6 Best Pay After You Pass Prop Firms (2026 Review & Comparison)

You pay $500 upfront for a prop firm evaluation, trade carefully for a few days, hit one bad session, and blow your account. The money's gone. No refund. No second chance without paying again.

It's a frustrating cycle that drains your trading capital before you even get funded. Industry data from late 2025 shows that only 5% to 10% of traders pass their evaluation on the first attempt. That means 9 out of 10 traders are losing their evaluation fees, sometimes repeatedly, just trying to prove they can trade profitably.

Pay after you pass prop firms flips this model completely. You only pay the evaluation fee after you've already passed. By using a pay-after-you-pass model, a trader can attempt an evaluation 50 times for the same cost as one traditional upfront challenge. Isn’t that compelling? You bet!

In this guide, we'll break down the 6 best pay-after-you-pass prop firms for you to try, compare their features, and help you choose the right one for your trading style.

Quick Comparison Table of 6 Pay-After-You-Pass Prop Firms

What is a Pay After You Pass Prop Firm?

The Pay After You Pass (PAYP) challenge model is a 2026 industry standard designed to lower the barrier to entry for traders. Instead of paying $500 upfront for a $100K account, you pay a small setup fee to start your evaluation and only pay the balance once you've proven you can hit the profit target.

How the Pay After You Pass Model Works

Why Traders Prefer This Payment Structure

Drastic Reduction in Sunk Cost Risk

In the traditional model, a trader pays a large fee upfront. If they fail on day one, that money is gone. Traders reduce their initial capital exposure by 98% using the PAYP model.

Mathematically Higher Odds of Success

For the price of one traditional $100K challenge ($500), a trader can attempt a PAYP challenge 50 times. Trading is a game of probabilities. Having 50 lives instead of 1 significantly increases the statistical likelihood that a trader will eventually catch a favorable market window and pass the evaluation.

Mitigation of Exam Anxiety

High sunk cost leads to scared money trading, which causes tighter stop-losses and hesitation. Lower stress leads to better adherence to a trading plan. Traders are less likely to revenge trade to save a $10 investment than they are to save a $500 investment.

Pay After You Pass vs. Traditional Upfront Payment Models: Quick Comparison Table

6 Best Pay-After-You-Pass Prop Firms

The model works. But the firm you choose still matters. Here are your top six options.

1. Atlas Funded – Best Overall

Atlas Funded dominates the list with its ultra-low $1-5 entry barrier through the "Atlas Access" model. The firm has built a reputation for transparency and trader-first policies, and it’s one of the most accessible options for beginners and experienced traders.

Account Sizes and Evaluation Fees

• Upfront cost: Minimum $1 to start your evaluation
• Account sizes: $5K, $10K, $25K, $50K, $100K, $200K, $300K, up to $400K
• Post-pass activation fees: Range from $68 for a $5K account to $2,040 for a $400K account

Profit Split and Payout Terms

You start with an 80% profit split, which is already competitive. But Atlas Funded takes it further by offering up to 100% profit split as an add-on. Payouts are processed weekly or bi-weekly, depending on which add-ons you choose.

Key Features and Benefits

• No time limits: Take as long as you need to pass the evaluation. There's no artificial deadline creating pressure.
• News trading allowed: Trade during high-impact news events without restrictions.
• 100% refundable fees: After your 4th payout, you get your entire challenge fee back. This means your net cost to get funded becomes zero.

Who It's Best For

Beginners learning to become a prop trader, who want to test drive a professional evaluation for the price of a coffee. The minimum $1 entry point removes almost all financial risk, and the lack of time pressure lets you learn as you go.

2. Get Leveraged – Best for Speed

Get Leveraged has gained massive traction in 2026 for its "Turbo Offer," which prioritizes speed and simplicity above everything else. They've also integrated proprietary AI analysis tools that help you refine your strategy during the evaluation.

Account Sizes and Evaluation Fees

• Upfront cost: Approximately $8.88 for the Turbo Simulation
• Account sizes: $50K, $100K, and $150K
• Post-pass activation fees: You pay the remaining standard fee only after passing

Profit Split and Payout Terms

You'll receive an 80% to 90% profit split depending on your account size and performance. But the real advantage here is payout speed. Get Leveraged processes payouts within 12 to 24 hours of your request.

Key Features and Benefits

• Instant credential delivery: Once you pass, you get your funded account login details immediately.
• No "stupid rules": Their words, not ours. They've eliminated complex consistency requirements and other arbitrary restrictions that exist just to make traders fail.
• 24/7 high-tier support: If something goes wrong or you have questions, you can reach someone any time of day.

Who It's Best For

Aggressive traders looking for a fast transition from a low-cost demo to a high-capital funded account. If waiting around frustrates you and you want to start earning profits quickly, Get Leveraged delivers on speed.

3. Trading Funds – Best for Flexibility

Trading Funds is a long-standing firm that successfully transitioned into the PAYP space with its "Flex Challenge." The name says it all. This firm gives you total freedom to trade your way without the typical handcuff rules that restrict your strategy.

Account Sizes and Evaluation Fees

• Upfront cost: $9 for any account size you choose
• Account sizes: Up to $200K initially, with scaling opportunities up to $600K
• Post-pass activation fees: Standard market rates based on your chosen account size, paid only after you hit your profit target

Profit Split and Payout Terms

You can earn up to a 90% profit split, which puts more money in your pocket with every winning trade. Payouts are processed bi-weekly, so it gives you regular access to your earnings.

Key Features and Benefits

• No stop-loss requirement: Trade without mandatory stop-losses if that's your style.
• News trading fully allowed: Capitalize on volatility during major economic announcements.
• No trading day restrictions: No minimum or maximum trading days. Trade when opportunities appear, not when a calendar tells you to.

Who It's Best For

Experienced swing traders or news traders who need maximum flexibility and zero time pressure. If your edge comes from patience and waiting for specific setups, Trading Funds won't force you to trade on someone else's schedule.

4. Fund Your FX – Best for Disciplined Traders

Fund Your FX takes a different approach with its unique 1-step PAYP model. Unlike firms that let you trade however you want, Fund Your FX enforces rules like mandatory stop-losses to ensure long-term sustainability. This might sound restrictive, but it actually attracts serious traders who understand that risk management is what separates professionals from gamblers.

Account Sizes and Evaluation Fees

• Upfront cost: $9 to start
• Account sizes: $25K, $50K, $100K, and $200K
• Post-pass activation fees: Paid only after you hit the 12% profit target

The 12% profit target is higher than average, but that's intentional. Fund Your FX wants to see that you can generate meaningful returns, not just scrape by with minimal profits.

Profit Split and Payout Terms

You start at a 70% profit split, which is lower than most competitors. However, it scales up to 100% as you hit certain profit milestones. This progressive structure rewards consistent performance over time. Payouts are bi-weekly, giving you regular income once you're funded.

Key Features and Benefits

• 1-step evaluation: No multi-phase nonsense. Pass one challenge and you're funded.
• 6% trailing drawdown: Reasonable protection that still gives you breathing room for normal trading volatility.
• Mandatory stop-loss within 3 minutes: You must place a stop-loss within 3 minutes of opening any trade. This forces proper risk management from day one.

Who It's Best For

Disciplined, rule-following traders who prioritize risk management and want a simple 1-step path to funding. If you already use stop-losses religiously and appreciate structured environments, Fund Your FX will feel like a natural fit.

5. Goat Funded Traders – Best for Easy Targets

Goat Funded Traders has carved out a niche by offering some of the easiest profit targets in the entire industry. Their "Pay Later" model is built specifically for traders who focus on high-probability setups rather than home-run trades.

Account Sizes and Evaluation Fees

• Upfront cost: Just $5 to begin
• Account sizes: $8K to $200K
• Post-pass activation fees: Full fee due upon passing

Profit Split and Payout Terms

You start with an 80% profit split by default, with scaling opportunities up to 95%. That 95% ceiling is one of the highest in the industry. Payouts follow a bi-weekly cycle, so you'll see your earnings hit your account regularly.

Key Features and Benefits

• 4% profit target: This is exceptionally low. Most firms require 8% to 10%, so you're looking at half the pressure.
• No consistency rules during evaluation: You can make your entire profit in one or two trades if that's how your strategy works. No artificial limits on daily gains.
• 8% trailing drawdown: Gives you a decent cushion for normal market volatility.

Who It's Best For

High-leverage traders or those who prefer easy-to-hit targets over larger drawdown buffers.

6. Sure Leverage Funding – Best for Fast Payouts

Established in the UAE, Sure Leverage Funding is a rising star in 2026 with a unique value proposition: a 24-hour payout guarantee. If they miss that 24-hour window after you request a withdrawal, you automatically get a 10% bonus added to your profit split.

Account Sizes and Evaluation Fees

• Upfront cost: $10 to start your evaluation
• Account sizes: $5.5K to $220K
• Post-pass activation fees: Paid upon passing the 1-step challenge

Profit Split and Payout Terms

You receive an 80% profit split as standard, with the ability to reach 100% through add-ons. Payouts are processed bi-weekly, but the real draw is that 24-hour guarantee.

Key Features and Benefits

• 20% consistency rule (only on funded stage): This prevents you from making all your profits in one lucky trade, but it only applies once you're funded, not during evaluation.
• 24-hour payout guarantee: Industry-leading speed with a financial penalty if they're late.
• Native crypto/USDT payouts: If you prefer getting paid in cryptocurrency, they support it directly without third-party processors.

Who It's Best For

Traders who value speed of payment and are looking for a firm with a strong technical infrastructure. If you need quick access to your profits or prefer cryptocurrency payments, Sure Leverage Funding delivers both.

How to Choose a Prop Firm with Pay After You Pass Option

All PAYP firms offer low upfront costs, but that's where the similarities end. The right firm depends on your trading style, risk tolerance, and income goals. 

Evaluate the Challenge Rules and Requirements

Start with the challenge itself. Some firms require 4% profit targets while others demand 12%. Lower targets mean faster funding, but they often come with tighter drawdown limits. 

Check the daily loss limit too. Also, look at whether the drawdown is static or trailing. Trailing drawdowns move with your gains, giving you more breathing room as you build profits.

Minimum trading days matter if you're a selective trader. Firms like Atlas Funded have zero minimum, meaning you can pass in two days if the opportunity presents itself. Others require 3 to 5 days, which can force you to trade when conditions aren't ideal.

Compare Profit Splits and Scaling Plans

Your profit split determines how much you actually keep. Most PAYP firms start at 70% to 80%, but the best ones scale up to 100%. Look for firms that increase your account size as you hit milestones. Some scale up to $600K or higher.

Check the Evaluation Fee Structure

With PAYP, you pay after passing, but read the fine print. The best firms refund your entire fee after your first or fourth payout, making your net investment zero. Watch for hidden costs, such as monthly platform fees or mandatory add-ons, that can inflate your total cost.

Review Trading Conditions and Restrictions

Make sure the firm offers the assets you trade and supports your preferred platform. If you trade news events or hold positions over weekends, confirm there are no restrictions. If you use EAs or bots, verify that the prop firm allows EAs. Many firms prohibit HFT or arbitrage strategies.

Assess Customer Support and Reputation

Check Trustpilot and Reddit for patterns in complaints. Delayed payouts and poor support are major red flags. Test their support before signing up by sending a question. If they take days to respond, that's how they'll treat you as a funded trader, too.

Conclusion

The pay after you pass model exists because the old way was broken. Losing $500 before you even knew if you could pass made no sense for anyone except the prop firms collecting fees.

Of the six firms covered, Atlas Funded makes the most sense for most traders. The $1 entry removes the financial risk entirely, and there's no countdown timer forcing you to trade when the market isn't cooperating.

If you can follow basic drawdown rules and hit an 8% target, you can get funded. The evaluation costs less than your morning coffee. Get started with Atlas Funded and find out if you're as good as you think you are.

FAQs

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