What you are signing up for
A prop firm evaluation is a two-way agreement where you pay an entry fee to access a demo account. If you reach the profit target—a specific amount of money you must earn to pass—without breaking risk rules, the firm gives you a funded account to trade their capital and split the profits.
Doji Funding offers an extremely accessible entry point with its "Budget" 1-step accounts, such as a $10,000 account for just $35. However, they do not offer a refund of this fee. Goat Funded Trader is more expensive upfront, with a $25,000 "Standard" account costing $234, but they provide a full refund of your fee after your fourth successful payout. Neither firm offers a dedicated free trial, though Doji Funding has a free monthly competition program to practice.
How hard each one is
Difficulty is measured by the profit target and the drawdown, which is the maximum loss your account is allowed to hit before it is closed.
- Doji Funding: Their 1-step "Budget" models are very beginner-friendly with a low 5% profit target and a 6% maximum drawdown. You have a small margin for error, but the goal is close.
- Goat Funded Trader: Their "Standard" 2-step accounts require a 10% gain in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2. While the targets are higher, the maximum drawdown is more generous at 10%, giving you more room to breathe during market swings.
Both firms use "Static" drawdown for their step-based evaluations, meaning your loss limit stays fixed at a specific number and does not move against you as you make money.
How long it takes
In this industry, firms often impose minimum trading days, which is the number of individual days you must place at least one trade before moving to the next stage.
Doji Funding is highly customizable. Depending on the preset you choose, you might need between 5 and 7 minimum trading days. Goat Funded Trader generally requires 3 profitable days (days where you earn at least 0.5%) for their evaluation accounts. Neither firm has a maximum trading day limit, so you can take as much time as you need to reach your goals without the pressure of a deadline.
Where beginners fail
Most beginners lose their accounts due to risk violations or the consistency rule, a regulation that prevents you from earning all your profit in a single "lucky" trade.
Doji Funding applies a consistency rule to all funded accounts. By default, no single day can represent more than 30% of your total profit. If you hit a huge winner, you will have to keep trading consistently to balance your account. Goat Funded Trader only applies consistency rules to their "Instant" models (like the 15% rule for Instant Goat).
Additionally, you must watch your "Daily Drawdown," which is the maximum you can lose in a single 24-hour period. Doji's limit is usually 3-5%, while Goat offers 4-5% on most models.
What happens if you make it
If you pass, you move to a funded account where you can request a payout, which is your share of the profits earned.
Doji Funding allows you to choose your payout frequency at the time of purchase: Daily, Weekly, or Bi-Weekly. This is a rare level of flexibility. They use a profit split—the percentage of gains you keep—starting at 60% for Budget accounts and up to 90% for Power accounts. Goat Funded Trader pays bi-weekly by default, but you can buy an "On Demand" add-on to get your money whenever you want. Their profit split is generally higher for beginners, starting at 80% and scaling up to 95% as you succeed.
If it is your first time
If you are worried about the cost of failure, Doji Funding is the better choice. You can start a $10,000 evaluation for $35, which is less than the cost of a video game. This allows you to learn the pressure of professional rules without a significant financial risk.
However, if you have a larger budget and want more professional tools, Goat Funded Trader is superior. They offer a much wider range of platforms, including MetaTrader 5 and cTrader, whereas Doji is limited to DXTrade. Goat's refund policy also means that if you are a successful trader, the evaluation eventually costs you nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a $10,000 evaluation, Doji Funding or Goat Funded Trader?
Doji Funding is significantly cheaper. You can purchase a $10,000 "1-Step Fast Track Budget" account for $35. In comparison, the closest entry for Goat Funded Trader is the "Goat BLITZ" $10,000 account for $118, or a $15,000 "2 Step Goat" for $98.
Does Doji Funding or Goat Funded Trader offer more trading platforms?
Goat Funded Trader offers a much larger selection, including MatchTrader, cTrader, TradeLocker, Volumetrica, and MetaTrader 5. Doji Funding currently only offers DXTrade, which may be more restrictive for beginners who are used to standard industry software.
Which firm has a better profit split for successful traders, Doji Funding or Goat Funded Trader?
Goat Funded Trader generally offers a better deal for beginners, starting at an 80% profit split and scaling up to 95% through their loyalty levels. Doji Funding starts as low as 60% for their cheapest accounts, though you can pay more for a "Power" account to start at 90%.
Can I get a refund of my evaluation fee with Doji Funding or Goat Funded Trader?
Only Goat Funded Trader offers a refund policy, returning your initial fee after you receive your 4th successful payout. Doji Funding clearly states in their technical info that fees are non-refundable from the moment of purchase, even if the account is never used.
