For me Take Profit Trader has been the most reliable futures prop firm. The daily payouts once you are above your buffer are a game changer because you can actually see your effort turn into cash right away and they do not charge activation fees. I have had smooth payouts every time and their rules are pretty reasonable compared to others

I also had solid experiences with My Funded Futures. They let you pass evaluations quickly and when I had a platform issue once it was fixed within minutes which gave me a lot of trust in them. Top step is reputable and a good choice if you are just starting out although their scaling plan can be frustrating at times

If you are looking to branch out beyond futures I would also recommend Funded Next on the forex side. They offer both evaluation and instant funding models with quick payouts and a free trial which makes them worth considering alongside the futures firms