Prop Firm True Cost Calculator: Cost to First Payout (2026)

This calculator adds up what you pay before your first payout: the evaluation, monthly renewals, resets and the activation fee. It is for futures traders choosing a prop firm and comparing the full cost, not just the sticker price. Example: with one failed attempt at 50K, the lowest ranked total is $98 (Apex Trader Funding, Intraday No Activation Fee).

Prices checked Oct 5, 2026 · Not financial advice

Not financial advice. Always check the firm's current rules: they change and differ by plan. Your numbers stay in your browser: nothing you type is saved or sent.

Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss. Prop firm evaluations are paid products; most traders do not pass. Not financial advice.

Estimate based on verified published prices on Oct 5, 2026; promos and rules change; not financial advice.

How the true cost is calculated

Evaluation = the price after our code where the firm displays it (verified, unexpired), otherwise the list price. Monthly plans: this is the first month.
Renewals (monthly plans) = each further month at the list price, unless the firm says the code applies for life.
Failed attempts = a reset fee each (list price), or a new purchase each if you choose to buy again or the plan has no resets.
Activation = the one-time fee when you pass, if the plan has one.
True cost = evaluation + renewals + failed attempts + activation. Firms are ranked by their cheapest complete plan at the chosen size.

Instant funding accounts skip the evaluation: they have one price, so they are listed separately and never ranked against evaluations. Values we do not have stay unknown: that firm shows in grey with "incomplete data" and is not ranked. Where official pages disagree we show both and use neither.

True cost questions

What is the true cost to first payout?

Everything you pay a prop firm before your first payout: the evaluation (after a verified code where we have one), monthly renewals while you trade the evaluation, resets or new purchases after failed attempts, and the activation fee when you pass.

Which futures prop firm costs the least to reach a first payout at 50K?

In our verified data, Funded Futures Family (Velocity) at $19 with no failed attempts ($19 evaluation). With one failed attempt the cheapest is Apex Trader Funding (Intraday No Activation Fee) at $98. Prices checked Oct 5, 2026; promos change, so check the calculator for the current numbers.

Do monthly plans cost more if passing takes longer?

Yes: every extra month adds a renewal. Example: Funded Futures Family Velocity 50K over 3 months is $269 ($19 evaluation + $250 renewals). Renewals are counted at the list price unless the firm says the code applies to them.

How does an activation fee change the total?

It is paid once, when you pass. Example: Top One Futures Elite Access 50K: $39 evaluation + $189 activation = $228.

Why are some firms marked "incomplete data"?

When a value the total depends on is not in our verified data (for example a reset fee, or whether a subscription keeps billing after you pass), we show the firm in grey with the missing field and do not rank it. At 50K every firm is complete today.