Failed an evaluation? Don't panic — and don't blindly hit "reset" either. A prop firm reset can be the cheapest way back into a challenge, or a waste of money compared to simply buying a fresh discounted eval. Knowing which is which saves real cash over a learning curve, because most traders fail a few times before they pass.
I'm the founder of FundedScore, and I've burned money resetting when I should have rebought (and vice versa). Here's how resets actually work.
Prop firm reset, quick facts (firms we track):
- A reset restarts a failed evaluation without buying a whole new one
- Reset fees vary — Apex is ~$80; some firms have none
- During promos, a fresh discounted eval can beat a reset on price
- Resets apply to evaluations, not funded accounts (a blown funded account is gone)
What is a prop firm reset?
A reset takes a failed evaluation account — one where you breached the drawdown or otherwise broke a rule — and restarts it from the beginning, so you can attempt the challenge again without purchasing a brand-new eval from scratch. You pay a reset fee (usually less than a full eval), your balance and progress wipe, and you're back to day one.
Two things to be clear on:
- Resets apply to evaluation accounts. If you blow a funded account, that's typically the end of it — there's no reset back into funded.
- Not every firm charges the same. Some, like Apex, have a defined reset fee (~$80); others fold it into simply rebuying.
Reset vs rebuy: which is cheaper?
This is the decision that actually matters. When you fail, you have two paths back:
- Reset the existing eval for the reset fee.
- Rebuy a brand-new eval — often at a discount, since firms like Apex and Bulenox run near-constant codes.
The trap is assuming reset is always cheaper. During a big promotion, a fresh eval at 80% off can cost less than the reset fee — and a new eval sometimes comes with perks a reset doesn't. So before you reset out of habit, check for a current discount code. I cover the pricing dynamics in cheapest futures prop firm evaluations.
When you should reset
A reset makes sense when:
- No better discount is available and the reset fee is genuinely lower than a new eval.
- You want to keep the same account setup and just try again immediately.
- You failed on a fluke (a single rule slip) rather than a systematic problem.
When you should rebuy instead
Lean toward a fresh eval when:
- There's a strong active promo making a new account cheaper than the reset.
- You want to switch account size or plan — a reset keeps the same one.
- You want to switch firms entirely because the drawdown didn't suit you (e.g., moving from a trailing firm to a static-drawdown firm).
Treat every reset as tuition — and learn from it
Here's the mindset that turns resets from a money pit into an investment: before you reset or rebuy, diagnose exactly what failed. Blew a trailing drawdown by letting a winner round-trip? That's a sizing/management fix. Hit the daily loss limit revenge trading? That's a discipline fix. Resetting without fixing the cause just pays to fail the same way again.
A reset is cheap if it buys a corrected attempt. The traders who get funded treat each failed eval as a debrief; the ones who don't keep resetting into the same mistake. Use the how to pass a futures prop firm evaluation framework between attempts.
The smart approach to a prop firm reset: don't reflexively reset, compare it against a discounted rebuy, fix the actual cause of the failure first, and treat the fee as cheap tuition for a better next attempt. Compare reset and eval costs across firms in our comparison table.
Frequently asked questions
What is a prop firm reset? It restarts a failed evaluation from the beginning for a reset fee, so you can re-attempt the challenge without buying a whole new account. It applies to evaluations, not blown funded accounts.
Is it cheaper to reset or rebuy an evaluation? It depends on current promotions. Reset fees are often lower than full price, but a fresh eval at a steep discount can beat a reset — always check for an active code before deciding.
Can you reset a funded account? Generally no. Resets apply to evaluation accounts; if you breach the rules on a funded account, it's typically closed for good. That's why respecting the drawdown on a funded account matters so much.
How much does a prop firm reset cost? It varies by firm — Apex is around $80, some firms charge less, and others have no separate reset (you just rebuy). During promotions, a discounted fresh eval can undercut the reset fee.
Should I reset or buy a new evaluation? Compare the reset fee against a discounted new eval — if there's a strong promo, rebuying can be cheaper, and it lets you switch account size or firm. Either way, fix what caused the failure before retrying.
Related guides
- Cheapest futures prop firm evaluations
- How to pass a futures prop firm evaluation
- Prop firm daily loss limit explained
- Trailing vs Static Drawdown explained
Trading futures carries substantial risk of loss. Nothing here is financial advice.
