The perception that prop trading requires hundreds of dollars upfront is outdated. In 2026, several legitimate, well-established firms offer evaluation challenges for under $100 — some starting as low as $13. The key is knowing which budget challenges offer genuine value versus which are cheap because their rules make them nearly impossible to pass or their accounts too small to generate meaningful income.
This guide covers every prop firm challenge available under $100, ranked by value rather than simply by price.
What to Look For in a Budget Challenge
Price is only one dimension of value. Before buying any challenge under $100, check three things: the Risk Buffer (max loss divided by profit target — higher is more forgiving), whether the fee is refunded on your first payout, and whether the account size is large enough to generate meaningful income at the firm’s profit split. A $13 challenge on a $2,000 account at 80% split requires hitting 5% profit to earn $80 — the math works only if you plan to scale.
Maven Trading 3-Step — $13 (Best Absolute Cheapest)
Maven Trading’s 3-Step challenge on a $2,000 account is the cheapest funded trading evaluation in the industry at $13. Three phases with progressively easier targets, 4% daily loss limit, 8% maximum static drawdown, 80% profit split, payouts every 10 business days. No time limit on any phase.
Who it is for: complete beginners who want to experience the prop trading evaluation process at minimum financial risk, or experienced traders who want to run multiple small accounts simultaneously across different strategies. The $2,000 account is genuinely tiny, but it is real experience at essentially zero financial risk.
Maven Trading 1-Step — $15 ($5K account)
Stepping up slightly, Maven’s 1-Step challenge on a $5,000 account costs $15. Hit an 8% profit target ($400), stay within 3% daily and 5% trailing drawdown, and you receive a $5,000 funded account paying 80%. That is $320 on your first successful 8% on the funded account. The trailing drawdown is the key risk — it follows your highest equity, so an 8% gain that then reverses 5% would breach the account.
FundingPips 2-Step Pro — $39 ($10K account)
FundingPips’ 2-Step Pro challenge on a $10,000 account costs $39. The targets are lower than the standard challenge — just 6% per phase — but the drawdown is tighter at 3% daily and 6% maximum. For traders with consistent but conservative strategies, the lower targets make this genuinely achievable. Minimum 1 trading day per phase. 80% profit split. Payouts weekly.
The5ers High Stakes 2-Step — $39 ($5K account)
The5ers’ entry-level High Stakes challenge is $39 for a $5,000 account. 8% Phase 1 target, 5% Phase 2, 5% daily limit, 10% static max drawdown. What makes this exceptional value at $39 is the scaling path: pass the evaluation and you enter an 8-level scaling system that can take you to $4,000,000 with up to 100% profit split. You are not buying a $5,000 account — you are buying an entry point into a $4M scaling ladder.
FundingPips 2-Step Standard — $36 ($5K account)
FundingPips’ standard 2-Step on a $5,000 account costs $36 and offers arguably the best drawdown-to-target ratio in this price range: 8% target with 10% static max drawdown (1.25x Risk Buffer). The evaluation fee is refunded after your 4th successful payout. The tiered payout system (60% weekly to 100% monthly) adds flexibility that most sub-$100 challenges don’t offer.
MonetaFunded 2-Step — $49 ($5K account)
MonetaFunded’s entry-level 2-Step challenge costs $49 for a $5,000 account. The standout feature is the 88% flat profit split — the highest of any firm in this price range, and available to US traders via Match-Trader. 10%+5% targets, 5% daily, 10% max drawdown. News trading and weekend holding both allowed. Fee refunded at first payout. The firm only launched in January 2026, so factor in the limited track record when considering allocation size.
BlueberryFunded Prime 2-Step — $49 ($10K account)
At $49 for a $10,000 account, BlueberryFunded’s Prime 2-Step offers the largest funded account in this price range. 8%+6% targets, 4% daily, 10% static max drawdown. Backed by ASIC-regulated Blueberry Markets. No consistency rule. Four trading platforms including DXtrade and TradeLocker. The fee is not refunded on success (unlike most competitors), which reduces lifetime value but does not affect the single-challenge economics.
Value Ranking: Which Sub-$100 Challenge Wins?
For the best single challenge value under $100: FundingPips 2-Step Standard at $36 wins for most traders. The 1.25x Risk Buffer, refundable fee after 4 payouts, and flexible payout structure (up to 100% monthly) offer the best combination of achievability and long-term economics. If you are US-based: MonetaFunded at $49. If you want the best scaling path: The5ers at $39 for the $4M ladder entry point. If you want the absolute cheapest experience: Maven at $13.
Important Caveat: Small Accounts and Realistic Income
Be honest about the maths. A $5,000 funded account generating 5% per month at 80% split produces $200. That is meaningful as a learning experience and proof of concept, but not a living income. Budget challenges are best used to build your funded trading track record — prove consistency on a small account, collect several payouts, then buy a larger challenge with greater confidence in your edge. The $36 challenge is not the destination; it is the starting point.