Nostro Review 2026: Is This London Prop Firm Worth Your Time?

Let me get this out of the way first: I've been watching Nostro since they launched in 2023. Back then they had maybe 500 people in their Discord. Now they're sitting at a 4.4 rating on TheTrustedProp with 53 reviews and a TrustScore of 9.4 [1]. That's not nothing.

But ratings only tell you so much. What matters is whether they actually pay, whether their rules make sense, and whether the whole setup is built for traders or just for collecting challenge fees.

I dug through their full profile, their challenge pricing, the drawdown rules, the consistency score system, and every trader review I could find. Here's what I found.

Who Actually Runs Nostro?

Nostro is registered in the UK as NOSTRO LIMITED, number 14871445. Their trading address is 7 Bell Yard, London, WC2A 2JR [1]. The CEO and co-founder is Scott O'Sullivan. That's public record through Companies House.

They run their own MT5 server instead of piggybacking on some external broker setup. That's worth noting. It means they control execution latency and spreads directly, which is better for traders than the typical white-label arrangement where the prop firm has no say in how orders get filled.

The broker behind the scenes is called "Nostro Markets," but it's a simulated environment. That's standard for prop firms. You're not trading on a live market account during the challenge. You trade on their internal server, and when you pass, they flip you to a funded account with similar conditions minus the evaluation restrictions.

The Challenge Lineup: Three Main Models

Nostro offers six challenge variants, but the core lineup is three: 1-Step, 2-Step, and 3-Step. They also have "Aggressive" versions of all three with looser drawdowns and no consistency rule. Let's break down the standard ones first.

1-Step Challenge

One phase. Hit 10% profit. Stay within 4% daily drawdown and 6% total drawdown. No minimum trading days. No time limit [1].

Pricing:

[1]

That $16 for a 2.5K account is genuinely cheap. The $320 for a 100K account is also well below what most firms charge for a one-phase challenge.

The catch with the 1-Step is the tighter drawdown. 4% daily / 6% total is not much room. If you have a bad day, you're done. But that's the trade-off for skipping the extra phases.

2-Step Challenge

Two phases: Phase 1 at 8% target, Phase 2 at 5%. Drawdown loosens to 5% daily and 10% total. Also no time limit [1].

Pricing:

[1]

The 2-Step is where Nostro gets competitive. A $100K account for $250 is aggressive pricing. Compare that to FTMO's $1,080 or FundedNext's similar tier. The 5% daily and 10% total drawdown also gives you more breathing room than the 1-Step.

3-Step Challenge

Three phases: 8%, 5%, 5% targets. Same drawdown as the 2-Step. This one starts at $10K accounts only [1].

Pricing:

[1]

The 3-Step is for traders who want structure. Multiple phases force you to prove consistency over time. But the profit splits up to 100% make it worthwhile if you can grind through all three.

Aggressive Challenges

These are the same structure but with looser drawdowns and no consistency rule for the 1-Step and 2-Step versions. The Aggressive 1-Step has 10% total drawdown instead of 6%. The Aggressive 2-Step offers 12% total drawdown. Pricing is higher accordingly [1].

The Aggressive 3-Step still has a consistency rule, which is odd. Not sure why they kept it for the three-phase version but dropped it for the others.

The Consistency Score: How Your Payout Gets Calculated

Here's where Nostro differs from most firms. They don't give you a flat profit split. Your payout percentage depends on how consistent your profits are.

The formula they use:

(1 - (Best Day Profit ÷ Total Absolute Profit)) × 100

That spits out a score between 0 and 100. Then:

• 0-49% → 40% profit share

• 50-69% → 60% profit share

• 70-89% → 80% profit share

• 90-100% → 100% profit share

[1]

So if you make $1,000 total profit but $600 comes from one day, your score is (1 - 600/1000) × 100 = 40. That gets you the 40% split.

If you spread that same $1,000 across multiple days with no single day above $100, your score hits 90+ and you get the full 100%.

I think this is smart. It rewards traders who actually manage risk and avoid the "one big gamble" approach. But it also means if you have a genuinely good day where a setup works perfectly, you get penalized for competence. That's the trade-off.

The Aggressive 1-Step and Aggressive 2-Step don't have this rule. You get 80% flat on those [1].

Scaling Plan: Simple But Limited

Nostro's scaling plan is refreshingly straightforward. No convoluted tiers or hidden conditions:

• +10% profit → Account × 1.5

• +25% cumulative profit → Account × 2.0

• +50% cumulative profit → Account × 3.0

[1]

Hit the milestone, get the scale-up. Simple.

But there's a cap. You cannot hold more than $100K total active funded capital across all accounts. That means no stacking five 100K accounts to hit $500K. You max out at $100K total [1].

That's restrictive if you're a high-volume trader. Most firms let you hold multiple accounts. Nostro caps you. Something to know before you start scaling aggressively.

Drawdown Rules: How They Actually Work

Nostro calculates drawdown based on equity at a daily reset time of 7 PM EST. The daily drawdown limit is checked once per day at that reset. Your max drawdown follows your highest equity level over the account's lifetime [1].

Let me walk through an example.

Say you have a $10K account on the 2-Step challenge. Your daily drawdown is 5% ($500) and total is 10% ($1,000).

Day 1: You start at $10,000 equity. You take some losses and end at $9,800. No breach.

Day 2: Your equity resets to $9,800 at 7 PM EST. Your daily limit is now 5% of that, or $490. Your total max is still calculated from highest equity. If your highest ever was $10,000, your total max is $9,000.

Day 3: You have a great day and hit $10,500. Your new high is $10,500. Your total max drawdown buffer just expanded to $9,450 (10% below $10,500).

The key thing: daily drawdown resets at 7 PM EST. It's not a rolling 24-hour window like some firms use. That gives you a clean break each day.

The disadvantage: if you hold positions overnight that go against you before 7 PM EST, they could trigger a drawdown violation before you can react. Overnight holds require careful management.

Spreads and Commissions: Transparent and Fair

Nostro charges $4 per standard lot round turn on most asset classes. Indices are zero commission [1].

[1]

$4 is competitive. Most firms charge $3-$7. The zero commission on indices is a genuine perk for traders who focus on S&P 500 or NASDAQ.

Raw spreads with no markup. That's what they claim. Multiple trader reviews on TheTrustedProp mention tight spreads as a reason they stay with Nostro [1].

"I've had a great experience with Nostro so far. I've received five payouts from them and each one has been smooth fast and easy." - Miracle Emmanuel, verified trader review [1]

Another trader: "Nostro has the best spreads in the industry. My first payout was in minutes, 2nd was requested on a weekend and received on Monday." - Kenzy Meister, verified trader review [1]

Trading Rules: What You Can and Can't Do

Nostro has a detailed rulebook. Some of it standard, some worth noting:

Allowed:

• Manual trading

• Expert Advisors (with compliance checks)

• News trading during evaluation

• Weekend and overnight holding

• Hedging (not explicitly banned, but the FAQ says no)

Not Allowed:

• Copy trading or group trading

• PAMM systems

• Hedging (inverse pairs, same account or cross-account)

• News trading in funded accounts (2 minutes before and after)

• One-sided bets (oversized trades without risk controls)

• Third-party account management

[1]

The 2% risk per trade cap is important. You cannot risk more than 2% of your account balance per symbol per trade. Breach it and you get a soft breach warning. Three soft breaches and you're out [1].

That rule is divisive. Some traders in the reviews love it because it forces discipline. Others find it restrictive. Nathan Jimmy's review sums it up: "The only turn off was the 2% maximum position per each pair" [1].

If you're a scalper or trade multiple positions, the 2% cap per symbol can limit your sizing. Plan accordingly.

Minimum 5 trading days required per phase. You cannot pass a phase in one day, even if you hit the profit target. That's fairly standard now.

Payouts: What Traders Report

Payouts are processed every 14 days. Minimum withdrawal is $50. Processing time is 72 business hours. Methods include crypto (with $10 fee), bank wire, PayPal, and Revolut [1].

The payout formula depends on your Consistency Score as discussed. Most funded traders get 80% profit split, which maps to a consistency score between 70-89%.

What traders actually say:

"I've received five payouts from them and each one has been smooth fast and easy" - Miracle Emmanuel [1]

"I had 2 payouts from Nostro" - Nathan Jimmy [1]

"I got my first payout within 72 working hours" - Lil Ray [1]

"I received 4 payouts in one month with them" - MrDeep Kolbassia [1]

One standout: "My first payout was in minutes, 2nd was requested on a weekend and received on Monday" - Kenzy Meister [1]

That weekend payout is unusual. Most firms don't process over weekends. If true, it's a strong sign of operational efficiency.

But there's also this:

"I buy three accounts of three phases. I clear all the phases in one day. But they rejected my three funded accounts with no reason" - Usama Hameed [1]

That's a 1-star review. Could be a legitimate complaint or someone who violated rules without realizing it. Hard to know without seeing the account logs. But it exists, and potential traders should be aware.

Customer Support: Mixed but Mostly Positive

The reviews on support are overwhelmingly positive. Multiple traders mention quick responses on Discord, email, and live chat.

"Customer care is excellent I usually get a reply within 10 minutes" - Chitwan Goyal [1]

"Customer service is really top notch... you create a ticket you get attended a minimum of 15 mins" - Meshack Omar [1]

But there are complaints too. The 1-star review from Usama Hameed mentions being ignored after his accounts were rejected. Another trader gave support a 2/5 rating.

Support quality can vary depending on who you get and when you message. That's true for any firm. But the consensus seems to be that Nostro's team is responsive most of the time.

Pros and Cons (From My Analysis)

What works well:

The pricing is hard to beat. A 2.5K 2-Step account for $11.50 is among the cheapest in the industry. Even the 100K 1-Step at $320 is competitive. If you're on a budget or want to test multiple accounts, Nostro's pricing structure gives you room to experiment without breaking the bank.

No time limits on challenges. This is a genuine differentiator. Most firms impose 30-day or 60-day deadlines. Nostro lets you take as long as you need. For swing traders, part-time traders, or anyone who waits for high-probability setups, that's valuable.

The consistency score model incentivizes good trading behavior. It rewards discipline. If you're the type who spreads risk across multiple days and avoids over-concentration, you'll benefit. If you rely on one big winning day, you won't.

Zero monthly fees. You pay for the challenge once. No recurring platform fees, no data subscription fees. That's cleaner than firms that hit you with monthly charges after funding.

Bi-weekly payouts with multiple withdrawal options. Crypto, PayPal, Revolut, bank wire. The $50 minimum withdrawal is low enough for small accounts.

What needs work:

The $100K total capital cap is limiting. If you're building a career and want scale, you hit a ceiling. Most firms let you hold $200K-$500K across multiple accounts. Nostro caps you at $100K total.

The 2% risk per trade rule can feel restrictive. If you're trading a $2,500 account, 2% is $50. That limits your position sizing and makes it harder to recover from drawdowns. For small accounts, this rule amplifies the challenge.

MT5 only. No cTrader, no TradingView integration. If you prefer a different platform, you're locked in.

News trading restrictions on funded accounts. You cannot trade within 2 minutes of major news releases. That rules out news scalping and can conflict with certain strategies.

The challenge fee refund requires three successful payouts before you get your money back. That's a long wait. Some firms refund after the first payout.

Who Should Trade With Nostro?

Traders who want cheap challenges with no time pressure. If you have a strategy that needs time to develop, Nostro's unlimited time model suits you.

Traders who prioritize consistency over big wins. The profit split rewards steady growth. If your edge is about grinding out small gains over many trades rather than hitting home runs, this firm works for you.

Traders who want simple, transparent rules. Nostro's rulebook is not complex. The drawdown calculation, the consistency formula, the scaling milestones. Everything is straightforward.

Not great for:

Traders who want to scale beyond $100K. You hit the cap fast.

Traders who trade news events on funded accounts. The 2-minute restriction before and after news is strict.

Traders who prefer cTrader, TradingView, or other platforms. MT5 only.

Traders who need 100% profit split immediately without proving consistency. You have to earn the top tier through consistent performance.

Final Verdict

Nostro is not flashy. They don't have the brand recognition of FTMO or FundedNext. They haven't been around for a decade. But they have built a solid operation around low pricing, fair rules, and fast payouts.

The 4.4 rating on TheTrustedProp with 53 reviews reflects genuine trader sentiment. Multiple traders report receiving payouts quickly, some within hours. That's rare in an industry where payout delays are common.

The weaknesses are real: $100K capital cap, 2% risk rule, MT5 only. But those are trade-offs, not dealbreakers, depending on your strategy.

If you're a disciplined trader who values low entry costs and no time pressure, Nostro deserves a spot on your shortlist. The proof is in the payouts. Multiple funded traders confirm they get paid. That's more than many firms can claim.

As one trader put it: "I will recommend this prop any day to anyone, great platform, I've traded over 6 accounts with them, I love Nostro" [1].

FAQ

1. What makes Nostro different from other prop firms?

No time limits on challenges. Consistency-based profit split that can reach 100%. Very low pricing compared to competitors. They run their own MT5 server for better execution control.

2. How fast do you get funded after passing?

24-72 business hours after completing KYC and signing the contract. Multiple traders report getting funded within 24 hours.

3. Are there time limits on challenges?

No. All challenges are unlimited time. You can take 7 days or 70.

4. How does the Consistency Score work?

Formula: (1 - (Best Day Profit ÷ Total Absolute Profit)) × 100. Score 0-49% = 40% split. 50-69% = 60%. 70-89% = 80%. 90-100% = 100%.

5. What are the key rules?

2% max risk per symbol per trade. Stop-loss required on every trade. No news trading in funded accounts. No copy trading. Minimum 5 trading days per phase. $100K max total capital.

6. Do you get a refund on challenge fees?

Yes, for accounts over $30. Refunded after the third payout. Accounts under $30 get a free retry instead.

7. How often can you withdraw?

Every 14 days. Minimum $50. Processed within 72 business hours.

8. Can you hold overnight and weekend positions?

Yes, overnight and weekend holds are allowed. Funded accounts cannot trade within 2 minutes of major news releases.

9. What countries are restricted?

USA, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Myanmar, Belarus, Venezuela, Yemen, Cuba, Iraq, Chad, DRC, Eritrea, Somalia, Crimea region. Full list includes about 25 countries [1].

10. Is there a capital cap?

Yes, $100,000 total active funded capital across all accounts. You cannot exceed this.

Trading challenges involve risk. Most traders do not pass evaluations. Always read the firm's latest rules before purchasing a challenge.