Static vs Evaluation vs OTP:
Which Account for Your Capital?
There are 3 main types of accounts in prop firms. Each has its advantages, limits and a different price. We help you choose the right one based on your real budget.
Introduction: 3 accounts, 3 different logics
When starting in a prop firm, the first reflex is often to look for the cheapest account. And that's normal: you want to limit financial risk before even proving you're profitable. But the entry price doesn't tell the whole story.
In reality, there are three main types of accounts in the Futures prop firm ecosystem: the Static account, the Evaluation account (challenge) and the OTP account (One Time Payment). Each responds to a different logic, a different risk level and a different budget.
Choosing the wrong type of account can cost you dearly in the long term, even if the initial price seems attractive. An evaluation account at 10 euros that renews every month ends up costing more than a one-time purchased OTP. And a Static account, although more expensive, can be the most profitable for an already profitable trader.
In this guide, we will analyze each type of account in detail, compare their prices at Phidias Propfirm, and especially give you concrete recommendations based on your available capital. The goal: that you make the smartest choice, not just the cheapest.
Good to know: All prices mentioned in this article take into account the LUCAS promo code which offers up to -80% discount at Phidias Propfirm. Without this code, the prices are significantly higher. Use our prop firm cost calculator to see the exact prices based on your account choice.
The 3 Types of Prop Firm Accounts
Before diving into the detailed analysis, here is a clear reminder of what each type of account represents. Understanding the fundamentals is essential to making the right choice.
Each type of account responds to a specific need. The Static is ideal for those who want maximum security with a non-trailing drawdown. The Evaluation is perfect for small budgets who want to test at low cost. And the OTP is the ideal compromise for those who want to avoid recurring fees without paying the full price of a Static.
If you want a more in-depth comparison between OTP and Evaluation specifically, see our OTP vs Evaluation guide which goes into even more detail.
The Static Account in Detail
What is a Static account?
The Static account is the most premium type of account in prop firms. Its main advantage: the drawdown is fixed and never moves. Unlike the trailing drawdown which rises with your gains (and reduces your room to maneuver), the Static drawdown stays anchored at the same level no matter what.
Concretely, if you have a 50K account with a drawdown of $2,500, this maximum loss threshold remains at $2,500 even if your account rises to 55K, 60K or more. It's a considerable advantage for risk management, especially for traders who trade strategies with significant temporary drawdowns.
Pricing at Phidias (with LUCAS code)
Advantages and disadvantages
Static Advantages
- Fixed drawdown: never trails, maximum security
- No time limit to reach the profit target
- Ideal for strategies with temporary drawdowns
- Direct transition to Live possible at Phidias
- Less psychological pressure
Static Disadvantages
- Highest entry price of the 3 types
- Absolute drawdown generally tighter
- Less suited for very small budgets
- Capital lost in case of failure is higher
Who is the Static for?
The Static account is recommended for already profitable traders who have confidence in their strategy but want maximum room to maneuver on the drawdown. It's also the ideal choice if you trade swing strategies or setups that require holding positions longer with significant temporary drawdowns.
If you are an experienced trader with a budget of 150 EUR or more, the Static deserves to be seriously considered. The extra cost compared to OTP is quickly amortized by the security it offers.
The Evaluation Account in Detail
What is an Evaluation account?
The Evaluation account, also called "challenge", is the classic path in prop firms. The principle is simple: you pay a monthly subscription or entry fee, you pass one or two evaluation phases with profit targets to reach, and if you succeed, you access a funded account.
At Phidias, the evaluation is done in 2 phases. The first phase requires reaching an 8% profit target while respecting a defined drawdown. The second phase is generally more flexible with a 5% target. Once both phases are validated, you access the funded account.
The main advantage: the entry price is the lowest of all types of accounts. With the LUCAS code, a 50K evaluation at Phidias starts at around 10 to 20 EUR only. It's unbeatable to start.
Pricing at Phidias (with LUCAS code)
The cumulative cost trap
The entry price of the evaluation is very attractive, but there's a trap: if you fail, you must pay again to start over. And statistically, the majority of traders don't succeed on the first try. If you fail 3 or 4 times, the cumulative cost quickly exceeds that of an OTP or even a Static.
Let's take a concrete example: a 50K evaluation at 14 EUR. If you fail 5 times before succeeding, you'll have spent 70 EUR. A 50K OTP with the LUCAS code costs about 50 EUR and requires no renewal. The math is clear.
Our advice: The evaluation is excellent for testing your strategy at low cost, but don't consider it as a long-term solution. If you fail more than 2-3 times, switch to OTP. You will save money and stress.
Advantages and disadvantages
Evaluation Advantages
- Lowest entry price (from 10 EUR with LUCAS)
- Fee reimbursement possible after funded
- Ideal for testing a strategy at lower risk
- EOD drawdown at Phidias (no intraday trailing)
- Allows you to get familiar with prop firm rules
Evaluation Disadvantages
- Cumulative cost in case of multiple failures
- Pressure of profit target and strict rules
- 2 phases to validate before funded
- Trailing drawdown on some prop firms (not Phidias)
- Activation fee after success at some firms
Who is the Evaluation account for?
The evaluation is the logical choice for prop firm beginners with a very limited budget (less than 50 EUR). It's also a good choice if you want to test a new strategy without committing too much capital. On the other hand, if you're already profitable and you know your strategy works, OTP or Static will be more profitable in the medium term.
The OTP Account in Detail
What is an OTP account?
OTP means One Time Payment. As the name suggests, you pay only once and you directly access your funded account. No monthly subscription, no evaluation phases, no challenge to pass. You pay, you trade, you keep your profits.
It's the type of account that offers the best balance between cost and convenience. The price is higher than a single evaluation, but much lower than a Static. And especially, you don't have to worry about recurring fees in case of failure.
At Phidias, OTP accounts are available in different account sizes and benefit from EOD (End of Day) drawdown, which is a considerable advantage compared to prop firms that use intraday trailing.
Pricing at Phidias (with LUCAS code)
Advantages and disadvantages
OTP Advantages
- One-time payment: no recurring fees
- No challenge or phases to validate
- Direct access to the funded account
- Best value for money in the long term
- EOD drawdown at Phidias
- No time limit pressure on the challenge
OTP Disadvantages
- Higher initial price than an evaluation
- Drawdown generally trailing (but EOD at Phidias)
- Capital lost if you blow the account
- No initial fee reimbursement
Who is the OTP account for?
The OTP is the recommended choice for the majority of traders with a budget between 50 and 150 EUR. It's the sweet spot: you only pay once, you avoid the pressure of the challenge, and the cost remains reasonable. If you already have a minimum of experience and you don't want to bother with evaluations, it's the number one choice.
For an even more detailed comparison between OTP and Evaluation, see our dedicated article: OTP vs Evaluation: which account to choose?
Detailed Comparison Table
Here is a complete comparison of the three types of accounts at Phidias Propfirm. The prices indicated take into account the discount with the LUCAS code (-80%). This data is up to date as of February 2026.
| Criterion | Static | Evaluation | OTP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment type | One-time | Monthly / one-time | One-time |
| 50K Price (LUCAS code) | ~$99 | ~$15 | ~$50 |
| 100K Price (LUCAS code) | ~$179 | ~$30 | ~$99 |
| 150K Price (LUCAS code) | ~$329 | ~$45 | ~$149 |
| Challenge / Phases | None | 2 phases | None |
| Drawdown type | Fixed (doesn't trail) | EOD (end-of-day trailing) | EOD (end-of-day trailing) |
| Profit target (challenge) | None | Phase 1: 8% / Phase 2: 5% | None |
| Time limit | None | None (Phidias) | None |
| Profit split | 80/20 | 80/20 | 80/20 |
| Account access | Direct / quasi-direct | After validating 2 phases | Direct |
| Fee reimbursement | No | Yes (after 1st payout) | No |
| Cost if 3 failures | ~$99 (1 purchase only) | ~$45 ($15 x 3) | ~$50 (1 purchase only) |
| Cost if 5 failures | ~$99 (1 purchase only) | ~$75 ($15 x 5) | ~$50 (1 purchase only) |
| Ideal for | Experienced traders | Small budgets / beginners | Medium budget / all levels |
To remember: The table clearly shows that the evaluation is the cheapest at initial purchase, but its cumulative cost quickly exceeds OTP after only 3-4 failures. The Static, although the most expensive, offers the best security with its fixed drawdown. OTP is the ideal compromise for the majority of profiles.
Which Account for Your Budget?
Now let's get to the most concrete part of this article: our personalized recommendations based on your available capital. Each budget bracket has its optimal strategy.
With a budget between 50 and 100 EUR, you have to maximize every euro invested. The priority is to have the maximum number of attempts to prove your strategy.
Our recommendation: Start with 2-3 Evaluation 50K accounts (about 14 EUR each with the LUCAS code). This gives you several chances to pass the challenge without putting all your capital in a single account. If you succeed on the first try, then move to OTP for your second account.
If you're already confident in your strategy and you prefer to avoid the challenge, a single OTP 50K at about 46 EUR is also an excellent option. You keep the rest of your budget in reserve for a potential second account.
With 100 to 250 EUR, you have access to a much wider range of options. This is the budget where OTP really becomes interesting, because you can afford larger account sizes.
Our recommendation: Opt for an OTP 100K at about 90 EUR. It's the absolute sweet spot: a respectable account size, a one-time payment, and direct access to funded trading. You still keep margin for a second account if necessary.
Alternative: if you want to diversify, take an OTP 50K + 2 Evaluations 50K. The OTP gives you a safety net without challenge, and the evaluations allow you to try to get a second funded account at lower cost.
With a budget of 250 to 500 EUR, you can start considering Static accounts and serious multi-account strategies. This is the level where account type optimization really makes a difference.
Our recommendation: Take a Static 50K at about 90 EUR as the main account (fixed drawdown, maximum security), combined with an OTP 100K at about 90 EUR as a secondary account. Total: about 180 EUR, with two funded accounts and smart diversification.
If you're very confident in your strategy, you can also opt for an OTP 150K at about 136 EUR and a Static 25K at about 90 EUR. This gives you a large account to maximize your gains and a small ultra-secured Static account as a backup.
Beyond 500 EUR, you're in a professional trader logic. The objective is no longer to "test" but to build a portfolio of funded accounts that generate regular income.
Our recommendation: Adopt a multi-account approach with 2-3 Static accounts for security and 2-3 OTP accounts of different sizes to maximize capital under management. Phidias allows up to 15 simultaneous accounts, take advantage of it.
Example of optimal configuration:
- 1x Static 100K (~300 EUR): your main account, fixed drawdown
- 1x OTP 150K (~136 EUR): large volume, direct access
- 1x OTP 50K (~46 EUR): diversification account
- 2x Evaluation 100K (~56 EUR): bonus attempts
Total: about 538 EUR for a capital under management of 500K if everything is validated. The investment/potential capital ratio is exceptional.
The Multi-Account Strategy
Why diversify account types?
Diversification doesn't only apply to trading instruments. It also applies to the types of accounts you use. By combining Static, Evaluation and OTP, you reduce your overall risk and increase your chances of generating regular income.
Here's the logic:
- The Static is your safety net: fixed drawdown, no pressure, you can trade serenely even in difficult periods
- The OTP is your workhorse: good cost/capital ratio, direct access, you can take more risk
- The Evaluation is your leverage: minimal cost to try to get additional accounts
Example of multi-account strategy
Recommended Configuration (Budget ~300 EUR)
This configuration gives you a potential capital under management of 300K+ if the evaluations are validated, for a total investment of about 222 EUR. The ratio is excellent, and the diversification of account types considerably reduces your overall risk.
Golden rules of multi-account
- Don't trade the same strategy on all your accounts at the same time. Diversify setups or hours to avoid losing everything at once.
- Start with Static or OTP to secure at least one funded account, then use evaluations to extend your portfolio.
- Always keep a reserve of 20-30% of your budget to be able to buy back an account in case of failure.
- Don't exceed your management capacity. Better 2 well-managed accounts than 5 accounts traded hastily.
For more information on the detailed conditions of each account at Phidias, consult our complete Phidias Propfirm review and our 2026 prop firms comparison.
Our Final Verdict
After analyzing in detail the three types of accounts, their prices, advantages and limits, here is our clear and straightforward recommendation for each trader profile.
There is no universal "best" type of account. The best account is the one that matches your budget, your experience and your risk tolerance. Here is our recommendation by profile:
Whatever your choice, don't forget to use the LUCAS code to benefit from -80% discount at Phidias Propfirm. It's the largest available discount and it makes a huge difference on the final cost of your accounts.
If you're still hesitating between OTP and Evaluation, our dedicated article OTP vs Evaluation will help you decide. And for a complete overview of Phidias conditions, see our detailed review.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Static account offers a fixed drawdown without a prior challenge: it's the most secure but the most expensive. The Evaluation account is the cheapest to buy, but requires passing a 2-phase challenge. The OTP (One Time Payment) account is a one-time payment that gives direct access to the funded account, without challenge or subscription.
With a budget of 50 to 100 euros, favor Evaluation 50K accounts (about 14 EUR with the LUCAS code) to multiply your attempts, or a single OTP 50K account (about 46 EUR) if you're confident in your strategy. The goal is to maximize your chances with limited capital.
Yes, in the majority of cases. OTP is a one-time payment: even if you fail and have to buy back an account, you don't pay a monthly subscription. If you fail an evaluation more than 3 times, the cumulative cost exceeds that of OTP. OTP is therefore more economical for traders who want to control their budget.
EOD (End of Day) drawdown is calculated only at the end of the day, not in real time. This means that if your account rises by $2,000 intraday then drops back, the drawdown threshold doesn't move until the day is over. It's a major advantage because it offers more room to maneuver and less risk of being stopped by an intraday volatility spike.
Yes, absolutely. Phidias allows up to 15 simultaneous accounts, and you can mix types (Static, Evaluation, OTP). It's even a recommended strategy: use a Static as a safety net, an OTP for volume, and Evaluations to extend your portfolio at lower cost.
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