Funding Traders vs The Trade Pool: Elite Prop Firms Comparison
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Introduction
Funding Traders and The Trade Pool are two popular proprietary trading firms offering funded accounts to traders who demonstrate consistent profitability. Funding Traders stands out with its competitive fee structure and flexible trading parameters, earning a solid 4.0/5 rating on Trustpilot from over 850 reviews. The Trade Pool, established more recently, offers innovative challenge structures and trader-friendly conditions, currently holding a 4.3/5 Trustpilot rating based on more than 620 reviews. Both organizations provide pathways to significant trading capital for qualified individuals, but differ in their assessment methods, scaling opportunities, and platform availability.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Funding Traders | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
|
| |
| Founded | 2019 | 2022 |
| Profit Split | 80-90% | 70 |
| Maximum Account Size | $1,000,000 | $200,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 2 | 2 |
| Trustpilot Rating | — | — |
| Expert Grade | 8.5 | 8.5 |
Program Types
| Program | Funding Traders | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | FLEX |
| Advanced Program | Yes | MAX |
| Scaling Options | Yes | Yes |
| Demo Account | Yes | No |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Funding Traders | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | 5-12% | 6% (day), 15% (swing) |
| Maximum Drawdown | 8-10% | 4% daily, 4% max (Flex day); 3% daily, 3% max (Max day); 3% daily, 7% max (swing) |
| Minimum Trading Days | 10 | — |
| News Trading | Yes | No |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Funding Traders | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| CFD $10K Account | USD 119 / Listed challenge / One-time | Not offered |
| CFD $25K Account | USD 229 / Listed challenge / One-time | Not offered |
| CFD $50K Account | USD 339 / Listed challenge / One-time | Not offered |
| CFD $100K Account | USD 599 / Listed challenge / One-time | Not offered |
| CFD $200K Account | USD 999 / Listed challenge / One-time | Not offered |
| Stocks $2K Account | Not offered | USD 87 / FLEX Swing / One-time |
| Stocks $5K Account | Not offered | USD 59 / FLEX Day / One-time |
| Stocks $10K Account | Not offered | USD 420 / FLEX Swing / One-time |
| Stocks $20K Account | Not offered | USD 670 / FLEX Swing / One-time |
| Stocks $25K Account | Not offered | USD 120 / FLEX Day / One-time |
| Stocks $40K Account | Not offered | USD 1240 / FLEX Swing / One-time |
| Stocks $50K Account | Not offered | USD 285 / FLEX Day / One-time |
| Stocks $100K Account | Not offered | USD 545 / FLEX Day / One-time |
| Stocks $200K Account | Not offered | USD 1475 / FLEX Day / One-time |
| Coupons / Discount | Funding Traders discount | Trade The Pool discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Funding Traders | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | DXTrade, TradeLocker, MetaTrader 5 | Proprietary (TraderEvolution-based) |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | No |
| Commodities | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrencies | Yes | No |
| Bonds | — | No |
| EA/Algo Trading | No | — |
Payout
| Feature | Funding Traders | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | Bank Wire Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Cryptocurrency, Wise | Minimum $300 profit ($150 on $5K accounts); available 14 days after inception |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Funding Traders | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | reasonable challenge requirements, trader-friendly policies, transparent fee structure, multiple challenge options, scaling program | US traders accepted, no PDT rule, static max drawdown, one-time fee, free real-time data, 24/5 overnight trading |
| Weaknesses | excessive fees, strict trading rules, high profit targets, capital loss risk, slow withdrawals | 70% split below CFD rates, 3x daily loss trap, 30-second hold rule, 10-cent minimum move, overnight buying power reduced, stocks/ETFs only, dated platform |
| Best For | new and experienced traders | US stock traders seeking day trading without $25K minimum or PDT restrictions |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Funding Traders – Elite Firm Review if you want a higher profit split, up to 90%, a larger funded ceiling at $1M and coverage of forex, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies that the other does not offer. Choose Trade The Pool if a cheaper entry, from USD 59 and coverage of stocks that the other does not offer matter more to you. Neither firm is better in the abstract. The right choice depends on your strategy, your budget and the instruments you trade, so read both full reviews before you commit. Verify current rules and pricing on each firm’s own site before purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
What should I know about Funding Traders’s programs?
FundingTraders has separate Pro and Instant programs. Its 2-Step Pro account has two evaluation phases and program-specific payout terms. Funding Traders official rules; Funding Traders official program information.
What should I know about Trade The Pool’s programs?
Trade The Pool has stock-trading programs with different MAX and FLEX requirements. Buying power and a loss allowance are different measures. Trade The Pool official rules.
How do payouts differ between Funding Traders and Trade The Pool?
The 2-Step Pro guide lists an 80% default share with optional 90% or 100% upgrades. The first payout is normally available 21 days after the first funded trade; the 14-day add-on changes that schedule. Funding Traders official rules; Funding Traders official program information.
The published program guide allows funded requests after 14 days from account inception or the previous withdrawal. The stated minimum is $300, with a $150 exception for $5,000 accounts. Trade The Pool official rules.
Which account rules matter when comparing Funding Traders and Trade The Pool?
For 2-Step Pro purchases on or after May 8, 2026, the evaluation-fee refund is tied to the second qualifying payout, rather than simply passing the evaluation. Risk-management violations can also affect rewards. Funding Traders official rules; Funding Traders official program information.
FLEX also requires three profitable days of at least 0.5% of buying power within a 14-day period. This specific requirement does not apply to MAX. Scaling starts a new withdrawal waiting period. Trade The Pool official rules.
Is Funding Traders or Trade The Pool automatically the better choice?
No. Each firm wins on a different axis. Funding Traders – Elite Firm Review has the higher profit split at 90% and the larger funded ceiling at $1M. Trade The Pool has the cheaper entry at USD 59 and market access the other lacks, namely stocks. Which of those matters more depends on how you actually trade, so compare how each firm measures drawdown, the total fee once add-ons and resets are included and platform availability, rather than the headline numbers. If you fail an evaluation, do not assume either firm offers a fixed reset discount: check the reset terms for the specific account you bought.
How We Compared Funding Traders and The Trade Pool
Both firms on this page carry a JoinProp Rating out of 10. We produce that rating with the same 9-factor methodology we apply to every firm we review: payout reliability (20%), fee structure (15%), drawdown rules (15%), profit split (15%), evaluation terms (10%), trading rules (10%), support access and responsiveness (5%), scaling plan (5%), and track record and transparency (5%).
The inputs come from our firm reviews, not from this page. For each firm we work from the current terms and conditions rather than marketing pages, track rule and pricing changes over time, and read payout and support reports across Trustpilot, Reddit and Discord, looking for recurring patterns rather than isolated complaints. Every firm is re-checked at least every 90 days, or sooner after a material change. Affiliate relationships have no effect on any rating, and ratings are never sold.
The tables above show the evidence behind those factors. A few rows, including trading platforms, available instruments, maximum account size and demo availability, are there to help you judge fit and do not affect either rating.
Read our full ranking methodology