What counts as a cheap challenge fee?

For a $5K account, a cheap fee is usually under $50. The very lowest options are around $20 to $40.

Cheapest Prop Firm Challenge 2025: $5K Accounts Under $50

Discover the 8 cheapest prop firm challenges in 2025. See which $5K accounts cost under $50, how rules differ, and which firms pay out the fastest.

If you want to trade with a funded account, the first step is often a prop firm challenge. Some firms charge hundreds of dollars to try, but many offer cheap options under $50. Picking the cheapest prop firm challenge can save you money and help you get funded without a big risk.

In this guide, we compare 8 of the cheapest prop firm challenges in 2025. You will see their fees, rules, and payout speeds so you can choose the one that fits your style. All firms listed refund your fee if you pass, but some give faster payouts or easier rules than others.

What Makes a Prop Firm Challenge Cheap?

Not all cheap prop firms are the same. A low entry fee is good, but you should also check the rules and refund terms. Here are the main things that make a challenge truly cheap:

Challenge Fee

This is the price you pay to try the challenge. The lowest fees start at $15–$22 for a small $2K or $5K account. Some firms charge $40–$50 for the same account size, but they may offer better rules.

Hidden Costs

Watch out for extra charges. For example, some firms make one platform cheaper and another more expensive. Add-ons like higher profit split or faster payouts also raise the real cost.

Refund Policy

Most cheap prop firms refund your fee when you pass the challenge, but the timing is different. Some refund right after you pass. Others refund only after your first payout. Knowing this difference helps you plan your budget.

👉 A $20 fee sounds cheap, but if the rules are too strict or payouts are slow, it might not be the best choice.

Comparison Table of the 8 Cheapest Prop Firm Challenges in 2025

Here is a quick look at the cheapest $5K challenges in 2025. All of these firms refund your fee if you pass. The table shows the cost, challenge type, rules, and payout details so you can compare them side by side.

Prop Firm	Fee (5K)	Coupon Code	Review Link
Maven Trading	$22	MVN8	Maven Review
FundYourFX	$56	FUNDEDTRADING10	FundYourFX Review
FXIFY	$39	FT20	FXIFY Review
Alpha Capital	$40	FUNDEDTRADING15	Alpha Capital Review
PipFarm	$40	FTXPIPFARM	PipFarm Review
FundedNext	$32	FT5	FundedNext Review
E8 Markets	$40	FTR5	E8 Markets Review
MasterFunders	$40	FT20	MasterFunders Review

Maven Trading

Fee: $22 for a $5K account. Code MVN8 lowers it to $20.24. A $2K account starts at $15.
Challenge: 2-step. Static drawdown 8% overall and 4% daily.
Rules: No minimum trading days.
Platforms: MT5, Match-Trader, cTrader ($44).
Refund: 100% after passing.
Payouts: Every 10 business days.
Why choose it: Cheapest legit 2-step challenge. Good for beginners who need time freedom.

FundYourFX

Fee: $56 for a $5K account.
Challenge: 2-step or instant funding (skip the challenge at higher cost).
Rules: 4% static max drawdown. No daily drawdown rule.
Platforms: Match-Trader only.
Refund: After passing.
Split: Up to 90%.
Why choose it: Best for traders who want simple rules and no daily drawdown stress.

FXIFY

Fee: $39 for a $5K account.
Challenge: 3-step with lower entry cost.
Rules: 4% static drawdown. Unlimited trading days. Minimum 5 days per phase.
Add-ons: Can buy higher profit split (up to 90%), faster payouts, or more leverage.
Why choose it: Very low fee and flexible setup. Good for patient traders.

Alpha Capital

Fee: $40 for a $5K account.
Challenge: 1-step or 2-step. Profit target 6%.
Rules: Drawdown 6% overall and 3% daily. Unlimited time to pass.
Leverage: Up to 1:100 on forex.
Platforms: MT5, cTrader, DXTrade, TradeLocker.
Payouts: Biweekly or 2% on-demand (minimum $100 profit).
Why choose it: Best for traders who want multiple platforms and higher leverage.

PipFarm

Fee: $40 for a $5K account.
Challenge: 2-step Consistency account.
Rules: Phase 1 target 9%, Phase 2 target 6%. Static drawdown 9% overall and 3% daily.
Platforms: cTrader only.
Split: Up to 99% (scales with loyalty and experience).
Extras: Payout protection and scaling up to $1.5M.
Why choose it: Very strict rules but highest possible profit split in the industry.

FundedNext

Fee: $32 for a $5K Stellar Lite account.
Challenge: 2-step. Phase 1 target 8%, Phase 2 target 4%.
Rules: 8% static overall and 4% daily drawdown. Minimum 5 days per phase.
Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, Match-Trader.
Split: Up to 95%.
Payouts: Often within 24 hours (fastest in the industry).
Scaling: Up to $4M.
Why choose it: One of the lowest fees and fastest payouts.

E8 Markets

Fee: $40 for a $5K account.
Challenge: 1-step custom challenge.
Rules: Trailing drawdown of 4%. Unlimited time to pass.
Split: 80% base, with add-ons available.
Platforms: MT4, MT5.
Why choose it: Flexible setup, but trailing drawdown can be tough for new traders.

MasterFunders

Fee: $40 for a $5K account.
Challenge: 2-step.
Refund: Yes, after passing.
Why choose it: Affordable option at the $40 level with standard rules.

How to Choose the Best Cheap Prop Firm Challenge

A low price is good, but the cheapest prop firm challenge is not always the best deal. Some firms look cheap up front but have rules that make them harder to pass. Here are the main things to check before you decide.

Static vs. Trailing Drawdown

Static drawdown does not move once it is set. This makes it easier for new traders.
Trailing drawdown moves up with your balance. This can feel strict and limit growth.

👉 Example: Maven and FundedNext use static drawdown. E8 uses trailing drawdown.

One-Step vs. Two-Step vs. Three-Step Challenges

One-step is fast but usually harder.
Two-step is the standard. It balances rules and cost.
Three-step is the cheapest but takes more time and discipline.

👉 Example: FXIFY offers a 3-step challenge with a very low fee. Maven and FundedNext use 2-step.

Payout Speed Matters

The sooner you get paid, the sooner your fee comes back.

Fastest: FundedNext pays within 24 hours.
Normal: Most others pay in 7–14 days.

👉 If you need cash flow fast, payout speed is as important as fee price.

Refund Rules

Some firms refund after you pass the challenge. Others wait until you make your first payout.
👉 Always check when the refund happens so you know how long your money is tied up.

Best for Beginners vs. Experienced Traders

Beginners: Pick static drawdown, no time limits, and simple rules. Maven and FundedNext fit best.
Experienced traders: Can handle stricter rules like PipFarm’s consistency model or E8’s trailing drawdown.

👉 The cheapest challenge is not always the easiest. Look at the rules, payout speed, and refund policy before choosing.

Example Walkthrough: Passing a Cheap $5K Challenge

To see how cheap prop firm challenges work, let’s look at a $5K account with an 8% profit target and a 4% daily drawdown. These numbers are common among firms like Maven or FundedNext.

Profit Target in Simple Numbers

8% of $5,000 = $400 profit goal.
This is what you need to earn in the first phase.
In the second phase, many firms lower the goal to 4–6%.

Daily Loss Rule in Practice

Daily limit is 4% of $5,000 = $200.
If you lose more than $200 in one day, you fail the challenge.
Even if your account is still positive overall, one bad day can end it.

Smart Risk Per Trade

If you risk 1% ($50) per trade, you have 4 trades per day before hitting the $200 daily loss.
If you risk 0.5% ($25) per trade, you have 8 trades per day.

👉 Smaller risk gives you more chances to reach the target without breaking rules.

Example Path to Passing

Day 1: +$80 (4 small wins)
Day 2: +$60 (3 wins, 1 loss)
Day 3: +$90 (5 wins, 2 losses)
Day 4: +$100 (5 wins, 1 loss)
Day 5: +$70 (4 wins, 2 losses)

Total after 5 days = $400 profit → you pass Phase 1.

👉 Passing a cheap prop firm challenge is about small, steady wins, not big risky trades. Keep losses low, spread trades across days, and focus on consistency.

Final Summary

The cheapest prop firm challenges in 2025 give traders a way to get funded without spending hundreds of dollars up front. The lowest fee comes from Maven Trading, starting at just $22 for a $5K account, or even $20.24 with a coupon code. FundedNext also stands out with one of the fastest payouts in the industry, often within 24 hours.

While price is important, rules like drawdown type, refund timing, and payout speed can matter even more. A $20 fee looks good, but if the firm uses strict rules or delays payouts, it may cost more in the long run.

👉 The best choice depends on your trading style. Beginners should stick to firms with static drawdown and simple rules, while advanced traders may try strict programs like PipFarm or flexible ones like E8. Start small, pass your first challenge, and then scale up.