Alpha Capital vs TradeDay: Elite Prop Firms Comparison
Published: Β· Last updated:
Introduction
Alpha Capital and TradeDay stand as leading prop trading firms in today’s competitive market, each offering unique paths to funded trading accounts. Alpha Capital is renowned for its flexible evaluation process and comprehensive educational resources, earning a solid 4.7/5 rating on Trustpilot. TradeDay distinguishes itself with rapid funding options and innovative scaling plans, maintaining an impressive 4.6/5 Trustpilot rating. Both organizations have established themselves as trusted platforms for aspiring traders seeking capital backing, though they differ significantly in their approach to evaluations, funding structures, and trader support systems.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Alpha Capital | TradeDay |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| Founded | 2021 | β |
| Profit Split | 80% standard; 90% eligible add-on / Direct | Quick Pay Sim: 50%/80% by portion around $4,000 current profit; Fast Pass Sim: 80%; Live: 90% eligible profits, Quick Pay buffer portion 50% |
| Maximum Account Size | $200,000 | β |
| Evaluation Phases | The Product Line β Alpha One 6% / 10% / 12%: 1 The Product Line β Alpha Pro 6%: 2 The Product Line β Alpha Pro 8%: 2 The Product Line β Alpha Pro 10%: 2 The Product Line β Alpha Swing: 2 The Product Line β Alpha Three: 3 The Product Line β Alpha Direct: None: instant qualified | 1 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| Expert Grade | 8.9 | 8.9 |
Program Types
| Program | Alpha Capital | TradeDay |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Alpha One | Yes |
| Advanced Program | Alpha Prime | Yes |
| Scaling Options | Yes | Yes |
| Demo Account | Yes | Yes |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Alpha Capital | TradeDay |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | The Product Line β Alpha One 6% / 10% / 12%: 6% / 10% / 12% The Product Line β Alpha Pro 6%: 6% / 6% The Product Line β Alpha Pro 8%: 8% / 5% The Product Line β Alpha Pro 10%: 10% / 5% The Product Line β Alpha Swing: 10% / 5% The Product Line β Alpha Three: 8% / 4% / 4% The Product Line β Alpha Direct: No evaluation target | $1,500/$3,000/$6,000/$9,000 for 25K/50K/100K/150K evaluations |
| Maximum Drawdown | The Product Line β Alpha One 6% / 10% / 12%: 4% / 6% / 8% The Product Line β Alpha Pro 6%: 6% The Product Line β Alpha Pro 8%: 8% The Product Line β Alpha Pro 10%: 10% The Product Line β Alpha Swing: 10% The Product Line β Alpha Three: 6% The Product Line β Alpha Direct: 5% | $1,000/$2,000/$3,000/$4,500 for 25K/50K/100K/150K evaluation and Funded Sim; trailing floor freezes at starting balance; Live rules differ |
| Minimum Trading Days | β | Quick Pay vs Fast Pass β Quick Pay: 5 Quick Pay vs Fast Pass β Fast Pass: None |
| News Trading | Evaluation allowed; qualified Pro/One/Three/Direct: +/-5-minute restrictions; Swing duration conditions | No |
| Daily Loss Limit | The Product Line β Alpha One 6% / 10% / 12%: 3% / 4% / 5% in evaluation; One 6% becomes 4% qualified The Product Line β Alpha Pro 6%: 3% The Product Line β Alpha Pro 8%: 4% The Product Line β Alpha Pro 10%: 5% The Product Line β Alpha Swing: 5% The Product Line β Alpha Three: 4% The Product Line β Alpha Direct: 3% | β |
| Drawdown Type | The Product Line β Alpha One 6% / 10% / 12%: Trailing highest balance The Product Line β Alpha Pro 6%: Static The Product Line β Alpha Pro 8%: Static The Product Line β Alpha Pro 10%: Static The Product Line β Alpha Swing: Static The Product Line β Alpha Three: Static The Product Line β Alpha Direct: Trailing highest balance | β |
| Consistency / Best Day Rule | Payouts: On-demand: best day no more than 40% for Pro/Swing/One/Three; 15% for Direct | Quick Pay vs Fast Pass β Quick Pay: 30% Quick Pay vs Fast Pass β Fast Pass: 45% |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Alpha Capital | TradeDay |
|---|---|---|
| CFD $10K Account | Listed challenge / USD 97 / One-time | Not listed in review pricing source |
| CFD $25K Account | Listed challenge / USD 197 / One-time | Not listed in review pricing source |
| CFD $50K Account | Listed challenge / USD 257 / One-time | Not listed in review pricing source |
| CFD $100K Account | Listed challenge / USD 457 / One-time | Not listed in review pricing source |
| CFD $200K Account | Listed challenge / USD 897 / One-time | Not listed in review pricing source |
| Futures $50K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | Quick Pay Intraday / USD 125 / Monthly Quick Pay Intraday list price; monthly subscription; no activation fee. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| Futures $100K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | Quick Pay Intraday / USD 230 / Monthly Quick Pay Intraday list price; monthly subscription; no activation fee. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| Futures $150K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | Quick Pay Intraday / USD 350 / Monthly Quick Pay Intraday list price; monthly subscription; no activation fee. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| Refund Policy | Non-refundable; all sales final | No refunds after purchase |
| Coupons / Discount | Alpha Capital discount | TradeDay discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Alpha Capital | TradeDay |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 5, cTrader, DXtrade, TradeLocker | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Jigsaw, R-Trader Pro, Quantower, and 10 more |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Stocks | β | No |
| Indices | Yes | β |
| Commodities | β | Yes: permitted energy/agricultural futures; MGC/SIL limited; GC/SI/HG/PL restricted |
| Cryptocurrencies | β | No |
| Bonds | β | β |
| EA/Algo Trading | Pre-approved MT5 assistance only; no autonomous EAs; unavailable on Direct, Swap-Free and Focused Trader Group | β |
Payout
| Feature | Alpha Capital | TradeDay |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | Bi-weekly Pro/Three: 14 days, $100 gross, first request 5 strategy days; On-demand Pro/Swing/One/Three: 2% gross, 40% best day; Direct: 3% buffer + 1% gross, 15% best day; processing 2 business days | Minimum $250. Quick Pay Sim: day-one eligibility with positive profit; $10,000 gross-profit live-transition review. Fast Pass Sim: 5 qualifying profitable days per payout, net profit since last payout and tier caps; 45% consistency for accounts opened from 26 July 2026. |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Alpha Capital | TradeDay |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Static maximum drawdown on Pro/Swing/Three; four platforms; eligible 90% split options; Direct skips evaluation | No standard daily loss limit; Quick Pay Sim day-one payouts and no funded consistency; Fast Pass Sim retains EOD drawdown; eligible live profits receive 90% |
| Weaknesses | Non-refundable fee; duration tests; applicable per-asset Max Risk limits; Focused Trader Group restrictions; no qualified Pro/Direct weekend holds; 30-day inactivity rule | Quick Pay Sim: stop at $10,000 gross-profit review threshold, excess forfeited; 50%/80% payout portions; intraday funded drawdown. Standard metals restricted; MGC/SIL limits. Monthly subscription. |
| Best For | Swing and position traders seeking static drawdowns and permissive evaluation rules | Futures traders avoiding daily loss limits; transparent disclosure valued |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Alpha Capital if you want a cheaper entry, from USD 97, news trading allowed and coverage of forex that the other does not offer. Choose TradeDay if you are futures traders avoiding daily loss limits; transparent disclosure valued. Neither firm is better in the abstract. The right choice depends on your strategy, your budget and the instruments you trade, so read both full reviews before you commit. Verify current rules and pricing on each firmβs own site before purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
What should I know about Alpha Capital’s programs?
Alpha Capital Group offers several plans and separate biweekly and on-demand performance-fee options. These should not be merged into one firm-wide payout schedule. Alpha Capital official rules; Alpha Capital official program information.
What should I know about TradeDay’s programs?
TradeDay offers a Make It Take It futures program with evaluation and Funded Sim stages. The published evaluation requires five trading days and a 30% consistency limit. TradeDay official rules.
How do payouts differ between Alpha Capital and TradeDay?
Qualified Analysts generally receive 80%, with an optional 90% add-on. The biweekly option on Alpha Pro/Three has a $100 gross minimum and requires five trading days for the first request. Alpha Capital official rules; Alpha Capital official program information.
Make It Take It lists a $250 minimum request and eligibility from one funded trading day, subject to its rules. Its split is 50/50 below $4,000 net profit, 80/20 above $4,000 and 90/10 in Funded Live. TradeDay official rules.
Which account rules matter when comparing Alpha Capital and TradeDay?
On-demand Alpha Pro, Swing, One and Three require 2% gross profit and a 40% Best Day limit. Alpha Direct instead uses a 3% buffer, additional 1% profit and a 15% Best Day limit. Alpha Capital official rules; Alpha Capital official program information.
The selected evaluation can use end-of-day or intraday drawdown, while the displayed Funded Sim rules use intraday drawdown. Do not assume those stages have identical loss calculations. TradeDay official rules.
Is Alpha Capital or TradeDay automatically the better choice?
No. Each firm wins on a different axis. Alpha Capital has the cheaper entry at USD 97 and market access the other lacks, namely forex. TradeDay is built for futures traders avoiding daily loss limits; transparent disclosure valued. Which of those matters more depends on how you actually trade, so compare how each firm measures drawdown, the total fee once add-ons and resets are included and whether the instruments you trade are covered, rather than the headline numbers. If you fail an evaluation, do not assume either firm offers a fixed reset discount: check the reset terms for the specific account you bought.
How We Compared Alpha Capital and TradeDay
Both firms carry a JoinProp Rating out of 10, scored on the same nine weighted factors, led by payout reliability at 20%, then fee structure, drawdown rules and profit split at 15% each. The scores come from our own firm reviews, built from each firmβs current terms rather than its marketing pages and re-checked at least every 90 days. Affiliate relationships have no effect on any rating, and ratings are never sold. The tables above are the evidence behind those scores. Read our full ranking methodology.
View More Elite Prop Firms Compared: FunderPro vs The Trading Pit
