How we collect prop firm rules and rank firms
Where every rule, price and payout figure comes from, how often we check it and how lists are ranked.
Every prop firm rule, price and payout figure on helloweekends comes from the firm's own rules page or help center, and each firm profile shows the date we last checked it. We recheck every firm at least every two weeks and log each change with the old rule, the new rule and a link to the source. Lists rank firms by published criteria using those facts, never by payment.
Which firms we cover
We cover prop firms that fund futures traders and publish their rules on a public page. For each firm we record whether it accepts clients in the United States. A firm that pauses sales or closes keeps its page, marked paused or closed with the date, so traders can still see what the rules were.
What we record for each firm
- Status (active, paused or closed) and the date it changed.
- Plans: account size, price, whether it is a one-time fee or a monthly subscription, activation fee, profit target and maximum loss.
- Drawdown type: end-of-day trailing, intraday trailing or static.
- Daily loss limit, consistency rule, minimum trading days, maximum contracts, weekend holding and news trading, for the evaluation and the funded account.
- Payouts: profit split, how often you can request a payout, minimum and maximum amounts, buffers and the conditions for the first payout.
- Platforms and data feeds the firm supports.
- Registration with the NFA or CFTC, only as it appears in the official registers.
- The official pages we used and the date we checked each one.
Where the facts come from
- Firm rules, prices and payouts: the firm's own website, rules pages and help center. When the firm's pages disagree with each other, we show both and link to each.
- Registration: NFA BASIC and CFTC records, with the date we searched. A firm calling itself "regulated" is not a source.
- Market hours and holidays: CME Group's Holiday and Trading Hours pages and its published Globex holiday calendars.
- Taxes: general information from the IRS, with links to the forms and publications. It is not tax advice.
We do not use review sites, forums, social media, affiliate sites or other aggregators as a source for any rule or figure. If we cannot find a rule on an official page, we leave the field empty rather than guess.
How often we check
- Every firm's rules and payout pages at least every two weeks, and again when a firm announces a change.
- CME holiday hours about two weeks before each holiday, when CME usually finalizes them.
- Lists that rank firms once a month, and whenever a catalog fact they rely on changes.
Every firm page shows "Rules checked on" with the date. If that date is old, treat the page with care and read the firm's own rules first.
When a firm changes a rule
We update the firm's profile and add an entry to the rule change log with the firm, the date announced, the date it takes effect, what the rule was, what it is now and a link to the firm's announcement or rules page. Where we can, we also keep an archived copy of the old page.
How our lists are ranked
Each list states its criteria at the top, for example "allows holding positions over the weekend" or "lowest price for a 50K evaluation". Firms that meet the criteria are ordered by the catalog facts the list names. We do not use scores, stars, ratings, "we tested" claims, invented experts or reviews presented as facts. If a list shows a third-party review score, it is a dated link with the score and the number of reviews.
If we ever sell a "Featured" slot, it will be labelled, shown apart from the ranked list and will not change any firm's position or data. See the sponsored content and affiliate policy.
From catalog to page
Every rule, price and payout figure on a page comes from our catalog of firms, where each fact is tied to its official source and check date. When a fact in the catalog changes, every page that uses it is updated. A figure without an official source is not published. Read more in our editorial policy.
Limits
Firms can change rules at any time, sometimes without notice. We do not buy or trade evaluations to test firms, and we do not verify how a firm handles payouts in practice. Our pages describe what firms publish. Read the firm's current rules and terms on its own site before you pay.
Questions
How often are prop firm rules checked?
At least every two weeks for every firm, and again when a firm announces a change. Each profile shows the date of the last check.
Can a firm pay to rank higher?
No. Rankings follow the published criteria and the firms' own data. A paid "Featured" slot, if we ever sell one, is labelled and does not change the ranking.
What if a firm's rules page is unclear?
We quote the rule as the firm writes it and link to the page. If two official pages disagree, we show both.
Do you test prop firms yourselves?
No. We describe what firms publish. We do not claim hands-on testing.