Proprietary trading firms, or prop firms, provide individual traders with capital, typically to trade stocks, forex, commodities, and even crypto. An alternative to traditional retail trading, prop trading attracts traders with limited funds who wish to trade full-time.
However, it’s not for complete beginners as applicants must successfully complete trading challenges to qualify for funding. These challenges involve achieving specific profit targets while staying within defined drawdown limits.
Interest in this form of trading based on average monthly search volumes for ‘prop firms’ has shot up in the UK, too, according to research company Prop Firms. In this guide, we explain how prop firms work in the UK, what criteria and challenges they set, and which providers are worth considering. Read on to see our selection of the top UK prop firms:
The top UK prop trading platforms of 2026 at a glance
First, here’s an overview of the top brokers for prop trading in the UK at the moment:
- FundedBull: The UK company specializes in futures trading and offers a straightforward evaluation process. It provides access to advanced trading platforms and technology.
- OFP Funding: The US company has a comprehensive trader development program, with educational resources, mentorship, and coaching. It offers funding for forex, commodities, indices, and more.
- 5%ers: The Israel-based company is known for its fast funding process and flexible trading rules. It caters to forex, indices, cryptocurrencies, and metals. It offers various funding levels with different profit splits.
- Tradethepool: The Israeli firm specializes in stock trading and offers a unique “pool” system where traders can join pools based on their trading style and experience. It provides advanced trading tools.
- Challenge4Trading: The French company specializes in forex trading, offering a range of account sizes and funding options. It emphasizes trader education and provides resources to help traders improve their skills.
- Funded Trading Plus: The UK broker’s best feature is its flexible approach to funding and trading. Additionally, its profit splits can reach as high as 90%.
- E8 Markets: The US company primarily focuses on forex markets, but also offers indices, energies, metals, and cryptocurrencies.
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Reviewing the top UK prop trading firms
Let’s take a closer look at these top-ranked prop firms in the UK. We have ranked them based on their challenge requirements, supported markets, funding amounts, payout speeds, capital limits, profit-sharing commissions and overall reputation.
1. FundedBull: New kid on block offers competitive profit splits
FundedBull was founded in 2004 by Desimir Paskalev, a trading industry veteran associated with retail broker XM. We found it a solid choice for beginners and experienced traders alike, due to the flexibility of challenge levels, supported assets and trading platforms.

One of the platform’s biggest appeals is that it always offers 90% profit splits. Financial assets available for trading include forex pairs, cryptocurrencies, indices, and commodities. The prop firm offers several trading platforms to choose from, including cTrader, MatchTrader, DXtrade and soon, TradeLocker. The company also has a $1 million demo account to practise.
The platform’s two-step challenge is relatively strict as the first stage requires a profit of 8% and the second a profit of 5%, coupled with a maximum daily loss of 4%.
However, seasoned traders can opt for obtaining funding after a one-step challenge with even harder hurdles, and less experienced traders can choose a three-step challenge with somewhat easier criteria.
The lowest fee for the account with $5,000 funding starts from $40, with the three-step challenge option. The maximum amount available for trading is $250,000 with the cost starting at $1,120 with a three-step challenge, $1,200 with a two-step challenge and $1,240 with a one-step challenge. Traders can further reduce these fees by using a 20% discount code.
FundedBull also aims to distinguish itself through a strong affiliate program and a focus on fostering a supportive trading community.
Pros
- No time limit in evaluation period
- Funding of up to $250,000 is available
- 90% profit splits
Cons
- Does not allow bot trading
- Relatively steep challenge rules
2. OFP Funding: Get started without challenges
OFP Funding enables traders to quickly increase their access to capital without undergoing the hurdles of a screening process or a profit target to meet.

You can trade forex, stocks, indices, commodities, bonds, and crypto on OFP, and the company offers Matchtrader, CTrader, and TraderLocker platforms.
There are six instant funding accounts with a maximum capital of $100,000, and an outstanding profit share of 90% to 100%.
You can start trading right away, with accounts ranging from £5,000 and scale up to an impressive £300,000. The smallest account, which offers £5,000 with a maximum drawdown of 4%, costs $19, making it one of the most affordable ways to access real trading funds.
What makes OFP Funding different is its focus on traders. First, it has 250 customizable trading accounts. There are no strict goals to hit, so you can work on improving your skills at your own pace. Withdrawals are quick, too — your money is available within four business days.
Pros
- Instant funding, with no challenges
- Multiple trading platforms
- 100% profit splits
Cons
- Expert Advisors not allowed
- No free trial available
3. The 5%ers: Great beginner option for MT5 forex trading with plenty of support
Founded in 2016, The5%ers is a great option for beginner forex traders who prefer the MT5 platform. The5%ers offers funding for various asset classes, including major and minor forex pairs, indices, commodities, but not stocks.

It also supports Bitcoin and the best altcoins. Funding of up to $4 million is available, although limits are determined on a case-by-case basis.
The biggest plus for The5%ers is the evaluation period, which has no time limit or minimum number of trades, though it cancels accounts inactive for more than 30 days. The Bootcamp plan costs $95 and consists of three challenges, each requiring a profit goal of 6% without exceeding a 5% daily drawdown.
The5%ers also offers additional resources to help traders maximize their gains. This includes access to the daily live trading room, free webinars, performance statistics, and real-time event notifications.
Once traders pass Bootcamp, they can get funding for as little as a $95 evaluation fee, then $205 to start trading. There is also a one-step funding program, Hyper Growth, that requires $5,000 in evaluation funding capital and a High Stakes two-step funding program that starts at $39 for a $5,000 demo account.
The5%ers supports a variety of trading strategies, including algo trading and news trading. You’ll trade on the MT5 platform, with access to forex, indices, cryptocurrencies, and commodities.
Pros
- No time limit in evaluation period
- Funding of up to $4 million is available
- Good educational support
Cons
- High cost of funding programs
- Profit splits at the early stage are below that of many competitors
4. Trade the Pool: Trade real shares after a one-step challenge
Trade The Pool was founded by Five Percent Online Ltd., which also operates the 5%ers. It offers buying power accounts starting at $5,000. The evaluation fee for this entry-level account is $59, making it accessible to most traders. You move up once you reach 6% validated profit on your account.

A key selling point for Trade the Pool is that it specializes in trading directly owned shares, which includes a broad list of more than 12,000 stocks and ETFs. Most other prop firms offer stock trading only through CFDs.
Four different buying power levels are available, depending on your willingness to spend on one-time fees. For example, the lowest-cost program makes $5,000 available for $59, while the top account makes $200,000 available for $1,475.
To qualify, traders have unlimited time to complete a one-time challenge to reach the 6% profit target with a minimum of 10 trades while avoiding a daily loss limit of 4%. Once traders meet these conditions, they can access funded accounts and retain up to 70% of the profits, depending on the plan selected.
Pros
- Facilitates trading directly-owned shares
- Good customer support
- One-phase customer challenges
Cons
- Chat support is very limited
- Max profit is only 70% of trades
5. Challenge4Trading: Good prop firm option for UK-based traders, including beginners
We found that Challenge4Trading is a decent option for UK traders, especially for less experienced traders, thanks to the platform’s educational materials, including tutorials, webinars and courses.

Challenge4Trading uses the Sirix trading platform, meaning you can trade your preferred asset class while using social trading, copy trading and sophisticated charting. The financial instruments available include UK and international stocks, indices, forex, and commodities.
The platform supports top cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Challenge4trading takes a unique two-stage approach to capital funding.
First, you need to determine how much you plan to trade. The prop programs range from $15,000 to $500,000, with start-up fees from $150 to $2,160. The Basic Challenge requires a net profit of 5% to 8% to continue with a total loss limit of 10%. The Advanced Challenge is accompanied by a profit target of 10% and a daily loss limit of 3%.
Pros
- Capital funding of between €5,000 to €250,000
- Trade any asset, including stocks, forex, and crypto
- No prior experience is needed
Cons
- You must pay a fee to access trading challenges
- Uses the Sirix platform, which is less popular than MT4 and MT5
6. Funded Trading Plus: Good low-cost options for prop trading
Funded Trading Plus has grown since its founding in the UK in 2021, largely due to its strong customer support ratings and offers funding ranging from $5,000 to $200,000. It is an extension of Trade Room Plus, which began in 2013 in the UK. It also has the ability to scale funding for traders up to $2.5 million.

It also has an option for a single-phase evaluation challenge, making it easier for new investors. In addition, it offers no-evaluation Master Accounts with account sizes ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, making it accessible to many traders without requiring an evaluation phase. However, these accounts incur a one-time charge of $1,125.
The company makes a point of not rushing new traders, and the minimum amount to get started is only $119. It places all customers across all phases of all programs into simulated-live conditions for the evaluation. They can take as long as required to pass the evaluation, but need to place at least one simulated trade on the account every 30 days to keep their accounts active.
Funded Trading Plus offers trading in 35 forex pairs and four cryptos, in addition to a few commodities and indices. Investors can receive $12,500 and begin trading immediately for only $119 on the Experienced Trader Challenge.
Traders can use Expert Advisors (EAs), algorithms, or bots to assist with their evaluations, and they can also employ copy trading, even if the company doesn’t offer its own copy trading platform. The program features an 80/20 simulated profit split, which transitions to 90/10 once traders achieve a 20% simulated profit. Traders would get 100% of the profit if they reach a 30% increase.
Pros
- There are 35 forex pairs to trade
- Traders can use EAs, algos and bots during evaluations
- Copy trading is allowed
Cons
- Master account fees are pricey
- No stock trading is available
7. E8 Markets: Offers aspiring traders plenty of time to get acclimatised
E8 Markets, based in Dallas, Texas, and founded in 2021, is a global company operating in more than 195 countries. It rebranded from E8 Funding because it is focusing more on simulated trading.

It offers 11 different one-step challenges to aspiring prop traders, from $5,000 to $500,000, with challenge fees ranging from $48 to $1,998 depending on the account type and balance. Trading instruments include 28 currency pairs, four commodities, six indices, and 40 cryptocurrencies.
Its account types come with varying fees, evaluation steps and drawdown requirements, as well as profit splits that range from 80% to 100%. Platforms available to trade include MetaTrader5, MatchTrader (which includes access to TradingView charts), cTrader and TradeLocker.
Some of the platform’s highlights are no minimum or maximum trading day requirements. It also focuses heavily on helping aspiring traders with user-friendly advanced analytics.
Pros
- No minimum or maximum amount of trading days, in some cases.
- Comprehensive educational materials
- Copy trading is allowed
Cons
- Demanding profit targets of up to 9%
- Entry fees start out small but rise for higher levels.
Comparing these top-ranked UK prop firms
Here are some key metrics about the leading UK prop firms.
| Prop firm | One-time fee | Minimum funding | Maximum funding | Profit split | Platforms |
| FundedBull | From $40 | $5,000 | $250,000 | 90% | cTrader, MatchTrader, MT4, MT5 and DXtrade and soon, TradeLocker |
| OFP Funding | From $19 | £5,000 | £100,000 | 90-100% | TradeLocker, MatchTrader, cTrader |
| The5%ers | From $39 | $5,000 | $4 million | 50% – 100% | MT5, cTrader |
| Trade the Pool | From $59 | $5,000 | $200,000 | 60%-70% | TraderEvolution |
| Challenge4Trading | From $150 | $15,000 | $500,000 | Up to 91% | Sirix |
| Funded Trading Plus | From $119 | $5,000 | $200,000 | 80% – 100% | MT5, cTrader, MatchTrader Technologies and DXTrade |
| E8 Markets | From $48 | $5,000 | $500,000 | 80%-100% | MatchTrader, cTrader, TradeLocker, and MT5 |
Size of the prop trading industry
Average monthly search volume for prop firms globally has grown by over 600% in the last four years, showing that prop trading has become a real alternative to retail brokerage models, according to research company Prop Firms.
As of 2025, the industry was estimated to be worth $20 billion, with more than 2,000 firms globally; the majority of them (62%) are based in the US, according to Prop Firms’ website.
How does prop trading work?
Prop trading firms provide online traders with capital. Participants must complete trading challenges to qualify. This ensures capital is provided to capable traders who understand risk management principles. Challenges typically come with a profit target and a minimum number of trading days.
Google Trends analytics tool Glimpse shows that search interest in prop trading has grown 205% over the past year.
However, success is not guaranteed. A recent study by ZipDo showed that the failure rate for prop traders in their first year is around 70%.
A prop trading example:
For example, traders may need to achieve an 8% profit and maintain a trade for at least one week. Importantly, challenges always come with maximum daily and total drawdowns. This is the most a trader can lose from the provided capital. For example, suppose the challenge provides $50,000 and the maximum total drawdown is 10%.
This means traders will lose the challenge if the balance drops to $45,000. Do note that prop trading isn’t risk-free. Participants must pay upfront fees when entering challenges. This is typically kept by the prop firm regardless of whether the challenge is completed successfully. The fee increases as more capital is required.
Nonetheless, live funded accounts are provided when traders complete the challenge. This means traders receive a share of any future profits generated. This averages 80% but can be higher or lower depending on the prop firm. Most providers support multiple asset classes, including forex, stocks, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies.
Am I suitable for prop trading?
Prop firms are suitable for all trading profiles. They’re simply a mechanism to obtain more trading capital without relying solely on leverage. For example, consider an up-and-coming forex trader who has had great success trading on demo accounts. They’ve produced solid profits since starting and have a firm grasp of risk management.
However, the trader has limited trading capital, so they approach a prop firm. Assuming the trader completes the prop challenge, they’ll receive funding. This enables the trader to make real money, with the only initial risk being the challenge fee.
Similarly, seasoned pros also use prop firms to increase their capital power. This is why some challenges offer an initial funding account of up to $400,000. And, when successfully completing that challenge, the trader can often request higher amounts.
What markets and strategies do prop firms support?
Prop firms are interested in one key metric; are you able to make consistent profits without breaching risk-management rules? Therefore, providers have little interest in what assets you choose to trade. The only requirement is that the partnered broker(s) and trading platforms support the assets.
That said, we found that most prop firms support the following asset classes, although traders should check before proceeding:
- Forex: Most prop firms support forex trading pairs, covering majors like EUR/USD and JPY/USD. Most also support minor and exotic pairs.
- Stocks: Major stocks from the UK markets are sometimes supported too.
- Indices: Prop traders can also access popular indices, including the Dow Jones, FTSE 100, and NASDAQ 100. These markets offer lower risk and volatility levels.
- Commodities: A wide range of commodities can be traded when using prop firms. This includes everything from gold and natural gas to oil, wheat, and corn.
- Crypto: Some prop firms support cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, not to mention the best meme coins such as Dogecoin and Shiba Inu. However, traders should keep an eye on the drawdown limits, considering cryptocurrencies are highly volatile.
In addition to asset classes, traders should also explore what strategies and systems the prop trading firm accepts. This is because restrictions can apply depending on the prop firm.
For example, some providers prohibit automated bots, such as forex EAs. They can also ban certain strategies, like hedging and arbitrage trading.
Reasons to use a prop trading firm
Still not sure if prop trading is right for you? Read on, we’ll now explore the key benefits of obtaining prop capital.
Increase capital capabilities
There’s a direct correlation between capital capabilities and profit potential. After all, the more trading funds allocated to a position the higher the potential profit. For example, suppose you’ve had a successful month, returning net gains of 4% when trading forex.
However, your average capital balance was just $1,000. For all your efforts you’ve made just $40 in real terms. Now consider the same scenario via a prop firm, which has provided $100,000 in capital. This increases the monthly profit from $40 to $4,000. Even with an 80% profit share, you keep $3,200.
Ideal for risk-averse strategies
Prop firms aren’t always required when trading highly volatile assets, such as growth stocks or cryptocurrencies. This is because the profit potential is high, so even smaller stakes can generate substantial returns. However, this isn’t the case when trading in low-volatile markets with risk-averse strategies.
Take a forex scalper as an example. They specialise in the EUR/USD pair, which rarely rises or falls by more than 1% in a trading session. And, considering scalping positions are kept open for minutes or seconds, the profit potential is minute in real terms. This is where prop firms can help.
Let’s say the forex scalper obtains $1 million in prop funding after completing the initial challenges. They target monthly gains of just 2%. However, this amounts to $20,000 on a $1 million account. And, with an 80% profit share in place, the scalper keeps $16,000. Crucially, scalping and other risk-averse strategies are ideal for prop trading. Their low-risk nature ensures that the drawdown limits aren’t breached.
What happens if the drawdown limit is breached?
The drawdown limits are the most important metric to be aware of when prop trading.
- The daily drawdown is the most you can lose in 24 hours.
- The total drawdown is the most you can lose in total.
- Both figures are percentage-based.
- If either drawdown is breached, the prop trading account will be closed.
- This is the case regardless of whether you’re completing a challenge or using a funded account.
- This is why risk-management strategies are so important.
Limited personal risk
Another benefit of prop trading is that participants bear limited risk. The only money the trader can lose is the initial challenge fee. This is typically a small percentage of the overall prop funding amount.
For example, suppose you opt for the $50,000 account and it comes with a challenge fee of $350. Successfully completing the challenge means you have amplified that initial payment by over 142 times.
Any losses derived from that $50,000 won’t personally impact you. This is because the capital is provided by the prop firm. Conversely, if you fail to complete the challenge, the most you would lose is $350.
Suitable for multiple assets and strategies
The best prop firms support multiple asset classes. This ranges from stock trading and indices to cryptocurrencies, forex, and commodities.
While some restrictions might be in place (e.g. hedging or arbitrage trading, most strategies are supported. This includes anything from swing trading and scalping to day trading.
Support from experienced traders
Prop firms are often run by experienced traders. This means you have access to one-on-one support, guidance, and insights.
Crucially, this ensures your trading abilities constantly improve, helping you to increase profits and reduce risk.
Choosing the right prop trading firm
The following factors should be considered when selecting a prop trading firm using UK platforms for trading stocks:
- Reputation: First, ensure the prop firm has a solid reputation, especially regarding payouts. It’s best to stick with established providers too. Use TrustPilot and other review websites to make an informed decision.
- Strategies and markets: Ensure the prop firm supports your preferred strategy, such as scalping or swing trading. Check which asset classes and markets are supported, such as major forex pairs or precious metals.
- Funding amounts: Prop firms offer various funding amounts, often ranging from just $5,000 to more than $400,000. Ensure the available amounts align with your requirements.
- Challenge fee: Ensure the challenge fee is viable for the amount of funding offered. Just remember, the more capital needed the higher the fee. Most providers have a no-refund policy on challenge fees, so ensure the amount is within your budget.
- Challenge requirements: Another important factor is the challenge requirements. These must be completed to obtain funded accounts. Check the required profit target, maximum drawdowns, and minimum number of trading days.
- Profit share: Ensure you’re comfortable with the profit share percentage. This averages 80%, meaning you keep $80 for every $100 gained.
- Payouts: Check the payout terms, such as withdrawal frequencies, minimums, maximums, and payment methods. Many prop firms offer bi-weekly withdrawals after completing a 30-day grace period.
Finally, if you’re just starting out or want to test strategies before committing, look for prop firms that offer demo accounts for UK traders. These accounts provide a risk-free way to gain experience and evaluate the platform before going live.
How to get started with a prop trading firm
Ready to increase your trading capital with a prop trading firm? Here’s a quick walkthrough on how to get started with FundedBull:
- Step 1: Register an account: The first step is to visit a prop broker’s website, such as FundedBull, and click the ‘Buy Challenge’ button. Other providers may have a ‘Register’ button. Provide your full name, email address, and phone number, alongside a password for your account.
- Step 2: Choose funding amount and assess terms: Next, decide how much prop capital you will need. This ranges from £5,000 to £25,000. Evaluate the required challenge terms, such as the profit target, maximum loss, and time limit.
- Step 3: Pay challenge fee: You’ll now need to pay the challenge fee for your required funding amount as well as your preferred trading platform. This varies from £40 to £1,240, depending on the funding amount and the number of steps in your challenge. FundedBull accepts bank transfer, credit cards, Rise, and some other methods.
- Step 4: Start trading – Start trading your preferred your chosen instruments on your preferred trading platform. Your account will be loaded with virtual funds, meaning trades are risk-free. The objective is to meet the challenge goals.
- Step 5: Receive prop funding: FundedBull will provide you with real trading funds once you complete the challenge. If you’re unsuccessful, you’ll need to pay another upfront fee and start again.
FAQs
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References
Finance Magnates: PipFarm survey on prop trading
Prop Firm survey on search volumes

