Choosing the right proprietary trading firm can make or break your trading career. With dozens of prop firms competing for traders, understanding the differences between BluSky.pro and its main competitors is crucial. This comprehensive comparison examines how BluSky stacks up against FTMO, TopstepTrader, Earn2Trade, and other leading prop firms across pricing, profit splits, payout speed, trading rules, and platform support.
Quick Comparison Table
BluSky.pro
- Starting Price: $49/month
- Account Sizes: $25K-$300K
- Profit Split: Up to 90%
- Payout Frequency: Daily
- News Trading: Allowed
- Pass Rate: 16.9%
- Funding Speed: 8 days minimum
- Markets: Futures only
FTMO
- Starting Price: $155+
- Account Sizes: $10K-$200K
- Profit Split: 80-90%
- Payout Frequency: Biweekly
- News Trading: Restricted
- Pass Rate: ~10-15%
- Funding Speed: 4-8 weeks
- Markets: Forex, Indices, Commodities
TopstepTrader
- Starting Price: $165+
- Account Sizes: $50K-$150K
- Profit Split: 80-90%
- Payout Frequency: Monthly
- News Trading: Restricted
- Pass Rate: ~10-12%
- Funding Speed: 2-4 weeks
- Markets: Futures only
Earn2Trade
- Starting Price: $165+
- Account Sizes: $25K-$200K
- Profit Split: 80-90%
- Payout Frequency: Monthly
- News Trading: Restricted
- Pass Rate: ~12-15%
- Funding Speed: 2-4 weeks
- Markets: Futures only
Pricing Comparison
BluSky.pro Pricing Advantage
BluSky offers the most affordable entry point in the prop trading industry:
- Launch Plans starting at $49/month ($50K account)
- Premium+ Launch at $59/month ($100K account)
- Static Growth+ at $69/month ($200K account)
- Standard plans range from $150-$320/month
FTMO Pricing
FTMO's evaluation fees are significantly higher:
- $155 for $10,000 account
- $345 for $25,000 account
- $540 for $50,000 account
- $1,080 for $100,000 account
- $10,800 for $200,000 account
One-time fees instead of monthly subscriptions, but higher barrier to entry.
TopstepTrader Pricing
TopstepTrader uses a monthly subscription model:
- $165/month for $50,000 account
- $325/month for $100,000 account
- $375/month for $150,000 account
No Launch Plan equivalent, making initial entry more expensive than BluSky.
Earn2Trade Pricing
Earn2Trade offers one-time evaluation fees:
- $165 for $25,000 account
- $250 for $40,000 account
- $335 for $60,000 account
- $430 for $100,000 account
- $625 for $150,000 account
- $995 for $200,000 account
Profit Split Comparison
BluSky's Unique Structure
- 90% profit split to the trader
- 10% to BluSky
- No profit caps or hidden fees
- No monthly platform fees for funded accounts
FTMO Profit Split
- 80% standard profit split
- 90% available with Scaling Plan
- Monthly $25-$80 platform fee
- Profit caps vary by account size
TopstepTrader Profit Split
- 80% standard profit split
- 90% available after meeting conditions
- $150-$200 monthly platform fee
- Performance coaching included
Earn2Trade Profit Split
- 80% standard profit split
- 90% available with certain account types
- No monthly fees after funding
- Profit caps on some account levels
Payout Speed and Frequency
BluSky: Industry-Leading Daily Payouts
- Daily payout processing Monday-Friday
- Request before 11 AM EST for same-day ACH
- PayPal, Binance, Coinbase options via Deel
- No minimum time between withdrawals
FTMO: Biweekly Payouts
- Payouts processed every 14 days
- Bank transfer or cryptocurrency options
- Minimum 10 trading days between requests
- First payout after 14 days from first trade
TopstepTrader: Monthly Payouts
- Payouts once per month
- First payout after 5 days of trading
- Subsequent payouts monthly
- $50 minimum withdrawal
Earn2Trade: Monthly Payouts
- Payouts on first of each month
- No minimum withdrawal amount
- Multiple payment methods
- Processing time varies by method
Trading Rules Comparison
BluSky Trading Rules
- News trading allowed during economic releases
- No minimum trading days before withdrawal
- Trailing drawdown (or static with Static Growth plans)
- 30% consistency threshold (no penalty)
- No restrictions on holding overnight positions
- No prohibited trading times
FTMO Trading Rules
- News trading restricted (2 minutes before/after major releases)
- Minimum 10 trading days per cycle
- Static drawdown model
- No consistency rule
- Weekend holding allowed
- Some instruments restricted during news
TopstepTrader Trading Rules
- News trading restricted during major events
- Minimum 5 days before first payout
- Trailing drawdown model
- Consistency rule varies by account
- Overnight and weekend holding allowed
- Some blackout periods
Earn2Trade Trading Rules
- News trading restricted during high-impact releases
- Minimum 10 trading days per phase
- Static drawdown model
- No consistency requirement
- Overnight holding allowed
- Must close positions before weekends (some accounts)
Platform Support Comparison
BluSky Platform Options
Over 10 platforms supported:
- NinjaTrader (free license included)
- TradingView (via Tradovate)
- Tradovate
- Sierra Chart
- Quantower
- Jigsaw
- ATAS
- Bookmap
- MotiveWave
- R|Trader Pro
- Volumetrica
FTMO Platform Options
Limited platform selection:
- MetaTrader 4
- MetaTrader 5
- cTrader
- DXtrade
TopstepTrader Platform Options
Professional futures platforms:
- NinjaTrader
- Tradovate
- Quantower
- TradingView (beta)
Earn2Trade Platform Options
Futures-focused platforms:
- R|Trader Pro
- NinjaTrader
- Quantower
- TSTrader
Markets and Instruments
BluSky Markets
- Futures contracts exclusively
- Currency futures
- Equity index futures
- Commodity futures
- Energy futures
- Agricultural futures
- Cryptocurrency futures (CME)
FTMO Markets
- Forex (60+ pairs)
- Stock indices (18 markets)
- Commodities (Metals, Energy)
- Cryptocurrencies (CFDs)
TopstepTrader Markets
- Futures contracts exclusively
- Similar range to BluSky
- CME Group products
- EUREX products
Earn2Trade Markets
- Futures contracts exclusively
- CME products focus
- Equity indices
- Commodities
- Currencies
Automation and Bot Trading
BluSky Automation Support
- Full automated trading support
- TradingView alert execution
- NinjaScript algorithms
- Pine Script strategies
- Third-party automation tools
- API access through platforms
FTMO Automation Support
- Limited automated trading
- Must use approved EAs
- No third-party automation tools
- Strict risk management requirements
- Copy trading prohibited
TopstepTrader Automation Support
- Automated trading allowed
- Must follow risk rules
- Platform-native automation only
- No external signal copying
- Algorithm approval may be required
Earn2Trade Automation Support
- Automated strategies allowed
- Must comply with all rules
- Platform-based automation
- No external signals
- Strategy disclosure required
Evaluation Process Comparison
BluSky Evaluation
Three-phase process:
- Evaluation: Learn platform and rules
- BluLive: Trade with real-time simulation
- Funded: Real capital trading
- Minimum 8 trading days per phase
- Fast funding in as little as 8 days total
- 16.9% pass rate
FTMO Evaluation
Two-phase process:
- FTMO Challenge: Meet profit target
- Verification: Prove consistency
- Minimum 10 trading days per phase
- 4-8 weeks to funding typically
- ~10-15% pass rate
TopstepTrader Evaluation
Single Combine or multiple steps:
- Trading Combine (one-step)
- Express Funded Evaluation (two-step)
- 5-10 trading days minimum
- 2-4 weeks to funding typically
- ~10-12% pass rate
Earn2Trade Evaluation
Two to the evaluation process depending on program:
- Gauntlet Mini (one-step)
- The Gauntlet (two-step)
- Trader Career Path (three-step)
- 10 trading days minimum per phase
- 2-4 weeks to funding
- ~12-15% pass rate
Instant Funding Options
BluSky Direct 2 Funded
- $749 one-time fee
- $3,500 starting capital
- 50% profit split (first 30 days)
- 80% profit split thereafter
- Immediate funding
FTMO Instant Funding
- Not currently available
- Must complete evaluation
TopstepTrader Express Funding
- Available for certain accounts
- Higher fees than evaluation
- Immediate access to capital
Earn2Trade Instant Funding
- Not available
- Must complete evaluation process
Scaling and Growth Opportunities
BluSky Scaling
- Start at $25K, grow to $300K
- Scale based on consistent performance
- Multiple funded accounts possible
- Growth timeline varies by trader
FTMO Scaling
- Aggressive scaling plan
- Start at $10K, grow to $2M
- 10% account increase every 4 months
- Can hold multiple accounts
TopstepTrader Scaling
- Moderate scaling opportunities
- Account growth based on performance
- Multiple accounts allowed
- Slower growth pace than FTMO
Earn2Trade Scaling
- Conservative scaling approach
- Account size increases with consistency
- Multiple accounts permitted
- Focus on risk management
Education and Support
BluSky Education
- One-on-one coaching included
- Active Discord community
- Platform tutorials
- Limited educational content library
FTMO Education
- Extensive educational resources
- Trading psychology content
- Webinars and workshops
- Performance analytics
TopstepTrader Education
- Comprehensive trader education
- Live trading sessions
- Community forums
- Performance coaching
Earn2Trade Education
- Structured learning paths
- Exam-based qualification
- Trading courses included
- Mentorship programs
Which Prop Firm is Right for You?
Choose BluSky.pro If You:
- Want the lowest entry cost ($49/month)
- Need daily payout flexibility
- Trade futures exclusively
- Want to trade during news events
- Prefer automated trading strategies
- Value fast funding timeline (8 days)
- Like having 10+ platform options
Choose FTMO If You:
- Trade forex or CFDs primarily
- Want aggressive scaling to $2M
- Prefer static drawdown rules
- Can afford higher entry fees
- Want extensive educational resources
- Don't mind longer funding timeline
Choose TopstepTrader If You:
- Focus on futures trading
- Value comprehensive education
- Want performance coaching
- Prefer established reputation
- Don't need daily payouts
- Can handle monthly subscription costs
Choose Earn2Trade If You:
- Want structured learning program
- Prefer multiple evaluation options
- Focus on risk management education
- Like one-time fee structure
- Don't need instant funding
- Value educational credentials
Conclusion
BluSky.pro distinguishes itself from competitors primarily through its combination of low entry costs, daily payouts, flexible trading rules, and extensive platform support. While FTMO offers superior scaling potential and educational resources, TopstepTrader provides comprehensive coaching, and Earn2Trade delivers structured learning paths, BluSky's affordability and trader-friendly policies make it particularly attractive for cost-conscious futures traders who value payout flexibility.
The choice ultimately depends on your specific needs:
- Budget-conscious traders will appreciate BluSky's $49 entry point
- News traders benefit from BluSky's permissive rules
- Automation enthusiasts prefer BluSky's broad platform support
- Those needing quick cash flow value BluSky's daily payouts
However, if you prioritize extensive education, aggressive scaling to multi-million dollar accounts, or trade forex over futures, competitors like FTMO or TopstepTrader may better suit your goals.
Ready to get started with prop trading? Evaluate your priorities using this comparison and choose the firm that aligns with your trading style, budget, and career objectives.