Transparent Process
PFA Methodology 2026
Understand the evidence, account rules and editorial ratings behind each comparison.
What is the PFA Methodology?
The PFA Methodology is a comprehensive, risk-first evaluation framework developed by Prop Firm Audit to analyze prop firms based on how their rules, systems, and operational behavior affect real traders. Rather than focusing on surface-level features like advertised profit splits or low entry prices, the methodology examines how firms behave when traders are profitable, under drawdown pressure, or requesting payouts.
Rating Categories
Trusted is an editorial category assigned to a firm profile. It reflects the published assessment and should be read with the review's evidence, account terms and source dates. It does not certify solvency, independently audited payouts or a particular trading outcome.
Moderate is an editorial category for profiles whose assessment identifies additional constraints or uncertainty. Review the documented loss rules, payout conditions, company history and source gaps. A newly added profile with zero in every scoring field is awaiting a scored assessment.
High Risk is an editorial category used where the written assessment identifies material concerns. A firm-specific claim about denied payouts, retrospective rule changes or operational failures should be supported by dated evidence in that review; the label alone is not proof.
Evaluation Criteria
1. Trading Conditions
Drawdown models (static vs trailing, balance vs equity), profit targets, scaling logic, leverage, instruments, and trading restrictions including news, EA, and copy trading rules.
2. Customer Care
Response times, accuracy of rule explanations, quality of support documentation, dispute handling, and communication transparency across all official channels.
3. User Friendliness
Dashboard accuracy, real-time visibility of drawdown limits, intuitiveness of evaluation and funded phases, and platform stability and reliability.
4. Payout Process
Payout frequency, approval timelines, consistency with stated schedules, verification requirements, withdrawal method variety, and historical payout reliability.
Evidence and Commercial Relationships
Account details should be traceable to official program pages, rule guides or the purchase agreement. Separate evaluation rules from funded rules, standard profit shares from paid upgrades, and payout-request timing from processing time. Some outbound links and coupon offers are affiliate promotions. PFA scores are editorial assessments rather than independently certified financial ratings.