Question 1

What is a prop firm?

Accepted Answer

A proprietary trading firm gives traders access to simulated or firm capital after they pass an evaluation. You typically pay a one-time evaluation fee, hit a profit target while staying within drawdown rules, and then earn a share of profits on a funded account. The exact mechanics — daily loss limit, payout schedule, scaling — vary firm by firm, which is why side-by-side comparison matters before you buy.

Question 2

How do prop firm offers work?

Accepted Answer

Offers usually reduce the cost of buying an evaluation. Some firms apply the discount automatically through a partner link; others require a code at checkout. PropFirmV labels each card as either a Code Offer or a Link Offer so you know what to expect, and the final price is always confirmed by the firm at checkout.

Question 3

Do I need a code or just a link?

Accepted Answer

Some firms give PropFirmV users a discount through a code you enter at checkout; others apply the offer automatically when you use our partner link with no code needed. Each offer card states which it is. Link-only offers are not weaker — they simply don't require a code, and the discount (when applicable) is applied automatically through the affiliate URL.

Question 4

What prop firm is best for beginners?

Accepted Answer

Beginners usually do better on firms with clear rules, no aggressive trailing drawdown, and a forgiving daily loss limit. The5ers, Bulenox, and FTMO are common beginner-friendly picks depending on whether you trade forex or futures. Filter the offers section by "Beginner-friendly" to see only firms whose rule sets are reasonable for new traders.

Question 5

What is the difference between futures and forex prop firms?

Accepted Answer

Futures firms (Bulenox, Alpha Futures, FuturesElite) route orders to CME-style platforms like Tradovate or NinjaTrader and often have platform/data fees. Forex/CFD firms (FTMO, The5ers, GoatFundedTrader) use MT4/MT5 or cTrader with no separate data fee. Rule structures, payout cadences, and account size ranges also differ noticeably between the two categories.

Question 6

What rules should I check before buying a challenge?

Accepted Answer

Daily loss limit, drawdown type (static vs trailing), profit target, minimum trading days, consistency rules, payout cycle, reset fees, and platform support. A small discount on a firm whose rules don't fit your strategy will cost you more than full price on the right one. The comparison table on /comparisons shows every one of these side-by-side.

Question 7

What is drawdown?

Accepted Answer

Drawdown is the maximum loss your account can take before it's failed. Static drawdown stays at a fixed dollar value regardless of profit. Trailing drawdown moves up as your balance grows, then either keeps trailing (intraday) or locks at the highest end-of-day balance (EOD) — trailing rules are the most common reason new traders blow accounts after a winning run.

Question 8

What is a payout rule?

Accepted Answer

A payout rule is what you must do to actually withdraw profits — usually a minimum number of trading days, a profit threshold, and a consistency requirement. Passing a challenge is not the same as getting paid. Some firms pay weekly, some bi-weekly, and a few (like FTMO) offer on-demand payouts after qualifying.

Question 9

Can U.S. traders use these prop firms?

Accepted Answer

Many can. FTMO via OANDA, Bulenox, Alpha Futures, FuturesElite, and Blue Guardian accept U.S. traders. Forex/CFD firms outside the OANDA structure may restrict U.S. participation. Always confirm eligibility on the firm's site, since regulatory status can change.

Question 10

Why do some offers not show a code?

Accepted Answer

Some firms apply discounts or partner pricing automatically through the affiliate link, with no code required. Those are listed as Link Offer instead of being shown with a fake or generic code. PropFirmV never displays placeholder codes — if there's no verified code, there's no code on the card.

Question 11

Does this site make money from affiliate links?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Some outbound links are affiliate links. If you sign up through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This does not influence the rules and pricing summaries — those are taken from the firms' public materials, and the PropFirmV Score is editorial.

Question 12

How often are offers and prices updated?

Accepted Answer

We re-check listed prices, codes, and rules on a regular schedule and stamp the homepage with the last-updated date. Prop firms can change terms at any time, so always confirm the final price on the firm's own checkout before buying.

Question 13

How is the PropFirmV Score calculated?

Accepted Answer

The score is a weighted blend of trader-relevant factors: rule clarity, cost and value, payout structure, platform and market fit, beginner friendliness, and overall usability. Affiliate status never changes a firm's score or ranking position — it only determines whether an offer button or code appears.

Question 14

Are these the cheapest prop firm prices available?

Accepted Answer

We list the best verified offer we can attribute through our links. Prices shown are the all-in cost after the listed code. If you find a lower verified price, the firm's own site is always the final source of truth.

Question 15

Futures or forex — which should a beginner start with?

Accepted Answer

Neither is strictly easier. Futures evaluations often have fixed-dollar drawdowns and contract limits; forex evaluations usually use percentage targets and drawdowns. Pick the market you already understand, then compare the drawdown type and daily-loss rule before price.

Question 16

What is all-in price?

Accepted Answer

All-in price is what you actually pay to get to a funded account: the evaluation fee after any discount, plus the one-time activation fee charged once you pass. Some firms hide activation behind the headline. We surface both numbers and bold the combined total so you can compare like-for-like across firms without a calculator.

Question 17

What is the P/D ratio?

Accepted Answer

P/D ratio is profit target divided by maximum drawdown. A $3,000 target with a $2,000 drawdown is 1.50; a $6,000 target with a $3,000 drawdown is 2.00. Lower is easier — you have to grind less profit per dollar of risk room. It's the fastest way to judge whether an evaluation is realistic before you read the rest of the rules.

Question 18

What does drawdown mean (static, end-of-day, intraday)?

Accepted Answer

Drawdown is the maximum loss your account can take before it's failed. Static stays at a fixed dollar value regardless of profit. End-of-day trailing locks at your highest closing balance each day. Intraday trailing follows every unrealised tick higher — it's the strictest and the most common cause of blown accounts after a big winning trade.

Question 19

What is days to payout?

Accepted Answer

Days to payout is the minimum trading days plus the firm's processing window before your first withdrawal can clear. Passing the evaluation isn't the same as getting paid: most firms require five to ten qualifying trading days on the funded account, then process withdrawals weekly or bi-weekly. A few (like FTMO) offer first payout on demand once qualified.

Question 20

What is profit split?

Accepted Answer

Profit split is the percentage of net profits the firm pays out to you on the funded account. Most firms start between 80% and 90% and can scale up to 100% on later stages. The number quoted is usually the maximum — read the conditions, because some firms only reach the top split after several payout cycles or hitting a scaling target.

Question 21

What does max funded mean?

Accepted Answer

Max funded is the highest account size the firm will scale you to over time. Many firms cap a single account at $100k–$200k but allow you to run multiple accounts in parallel, or scale through a defined progression after consecutive payouts. It's a useful ceiling to know if you plan to scale your strategy rather than swap firms.

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