TradeDay vs FuturesElite – Prop Firm Comparison
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Introduction
TradeDay and FuturesElite are both futures prop firms built around CME Group markets, which makes them direct competitors for traders who want funded access to contracts like ES, NQ, CL and GC. TradeDay, founded 2020 (Chicago, IL) funds $50K / $100K / $150K accounts on CME futures, keeps 80% from day one, up to 95%, and runs single-step evaluation, with day-one payouts, no consistency rule. FuturesElite, founded 2025 (Quantum SRL) funds Multiple sizes; Custom Accounts accounts on CME futures, keeps up to 100% (via custom configuration), and runs standard, Custom and Instant Funded, with bi-weekly, processed within 24 hours. TradeDay is best for futures traders who want fast day-one payouts and flexible drawdown options, while FuturesElite suits futures traders who want customizable rules and instant-funding flexibility.
Quick Facts
| Feature | TradeDay | FuturesElite |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Founded | Not available | 2025 |
| Profit Split | 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% | 80-100% |
| Maximum Account Size | Not available | $150,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 1 | Yes |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.6 | 4.7 |
| Expert Grade | 8.9 | 7.7 |
Program Types
| Program | TradeDay | FuturesElite |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Program | Yes | Yes |
| Scaling Options | Yes | Not available |
| Demo Account | Yes | Not available |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | TradeDay | FuturesElite |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | $1,500/$3,000/$6,000/$9,000 for 25K/50K/100K/150K evaluations | Buffer zone system |
| Maximum Drawdown | $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 | 4-4.5% daily |
| Minimum Trading Days | Quick Pay vs Fast Pass - Quick Pay: 5 Quick Pay vs Fast Pass - Fast Pass: None | Not available |
| News Trading | No | Not available |
| Consistency / Best Day Rule | Quick Pay vs Fast Pass - Quick Pay: 30% Quick Pay vs Fast Pass - Fast Pass: 45% | Not available |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | TradeDay | FuturesElite |
|---|---|---|
| Futures $50K Account | Quick Pay Intraday / USD 125 / Monthly Quick Pay Intraday list price; monthly subscription; no activation fee. Source Checked 2026-08-09 | Elite / USD 153 / One-time Official one-time list price; reset fee USD 89. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Nitro / USD 138 / One-time Official one-time list price; reset fee USD 99. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Prime / USD 179 / One-time Official one-time list price; reset fee USD 109. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Instant / USD 349 / One-time Official one-time list price. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $100K Account | Quick Pay Intraday / USD 230 / Monthly Quick Pay Intraday list price; monthly subscription; no activation fee. Source Checked 2026-08-09 | Elite / USD 253 / One-time Official one-time list price; reset fee USD 159. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Nitro / USD 218 / One-time Official one-time list price; reset fee USD 149. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Prime / USD 279 / One-time Official one-time list price; reset fee USD 159. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Instant / USD 469 / One-time Official one-time list price. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $150K Account | Quick Pay Intraday / USD 350 / Monthly Quick Pay Intraday list price; monthly subscription; no activation fee. Source Checked 2026-08-09 | Elite / USD 353 / One-time Official one-time list price; reset fee USD 229. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Nitro / USD 298 / One-time Official one-time list price; reset fee USD 219. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Prime / USD 369 / One-time Official one-time list price; reset fee USD 209. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Instant / USD 569 / One-time Official one-time list price. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Refund Policy | No refunds after purchase | Not available |
| Coupons / Discount | TradeDay discount | FuturesElite discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | TradeDay | FuturesElite |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Jigsaw, R-Trader Pro, Quantower, and 10 more | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, Quantower, ATAS, Volumetrica, WealthCharts, DeepCharts |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Stocks | No | No |
| Indices | Not available | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes: permitted energy/agricultural futures; MGC/SIL limited; GC/SI/HG/PL restricted | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | No | No |
| Bonds | Not available | Yes |
| EA/Algo Trading | Not available | Yes |
Payout
| Feature | TradeDay | FuturesElite |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | 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. | Bi-weekly, ~24 hours average |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | TradeDay | FuturesElite |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | 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% | 40+ CME futures contracts, 7 professional platforms, Custom account configuration, Up to 100% profit split, Bi-weekly payouts, 4.7/5 Trustpilot |
| Weaknesses | 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. | No DCA allowed, No scalping/micro-scalping, Newer firm (2025), Buffer zone required for payouts |
| Best For | Futures traders avoiding daily loss limits; transparent disclosure valued | Futures traders seeking CME market access and platform flexibility |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose TradeDay if you want a cheaper entry, from USD 125. Choose FuturesElite if coverage of forex and commodities that the other does not offer matters 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 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.
What should I know about FuturesElite’s programs?
FuturesElite has multiple program-specific payout rulebooks. Prime and Elite do not have the same profitable-day or buffer requirements. FuturesElite official rules; FuturesElite official program information.
How do payouts differ between TradeDay and FuturesElite?
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.
The Prime first-payout guide requires the funded profit target, buffer and account-size minimum, with no minimum payout trading days. The 25K Elite guide instead requires six profitable days of at least $100 each and caps requests at 50% of remaining profit up to $1,000. FuturesElite official rules; FuturesElite official program information.
Which account rules matter when comparing TradeDay and FuturesElite?
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.
For 25K Elite there is no funded profit goal, consistency rule or buffer, but KYC and the profitable-day conditions still apply. Do not extend those exemptions to Prime or Instant accounts. FuturesElite official rules; FuturesElite official program information.
Is TradeDay or FuturesElite automatically the better choice?
No, neither firm is the automatic pick, and the honest answer depends on how you actually trade.
TradeDay Strengths: No daily drawdown and earned split. Watch-outs: $10 and 000 profit ceiling confiscates excess. Best suited to: Futures traders avoiding daily loss limits; transparent disclosure valued.
FuturesElite Strengths: 40+ CME futures contracts and 7 professional platforms. Watch-outs: No DCA allowed and No scalping/micro-scalping. Best suited to: Futures traders seeking CME market access and platform flexibility.
Which one wins for you depends on how each firm measures drawdown, what the account actually costs once resets and add-ons are included, and the evaluation objectives on the exact size you buy, rather than on the headline numbers. Check both sets of current terms before you fund an account.
Are TradeDay and FuturesElite both futures-only?
Yes. Both fund traders on CME Group futures – index, energy, metals and currency contracts. Neither offers forex or CFD funded accounts, so the choice comes down to rules, platforms and payouts rather than markets.
Which firm pays out faster?
TradeDay offers day-one payouts, no consistency rule, while FuturesElite offers bi-weekly, processed within 24 hours. Match the payout cadence to how often you plan to withdraw.
Which firm has the better profit split?
TradeDay keeps 80% from day one, up to 95%, and FuturesElite keeps up to 100% (via custom configuration). The better deal depends on the account tier and how far you scale.
Does either firm offer instant funding?
TradeDay requires an evaluation, while FuturesElite offers one (instant Funded – skip evaluation).
Which firm gives more platform choice?
TradeDay supports Tradovate, NinjaTrader 8, TradingView, Jigsaw, while FuturesElite supports Tradovate, NinjaTrader, Quantower, ATAS, Project X.
How We Compared TradeDay and FuturesElite
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 firm’s 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.
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