The honest comparison. Most prop firms route through retail brokerage infrastructure. TradeFundrr's live-capital path runs through T3 Global*, a real institutional desk built on the foundation of a FINRA / SIPC-member broker-dealer in the T3 group, and scales to $20M+. Same eval mechanic. Different infrastructure.
* T3 Global Trading, LLC (“T3 Global”) is a professional trading company that conducts proprietary trading activity through T3 Trading Group. It is not a broker-dealer, investment adviser, futures commission merchant, nor provider of any other services that would subject T3 Global to registration under Federal Law. T3 Global does not conduct business with public customers and does not solicit or manage any customer accounts.
| TradeFundrr | Topstep | Apex | Earn2Trade | FTMO | Maverick | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Institutional partner | You graduate to T3 Global, the institutional trading firm and live-capital path within the T3 group of companies, where funded accounts run on real desk infrastructure. Up to $20M+ in desk capital for top performers.T3 Global desk path | None disclosedSim only | None disclosedSim only | Helios Trading Partners (CTA / CPO)Not a broker-dealer | None disclosedSim only | Partner brokers, no in-house BDNot a broker-dealer |
| Asset classes | Stocks, options, futures, crypto | Futures only | Futures only | Futures only | Forex, indices, commodities, crypto CFDs | Stocks, options, forex |
| Path to live capital | T3 Global desk graduation Up to $1M+ buying power for top performers, scaling to $20M+Institutional scale |
Live Funded Account Up to $150K starting balance, $250K+ in live performance bonusesRetail-scale path |
Discretionary live program Sim PA trades mirrored to a live account via API for select performers, no published criteriaDiscretionary |
Helios offer after TCP Choice of LiveSim or live routing through brokerage to CME, $25K to $400KRetail-scale path |
Demo only "FTMO never allows traders a real live account"No |
Real capital via partner brokers after multi-step evaluationRetail-scale path |
| Pricing model | One-time eval fee + monthly platform fee | Monthly recurring | One-time fee (30-day access; legacy accounts recur) | Monthly recurring (Trader Career Path and Gauntlet Mini) | One-time challenge fee | One-time application fee + monthly desk fee |
| Entry cost range | $399 Growth / $899 to $1,999 Express + $99/mo platformFull first-month rebate* |
$49 to $149 / month ($50K to $150K) |
~$167 to ~$677 one-time ($25K to $300K) |
$150 to $475 / month ($25K to $200K) |
~$85 to ~$1,080 one-time ($10K to $200K) |
$199 desk fee + ~$5,000 at-risk capital deposit |
| Profit split | 80% to trader | 90% flat (legacy accounts: 100% first $10K, 90% after) | 100% first $25K, 90% after | 80% | 80% (up to 90% with scaling) | 70 to 80% (varies by tier) |
| Payout cadence | Weekly | Daily / on-demand once funded | Up to 2x per month, daily on some PA accounts | Weekly (every Wednesday) | On request, 1 to 2 business days | Monthly |
| Eval mechanic | 2-stage Growth, or direct funded Express (no eval) | 1-step Trading Combine | 1-step evaluation | 1-step Trader Career Path (progressive profit targets) | 2-step Challenge + Verification | Multi-step: application, course, sim eval, live |
| Fee rebate or refund | 100% of first-month plan fee rebated on first qualifying payout (Express plans) | 14-day satisfaction guarantee (one monthly payment refundable on first purchase) | Most recent eval payment refunded on selection to live program | No standard fee refund | 100% of challenge fee refunded on first profit split | No fee refund disclosed |
| US regulation footprint | US-based. Funded accounts run on T3 Global, an institutional trading firm within the T3 group of companies. TradeFundrr is not itself a registered broker-dealer.US-based | US company, no BD registration | US company, no BD registration | US company, parent registered as CTA / CPO with NFA | Non-US (Czech Republic), restricted in some US states | US company, partners with registered brokers |
| Best for | Stock and options day traders who want a real path to a regulated institutional desk. | Futures-only traders comfortable with combine-style rules. | Futures-only traders looking for high payout frequency. | Futures traders who value a structured career-path framing. | Forex / CFD traders, especially outside the US. | Stock and options traders willing to complete a multi-step application. |
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What is genuinely different about TradeFundrr: a live-capital path through T3 Global that scales to institutional size, $1M+ in buying power at entry, up to $20M+ at the top tier. Topstep, Apex, Earn2Trade, and Maverick all have live-capital paths of some kind, but they cap at retail scale ($150K to $400K). FTMO is demo-only and explicitly says so.
What we cover that most do not: stocks, options, futures, and crypto on one program. Topstep, Apex, and Earn2Trade are futures-only. FTMO is forex and CFD. Maverick is the closest in asset class breadth.
What we are not: the cheapest entry. Topstep, Apex, and Earn2Trade have lower monthly entry points for futures-only traders who do not need institutional-scale capital. If price is the only variable, those firms win that comparison.
*Earning a qualifying payout depends on your trading performance and is not guaranteed. Competitor pricing, rules, and live-capital programs are reproduced from each firm's public documentation as of 2026-07-17 and may change. Verify current terms on each provider's site before signup.
Last updated: July 17, 2026