Futures Prop Firms With No Activation Fee in November 2026

Futures prop firms with no activation fee can help traders reduce the upfront cost of getting funded. However, some firms include this cost in their evaluation prices, while others let traders choose between a cheaper evaluation and a separate activation charge. In this guide, we compare 18 futures prop firms, highlight the cheapest $50K plans and identify which firms still charge activation fees. All prices reflect November 2026 list prices, checked against each firm’s website on 5 November 2026.

Firms with no activation fee

These firms do not charge an activation fee on the plans listed below. We compared each firm’s cheapest $50K evaluation without an activation fee, using list prices before discounts or promotional codes. We also checked the billing structure and account details on each firm’s official website on 5 November 2026.

A few details are worth noting. First, Top One Futures’ Elite Access plan still charges an activation fee, so choose Elite Daily if you want to avoid it. Meanwhile, The5ers offers an additional benefit: it refunds the $100 Day Trade evaluation fee with your third payout. As a result, the plan becomes even cheaper for traders who reach that milestone.

Firms where you can choose

Some futures prop firms let traders choose between paying an activation fee after passing or paying a higher evaluation price upfront.

• Topstep: Pay $95 per month for the 50K No Activation Fee plan, or choose Standard at $49 per month plus $149 when you pass.
• Apex Trader Funding: Pay $799 for the 50K intraday account without an activation fee, or choose Standard at $249 plus $99 when you pass.
• YLOS Trading: Pay $247.50 for the No Activation Fee 50K plan. Alternatively, choose Standard for a lower evaluation price and pay an activation fee later.

However, the cheaper option depends on how quickly you pass. We calculate the break-even points for Topstep and Apex in our guide to No Activation Fee vs Standard.

Firms that still charge one

Although many firms have removed activation fees, several still charge them on selected plans. Here are some examples and their listed charges:

However, promotional codes can sometimes remove these charges. For example, Take Profit Trader offered NOFEE50 until 9 November. Therefore, check our futures firm hub for the latest promotional codes before purchasing.

Are No Activation Fee Prop Firms Actually Cheaper?

Choosing a futures prop firm with no activation fee does not automatically mean you will spend less. In many cases, firms include the activation cost in their evaluation prices instead. Therefore, compare these three factors before choosing a plan.

1. Total cost to get funded. For example, Topstep’s Standard 50K costs $198 if you pass after one month. By comparison, The Trading Pit charges $99 for its 50K plan with no activation fee.
2. One-time or monthly billing. Monthly evaluations become more expensive the longer you take to pass. In contrast, a one-time payment stays fixed, although the evaluation usually has a limited duration.
3. Repeat attempts. Every failed evaluation increases your total spending. Consequently, a cheap first attempt may cost more in the long run if you need several retries.

Additionally, review the rules that determine whether you keep your funded account. Pay particular attention to drawdown type, daily loss limits and consistency requirements.

You can also compare any two firms using our comparison tool. For other charges to watch out for, including data fees, read our guide to prop firm hidden costs.rms in our compare tool.

Key takeaways

• 18 of the futures firms we track charge no activation fee on at least one $50K plan.
• Topstep, Apex and YLOS let you choose between a fee and a higher evaluation price.
• Bulenox ($148), Take Profit Trader ($130) and Blueberry Futures still charge one.
• Compare the total cost to get funded, not just the evaluation price.