HOTFTMO raises max funded to $400K — our review updatedNEWFundedNext now pays 90% profit split on all funded accountsDEALThe5ers free evaluation — limited spots this weekUPDATEE8 Markets drawdown rules updated — see our revised reviewHOTFTMO raises max funded to $400K — our review updatedNEWFundedNext now pays 90% profit split on all funded accountsDEALThe5ers free evaluation — limited spots this weekUPDATEE8 Markets drawdown rules updated — see our revised review
Head-to-Head Comparison

The5ers vs Blue Guardian Side-by-side breakdown — fees, rules, payouts, and our verdict

The5ers
Est. 2016
4.7
out of 5.0
from $39 challenge fee
50% rising to 100% profit split
Visit The5ers →
🏷 Code:
Full review →
VS
Blue Guardian
Est. 2023
4.3
out of 5.0
from $10 challenge fee
90% standard rising to 100% profit split
Visit Blue Guardian → Full review →

Quick Verdict

Overall Score
The5ers
Lower Entry Fee
Blue Guardian
Higher Profit Split
Blue Guardian
Larger Max Account
Both similar

Full Comparison

Metric The5ers Blue Guardian
Our Score 4.7/5 4.3/5
Challenge Fee from $39 from $10 ✓
Profit Split 50% rising to 100% 90% standard rising to 100% ✓
Max Account $4,000,000 (scaled) $4,000,000 (scaled)
Evaluation Type 2-Step / 3-Step 2-Step
Drawdown Type Static Static
Min Trading Days No minimum on some plans Varies
Time Limit 12-month window (3-step) Varies
Platforms MT5, cTrader MT5, cTrader, DXtrade
Payout Speed Standard cycle 24-hour guarantee (or split rises)
News Trading ✓ ✓
Weekend Hold ✓ ✓
EAs / Robots ✓ ✓
Fee Refundable ✓ ✗
Founded 2016 2023
HQ Tel Aviv Israel United States

Score Breakdown

Customer Support The5ers: 9 · Blue Guardian: 8.4
Value for Money The5ers: 8.6 · Blue Guardian: 8.6
■ The5ers ■ Blue Guardian

The5ers and Blue Guardian both show up on most "best prop firm" shortlists, but they are built for different traders. The5ers scores 4.7/5 on our review and has been paying traders since 2016 (10 years); Blue Guardian scores 4.3/5 and has been paying traders since 2023 (3 years). The table below puts every rule side by side — this intro is the short version.

On entry cost, The5ers charges from $39 and Blue Guardian charges from $10 for its standard evaluation. The profit split is 50% rising to 100% at The5ers versus 90% standard rising to 100% at Blue Guardian — but a bigger split only matters if the payout actually arrives, so weigh it against the payout-speed row. Both use a static drawdown model, so neither wins on that front — the difference comes down to time limits and the minimum-days rule.

The5ers allows weekend holding and Blue Guardian allows it. If your strategy carries positions across the weekend, that alone should decide this comparison for you.

Pros & Cons

The5ers

✅ Pros
• Running since 2016, one of the longer track records in this entire list
• The scaling plan genuinely reaches 100% split for traders who stick with it — not just advertised, actually delivered
• Real investment in trader education, not an afterthought
• A $95 Bootcamp tier gets you in the door without much risk
❌ Cons
• 50% starting split is the lowest of any firm here, full stop, before scaling kicks in
• Getting to that 100% takes sustained performance over real time — there's no shortcut
• Fewer platform choices than FTMO's three

Blue Guardian

✅ Pros
• Scales to $4 million, putting it right alongside FundedNext and The5ers at the top of this list for ceiling size
• A unique payout mechanic: miss the 24-hour window and the trader's split rises to 100% as compensation
• 90% starting split, high relative to most competitors' standard tier
• Weekend holds and news trading both allowed
❌ Cons
• Founded in 2023, without the multi-year track record FTMO or The5ers have built
• Reaching that full 100% split depends on the firm missing its own guarantee — an odd thing to bank on rather than a standard scaling plan
• A smaller funded trader base than the category leaders
The5ers
4.7/5
Code:
Visit The5ers →
Read full review
Blue Guardian
4.3/5
Visit Blue Guardian →
Read full review

More head-to-head comparisons

E8 Markets vs The5ers → FTMO vs The5ers 2026 → FundedNext vs The5ers → The5ers vs Blue Guardian → The5ers vs City Traders Imperium → The5ers vs City Traders Imperium → The5ers vs DNA Funded → The5ers vs DNA Funded → The5ers vs Funded Trading Plus → The5ers vs Funded Trading Plus → The5ers vs Funding Pips → The5ers vs Funding Pips → City Traders Imperium vs Blue Guardian → DNA Funded vs Blue Guardian → E8 Markets vs Blue Guardian → FTMO vs Blue Guardian → Funded Trading Plus vs Blue Guardian → FundedNext vs Blue Guardian → Funding Pips vs Blue Guardian →

Compare more firms: Full comparison table →