, Hola Prime's 100K Prime challenge costs $569, and their Pro version goes up to $681. Even the BrightFunded 1-step at $497 is more affordable than any Hola Prime 100K equivalent.
Do BrightFunded or Hola Prime charge fees when you withdraw your profits?
Hola Prime charges a 2.5% fee on every payout, with minimums of $25 for bank transfers and $5 for crypto. BrightFunded does not impose these withdrawal commissions, although they do not offer an automatic refund of the initial fee unless you pay for a specific 10% add-on at the time of purchase.
Which firm has higher costs for using EAs, BrightFunded or Hola Prime?
BrightFunded has zero additional costs for EAs, as they are allowed by default on all accounts. Hola Prime is more expensive for algorithmic traders because it requires a 10% surcharge on the challenge price to enable EA trading, and this option is only available for the MT5 platform.
Between BrightFunded and Hola Prime, which one makes it harder to get a fee refund?
BrightFunded makes it "harder" in the sense that you must pay an extra 10% upfront to even be eligible for a refund. However, Hola Prime requires more endurance; while the refund is included in Prime/Pro accounts, you only receive it upon your fourth successful payout, whereas BrightFunded pays it with the first payout if the add-on was purchased.
