Alpha Capital vs The5ers: Elite Prop Firms Comparison
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Introduction
The5ers has been funding traders since 2016, making it one of the longer-running names in the funded-trading space, while Alpha Capital arrived in 2021 with a more aggressive, multi-platform pitch. Both now sit at an identical 4.7/5 on Trustpilot, and both cap risk the same way, with a 5% daily and 10% maximum drawdown, so the real separation is in how they fund you, how you scale, and what you are allowed to trade. Alpha Capital leans on choice: three evaluation paths (1-Step, 2-Step and 3-Step) plus an Express route to funding, accounts from $5K to $200K that can scale to $2M, and a broad platform menu of MT5, cTrader, DXtrade and TradeLocker. It also permits crypto alongside forex, indices and commodities, though its profit split tops out at 80%. The5ers answers with a higher 100% profit ceiling and a scaling model that doubles your account at each level, reaching as high as $4M, but it runs solely on MetaTrader 5 and sticks to forex, indices and commodities with no crypto. Its three branded programs, Hyper Growth, High Stakes and Bootcamp, map to 1, 2 and 3-step structures with targets from 6% to 10%. Cost also separates them: The5ers starts as low as $35 with a 3-day money-back guarantee, whereas Alpha Capital begins near $99 and offers no refund after purchase. A crypto-focused trader who wants platform options will gravitate to Alpha Capital; a forex specialist chasing a 100% split and long-term account growth will prefer The5ers.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Alpha Capital | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
|  | |
| Founded | 2021 | 2016 |
| Profit Split | 80 | 80-100% |
| Maximum Account Size | $200,000 | $4,000,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | Alpha One: 1; Alpha Pro: 2; Alpha Swing: 2; Alpha Three: 3 | 3 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| Expert Grade | 8.9 | 9 |
Program Types
| Program | Alpha Capital | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Alpha One | High Stakes (2-Step) |
| Advanced Program | Alpha Prime | Hyper Growth (1-Step) |
| Scaling Options | Yes | Bootcamp (3-Step) |
| Demo Account | Yes | Available |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Alpha Capital | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | Alpha One: 10%; Alpha Pro 6%: 6% / 6%; Alpha Pro 8%: 8% / 5%; Alpha Pro 10%: 10% / 5%; Alpha Swing: 10% / 5%; Alpha Three: 8% / 4% / 4% | 5-10% |
| Maximum Drawdown | Alpha One: 6%; Alpha Pro 6%: 6%; Alpha Pro 8%: 8%; Alpha Pro 10%: 10%; Alpha Swing: 10%; Alpha Three: 6% | 10% |
| Minimum Trading Days | — | 3 |
| News Trading | Yes | Yes |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Alpha Capital | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| CFD $2.5K Account | Not offered | USD 19 / High Stakes New / One-time |
| CFD $5K Account | Not offered | USD 35 / High Stakes New / One-time |
| CFD $10K Account | USD 97 / Listed challenge / One-time | USD 69 / High Stakes New / One-time |
| CFD $25K Account | USD 197 / Listed challenge / One-time | USD 176 / High Stakes New / One-time |
| CFD $50K Account | USD 257 / Listed challenge / One-time | USD 278 / High Stakes New / One-time |
| CFD $100K Account | USD 457 / Listed challenge / One-time | USD 491 / High Stakes New / One-time |
| CFD $200K Account | USD 897 / Listed challenge / One-time | Not offered |
| Futures $25K Account | Not offered | USD 59 / Day Trade / One-time |
| Futures $50K Account | Not offered | USD 100 / Day Trade / One-time |
| Futures $100K Account | Not offered | USD 170 / Day Trade / One-time |
| Futures $150K Account | Not offered | USD 199 / Day Trade / One-time |
| Coupons / Discount | Alpha Capital discount | The5ers discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Alpha Capital | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 5, cTrader, DX Trade, TradeLocker | MetaTrader 5, cTrader |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Stocks | — | No |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | — | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | — | No |
| Bonds | — | Not available |
| EA/Algo Trading | Risk-management EAs only; MT5; pre-approved | Yes |
Payout
| Feature | Alpha Capital | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | minimum: $100 gross; bi_weekly: every 14 days (Pro and Three only); on_demand: 2% profit required; 40% best-day rule applies; processing_time: 2 business days | Bi-weekly; minimum $150 threshold; bank 3%, Wise/crypto 2%, Hub Credits 0% |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Alpha Capital | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Static drawdown on most plans, Hedging and stacking permitted, Overnight and weekend holds allowed in evaluation, Four platforms available, No time limit or account expiry, On-demand payouts from 2% profit | Established 2016, 30,000+ verified payouts, Profit scales to 100%, No time limits, Multiple program options |
| Weaknesses | Non-refundable fee, Flat 80% split; no 90% tier, 2-minute average trade duration rule, Risk Management Group discretionary restrictions, Weekend holding restricted on funded Alpha Pro, Account deactivates after 30 days inactivity | Non-refundable fees, Strict drawdown rules, US traders restricted, Withdrawal fees (2-3%), News trading prohibited on High Stakes |
| Best For | Swing and position traders seeking static drawdowns and permissive evaluation rules | Structured traders seeking established firm with clear scaling path |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Alpha Capital if you are swing and position traders seeking static drawdowns and permissive evaluation rules. Choose The5ers if a higher profit split, up to 100%, a larger funded ceiling at $4M and a cheaper entry, from USD 19 matter more to you. 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 firm’s 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 The5ers’s programs?
The5ers High Stakes is a two-step program with a scaling ladder. Its advertised maximum profit share is reached through scaling rather than being the standard starting share. The5ers official rules; The5ers official program information.
How do payouts differ between Alpha Capital and The5ers?
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.
High Stakes starts at 80% and the published ladder reaches 100% at advanced levels. Its payout guide allows funded-stage requests on a biweekly basis and specifies a $150 minimum after the split. The5ers official rules; The5ers official program information.
Which account rules matter when comparing Alpha Capital and The5ers?
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.
High Stakes fee benefits are divided into 10% and 20% non-withdrawable Hub credits after the evaluation steps and a conditional 70% refund at the funded stage. Passing alone does not return the whole fee as cash. The5ers official rules; The5ers official program information.
Is Alpha Capital or The5ers automatically the better choice?
No. Each firm wins on a different axis. Alpha Capital is built for swing and position traders seeking static drawdowns and permissive evaluation rules. The5ers has the higher profit split at 100% and the larger funded ceiling at $4M. 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 platform availability, 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 The5ers
Both firms on this page carry a JoinProp Rating out of 10. We produce that rating with the same 9-factor methodology we apply to every firm we review: payout reliability (20%), fee structure (15%), drawdown rules (15%), profit split (15%), evaluation terms (10%), trading rules (10%), support access and responsiveness (5%), scaling plan (5%), and track record and transparency (5%).
The inputs come from our firm reviews, not from this page. For each firm we work from the current terms and conditions rather than marketing pages, track rule and pricing changes over time, and read payout and support reports across Trustpilot, Reddit and Discord, looking for recurring patterns rather than isolated complaints. Every firm is re-checked at least every 90 days, or sooner after a material change. Affiliate relationships have no effect on any rating, and ratings are never sold.
The tables above show the evidence behind those factors. A few rows, including trading platforms, available instruments, maximum account size and demo availability, are there to help you judge fit and do not affect either rating.
Read our full ranking methodology
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