Most futures prop firms hide their fees in vague language or bury them inside long FAQs. MyFundedFutures is more transparent than most — but the activation fee is still one of the most misunderstood parts of their funding model.

If you’ve read my MyFundedFutures Review, you already know their one-phase evaluation, EOD drawdown, and 100% first $10K profit model make them one of the more trader-friendly firms in the space.
But the activation fee depends heavily on the plan you pick — and picking the wrong one can cost you money for no reason.

This article explains exactly when the activation fee applies, which plans avoid it entirely, and the hidden rules behind what you’re actually paying for.

Quick Answer: Which MyFundedFutures Plans Charge an Activation Fee?

Here’s the clean breakdown:

• Starter:
  Yes — $149 activation fee after passing the evaluation.
• Starter Plus:
  No activation fee.
• Milestone:
  No activation fee.
• Expert:
  No activation fee — ever.

If you want zero activation costs, avoid the Starter plan and choose Starter Plus, Milestone, or Expert.

Later in this guide, I’ll break down the cases where paying the activation fee actually makes sense — but for most traders, skipping it is smarter.

What Is the Activation Fee at MyFundedFutures?

After you pass the evaluation on a Starter account, you must pay a $149 activation fee to unlock your funded account.
That funded account is still sim — but it's the one that earns real payouts (100% first $10K, 90% after).

What the activation fee covers:

• access to your funded MFFU account
• backend risk infrastructure
• data + platform connection
• RiseWorks payout setup
• your transition from evaluation → funded

It's a one-time fee, not recurring.

This is not unusual. Apex, UProfit, Funded Nations, and Finotive all use activation fees.
MyFundedFutures simply restricts this fee to the Starter plan.

Expert, Milestone, and Starter Plus traders skip it.

Why Only the Starter Plan Has an Activation Fee

Starter accounts are positioned as:

• cheaper
• higher-constraint
• training-focused

To offset the lower monthly fees, the firm charges the activation fee once you pass. This is their internal economics.

Expert, Milestone, and Starter Plus accounts cost more monthly — so the firm removes the activation cost entirely.

This is why plan selection matters.
A lot of traders pick Starter because it’s cheaper upfront — then complain about the $149 later.

You either pay upfront (higher monthly fee) or on the backend (activation fee).
Pick the model that suits your goals.

Activation Fee Structure (Webflow Table)

When Do You Actually Pay the Activation Fee?

You only pay the activation fee on Starter accounts when:

1. You pass the evaluation
2. You want to activate the funded account

If you fail evaluation → no activation fee
If you reset evaluation → no activation fee
If you quit before passing → no activation fee

Simple.

What Happens After You Pay the Activation Fee?

Once the $149 is paid:

• your evaluation stops
• your funded account is created
• the EOD trailing drawdown restarts
• you get access to payouts
• the 100% first $10K rule begins
• consistency rules activate (40% daily cap on Starter)
• news restrictions apply

Paying the activation fee does not unlock profits automatically — you must still hit the payout criteria (5 winning days, consistency rule, etc.).

If you want zero restrictions in the funded phase, the Expert Plan is the better choice.

This is explained more deeply inside the MyFundedFutures Rules & Targets guide.

Can You Avoid Paying the Activation Fee? (Yes — Several Ways)

There are three ways:

1. Pick Starter Plus instead of Starter

Same price range.
Same evaluation structure.
No activation fee.

This is the best “Starter-like” plan if cost is your main filter.

2. Choose Expert

Higher monthly cost, but:

• no activation fee
• no consistency rule
• no payout restrictions
• payouts every 14 days
• 100% first $10K

If you’re a confident trader, Expert saves money long-term.

3. Use a promo period

MyFundedFutures sometimes runs deals where:

• activation fee is waived
• Starter temporarily has no backend cost
• or Starter Plus becomes the default

If you want to avoid fees entirely, watch for these windows.

Why the Activation Fee Exists (Internal Economics)

This fee isn’t random.
It connects to how these firms structure risk and revenue.

Starter is cheaper upfront → firm earns less monthly
So they add a backend fee to balance the economics.

Expert costs more monthly → firm earns the margin upfront
So no activation fee is required.

Most futures firms work the same way:

• Apex has scaling fees
• TPT has exchange fees
• TradeDay has data fees
• UProfit charges activation fees every cycle

In comparison, a single one-time $149 is mild.

Is the Activation Fee Worth Paying?

It depends on which profile you fit:

If you’re experienced

Go Expert.
Skip all activation fees permanently.

If you want low upfront cost

Take Starter — pay activation only if you pass.

If you want low cost AND no activation

Starter Plus is the sweet spot.

If you want news freedom + moderate rules

Milestone works.

Why Activation Fees Don’t Scare Me (And Why They Shouldn’t Scare You)

Because activation fees don’t matter — payouts do.

On my MFFU funded accounts I’ve withdrawn:

• clean
• next-day
• no excuses
• no pushback
• 100% of first $10K honored

Most shady firms use activation fees to mask payout issues.
MyFundedFutures does not.

If anything, it’s the most transparent sim-funded activation system I’ve seen in the futures niche.

For the rest of the structure (news restrictions, consistency rules, drawdown, scaling, payouts), read the full MyFundedFutures Review.

Final Verdict: Should You Worry About the Activation Fee?

Short answer: No — if you choose the right plan.

You can avoid the activation fee entirely by choosing:

• Starter Plus
• Milestone
• Expert

The only traders who pay it are those who deliberately pick the cheaper Starter plan.

If that’s you?
Pay it once, get funded, and enjoy the real payout model (100% of first $10K + 90% after).

If activation fees stress you out, you're in the wrong industry.
Focus on the rules that actually affect profitability:

• EOD drawdown
• news restrictions
• consistency rules
• payout cycles

The activation fee is the smallest piece of the puzzle.