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Maven Trading 1-Step Challenge: Rules, Pricing and How to Pass
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Tested firsthand: I've run Maven Trading accounts across multiple challenge types, compared their pricing to 50+ other prop firms, and tracked exactly what you get for each fee tier. Maven's entry prices start at $13, which is the lowest I've seen anywhere in the industry.
For the full comparison of all five Maven challenge types, read my complete Maven Trading account types breakdown. For the full picture, read my complete Maven Trading review. For the absolute latest, check Maven Trading's website or their help center.
The Maven Trading 1-Step Challenge is exactly what the name says: one phase. Hit the profit target, pass, get funded. No second phase, no reset loop, no waiting around for a third green day.
As of April 2026, it's one of five account types Maven offers. It sits between the Instant Funding (no evaluation, higher fee) and the 2-Step (two phases, static drawdown). The 1-Step is the middle ground — there's a real evaluation, but you're only doing it once.
One thing I want to flag upfront: the drawdown on the 1-Step is trailing, not static. That distinction matters more than almost anything else when you're planning your challenge strategy. I'll cover it in detail below.
The Rules at a Glance
One phase. Here's the full ruleset:
- Profit target: 8%
- Max drawdown: 5% trailing (equity-based, moves up with every new equity high, never comes back down)
- Daily drawdown: 3%
- Time limit: None
- Minimum trading days: None
- Consistency rule: None (only applies to Instant Funding and Mini Challenge)
- Profit split: 80%
- News rule: 2-minute window around red-folder events applies — no open trades during that window
Once funded:
- Payouts every 10 business days
- Minimum 3% profit to request a payout
- Maximum $10,000 per 30-day rolling cycle
- Fee refund on the 3rd successful withdrawal
- Scaling: 10% growth across 4 months triggers a 25% account size increase, up to $1M max
That's the full picture. Clean structure, minimal rules. The trailing drawdown is the one variable you need to truly understand before you start.
Pricing Table
Fees below are for MT5 and Match Trader. cTrader roughly doubles these amounts.
The $15 entry point for the $2K account is genuinely low. Even the $100K tier at $380 is competitive — you're looking at under 0.4% of account size for a single-phase evaluation. Compared to firms charging $500+ for a two-phase $100K challenge, Maven's pricing holds up.
If you want the cTrader platform specifically, expect to pay roughly twice the fee. MT5 and Match Trader are the budget-friendly options here.
Understanding the Trailing Drawdown
This is the part most people underestimate.
The 5% trailing drawdown on the 1-Step is equity-based and moves in one direction: up. Every time your equity hits a new high, the drawdown floor rises with it. It never drops back down.
Here's what that looks like in practice on a $10,000 account:
- You start with a $9,500 floor ($10,000 × 5% = $500 buffer, so $9,500)
- You trade well, equity hits $10,400. Your new floor is $9,880 (5% below $10,400)
- You give back $300 of that gain. Equity is $10,100. Your floor is still $9,880 — it didn't move down
- You then push equity to $10,800. Your floor is now $10,260
The buffer doesn't change size relative to your starting balance. It recalculates against every new equity peak. So the closer you get to your profit target, the tighter the floor sits relative to current price.
Contrast this with the 2-Step Challenge, where the drawdown is static from the start. On the 2-Step, if you start with a $10,000 account and a 5% max drawdown, your floor is $9,500 and it stays there regardless of how much you profit. You can hit 8%, see a 7% drawdown, and still be above the floor.
On the 1-Step? If you hit 7% profit and then have a 5% drawdown from that peak, you're out. The floor tracked your gains the whole way up.
That's the trade-off. One phase instead of two, but the risk management is tighter by design.
How to Pass the 1-Step Challenge
Given the trailing drawdown mechanics, the strategy almost writes itself: grind small, protect the floor.
The core approach:
- Trade smaller than you think you need to. On a $10,000 account, your 8% target is $800. You can get there in 40 trades at $20 average gain per trade. That's a $20 average risk per trade with a 1:1 ratio — well within the mechanics.
- Take partials. If you're up $200 on a trade, take half off. Lock in the gain. The trailing floor just moved up with your unrealized P&L on open positions — depending on whether the account tracks equity vs. balance. Confirm with Maven's help center whether drawdown tracks open equity or only closed balance, because this changes how you manage open trades.
- Don't let winners run unchecked. I know that sounds backwards — conventional trading wisdom says let your winners run. In a trailing drawdown environment, an unchecked winner that later reverses is doubly painful: you've raised your floor to match the peak, and then given back both the gain and some of your original buffer.
- Respect the daily drawdown. 3% daily loss limit is strict on smaller accounts. On the $5K account, that's $150. One bad momentum trade can end your day before noon.
- Avoid news events. The 2-minute rule around red-folder news means you can't have open positions 2 minutes before or after major events. Build this into your routine. Close before FOMC. Close before NFP. Non-negotiable.
What you don't need to worry about:
There's no consistency rule on the 1-Step. No minimum profitable days requirement either. You can take one monster week, be up 8%, and submit for funded status. Or you can spread it over three months of careful trading. The timeline is entirely yours.
That flexibility is one of the 1-Step's actual advantages over the 2-Step. The 2-Step requires 3 profitable days per phase — not a high bar, but still a bar. The 1-Step doesn't have it.
Platforms and Commissions
Three platform options: MT5, Match Trader, cTrader.
Commission structure:
- FX pairs: $2 per lot per side ($4 round turn)
- Metals and Energy: $3 per lot per side ($6 round turn)
- Indices and Crypto: $0 commission
- Swap fees: Zero across all instruments
Zero swap fees means you can hold positions overnight without the fee drag. That's relevant if you're running swing trades rather than intraday scalps.
Leverage is 75:1 on FX and 20:1 on commodities and indices. The 75:1 FX leverage is on the higher side for prop firms — plenty of room to size positions without leaning on full leverage, which you shouldn't be doing on a trailing drawdown account anyway.
If you want cTrader specifically, budget roughly double the challenge fee. The trading environment is otherwise the same.
1-Step vs. Other Maven Account Types
Maven has five account types. Here's where the 1-Step sits relative to the alternatives:
A few things worth noting from that comparison:
The 1-Step has the same pricing tier as Instant Funding (roughly), but you're paying for a lower fee because there's still an evaluation phase. If you want to skip the evaluation entirely and jump straight into funded trading, Instant Funding is the path — but you'll pay more upfront and the consistency rule kicks in.
The 2-Step has a static drawdown, which is meaningfully more forgiving once you're up on the challenge. Three profitable days per phase is the only extra hurdle. If you're a consistent trader who regularly strings together winning days, the 2-Step's static drawdown might actually suit you better than the 1-Step's trailing one.
The 3-Step has three phases but also a static drawdown and no minimum day requirements. It's the longer route but with more recovery room on each phase.
Mini Challenge closes after one successful withdrawal. It's not an ongoing funded account. Good for a quick payout, then done.
Who the 1-Step Is Actually For
The 1-Step Challenge suits traders who:
- Want to be funded after one clean evaluation, not two or three
- Are comfortable managing a trailing drawdown (and have a strategy that doesn't rely on recovering from deep drawdowns)
- Trade consistently with moderate-sized positions rather than swinging for big wins on a few trades
- Don't want minimum day requirements dictating when they can trade
- Are on MT5 or Match Trader and want the lowest fee entry for a single-phase challenge
It's not the right fit for traders who:
- Run high-variance strategies where one bad day can wipe 4-5% of equity
- Like to let winners ride without active trade management
- Need the drawdown floor to stay fixed regardless of their equity curve
Scalpers and short-duration intraday traders tend to do well on trailing drawdown accounts. You're taking small bites, booking them, and moving on. Each individual trade never threatens the floor.
Swing traders need to be more careful. An open position sitting at +3% unrealized profit has raised your trailing floor. If that trade reverses, you're losing both the gain and the floor's contribution. Position size management becomes the most important variable.
Payouts and the Fee Refund
Once funded, payouts land every 10 business days. You need at least 3% profit on the account before you can request. Maximum is $10,000 per 30-day rolling cycle.
The $10K cap per cycle is worth thinking about at larger account sizes. On the $100K account, 3% is $3,000 — well within the cap. But at 80% split, once you're earning consistently, the cap can become a ceiling on faster-growing accounts. It's not a dealbreaker, but budget for it.
The fee refund comes on your 3rd successful withdrawal. So your 3rd payout effectively reimburses your challenge fee. On a $37 challenge (the $10K MT5 account), that's not a huge amount. On the $380 challenge (the $100K MT5 account), getting $380 back on your third withdrawal is a nice offset.
The Bottom Line
The Maven Trading 1-Step Challenge is a legitimate single-phase eval with competitive pricing and minimal rule clutter. The trailing drawdown is the whole game here — it's what separates the 1-Step from the 2-Step and 3-Step, and it's what demands a specific type of trader.
If you're patient, size correctly, and manage open positions actively, the trailing drawdown is manageable. If you're used to static drawdown challenges where the floor never moves, there's an adjustment period.
The no-time-limit, no-minimum-days structure gives you real flexibility on pace. Grind it out over months or punch through in a focused week. Either way, the rules don't get in the way.
For the full picture on pricing and every account type Maven offers, check the Maven Trading account types breakdown.
FAQ: Maven Trading 1-Step Challenge
What is the profit target for the Maven Trading 1-Step Challenge?
The Maven Trading 1-Step Challenge requires an 8% profit target. On a $10,000 account, that's $800. There's no time limit, so you can take as long as you need to hit it.
How does the trailing drawdown work on the Maven Trading 1-Step Challenge?
Maven Trading's 1-Step uses a 5% equity-based trailing drawdown. Every time your account equity hits a new high, the maximum drawdown floor moves up with it permanently. For example, if you start with $10,000, your initial floor is $9,500. If you grow to $10,500, the floor rises to $9,975. It never comes back down regardless of subsequent losses.
Is there a daily loss limit on the Maven Trading 1-Step Challenge?
Yes. Maven Trading sets a 3% daily drawdown limit on the 1-Step Challenge. On a $10,000 account, that's a $300 maximum daily loss. The daily limit is measured against the account balance at the start of the trading day.
What platforms can I use for the Maven Trading 1-Step Challenge?
Maven Trading's 1-Step Challenge is available on MT5, Match Trader, and cTrader. MT5 and Match Trader have the same fee structure. cTrader fees are roughly double. All three platforms have identical rules and drawdown mechanics.
How much does the Maven Trading 1-Step Challenge cost?
As of April 2026, Maven Trading's 1-Step Challenge costs $15 for a $2K account, $19 for $5K, $37 for $10K, $68 for $20K, $170 for $50K, and $380 for a $100K account. These prices apply to MT5 and Match Trader. cTrader pricing is approximately double.
Does the Maven Trading 1-Step Challenge have a minimum trading days requirement?
No. Maven Trading's 1-Step Challenge has no minimum trading days requirement and no time limit. You can complete the challenge in as few trading sessions as it takes to hit the 8% profit target without breaching drawdown.
What is the profit split on a Maven Trading 1-Step funded account?
Maven Trading pays 80% to the trader on funded 1-Step accounts. Payouts are available every 10 business days once you've reached a minimum 3% profit. The maximum payout per 30-day rolling cycle is $10,000.
Does Maven Trading offer a fee refund on the 1-Step Challenge?
Yes. Maven Trading refunds the challenge fee on your 3rd successful withdrawal from a funded 1-Step account. The refund applies to the original challenge fee paid, not any reset fees.
Can I trade news events during the Maven Trading 1-Step Challenge?
Maven Trading enforces a 2-minute no-trade window around red-folder economic events on all account types, including the 1-Step Challenge. You can't have open positions during that window. This applies in the challenge phase and on funded accounts.
How does the Maven Trading 1-Step Challenge compare to the 2-Step?
The main differences are the number of phases and the drawdown type. The Maven Trading 1-Step Challenge is a single phase with a trailing drawdown. The 2-Step Challenge has two phases but uses a static drawdown that stays fixed regardless of how much profit you make. The 2-Step also requires 3 profitable days per phase. If you prefer a fixed floor, the 2-Step is the safer drawdown structure — but you're doing the evaluation twice.
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