Why Understanding Prop Firm Discounts Matters
For many traders entering the world of prop firms, discount codes feel like a side bonus — but in reality, understanding how prop firm discounts work can significantly influence your evaluation strategy, risk tolerance, and even the firm you choose. Discounts aren’t just about saving money. They reveal a firm’s approach to marketing, trader acquisition, and how they structure their business model. If you’re new to prop trading or comparing evaluation offers, this guide will break down how these discounts function — and provide real examples from top firms like Day Traders, Prop Shop Traders, and Lucid Trading.
The Basics of Prop Firm Evaluation Pricing
Before we dive into discounts, it’s important to understand how prop firm pricing works without promotions. Most firms operate on a pay-to-enter model, where traders pay a one-time or monthly fee to participate in an evaluation challenge. The price is usually based on account size, risk parameters, and whether the challenge is one-phase, two-phase, or instant funding.
- One-Phase Models: Typically require a profit target with rules on daily/overall drawdown.
- Two-Phase Models: Involve a second verification step after passing the first target.
- Instant Funding: Higher upfront costs but immediate access to live capital under stricter rules.
For example, a 100K evaluation from a popular futures firm could cost $145–$250 normally, depending on whether it’s a static or trailing drawdown model.
Types of Prop Firm Discounts You’ll Encounter
Not all discounts are created equal. Some offer a deep percentage cut, while others provide added features or reset benefits. Here’s what you might come across:
- Percentage Off: The most common type — 20%, 50%, even 90% off the evaluation fee.
- Free Trials or Free Challenges: No upfront cost to try a limited version of the evaluation.
- Lifetime Discounts: Applied automatically to future resets or scaling plans for that account.
- Combo Deals: Bundled features like free resets + discount or extended trading periods.
Prop firms use these offers to drive traffic during peak seasons or when launching new products. Prop Shop Traders, for example, occasionally offers a completely free one-step evaluation to new users — no payment required to start.
How Discounts Are Applied at Checkout
Discounts typically work in one of two ways:
- Manual Code Entry: You enter a code like OAVLKOCS during checkout at Day Traders to receive 90% off.
- Auto-Applied Links: Clicking a special affiliate link auto-applies the discount in your cart — no code required.
Some firms make it very obvious when a discount is applied. Others are more subtle and may require users to verify the final price before completing payment. Always double-check your total before purchase to ensure your code is active.
Real Example: Day Traders 90% Off
Day Traders is currently running one of the most aggressive promotions in the industry: 90% OFF on all Trailing Evaluation plans. With code OAVLKOCS, a $100 account drops to just $10. This makes it one of the most accessible entry points for new futures traders.
However, traders should be aware that these discounted accounts have all the same rules as full-price plans. No functionality is reduced. This makes it an excellent value — especially for traders looking to test a strategy with minimal upfront cost.
Real Example: Lucid Trading 40% OFF
Lucid Trading offers a flat 40% discount on all challenge accounts. Unlike flash sales, this deal is ongoing and does not require a time-sensitive promo window. The discount is applied at checkout using code PROPFIRMPRESS.
Lucid’s pricing model includes static drawdown and high profit splits, making their 40% discount even more valuable for traders who prefer swing or multi-day trading. Compared to firms with trailing drawdowns, Lucid provides flexibility that aligns well with slower-paced strategies.
Are These Discounts Too Good to Be True?
It’s a fair question. A 90% discount seems extreme — why would any firm do that? The answer is in the business model. Prop firms are looking for volume, not just success stories. Most traders do not pass on the first try. Offering steep discounts helps bring in more attempts and more data for firms to analyze trader behavior.
Think of it like a gym membership promo. The initial cost gets you in the door — but the real business comes from the long-term relationship. If you pass, the firm gets a percentage of your profits. If you don’t, they may still earn from resets or retry attempts.
Why Some Discounts Require Affiliate Links
Many firms rely on affiliate marketers and partners to spread the word about their offers. Instead of spending heavily on ads, they share a portion of the revenue with sites like Prop Firm Press in exchange for delivering qualified leads.
As a result, some of the best discounts are only available through affiliate links. These links also help track which channel or partner delivered the trader. For example, Instant Funding offers 30% off using code AFFBLAZELIMA, which is exclusive to promotional partners.
Discount Codes and Reset Rules
One thing many traders overlook is how discounts affect resets. Some firms allow you to reset an evaluation account at a discounted rate if your original purchase was full-price. However, if you buy an account at 90% off, resets may cost full price — or be unavailable entirely.
Always review the reset and retry policy before making a discounted purchase. Some examples:
- Funded Futures Network: 50% OFF and resets available at the same rate.
- Blue Guardian: 40% OFF discounts may limit eligibility for reset coupons.
- Bright Funded: Reset discounts may vary depending on original purchase method.
How to Use Discounts Without Sacrificing Discipline
The biggest trap with prop firm discounts is thinking that lower cost means lower risk — and that mindset can destroy your funded journey. Cheap entries often lead to overtrading, poor preparation, or emotional decisions.
To trade smart while using discounts:
- Treat every challenge like a live account, no matter the price.
- Use trading journal sheets to track performance and learn from mistakes.
- Plan your strategy before buying — not after entering the challenge.
- Limit yourself to one or two evaluations at a time for maximum focus.
Discipline is what gets you funded — not just a discount.
When Are the Best Discounts Available?
While some firms have evergreen offers, the biggest discounts usually appear during:
- Black Friday & Cyber Monday
- New Year & Q1 Strategy Sales
- Summer Slowdowns (June–August)
- Affiliate Partner Campaigns (often monthly)
To never miss a deal, bookmark Prop Firm Press and check the updated discount board weekly. Many flash offers last only 48–72 hours and are not advertised on the firm’s main homepage.
Summary: How Prop Firm Discounts Work — And Why They Matter
Prop firm discounts aren’t just marketing tricks — they’re strategic tools used by firms to onboard new traders, increase challenge volume, and test new offerings. For traders, they present an opportunity to enter the funding world at a lower cost — but with the same high standards for passing and payout.
By understanding how these discounts work, when they’re applied, and what to look out for, you can take advantage of the best deals while avoiding common traps. Use affiliate-backed discounts like those from Day Traders, Prop Shop Traders, or Instant Funding — but only when you’re ready to follow through with a plan and a journaled strategy.
Use the discount — but earn the funding. That’s the trader’s edge.