When you're starting out, eval price matters — a lot. If you're going to fail a few challenges learning the ropes (most people do), the cost per attempt is real money. So the hunt for the cheapest futures prop firm evaluations is completely rational. But "cheapest" and "best value" aren't the same thing, and confusing them is how traders end up overpaying in the long run.
I'm the founder of FundedScore, and I've bought evaluations across the major firms at full price and on deep discount. Here's how the pricing actually shakes out — and how to think about it.
Cheapest futures prop firm evaluations (entry tier we track):
The cheapest futures prop firm evaluations right now
Ranking the firms we track purely by entry-tier sticker price:
- Topstep — ~$49. The cheapest and the most-trusted name on the list (funding since 2012). That combination is rare and makes it a fantastic first eval.
- Bulenox — ~$65. Competes almost entirely on price, with regular coupons. Fine as a cheap extra attempt.
- Tradeify — ~$79. A newer firm with static-drawdown plans and frequent promos.
- MyFundedFutures — ~$80. A bit more, but you get a beginner-friendly static drawdown and no activation fee on several plans.
- Alpha Futures — ~$99. Clean rules and a growing payout reputation.
Apex lists higher (~$147) but runs near-constant discount codes that can push it below everyone — which is exactly why sticker price alone is misleading.
How discount codes change the picture
The futures prop space runs on promotions. Firms like Apex and Bulenox post discount codes constantly — 50%, 70%, sometimes 80%+ off evaluations. A $147 Apex eval at 80% off is cheaper than a $49 Topstep eval at full price.
A few rules for using codes wisely:
- Never pay full price at a discount-heavy firm. If a firm always has a code, buying without one is just leaving money on the table. Check for a current code before every purchase.
- Watch what the discount applies to. A cheap evaluation can still carry an activation fee when you get funded. The headline discount doesn't always cover that.
- Don't let a code rush a bad fit. A 80%-off eval on a firm whose drawdown doesn't suit you is still a waste.
Why cheapest isn't always best value
Here's the trap. The total cost of getting to a payout is more than the eval price. You have to add:
- Reset fees — failed the eval? Some firms charge to reset (e.g., ~$80) vs others where you re-buy.
- Activation / monthly fees — several firms charge to turn on the funded account or per month while you hold it.
- Data fees — live CME data may carry a small monthly cost.
- Failure rate — the real number. A slightly pricier eval at a firm whose drawdown you can actually survive beats a dirt-cheap eval you fail three times. Your cost per pass is what matters, not cost per attempt.
This is why I always steer beginners toward a forgiving drawdown over the rock-bottom price. A static-drawdown firm you pass on the first try is cheaper than a trailing-drawdown bargain you fail repeatedly — read trailing vs static drawdown to see why the rule, not the price, decides your real cost.
How to actually minimize your cost
Here's the smart-money approach:
- Start with Topstep at ~$49 — cheapest sticker and a forgiving end-of-day drawdown and a trusted name. Hard to beat as a first eval.
- Always grab a current discount code before buying at Apex or Bulenox.
- Optimize for cost-per-pass, not cost-per-attempt. Pick the drawdown you can survive; failing less is the biggest saving there is.
- Read the total cost — eval + reset + activation + data — not just the sticker. The cheapest futures prop firm evaluations on the surface aren't always cheapest to a payout.
One more lever worth tracking: resets vs re-buys. When you fail, some firms let you reset the same evaluation for a reduced fee, while others require a fresh purchase. During promotions, a brand-new discounted eval can actually be cheaper than a reset — so before you reset out of habit, check whether a current discount code makes starting over the cheaper move. Over a learning curve of several attempts, that difference adds up to real money.
Cheap is a great place to start and a terrible place to optimize blindly. Begin with a low-cost, forgiving firm, use the codes, and judge value by what it costs you to actually get funded and paid. Compare every firm's full pricing and fees in our comparison table and trader-tested reviews.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest futures prop firm? By entry-tier sticker price among firms we track, Topstep is the cheapest at around $49 — and it's also the most established, which is unusual. Discount-heavy firms like Apex can go lower with a code.
Do futures prop firms have discount codes? Yes, frequently. Firms like Apex and Bulenox run near-constant promotions of 50–80%+ off evaluations. Always check for a current code before buying, and confirm whether it also covers activation fees.
Is the cheapest evaluation the best one to buy? Not necessarily. The real cost is per pass, not per attempt — a slightly pricier eval with a drawdown you can survive beats a cheap one you fail repeatedly. Factor in reset, activation and data fees too.
Are there free futures prop firm evaluations? Genuinely free evals are rare — occasional giveaways or 100%-off promo codes appear, but expect to pay from around $49. Watch for discount codes to get close to free rather than counting on a truly free challenge.
How much should a beginner budget for evaluations? Budget for a few attempts, not one — most people fail before they pass. Buy one cheap eval at a time (~$49–$80), learn from each, and keep your cost-per-pass low rather than buying several upfront.
Related guides
- Best futures prop firms (2026): a funded trader's ranking
- Trailing vs Static Drawdown explained
- Fastest-funding futures prop firms & "instant funding"
- How to pass a futures prop firm evaluation
Trading futures carries substantial risk of loss. Nothing here is financial advice.
