For many aspiring traders, the path to financial freedom seems both challenging and exciting. The dream of trading in global markets, making profitable trades, and living a financially independent life is achievable—but often requires capital, experience, and proper guidance. Fortunately, funded trader programs are designed to help traders overcome these barriers by providing capital and support to build successful trading careers.

In this blog, we will review the best funded trader programs available today, explore their benefits, and help you choose the right one to kickstart your trading journey. If you’ve ever wanted to trade with professional capital and gain access to expert tools and education, this guide is for you.

What Are Funded Trader Programs?

Funded trader programs are platforms that provide traders with access to capital in exchange for a portion of the profits made. Instead of using personal funds, traders work with capital provided by the program. The key advantage of these programs is that they allow traders to trade larger accounts than they might be able to afford on their own, which opens up more opportunities for significant returns.

The process typically involves a set of challenges or evaluations to determine a trader’s skill level. Once the trader passes the evaluation phase, they receive funding and continue trading, sharing profits with the funding firm. This arrangement is mutually beneficial, as traders gain capital and experience, while the firms earn a percentage of successful trades.

Why Choose a Funded Trader Program?

There are several reasons why traders—both new and experienced—choose to participate in funded trader programs:

1. Access to Capital

One of the main reasons traders seek out these programs is the access to substantial capital. Trading with larger amounts of money allows for greater returns, giving traders the ability to scale their trades without the risk of using personal savings.

2. Risk Reduction

Since traders are not trading with their own money, their personal risk is minimized. Most programs cover losses, meaning traders won’t be on the hook for losses beyond what the program allows. This provides peace of mind and lets traders focus on developing their strategies.

3. Educational Resources

Many funded trader programs come with educational support, mentorship, and tools to help traders improve their skills. These resources are invaluable for traders looking to sharpen their strategies and grow in the competitive world of trading.

4. Profit-Sharing Model

The profit-sharing model is an attractive aspect of these programs. Depending on the agreement, traders typically keep anywhere from 50% to 90% of their profits, while the program takes a small cut. This creates a win-win situation where both the trader and the funding firm benefit from profitable trades.

5. Building a Track Record

Participating in a funded trader program allows traders to build a verifiable track record without risking personal capital. A proven track record can be invaluable for securing future funding, trading jobs, or managing assets for clients.

Best Funded Trader Programs Reviewed

Let’s explore some of the best funded trader programs available, detailing their benefits, evaluation processes, and what sets them apart from the competition.

1. TopStepTrader

Overview: TopStepTrader is one of the most popular funded trader programs, especially for futures traders. Their two-step evaluation process allows traders to prove their skills before getting funded.

• Evaluation: The program includes a “Trading Combine,” which is a two-step evaluation that tests traders’ ability to follow rules, manage risk, and make profitable trades.
• Funding: Once traders pass the evaluation, they receive funding to trade with. TopStepTrader provides various account sizes, depending on the trader’s performance during the combine.
• Profit Split: Traders typically keep 80% of their profits while TopStepTrader takes a 20% cut.
• Benefits: TopStepTrader is ideal for traders looking to focus on futures markets, offering a robust community and educational support.

2. FTMO

Overview: FTMO is well-regarded for its focus on forex trading. It offers traders an opportunity to trade with up to $400,000 in funding.

• Evaluation: FTMO’s two-phase challenge ensures traders can manage risk and trade profitably. The phases consist of a trading challenge followed by a verification process.
• Funding: Upon passing the evaluation, traders gain access to large trading accounts, with options ranging from $10,000 to $400,000.
• Profit Split: FTMO offers one of the best profit splits, allowing traders to keep up to 90% of their profits.
• Benefits: FTMO is great for traders focused on forex and CFD markets, offering extensive educational resources and excellent customer support.

3. The5%ers

Overview: The5%ers is a funded trader program that focuses on forex trading. They offer real capital from day one, meaning you can start trading live right after acceptance.

• Evaluation: Unlike other programs, The5%ers doesn’t rely on demo accounts. Instead, traders begin with a real trading account, and they can scale their funding based on their performance.
• Funding: The5%ers offers initial capital ranging from $6,000 to $52,000, with the opportunity to scale this up to $1.28 million as traders meet performance milestones.
• Profit Split: Traders keep 50% of their profits, but this increases as they progress.
• Benefits: The5%ers is ideal for traders who want to trade with real money from the start and gradually scale their capital over time.

4. OneUp Trader

Overview: OneUp Trader focuses on providing traders with funded futures accounts. The platform is known for its fast evaluation process and no upfront costs.

• Evaluation: Traders undergo a simple evaluation, which can be completed in as little as 15 trading days. The process focuses on profit consistency, risk management, and rule adherence.
• Funding: After passing the evaluation, traders receive capital ranging from $25,000 to $250,000.
• Profit Split: Traders keep 80% of their profits.
• Benefits: OneUp Trader is excellent for those who want a quick and efficient evaluation process and are focused on futures trading.

5. Earn2Trade

Overview: Earn2Trade offers funded accounts for both futures and forex traders. It’s known for its user-friendly platform and comprehensive education.

• Evaluation: Earn2Trade offers a “Gauntlet Mini” program, which is a 15-day evaluation that tests traders’ risk management and profitability. There’s also the “Trader Career Path” for those looking to progress through higher levels of funding.
• Funding: Traders can receive up to $200,000 in funding after passing the evaluation.
• Profit Split: Earn2Trade offers a standard 80/20 profit split.
• Benefits: Earn2Trade is perfect for traders who want strong educational support and a clear career progression through increased account sizes.

How to Choose the Right Funded Trader Program

With several excellent options available, how do you choose the best funded trader program for your needs? Here are a few key factors to consider:

1. Market Focus

Some programs specialize in specific markets like forex or futures. Choose a program that aligns with the markets you want to trade in.

2. Evaluation Process

Different programs have varying evaluation requirements. Some may have multi-phase challenges, while others allow you to trade with real capital from day one. Consider how comfortable you are with the evaluation process.

3. Profit Split

The profit split varies from program to program, with some allowing you to keep up to 90% of your profits. A higher profit split means more money in your pocket, but make sure the other terms and conditions of the program align with your goals.

4. Educational Resources

If you’re still learning or want to improve your trading skills, select a program that offers strong educational support. Programs like FTMO and Earn2Trade are known for their comprehensive educational resources.

5. Scaling Potential

Look for programs that allow you to scale your trading capital as you prove your profitability. The5%ers, for example, offers a clear path to increase your account size over time.

Conclusion

Funded trader programs are a fantastic opportunity for aspiring the best forex trader who want to access professional capital and build a successful trading career. Programs like TopStepTrader, FTMO, The5%ers, OneUp Trader, and Earn2Trade provide different approaches to funding and evaluation, allowing traders to find the best fit for their goals and trading styles.

By choosing the right funded trader program, you can accelerate your trading journey, reduce risk, and potentially achieve financial freedom through profitable trading.