As a UK resident, you need more than technical prowess alone to excel at trading with prop firms. Among other things, you need the backing of a firm equipped with institutional-grade infrastructure and a clear path to scaling capital. In an era of significant regulatory change, your choice of provider is not merely a business decision. It is the foundational step in securing your future in this field.
We have conducted a thorough evaluation of the market to distinguish the established leaders from the rest. The following analysis details the eight UK proprietary trading firms that currently set the benchmark for operational integrity, performance, and trader development.
We will evaluate the platforms, focusing on their “critical” aspects, which are execution technology, risk management (risk framework), revenue structure (profit), and the level of support for the trader. We aim to provide you with a “roadmap” or “guide” for identifying the platform that best allows you to grow your business while accommodating your strategy.
The Prop Firms at a Glance
1. OneFunded — Fair and transparent rules, best overall in the UK
2. FTMO — Industry benchmark with strict professional standards
3. The5ers — Long-term growth with conservative risk models
4. Topstep — Futures-only firm with structured evaluations
5. Alpha Capital Group — Tech-driven UK prop firm for forex traders
6. FundedNext — Fast scaling with aggressive profit potential
7. FXIFY — Flexible, broker-backed prop firm for independence
8. Funding Pips — Aggressive challenges built for rapid payouts
Methodology & Ranking Criteria
To determine the top prop firms in the United Kingdom fairly, we considered each firm’s ability to provide value to professionals and beginner traders. Each firm reviewed was assessed using practical criteria that represent factors that influence a trader’s long-term success with a funded account. Below are the core factors used in assessing each prop firm.
Rule Clarity and Transparency
One of the biggest challenges traders face when joining a prop firm is understanding all the rules. Some firms publish simplified summaries while burying critical restrictions deep in their terms and conditions. Others introduce vague language that leaves room for subjective enforcement, which can result in failed accounts despite technically profitable trading. Higher rankings were given to prop firms:
- Whose documentation clearly outlines the trading rules in a manner that is easy to understand
- That avoid ambiguous clauses or hidden restrictions
- That make drawdown calculations, profit targets, and trading limits easy to understand
- That apply rules consistently across all account types
Evaluation Logic and Difficulty
Passing the prop firm evaluation is the biggest initial hurdle any trader will ever have to overcome, but the structure of that evaluation is just as important as the evaluation target itself. The logic behind this ranking is to determine if a prop firm’s evaluation model:
- Promotes consistent, disciplined trading behavior
- Rewards consistency over one-time, high-risk trades
- Provides for recovery from small errors
- Represents real-world market scenarios
Prop firms that rely on tight time limits, aggressive profit targets, or rigid daily constraints tend to favor luck over skill. These types of evaluations may be passed quickly, but they also tend to eliminate capable traders too soon. Evaluation models with more balance and logic-base were given a higher score, especially those evaluation models designed with new traders in mind.
Risk Management Fairness
Risk rules are essential in any prop firm, but fairness in how those rules are applied is what separates a trader-friendly firm from an exploitative one. This guide evaluates:
- How drawdowns are calculated (static vs trailing)
- Whether daily loss limits are reasonable
- If risk parameters allow for normal market volatility
- How violations are handled and communicated
Prop firms that enforce strict risk rules without flexibility or clarity often create unnecessary pressure. By contrast, firms that allow traders room to operate within sensible boundaries promote better habits and longer account lifespans. Fair, clearly explained risk management frameworks ranked significantly higher.
Growth and Scaling Opportunities
Getting funded is only the beginning. A strong prop firm should offer traders a clear path forward once they demonstrate consistency. For this ranking, each firm was assessed on:
- Availability of scaling plans
- Capital growth opportunities over time
- Whether traders are encouraged to trade long-term
- The balance between profit extraction and account preservation
Prop firms that focus solely on evaluation fees without meaningful post-funding growth options were ranked lower. Sustainable firms that designed their systems and operations to grow alongside their traders scored higher. When evaluated against these criteria, OneFunded consistently performs at the top. Its clearly documented rules remove uncertainty, its evaluation logic favors disciplined trading over speed, and its risk management framework is designed to be firm yet fair.
#1 OneFunded: Best Overall Prop Firm in the UK
Overview
OneFunded is a rapidly growing prop firm whose philosophy is based on placing its traders first. OneFunded utilizes virtual “funded” trading accounts for its clients to test and demonstrate their trading abilities in live market conditions without losing personal capital. The company’s funded account program includes account sizes from $2,000 up to $200,000, which allows new traders to test themselves with small amounts of money, as well as providing a platform for experienced traders to grow their funds.
The reason for OneFunded’s explosive growth is its commitment to fairness, transparency, and the development of its traders in the long term. Unlike many other firms, OneFunded does not have strict time frames or unrealistically high targets for its traders to meet. On the contrary, OneFunded provides each of its traders with unlimited time to trade, and rules that are very clearly defined and can be easily accessed.
In addition, OneFunded has various challenge formats for its traders based on their individual trading styles. In all four criteria that we use to rank firms in this guide (rule clarity, evaluation logic, risk fairness, and sustainability), OneFunded is ranked #1 among all firms in the United Kingdom.
Key Features
OneFunded has outlined drawdown limits, profit targets, and other trading restrictions in plain language to reduce the potential for unknowingly violating any trading restrictions. The Prop Firm has developed an evaluation model that can be used by novice traders; nevertheless, the model encourages consistent trading based on risk management rules, allowing traders to develop natural strategies without pressure to meet a deadline.
Flexible trading styles are supported across all plans. Overnight trading and news trading are permitted. Copy trading is available across a trader’s multiple accounts. OneFunded also provides platforms like cTrader and TradeLocker for detailed performance tracking and trade execution
Challenge Types & Evaluation Details
Onefunded stands out for offering four unique challenge models, each tailored to a different trader profile:
- Value: 2-step challenge with low cost structure and strict discipline; 6%/6% profit target; 4% daily loss; 8% total loss.
- Core: most popular option; 2-step evaluation process; refundable fee options; account sizes up to $200,000; balanced rule set.
- Flex: premium 2-step challenge with no consistency rule; lower profit targets (7%/4%); FREE challenge account after completing challenge.
- Flash: 1-step challenge for fast funding, 10% profit target, and reduced overall drawdown.
Leaderboard & Trader Motivation
In addition, OneFunded’s Leaderboard system offers a competitive component that allows you to see how your ability stacks up among your peers, fostering improvement, without encouraging the type of aggressive risk-taking that turns trading into a fiercely contested battle.
Long-Term Trader Growth Focus
OneFunded’s structure goes well beyond the completion of challenges. Funded traders benefit from scaling opportunities, profit-sharing rates starting at 80% and the potential to reach 90%, and reliable payout cycles every 14 days or every 7 days with a payout add-on.
Refundable fees on select plans, flexible growth paths, and ongoing incentives signal a business model built around trader longevity rather than immediate results. This long-term focus is a key reason OneFunded ranks first in this guide.
Who OneFunded Is Best For
- Newer traders looking for flexibility and transparency when they are learning how to trade
- Successful, consistent traders that want to build wealth through long-term trading strategies
- Traders who prefer clear rules about their trades and do not feel pressured to make rapid decisions with their money.
#2 FTMO
Overview
FTMO is generally considered the leader of the pack in the prop firm sector because the firm pioneered the current model of prop firms. FTMO has been operational since 2015, and it is especially popular among UK traders. This popularity stems largely from the fact that FTMO is able to offer trading accounts denominated in GBP (British Pounds) in addition to USD (United States Dollars) and EUR (Euros).
Aside from FTMO’s professional demeanor, consistent performance, and reliability, their evaluation process is very rigid. They have an institutional-type risk management structure that makes them a popular choice amongst disciplined, structured, and experienced traders. Although it is not always the easiest firm to pass, FTMO’s credibility and long-term history make it one of the most well-respected prop firms within the UK.
Key Features
FTMO invests heavily in educating traders on how to perform better and uses various forms of analytical tools for the evaluation of trader performance. Through these educational and analytical tools, traders are given access to proprietary tools such as Account MetriX (used for evaluating trader performance), a statistical application used to analyze the markets.
They also get access to a mentor app that provides guidance and support to help traders develop good trading psychology and discipline. These tools reflect FTMO’s professional and institutionalized approach to providing funded trading opportunities to traders.
Challenge Structure
FTMO offers both a two-step evaluation (standard) and a single-step evaluation (aggressive). In the two-step evaluation process, the trader must meet a 10% profit requirement in the FTMO Challenge Phase and adhere to a 5% daily drawdown and 10% maximum loss limitation. In the Verification Phase, the trader must meet a 5% profit requirement under the same limitations.
There are no restrictions on the amount of time the trader may take to complete each phase of the evaluation; however, each phase must last at least 4 trading days. For those traders who wish to have a shorter path to funding, FTMO also offers a one-step aggressive evaluation.
This version allows for a maximum loss of 10% and adds a “Best Day” rule, which states that all profits earned must be distributed across at least two days of trading. A successful trader will qualify for a 90% profit split when using this model.
Strengths
- The trading environment is highly professional and institutionalized in nature
- Rules are consistently and transparently enforced
- Reliable, timely payments are made bi-weekly, and most payments are made within hours after being requested
- One of the most effective scaling plans available in the industry
Traders who successfully demonstrate consistency in their trading can increase their account size by 25% every 4 months until they reach a maximum possible allocation of $2,000,000. In addition to the increased allocation of funds to the trader, the profit split ratio increases from 80/20 to 90/10.
Limitations
- It does not provide much room for inexperienced traders.
- The strict drawdown requirements create a high level of difficulty for new traders.
- Tight daily loss limit
Best For
FTMO is most suitable for experienced traders with demonstrated self-discipline, a history of effective risk management, and the ability to trade within a structured, institutionalized framework.
#3 The5ers
Overview
The5ers has built its reputation around one core idea: long-term funded trading. Founded in 2016, it is one of the oldest active prop firms still operating today and has attracted a large global trader base, including many UK traders who prefer stability over fast challenge completion.
Unlike firms that focus almost entirely on challenge churn, The5ers places heavy emphasis on risk control, capital preservation, and gradual scaling. Its funding models are intentionally conservative, making it a popular choice for traders who want to trade with fewer restrictions on style but stricter expectations around drawdown discipline.
Key Features
The5ers’ advantage is its variety of funding paths. Each is designed for a different risk profile. The firm offers:
- Low-risk challenge structures with modest profit targets
- Multiple scaling plans, some allowing capital to double at milestones
A deliberately conservative trading framework that prioritizes survival and consistency
Trading takes place exclusively on MetaTrader 5, with access to over 100 instruments across forex, metals, indices, and oil. Weekend holding, news trading (with some strategy limitations), and unrestricted use of EAs and algorithms are all permitted, giving traders flexibility in execution while maintaining strict risk limits.
Evaluation Logic
The5ers follows a slower and more deliberate pace than most prop firms. Instead of pushing traders to hit large profit targets quickly, performance is judged through risk-based metrics and consistency over time. The5ers’ three key programs represent its commitment to funding a trader’s long-term career:
- Hyper-Growth (One Step): With unlimited trading on a given day, Hyper-Growth allows users to trade until they reach either a 10% profit (at which point their account is doubled) or a six percent loss cap.
- High Stakes (Two Steps): The High Stakes program has two profit levels: an eight percent profit target and a five percent profit target. In addition to these profit targets, High Stakes also allows for a daily equity-based drawdown and has a trailing maximum loss.
- Boot Camp (Three Steps): Boot Camp offers the lowest possible initial funding of all The5er programs. Boot Camp uses a six percent profit target for each of its three phases and does not have a daily draw-down limit.
All three of The5ers programs operate without time limits, and users can keep their accounts active indefinitely so long as they continue to trade them.
#4 Topstep
Overview
Topstep is a prop firm focused specifically on providing funding for futures trading. Unlike many other prop firms that allow their users to fund forex, CFD, or stock trades, Topstep is limited to allowing its users to trade using futures contracts. Topstep was founded in 2012 and has been in operation for more than a decade. It is considered one of the oldest and most reputable names in the futures funding industry.
Unlike multi-asset prop firms, Topstep’s offering is intentionally narrow. Traders gain access to equity indices, interest rates, FX futures, agricultural products, and energy markets, all traded in a regulated environment. This focus has made Topstep especially popular among US and UK futures traders who want institutional-style rules and market transparency.
Key Features
The risk framework that Topstep uses is very restrictive, but it provides clear guidelines for its traders in the beginning so they can learn discipline quickly. The key elements of this risk framework are
- Topstep has daily loss limits on each trading day that will limit how much money a trader loses from their account due to the trades they make in that one trading day.
- Topstep has access to all of the CME futures contracts available.
- Topstep has an end-of-day maximum loss limit, which means that it will measure a trader’s drawdown once per day after the markets have closed. It does not trail a trader’s losses throughout the day with every trade that is made.
This type of format is considered by some to be more trader-friendly because it gives traders time to adjust their position during high volatility periods and still be able to keep their account viable.
Evaluation Rules
TopStep’s evaluation process assesses traders by using a simplified one-step Trading Combine®. The trader must achieve a consistent 6% profit rate regardless of account size. The evaluation also includes a set of predetermined risk levels. Rules for evaluating traders include:
- A required number of trading days (funding can be achieved in as few as two days)
- A “consistency” rule that restricts any single trading day from contributing more than 50% toward the total profit target.
- Daily and maximum loss limits are established in relation to the account size of each trader.
#5 Alpha Capital Group
Overview
Alpha Capital Group (ACG) is a UK-based prop firm, founded in London in 2021, that has seen rapid growth in popularity among retail traders across the UK and Europe. Despite being relatively young compared to legacy firms, Alpha Capital Group has carved out a strong position by building what it describes as a trader-first ecosystem, supported by proprietary technology and its sister brokerage, ACG Markets.
The firm appeals to traders who want a modern trading experience combined with institutional-style execution. With no maximum time limits on evaluations, multiple challenge formats, and fast-improving payout speeds, Alpha Capital Group has become a serious contender in the UK prop firm space, particularly for traders who already have some experience.
Key Features
Alpha Capital Group specializes in providing access to Forex Pairs, Indices, Metals, Commodities, and Oil through well-defined leverage limits. One of the main reasons that this company is so popular among traders is its competitive profit split. The profit split begins at 80%, but it increases as the account grows.
Another reason that Alpha Capital Group is popular is its advanced trading infrastructure. Traders have access to MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and DXTrade, and also Alpha Capital Group’s proprietary tools, such as the Alpha Trader Dashboard and the Alpha Insights Analytics Suite. Alpha Capital Groups’ execution speed goal is sub-70 ms, using institutional-grade liquidity, an important feature for active/intraday traders.
Challenge Details
Alpha Capital Group has some of the most flexible evaluation lineups available in the UK market, without a time limit for evaluations. The Alpha Pro Program (Flagship Program) is a two-phase program. In the first phase, there is an 8% profit target, and in the second phase, there is a 5% profit target. Additionally, there is a 5% daily drawdown limit and a 10% maximum loss limit.
For those looking for faster access to funding, the Alpha One Program is a single-phase program with a 10% profit target, tighter drawdown limits, and less leverage. The Alpha Swing Program, typically used by longer-term traders, is a weekend holding and news trading program. The Alpha Three program is a lower-risk, three-phase model. All programs have minimum trading days and risk management rules that must be strictly followed.
#6 FundedNext
Overview
FundedNext is a fast-growing prop trading company based in Dubai, with operations out of its offices in Cyprus. Since being founded in 2022, FundedNext has made an impact on the UK trading community by providing a variety of ways for traders to evaluate performance, a clear plan to scale, and one of the most trader-friendly profit-sharing structures available in the industry today.
As a performance-driven prop firm, FundedNext appeals to traders who can execute their trades excellently and thrive in a high-pressure environment. With a low entry point into the firm and a range of different-sized accounts, FundedNext provides a viable option for those looking for fast and aggressive growth versus those who prefer a slower and more conservative approach to progressing through the company’s ranks.
Key Features
One defining characteristic of FundedNext is the wide array of challenge models that are offered by the firm. It allows the trader to choose how quickly they want to grow their account. Accounts at FundedNext range between $6,000 and $200,000, and the evaluation fee starts at £25 and goes as high as £38 based on the challenge model selected by the trader.
Additionally, FundedNext is one of the few companies in the prop firm space that offers very aggressive growth plans for traders. At FundedNext, traders begin with a profit split of 80%, but the profit split can increase to 95% or higher based on the trader’s performance. Similarly, FundedNext offers one of the most aggressive capital growth plans of any company in the prop firm space, with the option for a trader to potentially have their funded account scaled up to a maximum of $4,000,000.
Finally, FundedNext also pays a 15% profit share to the trader during the evaluation phase. This is a relatively unusual practice within the industry that could help offset the cost of challenges later on.
Evaluation Structure
FundedNext’s evaluation framework is specifically designed to be quick-paced and performance-driven. It has several popular models available for its traders:
- Stellar 2-Step: A Phase 1 profit goal of 8%, followed by an 8% profit goal in Phase 2, with a balanced drawdown (5% daily / 10% total),
- Stellar 1-Step: A single-phase challenge with a 10% profit goal, using tighter drawdown limits (3% daily / 6% total),
- Express Model: A high-pressure challenge model that requires a 25% profit goal but allows the trader to retain 15% of the profits earned during the challenge period.
Although some models do not have any time limits, other models place strict time limits on the trader, thereby creating a high-pressure trading environment, which encourages quick decision-making and consistent trading results.
#7 FXIFY
Overview
FXIFY is a modern UK-based prop firm that has quickly gained attention for its flexible trading rules and its distinctive broker-backed model. Headquartered in London (Clerkenwell) and founded in 2023, FXIFY was created by professionals with backgrounds in brokerage and fintech, which shows clearly in how its trading infrastructure is designed.
What separates FXIFY from many newer prop firms is its close partnership with FXPIG, a regulated brokerage established in 2010. This relationship allows FXIFY to offer traders direct market-style execution, transparent pricing, and a broader asset selection than most evaluation-based firms. As a result, FXIFY appeals to traders who want fewer artificial restrictions and more control over how they trade.
Key Features
FXIFY offers one of the most flexible program lineups in the prop firm space. Traders can choose between one-step, two-step, or three-step evaluations, as well as instant funding options that completely bypass the challenge phase.
Another benefit of FXIFY is that there are no time limits placed on many of its accounts. In general, most of its evaluation models have no time limits, allowing the trader to concentrate on executing trades rather than meeting deadlines. Additionally, FXIFY is a competitive prop firm in terms of pricing, as most of its challenge accounts come with a one-time evaluation fee and a 125% refund policy if the trader meets the requirements for the successful payout.
In addition to the flexibility offered in the types of accounts available, FXIFY also allows its traders to execute trades using Expert Advisors (EAs) and news trading and allows them to hold positions over weekends. The above features are clearly stated by FXIFY, thereby eliminating the uncertainty associated with automated or event-based trading strategies used by many traders.
Evaluation Model
FXIFY has developed a simple evaluation process with clearly defined profit goals and drawdown limits, including varying levels of risk tolerance. For example, the standard two-step evaluation has a 10% profit goal in Phase 1 and a 5% profit goal in Phase 2, along with a fixed drawdown. Conservative traders may prefer the three-step model, which reduces the profit goal to 5% for each phase.
Experienced traders may prefer the Lightning Challenge, which offers fast-track funding with a smaller profit goal, but requires the trader to demonstrate consistent trading. Although the evaluation models are well explained and documented, FXIFY provides limited training and support tools for its traders relative to firms such as FTMO and The5ers. The firm assumes that its traders are capable of conducting their own research while tracking their development.
#8 Funding Pips
Overview
Funding Pips is widely known for its aggressive profit targets and fast-moving evaluation structure. Built around a “by traders, for traders” philosophy, the firm has positioned itself as a high-energy alternative to more conservative prop firms. Although headquartered in Dubai, Funding Pips has gained massive traction among UK traders, largely due to its low entry fees and its distinctive “Tuesday Payday” payout system.
The firm is also highly visible on social media and trading communities, where its rapid funding paths and large payout figures attract short-term traders looking to scale quickly rather than develop slowly.
Key Features
Funding Pips keeps things simple and fast, which is a big part of its appeal. Its challenge setup avoids unnecessary complexity, making it easy for traders to understand the rules and get started.
Key highlights include:
- Multiple funding paths, ranging from standard two-step evaluations to instant funding via the Zero Program
- No maximum time limits on most challenges, allowing traders to move at their own pace
- Highly competitive pricing, with some of the lowest entry fees in the industry
- Tuesday Payday payouts, providing a predictable weekly cash flow for funded traders
The availability of MT5, cTrader, Match-Trader, and TradeLocker also gives traders flexibility in execution style.
Evaluation Structure
The most popular option is the 2-Step Standard Evaluation, with an 8% profit target in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2, paired with a 5% daily and 10% overall drawdown. For traders who prefer speed, the 1-Step Evaluation raises the profit target to 10–12% but tightens risk limits significantly. Funding Pips also offers:
- 2-Step Pro, with lower profit targets but stricter drawdown
- Zero Program, which skips evaluations entirely and starts traders at a 95% profit split, though with trailing drawdown rules
These structures reward precision and discipline but leave little room for error.
Limitations
Funding Pips’ biggest strength is also its main weakness. The tight drawdown rules and aggressive targets result in high failure rates for beginners. There is also less emphasis on structured trader development or long-term progression compared to firms like The5ers or FTMO.