HOTFTMO raises max funded to $400K β€” our review updatedNEWFundedNext now pays 90% profit split on all funded accountsDEALThe5ers free evaluation β€” limited spots this weekUPDATEE8 Markets drawdown rules updated β€” see our revised reviewHOTFTMO raises max funded to $400K β€” our review updatedNEWFundedNext now pays 90% profit split on all funded accountsDEALThe5ers free evaluation β€” limited spots this weekUPDATEE8 Markets drawdown rules updated β€” see our revised review
Ranked & Reviewed 2026

Prop Firms That Refund the Challenge Fee 2026

Every firm here returns the evaluation fee once you take your first payout β€” which makes a passed challenge effectively free. Ranked by our overall score.

Some links below are affiliate links β€” we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. This never affects our rankings or scores. Full disclosure

#1 Best Fee Refunded
1
FTMO logo

FTMO

β˜… 5

The most trusted prop firm globally. 11 years of documented payout history, 6 evaluation sizes, and support for 40+ instruments across forex, commodities, indices, and crypto.

2-Step Static drawdown News trading βœ“
Entry fee
from $79
80% base, up to 90% split Β· $400,000 max
Visit FTMO β†’ Read full review β†’
#2 Runner Up
2
FundedNext logo

FundedNext

β˜… 5

Best profit split in the industry at 90% from day one. Stellar evaluation model with low minimum days, fast payouts, and a large community of funded traders.

2-Step / Express Trailing drawdown News trading βœ“ Weekend hold βœ“
Entry fee
from $33
Up to 95% split Β· $200,000 max
🏷
Visit FundedNext β†’ Read full review β†’
3
The5ers logo

The5ers

β˜… 4.7

Fifty percent feels low next to FundedNext's 90 β€” until you realize The5ers actually gets you to 100% over time, not just on a slide deck.

2-Step / 3-Step Static drawdown News trading βœ“ Weekend hold βœ“
Entry fee
from $39
50% rising to 100% split Β· $4,000,000 (scaled) max
🏷
Visit The5ers β†’ Read full review β†’
4
DNA Funded logo

DNA Funded

β˜… 4.3

DNA Funded backs its prices with a regulated broker behind it β€” rare in this space, and worth something on its own.

1-Step / 2-Step / 3-Step Static drawdown News trading βœ“ Weekend hold βœ“
Entry fee
from $39
Up to 90% split Β· $600,000 max
Visit DNA Funded β†’ Read full review β†’
5
FINT

Fintokei

β˜… 4.3

Broker-backed by Purple Trading with a genuine 4.8 Trustpilot rating and $20M+ paid out, Fintokei's SwiftTrader plan offers a real 100% profit split from day one β€” a rare, verifiable claim in an industry full of exaggerated ones.

SwiftTrader (1-Step) / ProTrader (2-Step) / StartTrader (3-Step) Static drawdown News trading βœ“ Weekend hold βœ“
Entry fee
from $44
80% base, 100% on SwiftTrader split Β· $200,000 (scaled to $4,000,000) max
Visit Fintokei β†’ Read full review β†’
6
Maven Trading logo

Maven Trading

β˜… 4.1

Maven Trading gets you into a funded account for under $15. What that entry price doesn't advertise is a hard $10,000 monthly payout cap and a trust score that lags well behind its marketing.

1-Step / 2-Step / 3-Step / Instant Static drawdown Weekend hold βœ“
Entry fee
from $13
80% standard, 70% on Mini split Β· $100,000 (scaled to $1,000,000) max
🏷
Visit Maven Trading β†’ Read full review β†’
7
BRIG

BrightFunded

β˜… 4.0

BrightFunded pairs a fixed (not trailing) drawdown with a token-loyalty program that pays you for trading volume regardless of outcome β€” genuinely unusual, though a Trustpilot guideline-breach flag from 2026 is worth knowing about.

2-Step Classic Static drawdown Weekend hold βœ“
Entry fee
from €49
80% base, up to 100% via scaling split Β· $400,000 max
Visit BrightFunded β†’ Read full review β†’
8
ORIO

Orion Funded

β˜… 4.0

Orion Funded backs its 48-hour payout guarantee with a real financial penalty if missed, and has grown to over 100,000 traders since 2023 β€” a genuinely strong operational signal, tempered by no publicly named company leadership.

Instant / 1-Step / 2-Step / 3-Step / Nova Varies by program drawdown
Entry fee
from $149
80% base (50% on Instant), up to 90% split Β· $400,000 max
Visit Orion Funded β†’ Read full review β†’
9
THIN

ThinkCapital

β˜… 3.9

Broker-backed by the multi-regulated ThinkMarkets, ThinkCapital is the only prop firm offering genuine TradingView integration for live trade execution β€” a real technical differentiator, still building its track record since a 2024 launch.

Lightning (1-Step) / Dual Step (2-Step) / Nexus (3-Step) Trailing (locks at +6%) drawdown
Entry fee
from $29
80% base, up to 90% split Β· $200,000 (scaled to $1,500,000) max
Visit ThinkCapital β†’ Read full review β†’
10
TOP

Top One Trader

β˜… 3.9

Top One Trader offers a genuinely low entry price and splits up to 90%, but independent aggregator Traders Union scores it just 3.05 out of 10 and explicitly recommends traders look elsewhere β€” a significant, hard-to-ignore red flag.

1-Step / 2-Step / Instant Static, locked at initial balance drawdown Weekend hold βœ“
Entry fee
from $17
80% base, up to 90% split Β· $200,000 (scaled to $5,000,000) max
Visit Top One Trader β†’ Read full review β†’

Why this is the most important column

A $540 fee that comes back on your first payout is a different financial decision from a $199 fee that does not. The refund is also a signal about the business model: a firm that returns the fee expects to make money from your future profits, which means it needs you to keep trading. That is the incentive you want. Full arithmetic in what a challenge actually costs.

Read the refund conditions

“Refunded with first payout” usually means added to the first payout, not paid separately, and often only for the account you passed on β€” not for resets or failed attempts.

Useful Tools

Position Size Calculator β†’ Drawdown Calculator β†’ Profit Split Calculator β†’ Challenge Cost Comparator β†’ Find My Firm β†’ Risk Limit Calculator β†’

More rankings

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Quick answers

How is this list ranked?

By our overall score β€” evaluation fairness, payout reliability, platform quality, spreads, support, rule flexibility, value and transparency. Every firm was tested with a real challenge purchase and a real payout request. Affiliate relationships never change the order.

How often is it updated?

Firm data is re-verified when rules or fees change and at least quarterly. The date on each review shows when we last tested that firm.

What should I check before buying a challenge?

The drawdown model, the daily loss cap, weekend and news rules, and whether the fee is refunded on first payout. The individual review and the 'How to pass' guide for each firm cover all of it.

See How Every Firm Compares

Full side-by-side table β€” all 41 firms, every spec

Open Full Comparison β†’