The "Trust Crisis" in Prop Trading
2025 ended with a shockwave. When Funding Ticks announced that trades held for less than one minute would no longer count towards profit—and applied this rule to past trades—it shattered the implicit contract between firm and trader.
Traders who had spent weeks building a buffer saw their accounts breached or their withdrawals denied. The lesson was brutal but clear: Conditions matter more than price.
Cheap evaluations are no longer the primary criteria. In 2026, the priority is Stability. You need a firm that treats you like a partner, not an adversary to be tricked.
Our Selection Criteria for This List
- 🛡️ Zero Retroactive RulesThe firm must honor the terms active at the time of purchase.
- 💸 Payout ReliabilityVerified proof of payouts via third-party audits or community consensus.
- ⚡ Clear Scalping PoliciesIf they hate scalpers, they must say it upfront (unlike Funding Ticks).
- 🏛️ Longevity or BackingEither years of history (The5ers) or massive capital backing (Take Profit Trader).
The 2026 Safe Haven Matrix
| Firm Name | Best For... | Retroactive Rules? | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
The5ers Forex / Metals | Career Growth | NEVER | 4.8/5 |
Take Profit Trader Futures (Professional) | Fastest Payouts | NEVER | 4.7/5 |
Apex Trader Futures (Volume) | 90% Discount | NEVER | 4.7/5 |
Lucid Trading Futures (Simplicity) | Daily Payouts | NEVER | 4.6/5 |
Tradeify Futures (Straight to Funded) | Scalping / HFT | NEVER | 4.5/5 |
The5ers
The "Anti-Scam" Alternative
If Funding Pips was the "new kid on the block" who crashed the party with instability, The5ers is the veteran who built the house. Established in 2016, they are arguably the most respected firm in the Forex industry alongside FTMO. They have withstood every market crash, every regulation change (MetaQuotes crisis), and every banking issue without ever missing a payout.
The primary reason traders are flocking to The5ers post-scandal is their Hyper Growth program and the High Stakes challenge. Unlike Funding Pips which relies on tricky "consistency rules" to invalidate profitable traders, The5ers actively wants you to scale. Their business model is built on keeping successful traders for years, not burning them in months.
🔍 Deep Dive: The Rules & Conditions
The5ers offers a unique proposition: they fund you with real capital much faster than anyone else.
- The "High Stakes" Program: This is the direct competitor to Funding Pips. It's a 2-step evaluation (8% and 5% targets). The kicker? Once funded, you can receive a monthly salary even if you don't have a profitable month, provided you meet certain criteria.
- The "Bootcamp" Program: Low entry cost (starts at ~95€). You pay a small fee to enter, prove your skills across 3 demo stages, and then pay the rest to get funded. It allows you to test the waters with minimal risk.
- Scaling Plan: This is where they crush Funding Pips. They double your account at every 10% milestone, scaling up to $4 Million. This isn't a marketing gimmick; dozens of traders have reached the high 6-figure funding levels.
💻 Platform & Trading Conditions
Platforms
The5ers offers MetaTrader 5 (MT5). While many firms are losing their MetaQuotes license, The5ers has a solid, direct broker relationship ensuring stability.
Trading Assets
Major & Minor Pairs, Indices, Metals (Gold/Silver), and Cryptos. The spreads are raw and extremely tight, comparable to top-tier ECN brokers.
Funding Pips (The Risk)
- • Retroactive rule changes on active accounts.
- • "1-minute rule" deletes profits on fast trades.
- • Trailing drawdown limits your potential.
- • CEO defends taking back profits on Twitter.
The5ers (The Solution)
- • Zero retroactive changes since 2016.
- • No Time Limit on evaluations.
- • Real Salary option for pro traders.
- • 100% Profit Split on the first payout (High Stakes).
The Verdict
The5ers is for the serious Forex trader who treats trading as a career, not a casino. If you were burned by Funding Pips' volatility, The5ers offers the stability you are craving. It is slightly more expensive upfront than the cheapest firms, but the Growth Plan and Safety are unmatched in the industry.
Take Profit Trader
Day 1 Withdrawal King
One of the biggest complaints against Funding Pips was the slow and opaque payout process. Take Profit Trader (TPT) solves this with brute force efficiency. Their motto involves getting you paid as fast as possible.
Once you reach the "PRO+" status, TPT allows for withdrawals from Day 1 of profitability. No waiting periods, no "payout windows", no minimum trading days for withdrawals. It is a cash-flow machine designed for professional futures traders.
🔍 Deep Dive: Static Drawdown & Rules
The biggest hidden killer in prop trading is the "Trailing Drawdown" (which moves up as you profit but never goes down). TPT offers a true Static Drawdown on their PRO accounts.
- Static Drawdown: If your account size is $50,000 and your drawdown limit is $48,000, it stays at $48,000. Even if your balance goes to $60,000, your stop-out level remains at $48,000. This gives you a massive $12,000 buffer. Funding Pips' drawdown would have trailed up to $58,000, choking your trade room.
- Reset Policy: TPT allows resets, but they encourage discipline. Their dashboard is designed to help you treat this like a business.
- Activation Fee: Yes, there is an activation fee once you pass (unlike some cheap firms), but this covers the setup of your PRO account and ensures better data feeds.
🚀 The Ecosystem
Take Profit Trader isn't just a funding portal; it's a workspace. Their dashboard provides advanced metrics on your trading style, helping you identify if you are over-leveraging or trading on tilt.
Funding Pips (The Trap)
- • Trailing Drawdown: Follows your unrealized equity.
- • Payout Delays: Bi-weekly or monthly windows.
- • Approval Risk: Profits can be denied during "review".
TPT (The Professional)
- • Static Drawdown: Your room to breathe GROWS.
- • Day 1 Withdrawals: Immediate cash flow.
- • No Minimum Days: Withdraw when you win.
The Verdict
Take Profit Trader is not the cheapest option, but it is the most professional. If you are tired of "gamified" prop firms and want a serious business partner for Futures trading, TPT is the upgrade you need. The ability to build a massive safety buffer thanks to Static Drawdown is worth the price of admission alone.
Apex Trader Funding
Volume Leader (90% Off)
When traders decide to leave the instability of Funding Pips looking for "cheaper but safer," 90% of them land at Apex Trader Funding. Apex is the sheer volume leader in the Futures space. They have paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in the last few years to traders in over 150 countries.
Funding Ticks tried to launch a Futures division to compete with Apex but failed on trust. Apex remains the king because their rules—while strict on the drawdown—are consistent. They don't wake up one morning and decide to ban 1-minute trades. Plus, they offer the industry-leading 90% Profit Split (after the first $25k which is 100% yours).
🧠 The "20-Account" Strategy
The real power of Apex isn't just buying one account; it's the ability to buy 20. Because Apex runs frequent 50% to 80% OFF sales, you can often pick up a $50,000 evaluation account for around $39.20.
Why this beats Funding Pips: Instead of putting all your eggs in one basket (one large Funding Pips account that can be banned), you spread your risk across 20 Apex accounts using a "Trade Copier".
- Risk Distribution: If you blow one account, you have 19 left.
- Leverage: Trading 1 Mini contract across 20 accounts equals 20 Minis, but with spread-out drawdown risk.
- Payout Velocity: With 20 accounts funded, even a small profit day translates to massive withdrawals.
⚠️ Critical Rule: The Trailing Threshold
We must be transparent: Apex has a "Trailing Threshold" during the evaluation and early funded stage. This drawdown trails your unrealized (highest) profit. This is harder than Funding Pips' model initially. However, once you reach a certain profit buffer (e.g., $2,600 profit on a $50k account), the drawdown stops trailing and locks in at the starting balance + $100. From that moment on, you have a massive, static safety net.
Funding Pips (The Uncertainty)
- • Costly: High price per account.
- • Single Point of Failure: If they ban you, you lose everything.
- • CFD Spreads: Can be manipulated during news.
Apex (The Volume King)
- • Cheap: ~$35 for $50k eval (on sale).
- • Diversification: Allow up to 20 active accounts.
- • Regulation: Uses Tradovate/Rithmic (CME Data).
- • 90% Split: Industry leading payout structure.
The Verdict
Apex is perfect for the trader who wants leverage and low entry cost. It is the "Costco" of prop firms: huge volume, huge savings, and reliable service. If you are willing to master the trailing drawdown rule, the 20-account strategy is the fastest way to 6-figure withdrawals in the industry.
Lucid Trading
Simplicity Standard
Lucid Trading is the direct answer for traders who are exhausted by complex rulebooks. While Funding Pips has pages of "Terms of Service" that seem to change overnight, Lucid keeps it refreshingly simple. Their philosophy is: "Trade, Profit, Withdraw."
Lucid shines with its Daily Payouts system. In an industry where firms try to hold your money as long as possible (hoping you blow the account during the waiting period), Lucid processes withdrawals daily. This high-velocity cash flow makes it safer: the money is in your bank, not theirs.
💎 The "No Bullshit" Approach
Lucid has stripped away the "gotcha" rules that plague firms like Funding Ticks.
- No Consistency Rule: You don't have to worry about one big trade flagging your account.
- No News Restrictions: On their standard accounts, you can trade through volatility.
- Simple Scaling: The roadmap to larger capital is clear and automated.
🛠️ Tech Stack
Lucid leverages the robust Tradovate infrastructure. This means you can trade directly from your web browser, mobile app, or connect TradingView. The execution is lightning fast because it routes directly to the CME exchange, unlike the simulated "B-Book" execution of CFD firms where slippage is artificially introduced.
Funding Pips (The Maze)
- • Complex "hidden" rules regarding lot sizes.
- • Payouts often delayed by "investigations".
- • Support often copy-pastes generic rejections.
Lucid (The Straight Line)
- • Daily Payouts: Request and receive fast.
- • Simple Dashboard: See your PnL clearly.
- • Tradovate Native: Excellent mobile experience.
The Verdict
Lucid is ideal for the trader who wants to treat trading as a reliable income stream. If you felt "trapped" by Funding Pips' payout windows, Lucid's daily liquidity will feel like freedom. It is less "famous" than Apex, but the service quality is top-tier.
Tradeify
HFT & Scalper Paradise
The Funding Ticks controversy centered around one specific, brutal change: the "1-minute rule". They decided, retroactively, that any trade held for less than 60 seconds was "gambling" and removed the profits. Tradeify takes the exact opposite stance. They are the new home for speed.
Tradeify has quickly become a favorite because they explicitly ALLOW High-Frequency Trading (HFT) and rapid scalping strategies. They understand that in the volatile Futures market (like NQ or ES), a move can happen in seconds. Punishing a trader for capturing a quick move is nonsensical to them.
🔍 Deep Dive: Straight to Funded
Tradeify offers two main paths, but their "Straight to Funded" is the game-changer for those leaving Funding Pips.
- Evaluation (One Step): Very simple. Reach the profit target. Trailing drawdown stops trailing once you reach the starting balance plus 1. ($50k account → drawdown stops at $50,100).
- Straight to Funded: You pay a higher fee upfront, but you skip the evaluation entirely. You get a live SIM account immediately. You can withdraw your first profits after just 5 trading days. This is unheard of in the industry.
⚡ Scalping Policy Explained
While Funding Ticks bans scalping, Tradeify encourages it.
- ✓HFT Allowed: You can use bots that trade in milliseconds (on evaluation).
- ✓News Trading: Allowed. You can trade CPI, NFP, and FOMC without fear of profit deduction.
- ✓No Time Minimum: Hold a trade for 1 second? It counts. Profit is Profit.
Funding Ticks (Anti-Scalper)
- • Trades under 1 min = Profit Removed.
- • But losses on short trades = Still Counted.
- • HFT is strictly banned and labeled "cheating".
Tradeify (Pro-Scalper)
- • HFT & Bots are fully welcomed.
- • No restrictions on trade duration.
- • News Trading is permitted.
- • Option to skip evaluation completely.
The Verdict
If you are a scalper, a news trader, or use algo-bots, Tradeify is your new home. Funding Ticks has made it clear they don't want your business. Tradeify offers the speed and flexibility (via Tradovate/Rithmic) that modern Futures traders need.
Why Moving from CFD to Futures is the Safest Move
The Funding Ticks controversy highlighted the inherent flaws of the CFD model. Here is why traders are migrating to Futures.
📉The CFD Model (Funding Pips)
In the CFD (Contract for Difference) world, the prop firm (or their broker) creates the market. They are the "House". This leads to significant conflicts of interest:
- × Artificial Slippage: They can widen spreads just enough to hit your stop loss.
- × Price Manipulation: The price you see might differ slightly from the real market price.
- × B-Book Model: They profit when you lose. If you win too much, you become a liability.
📈The Futures Model (Apex, Tradeify)
Futures trading occurs on a Centralized Exchange (like the CME Group). Every trader in the world sees the exact same price at the exact same time.
- ✓ Centralized Data: The firm CANNOT manipulate the chart. Price is truth.
- ✓ Real Volume: You can see actual buy/sell orders (Order Flow), giving you an edge.
- ✓ Regulation: The Futures market is heavily regulated by the CFTC/NFA.
💡 Our Recommendation:
If you have been burned by Funding Pips, do not just switch to another shady CFD firm. Switch markets. Move to Futures (Apex, Tradeify, TPT). The learning curve is small (it's still charts and candles), but the safety upgrade is massive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about switching from Funding Pips to safer alternatives
Is Funding Pips shutting down in 2026?
There is no official announcement of a shutdown. However, applying retroactive rules to delete profits is a classic warning sign of liquidity issues or poor management. We strongly recommend halting new purchases until stability returns (approx. 90 days of clean operations).
Can I use TradingView with these alternatives?
Yes! Apex Trader Funding, Tradeify, and Take Profit Trader all offer integration with Tradovate. This allows you to log in to TradingView with your credentials and trade directly from the TradingView charts you love.
Which firm allows HFT (High Frequency Trading)?
Tradeify is the best choice for HFT strategies. Unlike Funding Ticks which banned trades under 1 minute, Tradeify explicitly allows high-frequency bots during their evaluation phase.
How do I withdraw my money from Funding Pips?
If you have an active account, request a payout immediately. Document every step (screenshots of your PnL, trade history, and the request). If they deny it based on retroactive rules, share your evidence on Trustpilot and X (Twitter). Public pressure is currently the only effective tool.
Can I trade Forex on Apex or Tradeify?
Yes, but via Currency Futures (e.g., 6E for EUR/USD). The chart looks almost identical, but you are trading a regulated contract on the CME exchange rather than a spot CFD. The liquidity is massive and spreads are tight.
Why is The5ers considered safer?
The5ers has been operating since 2016 (nearly a decade). They have survived every industry "purge" (like the MyForexFunds collapse) without a scratch. Their business model relies on backing successful traders with real capital, not just collecting evaluation fees.
Don't risk your capital on unstable firms.
The market is hard enough without having to fight your prop firm's rules.
Switch to a regulated, transparent, and proven firm today.
*Discount codes and offers are subject to change by the firms. Always check the official site.