Find prop firm and broker reviews, contract guides, lessons and articles.
Earn2Trade
Gauntlet Mini evaluation with an end-of-day drawdown and no minimum days, but a monthly price, a daily loss limit and a 50% split until $2,250 in profit.
Bulenox
One-time qualification fees, no minimum days and a choice of real-time or end-of-day drawdown, but payout terms weren't published on the pages we checked.
TradeDay
Choice of end-of-day or intraday drawdown with no activation fee, but Quick Pay accounts split 50/50 until $4,000 in profit.
Alpha Futures
UK-based firm with three evaluation tiers, no activation fees and a 90% split, but monthly pricing and a reduced platform list after 2026 changes.
Topstep
The longest-established name here, with low monthly Combine prices, a 90/10 split and clearly documented rules, but TopstepX is the only platform for new accounts.
My Funded Futures
No activation fees, no daily loss limit on most plans, daily payouts on Rapid accounts and support for eight platforms.
Tradeify
One-time evaluation fees, no activation fee, 90/10 split and the widest platform support among the firms we've verified.
Charles Schwab
One flat $2.25 rate on all futures with the thinkorswim platform, best for existing Schwab customers.
Interactive Brokers
Low tiered commissions ($0.85 E-mini, $0.25 micro, falling with volume) and a $0 minimum, but a complex fee schedule and margins we couldn't verify.
TradeStation
Established broker-dealer and FCM with free basic data and a full desktop platform, but higher commissions at low volume.
Tradovate
Cloud-based platform with the same commission plans and clearing firm as NinjaTrader.
Plus500 Futures
Simple flat commissions, free real-time data and no platform fees on a beginner-friendly web and mobile app.
Optimus Futures
Low base commissions, free proprietary platform and $50 MES day-trade margin, with accounts cleared through Ironbeam.
AMP Futures
Low all-in pricing, $40 MES day-trade margin, a $100 minimum and access to 50+ trading platforms.
NinjaTrader
Low commissions on a free plan, $50 MES day-trade margin and its own desktop platform, cleared through NinjaTrader Clearing.
British Pound (6B)
Pound vs US dollar futures, the futures version of GBP/USD. Each one-pip tick is worth $6.25.
Japanese Yen (6J)
Yen vs US dollar futures, the inverse of USD/JPY. Each tick is worth $6.25.
Micro Bitcoin (MBT)
One-tenth of a bitcoin, cash-settled. Each $5 tick is worth $0.50. Bitcoin is highly volatile.
Copper (HG)
COMEX copper, 25,000 pounds per contract. Each $0.0005 tick is worth $12.50.
Henry Hub Natural Gas (NG)
The US natural gas benchmark, 10,000 MMBtu. Each $0.001 tick is worth $10, and moves can be large.
Soybeans (ZS)
The benchmark soybean contract, 5,000 bushels. Each quarter-cent tick is worth $12.50.
Corn (ZC)
The benchmark US corn contract, 5,000 bushels. Each quarter-cent tick is worth $12.50.
5-Year T-Note (ZF)
Mid-curve US Treasury note futures. Each quarter-32nd tick is worth $7.8125.
30-Year T-Bond (ZB)
Long-dated US Treasury bond futures. Each 1/32 tick is worth $31.25.
10-Year T-Note (ZN)
The main US interest-rate future. Each half-32nd tick is worth $15.625.
Euro FX (6E)
Euro vs US dollar futures. Each half-pip tick is worth $6.25.
Silver (SI)
5,000 ounces of silver. Each half-cent tick is worth $25.
Micro Gold (MGC)
One-tenth of GC. Each $0.10 tick is worth $1.
Gold (GC)
100 ounces of gold per contract. Each $0.10 tick is worth $10.
Micro WTI Crude Oil (MCL)
One-tenth of CL and cash-settled. Each one-cent tick is worth $1.
Crude Oil (CL)
WTI crude oil, 1,000 barrels per contract. Each one-cent tick is worth $10.
Micro E-mini Russell 2000 (M2K)
One-tenth of RTY. Each 0.10-point tick is worth $0.50.
E-mini Russell 2000 (RTY)
Small-cap US stocks. Ticks are 0.10 points worth $5.00.
Micro E-mini Dow (MYM)
One-tenth of YM. Each one-point tick is worth $0.50.
E-mini Dow (YM)
Tracks the 30-stock Dow. Ticks are one full point, worth $5.
Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 (MNQ)
One-tenth the size of NQ at $2 per point. A common choice for smaller accounts and prop evaluations.
E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ)
Tracks the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100. One point is worth $20, and NQ typically moves more points per day than ES.
Micro E-mini S&P 500 (MES)
One-tenth the size of ES. Each tick is $1.25, which makes it popular with newer traders and prop firm evaluations.
E-mini S&P 500 (ES)
The most actively traded equity index future. One point is worth $50.
Futures Trading Glossary
Plain-English definitions of 77 key futures trading terms, from ask and backwardation to VWAP, including margin, rollover, tick value and prop firm drawdown terms.
Futures Market Hours and Holiday Schedule
CME Globex trading hours for equity index, energy, metals, interest rate, FX and grain futures in Eastern Time, the daily maintenance break, the Sunday open, and how US holidays change the schedule.
Building a Trading Plan and Journal
What to put in a written trading plan, what to record for every trade, how to measure expectancy and R-multiples, and how to review your journal to improve.
How Prop Firm Evaluations Work: Drawdowns, Targets and Rules
Trailing vs static drawdown, end-of-day vs intraday trailing, consistency rules, daily loss limits and the real costs of an evaluation, with worked examples.
Futures Rollover and Expiration
Contract months, month codes, when to roll to the next contract, how the price difference between months works, and why physically delivered contracts need extra care.
Futures Trading Sessions and When Markets Move
How the nearly 24-hour futures day is divided, when volume and volatility tend to rise, how scheduled news and weekend gaps affect risk, and the daily maintenance break.
Position Sizing and Risk per Trade
How to decide how many contracts to trade based on your account, your stop distance and a fixed risk per trade, with worked examples for MNQ, MES and MCL.
Futures Order Types: Market, Limit, Stop and Bracket Orders
The order types you'll use every day, when each one fills, what slippage costs in dollars, and how bracket orders protect a trade from the moment you enter.
Margin and Leverage in Futures
Initial, maintenance and day-trade margin, how leverage works in futures, margin calls, and why low margin doesn't mean low risk.
Futures Contract Specs Explained: Tick Size, Tick Value and Point Value
How to read a contract spec sheet and work out exactly how much money each price move makes or loses, with worked examples for ES, MES, NQ, MNQ, CL and GC.
What Are Futures? A Plain-English Introduction
What a futures contract is, why it exists, how long and short trades make or lose money, and why most traders close positions before expiry.
Earn2Trade Rules Explained
Earn2Trade's Gauntlet Mini rules: EOD drawdown, a $1,100 daily loss limit that fails the evaluation, 30% consistency, the 3:50 p.m. CT close-out and withdrawal-size splits.
TradeDay Rules Explained
TradeDay's Quick Pay and Fast Pass rules: intraday vs EOD trailing drawdown, 30% and 45% consistency, the 2% price-limit rule, prohibited practices and payout splits.
Alpha Futures Rules Explained
Alpha Futures rules for Zero, Standard and Advanced: EOD max loss limit, daily loss guard, consistency by stage, scaling tiers, the 2-minute news window and payouts.
My Funded Futures Rules Explained
My Funded Futures rules by plan: Rapid's intraday funded drawdown, consistency rules from 30% to 50%, Builder's daily stop, Tier 1 news limits and payout timing.
Tradeify Rules Explained
Tradeify's Growth and Select rules explained: EOD drawdown enforced in real time, soft daily loss limit, 40% consistency, session-only holding and Flex vs Daily payouts.
Topstep Rules Explained: Drawdown, Consistency and Payouts
How Topstep's Maximum Loss Limit, optional daily loss limit, 55% consistency target, 3:10 p.m. CT close, scaling plan and XFA payout paths work, with dollar examples.
Tradeify vs Bulenox: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared
Tradeify and Bulenox both charge one-time evaluation fees, but only Tradeify publishes its full payout rules. We compare cost, drawdowns, daily limits, payouts and platforms.
Earn2Trade vs Bulenox: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared
Earn2Trade bills monthly with published but tiered payouts; Bulenox charges once but did not publish its payout rules. We compare cost, drawdowns, daily limits and platforms.
Topstep vs TradeDay: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared
Topstep and TradeDay both bill monthly, but they differ on activation fees, drawdown style, profit splits and platforms. Here is how their 50K accounts compare.
My Funded Futures vs Bulenox: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared
My Funded Futures and Bulenox both sell one-time evaluations, but only MFFU publishes its split and payout rules. We compare cost, drawdowns, daily limits, payouts and platforms.
Tradeify vs Alpha Futures: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared
Tradeify charges once with no activation fee; Alpha Futures bills monthly with a flat 90% split. We compare costs, drawdowns, daily limits, consistency rules, payouts and platforms.
Topstep vs Earn2Trade: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared
Topstep and Earn2Trade both bill monthly, but their daily loss limits, profit splits and platform choices differ sharply. Here is a side-by-side look at the 50K accounts.
Topstep vs Bulenox: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared
Topstep bills monthly with fully published payout rules; Bulenox sells one-time qualification accounts but did not publish its split or payout terms. Here is how they compare.
Topstep vs Alpha Futures: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared
Topstep and Alpha Futures both bill monthly and pay 90% to funded traders. We compare their prices, drawdowns, daily limits, consistency rules, payouts and platforms.
My Funded Futures vs Alpha Futures: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared
My Funded Futures charges a one-time fee while Alpha Futures bills monthly with a flat 90% split. We compare drawdowns, daily limits, consistency rules, payouts and platforms.
Tradeify vs My Funded Futures: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared
Tradeify and My Funded Futures both sell one-time evaluations with no activation fee. Here is how their drawdowns, daily limits, payout schedules and platforms differ.
Economic Calendar for Futures Traders: CPI, NFP and FOMC
What CPI, the jobs report and FOMC decisions are, when they're released (ET), why futures move on them and how prop firms restrict trading around them.
Fastest-Paying Futures Prop Firms (2026)
Which futures prop firms let you request payouts soonest and process them fastest, from daily payout plans to five-winning-day cycles, with the trade-offs that come with speed.
Cheapest Futures Prop Firm Evaluations by Account Size
The lowest evaluation prices at 25K, 50K, 100K and 150K, plus cost per $1,000 of drawdown, so you can compare futures prop firms on value, not just sticker price.
Best Futures Prop Firm for Beginners (2026)
Which futures prop firm plans are most forgiving for new traders: small account sizes, soft daily loss limits, end-of-day drawdowns and low entry costs.
AMP Futures vs NinjaTrader: Fees, Margins and Platforms
AMP Futures offers all-in pricing, $40 MES margins and 50+ platforms. NinjaTrader offers low base commissions and its own platform. Here's how to choose.
Tradeify vs Topstep: 100K and 150K Accounts Compared
How Tradeify's Growth, Select and Lightning plans line up against Topstep's Combine at 100K and 150K: cost, drawdown, contract limits and funded payouts.
How Much Money Do You Need to Trade Futures?
Broker minimums can be $0, but that's not what you need. Here's how to work out a sensible starting balance from margin and risk per trade, plus the prop firm alternative.
Futures Trading Hours Explained (CME Globex, ET)
When ES, NQ, crude oil, gold and currency futures trade, the daily maintenance break, and which hours see the most volume.
NinjaTrader vs Tradovate: Same Clearing Firm, Different Platforms
NinjaTrader and Tradovate share a clearing firm and commission plans. The real difference is the platform. Here's how to choose.
Best Futures Brokers for Day Trading (2026)
Day traders care about commissions, day-trade margins and platforms. We compare NinjaTrader, AMP, Optimus, Plus500, Tradovate and more using each broker's own pricing.
Futures Tick Value Cheat Sheet (ES, NQ, CL, GC and More)
Tick size, tick value and point value for 16 popular CME futures contracts in one table, with the formula to work out profit and loss.
NQ vs MNQ: Nasdaq Futures Compared
NQ and MNQ track the Nasdaq-100. MNQ is one-tenth the size at $2 a point. Here's how tick values, risk and costs compare.
What Is a Consistency Rule? Prop Firm Rules Explained
Consistency rules stop one big day from passing an evaluation. Here's how they're calculated, with examples and each firm's percentage.
Futures Prop Firms With No Daily Loss Limit (2026)
Which futures prop firms and plans have no daily loss limit, which make it optional, and what to watch for instead.
Cheapest Futures Prop Firms in 2026 (Real Total Cost)
The sticker price isn't the whole cost. We add up evaluation fees, activation fees and monthly billing to find the cheapest path to a funded futures account.
EOD vs Intraday Trailing Drawdown: What's the Difference?
The drawdown type decides how much room you really have in a prop firm account. Here's how end-of-day, intraday trailing and static drawdowns work, with examples.
Topstep vs My Funded Futures: Rules, Costs and Payouts Compared
Topstep offers an optional daily loss limit and the cheapest entry price; My Funded Futures has no activation fees and daily payouts on Rapid accounts.
Topstep vs Tradeify: Which Futures Prop Firm Is Better in 2026?
Topstep has the lowest monthly entry price; Tradeify sells one-time evaluations with no activation fee. We compare cost, rules, payouts and platforms.
5 Common Futures Trading Strategies Explained
Five widely used approaches to trading futures (trend following, breakouts, mean reversion, opening range and news trading), with their trade-offs.
Top Futures Contracts to Trade: ES, NQ, CL and GC Compared
The most popular futures contracts for active traders, what each one tracks, what a move is worth and how their micro versions compare.
How to Start Futures Trading in 2026
A step-by-step path for new futures traders: learn the basics, choose a contract, pick a broker or prop firm, practice, and manage risk.
ES vs MES: What's the Difference?
ES and MES track the same index, but MES is one-tenth the size. Here's how tick values, margins and costs compare, and which suits your account.
Best Futures Prop Firms of 2026: Rules and Prices Compared
Our 2026 ranking of futures prop firms, with evaluation prices, drawdown types, profit splits and payout rules checked against each firm's official site.