Entry price
The cost of starting depends heavily on whether you choose a traditional evaluation or an instant funding model. Bulenox offers a lower barrier to entry for its evaluation accounts, but you must factor in the mandatory activation fee once you pass.
- Bulenox 50K EOD Evaluation: $175 plus a $148 activation fee.
- Bulenox 100K EOD Evaluation: $215 plus a $248 activation fee.
- forTraders Futures 50K Fast Challenge: $199 with no activation fee.
- forTraders Futures 100K Fast Challenge: $339 with no activation fee.
- Bulenox 50K Fast Track (Instant): $488 one-time fee.
- forTraders Futures 50K Instant: $399 one-time fee.
What you pay while trading
Operating costs are dictated by platform fees and execution commissions. Bulenox relies on external providers like Rithmic, which involves a learning curve and potential data costs depending on the platform chosen (NinjaTrader, ATAS, etc.). forTraders Futures uses its proprietary For Traders X platform, which simplifies the setup but limits choice.
- forTraders Futures commissions: 0.2% per order with a minimum of $3.
- Bulenox commissions: Vary by broker (Rithmic or Project X), requiring traders to check external rate sheets.
- Bulenox platform costs: Offers free options like RTrader, but professional tools like Bookmap or Sierra Chart require individual licenses.
- forTraders Futures platform costs: Included in the price as it uses a proprietary web-based system.
What mistakes cost you
In prop trading, the cost of a mistake is the loss of the account or a reduction in your earning potential. Bulenox offers more flexibility with its End-of-Day (EOD) drawdown accounts, which are "cheaper" for your psychology because they don't penalize you for unrealized profits during the session.
- Bulenox EOD Drawdown: Only updates at the end of the day, allowing more room for intraday volatility.
- forTraders Futures Trailing Drawdown: Follows your peak equity in real-time on most accounts, making it easier to fail during a retracement.
- forTraders Futures Drawdown Protection: A unique cost-saving rule where reaching a -2% floating loss doesn't kill the account immediately but drops your profit split to 50%.
- Bulenox Resets: Cost $78 for Legacy accounts, while Momentum resets are available but the price is not publicly fixed.
What it costs to get paid
The final cost is what you leave on the table when you try to withdraw your money. Bulenox is more generous with its split but locks your capital behind a mandatory buffer. forTraders Futures charges direct fees for the transaction itself.
- Bulenox Profit Split: 100% of the first $10,000, then 90%.
- forTraders Futures Profit Split: A flat 80%, though it can be boosted via their loyalty program.
- Bulenox Mandatory Buffer: You cannot withdraw the first $2,600 on a 50K account or $3,100 on a 100K account. This is a "cost" of liquidity.
- forTraders Futures Payout Fees: $25 for Crypto and up to $50 for Rise transfers.
- forTraders Futures Payout Guarantee: If they don't pay within 48 hours, they give you a 100% profit split for that cycle.
Where each one hides its cost
The "hidden" cost of Bulenox is the time decay. Its evaluation accounts are valid for 30 calendar days, forcing a reset if you don't reach the target quickly enough. This pressure often leads to overtrading.
forTraders Futures hides its cost in the consistency rule for Instant accounts. A 15% best-day rule means if you have one exceptionally lucky day, you might have to trade for weeks or months longer to "balance" the account before you can withdraw the full amount. Bulenox uses a 35% to 40% consistency rule, which is much more lenient for aggressive traders.
Cheapest for whom
Bulenox is the cheapest for experienced traders who want the highest possible payout percentage (90%) and prefer using professional third-party platforms like NinjaTrader. The EOD drawdown is a significant financial advantage for those who hold trades longer.
forTraders Futures is the cheapest for traders who want a simple, all-in price without activation fees and who plan to stay with one firm for a long time. The potential for a $1,500 monthly salary in the Gold program can eventually offset all initial entry costs.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper for a 50K account, Bulenox or forTraders Futures?
Bulenox has a lower initial price of $175 for an evaluation, but once you pass, you must pay a $148 activation fee, bringing the total to $323. forTraders Futures charges $199 for its 50K Fast Challenge with no activation fee, making it significantly cheaper in the long run if you pass the evaluation.
Which firm offers a better profit share, Bulenox or forTraders Futures?
Bulenox offers a superior profit share, giving traders 100% of the first $10,000 and 90% thereafter. In contrast, forTraders Futures pays a flat 80% split across all futures products, although this can be slightly improved if you reach the highest levels of their XP-based loyalty program.
Between Bulenox and forTraders Futures, which one has more restrictive withdrawal rules?
Bulenox is more restrictive due to its mandatory buffer, requiring traders to keep between $1,600 and $5,600 in the account as a safety net that cannot be withdrawn. forTraders Futures has no mandatory buffer but imposes a strict 15% consistency rule on its Instant accounts and charges payout fees up to $50.
Does Bulenox or forTraders Futures provide more platform flexibility?
Bulenox provides much more flexibility, supporting a wide range of industry-standard platforms including NinjaTrader, RTrader, ATAS, and Quantower. forTraders Futures limits traders to their proprietary For Traders X platform, which may be a drawback for those who rely on specific custom indicators or automated tools available on external platforms.
