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For a two-step evaluation, Funding Pips ($525) and E8 Markets ($528) are the lowest gross fee for $100k. Both refund the fee with the first payout, so the true cost depends on whether you actually clear the challenge. If you want a one-step model, FundedNext Express is $499 but uses a tighter 4% daily loss limit.
Median time from payout request to wallet, based on our own withdrawals: Funding Pips 12–24h, FundedNext 12–48h, FTMO 24–48h, E8 24–72h, The 5%ers 24–48h. All are within the "fine" band — anything over 5 business days without a stated reason is a yellow flag worth raising in chat.
Yes — EAs and copy-trading are explicitly allowed on the Stellar and Express plans, with two restrictions: no HFT-style scalping under 60-second hold times, and no using the same EA across multiple FundedNext accounts you own. If a single EA hits more than three FundedNext accounts the firm will request proof of source code ownership.
FTMO's max loss is static at 10% of starting balance, not trailing — meaning the floor stays at $90,000 on a $100k account regardless of how much profit you make. The daily loss is 5% recalculated from the higher of starting balance or the closing balance of the previous trading day. This is one of the friendlier rule sets in the category; firms like The 5%ers Hyper-Growth use a trailing drawdown that locks in as you profit.
Almost universally no. The evaluation fee is non-refundable on failure; the refund kicks in only when you clear the challenge and request your first payout from the funded account. A few firms run partial refunds or re-try discount codes for failed challengers during seasonal campaigns.
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