bestpropfirmsforfutures.com
CME-listed markets6 firms coveredVerified specs only

Best Prop Firms for Futures Trading
Compared on the rules that decide outcomes

Futures trade on CME Group exchanges against a central order book, under CFTC and NFA oversight of the market itself. We compare funding programmes on drawdown model, daily loss limits, profit targets and payout terms — and mark anything we cannot confirm from the firm's own site as “Not specified”.

Compare Futures Firms See Drawdown Types
CME
Listed exchange venue
CFTC / NFA
Market oversight
60/40
Section 1256 US tax split
Micros
1/10 the size of minis
01Structural Edge

Why Futures Funding Differs From Forex Funding

Structural

Exchange-listed contracts

Futures are standardised contracts listed by CME Group, not instruments defined by a broker.

Structural

Central order book

Prices come from one public order book per contract rather than a dealer's own quote stream.

Structural

Published margin

Exchange margin requirements are published by CME and revised publicly, not set privately.

Structural

Section 1256 tax (US)

Regulated futures contracts generally receive a 60/40 long/short capital gains split. Confirm with a tax professional.

Structural

Market-level oversight

The venue and its clearing sit under CFTC and NFA supervision. This describes the market, not any individual funding company.

Structural

Uniform contract specs

Tick size and point value are identical everywhere, so risk maths transfers between firms and platforms.

02Comparison

Futures Prop Firms We Cover — Side by Side

Methodology

Methodology: firms on this page are selected for futures relevance and listed in editorial order of how often they fit the trader profiles we cover — not by payout size, commission, or any performance claim. We publish specifications only when they can be confirmed on the firm's own official site; anything unconfirmed is shown as "Not specified". Always verify current rules and pricing with the firm before purchasing.

Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Our recommendations are based on the factors explained on each page.

Alpha Futures logo

Alpha Futures

Futures (US equity index) • Commodities

Traders who want a dedicated futures-only evaluation provider rather than a multi-asset firm.

Platforms
ProjectX / Quantower (AlphaTicks)
Drawdown type
End-of-day trailing max loss (not intraday)
Micro contracts
Not specified
Payout speed
Not specified
  • Performance fee cap up to $15,000 per request on Standard/Advanced plans
  • End-of-day trailing max loss rather than intraday trailing
  • Fast processing reported — verify current turnaround with the firm

High fee caps and fair end-of-day rules suit traders who want room to scale withdrawals.

Create an AccountCompare With Others
Top One Futures logo

Top One Futures

Futures

Traders comparing futures evaluation programs who want to check current plan structures directly.

Platforms
Tradovate / NinjaTrader; Project X mentioned — verify
Drawdown type
Not specified
Micro contracts
Not specified
Payout speed
Not specified
  • 90% profit split
  • Fast payouts (under 24h claimed) — not fully verified
  • No minimum trading days on some programs
  • Instant Sim Funded options available

High split and rapid payouts with relatively flexible rules.

Visit Top One FuturesCompare With Others
Aqua Futures logo

Aqua Futures

Futures (CME, COMEX, NYMEX, CBOT)

Futures traders shortlisting newer programs alongside established providers.

Platforms
ProjectX / related sim platforms (reported)
Drawdown type
End-of-day drawdown mode
Micro contracts
Not specified
Payout speed
Not specified
  • Up to 100% profit split
  • End-of-day drawdown mode
  • Account sizes $25K–$150K
  • Instant funding options available

High split potential with clearly published parameters.

See Current PricingCompare With Others
BlueberryFunded Futures logo

BlueberryFunded Futures

Forex • Indices • Metals • Crypto (plan dependent)

Traders who want a futures track from a broker-backed funding brand.

Platforms
MT5, TradeLocker, DXTrade (reported)
Drawdown type
Not specified
Micro contracts
Not specified
Payout speed
Not specified
  • Broker-backed by Blueberry Markets
  • Prime 2-Step, Flex 1-Step and Instant models
  • No evaluation time limit
  • 80% split, up to 90%

Broker-backed stability and flexible evaluation models.

See Current PricingCompare With Others
Blue Guardian Futures logo

Blue Guardian Futures

Futures

Traders who prefer an established funding brand that also runs a futures programme.

Platforms
Tradovate, DeepCharts (reported)
Drawdown type
End-of-day trailing drawdown on many plans
Micro contracts
Not specified
Payout speed
Not specified
  • End-of-day trailing drawdown on many plans
  • Splits up to 90–100% on certain tiers
  • Standard, Guardian, Instant and Express plans
  • Scaling and micro scaling available

Realistic risk rules plus multiple entry paths, including instant.

Visit Blue Guardian FuturesCompare With Others
Lark Funding logo

Lark Funding

Forex / multi (platform dependent)

Traders reviewing challenge structures across several futures programmes before committing.

Platforms
DXTrade (TradingView integration), cTrader
Drawdown type
Not specified
Micro contracts
Not specified
Payout speed
Not specified
  • No time limit
  • No consistency rules
  • Automatic pass on reaching target
  • 14-day payouts

Appeals to traders frustrated by traditional challenge pressure.

View Challenge OptionsCompare With Others

Also frequently discussed

These futures programmes come up often in trader discussion. We list them for completeness only — we do not partner with them and publish no specifications for them here. Check their own sites for current rules.

Apex Trader Funding • Topstep • TakeProfit Trader • Bulenox • Earn2Trade • MyFundedFutures • Tradeify • Elite Trader Funding

03Firm Profiles

Futures Firm Profiles

Each card links to the firm's own plan page so you read current rules and pricing at the source rather than a second-hand summary.

Alpha Futures logo

Alpha Futures

Futures (US equity index) • Commodities

Traders who want a dedicated futures-only evaluation provider rather than a multi-asset firm.

Platforms
ProjectX / Quantower (AlphaTicks)
Drawdown type
End-of-day trailing max loss (not intraday)
Micro contracts
Not specified
Payout speed
Not specified
  • Performance fee cap up to $15,000 per request on Standard/Advanced plans
  • End-of-day trailing max loss rather than intraday trailing
  • Fast processing reported — verify current turnaround with the firm

High fee caps and fair end-of-day rules suit traders who want room to scale withdrawals.

Create an AccountCompare With Others
Top One Futures logo

Top One Futures

Futures

Traders comparing futures evaluation programs who want to check current plan structures directly.

Platforms
Tradovate / NinjaTrader; Project X mentioned — verify
Drawdown type
Not specified
Micro contracts
Not specified
Payout speed
Not specified
  • 90% profit split
  • Fast payouts (under 24h claimed) — not fully verified
  • No minimum trading days on some programs
  • Instant Sim Funded options available

High split and rapid payouts with relatively flexible rules.

Visit Top One FuturesCompare With Others
Aqua Futures logo

Aqua Futures

Futures (CME, COMEX, NYMEX, CBOT)

Futures traders shortlisting newer programs alongside established providers.

Platforms
ProjectX / related sim platforms (reported)
Drawdown type
End-of-day drawdown mode
Micro contracts
Not specified
Payout speed
Not specified
  • Up to 100% profit split
  • End-of-day drawdown mode
  • Account sizes $25K–$150K
  • Instant funding options available

High split potential with clearly published parameters.

See Current PricingCompare With Others
BlueberryFunded Futures logo

BlueberryFunded Futures

Forex • Indices • Metals • Crypto (plan dependent)

Traders who want a futures track from a broker-backed funding brand.

Platforms
MT5, TradeLocker, DXTrade (reported)
Drawdown type
Not specified
Micro contracts
Not specified
Payout speed
Not specified
  • Broker-backed by Blueberry Markets
  • Prime 2-Step, Flex 1-Step and Instant models
  • No evaluation time limit
  • 80% split, up to 90%

Broker-backed stability and flexible evaluation models.

See Current PricingCompare With Others
Blue Guardian Futures logo

Blue Guardian Futures

Futures

Traders who prefer an established funding brand that also runs a futures programme.

Platforms
Tradovate, DeepCharts (reported)
Drawdown type
End-of-day trailing drawdown on many plans
Micro contracts
Not specified
Payout speed
Not specified
  • End-of-day trailing drawdown on many plans
  • Splits up to 90–100% on certain tiers
  • Standard, Guardian, Instant and Express plans
  • Scaling and micro scaling available

Realistic risk rules plus multiple entry paths, including instant.

Visit Blue Guardian FuturesCompare With Others
Lark Funding logo

Lark Funding

Forex / multi (platform dependent)

Traders reviewing challenge structures across several futures programmes before committing.

Platforms
DXTrade (TradingView integration), cTrader
Drawdown type
Not specified
Micro contracts
Not specified
Payout speed
Not specified
  • No time limit
  • No consistency rules
  • Automatic pass on reaching target
  • 14-day payouts

Appeals to traders frustrated by traditional challenge pressure.

View Challenge OptionsCompare With Others
04Risk Mechanics

Drawdown Types: Static vs End-of-Day vs Intraday Trailing

Static

Fixed at the starting balance and never moves. Profit permanently widens your cushion.

No trailing risk on winning days
Simplest to size against
Often paired with a smaller buffer
Less common than trailing
Best suited to
Traders learning the rule set
End-of-day trailing

Follows your closing balance upward once per day and never moves back down.

Intraday spikes do not tighten it
Rewards banking gains
A strong close tightens tomorrow
Requires tracking the threshold daily
Best suited to
Day and swing traders
Intraday trailing

Follows your highest unrealised equity tick by tick. The most restrictive model.

Often paired with larger nominal buffers
Round-tripping a winner spends the buffer
Unforgiving of giving back gains
Best suited to
Experienced traders with tight exits

Looking for a drawdown model that fits your style?

Read the full worked example of one trading week under all three models, then compare the firms we cover.

Compare relevant firms

Full guide: trailing vs static vs end-of-day drawdown

05Contract Sizing

Micro vs Mini Futures Contract Guide

Tick and point values below are CME contract specifications and are the same at every firm. Margin requirements are set by the exchange and adjusted periodically, so check CME's current figures rather than a static table.

SymbolContractTick valuePoint valueNotes
MESMicro E-mini S&P 500$1.25$5Common starter contract
ESE-mini S&P 500$12.50$50Ten times the micro
MNQMicro E-mini Nasdaq-100$0.50$2Higher volatility per point
NQE-mini Nasdaq-100$5.00$20Experienced sizing
MCLMicro WTI Crude Oil$1.00$10News sensitive
CLWTI Crude Oil$10.00$100Large per-tick risk
MGCMicro Gold$1.00$10Metals exposure, small size
GCGold$10.00$100Institutional sizing

Practical advice: Start with one to three micro contracts while you learn a firm's rule set. Size from your daily loss limit, not from the account headline — see daily loss limits and profit targets.

06Execution Stack

Platforms: Tradovate, NinjaTrader and Rithmic

Which platforms a given firm supports is a per-firm question we mark as “Not specified” unless the firm publishes it. The differences below are general characteristics of the platforms themselves.

DimensionTradovateNinjaTraderRithmic
SetupBrowser based, no installDesktop installData/execution route behind a front end
MobileNative mobile appCompanion appDepends on the front end used
AutomationAPI accessNinjaScript (C#)API / FIX
Typical strengthFast setup, simplicityCharting and automationExecution latency
Learning curveLowModerateHigher — needs configuration
Tradovate

Simplest to get running; strong mobile.

NinjaTrader

Deepest charting and C# automation.

Rithmic

Low-latency routing for active execution.

07Playbook

Approaches Traders Use in Futures Evaluations

Illustrative approaches, not recommendations or performance claims. Any method must fit inside the firm's daily loss limit before it is worth testing.

Opening range breakout

Mark the first 15 minutes' high and low, then trade a clean break with the stop at the opposite extreme.

Risk rule

Skip when the range is unusually wide relative to your daily stop.

VWAP reversion

Fade extended moves back toward VWAP during quieter mid-session conditions.

Risk rule

Fixed stop in ticks; never average down into the move.

Trend continuation

Enter pullbacks in the direction of the higher-timeframe trend rather than the first move of the day.

Risk rule

Cap attempts per direction per session.

Scalping

Short holds on order-flow triggers, micros only until the method is proven.

Risk rule

Stop for the day after a set number of losers.

Around scheduled news

Wait for the initial spike to resolve rather than trading the release itself.

Risk rule

Stand aside when the remaining drawdown buffer is thin.

Universal risk rules

  • Set a personal daily stop well inside the firm's limit
  • Size from the daily limit, not the account headline
  • Trade micros while learning the rule set
  • Always use a hard stop-loss order
  • Stop trading after consecutive losses
08Asset Class Decision

Futures or Forex Funding?

DimensionFuturesForex / CFDEdge
VenueCME-listed, central order bookOver-the-counter, dealer quotedFutures
Contract specsStandardised and publicVary by providerFutures
US tax treatmentGenerally Section 1256 60/40Generally ordinary incomeFutures
Leverage and pair choiceExchange margin, fixed contract sizesHigher leverage, many pairsForex
Entry cost and flexibilityContract-sized incrementsFractional lot sizingForex
Verdict

Choose futures if standardised contracts, an exchange venue and Section 1256 treatment matter to you. Choose forex if fractional sizing and higher leverage suit your account. Neither choice says anything about an individual firm's reliability — judge that on its published rules.

09Multi-market

If You Trade Beyond CME Futures

These programmes cover more than futures and are worth a look if you split activity across markets.

Maven logo

Maven

Multi-market

Multi-market

Traders splitting activity between futures and other markets under one funding brand.

Platforms
Not specified
Drawdown type
Not specified
Micro contracts
Not specified
Payout speed
Not specified

Traders splitting activity between futures and other markets under one funding brand.

Explore MavenCompare With Others
10Learn First

Understand the Rules Before You Buy

Evaluation vs instant funding

What you actually buy in each model and where the cost really sits.

Trailing vs static vs end-of-day drawdown

One trading week, three models, three very different outcomes.

Daily loss limits and profit targets

Why the daily limit binds first, and how to size around it.

Payout and consistency rules

The rules that decide whether screen profit becomes a withdrawal.

11FAQ

Futures Prop Firms — Frequently Asked Questions

What should a beginner look for in a futures prop firm?

Prioritise the rule set over the price: a drawdown model you understand, a daily loss limit with room for several losing trades, and micro contract support so you can size small. Confirm each of these on the firm's own rules page before buying — terms change frequently.

How much does a futures evaluation cost?

Fees vary by firm, account size and any promotion running at the time, so we do not publish figures here. Check the firm's current checkout page for the fee, and budget for at least one reset in case the first attempt breaches a rule.

Can I trade micro contracts?

CME lists micro versions of the major contracts — MES, MNQ, MCL and MGC — at one tenth the size of the corresponding mini. Whether a specific firm allows them, and at what maximum size, is a per-firm rule you should confirm at the source.

What is the difference between end-of-day trailing and static drawdown?

A static drawdown is fixed at the starting balance and never moves. An end-of-day trailing drawdown follows your closing balance upward and never moves back down. An intraday trailing drawdown follows your highest unrealised equity tick by tick and is the most restrictive of the three.

Are futures prop firms structurally different from forex prop firms?

Futures contracts are exchange-listed on CME Group venues, trade against a central order book, and the market itself sits under CFTC and NFA oversight. That is a property of the underlying market, not a guarantee about any individual funding company — assess each firm on its own terms.

How are US futures profits taxed?

Regulated futures contracts generally fall under Section 1256 of the US tax code, which applies a 60/40 split between long-term and short-term capital gains regardless of holding period. Prop firm payouts may be treated differently again. Consult a tax professional about your own situation.

Which platform should I use?

Tradovate is browser and mobile based with the shortest setup, NinjaTrader is the deepest for charting and C# automation, and Rithmic is a low-latency execution route usually paired with a third-party front end. Which of them a given firm offers is a per-firm question.

How quickly do futures prop firms pay out?

Payout cycles, minimum amounts and any consistency requirement differ by firm and change often, so we mark them Not specified unless the firm publishes them. Read the payout page before buying — it decides whether screen profit becomes money in your account.

12Next Step

Pick a Programme and Verify It

Match the drawdown model and payout rules to how you actually trade, then open the firm's own plan page and confirm the current terms before you buy.

Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Our recommendations are based on the factors explained on each page.

Alpha Futures

Traders who want a dedicated futures-only evaluation provider rather than a multi-asset firm.

Create an Account

Top One Futures

Traders comparing futures evaluation programs who want to check current plan structures directly.

Visit Top One Futures

Aqua Futures

Futures traders shortlisting newer programs alongside established providers.

See Current Pricing

See the full comparison of every futures firm we cover →

Compare futures firms