Best Prop Firms with No Time Limit on Challenges (2026)

TLDR: FTMO, The5ers, FundedNext, Blue Guardian, Maven Trading, Funding Pips, and Alpha Capital all offer unlimited time on their evaluation phases — but their drawdown rules, pricing, and profit splits vary widely. Here is how they compare.

You are two weeks into a 30-day challenge. Your strategy has been clean — three winning trades, solid risk management, no drawdown issues. Then the market goes flat. EUR/USD sits in a 20-pip range for five sessions straight. Gold chops sideways. There is nothing to trade.

With a traditional time-limited challenge, this dead period burns through your calendar while your profit target stays fixed. You start forcing setups that do not meet your criteria, and that is how disciplined traders blow accounts — not from bad strategy, but from artificial urgency created by a ticking clock.

A prop firm with no time limit removes that pressure entirely. You trade when your setups appear. You sit on your hands when they do not. The evaluation measures whether you can hit a profit target while managing risk — nothing more.

For part-time traders who work full-time jobs, swing traders who hold positions across multiple sessions, and anyone whose strategy depends on specific market conditions, a no-time-limit challenge is not a luxury. It is a prerequisite.

Here are the firms doing it right in 2026.

Quick Comparison: Prop Firms with No Time Limit

Rank	Firm	Time Limit	Price ($100K)	Profit Split	Max Drawdown	Trustpilot
1	FTMO	Unlimited	$540	80%–90%	10% (static)	4.8/5
2	The5ers	Unlimited	$495	80%–100%	10% (static)	4.8/5
3	FundedNext	Unlimited	~$550 [UNVERIFIED]	80%–95%	6% (static)	4.6/5
4	Blue Guardian	Unlimited	~$232 [UNVERIFIED]	85%–90%	6% (varies)	4.0/5 [UNVERIFIED]
5	Maven Trading	Unlimited	~$379 [UNVERIFIED]	80%–85%	8% (static)	4.6/5
6	Funding Pips	Unlimited	$444 (2-Step)	60%–100%	10% (static)	4.5/5
7	Alpha Capital	Unlimited	$497	80%	10% (static)	4.7/5

1. FTMO — Best Overall for Trading Without a Clock

Read our full FTMO review

FTMO removed time limits from both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of its 2-Step Challenge, and the firm has maintained this policy consistently. The only calendar-based requirement is a minimum of 4 trading days per phase — beyond that, you can take as long as you need to hit the 10% Phase 1 target and 5% Phase 2 target.

What you get with a $100K account:

• Challenge fee: $540 (refunded after first funded payout)
• Profit split: 80%, scaling to 90% via the Scaling Plan
• Daily loss limit: 5% ($5,000) | Max drawdown: 10% ($10,000)
• Min trading days: 4 per phase
• Payout cycle: Biweekly or on-demand after first cycle
• Trustpilot: 4.8 out of 5 (40,000+ reviews)

Most successful FTMO traders report completing Phase 1 in 4 to 8 weeks and Phase 2 in 3 to 6 weeks. That is a realistic pace — not because the challenge is hard, but because waiting for quality setups takes time, and FTMO does not penalize you for patience.

Why it ranks first: FTMO has the longest track record of any major prop firm (operating since 2015), a refundable challenge fee, and a Trustpilot rating backed by 40,000+ reviews. The unlimited time policy has been stable — no sudden reintroduction of deadlines — and the 10% static drawdown gives you room to weather losing streaks without panicking.

Trade-off: The $540 fee is on the higher end. You pay for predictability and a payout history that no other firm can match.

2. The5ers — Best for Part-Time Traders Who Need Flexibility

Read our full The5ers review

The5ers has operated since 2016 with no time limits on any challenge program. The High Stakes 2-Step is the flagship: 8% Phase 1 target, 5% Phase 2 target, and zero deadline pressure on either phase.

What you get with a $100K account:

• Challenge fee: ~$495 [UNVERIFIED]
• Profit split: 80%, scaling up to 100%
• Daily loss limit: 5% ($5,000) | Max drawdown: 10% ($10,000)
• Scaling: Accounts can grow up to $4 million
• Trustpilot: 4.8 out of 5 (21,000+ reviews)

The5ers also has a Bootcamp entry at $95 that gives you a path to a $100K account. If you are testing a new strategy or trading part-time around a day job, that low-cost entry with unlimited time means you can evaluate both the firm and your own performance without risking significant capital upfront.

Why it ranks second: The path to a 100% profit split and $4 million in managed capital is the most generous scaling plan in the industry. Combined with a decade of payouts, no time limits, and a 10% static drawdown, The5ers is the strongest option for traders who prioritize long-term growth over speed.

Trade-off: The early profit split starts at 80%. You will need consistent performance over multiple scaling milestones to reach 100%, and that takes months of funded trading.

3. FundedNext — Best Profit Split with Unlimited Time

Read our full FundedNext review

FundedNext offers unlimited time on both the Stellar 1-Step and Stellar 2-Step challenges. The 1-Step requires a 10% profit target with a minimum of 2 trading days. The 2-Step splits that into 8% (Phase 1) and 5% (Phase 2), also with no deadline.

What you get with a $100K Stellar 2-Step account:

• Challenge fee: ~$550 [UNVERIFIED — verify on fundednext.com]
• Profit split: 80%, scaling to 90% (95% with Lifetime Add-On)
• Daily loss limit: 3% ($3,000) | Max drawdown: 6% ($6,000)
• Min trading days: 2 (Stellar 1-Step) or 2 per phase (Stellar 2-Step)
• Trustpilot: 4.6 out of 5 (20,000+ reviews)

The profit split is the headline here. A 95% split — available via a one-time add-on — means you keep $950 of every $1,000 in profit. That is $50 to $150 more per $1,000 than most competitors.

Why it ranks third: The combination of unlimited time and an industry-leading profit split makes FundedNext compelling for traders focused on maximizing funded-phase earnings. The Stellar Lite option also starts at $269.99 for $100K, which is one of the cheaper entry points available.

Trade-off: The 6% max drawdown is tighter than FTMO's 10% or The5ers' 10%. On a $100K account, you breach at a $6,000 loss versus $10,000 at the other two. That smaller margin makes risk management more demanding, especially during volatile sessions.

4. Blue Guardian — Cheapest $100K Challenge with No Deadline

Read our full Blue Guardian review

Blue Guardian offers unlimited time across all challenge types — 1-Step, 2-Step, and 3-Step — with no countdown timers. The 2-Step $100K challenge is priced around $232 [UNVERIFIED], making it one of the cheapest options at this account size.

What you get with a $100K 2-Step account:

• Challenge fee: ~$232 [UNVERIFIED — verify on blueguardian.com]
• Profit split: 85%, scaling to 90%
• Phase 1 target: 10% | Phase 2 target: 4%
• Daily loss limit: 4% ($4,000) | Max drawdown: 6% ($6,000)
• Payout cycle: Weekly
• Trustpilot: 4.0 out of 5 [UNVERIFIED — Trustpilot flagged guideline issues]

Blue Guardian also offers a 3-Step challenge at roughly $184 for $100K — the lowest price point we have seen for a six-figure account with unlimited time. The trade-off is three evaluation phases instead of two, each with its own profit target.

Why it ranks fourth: Pure cost efficiency. If you are someone who retakes challenges regularly (and statistically, most traders do), paying $232 instead of $540 per attempt saves $308 each time. Over three or four retakes, that adds up to over $900 in savings.

Trade-off: Blue Guardian's Trustpilot score (4.0) is lower than every other firm on this list, and Trustpilot has flagged the company for guideline breaches related to reviews. The 6% max drawdown is also tighter than FTMO and The5ers. If payout reliability is your top priority, the higher-rated firms above may be worth the extra cost.

5. Maven Trading — Best Budget Option with Static Drawdown

Read our full Maven Trading review

Maven Trading enforces no time limits on any challenge type — 1-Step, 2-Step, 3-Step, and Instant Funding all come with unlimited time. The 2-Step $100K challenge is priced around $379 [UNVERIFIED] with an 8% Phase 1 target and 5% Phase 2 target.

What you get with a $100K 2-Step account:

• Challenge fee: ~$379 [UNVERIFIED — verify on maventrading.com]
• Profit split: 80%, scaling to 85%
• Daily loss limit: 4% ($4,000) | Max drawdown: 8% (static)
• Min trading days: 3
• Trustpilot: 4.6 out of 5 (5,000+ reviews)

The 8% static max drawdown is the middle ground between FTMO's generous 10% and FundedNext's tighter 6%. Your stop-out level is calculated from your starting balance and stays fixed — it does not trail upward as your equity grows, which gives you more breathing room after profitable trades.

Why it ranks fifth: The pricing undercuts most established competitors, the static drawdown is forgiving, and the unlimited time policy applies across every challenge type. Maven also offers a 3-Step challenge that lowers the per-phase targets further, which pairs well with the no-deadline approach.

Trade-off: Maven restricts trading within 2 minutes of high-impact news events, and profits made during those windows are voided. News traders need to plan around this. The profit split also caps at 85%, which is below the 90%–100% ceiling at FTMO, The5ers, and FundedNext.

6. Funding Pips — Best for Flexible Payout Options with Unlimited Time

Read our full Funding Pips review

Funding Pips offers unlimited time on both its 2-Step and 2-Step Pro challenges, with a minimum of 3 trading days per phase. The $100K 2-Step challenge costs $444, and the profit split depends on how frequently you want payouts.

What you get with a $100K 2-Step account:

• Challenge fee: $444 (2-Step) | $499 (Zero/Instant)
• Profit split: 60% (weekly) to 100% (monthly) — you choose the frequency
• Phase 1 target: 8% | Phase 2 target: 5%
• Daily loss limit: 5% ($5,000) | Max drawdown: 10% ($10,000)
• Trustpilot: 4.5 out of 5 (39,000+ reviews)

The payout-frequency model is unique. Choose monthly payouts and you keep 100% of profits. Choose weekly payouts and the split drops to 60%. Biweekly sits at 80%. This lets you match your payout structure to your cash flow needs.

Why it ranks sixth: The 100% profit split on monthly payouts is the highest base split on this list — no scaling required. The 10% max drawdown matches FTMO and The5ers, and 39,000+ Trustpilot reviews provide strong social proof.

Trade-off: The 60% split on weekly payouts is the lowest on this list. Funding Pips also applies a 35% consistency rule on certain account types for daily payouts, so read the terms carefully for the specific program you are purchasing.

7. Alpha Capital Group — Best 2-Step Challenge with Low Minimum Days

Read our full Alpha Capital review

Alpha Capital has no time limit on either phase of its evaluation, and the minimum trading day requirement is just 3 days. That means you could theoretically pass both phases in under two weeks if your setups line up — or take six months if the market conditions do not favor your strategy.

What you get with a $100K account:

• Challenge fee: $497
• Profit split: 80%
• Phase 1 target: 8% | Phase 2 target: 5%
• Daily loss limit: 5% ($5,000) | Max drawdown: 10% ($10,000)
• Min trading days: 3 per phase
• Trustpilot: 4.7 out of 5 (18,000+ reviews)

Alpha Capital has paid out over $100 million to more than 100,000 funded traders, and the 4.7 Trustpilot rating across 18,000 reviews places it among the most consistently well-reviewed firms in the space.

Why it ranks seventh: The evaluation rules are clean — unlimited time, 3-day minimum, 10% static drawdown, and standard profit targets. Alpha Capital is a reliable choice if you want a straightforward 2-Step with no calendar pressure.

Trade-off: The 80% profit split does not scale beyond 80%, which is the lowest ceiling on this list. And on-demand payouts in the funded phase carry a 40% best-day rule, which is a form of consistency restriction. If you want the evaluation freedom but need a higher split, FTMO or FundedNext are stronger funded-phase options.

How We Ranked These Firms

Every firm on this list was evaluated against four criteria, weighted in this order:

1. Time-limit policy scope. Firms with no time limit on both evaluation phases and no hidden calendar-based restrictions ranked highest. All seven firms here offer truly unlimited evaluation time, so differentiation came from the remaining criteria.

2. Payout reliability. Trustpilot ratings, total review volume, years of operation, and total payouts processed. A no-time-limit policy means nothing if the firm does not pay. FTMO and The5ers scored highest on this dimension with the longest operating histories and highest review counts.

3. Drawdown generosity. A wider max drawdown pairs naturally with unlimited time — if you have no deadline, a 10% buffer lets you ride out losing weeks without breaching. Firms with 10% static drawdown ranked above those with 6%.

4. Cost per attempt. Since most traders retake challenges at least once, the price per $100K attempt factors into the overall value. Blue Guardian and Maven scored highest here; FTMO and FundedNext scored lowest.

Why No Time Limit Matters (Especially for Part-Time Traders)

The standard prop firm challenge used to come with a 30-day Phase 1 deadline and a 60-day Phase 2 deadline. That structure forces a specific trading pace: on a $100K account with a 10% target and 30 calendar days, you need to average roughly $333 in profit per trading day (assuming 22 trading days in a month).

That math changes your behavior. You start taking trades you would normally skip. You increase position sizes late in the month because you are behind target. You hold losers longer because closing them means falling further behind the daily average.

Removing the time limit eliminates all of those pressure points. Here is what changes:

You can wait for A+ setups. If your strategy only produces 8 to 12 high-quality trades per month, a 30-day window might force you to pad those with B- and C-grade entries. Unlimited time means you take 8 great trades over 6 weeks instead of 20 mediocre trades in 4 weeks.

Losing streaks do not create a time crisis. A 3-day drawdown in a 30-day challenge eats 10% of your calendar and puts you behind on the profit curve. With unlimited time, those same 3 losing days are just a normal part of the process — you regroup and wait for the next setup.

Part-time traders can compete. If you trade around a 9-to-5 job and only catch the New York session for 90 minutes each day, a 30-day deadline cuts your actual trading time to roughly 30 hours. Unlimited time means you can take weeks off during busy work periods and pick the challenge back up without losing progress.

For a broader look at rules that affect part-time and swing traders, read our guide on common prop firm rules that traders overlook.

What to Watch Out For: Hidden Restrictions Behind "Unlimited Time"

Every firm on this list genuinely offers unlimited evaluation time. But "no time limit" does not mean "no rules." Here are the restrictions that still apply — and the ones that catch traders off guard:

Inactivity clauses. Some firms will close or reset your account if you do not place a trade within 30 to 60 days. The time limit is unlimited, but the inactivity window is not. Check each firm's terms for how long you can go without trading before the account is flagged.

Minimum trading days still apply. FTMO requires 4 trading days per phase. Alpha Capital and Funding Pips require 3. FundedNext requires 2. These are not time limits — they are activity floors. You cannot pass a challenge in a single day, even if one trade hits the full profit target.

Monthly fees on some programs. Certain firms charge a monthly platform or data fee while your challenge is active. If your strategy takes 4 months to reach the target, those fees add up. Verify whether your chosen firm charges any recurring costs during the evaluation.

Funded-phase rules may differ. Unlimited evaluation time does not guarantee unlimited freedom once funded. Alpha Capital's 40% best-day rule on on-demand payouts is one example. Funding Pips applies consistency requirements on certain payout frequencies. Always read the funded-account terms separately from the challenge terms.

Drawdown interacts with time. A 6% max drawdown with unlimited time sounds relaxed — until you are 3 months into a challenge and sitting at -4.5%. The unlimited clock means you can wait for recovery, but the drawdown limit still terminates your account if equity drops too far. Time flexibility does not replace risk management.

FAQ

Which prop firms have no time limit on challenges in 2026?

FTMO, The5ers, FundedNext (Stellar programs), Blue Guardian, Maven Trading, Funding Pips, and Alpha Capital Group all offer unlimited time on their evaluation phases as of mid-2026. Each firm still requires a minimum number of trading days (typically 2 to 4), but there is no maximum deadline for reaching the profit target.

Why do some prop firms remove time limits on challenges?

Competition drove the change. As the prop firm market expanded from a handful of firms in 2020 to dozens in 2026, removing time limits became a way to attract traders who felt pressured by 30-day deadlines. Firms like FTMO and The5ers never had time limits. Others, including FundedNext, removed them as part of program updates in 2024 and 2025. The result benefits traders whose strategies depend on patience over frequency.

Is a prop firm with no time limit better for swing traders?

Yes. Swing traders typically hold positions for 2 to 10 days and may only execute 4 to 8 trades per month. A 30-day challenge deadline forces swing traders to rush entries or increase frequency beyond their strategy's edge. Unlimited time lets swing traders wait for their exact setups across weekly and monthly chart cycles without the pressure of a closing deadline.

Do prop firms with no time limit have higher failure rates?

Not necessarily. The overall pass rate across the industry is generally estimated below 10%, regardless of whether a firm imposes a time limit. What changes is why traders fail. With unlimited time, fewer traders fail because they ran out of calendar days — but the same percentage still fail from drawdown breaches, overtrading, or poor risk management.

Can I take months to complete a no-time-limit challenge?

Yes, at all seven firms on this list. However, watch for inactivity clauses — some firms require at least one trade every 30 to 60 days to keep the account active. As long as you trade within those intervals, you can take 3, 6, or even 12 months to reach the profit target without penalty.

What is the cheapest prop firm with no time limit for a $100K account?

Blue Guardian's 3-Step challenge is priced around $184 for a $100K account [UNVERIFIED], making it the cheapest option we found. The 2-Step is roughly $232. Maven Trading follows at approximately $379. FTMO ($540), FundedNext (~$550), and Alpha Capital ($497) sit at the higher end. The cheapest option is not always the best — factor in drawdown limits, profit splits, and payout reliability before choosing based on price alone.

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