This The Funded Trader review will give you everything you need to know before signing up in 2026. The Funded Trader (TFT) is a Texas-based proprietary trading firm founded in 2021 by CEO Angelo Ciaramello. With five distinct challenge types, a max allocation of up to $2.5 million, and profit splits reaching 95%, The Funded Trader has positioned itself as one of the most flexible prop firms on the market. However, the firm’s temporary shutdown in March 2024 — followed by a relaunch in late 2024 — is a key factor any trader must consider before committing funds to a challenge.
In this The Funded Trader review, we cover every challenge type (Knight, Knight Pro, Royal, Royal Pro, Dragon, and Rapid), the exact pricing and rules for each, the payout and profit split structure, trading platform options, and honest pros and cons drawn from real user feedback. If you’ve been asking whether The Funded Trader is legit in 2026, read on for the complete picture.
TFT is best for traders who want flexibility and variety — five challenge types, news trading options, up to 95% profit split, and some of the lowest challenge fees in the industry. The main downsides are its turbulent history (March 2024 pause) and a polarized Trustpilot score of 3.3–3.6 stars. If long-term track record is your priority, consider FTMO. If you want variety, lower fees, and news-trading access, The Funded Trader is worth a closer look.
📊 Overview & Ratings Table — The Funded Trader
| Category | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Challenge Fees | 4.5/5⭐ | Dragon at $49 is the cheapest $5K challenge available. Knight $100K at $489 undercuts FTMO ($578) and FundedNext ($519). |
| 📋 Trading Rules | 4/5⭐ | Zero minimum days (Knight/Knight Pro), weekend holding (Royal/Royal Pro), news trading allowed on Knight Pro and Royal Pro. |
| 💸 Payout & Profit Split | 4/5⭐ | 75–95% profit split; Royal Pro offers payouts every 3 days. Steadfast Gains rule applies on Knight Pro and Royal Pro funded accounts. |
| 🛡️ Reputation & Trust | 3/5⭐ | Paused operations in March 2024, relaunched late 2024. Trustpilot 3.3–3.6 stars with polarized reviews. Monitor closely. |
| 🖥️ Trading Platforms | 4.5/5⭐ | Match Trader, DXTrade, cTrader, MT5 — four platforms covering beginner and advanced traders. |
| 🎧 Customer Support | 3.5/5⭐ | Active Discord community, comprehensive Knowledge Center, email and phone support. Some users report slow response times. |
| 📈 Scaling Program | 4.5/5⭐ | +25% every 3 months with 6% profitability. Max $600K funded, $2.5M for Knight Pro. Industry-leading scaling potential. |
💳 Account Sizes & Challenge Fees — All Plans
The Funded Trader offers more challenge types than almost any other prop firm. Here is a complete fee table for all plans and account sizes (base price, no add-ons). Always verify current prices at the official website before purchasing.
| Challenge Plan | $5K | $10K | $25K | $50K | $100K | $200K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon (3-Step) | $49 | $99 | $135 | $205 | $355 | — |
| Knight (1-Step) | $59 | $99 | $189 | $289 | $489 | $939 |
| Knight Pro (1-Step) | $65 | $105 | $195 | $295 | $495 | $945 |
| Royal (2-Step) | $60 | $120 | $189 | $289 | $489 | $1,158 |
| Rapid (2-Step) | $79 | $129 | $229 | $299 | $499 | $899 |
| Royal Pro (2-Step) | — | — | $239 | $470 | $949 | $1,890 |
* Selecting cTrader platform adds $15 to any plan. Prices subject to change — always check the official site before purchasing.
⚙️ Challenge Rules — Detailed Breakdown Per Plan
⚔️ KNIGHT CHALLENGE — 1-Step (Fastest Path to Funding)
⚠️ Drawdown is trailing (relative) — withdrawals reduce your available drawdown buffer. Always leave a buffer in the account.
🛡️ KNIGHT PRO CHALLENGE — 1-Step (News Trading, Largest Allocation)
⚠️ Daily drawdown is a soft breach — the account is paused for the day but not terminated. Steadfast Gains applies to the funded stage only.
👑 ROYAL CHALLENGE — 2-Step (Swing Traders, EA-Friendly)
🏆 ROYAL PRO CHALLENGE — 2-Step (News OK, Payouts Every 3 Days)
⚠️ Daily Profit Cap closes all trades automatically when hit — not a violation, account resumes next day. Steadfast Gains applies funded stage only.
🐉 DRAGON CHALLENGE — 3-Step (Lowest Fees in the Industry)
Quick Comparison — All The Funded Trader Challenges
| Plan | Steps | Target | News | Weekend | Split |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon | 3 | ~8/5/3% | ❌ | ❌ | 80% |
| Knight | 1 | 10% | ❌ | ❌ | 80% |
| Knight Pro | 1 | 10% | ✅ | ✅ | 80% |
| Royal | 2 | 8%+5% | ❌ | ✅ | 80% |
| Rapid | 2 | ~8%+5% | ❌ | ❌ | 80% |
| Royal Pro | 2 | ~10%+5% | ✅ | ✅ | 75% |
- Steadfast Gains Rule (Knight Pro & Royal Pro funded): Your single largest winning day cannot exceed 50% of your total net profit — or payouts are blocked until you trade your way back into balance. Does NOT terminate the account.
- Trailing Drawdown (Knight): Withdrawals reduce your available drawdown. Always keep a buffer on the account — withdrawing your entire profit on a Knight funded account can result in a breach.
- Daily Profit Cap (Royal Pro): Phase 1 caps daily profit at 3%. Once hit, all trades auto-close and trading resumes next day. Not a violation — simply a cap.
💰 Payout & Profit Split
| Base Profit Split | 75% (Royal Pro) or 80% (Knight, Royal, Dragon) |
| VIP Profit Split | 95% (all plans) |
| Payout Timing | Knight: 7 days after funded | Knight Pro: Anytime | Royal Pro: Every 3 days | Royal: 30 days (14 with add-on) |
| Minimum Payout | 1% of account size (Royal Pro); varies by plan |
| Payment Methods | Crypto (ERC-20 network only), wire transfer, and others |
| Processing Time | Typically within a few business days |
| Scaling Plan | +25% every 3 months after 6% profitability; max $600K funded |
| Total Payouts Distributed | Check TFT dashboard for current total |
🖥️ Trading Platforms & Conditions
| Platforms | Match Trader (Beginners), DXTrade (Beginners), cTrader (Advanced, +$15), MT5 (Advanced) |
| Broker | Fully simulated environment with live market data feeds from liquidity providers |
| Leverage | Forex 1:30 | Gold & Commodities 1:10 | Indices 1:5 | Crypto 1:1 |
| Spread | Varies by platform and instrument |
| Commission | Included in P&L calculation (simulated) |
| Instruments | Forex, commodities, indices, crypto — full list at TFT instruments sheet |
| Account Type | Simulated demo accounts with real market quotes from liquidity providers |
⚖️ The Funded Trader Pros & Cons
- 5+ challenge types — unmatched variety for all trading styles
- Dragon at $49 — industry’s cheapest entry-level challenge fee
- Up to 95% profit split through VIP program
- News trading allowed on Knight Pro and Royal Pro
- Scaling up to $2.5M (Knight Pro) — among the highest in the industry
- Paused all operations in March 2024 — creates legitimate trust concerns
- Trustpilot 3.3–3.6 stars with polarized reviews and payout complaints
- Steadfast Gains rule can be confusing — especially for swing traders
- Multi-tier fee structure with add-ons makes true cost comparison difficult
Compare other top prop firms reviewed on ReviewPropFirm.info:
FTUK Review 2026 |
E8 Markets Review 2026 |
Topstep Review 2026
👤 Who Should Use The Funded Trader?
The Funded Trader review makes clear that this is a prop firm built for traders who value variety and flexibility above all else. If you are a day trader or scalper who wants to pass quickly and start earning, the Knight Challenge — one step, 10% target, zero minimum trading days — is ideal. If you are a swing trader who needs weekend holding and EA support, the Royal Challenge with its static 10% max drawdown is one of the most forgiving setups available.
For traders who trade news events, Knight Pro and Royal Pro are the only options that permit it — a significant differentiator versus firms like FTMO that do not. And if you are a budget-conscious beginner who wants to test the prop firm experience with minimal risk, the Dragon Challenge at $49 for a $5K account is hard to beat.
That said, The Funded Trader is not right for every trader. If your top priority is a firm with an unblemished operational history and the highest Trustpilot ratings, FTMO or Apex Trader Funding may be better fits. The Funded Trader’s 2024 pause is a real risk factor that cannot be ignored.
🏆 Final Verdict — Is The Funded Trader Worth It in 2026?
Our overall The Funded Trader review score is 7.2/10. Compared to FTMO (stronger reputation, fewer plan options, higher fees) or Apex Trader Funding (built for futures), The Funded Trader stands out on price and flexibility. The $100K Knight Challenge at $489 undercuts FTMO by nearly $90 — and the Dragon Challenge at $355 for the same account size is one of the lowest-cost paths to a $100K funded account anywhere in the industry.
If you decide to try The Funded Trader, our recommendation is to start with a Dragon or Knight account to test the payout experience before committing to larger accounts. The Funded Trader review will be updated as new information emerges from the official site and community.
Start with the Dragon Challenge at $49 or go all-in with the Knight Pro — pass, get funded, and keep up to 95% of your profits.
Official site: thefundedtraderprogram.com
📝 How to Sign Up — Step-by-Step Guide
Go to the Challenge Page
Visit thefundedtraderprogram.com, click “Challenge” in the navigation, and select your plan — Dragon, Knight, Knight Pro, Royal, Royal Pro, or Rapid.
Choose Account Size and Add-Ons
Select your account size ($5K–$200K). Consider relevant add-ons — such as the 14-day withdrawal add-on for Royal, or the 4%/7% drawdown upgrade for Knight. Review the total price including any cTrader +$15 fee.
Select Your Platform and Complete Payment
Choose Match Trader or DXTrade for a simpler experience, or cTrader/MT5 for full EA and advanced charting support. Pay via card or crypto (ERC-20 network only — no other networks accepted). Credentials arrive within 5 minutes of confirmed payment.
Complete the Challenge and Pass KYC
Trade your challenge account to hit the profit target while respecting drawdown limits. After passing, complete identity verification (KYC/AML) — typically a 5-minute process for 99% of users. Sign the customer agreement to receive your funded account.
Get Funded and Request Your Payout
Your funded account is activated within 24–48 hours (excluding weekends). Trade your funded account, hit your profit targets while respecting the drawdown and any special rules, and submit a payout request through the TFT dashboard once eligible.