Prop Firm Total Cost: What That $40 Promo REALLY Costs You (2025)

That $40 Promo Isn't What You Think

You've seen the ads. "$40 for a 50k funded account!" Sounds amazing, right?

Here's what they don't tell you upfront: that $40 is just the beginning. By the time you're actually trading live, you might have spent $400-$600 or more.

I'm not saying prop firms are a scam. They're not. But if you're new to this, you need to understand the real prop firm total cost before you sign up.

This guide breaks down every fee you'll encounter across 12 popular futures prop firms. No fluff. Just real numbers so you can budget properly.

If you're completely new, start with what is a prop firm first.

The 4 Cost Components You Need to Know

Before we dive into specific firms, let's understand what you're actually paying for:

Now let's break each one down.

Component 1: Evaluation Fees

This is the price you see advertised. It gets you access to a simulated trading account where you need to hit a profit target without breaking the rules.

Here's what 12 popular firms charge for a 50K account:

Key insight: Never pay full price. Wait for a sale. Discounts of 40-80% happen regularly, especially around holidays.

Component 2: Reset Fees (The Hidden Budget Killer)

Here's the uncomfortable truth: most traders don't pass on their first try.

When you fail a challenge (hit the drawdown limit, break a rule, etc.), you have two choices:

1. Pay for a brand new evaluation
2. Pay a reset fee (usually cheaper)

Reset fees by firm:

Budget reality: If you're new, assume 2-3 resets minimum. That's an extra $150-$400 on top of your initial fee.

Component 3: Activation Fees

This one catches a lot of traders off guard. You pass the challenge, you're excited, and then... you need to pay again to actually start trading live.

Activation fees by firm:

Pro tip: If you're cost-conscious, prioritize firms with $0 activation fees. That's $100-$150 you keep in your pocket.

Component 4: Platform & Data Fees

Most futures prop firms include market data in your evaluation. But some have ongoing costs:

• Subscription-based firms (Alpha Futures, Tradeday): You pay monthly until you pass
• One-time fee firms (most others): You pay once, trade until you pass or fail

Important: Once funded, you typically don't pay additional data fees. The firm covers that cost.

The Real Math: "$40 Promo" to Actually Trading

Let's run a realistic scenario for a new trader:

Starting point: You grab a 50K account during a flash sale for $40.

That "$40 promo" became $480 before you made a single dollar.

Is it worth it? Yes, if you eventually profit. But go in with eyes open.

Complete Cost Comparison: All 12 Firms

Here's your cheat sheet for a 50K account at each firm:

*Earn2Trade activation is deducted from your first payout, not paid upfront.

**Subscription firms: Assumes 3 months to pass + 3 resets.

5 Ways to Minimize Your Total Cost

1. Never Pay Full Price

Sales happen constantly. Black Friday, New Year's, random flash sales. Set up email alerts and wait for 50%+ off.

2. Choose $0 Activation Firms

If you're budget-conscious, stick with Tradeify, Lucid Trading, FundedNext Futures, or FundingTicks. That's $100-$150 you save.

3. Practice First (Seriously)

The biggest waste of money is buying evaluations you're not ready for. Practice with prop firm rules on a demo account until you can pass consistently.

4. Start With Smaller Accounts

A 50K account feels good, but a 25K account is cheaper to reset. Get funded on a small account first, then scale up.

5. Pick Firms With Low Reset Fees

If you know you'll need multiple attempts (be honest with yourself), prioritize low reset fees. Apex at $60 beats Legends at $149.

The Bottom Line

The prop firm total cost is more than the number in the ad. Budget $300-$600 to actually get funded as a new trader.

That said, it's still way cheaper than losing $50,000 of your own money learning to trade. Prop firms offer a path to trading with limited downside.

Just go in knowing the real numbers:

• Evaluation fee: $100-$200 (with discount)
• Resets: Budget for 2-3 ($150-$400)
• Activation: $0-$150
• Total realistic budget: $300-$600

The firms with the best overall cost structure for new traders:

1. Tradeify - No activation, reasonable resets
2. Lucid Trading - No activation, competitive pricing
3. FundedNext Futures - No activation, good promos
4. Apex Trader Funding - Lowest reset fees ($60)

Ready to get started the right way? Learn how to pass your prop firm evaluation first, understand prop firm risk management, or compare all futures prop firms to find your best fit.