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The5ers vs Maven Trading

The5ers vs Maven Trading: 2-step forex challenges compared on targets, daily and maximum loss, EA policies, fee refunds and payout timing.

November 5, 2026

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The5ers and Maven Trading both sell one-time forex and CFD challenges with no time limit on their main programs, both allow overnight and weekend holding and both refund at least part of the fee once you are paid. The5ers, operating since 2016, offers a wider drawdown on High Stakes (5% daily, 10% maximum), allows EAs you own and scales the split towards 100%, but publishes per-size prices poorly and refunds only 70% of the fee. Maven is among the cheapest ways in, refunds the full fee after the third reward and has no consistency rule on standard challenges, but bans EAs, uses tighter limits on most products and currently has its Trustpilot rating withheld.

The5ers vs Maven Trading at a glance

The5ersMaven Trading
MarketForex/CFDForex/CFD
FundedTime score8.4/107.2/10
Data statusVerified (per-size prices not verified)Mostly verified (daily loss basis, leverage and resets not published)
Listed pricePer-size High Stakes prices not published in a readable table; an official article says "from $39"From $13 ($2k 3-Step) to $440 ($100k 2-Step)
Pricing modelOne-time feeOne-time fee
Fee refundablePartly: 70% of High Stakes fee with first funded payoutYes, after the third reward (not Instant Mini)
Max account size$100,000 starting (High Stakes), scaling to $500,000$100,000
Max profit split80% rising to 100% with scaling80% (90% with checkout add-on)
Profit target10% / 5% (High Stakes New); 8% / 5% (Classic)8% (1-Step); 8% / 5% (2-Step); 3% per phase (3-Step)
Daily loss limit5% (High Stakes); measurement and reset time not stated on product page3% (1-Step), 4% (2-Step), 2% (3-Step, Instant); from higher of balance or equity at 00:00 UTC
Max drawdown10% (High Stakes)5% (1-Step); 8% (2-Step); 3% (3-Step, Instant)
Drawdown typeNot labelled static or trailing on official pageStatic (2-Step, 3-Step); trails running equity (1-Step, Instant)
Minimum trading days3 profitable days per step (0.5% of initial balance each)3 profitable days per phase (2-Step); none (1-Step, 3-Step)
Consistency ruleNone in High Stakes evaluation; early payouts cappedNone on standard challenges; 20% on Instant Funding
News tradingNo orders from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after high-impact newsStandard: no opening or closing 2 min either side of red-folder news
EAs / botsAllowed if you own the source codeBanned on all platforms
First payoutAfter 14 days of funded activity and $150+ profit10 business days after first funded trade
Payout frequencyEvery 14 daysEvery 10 business days; $10,000 pre-split cap on first two payouts
Payout methodsRise, bank transfer, crypto (max $1,500 per crypto transaction)Crypto (USDT, USDC), Rise Pay
PlatformsMT5, cTrader (+$10), TradingViewMT5, Match-Trader (MT5 not offered in US or Canada)
US tradersYes, TradingView onlyNot on restricted list; confirm at checkout
Trustpilot4.7 (40,892 reviews)Rating withheld by Trustpilot (5,219 reviews)

Rows marked "not published" or "not verified" could not be confirmed on the official pages we reviewed in November 2026.

FundedTime scores

The5ers scores 8.4/10 and ranks second of the forex and CFD firms we rate. Maven Trading scores 7.2/10 and ranks fifth. Scores follow our published methodology, including how much we could verify, and are not a guarantee of results.

Pricing and fees

The5ers' High Stakes page rendered its price table dynamically and, in the version we could read, showed only a $19 Step 1 cost for the "New" plan without mapping it to account sizes. An official article says High Stakes starts "from $39". We could not verify per-size prices. Sizes run $2,500 to $100,000, cTrader adds $10, and there is no monthly or activation fee. 70% of the fee is refunded with the first funded payout (not on Hub Credit purchases), and passing each step earns non-withdrawable Hub Credit (10% and 20% of the fee).

Maven publishes a full price list. The Standard 2-Step costs $19 ($2k), $22 ($5k), $44 ($10k), $88 ($20k), $220 ($50k) and $440 ($100k); the 1-Step runs $15 to $380 and the 3-Step $13 to $299. Prices are one-time, and the initial fee is refunded after the third reward on most programs (not Instant Mini). Maven publishes no reset discount.

Rules and drawdown

On a two-step, The5ers High Stakes "New" needs 10% then 5% (Classic: 8% then 5%). The daily limit is 5% and the maximum loss 10%; the product page does not say whether the daily limit uses balance or equity, or label the maximum static or trailing, though nothing we read suggests it trails. Each step needs 3 profitable days of at least 0.5% of the initial balance. There is no evaluation consistency rule; instead early payouts are capped.

Maven's Standard 2-Step needs 8% then 5%, with a 4% daily limit measured from the higher of balance or equity at 00:00 UTC and an 8% static maximum. It also needs 3 profitable days of 0.5% per phase, and 3 more in each funded payout cycle. Maven's 1-Step (8% target, 3% daily, 5% maximum trailing running equity) and 3-Step (3% per phase, 2% daily, 3% static) are tighter still. Maven does not publish whether its daily allowance is a percentage of the initial balance or of the daily reference point.

News rules are similar: The5ers bans executing orders 2 minutes either side of high-impact news, and Maven's standard challenges ban opening or closing affected instruments in the same window. The EA rules differ sharply. The5ers allows EAs if you own the source code and avoid tick-scalping, latency arbitrage or HFT. Maven prohibits EAs on every platform. Both allow overnight and weekend holding.

Worked example: a $100k 2-step, Phase 1

Take $100,000 accounts: The5ers High Stakes New (10% target, 5% daily, 10% maximum) and Maven Standard 2-Step (8% target, 4% daily, 8% static). The Maven daily figure assumes 4% of $100,000 from the midnight reference, which Maven does not confirm.

  • Targets: The5ers needs $110,000; Maven $108,000.
  • Floors: The5ers $90,000; Maven $92,000.
  • Daily room: The5ers $5,000; Maven $4,000.

Day 1 +$2,200 ($102,200). Day 2 −$4,500: inside The5ers' $5,000 daily allowance ($97,700), but on Maven the day's floor is $102,200 − $4,000 = $98,200, so the account breaches at $98,200. Run the same days with a −$1,800 Day 2 instead and both survive at $100,400. After +$3,100 and +$4,300 on Days 3 and 4 the balance is $107,800: $200 short of Maven's $108,000 target and $2,200 short of The5ers' $110,000, so both need another profitable day. The 2-point difference in Phase 1 targets is worth $2,000 on this size.

Fees and payouts. Maven's $100k 2-Step costs $440, refunded after the third reward. Its first two payouts are capped at $10,000 before split, so at most $8,000 to you at 80%. The5ers caps the first $100,000 High Stakes payout at $4,000 and requires $500 of P&L; at 80% a $4,000 payout is $3,200, plus 70% of the fee.

Payouts

The5ers' first High Stakes payout needs 14 days of funded activity and at least $150 of profit, then payouts come every two weeks, with a $150 minimum after split. The split starts at 80% and rises to 85%, 90% and eventually 100% as the account scales by 10% steps towards $500,000. Methods are Rise, bank transfer and crypto (capped at $1,500 per transaction).

Maven's Standard first payout comes 10 business days after the first funded trade, then every 10 business days, at 80% (90% with a checkout add-on). Payouts are capped at $10,000 before split across the first two payouts or any rolling 30 days, with a $20 minimum. Methods are USDT or USDC crypto and Rise Pay. See the The5ers payout guide and Maven Trading payout guide.

Platforms and US access

The5ers offers MT5, cTrader (+$10) and TradingView; US traders are limited to TradingView. Leverage on High Stakes is up to 1:100. Maven offers MT5 and Match-Trader, with MT5 not available in the US or Canada; the US is not on its restricted list, but some products showed as unavailable in certain regions, so confirm at checkout. Maven does not publish leverage per asset class.

Who each firm suits

The5ers

Patient traders, including EA users who own their code, who want a 10% maximum loss, unlimited time and a split that can scale towards 100%.

Maven Trading

Manual traders on a tight budget who want published prices, small account sizes from $2,000 and a full fee refund after three rewards.

Which should you choose if…

  • …you trade with an EA: The5ers; Maven bans them.
  • …you want the most room to lose: The5ers High Stakes, with 5% daily and 10% maximum.
  • …you want the cheapest test: Maven, from $13.
  • …you want the whole fee back: Maven refunds 100% after the third reward; The5ers refunds 70% with the first payout.
  • …you are in the US: The5ers on TradingView, or Maven on Match-Trader after checking product availability.
  • …you want a lower Phase 1 target: Maven (8%) or The5ers Classic (8%).

Bottom line

The5ers scores 8.4/10 and Maven 7.2/10. The5ers offers more room, EA access and a longer record; Maven is cheaper, more transparent on price and refunds in full, but asks for manual trading within tighter limits.

Read the full The5ers review and Maven Trading review, or use the comparison tool. Related: FundingPips vs Maven Trading, Maven Trading vs FTMO and FTMO vs The5ers.

Sources (checked November 2026): The5ers: the5ers.com/high-stakes, the5ers.com/2-step-challenge, the5ers.com High Stakes payout policy FAQ, trustpilot.com/review/the5ers.com; Maven Trading: maventrading.com/pricing, maventrading.com/faqs, trustpilot.com/review/maventrading.com.

FAQ

Is The5ers or Maven Trading cheaper?

Maven publishes lower prices, from $13 for a $2,000 3-Step and $440 for a $100,000 2-Step. The5ers did not publish a readable per-size High Stakes price table when we checked; an official article says it starts from $39.

Which has a larger drawdown?

The5ers High Stakes allows 5% daily and 10% maximum loss. Maven's Standard 2-Step allows 4% daily and 8% static maximum.

Can I use an EA at The5ers or Maven?

At The5ers, yes, if you own the source code. Maven prohibits EAs on all platforms.

Are the fees refundable?

The5ers refunds 70% of the High Stakes fee with the first funded payout. Maven refunds the initial fee after the third reward on most programs.

Educational content only, not financial advice. Trading involves substantial risk of loss. Prop firm rules change often; check the firm's official terms. Some links may be affiliate links; see our disclosure.

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