Entry price
The initial cost to start trading differs fundamentally in its structure: The5ers charges a single fee, while Hola Prime requires a recurring payment until you pass.
- $50K Account: The5ers costs $100 (Day Trade) or $120 (Swing) as a one-time payment. Hola Prime costs $159 every 30 days.
- $150K Account: The5ers costs $199 (Day Trade) or $219 (Swing). Hola Prime costs $359 per month.
- Instant Access: Hola Prime offers "Direct Accounts" that bypass the evaluation entirely, costing $348 for a $25K account up to $998 for $150K. The5ers does not offer an instant funding option for futures.
What you pay while trading
Operating costs are where Hola Prime gains a competitive edge for active traders.
- Commissions: On The5ers, you pay $5 per side for standard contracts. On Hola Prime (using Tradovate/NinjaTrader), you pay $2.88 per side for ES/NQ. For a trader doing 100 trades a month, The5ers costs $424 more in commissions alone.
- Data Fees: Both firms include data during the simulated stages. However, if invited to a "Live" account at Hola Prime, you must pay professional data fees starting at $130 per exchange per month, which can reach $520 for the full bundle. The5ers keeps all activity in a simulated environment with no monthly data costs.
- Platform fees: Hola Prime supports popular platforms like NinjaTrader and Tradovate. The5ers is limited to BlackArrow.
What mistakes cost you
The cost of an error is not just the loss on the trade, but the potential loss of the entire investment.
- Drawdown: Both firms use an End-of-Day (EOD) trailing drawdown. At The5ers, the limit is fixed at 4%. At Hola Prime, it ranges between 3% and 4% depending on the account size.
- Hard Breaches: At Hola Prime, failing to set a Stop Loss or exceeding a 2% risk-per-idea limit in funded stages results in account termination. At The5ers, the consistency rule of 40% per position acts as a speed bump; if one trade accounts for more than 40% of your total profit, you must keep trading until that percentage drops, which costs time and extra commissions.
- Resets: Hola Prime allows you to repurchase a challenge at any time if you fail. The5ers requires a completely new purchase at the full price.
What it costs to get paid
Getting your money out also has a price tag attached to it.
- Profit Split: Hola Prime offers a 90% split for the trader. The5ers offers an 80% split.
- Withdrawal Fees: The5ers charges a 3.5% fee for Rise, Crypto, or Bank Transfers. Hola Prime charges 2.5% with a minimum fee of $25 for wires or $5 for crypto.
- Payout Speed: Hola Prime allows payouts every 7 days. The5ers requires a 14-day wait between the first trade and the first payout, and 14 days between subsequent requests.
Where each one hides its cost
Each firm has a specific area where the "cheap" becomes "expensive."
Hola Prime hides its cost in the calendar. Because the evaluation is a subscription, every month you spend trying to hit the profit target doubles or triples your entry price. Furthermore, the transition to a "Live" account is not a choice and introduces heavy professional data fees that can eat a large portion of your monthly profits.
The5ers hides its cost in the execution. By charging $5 per side on standard contracts compared to the industry standard of ~$2.50-$3.00, they are essentially taking a larger cut of every winning trade you make. Over the lifetime of a funded account, you might end up paying thousands more in commissions than you would at Hola Prime.
Cheapest for whom
The5ers is the cheapest for swing traders and those who prefer to trade without the pressure of a ticking clock, as the one-time fee removes the "subscription anxiety."
Hola Prime is the cheapest for high-frequency scalpers and professional intraday traders who can pass an evaluation quickly. The lower commission structure and the 90% profit split offer a significantly higher long-term yield for those who trade multiple times a day.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a $50,000 account, Hola Prime or The5ers?
The5ers is cheaper for starting a $50K account, charging a one-time fee of $100 for the Day Trade plan or $120 for the Swing plan. Hola Prime charges $159 per month for its 1-Step Prime evaluation, meaning it is more expensive from day one and becomes even costlier if you do not pass within the first 30 days.
Which firm has lower trading commissions, Hola Prime or The5ers?
Hola Prime has significantly lower commissions, charging $2.88 per side for standard indices like ES and NQ on the Tradovate/NinjaTrader platforms. In contrast, The5ers charges $5 per side for the same contracts, making the cost of every trade nearly twice as high as it is at Hola Prime.
Who offers a better profit split and lower payout fees, Hola Prime or The5ers?
Hola Prime offers a better financial deal for withdrawals with a 90% profit split and a 2.5% payout fee. The5ers provides an 80% profit split and charges a higher 3.5% fee for most withdrawal methods (Rise, Crypto, and Wire), unless the trader chooses to convert the payout into internal Hub Credits.
Which firm allows faster access to profits, Hola Prime or The5ers?
Hola Prime is faster, as it allows traders to request payouts every 7 calendar days from the first trade of the cycle. The5ers requires at least 14 days of trading before the first payout can be requested and maintains a 14-day waiting period between all subsequent withdrawals.
