What StartTrader is
StartTrader is the cheapest of Fintokei’s three evaluation plans: a three-step program with modest profit targets of 2%, 3%, and 6%. On the Japanese site it starts at ¥10,000 for a ¥1M demo account; the global site offers USD/EUR equivalents from around the $5K account size.
It is explicitly built as an entry ticket — a way to experience a prop-firm evaluation with the smallest possible fixed cost.
This review reflects the official plan pages as of July 2026. For the full lineup side by side, see Fintokei plans compared. Fintokei revises terms fairly often, so confirm current conditions on the official site before buying.
Pricing and account sizes
On the Japanese site (JPY, tax included):
| Tier | Demo capital | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | ¥1M | ¥10,000 |
| Basic | ¥5M | ¥29,800 |
| Advance | ¥10M | ¥49,800 |
| Master | ¥20M | ¥84,800 |
The global site lists comparable USD/EUR plans (roughly $5K-$100K account sizes, from around €44).
The rules at a glance
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Evaluation steps | 3 |
| Profit targets | 2% → 3% → 6% |
| Daily max loss | -3% |
| Overall max loss | -6% |
| Max risk on open positions | -3% |
| Minimum trading days | 3 per step |
| Time limit | 180 days per step |
| Activity requirement | One trade every 30 days |
| Leverage | up to 1:25 |
| Profit split | 50-100% (dynamic) |
On a ¥1M account, Step 1 means +¥20,000 to pass, with -¥30,000 in one day or -¥60,000 total ending the attempt. The targets are small enough to reach on minimal lot sizes, which is the whole point.
The key catch: the consistency rule
StartTrader is the only Fintokei plan with an explicit consistency rule: profit earned in a single day may not exceed 40% of the step’s profit target.
| Step | Target | Daily profit cap (40%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | +2% | +0.8% |
| 2 | +3% | +1.2% |
| 3 | +6% | +2.4% |
Read that table carefully. On Step 1 you are expected to grind out the target across at least three days at under +0.8% per day. If your style occasionally catches a trend and prints +2% in a session, this plan actively works against you.
The plan page does not spell out exactly what happens when you exceed the cap (whether excess profit simply does not count, or worse), so ask support before buying if this matters to your strategy. Either way, the design intent is clear: no single-day heroics.
What StartTrader does well
- The cheapest entry fee in the lineup, and among the cheapest anywhere for a JPY-denominated product
- Low per-step targets that are achievable on minimum lots
- A long 180-day window per step — time pressure is effectively absent
- For Japanese residents, fully localized purchase and JPY payouts
Where it falls short
- Three separate steps mean three separate chances to fail; cheap does not mean easy
- The consistency rule constrains how you are allowed to win
- The split starts around 50%, worse than ProTrader’s flat 80% until you scale it up
- Loss limits are the tight variety (-3% daily / -6% overall, versus ProTrader’s -5%/-10%)
- 1:25 leverage rules out oversized short-term positioning
The split deserves emphasis: certified StartTrader traders may initially keep meaningfully less of their profit than ProTrader traders would. Check the current scaling conditions on the official page.
Who should buy it
- First-time prop-firm candidates who want the flow of an evaluation at minimal cost
- Traders who want a cheap live test of whether their strategy fits inside a -3% daily limit
- Small-lot, trade-every-day styles — scalpers and day traders with steady output
If you win in bursts — a few big days a month — the consistency rule makes StartTrader a poor fit. ProTrader’s smallest tier costs only slightly more and roughly doubles your loss allowance with no consistency rule.
Verdict: a good practice arena, not a main account
As a low-cost introduction to prop evaluations, StartTrader does its job well. As a plan for seriously pursuing payouts, the 50% starting split, three-step structure, and consistency rule argue against it.
The rational use case is sequential: run StartTrader to verify your trading lives comfortably inside a -3% daily limit, then take that evidence to ProTrader or SwiftTrader as your main attempt.
For passing tactics, see how to pass the Fintokei evaluation; for the rulebook in depth, see Fintokei’s evaluation rules explained.
Recommended prop firms
Fintokei — Japan-focused, JPY payouts
Fully localized Japanese product with payouts to Japanese bank accounts in JPY, alongside standard international options. StartTrader is the cheapest way in.
→ Fintokei official (coupon code FINTO5KEI for 5% off)
FTMO — the industry benchmark
Operating since 2015 with the industry’s largest published payout track record.