Simulated vs Live Funded Accounts: What Funded Really Means
At many prop firms the funded account is simulated and the firm pays you from its own money. How that works, and when traders move to live.
By Prop Firm Duel · · updated Sep 27, 2026
At many prop firms, the funded account you trade after passing is simulated. Your trades use real market prices but don't reach the exchange, and the firm pays your share of the profit from its own money. Some firms later move consistent traders to a live account, where orders do reach the market.
Key takeaways
- "Funded" usually means the firm pays you based on a simulated account, not that you trade the firm's real capital.
- Payouts from a simulated account are still real money, paid under your contract with the firm.
- Some firms have a path to a live account. Tradeify reports that 3.0% of its funded traders were moved to a live account from August 2025 to July 2026.
- The split, rules or size can change when you move to live.
What is a simulated funded account?
A simulated funded account behaves like a real account on your screen. You see live prices, place orders and build a balance. The difference is that your orders aren't sent to the exchange. The firm records what would have happened and pays you based on that record, according to its payout rules.
That arrangement is why the industry calls it "funded" even when no capital is at stake in the market. What's funded is your payout, not your trades.
How can a firm pay you from a simulated account?
The firm treats your payout as a business expense, paid from its revenue, mostly evaluation fees. That's why payout rules such as buffers, minimum days and consistency limits exist: they control how much money leaves the business and when. How prop firms make money explains the model.
Do traders ever move to a live account?
Some do. A few firms move consistent traders to a live account, where orders reach the market, and the terms can change when that happens. For example, Take Profit Trader lists an 80% split on its simulated PRO account and 90% on its live PRO+ account, and My Funded Futures' Builder program moves traders to a live brokerage account after up to five payout cycles. Tradeify reports that 3.0% of its funded traders were called up to a live account over its latest reporting year.
Does a simulated account fill orders differently?
It can. Simulated fills are modeled, so in fast markets they may differ from what a live order would get. Firms describe how they simulate fills in their terms or help center. If you trade very short-term or around news, it's worth reading. See prop firm news trading rules.
What should you check before you buy?
- Is the funded account simulated or live?
- Who pays the payout, and on what schedule?
- Which rules apply once funded that didn't apply in the evaluation?
- Is there a path to a live account, and what changes on it?
The answers are in each firm's own terms. Every firm page on Prop Firm Duel links to the pages we used for each program.
Common questions
Are payouts from a simulated account real money?
Yes. The trades are simulated, but the payout is a real payment from the firm under its contract with you. See how prop firm payouts work.
Is a simulated funded account a scam?
No, as long as the firm is clear about it and pays by its rules. It's the standard model for retail prop firms.
Is the evaluation simulated too?
Yes. Evaluations are always simulated. Your only money at risk is the fee. See what is a prop firm.
Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. Prop firm evaluations and most funded accounts trade in a simulated environment, and payouts depend on meeting each firm's rules. Everything on this site is general education, not financial advice. Rules and prices change: always read the firm's current terms before you buy. We have no affiliate or paid relationship with any firm listed. Our disclosure.