CME Futures Trading
Best Futures Prop Trading Firms
Compare 11 verified futures prop firms. Trade ES, NQ, CL, GC and more on NinjaTrader, Tradovate & Rithmic with up to 90% profit splits and up to 90% off with exclusive codes
NinjaTraderTradovateRithmicTradingView
11
Futures Firms
90%
Best Profit Split
90%
Best Discount
4.3/5
Average Rating
All Futures Prop Firms
11 firms found-10% OFF
🇬🇧Alpha Futures
Alpha Futures - Professional prop trading firm.
4.92,509 reviews
Profit Split
90%
Max Allocation
$450K
Challenges
5
Payout
bi-weekly
AlphaTicksTradovateNinjaTraderTradingView+1
Code:WIN
-50% OFF
🇺🇸My Funded Futures
Popular US-based futures prop firm with up to $150K funding, 90% profit split, competitive pricing, and strong community.
4.62,500 reviews
Profit Split
90%
Max Allocation
$150K
Challenges
4
Payout
on-demand
NinjaTraderTradovateTradingViewRithmic
Code:WIN
-40% OFF
🇺🇸TakeProfitTrader
Top US-based futures prop firm offering up to $150K funding with 90% profit split, known for reliability and trader-friendly operations.
4.52,000 reviews
Profit Split
90%
Max Allocation
$150K
Challenges
5
Payout
on-demand
NinjaTraderTradovateTradingView
Code:WIN
-40% OFF
🇺🇸Earn2Trade
US-based futures prop firm with industry-leading $400K funding, 80% profit split, and unmatched educational resources for developing traders.
4.53,200 reviews
Profit Split
80%
Max Allocation
$400K
Challenges
5
Payout
monthly
NinjaTraderR|TraderFinamark
Code:NT8
-40% OFF
🇺🇸TickTickTrader
US-based futures prop firm with up to $150K funding, 90% profit split, and trader-friendly evaluation parameters.
4.4800 reviews
Profit Split
90%
Max Allocation
$150K
Challenges
4
Payout
on-demand
NinjaTraderTradovateRithmic
Code:SAVE
-30% OFF
🇺🇸TradeDay
US-based futures prop firm offering up to $150K funding with 90% profit split, focused on straightforward evaluations and reliable operations.
4.31,800 reviews
Profit Split
90%
Max Allocation
$150K
Challenges
4
Payout
on-demand
NinjaTraderTradovateTradingView
Code:WIN
-90% OFF
🇺🇸Bulenox
Affordable US-based futures prop firm with the highest funding at $250K, 90% profit split, and budget-friendly evaluation pricing.
4.21,200 reviews
Profit Split
90%
Max Allocation
$250K
Challenges
5
Payout
bi-weekly
NinjaTraderTradovateRithmic
Code:BEST90
-20% OFF
🇱🇮TheTradingPit
Liechtenstein-based prop firm uniquely offering both forex and futures trading with up to $500K funding and 80% profit split.
4.11,200 reviews
Profit Split
80%
Max Allocation
$500K
Challenges
5
Payout
bi-weekly
MT5cTraderRithmicQuantower
Code:WIN
-10% OFF
🇺🇸PhoenixTraderFunding
Newer US-based futures prop firm offering up to $150K funding with 90% profit split and modern, refined operations.
4.1400 reviews
Profit Split
90%
Max Allocation
$150K
Challenges
4
Payout
bi-weekly
NinjaTraderTradovateRithmic
Code:89CkZPU
🇺🇸Leeloo Trading
Established US-based futures prop firm with up to $300K funding, 90% profit split, and years of proven operations.
4.11,400 reviews
Profit Split
90%
Max Allocation
$300K
Challenges
5
Payout
bi-weekly
NinjaTraderTradovateRithmic
-60% OFF
🇺🇸PropShopTrader
US-based futures prop firm offering up to $150K funding with 90% profit split and a professional, no-frills operational approach.
4.0600 reviews
Profit Split
90%
Max Allocation
$150K
Challenges
4
Payout
bi-weekly
NinjaTraderTradovateTradingView
Code:WIN
Why Trade Futures with a Prop Firm?
Regulated Exchange Access
Futures prop firms connect you to CME-regulated markets. Unlike OTC forex brokers, every trade is executed on a transparent, centralized exchange with standardized contract specifications and real market depth.
No Personal Capital at Risk
Trade with the firm's capital after passing an evaluation. Risk only the challenge fee instead of tens of thousands of your own money. Many firms also offer free retries or discounted resets to keep your costs low.
Professional Infrastructure
Access institutional-grade platforms like NinjaTrader, Tradovate, and Rithmic with low-latency execution, advanced order types, and professional charting — tools that would cost hundreds per month on a personal account.
How Futures Prop Firms Work
Futures prop firms follow a straightforward model: you pay a one-time evaluation fee to access a simulated trading account with real market data. During the evaluation, you must hit a profit target while respecting maximum drawdown limits and position size rules. Most firms offer either a one-step or two-step evaluation process, and some provide instant funding with no evaluation required.
Once you pass the evaluation, you receive a funded account (often called a "sim-funded" account) where you trade real market data with the firm's simulated capital. Profits are split between you and the firm, typically ranging from 80% to 100% in the trader's favor. Payouts are processed weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly depending on the firm.
Key Differences from Forex Prop Firms
Futures prop trading differs from forex in several important ways. Position sizes are measured in contracts (minis and micros) rather than lots. The underlying instruments — such as E-mini S&P 500 (ES), Micro Nasdaq (MNQ), Crude Oil (CL), and Gold (GC) — are exchange-traded on the CME Group, providing transparent pricing and regulated execution. Many futures firms use trailing drawdown rules that track your highest equity point, which requires different risk management strategies compared to static drawdown in forex.
Activation fees are another distinction. After passing the evaluation at many futures firms, you pay a one-time activation fee (typically $85 to $250) to set up your live data feed and execution account. Some firms have eliminated this fee as a competitive advantage. Additionally, monthly data fees may apply for real-time market data, though several firms now include this in their pricing.
Choosing the Right Futures Prop Firm
When comparing futures prop firms, focus on these key factors: the platform supported (NinjaTrader vs Tradovate vs Rithmic), profit split percentage, drawdown type (trailing vs static vs EOD), maximum contract size, activation and data fees, payout frequency, and the firm's track record and reviews. Use our comparison tool to evaluate firms side by side, and check our reviews section for real trader experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a futures prop trading firm?
A futures prop trading firm provides traders with funded accounts to trade CME-regulated futures contracts such as ES (S&P 500), NQ (Nasdaq), YM (Dow), CL (Crude Oil), and GC (Gold). Traders pass an evaluation challenge, then trade with the firm's capital and keep a percentage of the profits. Unlike forex prop firms that use CFD brokers, futures prop firms connect you to regulated exchanges through platforms like NinjaTrader, Tradovate, or Rithmic.
How are futures prop firms different from forex prop firms?
Futures prop firms trade exchange-listed contracts on the CME, CBOT, NYMEX, and COMEX, while forex prop firms trade over-the-counter currency pairs via CFD brokers. Key differences include: futures firms use platforms like Rithmic, Tradovate, and NinjaTrader instead of MT4/MT5; futures accounts measure position sizes in contracts (minis and micros) rather than lots; futures firms often charge activation fees after passing the evaluation; and drawdown rules in futures are frequently trailing rather than static.
What platforms do futures prop firms use?
The three dominant platforms in futures prop trading are Rithmic, Tradovate, and NinjaTrader. Rithmic is known for ultra-low latency execution and is preferred by scalpers and high-frequency traders. Tradovate offers a modern cloud-based interface with no per-trade commissions on certain plans. NinjaTrader provides advanced charting and automated strategy capabilities. Some firms also support TradingView for charting alongside their execution platform.
What are activation fees in futures prop firms?
An activation fee is a one-time charge that many futures prop firms require after you pass the evaluation phase and before you start trading a funded (sim-funded) account. This fee typically ranges from $85 to $250 depending on the account size. It covers the cost of setting up your live data feed and execution environment. Not all firms charge activation fees, so compare carefully if this is a concern for your budget.
What is the difference between mini and micro contracts?
Mini contracts (e.g., ES, NQ, YM) represent the standard contract size on the CME and carry larger tick values. For example, one ES mini contract has a tick value of $12.50. Micro contracts (e.g., MES, MNQ, MYM) are one-tenth the size of minis, making them accessible for smaller accounts and risk management purposes. Most futures prop firms set position limits in terms of mini-equivalent contracts, and micro contracts count as 0.1 of a mini.
Ready to Start Trading Futures?
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