Budget Friendly

7 Cheapest Prop Firms in 2026: From $17 to $90 (Tested & Ranked)

You don't need $100 to start trading. We tested 50+ prop firms and found 7 legit options starting at $17. All promo codes included.

7 Firms Ranked
Updated February 3, 2026
$17 - $90 Range

💰 Quick Price Comparison

Click any row to jump to full review

RankFirmPriceAccountCode
1
Taurus Arena💎 CHEAPEST
$1725K Prime Bundle
2
Apex Trader Funding🏆 BEST VALUE
$19.7025K Full Reset
3
Funding Pips💰 CHEAPEST FOREX
$3210K Evaluation
4
The5ers⚡ INSTANT FUNDING
$39.255K Micro BootcampAuto-Apply
5
Topstep🏛️ INDUSTRY LEADER
$4950K Trading CombineAuto-Apply
6
Lucid Trading🎁 UP TO 50% OFF
$6025K Flex
7
Take Profit Trader💎 PREMIUM CHOICE
$9025K PRO+

Forex vs Futures: Why is Futures Cheaper?

You might notice a pattern: Futures firms (like Taurus & Apex) are significantly cheaper than Forex firms. Why?

  • Centralized Data: Futures data comes from one source (CME), making it cheaper to regulate than fragmented Forex data from multiple brokers.
  • License Costs: MetaTrader (Forex) charges massive license fees to prop firms, which they pass on to you.
  • Competition: More futures prop firms = price war = better deals for you.

Pro Tip: If you're on a tight budget (Under $50), consider switching to Futures. It's the same charts, same price action analysis, but half the price.

💎 CHEAPEST
#1

Taurus Arena

FuturesATAS IncludedOrder Flow

New futures prop firm launched late 2025. Offers 3 programs: Prime (cheap bundles), Frees ($0 activation), and Direct Prime. Includes professional order flow software worth $100+/month.

ATAS/Volumetrica Free
$0 Activation (Frees)
No Daily Loss
85/15 Split
$17
25K Prime Bundle
$17/mo
Code:
Get DealRead Full Review →
🏆 BEST VALUE
#2

Apex Trader Funding

FuturesNo Daily DD$600M+ Paid

The industry leader with $600M+ paid to traders. 90% OFF brings 25K Full Reset to just $19.70. No daily loss limit, 90/10 profit split from day 1. Most trusted name in futures prop trading.

News Trading OK
90% Profit Split
Cheapest Resets
Weekly Payouts
$19.70
25K Full Reset
90% OFF
Code:
Get 90% OFFRead Full Review →
💰 CHEAPEST FOREX
#3

Funding Pips

Forex10K AccountLow Entry

The cheapest Forex option at $32 for a 10K account. However, we have identified concerning connections to Funding Ticks which shut down. Read our investigation before signing up.

Cheapest Forex Entry
Multiple Account Sizes
No Time Limit
Up to 90% Split
⚠️Connected to Funding Ticks (shutdown). Proceed with caution.
$32
10K Evaluation
Code:
Get StartedRead Full Review →
⚡ INSTANT FUNDING
#4

The5ers

ForexInstant FundingScaling

One of the most respected Forex prop firms. The $39.25 Micro Bootcamp gets you started with instant funding potential. Can scale up to $4M funded account.

Instant Funding Option
Scale to $4M
Weekend Holding
Low Targets
🏛️ INDUSTRY LEADER
#5

Topstep

FuturesSince 2012Most Trusted

The OG of futures prop trading. Topstep has been funding traders since 2012 with over $150M paid out. 50K account for just $49 is incredible value from the most trusted name.

$150M+ Paid Out
Since 2012
80/20 Split
Weekly Payouts
$49
50K Trading Combine
TRUSTED
Visit TopstepRead Full Review →
🎁 UP TO 50% OFF
#6

Lucid Trading

Futures15min PayoutsNo Monthly

Vault Launch Sale: 40% OFF + 10% extra for new users = 50% OFF! 15-minute payouts, no monthly fees. Ends March 1st.

Fastest Payouts (15min)
No Monthly Fees
90/10 Split
+10% New User
$60
25K Flex
40% + 10% NEW
Code:
Get Up to 50% OFFRead Full Review →
💎 PREMIUM CHOICE
#7

Take Profit Trader

FuturesStatic DDDay 1 Payout

Take Profit Trader PRO+ offers Day 1 payouts and $0 activation fee. Static Drawdown option means your loss limit never trails unrealized profits. Premium experience at $90.

No Daily Loss Limit
$0 Activation Fee
Day 1 Payouts
Static Drawdown
$90
25K PRO+
40% OFF
Code:
Get 40% OFFRead Full Review →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest prop firm in 2026?

Taurus Arena at $17/month is currently the cheapest legitimate prop firm. They offer futures trading with professional order flow software (ATAS/Volumetrica) included free.

Are cheap prop firms legit?

Not all of them. Many cheap firms shut down (like Funding Ticks). We only list firms with verified payout history. Apex alone has paid $600M+ to traders.

Should I choose Forex or Futures on a budget?

Futures is cheaper ($17-90) vs Forex ($32+). Same charts, same analysis, lower cost. Futures data comes from one source (CME) while Forex has expensive MetaTrader licensing fees.

Can I get funded with less than $50?

Yes. 5 of our 7 firms cost under $50: Taurus ($17), Apex ($19.70), Funding Pips ($32), The5ers ($39.25), and Topstep ($49).

Is Funding Pips safe?

Funding Pips is one of the cheapest Forex options, but we've identified concerning connections to Funding Ticks (which shut down). Read our full investigation before signing up. Read our investigation →

Which cheap prop firm has the best payouts?

Apex Trader Funding ($19.70) offers 90/10 profit split from day 1 with weekly payouts. Lucid Trading ($70) has the fastest payouts at 15 minutes. Topstep ($49) has the longest track record with $150M+ paid since 2012.

Still undecided?

Compare 50+ firms side-by-side based on Price, Drawdown, and Rules.

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