FundedAxe and Atlas Funded run the two best-known pay-after-pass models: start an evaluation for a few dollars, and the real challenge fee only exists once you pass. Same idea — meaningfully different numbers. Everything below is from both firms' public pages as of 5 August 2026; terms change, so verify on each site before buying.
The models side by side
| FundedAxe | Atlas Funded | |
|---|---|---|
| Start today | $9.99 — any size | $0–$5 depending on tier |
| Due after passing | $93–$1,940 by size | $58–$2,040 by size |
| Account sizes | $10,000–$400,000 | $5,000–$400,000 |
| Reward split | 80%, up to 100% with add-on | Up to 100% |
| Fee refund | Pro fee refunded on 3rd reward, Pay After Pass on 4th | Refunded on 4th payout |
| Drawdown | Static on the challenge, trailing once funded | 7% max / 5% daily (Free Access) |
| Time limit | None | None (Free Access) |
| Payout cadence | 14 days after your first trade, then every 14 days — 48h processing or we pay you $1,000 | On-demand payouts advertised |
| Learning resources | Free educational playbook | See the firm's current learning resources |
Where Atlas Funded is strong
Credit where due: Atlas effectively built the pay-after-pass category's search presence — a large content library, comparison pages against most big firms, a six-language site and a $0 entry tier. If you want the absolute lowest cost to open a challenge today, $0 beats $9.99.
Where FundedAxe differs
- Refund timing: FundedAxe Pro's fee comes back on your 3rd reward, and the Pay After Pass fee on your 4th; Atlas advertises the 4th payout. On the Pro paths that is a cycle earlier, which is real money for a consistent trader.
- A payout guarantee with teeth: rewards processed within 48 hours or FundedAxe pays you $1,000 on top.
- Rules locked at purchase — the drawdown model and targets you buy are the ones you keep.
- The free educational playbook provides a practice framework to study before deciding whether to purchase a Challenge.
The honest bottom line: if entry price is everything, Atlas's $0 tier wins by $9.99. If you're optimising for what happens after you pass — refund speed, payout guarantee, rule stability — compare the right-hand columns above, not the door price.
See the full Pay After Pass fee table
Every activation fee by size — you pay $9.99 today, the rest only when you pass.
Frequently asked questions
Is Atlas Funded the same kind of firm as FundedAxe?
Both are simulated-trading prop firms with pay-after-pass models: a small fee to start, with the challenge fee charged only on passing. The differences are in the numbers — entry price, activation fees, refund timing and payout terms.
Which is cheaper to try?
This comparison records Atlas's $0 Free Access tier and FundedAxe's $9.99 public PAP entry. Total fees after passing depend on account size. These are dated figures: verify each firm's current full fee and conditions before purchasing.
Are these numbers current?
They were checked on 5 August 2026 from both firms' public pages. Prop firm pricing changes often — treat the tables as a snapshot and verify on each site before purchasing.
FundedAxe evaluations and funded accounts are simulated. Traders do not trade real client capital; rewards are paid on simulated performance under the terms of the FundedAxe trader agreement.