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Cheapest eval with PIP

Cheapest futures prop firms

Compare the cheapest futures prop firm accounts after PIP discounts, fees, reset costs, and activation costs.

12 firms rankedLast checked Apr 20, 2026

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The cheapest way into a funded futures account isn't always the firm with the lowest sticker price, activation fees, resets, and PIP percentage all move the real number. This list sorts firms by the lowest-priced evaluation after applying each firm's current PIP discount.

Ranked: cheapest futures prop firms

#FirmCheapest eval with PIPActions
1Goat Funded Futures

The micro-funded tier has a tight static drawdown, a single oversized trade can blow the account before you bank any profit.

$23

Activation $89

2Apex

Trailing drawdown tracks unrealized profit intraday, sizing inside a winning trade can move your drawdown line faster than you expect.

$29

Activation $130

3DayTraders

Drawdown locks at end of day, intraday profits that retrace before the close do not raise your drawdown line, so the target can take longer than a trailing model.

$50

Activation $100

4Elite Trader Funding

Trailing drawdown follows unrealized profit intraday until you pass the initial balance by a firm-defined buffer, scaling inside a winning trade can move your drawdown line faster than expected.

$65

Activation $130

5Lucid

LucidTest and LucidPro have different drawdown, payout, and consistency rules, assuming one program's rules apply to the other is how traders fail payouts.

$72

Activation $100

6AquaFutures

End-of-day drawdown looks friendly on paper but means the drawdown line does not step up until the session closes, sizing into a winner intraday still gives back every tick of risk room at the next session open.

$75

Activation $119

7TradeDay

The end-of-day drawdown only adjusts against your closing balance, so open profits that retrace before the close do not raise the line, hitting the target can take longer than a trailing model.

$79

Activation none

8BlueGuardian Futures

Rules for the futures product differ from BlueGuardian's CFD/forex programs, applying forex-side assumptions (leverage, weekend hold) to the futures product is the fastest way to breach.

$80

Activation $129

9MyFundedFutures

Each program (Starter, Expert, Milestone) has its own drawdown, payout, and consistency rules, buying the wrong tier for your style is the most common way traders get caught out.

$80

Activation none

10Take Profit Trader

End-of-day drawdown calculates off closed equity only, traders who rely on unrealized profit cushions during the day can be caught out if they don't bank profits before the daily reset.

$90

Activation none

11Tradeify

The Advanced program's drawdown trails by end-of-day equity, the line only moves up on closed sessions, so sizing up mid-day without banking profits can leave the drawdown well below your current equity.

$97

Activation $135

12FundedNext Futures

FundedNext's futures and CFD products share a brand but not a rule set, importing assumptions from CFD pages can lead to failed payouts on the futures side.

$113

Activation none

How we ranked this list

For each firm we take the cheapest advertised evaluation account, apply the firm's current PIP offer (percent or flat), and sort ascending. Firms with a `variable` or `unknown` PIP rate are ranked at their full list price, check the live offer on PipBack before buying. Activation and reset fees are shown in the table but aren't included in the sort because not every trader pays them.

PIP offer rates move, the rank you see here is our best estimate at the last-checked date shown above. The live PIP rate on PipBack at checkout is always the source of truth.

Questions about this list

Why isn't the cheapest firm always the best value?

A $49 evaluation with a $130 activation fee and a trailing drawdown you can't survive ends up costing far more than a $120 evaluation you actually pass. Always check the drawdown type, consistency rule, and activation fee before choosing on price alone.

How often does the PIP discount change?

Most firms rotate their PIP percentage every few weeks. We re-check the rate on the dates shown in each firm card, but the live rate on PipBack is always the source of truth at checkout.

Do these prices include activation fees?

No. The ranked column is the PIP-adjusted evaluation price only. Activation and reset fees are shown next to it so you can see the realistic total cost before your first payout.

Keep researching

Read the background: activation fees.