The Best Digital & Printable Templates for Prop Firm Journaling
Prop firm traders live and die by consistency—and one of the best ways to stay consistent is by using the right journaling template. Whether you’re in the evaluation phase or already funded, your journal needs to support your strategy, risk rules, and review habits. This guide explores the top digital and printable templates built specifically for prop firm traders and how to choose the one that works best for your trading style.
Why Templates Matter in Prop Trading
Most traders fail not because their strategy is bad, but because they lack a system to track and improve performance. Templates offer that system. They remove the guesswork from what to log, help reinforce discipline, and make your reviews more efficient. Instead of starting from scratch each day, a template lets you focus on what really matters—execution and reflection.
Key Features to Look For in a Trading Journal Template
- Trade Details: Entry, stop, target, result
- Setup & Reasoning: What qualified the trade?
- Risk Metrics: R:R, % risked, dollar risk
- Emotional State: Mindset before, during, after
- Rule Tracking: Did you break any prop firm rules?
- Screenshots: Room for visual annotations
- Performance Summary: Weekly or monthly insights
Without these, you’re missing the data that will help you pass and stay funded.
Top Printable Journal Templates
If you prefer writing by hand or want something physical on your desk, printable templates are ideal. They support routine and reduce distractions from screens. The Prop Firm Press Journal Sheets are specifically designed for traders working through evaluations or funded accounts. They include:
- Daily Trade Logs
- Weekly Goal Trackers
- Risk Management Snapshots
- Pre-Trade Checklists
- Mistake Spotter & Pattern Loggers
These sheets are printable, binder-friendly, and laid out for fast, structured input.
Top Digital Journal Templates
For traders who like the convenience of cloud access and automation, digital templates are the way to go. These can be built in:
- Google Sheets: Easy sharing, cloud backup, auto-calculations
- Notion: Ideal for combining text, charts, and links
- Excel: Advanced formulas, dashboard creation
- Journaling Apps: Platforms like Edgewonk, Trademetria, or TraderSync
Each option allows for structured logging, trade filtering, and even performance tags to break down behavior across multiple dimensions.
Hybrid Approach: The Best of Both Worlds
Some traders use a hybrid method—tracking emotional and discretionary factors on paper while logging statistics and equity curves in digital tools. For instance, you might log your setups using a printable journal and track win rate trends using a spreadsheet. This helps balance mindfulness with data analysis.
Templates Aligned with Prop Firm Rules
Traders at firms like Funded Futures Network, Instant Funding, or The Legends Trading face unique rule sets such as trailing drawdowns, profit targets, and consistency metrics. Look for templates that allow:
- Drawdown tracking
- Trade-by-trade rule adherence checkboxes
- Time-based logging (e.g., only trading during US session)
- Notes on firm-specific rules violated or upheld
This ensures your journal becomes your best accountability partner—not just a data dump.
What to Avoid in a Journal Template
- Overcomplication: Too many tabs, inputs, or fields lead to burnout
- No review section: Journals without reflection prompts are incomplete
- Lack of customization: You should be able to tweak it to fit your strategy
The goal is to encourage daily use, not overwhelm you into quitting.
Ready-to-Use Options to Save Time
Instead of spending hours building your own journal, start with a pre-built system. The Prop Firm Press Journal Sheets are optimized for traders in evaluations or funded stages and offer a clean design with zero fluff. These sheets help reinforce daily structure and reduce decision fatigue so you can focus on trading.
Your Template Is a Tool—Not a Trophy
Don’t overthink it. The best template is the one you’ll actually use. You don’t need fancy dashboards or app subscriptions if they don’t serve your process. Your journal should help you identify mistakes, track setups, and refine discipline. Whether digital or printed, your journaling system should make you a better trader every single week.