Entry price
The cost of starting a challenge varies significantly depending on the chosen path:
- 100K Accounts: The5ers offers a High Stakes 100K challenge for $405, while TTT Markets charges $499 for its 1-Step Lite 100K.
- Budget Entry: The5ers allows you to start a 100K Bootcamp for just $95 (entry fee), though you pay more upon passing. TTT Markets has a 5K Lite challenge for $69.
- Recurring Models: TTT Markets provides a 10K Subscription for $59 per month, which includes a fresh evaluation every billing cycle.
- Instant Funding: TTT Markets offers a 10K Instant account for $399. The5ers does not currently offer a traditional instant funding model, focusing instead on rapid evaluation.
What you pay while trading
Operating costs are often hidden in spreads and commissions, which act as a "tax" on every trade:
- Commissions: The5ers charges $4 per lot on Forex. For other assets like Crypto or Metals, they use a percentage-based formula that can increase the cost of high-frequency strategies. TTT Markets uses simulated brokerage where costs are integrated into the execution environment.
- Leverage impact: TTT Markets offers up to 1:100, allowing for larger positions with less margin, whereas The5ers limits most programs (except High Stakes) to 30:1, which may require more "economic effort" to reach profit targets.
- Swap fees: Both firms offer Swap-Free options, but at The5ers, you must specifically request it via support for the funded stage, potentially delaying your start.
What mistakes cost you
In prop trading, a mistake isn't just a loss; it's the cost of losing the entire account (the "reset cost"):
- Drawdown Type: TTT Markets uses trailing equity drawdown on its 1-Step Standard and Pro accounts. This is the most "expensive" type of drawdown because it locks in your peak profits, making the account easier to lose. The5ers uses balance-based drawdown, which is more forgiving and "cheaper" for the trader’s survival.
- Reset Costs: TTT Markets Subscription users get a free reset every month. For other accounts, a "Buyback" costs 2% of the account size. The5ers does not emphasize a standard reset fee, often requiring a new challenge purchase.
- Add-ons: TTT Markets sells "insurance." You can pay +20% for a drawdown upgrade or +30% for account protection (recovery after a breach). These are upfront costs to mitigate the price of future errors.
What it costs to get paid
Getting your money out also has a price tag:
- Withdrawal Fees: The5ers charges a 3.5% commission on withdrawals made via Rise, Crypto, or Bank Transfer. TTT Markets does not list a specific withdrawal fee but has a minimum threshold of $100.
- Profit Split: TTT Markets offers up to 90% on Subscription accounts and starts at 50-70% on others. The5ers starts at 50% or 80% but can scale up to 100%, meaning the "cost" of the firm’s share eventually disappears.
- Waiting Time: TTT Markets requires 21 days for the first payout on 1-Step accounts. The5ers pays out after 14 days. Time is money; a longer wait is an opportunity cost.
Where each one hides its cost
- TTT Markets: The cost is hidden in the Add-ons. To get features that are standard elsewhere (like weekend holding or higher drawdown), you must pay an extra 25% to 30% over the base price.
- The5ers: The cost is hidden in the Withdrawal Commission (3.5%) and the Minimum Payout requirements. Reaching a $150-$500 minimum profit to withdraw from a High Stakes account is a barrier that keeps small profits inside the firm’s ecosystem longer.
Cheapest for whom
The5ers is the cheapest for high-performance traders who can scale to a 100% profit split and want to avoid trailing drawdown traps. TTT Markets is the cheapest for consistent learners who prefer the subscription model, where the cost of a "fresh start" is included in the monthly fee.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a 100K challenge, TTT Markets or The5ers?
The5ers is cheaper, offering its High Stakes 100K challenge for $405, whereas TTT Markets charges $499 for the 1-Step Lite 100K. Additionally, The5ers has a Bootcamp entry for only $95, making it the lowest upfront cost for that capital size.
Does TTT Markets or The5ers have higher withdrawal fees?
The5ers has higher explicit fees, charging 3.5% on most payout methods (Rise, Crypto, Bank Transfer). TTT Markets does not specify a percentage-based withdrawal fee in its data, although it requires a minimum withdrawal of $100.
Is the drawdown more expensive for the trader at TTT Markets or The5ers?
The drawdown is "more expensive" (harder to manage) at TTT Markets for its 1-Step Standard/Pro accounts because it uses trailing equity, which follows your profit peaks. The5ers uses balance-based drawdown, which is economically more favorable for the trader as it only considers the initial balance or the end-of-day high.
Which firm offers a better profit split, TTT Markets or The5ers?
The5ers offers a higher potential, as their scaling plan allows traders to reach a 100% profit split. TTT Markets is also very competitive, offering up to 90% on Subscription accounts, but it does not reach the 100% mark provided by The5ers.
