Methodology
To give traders a fast, trustworthy way to judge prop firms, I use a balanced 30-point scoring system built around six core aspects that matter most.
Each category is scored from 0 to 5, allowing every firm to be assessed with the same level of fairness and consistency. This approach clearly shows where a firm stands, with its strengths, weaknesses, and whether it’s worth considering for long-term growth.
Transparency & Reputation
This refers to how open, honest, and trustworthy a prop firm is. A reputable firm is upfront about who runs the company, how it operates, and what rules traders must follow. Transparent firms leave less room for hidden rules or surprise violations.
How this is scored:
5 – Public leadership, verified payout proof, clear rule documentation, consistent positive feedback
4 – Mostly transparent, some verified proof, good industry reputation
3 – Acceptable transparency, minor gaps, neutral feedback
2 – Limited information, unclear policies, mixed or concerning reviews
1 – Major red flags, anonymous owners, unclear operations
0 – Known scam behaviour or deceptive practices
Payouts & Reliability
This covers how often you can withdraw profits, the profit split percentage, minimum withdrawal thresholds, and—most importantly—how consistently traders actually get paid. A high profit split is meaningless if the firm delays or denies legitimate payouts.
How this is scored:
5 – Fast, consistent payouts; weekly or on-demand withdrawals; high profit split
4 – Good payout speed and reliability; occasional delays
3 – Average payout structure; standard monthly payouts; minor concerns
2 – Slow processing times or restrictive withdrawal requirements
1 – Frequent delays or unclear payout rules
0 – Documented failure to pay traders
Evaluation Models
This reflects how realistic it is for traders to pass the challenge and maintain a funded account. It includes profit targets, drawdown limits, consistency rules, and time limits. Some firms design challenges so strict that they’re statistically unwinnable.
How this is scored:
5 – Fair, trader-friendly rules; reasonable profit targets; no time limits; balanced drawdown
4 – Generally fair but includes some restrictive elements
3 – Standard industry difficulty; passable but not easy
2 – Tight rules or aggressive targets that create unnecessary difficulty
1 – Highly restrictive, unrealistic evaluation model
0 – Challenge designed to prevent passing
Long-Term Growth
A scaling plan determines how your funded capital can grow as you perform well. Strong scaling programs reward consistency, not just account flipping. A good scaling plan provides a path to significantly higher buying power over time.
How this is scored:
5 – Strong, frequent scaling; path to very high capital ($1M+); long-term support
4 – Solid scaling opportunities; fair growth schedule
3 – Adequate scaling but capped or slow
2 – Minimal scaling options, low caps
1 – Scaling exists on paper but rarely achievable
0 – No scaling program
Value for Money
This evaluates how much you pay for challenges versus what you get in return—including features, account types, free retries, spreads, and platform options. The cheapest challenge isn’t always the best value if trading conditions are poor or rules are restrictive.
How this is scored:
5 – Excellent value; fair fees; strong conditions; free retries; premium features
4 – Good value; competitive pricing
3 – Average value; fee vs. features largely balanced
2 – Overpriced for what’s offered
1 – Poor value; high fees with low-quality conditions
0 – Predatory pricing or deceptive fee structure
Platforms & Support
This covers the trading platforms, charting tools, data feeds, and overall trading environment offered by the firm. Your platform affects execution speed, slippage, spread costs, and strategy compatibility.
How this is scored:
5 – Multiple high-quality platforms (cTrader, MT5, DXTrade), fast execution, raw spreads
4 – Good platform selection with minor limitations
3 – Standard options (MT4/MT5 only) but acceptable execution
2 – Limited platforms or high spreads/slow execution
1 – Poor-quality platform setup
0 – No real trading environment