Where you trade
The choice between these two firms defines your technical workspace. Funding Traders relies on the industry standard MetaTrader 5 and the newer, mobile-centric TradeLocker. This combination caters to traders who use traditional MQL5 scripts or those who prefer a modern, trading-view-integrated interface.
On the other side, PipFarm is exclusively committed to cTrader. This platform is widely regarded for its superior depth of market, native "copy trading" capabilities, and a more professional execution feel. By choosing PipFarm, you are opting for an environment designed for precision, though it requires familiarity with C# for automated strategies rather than the MQL5 used in Funding Traders.
Who executes your orders
Execution quality depends on the bridge between the firm and the market. Funding Traders uses FUTRAD and Galaxy Path Capital as their primary brokers. This setup is designed to handle high-volume retail flow with the typical execution speeds found in the MT5 ecosystem.
PipFarm manages its execution through a more centralized setup in Singapore, focusing on the cTrader infrastructure. Unlike many firms that use white-label brokers, PipFarm provides a demo account environment (ctrader@pipfarm.com) just for users to inspect live conditions (spreads and execution) before committing, which is a rare transparency milestone in the prop industry.
Leverage and margin
Risk management is where these firms differ significantly in their technical "tightness":
- Funding Traders: Offers a standard 1:50 leverage for Forex. Their risk rules are enforced by a 2% maximum risk per trade idea on Pro accounts. This means the platform will monitor not just single trades, but groups of trades in the same direction. Drawdown varies: 1-Step uses a 10% trailing drawdown, while 2-Step Pro offers a 6% or 10% static drawdown, which is much safer for holding positions.
- PipFarm: Provides 1:30 default leverage for Forex, which can be boosted to 1:50 via a paid add-on. Their safety mechanism is the Pip Protector, which automatically closes positions if you reach a 2% max risk limit. Unlike the "hard fail" of many firms, PipFarm uses a "strike" system where the first two violations reduce your limits/profit share before the third one terminates the account.
Markets available
Both firms cover the essential four: Forex, Commodities, Indices, and Crypto. However, the execution conditions differ. Funding Traders allows Crypto trading over the weekend with no forced Friday flattening. PipFarm also allows weekend holding and provides specific leverage tiers for each asset class (e.g., 1:2 for Crypto), ensuring that margin requirements are dynamically adjusted based on your total exposure.
What the setup lets you do
The technical rules define your trading style:
- Algorithmic Trading: Funding Traders allows EAs only for risk management or personally developed strategies; off-the-shelf "bots" are banned. PipFarm is more open to cBots and Open API tools, provided they aren't HFT or latency arbitrage.
- News Trading: Funding Traders allows it in the evaluation phase, but in the funded phase, news trades cannot exceed 30% of total profits. PipFarm allows news trading without these specific profit-cap restrictions on their standard accounts.
- Copy Trading: Both allow copying between your own accounts. Funding Traders specifically allows copying from external brokers into their platform.
What the setup costs
Costs are a mix of the entry fee and the ongoing "tax" of commissions:
- Funding Traders: A $5,000 2-Step account starts at $39. Commissions are $3 per lot, but you can buy a "Swap-free, Zero Commissions" add-on. Payouts are every 21 days (default) or 7 days (Instant), with a $1,000 guarantee if they are processed late.
- PipFarm: A $5,000 account can be as cheap as $19 (Light) or $35 (Classic). Commissions start high at $6 per lot but can drop to $0 as you climb their Experience Program (Rank 6). Payouts can be requested every 7 to 30 days, but there is a hard cap of $5,000 per withdrawal.
Better setup for
- Funding Traders is the better setup for US-based traders and those who prefer MetaTrader 5 with a static drawdown and a payout guarantee.
- PipFarm is the better setup for cTrader enthusiasts and professional scalpers who want to earn lower commissions and higher profit splits (up to 99%) through a long-term loyalty/ranking system.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a $100,000 challenge, Funding Traders or PipFarm?
Funding Traders offers a $100,000 2-Step Pro10 challenge for $539. PipFarm is significantly more affordable for this size, offering a $100,000 Standard Classic challenge for $490, or even a "Standard Light" version for only $199.
Does Funding Traders or PipFarm have better conditions for news trading?
PipFarm has more flexible conditions as it allows news trading without specific profit restrictions on its standard accounts. Funding Traders allows it, but once you are funded, you are hit with a 30% cap rule: no more than 30% of your total profit can come from trades influenced by high-impact news events.
Which firm allows for higher leverage, Funding Traders or PipFarm?
Funding Traders provides 1:50 leverage on Forex by default across its accounts. PipFarm starts with a lower default of 1:30, and you must pay an additional 20% of the base price as an add-on to reach the same 1:50 leverage level.
Between Funding Traders and PipFarm, who has the better payout frequency?
PipFarm offers more flexibility through add-ons, allowing for weekly or even on-demand payouts if you pay the extra fee, though it has a $5,000 cap per withdrawal. Funding Traders defaults to 21 days for Pro accounts but offers a 7-day frequency for Instant accounts and a unique $1,000 penalty payment to the trader if they fail to process a payout within 2 business days.





















