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All rule guides Refundable fee

Refundable fee prop firms and refund rules.

Refundable fee claims are attractive, but the refund trigger matters. Some refunds depend on passing, receiving a payout, maintaining account status, or following exact checkout terms.

See programs using this rule How to read this rule
What this rule changes

Refundable fee

Best for visitors comparing challenge price, refund language, reset fees, and discount-code tradeoffs before checkout.

  1. Read carefullyPassing a challenge and receiving a refund are not always the same event.
  2. Can change termsDiscounts may affect refundable fee language or checkout conditions.
  3. Payment methodRefund rails, taxes, and payment processing can vary by country and method.
Program evidence

Programs where this rule matters.

Start with the decisive rule behavior, then open the full evidence before choosing a program.

Open full evidence table
FundedNext Stellar 1-Step
Static floor using balance or equity
Confirm timing
6% static floor using balance or equity
Official rules
Review profile
Full rule-by-rule evidence18 program rows

Rows are sorted by source coverage first, then TSB Fit Score. Always verify the official checkout before paying.

Programs to compare for this rule, with verification and source context
Firm & program Daily loss Max loss / drawdown Payout / split Source status What to verify Decision links
FTMOFTMO Challenge: 1-Step · Multiple sizes 3% 10% / See programme rules Up to 90%
First request from day 14		 Official/source page Primary pressure: 3% daily loss, 10% maximum loss. Verify the exact configuration before checkout.
Profile Promo Alternatives Vs FundedNext Vs Topstep
FTMOFTMO Challenge: 2-Step · Multiple sizes 5% 10% / See programme rules See payout rules
First request from day 14		 Official/source page Primary pressure: 5% daily loss, 10% maximum loss. Verify the exact configuration before checkout.
Profile Promo Alternatives Vs FundedNext Vs Topstep
FundedNextStellar 1-Step · Multiple sizes 3% 6% static floor using balance or equity / Static floor using balance or equity See payout rules
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Primary pressure: 3% daily loss, 6% maximum loss, static floor using balance or equity drawdown. Verify the exact configuration before checkout.
Profile Promo Alternatives Vs FTMO
FundedNextStellar 2-Step · Multiple sizes 5% 10% static floor using balance or equity / Static floor using balance or equity Up to 80%
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Primary pressure: 5% daily loss, 10% maximum loss, static floor using balance or equity drawdown. Verify the exact configuration before checkout.
Profile Promo Alternatives Vs FTMO
FundedNextStellar Instant · Multiple sizes No mapped daily limit 6% intraday trailing then capped at starting balance / Intraday trailing then capped at starting balance See payout rules
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Primary pressure: 6% maximum loss, intraday trailing then capped at starting balance drawdown. Verify the exact configuration before checkout.
Profile Promo Alternatives Vs FTMO
FundedNextStellar Lite · Multiple sizes 4% 8% static floor using balance or equity / Static floor using balance or equity Up to 80%
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Primary pressure: 4% daily loss, 8% maximum loss, static floor using balance or equity drawdown. Verify the exact configuration before checkout.
Profile Promo Alternatives Vs FTMO
Topstep$1.5K Challenge · Multiple sizes No mapped daily limit See programme rules / See programme rules Up to 100%
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout.
Profile Promo Alternatives Vs FTMO Vs Apex Trader Funding
Topstep$250K Freedom Funded Trading Combine · Multiple sizes No mapped daily limit See programme rules / See programme rules See payout rules
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout.
Profile Promo Alternatives Vs FTMO Vs Apex Trader Funding
Topstep$25K Static Drawdown Trading Combine · Multiple sizes No mapped daily limit See programme rules / See programme rules See payout rules
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout.
Profile Promo Alternatives Vs FTMO Vs Apex Trader Funding
Topstep$3K Challenge · Multiple sizes No mapped daily limit See programme rules / See programme rules Up to 100%
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout.
Profile Promo Alternatives Vs FTMO Vs Apex Trader Funding
TopstepTrading Combine · Multiple sizes No mapped daily limit See programme rules / See programme rules Up to 90%
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout.
Profile Promo Alternatives Vs FTMO Vs Apex Trader Funding
Apex Trader FundingEnd-of-Day Trailing Drawdown Evaluation · Multiple sizes No mapped daily limit See programme rules / End of day trailing calculated at market close and enforced intraday next session Up to 100%
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Primary pressure: end of day trailing calculated at market close and enforced intraday next session drawdown. Verify the exact configuration before checkout.
Profile Promo Alternatives Vs Topstep
Apex Trader FundingIntraday Trailing Drawdown Evaluation · Multiple sizes No mapped daily limit See programme rules / Real time intraday trailing Up to 100%
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Primary pressure: real time intraday trailing drawdown. Verify the exact configuration before checkout.
Profile Promo Alternatives Vs Topstep
Alpha FuturesAdvanced · Multiple sizes No mapped daily limit See programme rules / See programme rules Up to 90%
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout.
Profile Alternatives
Alpha FuturesDirect · Multiple sizes No mapped daily limit See programme rules / See programme rules Up to 90%
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout.
Profile Alternatives
Alpha FuturesStandard · Multiple sizes No mapped daily limit See programme rules / See programme rules Up to 90%
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout.
Profile Alternatives
Alpha FuturesZero · Multiple sizes No mapped daily limit See programme rules / See programme rules Up to 90%
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Use the complete programme rules and an exact commercial configuration before checkout.
Profile Alternatives
City Traders ImperiumDirect Funding · $5K–$80K No mapped daily limit 6% / See programme rules See payout rules
Programme-specific		 Official/source page Primary pressure: 6% maximum loss. Verify the exact configuration before checkout.
Profile

How to read this rule

A refundable challenge fee lowers perceived risk, but only if the user understands exactly when and how the refund is paid.

TSB treats refund terms as checkout-sensitive because firms can change add-ons, coupons, resets, and payment conditions without changing the advertised headline.

Before checkout, verify

  • Is the fee refunded after passing, after first payout, or after another milestone?
  • Does using a promo code affect refund eligibility?
  • Are resets, activation fees, data fees, or add-ons refundable?
  • Which payment methods can receive the refund?
Related Decision Paths

Where this rule connects next

Use these paths to move from the rule explanation into rankings, payout checks, challenge rows, and adjacent rule problems.

Promo codes Continue comparing this rule across the TSB prop firm ecosystem. Open path Payout rules A high profit split is only useful if the trader can actually withdraw. TSB treats payout timing, caps, buffers, KYC, payment method, and consistency rules as part of the real price. Open path Challenge comparison Continue comparing this rule across the TSB prop firm ecosystem. Open path Trailing drawdown Trailing drawdown can move with open or closed equity depending on the firm. The useful question is not whether a firm says "trailing", but when the threshold moves, when it stops, and how it affects payout eligibility. Open path
FAQ

Refundable fee questions

Does refundable mean risk-free?

No. Refundable usually means the fee may be returned under specific conditions. It does not remove rule-breach risk, reset fees, data fees, or opportunity cost.

Should I use a promo code on a refundable challenge?

Maybe, but verify whether the code changes the refund amount, terms, or eligibility before checkout.

Promo codes Payout rules Challenge comparison