Introduction: The Rise of Options Prop Firms
Over the past decade, proprietary trading firms (prop firms) have transitioned from obscure corners of Wall Street to the mainstream of online trading. These are companies that provide their own capital to approved traders, allowing them to generate profits for both themselves and the firm. Within this space, option prop firms serve a specialty role. They focus on options contracts, complex derivatives that allow traders to speculate on volatility, hedge risk, and execute multi-leg strategies. Options are notoriously versatile but also require deep market knowledge and strict capital discipline.
An options prop trading firm typically operates using an evaluation model:
- The trader undergoes a simulated or live assessment to demonstrate profitability while adhering to specific risk management rules.
- The firm allocates live capital once the trader passes.
- Profits are typically shared, with 70–95% going to the trader.
This model flips the usual retail trading risk dynamic. Instead of risking substantial personal funds, traders risk only a modest evaluation fee while gaining access to professionally managed risk systems, larger position sizes, and capital scaling routes.
Who Should Consider an Options Prop Firm?
An options prop firm is not for everyone. It works best for:
- Disciplined traders who follow rules and manage drawdowns effectively.
- Experienced options traders with a proven strategy but insufficient capital.
- Intermediate traders looking for structured mentorship and evaluation feedback.
- Professional traders from other markets (futures, equities, forex) looking to add options to their arsenal.
It may not suit traders seeking “instant” wealth, gamblers, or those unwilling to adapt to strict risk controls.
Key Factors When Choosing an Options Prop Firm
Before we get into the rankings, here are the main things serious traders evaluate:
- Profit Split – How much of the net profit will you retain?
- Drawdown Policy – Is it static, trailing, or daily? At what percentage?
- Scaling Plan – Can you get more capital over time? How quickly?
- Funding Model – One-Phase vs. Two-Phase Challenges: Instant Funding Options.
- Training & Support – Is there mentorship, webinars, or a structured learning path?
- Market Access – Do they allow trading of options, equities, futures, or multi-asset portfolios?
- Payout Speed – How quickly will you receive your share of profits?
- Rule Flexibility – Are they restrictive about news events, weekend holding, or trading style?
- Funding Caps and Leverage – Top-earning traders may seek capital scaling to six or seven figures.
Keeping these in mind, let’s review the top five option prop firms of 2025.
1. Maverick Trading – Veteran Options Prop Firm with 25+ Years of Proven Success ⭐ Editor’s Choice
Founded in 1997, Maverick Trading is a rare entity in modern prop trading: an options-focused firm with over two decades of credibility and a professional trader culture modeled on institutional trading desks. There are very few prop firms that trade options, and Maverick is one of the best.
Why Maverick Leads Our List
While most prop firms are remote-first startups launched in the last five years, Maverick’s history stretches back to the late ’90s. They have refined a career-oriented structure, where traders are cultivated, mentored, and backed with firm capital—sometimes scaling up to $800,000 for top performers.
Their profit splits start at 70% and can reach 90%. Unlike evaluation-only firms, Maverick’s training component is a high-value educational pathway that covers options strategies, portfolio hedging, fundamental analysis, position sizing, and advanced risk protocols.
Key Details:
- Training: Comprehensive multi-phase program with simulated accounts, mentorship, and psychology training.
- Risk Management: Every trader is assigned a risk manager; position limits, loss caps, and capital tiers are actively enforced.
- Fee Structure: The initial fee is refundable upon reaching a milestone profit target.
- Community: Annual trading summits, live market meetings, and active peer groups.
- Notable Media: Featured in CNBC, Forbes, and Traders Magazine, plus the authors of Maverick Trading: Professional Techniques to Create Generational Wealth.
✅ Bottom Line: Maverick is the gold standard for serious traders looking to specialize in options with an institutional approach. Its credibility, mentorship culture, and clear growth pathway make it an unmatched #1 choice.
2. FundedNext – Flexible Challenges and High Profit Splits
Established in March 2022, FundedNext quickly caught traders’ attention with its Stellar Challenge—a no-time-limit evaluation model.
Highlights:
- Funding Models: Stellar, Evaluation (2-step), Express (fast-track), and instant funding.
- Payouts: Up to 95% profit split, with 15% paid during evaluation—a rare perk.
- Instruments: Forex, indices, commodities.
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader.
- Leverage: Up to 1:100.
✅ Bottom Line: Ideal for traders who need time flexibility and want aggressive payout potential. It’s a no-time-limit model that reduces pressure, making it especially suitable for swing traders.
3. DNA Funded – Broker-Integrated Prop Trading
Part of ASIC-regulated DNA Markets, DNA Funded benefits from broker-backed liquidity, which means fast execution and tight spreads.
Highlights:
- Funding: Up to $600,000.
- Challenge Types: 1-phase, 2-phase, Rapid Challenge.
- Payouts: 80% split standard, upgrade to 90% with add-on.
- Markets: Forex, commodities, indices, equities, crypto (800+ assets).
- Platforms: TradeLocker.
- Minimum Trading Days: Only 3 (evaluation).
✅ Bottom Line: A hybrid firm offering institutional infrastructure with flexible evaluation formats, making it attractive for traders wanting broker integration.
4. Topstep – Futures-Only Funding with a 12-Year Track Record
Founded in 2012, Topstep is the most established futures-focused prop firm, having paid out over 81,000 withdrawals in 2024 alone.
Highlights:
- Process: Two-step Trading Combine® with profit target and drawdown parameters.
- Funding: $50K, $100K, or $150K account sizes.
- Payout: The first $10,000 in profits is 100% to the trader; thereafter, a 90/10 split applies.
- Markets: CME, CBOT, COMEX, NYMEX futures only.
- Platforms: TopstepX™.
✅ Bottom Line: Best for futures traders seeking a trusted, well-supported prop firm. Not suitable for those seeking only specific options.
5. FX2 Funding – Rapid Payouts and High Splits
Founded in 2022, FX2 Funding has expanded globally, earning a reputation for lightning-fast payouts and transparent rules.
Highlights:
- Funding: $5,000–$400,000 accounts.
- Models: 1-step & 2-step options with static or trailing drawdown.
- Payout: Default 80%, up to 95% with upgrade.
- Speed: Average payout in 8 hours; $100 bonus for delays.
- Platforms: cTrader, DXtrade.
✅ Bottom Line: FX2 suits traders who want fast access to profits and minimal bureaucracy.
Conclusion: The Clear Winner in 2025
Each of these firms excels in specific niches—FundedNext in flexibility, DNA Funded in broker integration, Topstep in futures expertise, and FX2 in payout speed.
But for those whose primary goal is to become a professional options trader, Maverick Trading remains the premier choice. With over 25 years of proven success, institutional-grade training, strong capital backing, and a culture built for longevity, Maverick offers more than just a funded account—it provides a career pathway in the markets.