If you trade options and have been looking for a funded account, you probably noticed the same thing most options traders do within five minutes of searching: most prop firms are built for futures. Apex, TopStep, MyFundedFutures and the other household names run programs designed around ES, NQ, GC and CL. Options are either disabled or limited to a token subset.
The shortlist of firms actually building for options traders is small. This post compares five of them with verified pricing, drawdown rules, profit splits, and time-to-first-payout calculations. Every number was pulled from the firm's own pricing page or help center (rendered with a headless browser when the page is JavaScript-only).
Options Funding is one of the firms compared here. Numbers about our own program come from our public rules page. Competitor numbers come from their live pricing pages, help center articles, and Playwright renders of their JavaScript-heavy sites.
The five contenders
Imperial Trader Funding. Maverick Trading. Options Funding. Trade Fundrr. Vanquish Trader. Each runs a different model.
Imperial Funding
Multi-asset, refund on funding
Stocks, futures, options under one program. 1-step. $25K Elite at $194 per month. 10% profit target. 33% consistency. Reset fee refunded on funding. 80% split scaling to 100% institutional.
Maverick Trading
Real capital, $12K upfront
$7K membership plus $5K deposit plus $199 desk. Starts at $24,999 firm capital. 65% to 90% split tiered by level. Monthly payouts. Long qualification program.
Options Funding
40% off, 24-hour first payout
$25K, $50K, $100K. 12% Growth / 8% Express target. 0 minimum trading days. Same-business-day payouts. No upfront activation. Drawdown locks on Funded. Subscription refunded at Live.
Trade Fundrr
Pro path $5M to $20M
Requires $250K to $1M initial capital contribution. 80% profit split on Pro tier. Designed for already-profitable traders targeting $250K+ a year.
Vanquish Trader
$99/month, 10-trade minimum
$10K, $50K, $75K, $100K, $150K accounts. 10% profit target. 5% EOD trailing one-way ratchet. 30% consistency. 4 trading days plus 10 trades. 100% split on Performance Accounts.
Imperial Trader Funding
Imperial offers funded accounts across stocks, futures, and options under one program. Five tier sizes: $25K Elite at $194 per month, $50K Elite at $357, $100K Elite at $686, $250K Elite at $1,067, and $1M Elite at $3,249. All tiers are 1-step evaluation with a 10% profit target (so $2,500 on the $25K tier up to $150,000 on the $1M tier), a 33% single-day consistency rule, and trailing drawdown that scales by tier (7% on the smaller tiers, lower on the larger). The reset fee per tier ($200 / $350 / $650 / $1,000 / $3,000) is refunded once the account is funded, a structural perk similar to the Options Funding subscription refund at Live. Profit sharing scales from 80% during the funded phase up to 100% at the institutional capital level. Daily payouts. No payout caps. Monthly trader competitions.
Maverick Trading
Maverick is not an evaluation-fee program. They charge a $7,000 upfront membership fee for stocks and options ($4,000 for FX), plus a $5,000 at-risk capital deposit and a $199 desk fee. Total upfront commitment runs around $12,200. After onboarding, traders trade real capital starting at $24,999 and scale through a six-level Trader Advancement Program to as much as $500,000+ (the public tier list shows $25K, $50K, $100K, $250K, $500K). Profit split ranges from 65% to 90% depending on level. Payouts are monthly, on the first of the month following the trading period.
The standout features: real capital from day one (not a simulated account), a structured trader-development program with coaching and a Discord community, and a membership fee that is returnable as a performance bonus over time.
Options Funding
Built specifically for options traders. Accounts at $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000 simulated capital. One-step evaluation with zero minimum trading days, meaning a trader who hits the profit target on day one passes the evaluation on day one. The Growth Plan allows multi-leg strategies (verticals, calendars, condors, butterflies) and uses end-of-day trailing drawdown (6% of account size). The Express Plan is buy-only with intraday drawdown (3% of account size).
Flat 80% profit split from the first payout, with no scaling games or withdrawal milestones to hit a higher percentage. Same-business-day payouts. The activation fee ($99 for the $25K plan, $149 for the $50K and $100K) is deducted from the first payout rather than charged upfront, so a trader who never goes funded never pays it. The trailing drawdown locks at starting balance the moment a trader goes Funded. When a trader reaches Live, the monthly evaluation subscription is refunded in full.
Platform is RixTrade, an options-first interface with real options chains, Greeks, and multi-leg order tickets. Currently 40% off all accounts.
Full rules: Rules page. Common questions: FAQ. Step-by-step: How It Works.
Trade Fundrr
Three funding paths. The Trader Incubator path uses a standard evaluation with payouts in as little as 10 days. The Instant Trader Funding path bypasses evaluation entirely. The Pro Trader Funding path is the standout: traders make an initial capital contribution ($250K, $500K, or $1M) and receive real-money buying power scaled to $5M, $10M, or $20M respectively, with a flat 80% profit split. The Pro path skips evaluation and is reserved for traders who have already demonstrated profitability with their own money and are targeting $250K+ in annual income from trading. Setup time on Pro: 5 days from discovery call to live trading.
Trade Fundrr targets day traders and scalpers more than swing or multi-day strategy traders.
Vanquish Trader
Options-only prop firm, founded in 2024, headquartered in Delaware. Five account sizes: $10K, $50K, $75K, $100K, and $150K. The $10K Options account starts at $99 per month. One-step evaluation with a 10% profit target across all sizes ($1,000 on $10K up to $15,000 on $150K), a 5% end-of-day trailing drawdown that "moves upward as equity increases" and "never moves downward, even after losing days" (a one-way ratchet that effectively locks at peak equity), a 30% single-day consistency cap, and a minimum of 4 trading days plus 10 trades before evaluation completion. Vanquish markets a 100% profit split on Performance Accounts; standard accounts begin at 80% and scale to 90% after milestones. Daily payouts once funded, with a 7-day wait from first trade for the first withdrawal.
Time from signup to first payout
The metric most options traders actually care about is not "what is the profit split" but "how long from clicking the buy button to money in my bank account." Run the math.
The under-24-hour figure for Options Funding is structural, not promotional. With zero minimum trading days, a trader who passes the evaluation in one day transitions to funded the same business day. Same-business-day payout processing means a profitable funded trade on day one can produce a payout request that settles the same business day. End to end: signup, evaluation pass, funded transition, profitable trade, payout request, payout settled.
None of the other four firms can match that timeline because each has a structural gate that forces a minimum wait: trading-day minimums (Vanquish, Imperial), evaluation-window minimums (Trade Fundrr Incubator), or calendar-cadence payouts (Maverick).
Zero minimum trading days plus same-business-day funded transition plus same-business-day payout processing equals under 24 hours from signup to first payout. The other four firms in this comparison have at least one structural gate that forces a multi-day wait.
What to compare
Six factors decide whether a funded options program fits a particular trader.
1. Effective entry cost
Headline monthly fees do not tell the full story. Options Funding is currently 40% off all accounts. With the discount, the $25K Express is the lowest effective monthly cost in this comparison. Imperial's $25K Elite is $194 per month. Vanquish's $10K Options account is $99 per month. Trade Fundrr Pro and Maverick are not in the subscription-fee category, both using upfront capital commitments instead.
2. Activation and reset fee structure
Imperial charges a per-tier reset fee ($200, $350, $650, $1,000, or $3,000) that is refunded on funding. Options Funding deducts a $99 or $149 activation fee from the trader's first payout rather than charging it upfront, so traders who never get funded never pay it. Vanquish markets no activation fee at all. Trade Fundrr Pro requires an upfront capital contribution ($250K minimum). Maverick uses the $7K+ upfront membership model in lieu of activation.
3. Profit split structure
Imperial Funding scales 80% during the funded phase up to 100% at the institutional capital tier. Options Funding is flat 80% from the first dollar across every tier, with no withdrawal milestones to climb. Vanquish markets a 100% split on Performance Accounts, with standard accounts beginning at 80% and scaling to 90% after meeting milestones. Maverick is tiered 65% to 90% by qualification level. Trade Fundrr Pro is a flat 80% on the documented tiers. The reader who values cycle simplicity over headline maximum will favor a flat split.
4. Drawdown behavior on Funded
Options Funding locks the trailing drawdown at starting balance the moment a trader goes Funded. Vanquish's trailing drawdown "moves upward as equity increases" and "never moves downward, even after losing days," a one-way ratchet that effectively locks at peak equity rather than starting balance. Imperial's drawdown is trailing during evaluation. Maverick uses real capital so the trailing-drawdown concept does not apply.
5. Payout speed and frequency
Options Funding pays same business day with no minimum trading-day gate. Vanquish offers daily payouts once funded, with a 7-day calendar wait from first trade for the first withdrawal. Imperial pays daily with no payout caps. Trade Fundrr Incubator settles in roughly 10 days. Maverick is monthly on the first of the following month.
6. Strategy support and evaluation phases
Options Funding allows multi-leg strategies on the Growth Plan. Vanquish markets no contract or position size limits. Imperial's allowance varies by asset class. Trade Fundrr's depends on the path. Maverick varies by qualification level. Evaluation structure: Imperial, Options Funding, and Vanquish are all one-step. Trade Fundrr varies by path. Maverick uses a multi-level qualification ladder.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Imperial | Maverick | Options Funding | Trade Fundrr | Vanquish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asset focus | Stocks + futures + options | Stocks + options | Options only | Stocks + options + futures | Options only |
| Smallest tier | $25K Elite at $194 per month | $24,999 firm capital after onboarding | $25K Express (40% off currently) | $5M Pro (requires $250K capital) | $10K Options at $99 per month |
| Largest tier | $1M Elite at $3,249 per month | $500K at top qualification level | $100K Growth | $20M Pro (requires $1M capital) | $150K Options |
| Entry cost model | Monthly evaluation subscription | $12,000+ upfront commitment | Monthly evaluation subscription | $250K to $1M capital contribution | Monthly evaluation subscription |
| Activation fee structure | $200 to $3,000 reset fee, refunded on funding | $7K membership, returnable as bonus | $99 or $149, deducted from first payout | No subscription, capital model instead | No activation fee per marketing |
| Profit target | 10% across all tiers | Performance-driven, no fixed percent | 12% Growth, 8% Express | $250K+ per year goal commitment (Pro) | 10% across all account sizes |
| Max drawdown | 5% to 7% by tier, trailing | Risk-limit per trader plan | 6% Growth EOD, 3% Express intraday | Custom per Pro contract | 5% EOD trailing, one-way ratchet |
| Drawdown lock on Funded | Continues trailing through funded | Not applicable, real capital | Locks at starting balance | Not applicable, real capital | One-way ratchet locks at peak |
| Profit split | 80% funded, scales to 100% institutional | 65% to 90% tiered by level | 80% flat from first dollar | 80% on Pro path tiers | 100% on Performance Accounts |
| Consistency rule | 33% single-day cap | Per qualification plan | 30% Growth Eval, none Express Eval | Custom per Pro contract | 30% single-day cap |
| Minimum trading days | 3 days above drawdown threshold | Long qualification program | 0 days | 5-day setup window (Pro path) | 4 days plus 10 trades minimum |
| Time to first payout | 3 to 4 days minimum | 30+ days, monthly cadence | Under 24 hours | 10+ days (Incubator path) | 11+ days minimum |
| Payout cadence | Daily, no caps | Monthly on the 1st | Same business day | 10 days (Incubator) | Daily after 7-day initial wait |
| Evaluation phases | 1-step Elite evaluation | Multi-level qualification ladder | 1-step evaluation | Varies by path (Pro has none) | 1-step evaluation |
| Refund mechanic | Reset fee refunded on funding | Membership returnable as bonus | Subscription refunded at Live | Not applicable (no subscription) | No public refund policy |
The Options Funding plan ladder
Here is what the Options Funding plan tiers look like side by side. The 40% off discount applies across all tiers. Profit target percentage stays the same within each family; the dollar amount scales with account size.
Express $25K
8%
Profit target: $2,000
Drawdown: $750 intraday
Express $50K
8%
Profit target: $4,000
Drawdown: $1,500 intraday
Growth $50K
12%
Profit target: $6,000
Drawdown: $3,000 EOD
Growth $100K
12%
Profit target: $12,000
Drawdown: $6,000 EOD
Who is each firm a fit for
Imperial Trader Funding is the fit for traders who want stocks, futures, and options under one program and like the scaling-to-100% institutional path. Reset fees refunded on funding take pricing risk off the evaluation.
Maverick Trading is the fit for traders with $12,000 or more to commit upfront who want real capital from day one, a structured trader development program, and a long-term capital relationship rather than a monthly subscription.
Options Funding is the fit for traders who want the fastest path from signup to first payout (under 24 hours possible with zero minimum trading days plus same-business-day funded transition), the lowest effective entry cost (currently 40% off all accounts with no upfront activation), a flat 80% split from the first dollar, drawdown that locks at starting balance when Funded, and the monthly subscription refunded once they reach Live.
Trade Fundrr's Pro path is the fit for already-profitable traders who can wire $250K to $1M as initial capital and want $5M to $20M in real buying power. Pro is not a starter program.
Vanquish Trader is the fit for traders who prioritize a marketed 100% profit split on Performance Accounts, want the widest account-size range ($10K entry up to $150K ceiling), and are comfortable with the 10-trade and 4-day minimum trading requirement plus the 7-day calendar wait for the first withdrawal.
Common questions
What is the cheapest way to get a funded options account in 2026?
The lowest effective entry cost in this comparison is Options Funding's $25K Express, currently 40% off. With no upfront activation fee (it deducts from the first payout instead), the total out-of-pocket cost before earning is the discounted monthly subscription only. Imperial's $25K Elite is $194 per month before any code. Vanquish's $10K Options account is $99 per month. Trade Fundrr Pro and Maverick are not subscription programs.
How fast can I get my first payout?
On Options Funding, under 24 hours is structurally possible. Zero minimum trading days means a trader who hits the profit target on day one passes the evaluation immediately, transitions to funded the same business day, and can request a payout that processes the same business day. The other firms in this comparison have at least one structural gate (minimum trading days, evaluation window, or calendar-cadence payouts) that forces a multi-day wait.
Do these firms actually allow multi-leg options strategies?
Options Funding allows multi-leg on the Growth Plan (Express is buy-only by design for the lower-cost entry tier). Vanquish markets no contract or position limitations on its options accounts. Imperial's rules vary by asset class. Trade Fundrr's allowance is strategy-dependent per Pro contract. Maverick varies by qualification level. Always check the strategy-allowed section of the firm's rules page before paying.
What is a realistic profit target?
Targets across the field cluster at 8% to 12%. Vanquish uses 10% across all sizes. Imperial uses 10%. Options Funding uses 12% on Growth and 8% on Express. Anything 20% or higher is usually a sign that the firm makes more money from failed evaluations than from funded payouts.
Are funded options accounts simulated or real money?
Subscription-based programs (Imperial, Options Funding, Trade Fundrr Incubator, Vanquish) run on simulated accounts during Evaluation and Funded phases. Real capital is allocated at the Live phase on Options Funding. Trade Fundrr Pro uses real money from day one after the initial capital contribution. Maverick's model is real capital from day one, gated by their qualification levels.
What was verified and where to confirm
Every Options Funding number in this post comes from the public Rules page and the live discount visible on the pricing section. Competitor numbers come from each firm's live pricing page (rendered via headless browser when the site is JavaScript-only), official help center articles, and verified third-party reviews. Pricing and rules change quarterly across the funded-options space.
If a competitor fact in this post is out of date, email [email protected] and it will be updated.
Where to verify each firm's current rules
Pricing and rules change. Verify directly on each firm's site before committing:
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Last updated May 16, 2026
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