Cheapest prop firm challenges in 2026
The cheapest prop firm challenges in 2026 start at $9. List prices for 19 firms, read on each firm's own site in November 2026, with rules and refund terms.
The cheapest prop firm challenge we could find on a firm's own website on 12 November 2026 costs $9 at list price (RebelsFunding, $1,000 account, four phases). The cheapest one-phase challenge costs $12 (Investabl, $1,000 account). Most well-known firms start between $19 and $49.
Price is only one line of the bill. A $9 challenge with four phases and a $12 challenge with one phase are different products. So the tables below show the price next to the rules that decide whether you ever get paid: phases, time limit, loss limits and when the fee comes back.
How we checked
| Date | 12 November 2026, every row. First read on 11 November 2026 and read again the next day |
| Source | Each firm's own website. No review sites, no affiliate pages |
| Price shown | List price, before any coupon. Coupon prices change weekly, so they sit in their own column |
| What counts | The cheapest evaluation account the firm sells. Instant-funding products with no evaluation are left out |
| Not stated | The firm's site did not say it where we looked. We did not fill gaps from memory |
| Currency | FTMO and BrightFunded showed us euro prices. We left them in euro |
The cheapest challenges under $20
| Firm | Account | List price | With coupon | Phases | Time limit | Profit target | Daily / max loss | Fee refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RebelsFunding | $1,000 | $9 | none seen | 4 | None | 5% each phase | 5% / 10% | 200% of fee with first reward |
| Investabl | $1,000 | $12 | varies | 1 | None | 8% | 4% / 8% | 100% with third payout |
| Maven Trading | $2,000 | $13 | $12.35 | 3 | not stated | 3% each phase | 2% / 3% | On third withdrawal |
| The5ers | $2,500 | $19 | none seen | 2 | None | 10%, then 5% | 5% / 10% | After step 2 |
| Hola Prime | $2,000 | $19 | none on this plan | 1 | None | 10% | 3% / 6% | not stated |
One note on the first row: on 12 November 2026 RebelsFunding's programme page showed only its larger sizes, while its own price list and checkout still sold the $1,000 size at $9.
Two firms advertise a lower number to start and charge the rest after you pass. Top One Trader shows "$7 now" on a $5,000 account, with $41 shown after passing. FundedElite shows $5 to start on $25,000, then a $159 activation fee. Those are real offers, but the entry number is not the full price, so they are not in the table.
What the well-known firms charge for their cheapest challenge
| Firm | Account | List price | With coupon | Phases | Time limit | Profit target | Daily / max loss | Profit split | Fee refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goat Funded Trader | $5,000 | $20 | none seen | 2 | None | 8%, then 6% | 4% / 10% | 80% | Refundable, timing not stated |
| AquaFunded | $5,000 | $20 | $15 | 2 | None | 10%, then 5% | 5% / 10% | 90% | Refundable, timing not stated |
| Blue Guardian | $5,000 | $26.66 | $20 | 1 | None | 10% | 4% / 6% trailing | up to 100% | not stated |
| Alpha Capital Group | $5,000 | $27 | $21.60 | 2 | None | 6%, then 6% | 3% / 6% | 80% | not stated |
| E8 Markets | $5,000 | $28 | $24 | 1 | not stated | 6% | 2.5% / 6% | 80% | not stated |
| FundingPips | $5,000 | $29 | none seen | 2 | None | 6%, then 6% | 3% / 6% | 80% | not stated |
| FundedNext | $5,000 | $32.99 | $29.99 | 2 | None | 8%, then 4% | 4% / 8% | 80% | With third reward |
| FXIFY | $5,000 | $39 | $29.25 | 3 | None | 5% each phase | 5% / 5% | up to 90% | 100%, with first payout |
| BrightFunded | $5,000 | €47 | €32.90 | 2 | None | 8%, then 5% | 4% / 8% | up to 90% | Paid add-on |
| Instant Funding | $10,000 | $49 | none on this plan | 1 | not stated | 6% | none / 4% trailing | 80% | not stated |
| FTMO | $10,000 | €79 | none seen | 1 | None | 10% | 3% / 10% trailing | 90% | Not refunded on 1-step |
| Funded Trading Plus | $10,000 | $89 | $62.30 | 2 | None | 7%, then 7% | 4% / 8% | 80% | not stated |
For the same $5,000 size, Investabl's plans start at $39 (Ultra), $44 (Pro) and $49 (2-Step). That is mid-table, not the cheapest. Where Investabl is cheap is the $1,000 entry.
Cheapest is not the same as best value
Four things change what a cheap challenge really costs you.
Phases. Each phase is another target to hit without breaking a loss limit. A four-phase challenge at 5% each asks for more total profit than one phase at 8%.
The fee after you pass. "Pay after you pass" offers move the cost to the end. Add both numbers before you compare.
Trailing or static loss limit. A trailing limit follows your highest balance up, so your room shrinks as you profit. A static limit stays where it started. Our guide to static vs trailing drawdown has a calculator.
When the fee comes back. Some firms refund the fee with the first payout, some with the third, some never. A $39 fee you get back can cost less than a $19 fee you don't.
One more check matters more than price: does the firm pay? Our guide on how to verify prop firm payouts shows how to check before you buy.
What the $12 Investabl challenge includes
The $12 account is a one-phase evaluation on a $1,000 simulated account. Its profit target, loss limits, best day rule, minimum days, profit split, fee refund and payout terms are on the rules page, which always shows the current values with worked examples. Current prices for every size are on the plans page.
All accounts are simulated. Payouts are rewards based on simulated performance. The rules you buy are frozen into your account at purchase.
Questions people ask
What is the cheapest prop firm challenge in 2026? At list price on 12 November 2026, RebelsFunding's $1,000 four-phase challenge at $9. The cheapest one-phase challenge we found is Investabl's $1,000 account at $12.
Are cheap prop firm challenges legit? A low price does not tell you either way. Check three things on the firm's own site: every rule is published, the loss limits are stated as static or trailing, and payouts can be verified.
Is a cheaper challenge harder to pass? Often the cheap plan has more phases, a tighter loss limit or a smaller account. Compare the total profit you must make and the room you have to lose, not just the fee.
Do I get the challenge fee back? It depends on the firm. In our check, refunds came anywhere from passing the challenge to the third payout, and several firms did not state one. The tables above show what each site said.
Do discount codes change which firm is cheapest? Yes, week to week. That is why list price and coupon price are in separate columns, with the date we read them.
How much does a $5,000 challenge cost? Between $20 and $39 at list price across the eight firms we checked that price that size in dollars. Investabl's $5,000 plans start at $39.
Prices and rules change. Every figure here was read on the date shown and links to its source. If you spot one that has changed, tell us through the help centre and we will update the table and the date. This article is educational and not financial advice. Investabl prop accounts are simulated. Trading carries a significant risk of loss; past performance does not guarantee future results.
