Entry price
The cost of starting depends heavily on the account size you choose, as the two firms compete in different segments:
- Small accounts ($5,000): Tradexprop is the clear winner here, offering a 2-step challenge for $35, while Funding Traders starts at $39.
- Standard accounts ($100,000): The table turns in favor of Funding Traders, whose 2-step Pro6 account costs $419 compared to the $615 charged by Tradexprop.
- Instant Funding ($50,000): Funding Traders costs $449, whereas Tradexprop's Instant Funded X is much more expensive at $2,500, reflecting a very different risk model.
- Refunds: Funding Traders includes a refund of the challenge fee with the first or second payout (depending on the plan), and even offers a 150% refund add-on. Tradexprop does not offer refunds on any of its plans.
What you pay while trading
Operating the account isn't free, and here the "execution tax" varies wildly:
- Commissions: Tradexprop charges a high fee of $7 per lot on Forex and Metals. Funding Traders charges only $3 per lot, and offers an add-on to reach $0 commissions (Swap-free).
- Execution Platforms: Both offer modern options like cTrader, MatchTrader, or DXTrade (at Tradexprop) and MetaTrader 5 or TradeLocker (at Funding Traders).
- Hidden Slippage: High commissions at Tradexprop mean you need a larger move just to break even, which is an indirect cost for scalpers.
What mistakes cost you
In prop trading, a mistake is not just a loss of capital, but the cost of the "Reset" or the loss of the initial fee:
- Drawdown: Funding Traders offers up to 10% static drawdown on its Pro10 accounts, meaning you have a $10,000 cushion on a $100,000 account. Tradexprop is tighter, with a 6% static drawdown on its X-1 and X-2 steps.
- Risk Rules: Funding Traders has a strict 2% maximum risk per trade idea rule. Violating this is a breach. Tradexprop uses a "Soft Breach" for some rules where trades are closed but the account survives, though a violation of the 5% daily loss limit is a "Hard Breach" (account loss).
- Inactivity: Both firms will close your account if you don't trade for 30 days, costing you the entire entry fee.
What it costs to get paid
Getting your money out also has its own price in terms of time and requirements:
- Consistency Rules: Tradexprop requires that no single day accounts for more than 45% of your profit target. If you have one "too good" day, you must keep trading, which increases the risk of losing the account before withdrawing. Funding Traders has a 50% rule (default) but allows you to pay an add-on to lower this requirement or increase the profit split to 100%.
- Payout Frequency: Funding Traders pays every 7 to 21 days depending on the account. Tradexprop pays bi-weekly for evaluations and every 30 days for Instant accounts.
- Minimums: Funding Traders allows withdrawals from $50 (Crypto). Tradexprop requires at least $100 or 1% of the balance.
Where each one hides its cost
- Funding Traders: Its cost is hidden in the Add-ons. If you want a 100% profit split, faster payouts, or news trading, the checkout price can increase by 20% to 50%.
- Tradexprop: Its cost is hidden in the Commissions and the Profit Target. By charging $7 per lot and having no refund policy, the firm recoups its "cheap" entry price very quickly through your trading activity.
Cheapest for whom
- Tradexprop is the cheapest option for beginners who want to practice with a $5,000 account for the lowest possible price ($35) and don't mind the high commissions.
- Funding Traders is the cheapest for professional scalpers and high-volume traders because the $3 commission (or $0 with add-on) and the 150% refund make the long-term cost much lower.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper for a $100,000 challenge, Funding Traders or Tradexprop?
Funding Traders is significantly cheaper for a $100,000 account, with prices starting at $419 for its 2-Step Pro6 plan. In contrast, Tradexprop charges $615 for its Forex X-2 Step evaluation of the same size. Furthermore, Funding Traders refunds this fee upon reaching the funded stage, while Tradexprop does not offer any refunds.
Between Funding Traders and Tradexprop, which one has lower trading commissions?
Funding Traders is much more economical for active traders, charging $3 per lot on Forex. Tradexprop charges more than double, with a commission of $7 per lot. This means that for every 100 lots traded, you would pay $300 at Funding Traders versus $700 at Tradexprop, a difference that directly impacts your final profit.
Who offers better drawdown conditions for the price, Funding Traders or Tradexprop?
Funding Traders offers better conditions for those seeking a larger safety margin, providing a 10% static drawdown on its Pro10 accounts. Tradexprop limits its static drawdown to 6% on its evaluation accounts. This means that at Funding Traders, you have a larger "loss budget" relative to the price paid for the account.
Which firm allows you to collect profits faster, Funding Traders or Tradexprop?
Funding Traders is faster, offering payouts every 7 days for Instant accounts and every 21 days (reducible to 14 with an add-on) for Pro accounts. Tradexprop pays bi-weekly (every 14 days) for evaluations, but its Instant accounts are restricted to one payout every 30 days, which is a significantly longer wait compared to its competitor.
