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Why This Firm Deserves a Second Look
Most futures prop firms today are built around one thing: rapid evaluations, fast resets, and headline payouts. PropShopTrader takes the opposite stance. Run by PropShopTrader OÜ out of Estonia, the firm operates on a Benchmark-driven progression model where traders climb a structured ladder from sim to Real Prop capital. Sim payouts trigger automatically at each milestone rather than waiting on discretionary withdrawals.
For a futures trader weighing options in 2026, the relevant question is not whether PST is cheaper than the competition. It is whether the Gladiator architecture aligns with how you actually trade.
Quick Facts
- Multi-asset prop firm: futures and U.S. equities.
- Tickblaze is the exclusive trading platform.
- 80 / 20 Real Prop split with no caps.
- Up to 20 accounts per trader, $1M simulated capital.
- One-time account fees, no monthly subscription.
Account Lineup
PropShopTrader sells its futures accounts under three labels: Forge (firmer track with instant-fail MAE), Light (longer evaluation with three-warning MAE), and Swing (weekly benchmark with overnight and weekend holding). Each is available in two sizes.
Forge, Intraday Drawdown
This is the headline futures product. Tight rules, high sim payout ceilings, intraday-trailing drawdown. If you run with conviction, scale into winners and know your size, Forge Intraday gives you the most payout upside per dollar of evaluation cost. The MAE rule will not forgive a careless oversized trade.
| Specification | 25K Forge | 50K Forge |
|---|---|---|
| Retail price | $750 | $1,200 |
| Sim payout cap | $6,250 | $12,000 |
| Trailing drawdown | $1,250 | $2,500 |
| Daily target | $125 | $250 |
| Benchmark target | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| Min trading days / BM | 5 | 5 |
| Daily loss limit | $625 | $1,250 |
| MAE threshold (50% DD) | $625 | $1,250 |
| Max contracts | 2 minis / 20 micros | 3 minis / 30 micros |
| Reset fee | $225 | $350 |
Forge, EOD Drawdown
Same Forge framework, looser drawdown. The reference resets at the daily close, so your morning gains aren't held against you when the afternoon turns. Slightly more expensive at the front door, but a meaningful operational improvement for traders who fade or build positions intraday.
| Specification | 25K Forge EOD | 50K Forge EOD |
|---|---|---|
| Retail price | $900 | $1,400 |
| EOD drawdown | $1,225 | $2,250 |
| Daily loss limit | $612.50 | $1,125 |
| MAE threshold | $612.50 | $1,125 |
| Reset fee | $225 | $350 |
Light, Intraday and EOD Drawdown
Light is where most traders should probably start. The MAE rule converts from single-strike to three-warning, the entry cost drops by roughly 70%, and the sim payouts run on a finer ladder over Benchmarks 2 through 7. Lower payout ceiling, sure, but much more room to develop habits without burning capital. The EOD variant pairs the same three-warning leniency with end-of-day drawdown logic, the most forgiving Forge/Light combination you can buy. If you're crossing into futures from another market and want both protections in place during the learning curve, this is the configuration to pick.
| Specification | 25K Light | 50K Light |
|---|---|---|
| Retail price (Intraday DD) | $299 | $499 |
| Retail price (EOD DD) | $349 | $599 |
| Sim payout cap | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| Trailing drawdown (Intraday) | $1,250 | $2,500 |
| EOD drawdown | $1,225 | $2,250 |
| Daily target | $100 | $200 |
| Benchmark target | $500 | $1,000 |
| MAE (Intraday / EOD) | $625 / $612.50 | $1,250 / $1,125 |
| Max contracts | 2 minis / 20 micros | 3 minis / 30 micros |
| Reset fee | $150 | $250 |
| Daily loss limit | None | None |
Swing Futures
Real overnight and weekend hold on futures, which is rare in the prop space. Weekly benchmark based on realized closed-trade profit, no daily target, no minimum trading days. Position limits are tighter (1 to 2 currency E-Minis, 3 to 6 index/energy micros), but that's the trade-off for the holding freedom.
| Specification | 12.5K Swing | 25K Swing |
|---|---|---|
| Retail price | $295 | $595 |
| Account size | $12,500 | $25,000 |
| Sim payouts available | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| Trailing drawdown | $1,250 | $2,500 |
| Weekly benchmark target | $500 | $1,000 |
| Max E-Mini currency | 1 contract | 2 contracts |
| Max micro index / energy | 3 contracts | 6 contracts |
| Reset fee | $150 | $250 |
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The Benchmark Engine
Forget the typical 8% profit target on a single window. PST measures progress by Benchmarks earned on a single account, and these don't combine across multiple accounts.
- Forge: 6 Benchmarks bring you to Benchmark 7, the Move Live point evaluated by the Risk Team.
- Light: 6 to 8 Benchmarks open Real Prop consideration, with the RPTA automatically issued at Benchmark 8 once compliance clears.
- Intraday: a qualifying day requires net P&L at or above the daily profit target.
- Loss days, profitable days below target, and no-trade days don't count.
- Swing: benchmarks track weekly realized profit on closed trades only, with no daily target and no required trading days.
How You Get Paid
Sim payouts on futures are fully automatic. Benchmark 1 opens compliance review (KYC plus due diligence) with no payout. From Benchmark 2 onward, payouts issue automatically once compliance clears. No requests, no waiting.
Forge Payout Ladder
| Benchmark | 25K Forge | 50K Forge |
|---|---|---|
| BM 1 | $0 (compliance) | $0 (compliance) |
| BM 2 | $1,000 | $1,500 |
| BM 3 | $1,000 | $1,500 |
| BM 4 | $1,250 | $2,000 |
| BM 5 | $1,500 | $3,500 |
| BM 6 | $1,500 | $3,500 |
| BM 7 | Live transition | Live transition |
| Total cap | $6,250 | $12,000 |
Light Payout Ladder
Light accounts pay over a longer ladder (BMs 2 through 7) with smaller increments. The 25K caps at $3,000 total; the 50K caps at $6,000.
Real Prop Side
- Profit split: 80 / 20 in the trader's favor.
- No payout caps.
- Static drawdown, no trailing logic in live phase.
- Qualifying profitable trading days required before payout eligibility.
- If you fail a Real Prop account, the path back is through a fresh Gladiator account.
Platform and Bundled Tools
PropShopTrader runs on Tickblaze exclusively. The desktop client is the only fully released environment; web and mobile access are listed as in development. The platform is built for prop-style execution rather than retail charting.
- Depth-of-market visibility and institutional-grade charting.
- Custom indicator and strategy development.
- Integrated multi-account management.
- Direct integration with the Ignite Trade Copier.
What's genuinely uncommon at this price point is the bundled stack included with every account at no extra cost.
| Bundled component | Retail value |
|---|---|
| Tickblaze License | $198 |
| Real-Time Market Data | $55 |
| Tickblaze Academy (1 year) | $2,495 / year |
| Advanced Trade Copier | $600 |
| Professional Indicator Pack | $4,995 |
| 12 Algo Trading Strategies | $9,995 |
| Marketplace Credit | $500 |
| Total retail value | $19,085+ |
Risk Controls That Matter
- MAE Forge: any single-trade breach of 50% of max drawdown fails the account immediately.
- MAE Light: 1 warning resets your trading days, 3 warnings end the account.
- Daily Loss Limit on Forge is also instant-fail.
- No consistency requirements, sim or live.
- No payout caps in Real Prop.
- Hedging not permitted, automatic compliance flag.
- Reset within 48 hours of the 6:00 PM EST End-of-Day report. Max 10 resets per account.
- Reset options: Standard or Benchmark Reset (preserve up to 4 benchmarks).
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Pros and Cons
Strengths
- + Automatic sim payouts on futures from Benchmark 2.
- + Forge / Light split lets you pick your difficulty curve.
- + 80 / 20 Real Prop with no caps and static drawdown.
- + Swing futures genuinely allow overnight and weekend holding.
- + Tickblaze stack ($19,085+ retail value) bundled at no cost.
Considerations
- - Forge MAE rule has zero tolerance for single-trade breaches.
- - Tickblaze is the only platform, no NT8 or Tradovate.
- - Web and mobile trading still in development.
- - Multi-account benchmarks do not combine.
- - Adaptation curve for traders from other platforms.
PropShopTrader fits a specific type of futures trader: one who values structured progression over fast cycles, who can adapt to Tickblaze, and who reads MAE rules carefully before sizing positions. The Forge / Light split is genuinely useful. It lets you choose the difficulty curve rather than locking everyone into the same evaluation. Combined with multi-asset stacking, automatic payouts, and the bundled Tickblaze ecosystem, the offer holds up well against the current futures-prop landscape.
All specifications referenced in this review are sourced from propshoptrader.com (homepage, /benchmarks, /how-to-get-paid, /platform-data, FAQ). Promotional pricing is subject to change; current rates and coupons are displayed at checkout. Trading involves risk; past performance does not guarantee future results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are sim payouts manual or automatic on futures accounts?
Fully automatic from Benchmark 2 onward. Benchmark 1 triggers a compliance check (KYC plus due diligence) with no payout attached. Once compliance clears, every subsequent benchmark issues a payout automatically. No withdrawal request, no waiting beyond compliance review. The 25K Forge totals $6,250 across Benchmarks 2 through 6; the 50K Forge totals $12,000. Light accounts run a finer ladder across Benchmarks 2 through 7, totaling $3,000 (25K) and $6,000 (50K).
How does the Signing Bonus on stocks accounts get paid?
The Signing Bonus is paid at Real Prop transition: $3,000 on a 25K stocks account and $6,000 on a 50K. Per the firm, 50 percent is released at contract signature and the remaining 50 percent is paid across the first two Real Prop payouts. Stocks accounts do not earn sim payouts during evaluation; the Signing Bonus replaces that mechanism.
Can I hold positions overnight on a futures account?
Only on Swing accounts. Intraday accounts close positions at the end of the session. Swing accounts allow overnight and weekend holding, with new positions opened only during market hours. The firm specifies that it is not liable for losses caused by overnight gap risk or market open pricing.
What happens if I fail a Real Prop account?
A Real Prop failure requires restarting from a new Gladiator account. The previous evaluation does not reopen. Note also that once a trader transitions to Real Prop, their Gladiator accounts are closed (not failed), so the live phase is the new reference point for that trader's relationship with the firm.
What is included in the bundled Tickblaze stack?
The Tickblaze license ($198 value), real-time market data ($55), one year of Tickblaze Academy (retail $2,495/year), the Advanced Trade Copier (retail $600), the 11-tool Professional Indicator Pack (retail $4,995), twelve algorithmic strategies (retail $9,995), a $500 marketplace credit, and access to the open-source peer-to-peer trader community. The total retail value is $19,085 or more; the cost to the trader is zero, included with every account.
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