What you are signing up for
A prop firm evaluation is a test where you trade with virtual money to prove you can be profitable while following strict risk rules. If you pass, you receive a "funded" account where you keep a large portion of the real profits you generate.
- Funded Elite offers very accessible entry points. Their "Lite" accounts start at $19 for a $5,000 balance. They also have an "Activation" path where you pay just $5 to start the test and only pay the full fee if you pass.
- Hola Prime is also very affordable for beginners. Their smallest account is a $2,000 balance that costs only $9. For a standard $50,000 evaluation, the cost is $319.
How hard each one is
The difficulty is measured by the profit target, which is the amount of gain you must reach to pass, and the drawdown, which is the maximum loss you are allowed to take before losing the account.
Funded Elite sets a profit target of 12% for its one-step evaluations. They use a 3% daily loss limit and an 8% total loss limit. On funded accounts, they often use a "trailing" drawdown, meaning the loss limit moves up as your profits grow, which can be harder for beginners to manage.
Hola Prime asks for a 10% profit target on its one-step plans. Their total loss limit is more generous, reaching 10% on "Prime" accounts. However, they require a "Stop Loss" on every trade in funded accounts, which is an automatic order that closes a trade at a certain price to prevent further losses.
How long it takes
Beginners often want to know how many days they must trade. This is called "minimum trading days."
- Funded Elite: There are no minimum trading days to pass the evaluation. You could technically pass in one day if you hit the target. Once you are funded, you must trade for at least 3 days before your first withdrawal.
- Hola Prime: They require 2 to 3 days of active trading depending on the plan you choose. They also offer a "Direct" account, which skips the evaluation test entirely so you can start earning from day one, though it is more expensive.
Neither firm has a maximum time limit, so you can take as many months as you need to reach your goal.
Where beginners fail
Most first-timers fail because of "drawdown" breaches or "consistency" rules. A consistency rule is a requirement that your profits must be spread out; you cannot pass or get paid based on just one "lucky" trade that represents most of your gains.
Funded Elite applies a 30% consistency rule on its Activation accounts. If one trade makes up more than 30% of your total profit, it may not count. They also prohibit "EAs," which are automated trading robots, meaning you must do everything manually.
Hola Prime allows automated trading if you pay an extra 10% fee. Their biggest trap for beginners is the "News Trading" rule on Pro accounts. This means you cannot open or close trades 5 minutes before or after major economic announcements, or you might lose your profits.
What happens if you make it
If you pass, you get to keep a "profit split," which is your share of the earnings. Funded Elite gives you between 60% and 95%. Hola Prime starts at 80% and can go up to 95%.
Regarding withdrawals, Funded Elite allows you to choose your frequency (every 3 to 21 days) at checkout. The minimum you can take out is $30 via Crypto. Hola Prime usually pays every 14 days, and their minimum withdrawal is $50. Both firms will refund your initial testing fee once you prove you are a consistent trader (Funded Elite on your 3rd payout, Hola Prime on your 4th).
If it is your first time
If you are worried about losing your initial investment, Funded Elite is the better choice because of its "Activation" model. Paying only $5 to start the test removes the financial pressure while you learn the ropes.
However, if you want more flexibility with your trading style and platforms, Hola Prime is superior. They offer four different trading platforms (including cTrader and MatchTrader) and allow you to use automated tools, making it a more professional environment for your first real attempt.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper for a $100,000 one-step evaluation, Funded Elite or Hola Prime?
Funded Elite is slightly cheaper, with a price of $569 for its standard 1-Step $100K account. Hola Prime charges $579 for its 1-Step Prime Challenge of the same size. However, Funded Elite also offers a "Lite" version of this account for $369, though it has a tighter loss limit of 6%.
Does Funded Elite or Hola Prime have a shorter waiting time for the first payout?
Funded Elite offers more speed because you can choose a 3-day payout frequency at the checkout. In contrast, Hola Prime typically operates on a 14-day (biweekly) cycle for its Direct and Prime accounts. This makes Funded Elite better for traders who want to access their profits as quickly as possible.
Between Funded Elite and Hola Prime, which one offers more trading platforms?
Hola Prime offers significantly more variety with four platforms: MetaTrader 5, cTrader, MatchTrader, and TradeLocker. Funded Elite only provides two options: MetaTrader 5 and TradeLocker. For a beginner, having access to cTrader or MatchTrader at Hola Prime can be a major advantage if they find MetaTrader too complex.
Which firm is more helpful if I fail my first evaluation, Funded Elite or Hola Prime?
Funded Elite is more helpful because it offers a "Second Chance" feature for its 1-Step and 2-Step accounts. If you fail the evaluation, you get a free retry starting from Phase 1, although your profit split and loss limits will be slightly reduced. Hola Prime does not offer a free retry; if you fail, you must purchase a new account at full price.
