What Is The5ers?
The5ers (also written as The 5%ers) is one of the oldest prop firms in the industry, founded in Israel in 2016 — only a year after FTMO. While it has never commanded the same mainstream visibility as FTMO or FundedNext, The5ers has quietly built one of the most impressive reputations in the space, evidenced by its 4.9/5 Trustpilot rating across more than 20,000 reviews — the highest rating of any major prop firm.
What sets The5ers apart is its philosophy. Where most prop firms focus on the evaluation as a one-time gateway to funding, The5ers treats the entire relationship as a progressive journey. Its scaling model, where accounts can double at each milestone up to $4 million, is designed for traders who think in years rather than weeks.
The firm's name refers to "the top 5% of traders" — those with the discipline and consistency to succeed long-term. This ethos permeates every aspect of the platform, from the low minimum entry fee ($39) to the structured progression through eight scaling levels.
Company Background and Reputation
The5ers operates globally from Israel, serving traders in over 100 countries. The company has built its reputation on longevity (nearly a decade of operations), consistent payout history, and a scaling model that genuinely rewards long-term performance.
Its 4.9/5 Trustpilot score across 20,000+ reviews is remarkable. For context, FTMO holds a 4.8 with 38,000+ reviews and FundedNext a 4.6 with 10,000+. The5ers' consistency in maintaining near-perfect reviews suggests genuine trader satisfaction rather than manufactured feedback. Reviewers consistently highlight clear rules, smooth payouts, and responsive support as standout qualities.
The firm has adapted well to industry changes. In 2024-2025, The5ers transitioned to cTrader as a primary platform (alongside MT5) and expanded into US markets with MatchTrader, navigating the MetaQuotes licensing restrictions that disrupted many competitors.
One notable consideration: The5ers' availability varies by region. Some programmes are available to US traders through specific platform arrangements (primarily MatchTrader), while others may have restrictions. Traders should verify current availability for their region before purchasing.
The Evaluation Process
The5ers offers three distinct evaluation programmes, each designed for different trader profiles and risk tolerances.
Hyper Growth (1-Step)
The fastest path to funding. A single-phase evaluation with a 10% profit target, 5% daily loss limit, and 10% maximum drawdown. No time limit. Minimum 3 profitable trading days required.
This programme is ideal for experienced traders who want to get funded quickly. The straightforward structure — one phase, one target, clear rules — makes it the most accessible option for those confident in their strategy.
High Stakes (2-Step)
A traditional two-phase evaluation designed for traders who want higher leverage and larger starting capital. Phase 1 requires an 8% profit target; Phase 2 requires 5%. Both phases have a 5% daily loss limit and 10% maximum drawdown. No time limit. Leverage up to 1:100.
The evaluation fee is refunded upon successful completion of Phase 2, making the evaluation effectively free for those who pass. Starting capital can reach up to $500,000 after both phases, making this one of the highest-value funded accounts available through a traditional evaluation.
Bootcamp (3-Step)
The most affordable entry point in the prop firm industry, starting at just $39. This three-phase programme is designed for traders who want to prove themselves gradually with minimal financial risk. Profit targets and risk rules are structured to build discipline over time, with each phase requiring a 10% profit target.
The Bootcamp is particularly popular with developing traders who want the experience of trading within prop firm rules without committing significant capital upfront. At $39, the barrier to entry is lower than a single losing trade on most personal accounts.
Trading Rules and Conditions
The5ers maintains a rule set that emphasises discipline without unnecessary restrictions.
Risk Management Rules
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Daily Loss Limit: 5% — Standard across all programmes. Includes unrealised losses. Calculated based on your account balance at the start of each trading day.
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Maximum Overall Loss: 10% — Your account equity cannot drop below 90% of the initial balance at any point.
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Daily Pause Rule: If you hit the daily loss limit, your account is paused until the next trading day (00:00 MT5 server time), not terminated permanently. This is significantly more forgiving than competitors who end accounts on a single daily limit breach.
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Minimum Profitable Days: 3 — You must have at least 3 profitable trading days per evaluation phase. This is lower than most competitors who require 4-10 days.
Trading Restrictions
- Scalping: Allowed across all programmes with no minimum hold time
- News trading: Allowed, though "bracket strategies" (placing pending orders on both sides of a news release) are specifically prohibited
- Expert Advisors: Allowed, provided they represent genuine trading strategies
- Weekend/overnight holding: Depends on the programme and account type
- Hedging: Permitted within the same account
Bootcamp-Specific Rules
The Bootcamp has additional risk controls designed for developing traders: - Mandatory stop-loss: Every position must have a stop-loss placed - 2% maximum risk per trade: Position sizing cannot exceed 2% of account balance at risk - Five violations policy: Accumulating five violations of these rules results in account closure
These additional restrictions may seem limiting, but they serve an educational purpose — they enforce the kind of disciplined risk management that separates successful traders from the rest.
What Makes The5ers Rules Unique
The daily pause rule is a genuine standout feature. Most prop firms terminate your account the moment you breach a daily loss limit, meaning one bad day can erase weeks of progress and your entire evaluation fee. The5ers pauses your account instead, allowing you to resume the next day with your account intact (provided you have not breached the overall drawdown).
This creates a meaningful safety net for traders experiencing volatile sessions. A news spike that temporarily pushes your daily loss beyond 5% does not necessarily end your journey — you simply resume the next day. In practice, this single feature has prevented countless account terminations that would have occurred at other firms.
Platforms and Instruments
The5ers supports MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and MatchTrader. The transition to cTrader as a primary platform reflects broader industry trends toward more modern, feature-rich trading environments.
cTrader offers advanced charting, algorithmic trading capabilities, Level II pricing, and a modern interface that many traders prefer over MT5. Its copy trading feature and API connectivity make it attractive for traders who use automated or semi-automated strategies.
US-based traders are directed to MatchTrader due to MetaQuotes licensing restrictions on MetaTrader platforms. MatchTrader is a growing platform with a strong mobile interface and web-based trading capabilities.
The instrument selection is notably broad: - Forex: 60+ pairs including majors, minors, and exotics - Metals: Gold, Silver, and other precious metals - Indices: Major global indices (US30, NAS100, DAX40, etc.) - Commodities: Energy and agricultural commodities - Cryptocurrencies: Major crypto pairs - Stocks: Available on select programmes
This diversity allows traders to implement multi-asset strategies without needing accounts at multiple firms. A trader who combines forex entries with gold hedging and index exposure can do so within a single The5ers account.
Pricing and Fees
The5ers offers some of the most affordable entry points in the industry:
| Programme | Starting Price | Account Size |
|---|---|---|
| Bootcamp (3-Step) | From $39 | $5,000 starting |
| Hyper Growth (1-Step) | From $95 | $6,000 – $20,000 |
| High Stakes (2-Step) | From $39 (Phase 1) | $20,000 – $100,000 |
Note: Larger account sizes have higher fees. Check The5ers website for current pricing.
The Bootcamp and High Stakes entry fees are refundable upon successful completion. There are no ongoing subscription fees or monthly charges.
The $39 starting price for the Bootcamp makes The5ers the most accessible prop firm for traders who want to test the waters without significant financial commitment. Even if the $39 is lost to a failed attempt, it represents less than a single average losing trade on a personal account.
Profit Split and Payouts
Profit Split Structure
The5ers' profit split is unique in that it starts lower than most competitors but scales dramatically with progression:
- Bootcamp starting split: 50-80% depending on level
- Hyper Growth starting split: 80%
- High Stakes starting split: 80%
- With scaling progression: Increases to 90%, then up to 100% at the highest levels
- Fixed monthly payouts: At certain scaling levels, traders receive monthly fixed payments on top of their profit split — essentially a trading salary
The starting split of 50% on the lowest Bootcamp tier may seem low compared to firms offering 80-95% from day one. However, The5ers compensates with its scaling structure — at the highest levels, traders keep 100% of profits while managing multi-million-dollar accounts and receiving fixed monthly payments.
Payout Schedule
Payouts are processed bi-weekly (every 14 days). The first payout is available 14 days after receiving a funded account. The 14-day cycle resets after each scaling event.
Minimum withdrawal is $150. Processing time is typically 1-3 business days. Payment methods include RiseWorks (crypto-based), bank wire transfer, and other options depending on region.
Payout Reliability
The5ers has maintained consistent payout processing throughout its nearly decade-long history. Multiple Trustpilot reviews specifically mention smooth and timely withdrawals as a key positive. The firm's 4.9 rating reflects, in large part, the reliability of its payout system.
The5ers has not experienced any publicised payout disputes or mass denials, which is increasingly rare in an industry where such events have become depressingly common.
The Scaling Plan
This is where The5ers truly differentiates itself from every other prop firm in the industry. The scaling model is structured across eight progressive levels:
How It Works: - Start at your initial funded account size - Meet a profit target at each level (typically 10%) - Your account doubles at each scaling milestone - Profit split improves at each level - Maximum allocation: $4,000,000
Example progression (starting at $20,000 via Hyper Growth): - Level 1: $20,000 (80% split) - Level 2: $40,000 (split improves) - Level 3: $80,000 (split improves further) - Level 4: $160,000 - Level 5: $320,000 - Level 6: $640,000 - Level 7: $1,280,000 - Level 8: $2,560,000 → $4,000,000
At higher levels, traders also qualify for monthly fixed salary payments in addition to their profit split — a feature that is virtually unique in the prop firm industry. This means a successful, scaled trader receives both a percentage of their trading profits and a guaranteed monthly payment regardless of monthly performance.
The doubling structure means that a trader who consistently meets targets can grow from a $20,000 starting account to managing $4 million. For comparison, FTMO's scaling adds 25% per milestone (reaching $2M maximum), and FundedNext adds 40% per milestone (reaching $4M). The5ers' doubling approach is the most aggressive compounding model available.
The Reality Check
While the $4M ceiling is impressive, reaching it requires passing through all eight levels, each demanding a 10% profit target. Assuming a trader consistently generates 10% over varying periods, the full progression could take 2-4 years of sustained performance. This is not a criticism — it is the point. The5ers is built for traders who are committed to a career, not a quick payout.
Pros
- Highest Trustpilot rating in the industry: 4.9/5 across 20,000+ reviews — no other major prop firm matches this.
- Lowest entry barrier: Start for as little as $39 with the Bootcamp programme.
- Best scaling plan in the industry: Accounts double at each milestone, up to $4M, with fixed monthly salary at higher levels.
- Daily pause (not termination): Hitting the daily loss limit pauses your account rather than ending it permanently.
- Nearly a decade of operations: Founded in 2016, The5ers is one of the longest-running prop firms in existence.
- No time limits: Trade at your own pace across all programmes.
- Wide instrument selection: Forex, metals, indices, commodities, crypto, and stocks available.
- Monthly fixed payouts at higher levels: Salary-like income in addition to profit splits — unique in the industry.
- Fee refunds: Evaluation fees are refunded upon successful completion.
- Only 3 profitable days required: Lower minimum trading day requirement than most competitors.
Cons
- Lower starting profit split: 50% on Bootcamp's earliest levels is significantly below the industry standard of 80-90%.
- Slow initial progression: The three-step Bootcamp and structured scaling mean it takes considerable time to reach higher levels and better profit splits.
- Regional restrictions: Some programmes have limited availability in the US and certain other regions.
- Stop-loss requirement (Bootcamp): Mandatory stop-losses with 2% maximum risk per trade may conflict with some trading strategies that use wider stops or mental stops.
- 30-day inactivity policy: Accounts are closed after 30 consecutive days of inactivity, forfeiting any profits and account balance due for payout.
- Bracket strategies prohibited: Cannot place orders on both sides of news releases, limiting certain news-trading approaches.
- Platform limitations for US traders: MetaTrader restrictions mean US-based clients typically must use MatchTrader.
- 14-day payout cycle resets on scaling: Reaching a new level resets the payout timer, creating a waiting period after each milestone.
Who Should Use The5ers?
The5ers is ideal for: - Traders with a long-term mindset who want to build toward managing millions - Budget-conscious traders who want to start with minimal risk ($39 entry) - Disciplined traders who value a structured, progressive growth system - Those who want the safety net of a daily pause rule rather than immediate account termination - Traders who appreciate a firm with a proven, nearly decade-long track record - Career-oriented traders attracted to the fixed salary component at higher levels
The5ers is not ideal for: - Traders seeking the highest possible profit split from day one - Those who want quick, large payouts without going through a scaling process - Aggressive traders who do not use stop-losses (Bootcamp requirement) - Traders in regions where The5ers has service restrictions - Impatient traders who want maximum income in the shortest possible time - News traders who rely on bracket strategies around economic releases
Red Flags to Watch
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Scaling timeline: While the $4M scaling potential is genuinely impressive, reaching it requires passing through eight levels of 10% profit targets. Realistically, this could take 2-4 years of consistent trading. Traders should set realistic expectations.
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Profit split trade-off: The low starting split (50% on Bootcamp) means you earn significantly less in the early stages compared to competitors. You are essentially investing time and accepting lower initial returns in exchange for long-term scaling potential.
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Inactivity enforcement: The 30-day inactivity rule is strictly enforced. Traders who take extended breaks (illness, travel, personal issues) risk losing their account and accumulated profits. There are no exceptions published for this rule.
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Rule evolution: Like all prop firms, The5ers periodically updates its rules and programme structures. The transition from older instant funding models to the current evaluation-based system shows the firm is willing to make significant changes to its offerings.
The Verdict
The5ers is a prop firm for marathon runners, not sprinters. If you are looking for the highest profit split from day one or the fastest path to withdrawals, there are better options — FundedNext, FTMO, or FXify will get you earning faster. But if you are looking for a firm that will grow with you over months and years, progressively increasing your capital and profit share until you are managing millions with a fixed salary, The5ers offers something genuinely unique in the prop trading industry.
The combination of its 4.9 Trustpilot rating (the best in the business), nearly decade-long track record, $39 minimum entry, and doubling scaling plan makes The5ers one of the most compelling long-term propositions in prop trading. The daily pause rule (rather than termination) shows a firm that genuinely wants its traders to succeed, not one looking for reasons to fail them.
The trade-off is patience. The5ers rewards consistency and time. If you can accept a lower starting split and commit to the journey through the scaling levels, the destination — managing $4M with a 100% profit split and monthly fixed payments — is more lucrative than almost anything else in the prop firm space. It is the closest thing to being hired as a professional trader without actually joining a hedge fund.
Bottom line: The5ers is not the most glamorous prop firm, but for traders willing to play the long game, it may be the smartest investment in the industry.
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