๐ Best Futures Prop Firms for Scalpers in 2025: Don’t Let Commissions Kill Your Profits
If you’re a futures trader who scalps micro contracts (MES, MNQ, M2K, MYM, etc.), commissions can quietly eat away your edge. Most traders think accounts blow up because of bad trades, but in reality, fees are often the silent killer. This guide compares the cheapest prop firms for scalpers in 2025, explains how fees really work, and gives a clear verdict so you keep more of your profits.
๐จ Why Commissions Matter So Much for Scalpers
Commissions and fees are charged per contract, per side — meaning you pay every time you enter and every time you exit a trade, multiplied by however many contracts you’re trading.
Commission: $0.50 • Exchange: $0.37 • Clearing: $0.19 • NFA: $0.02
Total = $1.08 per side, or $2.16 round-trip
Scale that up and costs explode fast:
- 10 contracts = $21.60 per trade
- 20 trades/day = $432/day
- One month ≈ $8,000+ in fees
Bottom line: the wrong prop firm destroys scalpers. Choose for true all-in cost, not just the advertised “commission-only”.
๐ What “All-In (AI)” vs “Commission-Only (CO)” Means
- CO (Commission-Only): Broker/firm commission only. You still add Exchange + Clearing + NFA to get the real cost.
- AI (All-In): Commission + Exchange + Clearing + NFA included. This is your true trading cost.
๐ Prop Firm Commission Comparison (Micros & Minis — 2025)
Prop Firm | Micros (RT) | Minis (RT) | Type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Apex Trader Funding | $1.04 AI | ~$3.10 | All-In | Cheapest published all-in rate (Tradovate). |
Take Profit Trader (TPT) | ~$1.30–$1.40 AI | ~$5.00 | CO → AI | $0.50 RT commission-only; after fees lands near $1.30–$1.40. |
FundingTicks | $1.34 AI | ~$2.84 | All-In | Transparent all-in via Tradovate table. |
Lucid Trading | ~$1.80–$2.00 AI | ~$5.50+ | CO → AI | $1.00 RT commission-only; all-in ends above TPT after fees. |
TradeDay | $1.62 AI | ~$4.76 | All-In | Mid-tier pricing. |
MyFundedFutures | $1.74 AI | ~$4.68 | All-In | Slightly pricier than TradeDay. |
Tradeify | $1.82 AI | ~$5.76 | All-In | Higher cost; not ideal for heavy scalpers. |
FundedNext | $1.30–$1.96 AI (plan-based) | $4.36–$5.76 | All-In | Depends on NinjaTrader plan: Lifetime cheaper, Free most expensive. |
TickTickTrader | ~$1.80–$2.00 AI | ~$5.00 | CO → AI | $1.20 RT commission-only; all-in rises notably after fees. |
RT = Round-Trip = entry + exit. AI = All-In (includes exchange/clearing/NFA). CO = Commission-Only (add fees).
๐งฎ Scalper Cost Calculator — Monthly Impact
Assumptions: 1 contract per trade (round-trip), 20 trading days/month. Costs shown for 10, 50, and 100 trades/day.
Prop Firm | Cost/RT (Micros) | 10 Trades/Day | 50 Trades/Day | 100 Trades/Day |
---|---|---|---|---|
Apex Trader Funding | $1.04 AI | $208 | $1,040 | $2,080 |
Take Profit Trader (TPT) | ~$1.35 AI | $270 | $1,350 | $2,700 |
FundingTicks | $1.34 AI | $268 | $1,340 | $2,680 |
Lucid Trading | ~$1.90 AI | $380 | $1,900 | $3,800 |
TradeDay | $1.62 AI | $324 | $1,620 | $3,240 |
MyFundedFutures | $1.74 AI | $348 | $1,740 | $3,480 |
Tradeify | $1.82 AI | $364 | $1,820 | $3,640 |
FundedNext (Lifetime) | $1.30 AI | $260 | $1,300 | $2,600 |
FundedNext (Monthly) | $1.70 AI | $340 | $1,700 | $3,400 |
FundedNext (Free) | $1.96 AI | $392 | $1,960 | $3,920 |
TickTickTrader | ~$1.90 AI | $380 | $1,900 | $3,800 |
๐ฅ Best Prop Firms for Scalpers (2025 Verdict)
1) Apex Trader Funding — Top Pick
- $1.04 RT all-in on micros (Tradovate).
- Lowest true cost for high-frequency scalpers.
- Multi-account scaling (up to 20 accounts) + frequent 50%–90% evaluation discounts.
2) Take Profit Trader (TPT) — Simple & Cheap
- Commission-only: $0.50 RT on micros. After fees ≈ $1.30–$1.40 AI.
- Flat, consistent pricing across evaluation and funded accounts.
3) FundingTicks — Transparent Flat Pricing
- $1.34 all-in on micros.
- Publishes the full Tradovate commission schedule for easy budgeting.
❌ Firms Scalpers Should Be Careful With
- Lucid Trading — All-in around $1.90 RT. Too costly for heavy scalpers.
- FundedNext — Only attractive with Lifetime plan (~$1.30 RT). Monthly/Free plans are expensive.
- TradeDay / MyFundedFutures / Tradeify — $1.62–$1.82 RT on micros; okay for swing trading, not scalping 20–100 trades/day.
- TickTickTrader — True all-in near $1.90 RT despite low commission-only ad rate.
✅ Final Takeaway
If you scalp micros at high frequency, commissions can make or break profitability.
- Best overall: Apex Trader Funding — lowest all-in cost + scaling.
- Strong runner-up: Take Profit Trader (TPT) — simple $0.50 commission-only, ~1.35 AI.
- Solid middle ground: FundingTicks — transparent $1.34 AI.
Bottom line: In 2025, Apex and TPT are the clear winners for micro scalpers.
โน️ Disclaimer & Contact
This article is based on my online research of official commission tables as of 2025. Commission rates and policies can change — always confirm with the prop firm or your platform (Tradovate, NinjaTrader, etc.) before trading.