Best Futures Prop Trading Firms in 2024 (2024)

Best Futures Prop Trading Firms in 2024 (1)

Author: Eduardo Montero

Last Updated on January 26, 2024

If you are interested in futures trading in the following list you will find what in my opinion are currently the best futures proprietary trading firms. In the last few years I have reviewed and thoroughly tested numerous prop firms, not only offering the futures market but also other instruments such as Forex, stocks,… I have also looked at the positive and negative opinions of other traders to know their experience working with these companies and finally here you have my assessment along with the main features of each of them:

What are the best futures prop firms?

Prop Trading Firm Funded Account Balance Features
50k balance for$165 $49/month
100k balance for$325 $99/month
150k balance for $375 $149/month

  • Highly trusted futures prop firm founded in 2012.
  • You can trade futures on indices, foreign exchange, cryptos, crude oil, natural gas, agricultural products, gold, silver,…
  • Keep your first $10,000 in profits and 90% after that!
  • 1 step evaluation, 1 rule (do not exceed the Maximum Loss Limit)
  • Reset your challenge if you hit MLL.
  • Futures platforms like NinjaTrader, Quantower and more.
More info at https://www.topstep.com

60%
to
70%
OFF

Coupon

No code needed Show Code

60% to 70% Off on Topstep

70% discount on $50k account
69% discount on $100k account
60% discount on $150k account

No code required. Discounts are already applied on the Topstep website.

More Less

Best Futures Prop Trading Firms in 2024 (3)

25k balance for $147/month
50k balance for $167/month
75k balance for $187/month
100k balance for $207/month
150k balance for $297/month
200k balance for $517/month
300k balance for $657/month

Prices for Rithmic/NinjaTrader plans (Tradovate/NinjaTrader plans available)

  • You can trade futures on indices, interest rates, currencies, cryptocurrencies, agricultural products, energies and metals.
  • Receive 100% of the first $25,000 and 90% after that!
  • One-step evaluation (7 trading days minimum).
  • No daily drawdowns (only live trailing threshold).
  • Trades must be closed before 4:59 PM ET. Trade on holidays or during news.
  • Real-time data and license included in evaluation (monthly or life time fee in paid/funded accounts).
More info at https://apextraderfunding.com

71%
OFF

Coupon

OXJZBIPD Show Code

71% Off Coupon Code First month and renewing months of any size Evaluation Account on Apex Trader Funding

More Less

Expires on: 02/22/2024

Best Futures Prop Trading Firms in 2024 (5)

25k balance for $150/month
50k balance for $180/month
100k balance for $220/month
150k balance for $305/month
  • Free Ninja Trader licence key.
  • Least expensive reset fees.
  • One-step evaluation (10 trading days minimum).
  • Least rules & highest % of futures traders funded.
  • Hold positions overnight and trade during news events.
  • Keep 80-90% of profit earned.
More info at https://www.leelootrading.com

In the following comparison table you will find the main features of these futures prop trading firms:

Futures Prop Firm Balance / Fee Profit Split Profit Target Max. Drawdown Instruments Visit

50k balance for

$165

$49/month
100k balance for

$325

$99/month
150k balance for

$375

$149/month

100% of the first $10,000 you generate and 90% from that amount.

6%

4% to 3%

  • Maximum Loss Limit
  • (the percentage varies depending on the account you choose).

    Futures Markets: CME Exchange (22 instruments) NYMEX Exchange (7) COMEX Exchange (6) CBOT Exchange (14)

    60%
    to
    70%
    OFF

    Coupon

    No code needed Show Code

    60% to 70% Off on Topstep

    70% discount on $50k account
    69% discount on $100k account
    60% discount on $150k account

    No code required. Discounts are already applied on the Topstep website.

    More Less

    Best Futures Prop Trading Firms in 2024 (8)

    25k balance for $147/month
    50k balance for $167/month
    75k balance for $187/month
    100k balance for $207/month
    150k balance for $297/month
    250k balance for $517/month
    300k balance for $657/month

    100% of the first $25,000. 90% from that amount.

    5.66% to 6.66% (6% in most accounts)

    No daily drawdown.
    6% to 2.5% Max trailing threshold (the percentage varies depending on the account you choose).

    Futures Markets: CME Exchange (23 instruments) NYMEX Exchange (7) COMEX Exchange (7) CBOT Exchange (13) EUREX (11) ICE (8)

    71%
    OFF

    Coupon

    OXJZBIPD Show Code

    71% Off Coupon Code First month and renewing months of any size Evaluation Account on Apex Trader Funding

    More Less

    Expires on: 02/22/2024

    Best Futures Prop Trading Firms in 2024 (10)

    25k balance for $150/month
    50k balance for $180/month
    100k balance for $220/month
    150k balance for $305/month

    100% of the first $8,000. Then 80% of the profit for the first 12 months and 90% thereafter.

    6%

    No daily drawdown.
    6% to 2.5% Max trailing drawdown (the percentage varies depending on the account you choose).

    Futures Markets: CME Exchange (30 instruments) NYMEX Exchange (7) COMEX Exchange (8) CBOT Exchange (19)

    Why are these the best futures proprietary trading firms?

    As you know, futures are one of the most traded financial markets in the world. Futures contracts exist for all types of assets such as equity indexes, metals, energies, agricultural products, currency pairs, cryptocurrencies, interest rates, etc. They are used both for speculation purposes (trying to take advantage of price movements to obtain profits) and for hedging purposes (for example by portfolio managers, companies, etc. who wish to hedge their exposure to a certain instrument, a certain currency, etc.).

    Among the advantages of the futures market we can point out:

    • It is a financial market with greater transparency than others as we can easily access information on prices, participants, volume of transactions, etc.
    • Futures markets are open almost 24 hours a day, unlike many of the underlying assets that are traded for only a few hours a day.
    • Trading costs are quite low.
    • There is a high level of leverage.
    • It is easy to open short trades.
    • The volatility of the futures market is quite high.

    The main disadvantages of futures are:

    • It requires more advanced knowledge than is necessary for trading other instruments.
    • The time commitment to develop a profitable trading strategy is usually high.
    • It requires an average amount of capital to make significant profits.

    This last point is where proprietary trading firms add value by offering traders with a profitable strategy the possibility of:

    • Access to a funded account in which to manage a much larger balance than they could trade with their own capital.
    • A generous profit split scheme for the trader (up to 90%).
    • And without the trader taking significant risk as it is not their money that is at stake.

    Finding prop firms to access a funded account with which to trade Forex (list of best prop firms for Forex), stocks (more information: What are the best prop trading firms for stocks?) or cryptocurrencies (best crypto prop trading firms) is quite simple as there is currently a wide range of this type of companies on the market. For example, here you can see what I consider to be the best proprietary trading firms today, where you will see popular prop firms such as The Funded Trader, Fidelcrest, The Trading Pit,…

    Finding prop firms for futures is not so easy anymore because the offer is drastically reduced. In addition, in the case of prop firms for Forex or stocks it is common to find companies where the fee for accessing the evaluation period consists of a one-off payment or there are even proprietary trading firms that offer instant funding without evaluation or challenge of any kind. In the case of futures, most prop firms require a monthly fee to access the evaluation period and you must pay it as long as you do not exceed the evaluation period. That is why it is important to work with reliable and experienced prop trading firms whose objective is to attract profitable trading talent and make money from their share of the profit split and not other firms with a professional appearance that only seek to entangle you in a never-ending evaluation process and make money from the access fees.

    Therefore, in order to draw up the comparison table on this page of what I consider to be the best prop firms for futures, the most important aspect I have relied on to show these companies and not others is:

    The experience and reputation of the prop firms.

    Both Topstep, Apex Trader Funding and Leeloo Trading are three US companies with years of experience in the market and have funded thousands of futures traders worldwide. Topstep is a trademark owned by Topstep LLC based in Chicago, Apex Trader Funding is owned by Apex Trader Funding Inc. based in Austin, TX and Leeloo Trading is owned by Natural Trading LLC based in Montana. These companies have good reputations and the majority of customer reviews I have found are positive: For example Topstep has at the time of writing an “Excellent” rating on the Trustpilot with 4.3 out of 5 stars out of over 1400 user reviews. The majority of reviews (74% give it a 5 star rating). Here you can see my Topstep review for more details. Apex Trader Funding has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot with over 4100 ratings. Leeloo Trading is a lesser known company than Topstep or Apex but the rating is equally “Excellent” on Trustpilot with 4.7 out of 5 stars and 90% of users give it 5 stars.

    In addition, Topstep offers this discount that will allow you to save money on your first month’s subscription to any of their funded accounts.

    Other factors that I have found positive about these futures prop firms are:

    • Timely and uncomplicated profit payments.
    • Good customer support to resolve doubts or any incident that may occur.
    • Wide range of futures to trade.
    • Possibility of using professional futures platforms such as NinjaTrader,…

    Is Futures prop trading legal?

    Futures contracts are standardised legal contracts between two parties involving the purchase or sale of a commodity or financial instrument at a specified price for delivery at a point in the future. The contracts are traded between buyers and sellers on futures exchanges. Futures trading, for example in the United States, is regulated by the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission), which is responsible for market security and participant protection. The CFTC has supervisory and sanctioning powers if any person or company violates the regulations.

    Prop trading for futures trading with funded trading accounts is legal but is not subject to the same level of regulation as trading with a futures broker and managing your own capital. Futures trading prop firms are not financial intermediaries or online brokers. A trader who trades with a futures prop firm does so managing the firm’s capital and not his or her own funds. The trading conditions, the profit sharing scheme,… are private agreements between both parties.

    Which platforms can I use with these futures prop firms?

    The trading platforms you can use will depend on the futures proprietary trading firm you work with. The range of platforms available varies from prop firm to prop firm.

    In the case of those that we consider to be the best prop firms for futures that you can find in the comparison table at the top of this page, the trading platforms that they allow you to use are the following:

    Topstep

    The main Futures platforms supported by Topstep are NinjaTrader and Quantower. Please check the official Topstep website for current conditions and prices for both trading platforms. Please note that there is usually a commission per futures contract traded and there may be other license fees,… which may vary if you are in the challenge phase or if you are already working on a futures trading funded account.

    On Topstep you can also use other futures trading platforms such as these:

    Bookmap
    T4
    Jigsaw daytradr
    Investor/RT
    MotiveWave
    MultiCharts
    ATAS
    R|Trader Pro
    Sierra Chart
    Trade Navigator
    VolFix

    If you do not find your preferred platform among this list you can contact Topstep directly and ask them if it is possible to use it or what solution they can offer you.

    Apex Trader Funding

    Apex Trader Funding offers 2 different programmes depending on the trading platform you use: Rithmic/NinjaTrader Plan or Tradovate/NinjaTrader Plan.

    NinjaTrader is the preferred futures trading platform at Apex Trader Funding and the licence is included free of charge with all plans. NinjaTrader 8 is the permitted version and previous NinjaTrader version cannot be used.

    Tradovate can only be used on Apex Trader Funding if you trade futures on NinjaTrader, Tradovate Web / Mobile and TradingView.

    You can also use any of the following trading platforms on which your Rithmic login can work:

    wealthcharts.com
    rTrader Pro
    ATAS
    Bookmap
    EdgeProX
    Finamark.com
    Jigsaw Daytradr
    Motive Wave
    Sierra Charts
    VolFix

    For more information on the use of these futures platforms, please visit the Apex Trader Funding website and contact them if you have any questions.

    Leeloo Trading

    In Leeloo you can use any trading platform compatible with Rithmic data, for example:

    Ninjatrader 7
    Ninjatrader 8
    Rithmic Pro
    EdgeProX
    Motive Wave
    Multicharts
    ATAS
    trade.finamarksys.com
    Jigsaw Daytradr
    Trade Navigator
    VolFix
    Bookmap X-Ray
    Inversor / RT (Linnsoft)
    Sierra Charts
    OptimusFLOW

    Some of these platforms can only be used in webtrader format while others are available for download on desktop computers with Windows, MAC or Linux operating systems or from mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets. For more information, please visit the official website of the futures funding prop firms.

    I hope this information has been useful for you. If you want to tell me about your experience with any other futures prop trading firm, do not hesitate to contact me.

    Best Futures Prop Trading Firms in 2024 (12)

    Author: Eduardo Montero

    I'm Eduardo Montero. Computer scientist by profession and passionate about online trading with more than 10 years of experience in the financial markets. I'm the author of hundreds of articles published in other websites about the online trading industry. Learn more about me here: About the author.

    Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

    Based on the information provided in the article, I will provide information related to the concepts mentioned.

    Futures Trading:

    Futures trading involves buying and selling contracts for the delivery of a specific asset at a predetermined price and date in the future. These contracts are standardized and traded on futures exchanges. Futures contracts exist for various assets such as equity indexes, metals, energies, agricultural products, currency pairs, cryptocurrencies, and interest rates [[1]].

    Proprietary Trading Firms:

    Proprietary trading firms, also known as prop firms, are companies that provide traders with access to capital to trade financial instruments. These firms typically offer funded accounts to traders who have proven their trading skills and strategies. Traders can trade with the firm's capital and receive a share of the profits they generate, while the firm takes a portion of the profits as well [[1]].

    Best Futures Proprietary Trading Firms:

    The article mentions three futures proprietary trading firms that are considered among the best:

    1. Topstep: Topstep is a highly trusted futures prop firm founded in 2012. They offer funded accounts with different balance options, ranging from $50,000 to $150,000. Traders can trade futures on various instruments, including indices, foreign exchange, cryptocurrencies, crude oil, natural gas, agricultural products, gold, and silver. Topstep allows traders to keep the first $10,000 in profits and 90% of profits thereafter. They have a one-step evaluation process and provide access to futures platforms like NinjaTrader and Quantower [[1]].

    2. Apex Trader Funding: Apex Trader Funding offers funded accounts with balance options ranging from $25,000 to $300,000. Traders can trade futures on indices, interest rates, currencies, cryptocurrencies, agricultural products, energies, and metals. Apex Trader Funding provides traders with 100% of the first $25,000 in profits and 90% of profits thereafter. They have a one-step evaluation process and offer real-time data and licenses included in the evaluation. The trading plans are available for platforms like Rithmic and NinjaTrader [[1]].

    3. Leeloo Trading: Leeloo Trading offers funded accounts with balance options ranging from $25,000 to $150,000. Traders can trade futures on various instruments, including indices, metals, energies, and agricultural products. Leeloo Trading provides traders with 100% of the first $8,000 in profits, followed by 80% of profits for the first 12 months and 90% thereafter. They have a one-step evaluation process and allow traders to hold positions overnight and trade during news events. Leeloo Trading offers a free NinjaTrader license key and has the least expensive reset fees [[1]].

    Advantages of Futures Trading:

    The article mentions several advantages of futures trading:

    • Transparency: Futures markets provide greater transparency compared to other financial markets. Information on prices, participants, and volume of transactions is easily accessible [[1]].
    • Extended Trading Hours: Futures markets are open almost 24 hours a day, allowing traders to trade at different times compared to underlying assets that have limited trading hours [[1]].
    • Low Trading Costs: Trading costs in futures markets are generally low, making it cost-effective for traders [[1]].
    • Leverage: Futures trading offers a high level of leverage, allowing traders to control a larger position with a smaller amount of capital [[1]].
    • Short Trades: It is easy to open short trades in futures markets, enabling traders to profit from downward price movements [[1]].
    • Volatility: The futures market is known for its high volatility, providing opportunities for traders to profit from price fluctuations [[1]].

    Disadvantages of Futures Trading:

    The article also mentions some disadvantages of futures trading:

    • Advanced Knowledge: Futures trading requires more advanced knowledge compared to trading other instruments. Traders need to have a deep understanding of market dynamics and trading strategies [[1]].
    • Time Commitment: Developing a profitable trading strategy in futures trading usually requires a significant time commitment. Traders need to spend time analyzing the market, testing strategies, and refining their approach [[1]].
    • Capital Requirement: Futures trading typically requires an average amount of capital to make significant profits. Traders need to have sufficient capital to cover margin requirements and potential losses [[1]].

    Legality of Futures Prop Trading:

    Futures prop trading with funded trading accounts is legal but is not subject to the same level of regulation as trading with a futures broker and managing your own capital. Futures trading is regulated by organizations such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in the United States, which ensures market security and participant protection. Proprietary trading firms are not financial intermediaries or online brokers. Traders who trade with a futures prop firm manage the firm's capital, and the trading conditions and profit-sharing schemes are private agreements between both parties [[1]].

    Trading Platforms for Futures Prop Firms:

    The trading platforms available for use with futures prop firms may vary depending on the firm. Here are the platforms mentioned in the article for the three futures prop firms discussed:

    • Topstep: Topstep supports futures platforms like NinjaTrader, Quantower, Bookmap, T4, Jigsaw daytradr, Investor/RT, MotiveWave, MultiCharts, ATAS, R|Trader Pro, Sierra Chart, Trade Navigator, and VolFix. Traders can contact Topstep directly to inquire about using other platforms [[1]].
    • Apex Trader Funding: Apex Trader Funding offers two different programs depending on the trading platform: Rithmic/NinjaTrader Plan or Tradovate/NinjaTrader Plan. NinjaTrader 8 is the permitted version, and Tradovate can be used if trading futures on NinjaTrader, Tradovate Web/Mobile, and TradingView. Traders can also use platforms compatible with Rithmic login, such as wealthcharts.com, rTrader Pro, ATAS, Bookmap, EdgeProX, Finamark.com, Jigsaw Daytradr, Motive Wave, Sierra Charts, and VolFix [[1]].
    • Leeloo Trading: Leeloo Trading allows the use of trading platforms compatible with Rithmic data, including NinjaTrader 7, NinjaTrader 8, Rithmic Pro, EdgeProX, Motive Wave, Multicharts, ATAS, trade.finamarksys.com, Jigsaw Daytradr, Trade Navigator, VolFix, Bookmap X-Ray, Inversor/RT (Linnsoft), Sierra Charts, and OptimusFLOW [[1]].

    Please note that the availability of specific platforms may vary, and it is recommended to visit the official websites of the futures prop firms for the most up-to-date information on supported platforms [[1]].

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