Global Retail Volume Index 2026

Best-Selling Prop Firm Challenges

Where does the global retail trading community actually put their money? We track estimated monthly purchase volumes, conversion rates, and trader retention across verified Forex, CFD, and Futures prop firms.

120K+
Monthly Challenges Tracked
$100,000
Most Purchased Capital Tier
48.2%
FTMO & Topstep Market Share
82%
Prefer Static Balance Drawdown
Account Size:
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#1
FTMOForex & CFD$100,000 Capital

FTMO $100,000 Standard (2-Step)

99/100Popularity
25,000+ challenges/mo
Profit Target10% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2)
Max Loss Cushion10% Static / 5% Daily
Trader Profit Split80% to 90%
PlatformsMT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade

Why It Out-Sells Competitors: The undisputed global benchmark. 10+ year flawless payout track record, no time limits, and refundable evaluation fee on first payout.

$540entry fee
Standard Official Price
#2
TopstepFutures$50,000 Capital

Topstep $50,000 Express Funded (Futures)

97/100Popularity
22,000+ challenges/mo
Profit Target$3,000 (6%)
Max Loss Cushion$2,000 (4%) EOD Trailing
Trader Profit Split100% (First $10k) + 90%
PlatformsTradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView

Why It Out-Sells Competitors: The king of Futures trading. Low $49 entry point, 100% profit split on the first $10,000, and direct CME institutional market fills.

$49entry fee
#3
Funding PipsForex & CFD$100,000 Capital

Funding Pips $100,000 Two-Step

95/100Popularity
18,500+ challenges/mo
Profit Target8% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2)
Max Loss Cushion10% Static / 5% Daily
Trader Profit Split80% to 90%
PlatformsMatch-Trader, cTrader, TradeLocker

Why It Out-Sells Competitors: Unbeatable price-to-drawdown ratio. $399 fee for a $100k account with on-demand payouts and raw Match-Prime institutional spreads.

$399entry fee
#4
The5ersForex & CFD$100,000 Capital

The5ers $100,000 High Stakes

92/100Popularity
14,000+ challenges/mo
Profit Target8% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2)
Max Loss Cushion10% Static / 5% Daily
Trader Profit Split80% to 100%
PlatformsMT5, cTrader

Why It Out-Sells Competitors: Generous static drawdown that never trails upward, instant 100% profit split scaling up to $4,000,000, and weekend holding.

$495entry fee
#5
FundedNextForex & CFD$100,000 Capital

FundedNext $100,000 Stellar 2-Step

90/100Popularity
12,000+ challenges/mo
Profit Target8% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2)
Max Loss Cushion10% Static / 5% Daily
Trader Profit Split80% to 90% (+ 15% Challenge Share)
PlatformsMT5, cTrader, DXtrade

Why It Out-Sells Competitors: Unique 15% profit sharing during the evaluation phase itself, meaning traders get paid even before reaching fully funded status.

$519entry fee
#6
Alpha Capital GroupForex & CFD$100,000 Capital

Alpha Pro $100,000 Evaluation

88/100Popularity
9,500+ challenges/mo
Profit Target8% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2)
Max Loss Cushion10% Static / 5% Daily
Trader Profit Split80% to 90%
PlatformsMT5, cTrader

Why It Out-Sells Competitors: Zero commission raw feeds on ACG Markets, free market data, and automated bi-weekly payouts via UK directors.

$497entry fee
#7
FTMOForex & CFD$50,000 Capital

FTMO $50,000 Standard (2-Step)

86/100Popularity
8,000+ challenges/mo
Profit Target10% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2)
Max Loss Cushion10% Static / 5% Daily
Trader Profit Split80% to 90%
PlatformsMT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade

Why It Out-Sells Competitors: The most popular mid-tier budget option for aspiring FTMO traders testing new trading systems.

$345entry fee
Standard Official Price
#8
TopstepFutures$150,000 Capital

Topstep $150,000 Express Funded (Futures)

84/100Popularity
7,500+ challenges/mo
Profit Target$9,000 (6%)
Max Loss Cushion$4,500 (3%) EOD Trailing
Trader Profit Split100% (First $10k) + 90%
PlatformsTradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView

Why It Out-Sells Competitors: Massive 15-contract CME position allowance with direct order flow execution for aggressive index scalpers.

$149entry fee
#9
Funding PipsForex & CFD$50,000 Capital

Funding Pips $50,000 Two-Step

82/100Popularity
6,800+ challenges/mo
Profit Target8% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2)
Max Loss Cushion10% Static / 5% Daily
Trader Profit Split80% to 90%
PlatformsMatch-Trader, cTrader

Why It Out-Sells Competitors: High-volume budget favorite with sub-$240 entry price and crypto payout flexibility.

$239entry fee
#10
The5ersForex & CFD$250,000 Capital

The5ers $250,000 High Stakes

80/100Popularity
4,200+ challenges/mo
Profit Target8% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2)
Max Loss Cushion10% Static ($25k Buffer) / 5% Daily
Trader Profit Split80% to 100%
PlatformsMT5, cTrader

Why It Out-Sells Competitors: The flagship whale tier. Generates a massive $25,000 static loss cushion from day one for professional full-time swing traders.

$1195entry fee

Why FTMO & Topstep Dominate Global Sales

Despite newer prop firms offering aggressive 95% profit splits and rock-bottom challenge pricing, FTMO and Topstep maintain undisputed leadership in monthly sales volume. The driving factor is counterparty solvency trust.

Traders understand that passing an evaluation is meaningless if the firm withholds payouts under vague "gambling style" clauses. FTMO's 10-year audited payout history and Topstep's regulated CME clearing ecosystem make them the safest choices for serious capital allocators.

The $100K Account "Sweet Spot"

Over 54% of all evaluation purchases are for the $100,000 tier. Traders prefer $100k accounts over $10k accounts because a modest 5% monthly return produces a meaningful $4,000 to $4,500 monthly payout.

Furthermore, $100,000 challenges provide a realistic $10,000 drawdown buffer. On a $10,000 account, a standard $1,000 drawdown cushion can be wiped out by just two unlucky 1-lot Gold trades or unexpected news slippage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions regarding popular prop firm evaluations

Which prop firm challenge is the most popular in the world?

The FTMO $100,000 Standard Challenge is the single most purchased prop trading evaluation globally, with an estimated 25,000+ new accounts activated monthly. Its popularity is driven by FTMO's 10-year audited payout history, no time limits, and reliable Deloitte-audited corporate infrastructure.

What is the best-selling Futures prop firm challenge?

The Topstep $50,000 Express Funded Account is the world's best-selling Futures evaluation, popular for its accessible $49/month price point, 100% profit split on the first $10,000, and direct CME market routing.

Why do most traders buy $100,000 challenges instead of $10,000 accounts?

Psychology and risk efficiency. A 10% gain on a $100,000 account yields $10,000 (providing a life-changing $8,000 to $9,000 payout), whereas a 10% gain on a $10,000 account yields only $800 to $900. Additionally, $100k challenges offer a larger $10,000 static drawdown buffer, reducing the risk of accidental breach from intraday variance.

Not Sure If You Can Pass One of These?

Simulate your win rate, risk-to-reward ratio, and drawdown limits through our 1,000-run Monte Carlo simulation before purchasing.

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