Entry price
The upfront cost to access capital varies significantly depending on the speed of the evaluation. The5ers leverages a "pay-as-you-go" model for some accounts, while Wall Street Funded follows a more traditional pricing structure.
- A $50,000 2-step evaluation costs $249 or $279 at The5ers (High Stakes), compared to $349 (Ultra) or $369 (Classic) at Wall Street Funded.
- For a $100,000 account, The5ers offers the Bootcamp entry for just $95, whereas Wall Street Funded charges $509 for its Ultra 2-step or $579 for the Classic 1-step.
- Instant funding for $10,000 costs $440 (Standard) at Wall Street Funded, while The5ers offers the $10,000 ProGrowth (1-step) for $140.
- The5ers provides a full refund after passing High Stakes, while Wall Street Funded issues the refund with the second payout.
What you pay while trading
Beyond the ticket price, the cost of every trade impacts your bottom line. Higher commissions act as a "tax" on your strategy, especially for scalpers.
- Forex commissions: $4 per lot at The5ers versus $3 per lot at Wall Street Funded.
- Indices commissions: Both firms offer $0 commission trading on indices.
- Leverage costs: Wall Street Funded offers up to 50:1 on Forex for 2-step accounts, while The5ers goes up to 100:1 on High Stakes. Higher leverage reduces the "margin cost" of opening positions.
- Swap fees: The5ers offers Swap-Free accounts upon request for the funded stage, potentially saving swing traders significant overnight costs.
What mistakes cost you
In prop trading, the cost of a mistake is the loss of the account. The rules define how much "room" you have before your investment evaporates.
- Drawdown structure: The5ers uses a balance-based drawdown, which is generally more forgiving. Wall Street Funded uses static drawdown for 1 and 2-step accounts, but trailing drawdown for Instant accounts, which is "costlier" as it locks in profits.
- Stop Loss rules: Wall Street Funded makes Stop Loss mandatory (within 2 minutes) for all trades. The5ers only mandates it for the Bootcamp program; forgetting an SL in other programs won't cost you the account.
- News trading: At The5ers, High Stakes traders lose profits if trading during news, but not the account. Wall Street Funded prohibits opening/closing trades 4 minutes around red-folder news on funded accounts.
What it costs to get paid
The final cost is the slice the firm takes when you successfully withdraw your profits.
- Payout fees: The5ers charges a 3.5% fee on withdrawals via Rise, Crypto, or Bank Transfer. Wall Street Funded has no stated percentage fee but requires a minimum withdrawal of $100 for Crypto and $500 for Rise.
- Payout frequency: Wall Street Funded allows withdrawals every 5 to 10 days after the first payout. The5ers requires a 14-day wait between requests.
- Profit split: Both firms start around 80%, but The5ers can scale up to 100% profit share, whereas Wall Street Funded caps at 95%.
Where each one hides its cost
Indirect costs often come from rules that delay or limit your ability to withdraw.
- Consistency rules: Wall Street Funded implements a "maximum winning day" rule for Instant accounts (15% to 30%), meaning one very successful trade could delay your payout. The5ers has a 50% consistency rule specifically for its Summer Plan accounts.
- Inactivity: Both firms will terminate your account (a 100% loss of entry fee) after 30 days of inactivity.
- Lot size limits: Wall Street Funded enforces strict lot size limits based on account size (e.g., 35 lots for a $100k account), while The5ers is more flexible with position sizing.
Cheapest for whom
The5ers is the cheapest choice for traders who want to start with the lowest possible capital (via Bootcamp) or who trade Indices and want to avoid mandatory Stop Loss rules. It is also better for those aiming for a 100% profit split over time. Wall Street Funded is more cost-effective for high-volume Forex traders who benefit from the $1 per lot commission saving, provided they can afford the higher initial evaluation fees.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a $100,000 challenge, The5ers or Wall Street Funded?
The5ers is significantly cheaper to start, offering a $100,000 Bootcamp challenge for an initial entry fee of $95. In contrast, Wall Street Funded charges $509 for its Ultra 2-step evaluation and $579 for its Classic 1-step evaluation for the same account size.
Between The5ers and Wall Street Funded, which one has lower trading commissions?
Wall Street Funded has lower trading commissions for Forex at $3 per lot. The5ers charges $4 per lot for Forex. However, both firms offer $0 commissions on Indices, making them equal in cost for index traders.
Who allows faster withdrawals, The5ers or Wall Street Funded?
Wall Street Funded offers faster recurring withdrawals, allowing traders to request payouts every 5 to 10 days depending on the program. The5ers has a longer waiting period, with subsequent withdrawal requests available every 14 days (2 weeks) from the last approved payout.
Which firm has more restrictive risk rules, The5ers or Wall Street Funded?
Wall Street Funded is generally more restrictive because it mandates a Stop Loss on all trades within 2 minutes and imposes specific lot size limits per account size. The5ers only mandates a Stop Loss for its Bootcamp program and does not enforce a news trading restriction across all its accounts, whereas Wall Street Funded strictly prohibits news trading on all funded accounts.
