Transparent methodology

Rating System

Category scores and badges on TopPropShops are built from visible account rules, pricing, payout terms, and platform data. The goal is simple: show why a firm ranks well, not just that it ranks well.

Scoring models

How each category is calculated

We evaluate firms across key dimensions using transparent models and consistent rules so you can compare with confidence.

Price

Cost range score

For the selected account size, the cheapest comparable path to funding scores highest.

  • We compare each firm's stored total cost to funded when available.
  • If that total is missing, we use discounted price, then listed one-time price.
  • Lowest cost scores 100, highest cost scores 0, and the rest scale between them.

Trading Rules

Rule adjustment score

Starts at 100, then adjusts for account rules that make funding easier or harder.

  • Consistency requirements, daily loss limits, activation fees, longer minimum-day requirements, trailing drawdown, slower payouts, and tight payout caps subtract points.
  • Lighter restrictions add points, including no consistency rule, no daily loss limit, $0 activation, short minimum-day paths, EOD/static drawdown, faster payout timing, and no payout cap.
  • Credits can offset penalties, then the published score is capped between 0 and 100.

Speed

Fastest route rank

Ranks firms by the shortest realistic path to funded status for the selected account size.

  • Direct-to-funded, no-evaluation, and instant-funded routes count as 0 trading days.
  • If minimum days are blank, a consistency rule can imply an effective minimum day count.
  • The Best Speed badge picks the fastest eligible firm after the Rules winner is set; ties use lower total cost, then firm name.

Drawdown

Amount + type blend

Half of the score comes from drawdown allowance, and half comes from drawdown type.

  • Larger maximum drawdown ranks higher against other firms in the selected account size.
  • Static, end-of-day, blank, and unmapped type labels receive the top type score; realized trailing is middle; intraday or trailing ranks lowest.
  • If evaluation and funded-account types differ, the lower type score is used.

Size

Trading capacity blend

Rewards accounts with more trading room, weighted mostly toward contract capacity.

  • Trading capacity uses the higher of mini contracts or micro contracts converted to mini equivalents.
  • Contract capacity provides 75% of the score and is scaled against the strongest account in the selected size.
  • Maximum funded accounts provide the remaining 25%; evaluation-account limits are not scored.

Payouts

Payout access score

Starts with payout timing, then adjusts for profit split and payout caps.

  • Same-day, daily, day-one, or no-window payout terms start with the strongest base score.
  • Five-day, biweekly, monthly, or qualification-heavy payout schedules start lower.
  • Higher or unspecified profit splits add points; low splits and tight max-payout caps subtract points.

Platforms

Breadth plus cost

Provider/platform breadth, included fees, and cheapest platform total.

  • More listed data-provider and trading-platform terms add points.
  • Included platform or data fees add points.
  • Cheaper platform cost contributes up to 15% of the final platform score.

The Nitty Gritty / Point Tables

See exactly how points are earned or lost across every rule and condition.

Why a score may change

Range-based scores can move when you change account size or when stored firm pricing, drawdown, capacity, or platform data changes. Fixed-rule scores change when the underlying firm rules, payout terms, or stored account data changes.

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