Ultimate Prop Firm Funding Guide 2025: My $1,963 Journey & Success Tips
Disclaimer: This article is based on my personal experience and is for educational purposes only. Trading and prop firm challenges involve financial risk. Results vary, and past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Always trade responsibly.
In 2025, I embarked on a prop firm funding journey that cost me $1,963 across eight challenges at five different prop firms. Four attempts failed, four succeeded, and I currently maintain two active funded accounts. During this process, I gained valuable insights into trading discipline, risk management, and the unique characteristics of various prop firms. In this guide, I will detail my experiences, share tips, and compare the major prop firms for anyone looking to get funded this year.
How I Allocated My Funds
| FTMO | 4 | $1,196 | 1 | Yes | $2,627 | Learning to maintain discipline through multiple attempts |
| FundedNext | 1 | $190 | 1 | Yes | $918 | Fastest success due to flexible rules |
| FundingPips | 1 | $129 | 1 | No | $0 | Platform technical issues led to loss |
| Maven Trading | 1 | $133 | 0 | No | $0 | Lack of deadlines caused procrastination |
| The5ers | 0 | $0 | N/A | N/A | $0 | Did research but did not attempt |
Net profit: +$1,582
Quick Comparison of Major Prop Firms
| Founded | 2014 | 2021 | 2020 | 2016 | 2022 |
| Maximum Capital | $200,000 | $300,000 | $100,000 | $4,000,000 | $500,000 |
| Phase 1 Target | 10% | 8% | 10% | 6% | 10% |
| Phase 2 Target | 5% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 5% |
| Maximum Loss | 10% | 10% | 10% | 6% | 12% |
| Daily Loss Limit | 5% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 5% |
| Phase 1 Deadline | 30 days | No limit | 30 days | No limit | No limit |
| Phase 2 Deadline | 60 days | No limit | 60 days | No limit | No limit |
| Minimum Trading Days | 4 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 0 |
| Payout Timing | 14 days | 1 day | 7-10 days | 14 days | 14-21 days |
| Fee Refundable? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Weekend Trading | No | Yes | No | Partial | Yes |
| Scaling Possibility | To $2M | To $4M | To $500K | To $4M+ | To $2M |
| Trading Platforms | MT4/MT5/cTrader | MT4/MT5 | MT4/MT5 | MT4 only | MT4/MT5 |
Prop Firm Reviews Based on My Experience
FTMO: Industry Standard
FTMO remains the most recognized prop firm globally, offering credibility and scaling opportunities for serious traders. The Phase 1 target is 10% with a 30-day deadline, which can be challenging but ensures discipline.
- Pros: Trusted, reliable, long-term scaling opportunities
- Cons: Tight Phase 1 goal, stressful deadlines
- My Experience: Passed on my fourth attempt. Withdrawals totaled $2,627.
- Best For: Traders seeking industry credibility and long-term account growth
FundedNext: Beginner-Friendly
FundedNext offers a lower Phase 1 target of 8%, unlimited time, and weekend trading. Payouts are almost instant.
- Pros: Flexible rules, fast funding, beginner-friendly
- Cons: Newer firm, slightly less established
- My Experience: Passed first attempt, withdrew $918, account active.
- Best For: Beginners, swing traders, or anyone seeking quick funding
FundingPips: Low-Cost Entry
FundingPips allows entry for as low as $29–$129, making it accessible for traders on a budget.
- Pros: Cheapest entry fees
- Cons: Platform reliability issues; technical problems can cause losses
- My Experience: Passed the challenge but lost the funded account due to the platform freeze
- Best For: Practice only; not recommended for serious long-term trading.
The5ers: Long-Term Scaling
The5ers provides high maximum capital with long-term scaling opportunities. Initial profit splits are lower, which reduces early payouts.
- Pros: Automatic account scaling, high maximum capital
- Cons: Low initial profit split, requires patience
- My Experience: Did not attempt; planning for long-term strategy
- Best For: Traders committed to long-term growth
Maven Trading: Flexible but Requires Discipline
Maven Trading allows 12% drawdown, flexible rules, and weekend trading. The lack of deadlines is a double-edged sword: convenient, but easy to procrastinate.
- Pros: High drawdown buffer, flexible trading
- Cons: No deadlines can lead to inconsistent trading
- My Experience: Failed after 89 days due to inconsistent trading
- Best For: Disciplined traders needing flexibility
Tips That Helped Me Succeed
- Focus on one pair per session – For example, trade only EUR/USD during London session hours.
- Risk management – Keep risk per trade below 0.5% to survive drawdowns.
- Stop after two consecutive losses – Avoid emotional, revenge trades.
- Journal all trades – Document each trade, including entry, exit, and reasoning.
- Hit the minimum required trading days, then stop – Avoid giving back profits through overtrading.
- Set alerts for drawdown limits – Helps enforce discipline.
- Simulate challenges first – Practice in demo mode to adjust strategies.
Choosing the Right Prop Firm
| New to prop funding | FundedNext |
| Want industry credibility | FTMO |
| On a strict budget | FundedNext or FundingPips |
| Long-term career trading | The5ers |
| Need flexible timing and high drawdown | Maven |
| Want fast payouts | FundedNext |
| Cannot handle stressful deadlines | FundedNext |
My Current Setup
Currently, I manage:
- FTMO $50K account – Main account for serious trading
- FundedNext $25K account – For fast, consistent profits
Average monthly profits range from $2,400 to $3,200, depending on volatility and trading discipline.
Final Thoughts
- FundedNext is best for fast success, beginners, and flexible rules.
- FTMO is ideal for long-term growth, credibility, and scaling.
- The5ers and Maven suit disciplined traders with long-term goals.
- FundingPips is cheap but carries platform risks.
Trading responsibly, managing risk, and maintaining discipline are more important than the prop firm you choose. Always remember: funded trading is not risk-free, and your results will vary.