Prop Firms with the Easiest Challenge? A Data-Driven Comparison for 2026
If you are reading this, you have probably already discovered the hard truth about prop firm challenges. The marketing makes it look simple. Pass a test, get funded, and start withdrawing money. But the reality is that most traders fail. Industry data shows that typical pass rates range from only 5% to 10% across most firms.
The difference between passing and failing often comes down to choosing the right firm for your trading style. A scalper will struggle under different rules than a swing trader. A trader with a 60% win rate needs different drawdown tolerance than someone who wins big only 30% of the time.
In this data-driven comparison, we analyze the most popular prop firms based on three critical factors: actual pass rates, profit target difficulty, and drawdown tolerance. Our goal is to help you identify which firms offer the easiest path to funding based on how you trade.
How We Measure “Easy”
Before diving into specific firms, we need to define what makes a challenge easy. A low profit target means nothing if the drawdown limits are impossibly tight. A high pass rate might reflect lenient rules or simply better marketing.
We evaluate each firm using three metrics.
Pass Rates by Firm: The percentage of traders who successfully complete the evaluation phase. Higher pass rates indicate more achievable challenges, though we must consider whether the firm reports verified data.
Profit Target Difficulty: The percentage return required to pass, adjusted for time limits and phase structure. A 10% target with no time limit is easier than an 8% target with a 30-day deadline.
Drawdown Tolerance: How much room the firm gives you to survive losing streaks. This includes daily loss limits, total drawdown limits, and whether drawdown is calculated intraday or at end of day.
Pass Rates by Firm: Who Actually Passes?
Let’s start with the numbers that matter most. What percentage of traders actually pass their challenges?
Apex Trader Funding
Apex stands out with a first-attempt pass rate of 15% to 20%, which is roughly double the industry average of 5% to 10%. For traders who utilize account resets, this rate increases significantly to around 40%. The introduction of “Apex 3.0” updates in late 2025 brought more flexible rules, including on-demand payout requests and the elimination of rigid payout windows, which led to a 10% to 15% increase in user-reported pass rates.
However, higher pass rates come with tradeoffs. Apex uses an intraday trailing drawdown system, meaning your allowable loss tightens as your unrealized profits increase. During a normal market pullback, this can close your account even when your trade idea remains valid. Many traders pass the evaluation only to struggle with these rules during the funded phase.
Earn2Trade
Earn2Trade reports a verified evaluation pass rate of 10.42% in 2024, placing it on the higher end of the industry range. Their programs focus exclusively on futures trading across major exchanges like CME, COMEX, and NYMEX. Among traders who successfully passed, nearly 90% opted for a LiveSim account rather than a Live account, suggesting that many prefer to prove themselves further before trading with real capital.
Topstep
Topstep’s evaluation pass rates align with industry averages, typically ranging between 5% and 10%. Their Trading Combine measures traders against profit targets while staying within a Maximum Loss Limit. One feature that improves the experience is their end-of-day drawdown calculation, which gives traders more breathing room during volatile sessions compared to firms that calculate drawdown intraday. In a recent month, Topstep paid out over $23 million, with one trader earning $346,000, though reaching the payout stage remains challenging.
Industry Average
For context, most proprietary trading firms report pass rates between 5% and 10%. The few firms that exceed this range, like Apex, often compensate with stricter ongoing rules or different drawdown calculations. When evaluating pass rates, consider whether the firm publishes verified data or relies on self-reported marketing numbers.
Profit Target Difficulty: Comparing Targets Across Firms
Profit targets determine how much you need to make before passing. Lower targets are easier, but they often come with tighter drawdown limits or shorter timeframes.
FTMO
FTMO uses a two-step evaluation with a 10% profit target in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2. There are no time limits to complete either phase, which significantly reduces pressure. You can take as long as you need to hit the targets, subject only to minimum trading day requirements of four days in Phase 1. This combination of moderate targets and unlimited time makes FTMO one of the more achievable options for patient traders.
FundingPips
FundingPips operates a two-step evaluation with an 8% profit target in Step 1 and 5% in Step 2. Like FTMO, they have no time limits for completing the evaluation. Their risk limits are clear at 5% maximum daily loss and 10% maximum total loss. The 8% first phase target is slightly lower than FTMO’s 10%, making it attractive for traders who prefer smaller goals, though the 5% daily drawdown limit requires careful position sizing.
The5ers
The5ers offers multiple program structures with varying profit targets. Their High Stakes program requires 8% in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2. Their Hyper Growth program is one-step with a 10% target but tighter 3% daily pause and 6% stop out limits. Their Bootcamp program uses 6% targets across three phases but with lower profit splits initially. This variety lets traders choose based on their comfort with risk and desired profit split.
Apex Trader Funding
Apex uses different metrics since they focus on futures rather than forex. Their profit targets vary by account type, but their evaluation structure emphasizes hitting targets while managing intraday trailing drawdowns. The absence of daily loss limits gives traders flexibility, but the trailing drawdown can end accounts during normal pullbacks. Many traders find Apex’s evaluation achievable due to the higher pass rates, but staying funded requires constant vigilance.
OneFunded
OneFunded offers four challenge types with varying profit targets. Their OF Flash one-step challenge requires 10% profit with 4% daily drawdown and 6% total drawdown. Their two-step options range from 6% to 8% in Phase 1 and 4% to 5% in Phase 2. The flexibility to choose between challenge types lets traders select the difficulty level matching their confidence and trading style.
Drawdown Tolerance: How Much Room Do You Have?
Drawdown tolerance may be the most important factor in choosing a prop firm. You will have losing streaks. Every trader does. The question is whether your firm gives you enough room to survive them.
Intraday Trailing vs End of Day Drawdown
The single biggest difference between firms is how they calculate drawdown.
Apex uses intraday trailing drawdown. As your unrealized profits rise, your Maximum Loss Limit rises with them, but it never moves back down. During a normal market pullback, your account can hit the limit and close even if your trade is still valid and your overall idea remains correct. This creates constant pressure and forces traders to exit positions prematurely.
Topstep uses end-of-day drawdown. Your Maximum Loss Limit is calculated at market close, not during the trading day. This means you can let trades breathe through normal intraday fluctuations. A pullback that would close an account at Apex is merely uncomfortable at Topstep. For swing traders and those who hold positions through volatility, this difference is enormous.
Daily Loss Limits
Most firms impose daily loss limits ranging from 3% to 5%.
FTMO uses a 5% maximum daily loss, calculated based on equity including open positions. This means an open trade floating 4% in the red counts against your daily limit, even if it recovers later.
FundingPips also uses 5% daily loss limits with their two-step evaluation. The consistency of these limits across phases helps traders develop habits that work long term.
The5ers varies by program. Hyper Growth uses a 3% daily pause, meaning you must stop trading for the day if you hit this level. High Stakes uses 5% daily loss limits. Bootcamp has tighter controls with no explicit daily limit but a 5% overall drawdown across phases.
Apex has no daily loss limit, which sounds generous but pairs with their intraday trailing drawdown. The absence of a daily limit means you could lose significant capital in one session, but the trailing drawdown will end your account long before that happens.
Total Drawdown Limits
Total drawdown limits determine how much you can lose overall before the challenge ends.
Most firms use 8% to 10% total drawdown limits. FTMO and FundingPips both use 10% maximum total loss. The5ers uses 6% for Hyper Growth, 10% for High Stakes, and 5% for Bootcamp. OneFunded ranges from 6% to 10% depending on challenge type.
The distinction between static and trailing drawdown matters here as well. Static drawdown stays fixed based on starting balance. Trailing drawdown moves up as your account grows but never moves down. FTMO uses static drawdown for maximum loss, meaning your floor stays at your starting balance minus the allowed percentage. This is more forgiving than trailing systems that lock in gains and prevent you from giving back profits.
Comparison Table: Key Metrics by Firm
| Prop Firm | Pass Rate | Profit Target (Phase 1) | Daily Drawdown | Total Drawdown | Drawdown Type | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Trader Funding | 15-20% | Varies by account | None | Trailing | Intraday trailing | Varies |
| FTMO | 5-10% | 10% | 5% | 10% | Static | None |
| FundingPips | Not published | 8% | 5% | 10% | Static | None |
| The5ers (High Stakes) | Not published | 8% | 5% | 10% | Trailing | None |
| Topstep | 5-10% | Varies by Combine | End-of-day | End-of-day | End-of-day | Varies |
| Earn2Trade | 10.42% | Varies by program | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| OneFunded | Not published | 6-10% | 4-5% | 6-10% | Static | Varies |
Which Firm Is Easiest for Your Trading Style?
The easiest prop firm depends entirely on how you trade.
For Swing Traders and Position Holders
If you hold trades for days or need to survive normal pullbacks, Topstep’s end-of-day drawdown is the clear winner. You cannot trade effectively if every intraday fluctuation threatens your account. Apex’s intraday trailing drawdown will fight you every step of the way, no matter how good your strategy is.
For Conservative Scalpers
If you take small profits frequently and rarely experience large drawdowns, FundingPips and FTMO offer straightforward rules with no time pressure. Their 5% daily loss limits provide enough room for most scalping strategies, and the unlimited time means you never feel rushed.
For Traders Who Want Higher Pass Rates
If you want the highest statistical chance of passing, Apex’s 15-20% first attempt rate and 40% rate with resets is attractive. However, understand that passing the evaluation is only half the battle. The rules that make passing easier also make staying funded harder. Many traders pass Apex only to struggle with the intraday trailing drawdown during their funded phase.
For Traders Who Value Simplicity
If you want clear rules with no surprises, FTMO’s long track record and transparent terms provide peace of mind. They have paid hundreds of millions to traders and survived industry shakeouts that killed competitors. The premium pricing buys certainty, which for many traders is worth the extra cost.
For Budget-Conscious Traders
If minimizing upfront cost is your priority, OneFunded and FundingPips offer competitive pricing with reasonable terms. OneFunded’s challenge fees start as low as $16 for smaller accounts, making them accessible for traders with limited capital.
The Hidden Factor: Cost Per Expected Pass
When evaluating which firm is easiest, consider the total expected cost to get funded, not just the challenge fee.
A $99 challenge with a 3% pass rate requires 33 attempts to expect one pass, costing $3,267 on average. A $300 challenge with a 12% pass rate requires 8 attempts costing $2,400 on average. The “expensive” challenge costs less in real terms because you are more likely to pass.
This math explains why FTMO’s premium pricing often works out cheaper than budget firms with tighter rules. If tighter drawdown limits reduce your pass rate from 12% to 8%, your expected cost goes from $2,500 to $3,750. The “cheap” challenge becomes more expensive.
When comparing firms, estimate your personal probability of passing based on how well your trading style matches their rules. A swing trader’s probability at Apex is near zero regardless of the headline pass rate. A conservative scalper’s probability at FTMO might be much higher than average.
Conclusion: The Easiest Firm Is the One That Matches Your Trading
After reviewing the data, no single prop firm offers the easiest challenge for everyone. Apex has the highest published pass rates but uses rules that punish certain trading styles. FTMO charges premium prices but provides unlimited time and clear terms. Topstep gives swing traders room to breathe with end-of-day drawdown. FundingPips offers competitive pricing with no time limits.
The easiest path to funding follows three steps.
First, honestly assess your trading style. Do you hold positions through pullbacks or take quick profits? Do you need wide drawdown tolerance or can you operate within tight limits?
Second, match your style to the firms that accommodate it. Swing traders should prioritize Topstep. Scalpers can succeed at FTMO or FundingPips. Traders who want higher pass rates might try Apex but must understand the ongoing rules.
Third, calculate your expected cost based on your probability of passing, not just the challenge fee. A more expensive challenge with higher probability often costs less in the long run.
If you need guidance choosing the right firm for your specific trading style, OnBiz Program helps traders navigate exactly these decisions. With over five years of experience across every major prop firm, we have helped thousands of traders identify their best path to funding and supported them through the process. Reach out to learn more.