Sway Funded vs Alpha Capital: Elite Prop Firms Comparison
Introduction
Sway Funded and Alpha Capital stand as prominent players in the proprietary trading firm industry, each offering unique approaches to funding traders. Sway Funded has gained recognition for its transparent evaluation process and competitive profit splits, maintaining a solid 4.3/5 rating on Trustpilot. Alpha Capital distinguishes itself with its comprehensive educational resources and flexible trading parameters, earning a respectable 4.1/5 on Trustpilot. Both firms provide pathways for traders to access significant capital without risking their own funds, though they differ substantially in their evaluation methodologies and account structures.
Quick Comparison
|
| Feature |
Sway Funded |
Alpha Capital |
|
 |
|
| Founded |
2021 |
2020 |
| Trustpilot Rating |
4.3/5 (650+ reviews) |
4.1/5 (520+ reviews) |
| Maximum Account Size |
$400,000 |
$500,000 |
| Profit Split |
Up to 90% |
Up to 80% |
| Minimum Evaluation Fee |
$49 |
$75 |
| Review |
Read full review |
Read full review |
Program Types – Which experience fits your goals?
|
| Program |
Sway Funded |
Alpha Capital |
| Evaluation Model |
Two-phase challenge (Evaluation & Verification) |
Three-tier system (Challenger, Verification, Funded) |
| Express/Accelerated Option |
Available (higher fee for faster funding) |
Available (combined phases with higher targets) |
| Account Sizes |
$25K, $50K, $100K, $200K, $400K |
$10K, $25K, $50K, $100K, $200K, $300K, $500K |
| Demo Account Options |
7-day free trial available |
Limited free demo evaluation |
| Scaling Opportunities |
Account size doubles after every 10% profit |
25% growth after every 10% profit milestone |
Assessment Criteria – How can you pass the test?
|
| Criteria |
Sway Funded |
Alpha Capital |
| Profit Target (Phase 1) |
10% of account balance |
8% of account balance |
| Maximum Daily Loss |
5% of initial balance |
4% of initial balance |
| Maximum Overall Loss |
10% of initial balance |
8% of initial balance |
| Time Limit |
No time limit for challenges |
45 days for each phase |
| Minimum Trading Days |
5 trading days per phase |
10 trading days per phase |
| News Trading |
Allowed |
Restricted during major announcements |
| Weekend Holding |
Allowed with restrictions |
Not allowed |
Fees and Pricing – How much will you pay?
|
| Option |
Sway Funded |
Alpha Capital |
| $10K Account |
Not offered |
$75 |
| $25K Account |
$49 |
$99 |
| $50K Account |
$99 |
$149 |
| $100K Account |
$199 |
$249 |
| $200K Account |
$299 |
$399 |
| Largest Account ($400K/$500K) |
$599 ($400K) |
$899 ($500K) |
| Monthly Fees (Funded) |
None |
$99/month (waived if profit targets met) |
| Refund Policy |
80% refund if challenge not started |
50% refund within 48 hours |
| Coupons |
Coupon Code |
Coupon Code |
| Review |
Read full review |
Read full review |
Platforms/Tools – What can you use?
|
| Feature |
Sway Funded |
Alpha Capital |
| Trading Platforms |
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 |
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader |
| Analytics Dashboard |
Basic performance metrics |
Advanced analytics with trading insights |
| Educational Resources |
Basic video tutorials and weekly webinars |
Comprehensive trading academy with daily webinars |
| Community Support |
Discord community |
Proprietary forum and Discord server |
| Mobile App Access |
Limited functionality |
Full-featured mobile application |
| Customer Support |
Email and chat (business hours) |
24/5 support via email, chat, and phone |
Available Options/Products
|
| Option |
Sway Funded |
Alpha Capital |
| Tradable Assets |
Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto |
Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Stocks |
| Account Currencies |
USD, EUR |
USD, EUR, GBP |
| Leverage Options |
1:100 |
1:100 for Forex, 1:20 for stocks |
| Scaling Program |
Aggressive scaling (100% increases) |
Conservative scaling (25% increases) |
| Payout Frequency |
Bi-weekly |
Monthly |
| Payout Methods |
Bank transfer, PayPal, Crypto |
Bank transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Crypto |
Technical Capabilities/Performance
|
| Feature |
Sway Funded |
Alpha Capital |
| Execution Speed |
Average 120ms |
Average 85ms |
| Spreads |
From 0.5 pips |
From 0.1 pips (ECN accounts) |
| Slippage Policy |
Standard market slippage |
No negative slippage guarantee |
| Trade Copier Support |
Not allowed |
Allowed with restrictions |
| Algorithm Trading |
Allowed with restrictions |
Fully supported |
| Server Reliability |
99.5% uptime |
99.8% uptime |
Trader Support & Development
|
| Feature |
Sway Funded |
Alpha Capital |
| Mentorship |
Optional mentorship package ($199/month) |
Included with funded accounts |
| Trading Courses |
Basic free resources |
Structured comprehensive academy |
| Trading Challenges |
Monthly competitions with prizes |
Quarterly competitions with cash rewards |
| Market Analysis |
Weekly market outlook |
Daily market briefings and analysis |
| Strategy Development |
Limited guidance |
Personalized strategy sessions available |
| Community Events |
Occasional webinars |
Regular webinars and trading summits |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
|
| Key Element |
Sway Funded |
Alpha Capital |
| Strengths |
Higher profit splits (up to 90%), No time limits on challenges, Aggressive scaling program, Lower entry fees, No monthly fees |
More account size options, Comprehensive educational resources, Multiple platform choices, Better technical performance, 24/5 support |
| Weaknesses |
Limited platform options, Basic educational resources, Fewer tradable assets, Less robust customer support |
Higher entry fees, Monthly fees for funded accounts, Stricter time limits, Lower profit splits, More restrictive trading rules |
| Best For |
Experienced traders who need minimal guidance, budget-conscious traders, those seeking higher profit splits, traders who prefer flexible timeframes |
Traders who value education and development, beginners needing structure, traders who use multiple platforms, those wanting robust technical performance |
| Final Grade |
4.3/5 |
4.2/5 |
| Discount Codes |
Coupon Code |
Coupon Code |
| Review |
Read full review |
Read full review |
FAQ
What makes Sway Funded popular among users?
Sway Funded has gained popularity primarily due to its high profit splits (up to 90%), absence of time limits on evaluation phases, and lack of monthly fees for funded accounts. Traders appreciate the relatively lower entry costs and straightforward two-phase evaluation process that allows them to progress at their own pace. The aggressive scaling program that doubles account size after reaching profit targets is also a significant draw for growth-oriented traders.
How does Alpha Capital differ from other similar organizations?
Alpha Capital distinguishes itself through its comprehensive educational ecosystem, which includes a structured trading academy, daily market analysis, and personal mentorship. Their multi-platform support (MT4, MT5, and cTrader) offers flexibility that many competitors lack. Alpha Capital also provides more account size options starting from just $10K, making it accessible to beginners, while their superior technical infrastructure delivers faster execution speeds and tighter spreads than many competitors.
Which firm is better for beginner traders?
Alpha Capital generally offers a more supportive environment for beginner traders due to its comprehensive educational resources, structured learning path, and personalized mentorship opportunities. The platform provides more guidance through its trading academy, daily market briefings, and community support system. While Sway Funded has lower entry costs, beginners might find its minimal guidance and focus on self-directed learning more challenging. Alpha Capital’s broader range of account sizes, starting at just $10K, also provides a more accessible entry point for those new to funded trading.
How do the profit splits compare between these firms?
Sway Funded offers more generous profit splits, with traders able to earn up to 90% of their trading profits once fully funded. This scaling typically begins at 80% and increases as traders demonstrate consistent performance. Alpha Capital’s profit splits are more conservative, starting at 70% and maxing out at 80% for their top performers. While Alpha Capital’s splits are lower, they compensate with more comprehensive support services and educational resources. Traders should weigh whether the additional 10-20% in profit retention with Sway Funded outweighs the additional services provided by Alpha Capital.
Can I hold positions over the weekend with either firm?
Sway Funded allows weekend position holding with certain restrictions, particularly limiting exposure to minimize weekend gap risk. They typically require traders to reduce position sizes or set appropriate stop losses for weekend holdings. Alpha Capital, however, has a stricter policy that does not allow holding positions over the weekend during evaluation phases. Once funded, Alpha Capital traders may hold weekend positions with approval and reduced sizing. Both firms implement these policies to protect capital from unpredictable weekend gaps, though Sway Funded offers more flexibility in this regard.
How was this 2 companies Comparison Created?
1. We Collect
Our team gathered comprehensive data directly from Sway Funded and Alpha Capital’s official websites, terms of service documents, and public statements. We supplemented this with information from verified customer reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, TrustPilot, and ForexPeaceArmy. Additionally, we consulted industry experts and current users of both platforms to capture real-world experiences and insights not readily available in marketing materials.
2. We Examine
Our financial analysts and trading experts thoroughly examined all collected information, cross-referencing claims against verifiable data points. We tested both platforms’ demo accounts to evaluate user experience, platform stability, and execution quality. Our team also analyzed historical trader success rates and payout reliability by consulting with actual funded traders from both firms. This multi-faceted examination process ensures accuracy and removes promotional bias from our findings.
3. We Score
We developed a proprietary scoring methodology based on 15 key categories including pricing transparency, profit split ratios, platform reliability, support quality, educational resources, and overall value proposition. Each category received a weighted score based on its importance to typical traders. We separately evaluated the needs of beginners, intermediate traders, and professionals to provide context-specific recommendations. Our final scores represent the average of these weighted category ratings on a 5-point scale.
4. You Choose
This comparison is designed to help you make an informed decision based on your specific trading goals, experience level, and preferences. Consider which factors matter most to you: Is it higher profit splits? Educational resources? Lower entry costs? Technical performance? We recommend creating a personal priority list before making your decision. Remember that what works for one trader may not be ideal for another. Use our comparison as a starting point, then explore each platform’s demo options before committing financially.
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