1. Evolution and Market Reliability
Ment Funding and The5ers represent two different eras of the prop firm industry. The5ers, founded in 2016, is one of the oldest and most established firms in the market, providing a level of historical data and trust that few can match. Their high Trustpilot volume (over 20,000 reviews) suggests a massive, active user base.
In contrast, Ment Funding entered the market in 2021. While younger, it has positioned itself as a firm capable of managing massive capital allocations. Based in the United States, it caters to traders looking for high-tier account sizes and a more straightforward, one-step evaluation process.
2. Evaluation Models and Capital Access
The structural approach to evaluations differs significantly between these two entities:
- Ment Funding focuses almost exclusively on One-Step Evaluations. This model is designed for speed, allowing traders to reach funded status by hitting a single profit target. Their most distinctive feature is the $2,000,000 account size, an allocation rarely seen in the industry without years of scaling.
- The5ers offers a diverse ecosystem of programs:
- Bootcamp: A low-cost, three-step evaluation designed for disciplined traders who prefer to prove themselves on a "demo" stage before paying the full fee.
- Hyper Growth: A one-step program focused on aggressive scaling.
- High Stakes: A traditional two-step evaluation offering higher leverage and larger drawdowns.
For a trader, Ment Funding is the choice for immediate high-capital access, while The5ers is better suited for those seeking variety and lower entry costs via the Bootcamp.
3. Drawdown and Risk Parameters
Risk management is the area where these firms diverge most in their technical requirements:
- Ment Funding utilizes a Static Maximum Drawdown of 6%. Static drawdown is generally preferred by professional traders because it does not move up as the account balance grows, providing a fixed "floor" that is easier to manage over time. Their daily drawdown is 5% and is balance-based.
- The5ers' High Stakes program offers a 10% Maximum Drawdown, which is significantly more generous than Ment's 6%. However, their daily drawdown is "EOD high-watermark" based, meaning it resets based on the highest equity or balance recorded at the end of the day.
- Bootcamp (The5ers) has strict risk rules: Traders cannot risk more than 2% of the initial balance in a single trade and must use a mandatory Stop Loss. Ment Funding does not enforce mandatory stop losses, offering more flexibility for manual or discretionary styles.
4. Trading Rules and Strategy Restrictions
Both firms allow Expert Advisors (EAs) and scalping, but their restrictive rules differ:
- News Trading: Ment Funding is highly restrictive, enforcing a 6-minute window (3 minutes before and after high-impact news) where opening new positions is prohibited. The5ers is more flexible in their Hyper-Growth and Bootcamp programs but restricts opening/closing orders during news in the High Stakes model.
- Weekend Holding: At Ment Funding, holding positions over the weekend is only allowed if the trader purchases a specific add-on (+10% price). The5ers allows weekend holding by default, which is a significant advantage for swing traders.
- Consistency and Strategy: Ment Funding explicitly prohibits Martingale or "averaging down" strategies. The5ers is more focused on individual trade risk (in Bootcamp), but both firms generally allow copy trading from the trader's own accounts.
5. Payout Frequency and Profit Sharing
The financial reward systems show a clear difference in liquidity and potential earnings:
- Profit Split: Ment Funding starts at 75%, which can be boosted to 90% via an add-on. The5ers' High Stakes starts at 80% and can scale all the way to 100% profit split as the trader progresses through the scaling plan.
- Payout Frequency: The5ers provides much faster access to capital. After the first 14 days, traders can request withdrawals every 2 weeks. Ment Funding requires a 30-day wait between payouts after the first on-demand withdrawal.
- Fixed Payouts: A unique feature of The5ers' High Stakes is the Monthly Fixed Payout. Once a trader reaches a $350k balance, they receive $4,000 monthly regardless of performance, increasing to $10,000 at a $500k balance. Ment Funding has no such fixed salary component.
6. Scaling and Growth Potential
Both firms offer scaling, but the mechanics favor different trader profiles:
- Ment Funding Scaling: Focuses on doubling the account size. If a trader makes a 10% profit and meets consistency requirements over 6 months, the account size is doubled, up to $2,000,000.
- The5ers Scaling: Their plan is more granular and performance-heavy. It allows traders to reach up to $4,000,000 in management, which is double the cap of Ment Funding. The5ers also increases the profit split percentage and adds fixed monthly salaries as the trader scales.
7. Summary: Which Firm to Choose?
The choice between Ment Funding and The5ers depends on the trader's strategy, capital needs, and risk tolerance.
Ment Funding is the preferred choice if:
- You want to start with a very large capital allocation (up to $2M) from day one.
- You prefer a Static Drawdown that doesn't trail your profits.
- You prefer a simple, one-step evaluation process without mandatory stop losses.
- You are comfortable with a 30-day payout cycle and restricted news trading.
The5ers is the preferred choice if:
- You value company longevity and a proven track record since 2016.
- You are a swing trader who needs to hold positions over the weekend without extra costs.
- You want faster access to your profits (bi-weekly payouts).
- You are looking for a "salary-like" experience via fixed monthly payouts at higher tiers.
- You want the highest possible scaling cap in the industry ($4M).
