# Cheapest Prop Firm Challenges: What You Actually Pay

> Cheapest prop firm evaluations by account size. Real costs after platform fees, promos, and reset fees.

- Canonical URL: https://www.fundedready.org/learn/cheapest-prop-firm-challenge/
- Markdown mirror: https://www.fundedready.org/ai/markdown/learn/cheapest-prop-firm-challenge.md
- Content type: Trading guide
- Last reviewed: 2026-04-25

## Quick Answer

Cheapest prop firm evaluations by account size. Real costs after platform fees, promos, and reset fees.

## Key Takeaways

- Sticker price vs real price: The "cheapest" prop firm isn't always the one with the lowest evaluation fee.
- Who's actually cheap: Tradeify is typically the lowest sticker on futures, around $129 for a $25k account during promos.
- Promos and reset strategy: Never pay sticker. Every major firm runs a promo at least monthly — usually tied to a public holiday or the start of the month.

## Sticker price vs real price

The "cheapest" prop firm isn't always the one with the lowest evaluation fee. You need to factor in: platform fees on funded accounts ($0–$150/mo), data fees on funded ($0–$80/mo), reset fees if you fail ($50–$200), and the cost of retries. A $99 evaluation that resets at $150 three times is actually $549.

## Who's actually cheap

Tradeify is typically the lowest sticker on futures, around $129 for a $25k account during promos. Apex regularly runs 80% off promos that bring evaluations under $100. TopStep's base price is higher but they include Tradovate data, so the platform-fee discount often closes the gap. FTMO's $10k account is the cheapest forex entry at around $90.

## Promos and reset strategy

Never pay sticker. Every major firm runs a promo at least monthly — usually tied to a public holiday or the start of the month. Set a calendar reminder. If you fail, don't pay the reset unless you're confident you've fixed whatever killed you. A second fresh evaluation is often cheaper than a reset when promos stack.

## FAQ

### Is the cheapest evaluation the easiest?

No correlation. Price reflects marketing, not difficulty. FTMO's cheapest $10k account has identical rules to the $200k account.

### Should I buy during a promo?

Yes — always. Pay sticker only if you have a specific reason (a promo ends and you're ready). Most traders waste $100–$300/year paying full price out of impatience.

## Sources and Review Notes

- [FundedReady methodology](https://www.fundedready.org/methodology/): Review process, simulator scope, and educational disclaimers.
- [Apex Trader Funding official site](https://apextraderfunding.com/): Verify current challenge prices, payout rules, and trading restrictions at the source.
- [TopStep official site](https://www.topstep.com/): Verify current challenge prices, payout rules, and trading restrictions at the source.
- [Tradeify official site](https://tradeify.co/): Verify current challenge prices, payout rules, and trading restrictions at the source.
- [TakeProfitTrader official site](https://takeprofittrader.com/): Verify current challenge prices, payout rules, and trading restrictions at the source.
- [FTMO official site](https://ftmo.com/): Verify current challenge prices, payout rules, and trading restrictions at the source.
- [CME E-mini S&P 500 contract specs](https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/equities/sp/e-mini-sandp500.contractSpecs.html): Official ES contract specification reference.

FundedReady content is educational. It is not financial advice, a signal service, or a promise that a trading strategy will be profitable.