Best Prop Firms for US Traders

Lark Funding is a U.S.-based prop firm launched in 2022, built to make prop trading simple and fair. The firm’s mission is clear: remove stress, delays, and confusion from the evaluation process. It gives traders an open path to prove their skills and get funded fast.

What makes Lark Funding stand out is its no-time-limit structure. Traders can move at their own pace without worrying about countdowns or minimum trading days. Whether you pass in one day or take a month, your progress depends only on your performance.

The Pass Assist system is another highlight. The platform automatically recognizes your success the moment you reach the target, no manual checks, no last-minute pressure. Combined with fast payouts and a high profit split, this makes Lark Funding one of the most trader-friendly setups today.

Behind the tech, there’s real human support. Traders get 24/7 help from experienced professionals, not bots. Add in CDBO certification for transparency and compliance, and it’s easy to see why many traders trust Lark Funding as a reliable U.S. prop firm.

Maven Trading was established in November 2022 and has quickly gained attention in the prop trading community for its low entry cost and transparent challenge models. The firm offers four account types: 1-step, 2-step, 3-step, and instant funding, all designed for traders seeking flexible, no-time-limit evaluations.

Its main appeal lies in the affordable challenge fees starting at just $13, making it accessible for beginners while maintaining realistic trading targets. Maven also allows traders to operate on MT5, cTrader, and Match Trader, covering multiple asset classes including forex, indices, commodities, and crypto.

The firm enforces a set of strict but clear consistency and risk management rules, particularly for instant funding accounts, ensuring disciplined trading and sustainable performance. A Trustpilot rating of 4.6/5 from nearly 5,000 reviews reinforces its solid reputation and customer satisfaction.

Overall, Maven Trading positions itself as a cost-effective, rule-focused, and transparent prop firm suitable for both new and experienced US traders who value flexibility and clear conditions.

E8 Markets is a global prop firm known for offering simulated capital with real payouts and zero trading risk. With over $61 million paid out to traders and more than 350,000 active users, it has grown into one of the most recognized names in the prop trading industry.

The firm is popular among U.S. traders thanks to its transparent model: no brokers, no deposits, and instant payouts. Its E8 Challenge programs are designed for every experience level with access to diverse trading instruments, including forex, futures, and crypto pairs.

E8 Markets stands out for its custom-built trading environment, fast payouts within 24 hours, and a community of over 45,000 active traders. Its flexible structure allows traders to scale their accounts while keeping up to 100% profit splits, which makes it a solid option for professionals and beginners alike.

With a Trustpilot rating of 4.4/5 from nearly 3,000 reviews, E8 Markets maintains a strong reputation for reliability, transparency, and user-focused support.

Funded Trading Plus (FT+) is a London-based proprietary trading firm known for its transparency, trader freedom, and fast payout process. The firm allows traders to use simulated funds with real payouts processed in as little as one day. Its flexible approach: no time limits, no minimum trading days, and multiple payout options,  makes it a top choice for both beginners and professional U.S. traders.

What stands out most about FT+ is its clear rule structure and focus on trader autonomy. There are no consistency rules, no hidden restrictions, and traders can hold positions overnight or over the weekend, depending on their chosen program. This freedom is rare among prop firms and gives U.S. traders greater flexibility in managing longer-term or news-driven strategies.

The firm’s payout system rewards consistent performance, offering up to 100% lifetime profit splits as traders hit milestones. Programs like Experienced, Prestige Lite, and Prestige Pro come with scaling opportunities and on-demand withdrawals, backed by a fast, risk-reviewed process. 

Funded Trading Plus holds a 4.6/5 Trustpilot rating based on more than 2,500 reviews. This strong feedback highlights its reliability and excellent customer support, securing its place among the world’s most trusted prop firms.

The 5%ers has established itself as one of the most respected prop firms in the world, trusted by over 18,000 traders with an impressive 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating. The firm is well-known for its structured approach to trader development, educational resources, and transparent funding pathways.

U.S. traders often choose The 5%ers for its unlimited trading time, low entry requirements, and clear scaling plans that make long-term growth achievable. The firm combines prop funding with coaching and education through live trading rooms, webinars, and one-on-one mentorship sessions, giving traders the feel of a professional trading desk environment.

Programs such as Bootcamp, Hyper Growth, and High Stakes cater to different risk profiles, from steady account progression to aggressive instant funding. The 5%ers also stands out for its rule transparency and professional trader support system, making it a solid option for U.S. traders seeking reliable funding with guided growth opportunities.

Apex Trader Funding is one of the trusted futures prop firms for U.S. traders. It offers quick payouts, flexible trading hours, and transparent rules that appeal to both beginners and professionals. With over 100,000 accounts funded, Apex focuses on creating a simple path from evaluation to live trading.

Apex gives traders up to 20 live accounts and lets them keep 100% of the first $25,000 in profits, then 90% afterward. The system uses a trailing drawdown that stops once your profit target is hit on Rithmic accounts, while Tradovate accounts continue trailing throughout the challenge.

For me, what makes Apex stand out is its one-step evaluation, no daily drawdown, and payouts every 8 days. The firm supports multiple platforms, including Rithmic, Tradovate, and WealthCharts, and allows trading during news and holidays. However, Apex enforces strict consistency and risk management rules to ensure responsible trading behavior.

The firm has a strong reputation backed by a 4.5★ Trustpilot rating from over 15,000 reviews. Traders praise its clear rules, quick support, and smooth integration with NinjaTrader.  But Apex has some reviews mentioning strict ID verification and limited customer support responsiveness.

Topstep is one of the most established futures prop firms in the United States, and one of the few firms that actually originated in the U.S. and caters primarily to American traders. With over a decade in operation, Topstep has helped thousands of futures traders transition into live capital trading through its signature Trading Combine® program.

That said, the firm isn’t without its caveats. The monthly subscription structure and strict overnight-trading restrictions can feel limiting for more advanced traders. Still, Topstep offers a risk-managed approach and a fast evaluation proces. Its strong educational support also makes it an excellent choice for futures traders looking for a reliable U.S.-based funding route.

Global traders may find Topstep’s profit-sharing and inactivity rules less flexible than E8 or FT+. However, U.S. traders often view it as the benchmark for regulatory compliance, reputation, and payout reliability, qualities they value more than aggressive leverage or lenient trading rules.

Crypto Fund Trader (CFT) was founded in November 2022 in Switzerland (Confoederatio Helvetica) and operates as one of the first crypto-focused proprietary trading firms. The firm provides evaluation programs for traders across crypto, forex, indices, stocks, and commodities, allowing access to up to $300,000 in demo capital and scaling up to $1.28 million.

For U.S. traders, CFT offers a unique advantage: it accepts participants globally, including the U.S., and provides a fully virtual trading environment. There’s no real capital involved, making it an accessible and regulation-friendly choice for American traders looking to develop their crypto and multi-asset strategies safely.

CFT stands out for its wide instrument coverage (900+ financial markets), 0-pip spreads, and no time limits during evaluations. The firm’s flexible rules allow news trading, giving traders more freedom to operate during volatile sessions. Its operations are supported by 50+ global professionals across offices in Spain, Switzerland, and Dubai, emphasizing a strong international foundation.

With a Trustpilot score of 4.5/5 from over 1,000 reviews, CFT has established solid credibility and transparency. The firm’s clear scaling structure, educational tools, and transparent payouts make it a reliable prop option for both beginners and experienced traders worldwide.

For Traders is one of the rapidly growing prop firms, recognized for its flexible trading rules and wide global reach. The firm supports over 60,000 traders across 130+ countries and has paid out more than $7 million, reflecting solid credibility and consistent growth.

Its Instant Master and Challenge programs cater to both experienced traders and beginners, offering transparent rules and accessible scaling options. U.S. traders, in particular, appreciate For Traders’ clean structure, competitive pricing, and support for MetaTrader 5 with raw spreads and low commission fees.

The firm stands out for its fast reward processing times, often under 24 hours, and a strong focus on trader discipline through consistency, margin, and inactivity rules. For Traders provides a balance of opportunity and responsibility, making it a reliable option for those who value structured growth and realistic trading parameters.

Ment Funding stands out for its simplicity, a single-phase evaluation with no minimum or maximum trading days. The firm offers capital up to $2M and scaling up to $5M, appealing to traders who prefer full flexibility without time pressure. Its 10% target and raw spread execution make it competitive among premium prop firms.

For U.S. traders, Ment Funding provides a rare balance of freedom and structure. The firm’s 24/7 Discord support and transparent rules create an accessible environment for both forex and futures traders. However, the absence of MT5 support and relatively high one-time fees may deter some advanced users used to more flexible platforms.

With no consistency rules, fast payout access, and a clear scaling roadmap, Ment Funding caters especially to disciplined traders seeking steady capital growth and autonomy. It’s a strong pick for U.S. traders who value transparency, no time limits, and realistic profit-sharing terms.

BrightFunded is a fast-growing prop firm known for lightning-fast payouts and a flexible trading model. The company offers traders up to $400K in funding, lightning-fast payouts, and unlimited scaling potential. Its 2-step evaluation has no time limit, which gives traders full flexibility to prove their skills.

The firm’s strongest appeal lies in its 4-hour average payout time and weekly withdrawal options. Many U.S. traders appreciate these features, especially those used to faster payout cycles compared to traditional U.S.-based prop firms. BrightFunded also allows a 15% profit splits during the evaluation, something rarely seen elsewhere.

BrightFunded supports MT5, DXtrade, and cTrader, enabling access to forex, indices, crypto, and commodities. This makes it an attractive choice for traders who prefer multi-asset strategies. The 1:100 leverage and no consistency rules help traders maintain freedom in their trading style.

Despite its strengths, BrightFunded has received mixed feedback on spreads and execution speed. A few traders reported slippage during high-volatility periods. Still, with its scaling plan, flexible structure, and global accessibility, BrightFunded stands out as a solid option, especially for U.S. traders who value speed, automation, and consistent payouts.

City Traders Imperium (CTI) stands out for combining a prop firm and trading academy into one ecosystem. Founded in 2018, CTI has built a strong reputation with a transparent payout system and unlimited time limits across all challenges. It allows access to global financial markets through MT5 and Match-Trader, offering low latency and multi-asset trading.

The firm’s Instant Funding programs appeal to experienced traders who prefer to skip evaluations. U.S. traders especially find CTI attractive thanks to its global accessibility and fast payouts in less than 24 hours. The option to scale up to $4M per trader makes it one of the few firms matching institutional-level potential.

CTI’s VIP Program adds another layer of incentive, offering weekly or on-demand payouts, coaching, and even monthly trader salaries for elite traders. Unlike many firms, CTI allows news trading, overnight holding, and full use of EAs (with source code), giving traders more autonomy.

Still, the firm has faced criticism over inconsistent support and strict enforcement of device/IP rules. Some traders reported delayed upgrades or unclear account restrictions. Despite that, CTI remains a solid and trustworthy option for U.S. traders seeking stability, growth, and flexible trading freedom.

Top One Trader has quickly earned attention in the prop trading space with one of the fastest payout systems in the industry, averaging just 90 minutes. The firm supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, Match-Trader, and TradeLocker, giving traders broad flexibility across platforms. Its structure of 1-Step, 2-Step, Instant Funding, and Instant Prime programs fits both beginners and professionals.

For U.S. traders, the firm’s instant access model and 24/7 support are major advantages, particularly since many U.S.-based prop firms lack real-time response. The ability to scale up to $5M with consistent performance makes it appealing for disciplined traders focused on growth.

Still, Top One Trader’s strict news-trading limits, IP restrictions, and consistency rules may frustrate short-term or high-frequency traders. U.S. users also need to note that cTrader access is blocked for U.S. IPs, a serious limitation if that’s their preferred platform.

Despite a few operational constraints, Top One Trader stands out for its payout speed, diverse platforms, and transparent scaling structure. It’s an especially strong choice for U.S. traders who value quick access to funds, multi-platform freedom, and flexible growth potential.

DNA Funded offers a clean and beginner-friendly prop trading model with multiple options, from 1-Phase and 2-Phase evaluations to Rapid and Instant Funding. Its flexible rules, weekend holding permission, and news-trading allowance make it appealing for swing and position traders.

For U.S. traders, the firm’s simple structure and use of TradeLocker make it easy to access. However, the absence of MT5 or cTrader support can be limiting for more advanced users. The 10-minute news restriction window is reasonable, but the absence of Expert Advisors (EAs) could discourage algorithmic traders.

Despite some mixed customer feedback and payout delays reported online, DNA Funded continues to attract retail traders with affordable challenge fees, 3-day minimums, and instant-funding options. It’s a good fit for manual U.S. traders seeking low-barrier access and straightforward evaluations, not ideal for automation-heavy or high-frequency strategies.