These are the eval shops we actually trade with — funded, paid out, or currently mid-challenge. We only list firms we have put our own money into. Rankings are by vibes, payout speed, and how badly their rules have hurt us.
Apex Trader FundingPayouts received
The workhorse. Evals go on sale constantly, and payouts have landed. Watch the trailing threshold — it has eaten more than one of our accounts.
TopstepThe OG
The one your uncle has heard of. Stricter daily loss rules keep you honest. The Trading Combine is a grind but the funded experience is clean.
Take Profit TraderFast payouts
Same-day payout window is the headline. PRO account gets you paid from day one. Rules are simple enough to actually remember mid-trade.
E8 MarketsTesting
Currently mid-eval. Full review coming after we either pass it or donate the fee to the prop firm industrial complex.
Lucid TradingTesting
The new kid. We are running a challenge now — early impressions on the blog soon.