Account Types

One-Step Challenge

Definition

An evaluation with a single phase - pass one profit target to get funded.

How It Works

One-step (or single-phase) challenges require traders to hit one profit target while respecting drawdown limits. Compared to two-step challenges, they're faster to complete but often have higher profit targets (e.g., 10% vs 8%) or stricter rules.

One-step programs are popular with experienced traders who want to get funded quickly. The trade-off is usually a slightly higher entry fee or lower profit split compared to the two-step equivalent at the same firm.

Free tool Pass Comparison See which firm challenge your strategy is most likely to pass.

How does a one-step challenge actually work?

A one-step challenge collapses the evaluation into a single phase: hit one profit target, stay inside the drawdown rules, and the account converts to funded. There is no Phase 2 to repeat the target on - which is the entire appeal. We currently track 165 firms that offer at least one one-step program, across 1,249 individual challenge listings (spanning account sizes from $5K to $400K and multiple pricing tiers per firm).

Because the firm only gets one data point on your trading before handing over live capital, one-step programs typically compensate with a higher profit target and/or a tighter drawdown than the equivalent two-step plan at the same firm. Pulled directly from our challenge database, the most common rule combination across one-step programs is a 10% profit target (the single most frequent target, ahead of 9%, 8%, and 6% variants) against a 6% maximum drawdown (the most frequent drawdown figure, ahead of 8%, 10%, 5%, and 4%).

One-step vs. two-step: the real trade-off

Attribute	One-Step	Two-Step
Number of phases	1	2 (Phase 1 + Phase 2)
Most common profit target	10%	8-10% (Phase 1), 5% (Phase 2)
Most common max drawdown	6%	Typically 8-10%, same across both phases
Best suited for	Traders who want funding fast and are confident hitting one target	Traders who want to prove consistency over two passes, often for a better split

Key insight: Do not judge a one-step plan on speed alone. A tighter drawdown means less room for error - a single bad session can end the challenge in a way a two-phase evaluation might absorb.

Which firms use one-step challenges in 2026?

One-step programs are the default at most futures-focused prop firms in our database - Apex Trader Funding, MyFundedFutures, Bulenox, and Topstep all run one-step-only evaluations for their core products (verified against each firm's challenge listings live this session). Some firms give traders a choice: FundedNext, for example, offers a one-step, a two-step, and an instant-funding path side by side.

Pricing on one-step plans spans the same range as the rest of the market - our cheapest currently-listed one-step challenge is $4 for a $5K account (WenCrypto), with several firms (FundingRock, Atmos Funded, Next Level Funded, FTUK, Flagship Funded) offering a one-step $100K evaluation for under $15 during active promotions. Always check the live deals page for current pricing, since one-step plans are the most frequently discounted product type on the site.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a one-step prop firm challenge?

A one-step (or single-phase) challenge is an evaluation with only one profit target to hit before you receive a funded account, instead of the two separate targets required by a two-step challenge. We track 165 firms offering at least one one-step program.

Is a one-step challenge harder than a two-step challenge?

It depends on the rules, not just the number of phases. One-step programs in our database most commonly carry a 10% profit target against a 6% max drawdown - a tighter drawdown than the typical two-step plan - so the challenge is compressed into less room for error rather than being objectively easier or harder.

Which prop firms offer one-step challenges?

Apex Trader Funding, MyFundedFutures, Bulenox, and Topstep run one-step-only evaluations for their core futures products. Other firms, like FundedNext, offer a one-step option alongside two-step and instant-funding alternatives.

Is a one-step challenge cheaper than a two-step challenge?

Not inherently - pricing depends on the firm and account size, not the number of phases. Our cheapest one-step listing is a $5K account for $4; several firms also run one-step $100K evaluations under $15 during active promotions, so compare live pricing on our deals page rather than assuming one format is always cheaper.