Most prop firms now sell both 1-step and 2-step evaluations. The difference is not just the number of phases: the targets, drawdown and price change with it.
How 2-step evaluations work
A typical 2-step challenge asks for around 8–10% in phase one and 4–5% in phase two, usually with a static maximum loss of about 10% and a 4–5% daily limit. Two phases double the time to funding but each target is lower and the drawdown wider.
How 1-step evaluations work
A 1-step challenge asks for one target, usually around 10%, and often compensates with a tighter or trailing drawdown. QATS evaluations are 1-step: a 10% profit target, a 4% daily loss limit, a 6% end-of-day trailing maximum loss that stops trailing at the starting balance, a 40% consistency rule and 2 minimum trading days.
Side-by-side
| 1-step | 2-step | |
|---|---|---|
| Profit target | ~8–10% once | ~8–10%, then ~4–5% |
| Max loss | Often 4–6%, sometimes trailing | Often ~8–10% static |
| Daily loss | ~3–4% | ~4–5% |
| Time to funding | Faster | Slower |
| Price | Often a little higher | Often a little lower |
Cost per attempt and time to funding
Two-step evaluations are often a little cheaper per attempt, but each attempt can fail in either phase, and the second phase adds days. One-step evaluations cost about the same or slightly more but reach the funded stage sooner — which also means the first payout comes sooner.
If you expect more than one attempt, check the reset price and whether a subscription includes resets: across several attempts the reset policy usually matters more than the base price.
How the drawdown style interacts with the number of phases
Many 1-step programs use a trailing maximum loss to balance the single target. Intraday trailing is the strictest form; end-of-day trailing is much easier for traders who hold positions for hours. A 2-step program with a static 10% limit gives the most room per trade but asks you to prove yourself twice.
QATS keeps one phase and uses end-of-day trailing that stops at the starting balance: on a $10K Crypto account, once you have closed a day $600 above the start, the floor locks at $10,000 and behaves like a static limit from then on.
Which suits you
- Scalpers and day traders with tight stops: 1-step, because the tighter drawdown matters less and funding comes sooner.
- Swing traders with wide stops: 2-step or a 1-step with EOD trailing, so open swings do not raise the floor.
- Algorithmic traders: whichever model your backtest survives — replay it against the exact rules before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
01Is a 1-step prop challenge easier?
It is faster, not necessarily easier. One target replaces two, but drawdown limits are often tighter.
02Does QATS offer 2-step challenges?
The current QATS Crypto and TradFi evaluations are 1-step with an end-of-day trailing maximum loss that stops at the starting balance.
Educational content, not investment advice. QATS evaluations and initial funded accounts are simulated; payouts depend on eligibility, verification and the applicable agreement.