Best Prop Firms 2026
#1 FTMO ($170M+ paid out, since 2014) · #2 FundingPips (1-step option, weekly payouts) · #3 The5ers (refund policy, since 2016) · #4 Goat Funded Trader · #5 AlphaCapitalGroup. All have publicly verifiable payout proof + TradingEdge discount codes.
We rank prop trading firms using TradingEdge's 5-dimension assessment: payout history (publicly verifiable), drawdown rules, refund policy, scaling plan, and company stability. This is the canonical ranking for traders who want a Funded account from a firm that "actually pays."
Ranking methodology
Our prop firm ranking uses 5 weighted criteria — every one verifiable from public data, not from the firm's claims.
Total amount paid out ($170M+ at FTMO is the benchmark) · payout frequency · public dashboard or not · processing time (FTMO 3 days, FundingPips weekly)
Firm age (at least 2-3 years active) · history of retroactive rule changes · leadership and HQ disclosure · not on the list of firms that collapsed in 2023-24
100% refund at payout #1 (FTMO, Goat) · progressive refund (The5ers) · or no refund · refund policy dramatically lowers financial risk for Challenge buyers
Daily DD (4-5% standard) · Total DD (8-12% standard) · static vs trailing · consistency rules (lot cap per day, etc.)
Does the firm have a scaling program · required X% return for Y months to double · max account size after scaling ($1M-$4M) · realistic vs marketing claim
2026 prop firm rankings
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FAQ
Why does FTMO rank #1?
FTMO scores highest across all 5 criteria — $170M+ public payout proof since 2014, 12 years of stability, 100% refund at payout #1, sensible 5%/10% drawdown rules, and scaling to $4M. No other prop firm hits all 5 criteria at this level.
Are lower-ranked prop firms untrustworthy?
No — every firm in this ranking meets the minimum bar (payout proof, 2+ years stability). Lower-ranked firms may be newer, have weaker scaling plans, or no refund policy. But all "actually pay" if you pass the Challenge and follow the rules.
Which prop firm should I start with?
Beginners: FTMO (longest track record) or FundingPips (1-step Challenge for those skipping Phase 2). Scalpers: Goat Funded Trader (lenient rules). News traders: AlphaCapitalGroup. Read each firm's review page before buying.
Does this ranking include crypto prop firms?
Yes — Crypto Fund Trader is included for traders wanting crypto-funded accounts. But the crypto prop firm market is still much smaller than forex, so they typically rank lower.