Top Futures Prop Firms for Funded Trading in 2025

Looking to trade ES, NQ, oil or gold with a funded account? This page highlights the best futures prop firms for traders who want to prove their edge and scale up capital without risking personal funds. Whether you’re day trading E-mini contracts or building a strategy around crude oil and metals, we’ve ranked the top firms based on platforms, payouts, rules and challenge structure.

Use our comparison table to explore futures-only firms and those offering multi-asset accounts with futures support.

What Is a Futures Prop Firm

A futures prop firm funds traders to trade futures contracts on its behalf. You trade on exchange-connected platforms like NinjaTrader or Rithmic and keep a share of the profits. To qualify, most firms require you to complete a challenge or pass evaluation stages based on drawdowns and profit targets.

Popular instruments include:

• Index futures: E-mini S&P (ES), Nasdaq (NQ), Dow (YM)
• Commodities: Crude oil (CL), gold (GC), natural gas (NG)
• Currencies and bonds: 6E, 6J, ZB, ZN

Futures prop firms tend to offer tight rule sets with a strong focus on risk management and intraday trading.

Who Should Use a Futures Prop Firm

Futures prop firms are best for:

• Day traders with strong discipline
• Traders who want direct market access with live data
• US-based traders who prefer regulated exchanges
• Scalpers using tick charts and DOM
• Experienced traders with a strategy built around volatility

If you already trade futures using a simulator or demo, a prop firm gives you a path to funded capital and real payouts without needing to risk your own capital.

Best Futures Prop Firms by Category

1. Best Overall Futures Prop Firms

These firms have strong evaluations, payout consistency and platform reliability:

• [TopStep] – Most recognised futures prop firm with strong rules and education
• [Earn2Trade] – Transparent and education-focused with Gauntlet Mini™ evaluation
• [MyFundedFutures] – Clean dashboard, low-cost challenges and instant funding
• [TradeDay] – Strong customer service and structured rules for pros

2. Best for Scalping:

These firms let you qualify quickly:

• [MyFundedFutures] – Instant funding or fast 1-step evaluations
• [Earn2Trade] – Clear progress tracking and flexible timelines
• [Traders Launch] – Newer firm with fast setup and minimal rules

3. Best for Swing Traders:

These firms offer coaching or structured risk education:

• [TopStep] – Community, live chat support and trade review feedback
• [Earn2Trade] – Includes training tools and journaling
• [TradeDay] – Offers educational webinars and dedicated mentoring

Futures Prop Firm Account Types

1. Evaluation Accounts:

• Most firms require a profit target while staying within intraday or trailing drawdowns. Evaluations typically cost less than funding the same account personally.

2. Instant Funding Accounts:

• Some firms offer accounts with live capital immediately. These often have higher costs and tighter drawdown rules.

3. Scaling Accounts:

• Many firms will increase your buying power as you hit profit milestones or maintain clean track records.

Account sizes typically range from $25,000 to $250,000 notional capital, with trade sizes often limited by the number of contracts allowed.

Common Rules and Features to Watch

1. Trailing Drawdown:

• A key rule in most evaluations. If your equity drops too far below your peak balance, you fail the challenge.

2. Consistency Rules:

• Some firms require steady profit days or ban oversized wins. These rules prevent luck-based passing.

3. Daily Loss Limits:

• Typically between $500 and $2,500 depending on the account size. Intraday violations often result in immediate disqualification.

4. Trade Hours:

• Some firms restrict trading to US market hours or exclude trading around economic news events.

5. Platform Restrictions:

• Most futures firms use Rithmic or Tradovate, accessed via NinjaTrader, Quantower or other compatible tools.

Platforms Supported by Futures Prop Firms

• NinjaTrader – Most popular for chart trading and DOM
• Rithmic – Institutional-grade data feed used by most firms
• Tradovate – Clean cloud-based UI, popular with new traders
• Quantower – Multi-asset platform with algorithmic capability
• Sierra Chart and Jigsaw – Used by more advanced traders

Be sure to check if the firm supports your preferred tools before starting an evaluation.

Common Rules and Features to Watch

1. Know Your Contract Focus:

• Some firms only support equity indices, while others include commodities or bonds.

2. Compare Drawdown Rules:

• Look for firms with reasonable trailing drawdowns and clear intraday limits.

3. Set a Budget:

• Factor in monthly fees, resets and potential add ons like coaching or expedited funding.

4. Platform Preference:

• Make sure your preferred execution method is supported and stable.

5. Payout Terms:

• Check how often payouts are processed and what minimums apply.