Compare a named program and its complete path to payout. Account size and headline reward share are only two fields in that comparison.
Start with the product, not the headline
A firm name is only the beginning of a comparison. One provider may offer several evaluations with different targets, loss calculations, platforms and withdrawal conditions. Write down the exact program, account size, currency, chosen add-ons and purchase date. Without that scope, two accurate numbers can still describe completely different offers.
For a useful first pass, open the prop firm directory and shortlist programs that permit your market, country and platform. A product that cannot accommodate those requirements does not become suitable because its advertised account size is larger.
Convert the loss rules into money
Use a hypothetical account to check how the rules interact. On a $20,000 evaluation, a 5% daily allowance represents $1,000 only when the contract uses the initial balance as its base. A limit measured from a changing balance or equity reference may behave differently. Establish the formula before comparing the percentage.
Record whether floating losses, commissions and swaps count, whether the overall floor trails, and when the daily reference resets. Keep a separate note for evaluation and performance stages. Read our drawdown comparison before treating identical percentages as equivalent.
Trace the route to an eligible payout
Separate passing an evaluation from becoming eligible to request a reward. Ask what happens after the final target: identity checks, agreement signing, trading review, account activation and the first qualifying withdrawal cycle. Then check minimum profitable days, concentration rules, payout caps and the starting reward share.
For example, an illustrative $1,000 eligible profit with an 80% share suggests $800 before other applicable deductions. It does not mean every $1,000 dashboard gain is immediately withdrawable. The eligibility conditions need their own row in your research sheet, rather than a footnote under a prominent maximum percentage.
Keep an evidence trail and a realistic budget
Save links to the product page, rule definitions, prohibited practices and refund terms. Record the date and any written clarification from support. A summary table helps you find differences; the current agreement determines what you are accepting. Recheck the checkout configuration before paying, especially when a promotion changes the package.
Budget for the evaluation fee, optional features, possible activation charges and a failed attempt without assuming future rewards will repay them. Compare two or three programs using the same questions, then revisit unresolved points. The aim is an understandable decision, not a universal winner or a promise of passing.
Sources & further reading
Educational research. Examples are hypothetical. Provider terms and regional availability can change. Suggest a correction.
Put the comparison into practice
Open the directory, choose a category and select up to three providers to compare.
Compare providers →