Best Funded Account Prop Firms — Complete Guide to the Top 3 Funded Trading Accounts
An exhaustive, technical, publish-ready guide (Paid to Trade • FunderPro • Bullwaves) — rules, plans, payouts, minimum trading days, scaling and everything traders should know.
— Bitcoinalyst
Quick TL;DR (if you want the short version)
- Paid to Trade — trader-first ruleset, simple evaluation paths, first payout available after 21 days of funded trading, subsequent payouts every 14 days; low-cost starter options and pragmatic rules favoring consistency. (See firm process/payout page.) Visit paidtotrade.net
- FunderPro — pro-oriented, daily rewards option and fast payouts (first reward often available within 5 days and daily rewards possible after ~15 trading days); very flexible payout mechanics (claim profits when >1% on original balance). Great scaling options. Visit FunderPro.com
- Bullwaves (Bullwaves Prime) — budget-friendly challenge routes (1- or 2-step), clear drawdown and minimum trading day rules, payout requests generally allowed after 15 days from first trade and then every 15 days with minimum active trading days rules. Visit Bullwaves.com
Read on for the fully detailed comparison, pricing/plans (where public), exact payout rules, minimum trading days, instruments, allowed strategies, and the Bitcoinalyst verdict.
Let’s start with the top 3 Best Funded Account Prop Firms where you can find a Funded Trading Account.
Why this guide — and why only these three firms?
1) How funded prop firms work (quick primer)
A funded account provider (prop firm) allows you to trade with the firm’s capital if you pass an evaluation (challenge).
Challenges set profit targets and drawdown rules. When you pass, you manage a funded account and receive a percentage of profits (the profit split); the firm keeps the rest.
Modern firms include scaling plans, varying payout schedules, and different ways to request/receive payouts (daily rewards, weekly, bi-weekly).
The devil is in the details: minimum active trading days, first payout eligibility, trailing drawdown behavior, and “consistency” rules. Read firms’ rule pages carefully — they define what you can and cannot do.
Each funded trading account program operates differently, but the best funded account prop firms share one goal: to empower disciplined traders with fair rules and consistent payouts.
2) Top-level comparison (at-a-glance)
| Feature / Metric | Paid to Trade | FunderPro | Bullwaves (Prime) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation model | 1-step / paths | 1-step / multiple options | 1-step & 2-step challenges |
| Starting fee (publicly shown) | low-cost starter paths; site & community show fees from <$100 upward (see site). | varies by account size — examples: €149–€649 for larger tiers; fees refunded on first payout. | affordable challenge fees; common entry-level fees reported in reviews (see link). |
| Profit targets | Simple single-target models (see plans) | Typical target ~10% (varies by product) | 1-step: ~10% / 2-step: 8% then 5% (depends on challenge type). |
| Max drawdown (typical) | Conservative / low drawdown models | 5% overall typically; precise rules vary by product. | 4–5% daily / 8–10% max trailing depending on challenge. |
| Payout earliest | First payout available after 21 days of funded trading; subsequent every 14 days (Paid to Trade process). | First reward in ~5 days for some products; daily rewards available after ~15 trading days on daily-rewards accounts; weekly rewards option also available. | Payout requests possible after 15 days from your first trade and every 15 days thereafter, with minimum active trading days required (often 10 active trading days). |
| Profit split (common) | ~80% typical on funded accounts (company pages & community). | 60% (base daily rewards) up to 90% depending on reward option and tier (FunderPro documents daily/weekly reward split mechanics). | Up to 85% profit split; Bullwaves also advertises competitive splits for prime accounts. |
| Minimum trading days (evaluation/funded) | Varies by path — check plan; Paid to Trade’s process emphasizes no time limits in many paths but first payout scheduled after 21 days of funded trading. | Some account types have no minimum days for daily rewards; typical funded accounts allow claiming once conditions are met (per product). | 10 active trading days minimum is commonly required in challenge stage and funded stage rules (per public rules). |
(All above data pulled from firms’ rules pages and published summaries. See inline citations for official pages.)
Every funded trading account comes with its own trading objectives and drawdown limits.
By comparing multiple programs, you’ll quickly see which of the best funded account prop firms offer more flexible conditions and fairer payouts.
3) Paid to Trade — full rules, payouts, plans and specifics
Overview
Paid to Trade presents itself as a prop firm with simplified rules and fast payouts. The firm emphasizes short, clear rule sets and paths designed to remove typical “daily drawdown traps.” They publish a process/payout page describing payout cadence and stress transparency in payouts.
Plans & Pricing (public statements & community reporting)
- The firm offers starter and pro paths; the site advertises flexible paths and “starter path” wording in the process documentation. Exact promotional prices vary; community reports and Trustpilot posts reference low-cost starter options (users report $65–$150 for entry accounts or promotional bundles). Where Paid to Trade’s live pricing is changing, show the current plan on the Paid to Trade page before publishing.
Evaluation rules & profit targets
- Paid to Trade’s product lines favor single-step targets and straightforward drawdown models (site language emphasizes “no daily drawdown” rules for certain paths). They emphasize consistency over aggressive scaling. Community reports praise the simplicity and transparency of the rules.
Payout timing & minimum days
- First payout becomes available after 21 days of funded trading. After that, payout cycles happen every 14 days (bi-weekly). This is stated directly on Paid to Trade’s process/payout information.
- Minimum active trading days during evaluation vary by path; however, many Paid to Trade challenge paths emphasize no strict time limit to reach the target (trade at your pace) — but the funded account must be held for the initial 21 days to unlock the first payout. Confirm the exact plan-specific minimum trading days on their pricing/process page.
Allowed instruments & leverage
- Paid to Trade supports major FX pairs, metals, indices and commonly active instruments on their platform (check live product list on the platform). Execution environment and spreads are generally reported as competitive by users. Trustpilot
Profit split, scaling & payouts
- Community sources and the firm’s marketing indicate competitive profit splits for funded accounts (commonly ~80% in community commentary). Payout processing is fast with many traders reporting near-instant approvals when conditions are met. Always link to the firm payout/process page to reflect live policy.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Simple ruleset, no daily drawdown traps in certain paths, fast/bi-weekly payouts, trader-friendly community feedback.
Cons: Live plan and price changes — always verify the current fee on the Paid to Trade site before publishing affiliate links.
4) FunderPro — full rules, payouts, plans and specifics
Overview
FunderPro positions itself as a “pro” prop firm with industry-leading reward mechanics (including daily rewards) and large scaling possibilities — their marketing and rules pages highlight fast reward mechanics and options to claim payouts while trading.
Plans & Pricing (publicly listed examples)
- Challenge fees vary by account size and product type; example ranges seen in public summaries include $149 to $649 for EUR-denominated tiers for larger accounts — the exact fee depends on the account size and product (e.g., $25k, $50k, $100k, $200k). FunderPro publicly states the challenge fee is refunded with the first payout for many programs. DailyForex
Evaluation rules & profit targets
- Typical profit target ≈ 10% for many FunderPro challenges (varies by product). Multiple product types exist (Classic, Pro, One Phase, Futures, etc.) with slightly different rules. The FunderPro rules pages enumerate permitted instruments, leverage and prohibited strategies in detail. FunderPro+1
Payout timing & minimum trading days
- FunderPro documents that the first reward may be available in as little as 5 days for some products, and daily rewards are available on products offering that option. For daily rewards accounts, daily rewards become continuously available after about 15 trading days (documented in their How It Works and rewards pages).
- FunderPro’s payout mechanics allow claiming when your funded account is in profit of at least 1% on the original account balance (for daily rewards accounts), enabling multiple requests if you remain in profit. That’s a strong feature — you can realize small chunks of profits without waiting for long cycles.
Profit split, scaling & payouts
- FunderPro advertises up to 90% profit share depending on the reward option and the trader’s plan (the typical structure is a lower base split for daily rewards that ramps to higher split percentages for weekly rewards or higher-tier plans). The site makes a strong point that rewards are fast — averaged payouts sometimes processed in hours.
- The challenge fee is commonly refundable on first reward for certain challenge types — check the product detail for the refund policy.
Allowed instruments & leverage
- Supports FX, crypto, metals and indices depending on the selected challenge. Leverage and platform vary by product; FunderPro lists MT5/cTrader options and professional execution.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Daily reward mechanics (get paid while you trade), very fast payouts, scaling up to very large capital if consistent, high profit splits on weekly rewards.
Cons: Complexity of options (daily vs weekly) means traders must choose the payout cadence that suits their strategy; review rules carefully before picking a plan.
5) Bullwaves (Bullwaves Prime) — full rules, payouts, plans and specifics
Overview
Bullwaves Prime offers both 1-step and 2-step challenge structures. It’s marketed as a regulated, trader-friendly environment with reasonable fees and high profit share for funded accounts. Many review pages break down the exact challenge structures and minimum trading days.
Plans & Pricing (public)
- Bullwaves provides multiple challenge tiers; pricing is presented on their challenge pages. Independent reviews and the Bullwaves “Prime” pages indicate challenge fees are competitive and that the firm offers challenge types tailored to different trader skill levels (1-step 10% or 2-step 8%+5% often appear in public documentation). Always pull the live price from the Bullwaves challenge page before publishing.
Evaluation rules & profit targets
- 2-step challenge common structure: Phase 1 target 8%, Phase 2 target 5%, culminating in full funded status; drawdown and trailing drawdown are specified by the firm (common patterns: 5% daily drawdown, 10% total drawdown, trailing drawdown rules apply above certain equity thresholds).
Payout timing & minimum trading days
- Bullwaves payout rules indicate you can request a payout after 15 days from your first trade, and then every 15 days after that, with the team processing withdrawals in ~2–5 business days; there is usually a minimum active trading days threshold (commonly 10 active trading days) to be eligible. Withdrawal minimums and method (bank wire / USDT) are described on the payouts page.
Profit split, scaling & payouts
- Bullwaves commonly advertises up to ~85% profit split for funded accounts (Prime tiers can vary). They also list transparent trailing drawdown rules and scaling pathways for consistent performers.
Allowed instruments & leverage
- Supports forex pairs, precious metals and indices; leverage and allowed intrument lists are spelled out per challenge type. Bullwaves highlights that traders can trade the most liquid instruments and that some challenge types allow overnight positions.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Affordable entry, clear 2-step model for risk management, predictable payout cadence (after 15 days) and good profit splits.
Cons: Some restrictions (drawdown/trailing drawdown) require diligent risk management; always confirm the exact drawdown percentages for your chosen challenge.
6) Full rules & payout checklist — what to verify before you sign up
Before you pay any challenge fee, verify and copy/paste these items from the firm’s official rules page (or include them verbatim on your site):
- Full fee & currency — is it USD, EUR or platform token? Are discounts or monthly subscription options available? (FunderPro shows EUR fees in many documents; Paid to Trade and Bullwaves sometimes show USD).
- Exact profit target by account size — e.g., 8% for $10k, 10% for $100k.
- Absolute max drawdown and daily drawdown (both matter — trailing drawdown rules often apply once a high watermark is reached).
- Minimum active trading days (both during challenge and funded stage). Bullwaves often requires 10 active trading days; Paid to Trade may have no time-limits but funded accounts need 21 days before first payout.
- Payout cadence & minimum withdrawal — first payout timing, recurring cycle (daily/weekly/bi-weekly) and minimum payout amount. (FunderPro: daily/weekly options; Paid to Trade: first payout after 21 days then every 14 days; Bullwaves: payouts after 15 days and then every 15 days.)
- Allowed instruments & leverage — EAs allowed? News trading? Overnight? Each firm lists specifics in trading rules.
- Challenge fee refund policy — some firms refund the challenge fee after first payout. (FunderPro and others sometimes publicize fee refund with first payout.)
7) Tactical tips — passing the challenge and maximizing payouts
- Treat the demo/challenge as a real live account — use the exact risk rules.
- Keep detailed daily logs — this helps if anything is contested and helps you analyze scaling.
- Respect drawdown limits and the trailing drawdown — large winners followed by a waterfall loss can break a trailing drawdown.
- If a firm offers daily rewards (FunderPro) consider the strategy you want: frequent small payouts vs fewer, larger weekly payouts with better splits.
- Time your payout requests — know the firm’s earliest payout eligibility: Paid to Trade (after 21 days), Bullwaves (after 15 days + 10 active trading days), FunderPro has very flexible options depending on your plan.
Whether you’re new or experienced, starting with a reliable funded trading account from one of the best funded account prop firms can accelerate your path to professional trading.
8) Bitcoinalyst verdict — which firm is best for which trader?
- Best quick starters / low-cost entry — Paid to Trade. Simple rules, beginner-friendly path options, and fast/bi-weekly payouts (first payout after 21 days). Good for traders who want simplicity.
- Best for professional traders / income-focused — FunderPro. The daily rewards mechanism and ability to claim profit when you’re >1% in profit on original balance makes FunderPro the top pick for traders who want to get paid while trading. Fast payouts and high scaling potential are the big wins.
- Best for budget-conscious beginners / steady scaling — Bullwaves. Straightforward 1-step or 2-step challenge options, clear drawdown rules, and predictable payout cadence (after 15 days). Great value and clear progression for newer traders.
Full FAQ (condensed — for on-page FAQ schema see JSON-LD below)
Q: When can I request my first payout?
- Paid to Trade: no time required to pass the 1 challenge -> Sim funded Account -> first payout available after 21 days of funded trading; subsequent payouts bi-weekly.
- FunderPro: first reward as early as 5 days for some products; daily rewards possible after ~15 trading days depending on the product.
- Bullwaves: payouts can be requested 15 days after your first trade, and then every 15 days — typically with 10 active trading days required for eligibility.
Q: What’s the minimum trading days I must complete?
- Paid to Trade: some paths advertise no strict time limits for passing, but funded accounts require 21 days before first payout; check the chosen plan for evaluation min days.
- FunderPro: daily rewards accounts may have different minimums; Classic accounts often have unlimited time to pass; check the product rules.
- Bullwaves: commonly 10 active trading days in challenge/funded stage.
Q: Are challenge fees refundable?
- FunderPro: challenge fee often refunded with the first payout (product dependent).
- Paid to Trade & Bullwaves: policies vary by plan; check the plan page — many promotions and standard plans outline refund mechanics
When choosing your next funded trading account, always review community feedback, payout proof, and rule clarity — all major hallmarks of the best funded account prop firms in 2025.