# Which prop firms are best for algo and HFT traders?

> For bots, FTMO and FundedNext Futures fit best: both allow automation on evaluation and funded accounts, allow a VPS and publish a hard limit. None of the 14 firms we checked allows HFT. ROMER, which publishes this page, allows HFT at every stage and runs algos on its own hardware at the exchange.

Last verified: 2026-09-30. Page: https://romertrading.io/help/best-prop-firms-for-algo-traders. Published by ROMER (https://romertrading.io), a funded-trader program for algorithmic and high-frequency traders.

## How we compared firms

ROMER publishes this page and is one of the entries. It's a funded-trader program for algorithmic and high-frequency traders, so we have a stake in how the list reads. We judged every firm, ours included, on the same facts from its own rules, help centre and pricing pages, checked between 27 and 30 September 2026.

For each firm we checked whether bots or EAs are allowed and at which stages, and the [hard limits](/help/what-counts-as-hft-at-a-prop-firm) a fast strategy runs into, such as message caps, trade counts and hold times. We checked [VPS rules](/help/prop-firms-that-allow-vps), whether the funded account is [simulated or live](/help/sim-funded-vs-live-funded), and whether bots may [trade live capital](/help/can-i-run-my-algo-from-evaluation-to-live). For price we took the lowest list price for about $50,000 on a plan that allows bots.

The other firms that allow bots come first, ordered by how far a bot can go under their rules: bots on evaluation and funded accounts, a VPS, a published limit and a stated route to live capital. ROMER, our own program, comes after them, and firms that ban bots come last.

## The firms that allow bots, side by side

None of the 14 firms we checked allows [high-frequency trading](/help/which-prop-firms-allow-hft). These ten allow bots in some form.

| Firm | Bots | HFT and hard limits | VPS | Funded account | From, about $50K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTMO | Allowed on futures and CFDs | Banned. CFD EAs: at most 2,000 server requests a day | Generally allowed | Simulated; live futures account by invitation | $119 a month (Futures Growth) |
| FundedNext | Futures: all stages. CFDs: under $50,000, for a fee | Banned. Futures: profit from trades under 10 seconds must stay below 40% | Futures: allowed | Simulated; live review after 15 rewards | $133.99 once (Futures Flex) |
| Tradeify | If you're the sole owner | Banned. Funded payouts need most trades over 10 seconds | After a normal login | Simulated; 3.0% moved to live | $145 once (Growth) |
| Lucid Trading | Allowed | Banned. Flagged if over half of profit comes from holds of 5 seconds or less | Not stated | Simulated; live at Lucid's discretion | $138 once (LucidDaily) |
| Velotrade | API on every account | Banned, with tick scalping. No set threshold | Allowed | Simulated; no route to live stated | $305 once (PRO 1-Step) |
| MyFundedFutures | If it doesn't exploit simulated fills; CME guidelines on live | Banned. No number | Not stated | Simulated; 4.2% promoted to live | $153 once (Builder) |
| HyroTrader | Your own bot through a Bybit API key | Banned. No number | Not stated | Simulated; real capital possible after 15% profit | $379 refundable deposit (Two Step) |
| Topstep | Paid API; not on live accounts | Banned. No fixed number | Banned | Simulated; 0.71% called up to live in 2025 | $49 a month plus $149 activation |
| The5ers | Forex and CFD EAs whose code you own; not futures | Banned: most trades lasting "a few seconds or less" | Not stated | Its "trading capital"; it chooses whether to execute your trades | $249 once (High Stakes) |
| FundingPips | Your own EA, with proof | Banned, with "server spamming" | Banned | Simulated | $224 once (2 Step Pro) |
| ROMER (our program) | Every stage (planned) | Allowed (planned). Spoofing banned; exchange message limits apply | Not needed | Planned: two stages, then our capital. Not guaranteed | $249 a month (planned) |

HyroTrader returns its deposit with your first payout, and Topstep's API adds $29 a month.

## What each firm is good for

### FTMO

FTMO suits a bot that trades at ordinary speed. Automated trading is permitted on its futures accounts, EAs are allowed on CFD accounts and a VPS is "generally allowed". On CFDs it publishes a hard number, too: an EA must not cause "more than 2,000 server requests per day". FTMO bans "high-frequency strategies and latency arbitrage", and offers its futures Live Funded Account "by invitation only". [FTMO vs ROMER](/compare/ftmo-vs-romer)

### FundedNext

FundedNext Futures suits a futures bot. It allows bots "during both the Challenge and on FundedNext Accounts", and a VPS on both. The limit is speed: it bans HFT, and profit from trades closed within 10 seconds must stay below 40% of a cycle's profit. [FundedNext vs ROMER](/compare/fundednext-vs-romer)

### Tradeify

Tradeify suits a bot you own outright. You must be "the sole owner of the bot or strategy", and it may ask for "a live video of you enabling the code on your own PC". It bans HFT bots, and a funded payout needs over half your trades, and over half your profit, to come from trades longer than 10 seconds. [Tradeify vs ROMER](/compare/tradeify-vs-romer)

### Lucid Trading

Lucid permits "Automated trading systems and trade copiers". It bans HFT and flags an account when "More than 50% of your profits are generated from trades held for 5 seconds or less", so a bot that holds longer fits well. [Lucid Trading vs ROMER](/compare/lucid-vs-romer)

### Velotrade

Velotrade gives every account, evaluation and funded, API access "without a separate approval process", and allows a VPS. It bans HFT and tick scalping without setting a threshold. The catch is the account: "All customers are provided with demo accounts with simulated funds", and we found no route to live capital. [Velotrade vs ROMER](/compare/velotrade-vs-romer)

### MyFundedFutures

MyFundedFutures suits a futures bot that doesn't "exploit the favorable fills offered in the Simulated Environment". It bans HFT without a number, so its own review decides. Its rules also cover bots on live accounts, where traders "must abide by CME guidelines". [MyFundedFutures vs ROMER](/compare/myfundedfutures-vs-romer)

### HyroTrader

HyroTrader, a [crypto firm](/help/crypto-prop-firms-that-allow-bots), lets you link your own bot to a Bybit demo account with an API key, though not on its CLEO platform. It bans HFT. Its accounts "operate in a simulated demo environment", and traders with consistent results and at least 15% profit become eligible for real capital. [HyroTrader vs ROMER](/compare/hyrotrader-vs-romer)

### Topstep

Topstep allows bots through its paid TopstepX API, in the Trading Combine and Express Funded Account. It bans HFT, and your code must run on your own machine: "All trading activity must originate from your personal device." The API isn't available on live accounts, so a bot can earn you a call-up but can't trade the live account. [Topstep vs ROMER](/compare/topstep-vs-romer)

### The5ers

The5ers suits an EA on forex or CFDs, if you own its source code and it avoids HFT, tick scalping and latency arbitrage. Its terms also require The5ers' "prior written approval" for automated trading software. Its futures program doesn't support "algorithmic actions". Once you're funded, its terms let The5ers decide "whether to execute the suggested trades or not". [The5ers vs ROMER](/compare/the5ers-vs-romer)

### FundingPips

FundingPips suits a forex trader running an EA they wrote. Third-party EAs may act only "as a trade or risk manager", and full automation needs proof that the EA is yours. It bans HFT, "server spamming" and trading through a VPN or VPS, and says "Every FundingPips account runs on simulated capital with real cash rewards." [FundingPips vs ROMER](/compare/fundingpips-vs-romer)

### ROMER (our program)

ROMER is the only entry here built for colocated HFT. Bots, algos and HFT are allowed at every stage, and algos run on our hardware [inside the exchange's data centre](/help/prop-firm-with-colocated-servers), with an illustrative latency design target of under 1 microsecond. You can trade by hand as well, but those orders cross the network from your computer to our servers first and don't get the colocated speed. We monitor every order, and manipulative trading such as spoofing isn't allowed.

Stage 1 is a simulated evaluation of at least 3 trading days. In Stage 2, Verification, the algo has to pass again over at least 10 new trading days to show the Stage 1 result wasn't luck, with fills still simulated. The best algos then trade our own capital on the real exchange, and the trader keeps 80% of real profits, though funding isn't guaranteed. Planned pricing, which may change, starts at $149 a month, with $249 a month for $50K and no activation fee. The monthly fee covers running your algo on our hardware inside the exchange's data centre.

## Firms that don't allow bots

When we checked on 30 September 2026, Apex Trader Funding's rules said "No Automation or Algorithm Usage allowed" and counted HFT as manipulation of the simulated environment. Take Profit Trader's policy is "No Trading Bots or Algos". Alpha Futures prohibits "AI, bots, and other automated trading mechanisms" on all account types, and says order book spamming "is taking advantage of the sim environment". Kraken Prop takes orders "placed manually through the trading interface", and Breakout's own help centre has no bot rule.

Both of those rules point to the simulator, which can give fast orders [fills a real market wouldn't](/help/why-prop-firms-ban-hft). Each has its own comparison with ROMER: [Apex](/compare/apex-vs-romer), [Take Profit Trader](/compare/take-profit-trader-vs-romer), [Alpha Futures](/compare/alpha-futures-vs-romer) and [Breakout](/compare/breakout-vs-romer).

## Quick answers

**Which prop firm allows HFT?**
None of the 14 firms we checked. Twelve ban or restrict it by name, Take Profit Trader bans all bots, and Kraken Prop takes manual orders only. ROMER, which publishes this list, allows HFT at every stage.

**Can I run a bot on a prop firm's live account?**
Few firms say. Topstep's API isn't available on its Live Funded Account, and MyFundedFutures says live traders using automation "must abide by CME guidelines". We found no rule either way at the other firms that allow bots.

**Which prop firms allow a VPS for bots?**
FTMO, FundedNext Futures and Velotrade allow one, and Tradeify allows a VPS for trading once you've logged in normally. Topstep and FundingPips ban it. At ROMER, algos run on our hardware inside the exchange's data centre, so there's no VPS to rent.

**Is this list independent?**
No. ROMER publishes it and is one of the entries. We used each firm's own published rules and prices, judged every firm on the same facts, and placed ROMER after the other firms that allow bots so that we aren't ranking our own program.

## Sources

1. [FTMO: Forbidden trading practices (FTMO Futures)](https://ftmo.com/en/futures/forbidden-trading-practices/)
2. [FTMO: Forbidden trading practices (CFD)](https://ftmo.com/en/forbidden-trading-practices/)
3. [FTMO FAQ: Can I travel or use VPN/VPS?](https://ftmo.com/en/faq/can-i-travel-or-use-vpn-vps/)
4. [FTMO Futures: How it works (Live Funded Account)](https://ftmo.com/en/futures/how-it-works/)
5. [FTMO Futures: Comparison table (prices)](https://ftmo.com/en/futures/comparison-table/)
6. [FundedNext Futures help centre: Automated trading systems (EAs and bots)](https://helpfutures.fundednext.com/en/articles/14298560-is-the-usage-of-automated-trading-systems-eas-and-bots-allowed-in-fundednext-futures)
7. [FundedNext Futures help centre: Can I use VPN/VPS?](https://helpfutures.fundednext.com/en/articles/14264100-can-i-use-vpn-vps-to-trade-in-fundednext-futures)
8. [FundedNext Futures help centre: Does FundedNext Futures allow HFT?](https://helpfutures.fundednext.com/en/articles/15358782-does-fundednext-futures-allow-high-frequency-trading-hft)
9. [FundedNext Futures help centre: Micro-scalping policy](https://helpfutures.fundednext.com/en/articles/17230376-what-is-the-micro-scalping-policy-in-fundednext-futures)
10. [FundedNext Futures help centre: Road to live trading](https://helpfutures.fundednext.com/en/articles/16522296-road-to-live-trading-rapid-challenge-and-flex-challenge)
11. [FundedNext help centre: Is EA allowed in FundedNext? (CFDs)](https://help.fundednext.com/en/articles/8020763-is-ea-allowed-in-fundednext)
12. [FundedNext Futures: Flex plan (price, as listed on 27 September 2026)](https://fundednext.com/futures/flex)
13. [Tradeify help centre: Guidelines for traders](https://help.tradeify.co/en/articles/10468318-guidelines-for-traders)
14. [Tradeify help centre: Common FAQs](https://help.tradeify.co/en/articles/12268494-common-faqs)
15. [Tradeify home page (Trader Performance Statistics; prices as listed on 27 September 2026)](https://tradeify.co/)
16. [Lucid Trading help centre: Other trading activities](https://support.lucidtrading.com/en/articles/11404728-other-trading-activities)
17. [Lucid Trading help centre: Prohibited high frequency trading](https://support.lucidtrading.com/en/articles/11404736-prohibited-high-frequency-trading)
18. [Lucid Trading help centre: Prohibited microscalping](https://support.lucidtrading.com/en/articles/11404742-prohibited-microscalping)
19. [Lucid Trading help centre: New live structure](https://support.lucidtrading.com/en/articles/13425130-new-live-structure)
20. [Lucid Trading home page (prices, as listed on 27 September 2026)](https://lucidtrading.com/)
21. [Velotrade: Trading rules](https://velotrade.com/rules)
22. [Velotrade: Challenges (prices)](https://velotrade.com/challenges)
23. [MyFundedFutures help centre: Fair play and prohibited trading practices](https://help.myfundedfutures.com/en/articles/8444599-fair-play-and-prohibited-trading-practices)
24. [MyFundedFutures home page (Program Performance; prices as listed on 27 September 2026)](https://myfundedfutures.com/)
25. [HyroTrader FAQ: Can I use trading bots during the challenge or on a funded account?](https://www.hyrotrader.com/faq/hyrotrader-account/can-i-use-trading-bots-or-signal-bots-during-the-challenge-or-on-a-funded-account/)
26. [HyroTrader FAQ: Can I create an API key on Bybit to trade on a different platform?](https://www.hyrotrader.com/faq/bybit-platform/can-i-create-an-api-key-on-bybit-to-trade-on-a-different-platform/)
27. [HyroTrader FAQ: Can I use CLEO for algo trading?](https://www.hyrotrader.com/faq/cleo-platform/can-i-use-cleo-for-algo-trading-or-third-party-integrations/)
28. [HyroTrader FAQ: When will I transition to the fully funded real account?](https://www.hyrotrader.com/faq/hyrotrader-account/when-will-i-transition-from-the-simulated-demo-account-to-the-fully-funded-real-account/)
29. [HyroTrader home page (prices and "Is this real capital or simulated?")](https://www.hyrotrader.com/)
30. [Topstep help centre: TopstepX API Access](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/11187768-topstepx-api-access)
31. [Topstep help centre: Prohibited trading strategies at Topstep](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10305426-prohibited-trading-strategies-at-topstep)
32. [Topstep help centre: Pricing and payment questions](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/14289835-topstep-pricing-and-payment-questions)
33. [Topstep home page (2025 Trader Performance Statistics)](https://www.topstep.com/)
34. [The5ers FAQ: Can I use an EA (Expert Advisor)?](https://the5ers.com/faqs/can-i-use-an-ea-expert-advisor-can-i-set-a-stealth-mode-stop-loss/)
35. [The5ers FAQ: Prohibited trading practices](https://the5ers.com/faqs/prohibited-trading-practices/)
36. [The5ers: Futures program page](https://the5ers.com/futures/)
37. [The5ers: Terms and conditions](https://the5ers.com/terms-and-conditions/)
38. [The5ers: High Stakes (prices)](https://the5ers.com/high-stakes/)
39. [FundingPips help centre: Trading conduct and security standards](https://help.fundingpips.com/hc/en-us/articles/34505029138449-Trading-Conduct-and-Security-Standards)
40. [FundingPips home page (prices, as listed on 27 September 2026)](https://fundingpips.com/)
41. [Apex Trader Funding help centre: Prohibited activities](https://apextraderfunding.com/help-center/getting-started/prohibited-activities/)
42. [Take Profit Trader help centre: Universal Trading Policies](https://takeprofittraderhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/34431153546397-TakeProfitTrader-Universal-Trading-Policies-UTP)
43. [Alpha Futures help centre: Prohibited trading practices](https://help.alpha-futures.com/en/articles/9508585-prohibited-trading-practices)
44. [Kraken Prop: FAQ](https://www.kraken.com/pro/prop)
45. [Breakout help centre: Prohibited practices during the Breakout Evaluation](https://intercom.help/breakoutprop/en/articles/11644090-what-trading-practices-are-prohibited-during-the-breakout-evaluation)