Broker or prop firm?

There are three ways to start. Most people should go through them in this order.

1. Simulation (free)

Trade fake money on real market data. Most platforms offer it.

• Best for: learning the platform, your instrument and your rules.
• Move on when: you've followed your plan consistently over a batch of trades.

2. Prop firm evaluation

Pay a fee to try for a funded account (see the Prop Firms track).

• Pros: your maximum loss is the fee; bigger size than your own account; rules enforce discipline.
• Cons: fees and resets add up; trailing drawdowns are strict; funded accounts are often simulated.
• Best for: traders with a tested approach and a small budget.

3. Your own broker account

Real money, real fills, your rules.

• Pros: no evaluation rules, no profit split, real execution experience.
• Cons: your own capital is at risk; losses can exceed your deposit with futures.
• Best for: traders with tested results and money they can afford to lose.

	Simulation	Prop firm	Own account
Cost to start	Free	Evaluation fee	Account deposit
What you can lose	Nothing	The fees	Your capital (and more)
Rules	Yours	The firm's	Yours
Real fills	No	Usually not at first	Yes