Prop firm challenge time limits: unlimited time vs hard deadlines
Most evaluations no longer have a deadline, but "unlimited time" isn't always free time. Here's where time limits still exist and the clocks that replace them.
A few years ago, most challenges gave you 30 days for phase one and 60 days for phase two. Miss the window and you failed, even if you never broke a rule.
Today, unlimited time is the norm across the firms we track. But a few products still run on a deadline, and "no time limit" doesn't mean no clock at all. This explainer uses our dataset. Always confirm the terms for your exact product before you buy.
Unlimited time is now the default
Most of the forex and CFD firms in our dataset list no maximum time to pass:
- FTMO: unlimited time on both evaluation phases.
- FundedNext and FundingPips: no evaluation time limit.
- The5ers: unlimited time across High Stakes, Hyper Growth and Bootcamp.
- Alpha Capital Group, BrightFunded, Funded Trading Plus and City Traders Imperium: no maximum trading days.
- E8 Markets, Crypto Fund Trader and Top One Trader: also listed as unlimited.
Removing the deadline takes away one of the biggest sources of pressure. When there's no clock, there's no reason to oversize in the last week to "make it in time."
Where deadlines still exist
Time limits haven't disappeared. They mostly sit on specific variants, not whole firms:
- Fintokei: StartTrader allows up to 180 days per phase. SwiftTrader and ProTrader have no limit.
- For Traders: most variants are unlimited, but Forex Strike has 60 days per phase.
- Maven Trading: the OMO program allows 180 days across both phases. A promotional Mini variant is listed at 24 hours.
- Blueberry Funded: most challenges are unlimited, but the Rapid Challenge is reported as time-limited (about 7 days).
- Upcomers: no evaluation limit on most programs, but the Instant variants are time-boxed sessions (Supernova 24 hours, Hypernova 4 hours).
Short, time-boxed formats behave very differently from a standard challenge. A 4-hour or 24-hour session rewards a specific style of trading, and it leaves no room for a slow week.
The clocks that replace the deadline
"Unlimited" usually comes with another clock running in the background.
Inactivity rules. Many firms with no deadline still close accounts that go quiet. Alpha Capital Group, BrightFunded, City Traders Imperium and The5ers all point to a 30-day inactivity rule, and E8 Markets lists 60 days. See prop firm inactivity rules.
Monthly subscriptions. Futures firms like Topstep and Take Profit Trader have no time limit to pass, but the subscription runs until you pass or cancel. Time is not a rule there, but it is a cost. Apex lists roughly a 30-day access window on its evaluation. Compare the models in one-time fee vs monthly subscription.
Minimum trading days. The floor still applies even when the ceiling is gone. See minimum trading days explained.
How to read a time-limit rule
Before you buy, check:
- Is the limit per phase or across the whole evaluation?
- Does it count calendar days or trading days?
- What happens at expiry: a fail, a reset offer, or a free extension?
- Does the inactivity rule still apply when there's no deadline?
- On a subscription, what does each extra month really cost you?
You can line up time limits and other rules side by side on compare accounts, browse every firm on /firms, and look up terms in the glossary.
Key takeaways
- Most firms we track now give unlimited time to pass an evaluation.
- Deadlines still exist on specific variants, from 180 days down to 4-hour sessions.
- "Unlimited" often comes with an inactivity rule or a monthly fee instead.
- Check whether a limit is per phase, and calendar or trading days.
- Rules change. Confirm the current terms on the firm's site before you buy.
This article is educational and is not investment advice. Prop trading involves risk, and passing a challenge is never guaranteed.
