Alpha Futures – Prop Firm Review
- Global market access for everyone
- Lightning-fast execution meets exceptional stability
- Top analytics tools for traders
- Expert guides available around clock
- Seamless withdrawals with minimal obstacles
Firm Overview
Alpha Futures is a UK-based futures proprietary trading firm launched in April 2024 as part of the Alpha Capital Group — the same group behind Alpha Capital, its forex/CFD sister firm. CEO Ben Chaffee and his team of veteran futures traders built Alpha Futures specifically around the CME ecosystem, offering evaluation-based funded accounts with a single-step challenge structure and three distinct account programs: Standard, Zero, and Advanced.
The firm has grown rapidly since launch, accumulating over 2,600 Trustpilot reviews at a 4.9/5 rating — one of the highest scores in the futures prop space. Alpha Futures targets non-US traders who want straightforward evaluation rules, no time pressure, and meaningful platform flexibility via the CQG ecosystem.
Challenge Types Overview
| Feature | Standard | Zero | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steps | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Profit Target | 6% | 6% | 8% |
| Daily Loss Limit | 4% (EOD) | None | 3.5% (EOD) |
| Max Drawdown | 4% trailing EOD | Static max loss | 3.5% trailing EOD |
| Activation Fee | $149 | $0 | $149 |
| Profit Split | 90% | 90% | 90% |
| News Trading | 2-min buffer | 2-min buffer | Unrestricted |
| Account Sizes | $25K–$150K | $25K–$100K | $50K–$150K |
Account Sizes & Pricing
| Plan | Account Size | Monthly Fee | Profit Target | Daily Loss Limit | Max Drawdown | Activation Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $25,000 | $59 | $1,500 (6%) | $1,000 (4%) | $1,000 trailing EOD | $149 |
| Standard | $50,000 | $79 | $3,000 (6%) | $2,000 (4%) | $2,000 trailing EOD | $149 |
| Standard | $100,000 | $159 | $6,000 (6%) | $4,000 (4%) | $4,000 trailing EOD | $149 |
| Standard | $150,000 | $239 | $9,000 (6%) | $6,000 (4%) | $6,000 trailing EOD | $149 |
| Zero | $25,000 | $59 | $1,500 (6%) | None | $1,000 static | $0 |
| Zero | $50,000 | $99 | $3,000 (6%) | None | $2,000 static | $0 |
| Zero | $100,000 | $199 | $6,000 (6%) | None | $4,000 static | $0 |
| Advanced | $50,000 | $139 | $4,000 (8%) | $1,750 (3.5%) | $1,750 trailing EOD | $149 |
| Advanced | $100,000 | $279 | $8,000 (8%) | $3,500 (3.5%) | $3,500 trailing EOD | $149 |
| Advanced | $150,000 | $419 | $12,000 (8%) | $5,250 (3.5%) | $5,250 trailing EOD | $149 |
The Zero Account
Alpha Futures’ most distinctive product. The Zero account eliminates both the daily loss limit and the trailing drawdown that define the Standard and Advanced plans. Instead, traders face only a single static maximum loss — a hard floor calculated at evaluation start that never moves regardless of intraday swings or equity peaks.
This makes the Zero account particularly suited to volatile strategies, swing positions, and traders who find the EOD trailing drawdown a psychological or tactical constraint. There is no $149 activation fee on Zero accounts — the name reflects the $0 activation cost. Payout caps apply per account size: $1,000 per withdrawal on $25K, $1,500 on $50K, and $2,500 on $100K accounts.
Trading Rules & Requirements
- Evaluation steps: 1-step for all account types — no Phase 2
- Time limit: None — take as long as you need to hit the profit target
- Minimum trading days: None required
- EOD drawdown: Trailing drawdown is calculated on your end-of-day balance, not intraday unrealised P&L
- Daily profit cap: A single day’s profit cannot exceed 50% of the total profit target (prevents passing in one outsized session)
- EAs and automation: Strictly prohibited on all account types
- Micro scalping: Banned — trades must be held for at least 2 minutes OR accumulate at least 10 ticks of movement
- News trading: Standard and Zero enforce a 2-minute entry buffer around Tier-1 releases (NFP, FOMC, CPI, PPI, GDP); Advanced has no restrictions
- Overnight and weekend positions: Allowed on all account types
- Scaling plan: No scaling — funded account stays at the chosen size indefinitely
- Consistency rule: None — no minimum number of trading days and no daily profit consistency requirement
Trading Platforms
Alpha Futures runs on the CQG data feed and supports four platforms:
- NinjaTrader: Desktop platform with advanced charting, order flow tools, and strategy backtesting
- Tradovate: Cloud-based web and desktop platform, works in the browser with no installation required
- TradingView: Available via Tradovate’s CQG integration — suited to traders who prefer TradingView’s charting interface
- ProjectX: Browser-based modern platform with a clean UI and integrated order management
Tradeable Instruments
Alpha Futures provides access to CME and CBOT futures contracts across multiple asset classes:
| Category | Contracts |
|---|---|
| Equity Index | ES (E-mini S&P 500), NQ (E-mini Nasdaq), YM (E-mini Dow), RTY (E-mini Russell 2000), MES, MNQ, MYM, M2K (Micro contracts) |
| Energy | CL (Crude Oil), NG (Natural Gas), MCL (Micro Crude Oil) |
| Metals | GC (Gold), SI (Silver), MGC (Micro Gold) |
| Currencies | 6E (Euro FX), 6B (British Pound), 6J (Japanese Yen), 6A (Australian Dollar) |
| Interest Rates | ZB (30-Year Treasury Bond), ZN (10-Year Treasury Note), ZF (5-Year Treasury Note) |
Payout Structure
Alpha Futures offers a 90% profit split from day one across all three account types — no tiered system and no performance milestones required to reach the 90% level.
- Profit split: 90% to trader, 10% to Alpha Futures (all plans)
- Payout frequency: Every 5 winning trading days (days do not need to be consecutive)
- Minimum payout: $200 profit required before a withdrawal can be requested
- Processing time: 48 business hours or less
- Zero account payout caps: $1,000 per request on $25K, $1,500 on $50K, $2,500 on $100K
- Activation fee: Standard and Advanced accounts require a one-time $149 activation fee after passing; Zero accounts have no activation fee
Company Information
- Company name: Alpha Futures Limited
- Founded: April 2024
- CEO: Ben Chaffee
- Headquarters: United Kingdom
- Group: Alpha Capital Group (sister firm: Alpha Capital — forex/CFD prop)
- Trustpilot: 4.9/5 from 2,600+ reviews
- Website: alpha-futures.com
Why Choose Alpha Futures?
Alpha Futures suits futures traders who want a single-step evaluation, generous platform choice, and a genuine differentiator in the Zero account. The EOD trailing drawdown calculation (rather than intraday) reduces the risk of being stopped out by normal intraday volatility, and the absence of any minimum trading day requirement gives traders full flexibility over their pace.
The Zero account is a standout product — no daily loss limit and no trailing drawdown is a meaningful structural advantage for high-volatility strategies. The 90% profit split from day one, combined with no consistency rule and no time limit, makes Alpha Futures competitive against the best-funded futures platforms in the space. The primary limitation is the lack of a scaling plan; the funded account remains fixed at the size chosen at sign-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the activation fee and when is it charged?
Standard and Advanced funded accounts require a one-time activation fee of $149 per account, charged after you pass the evaluation. Zero accounts carry no activation fee — $0 — which is part of what gives the Zero account its name.
Does Alpha Futures allow news trading?
Standard and Zero accounts enforce a 2-minute entry buffer around Tier-1 economic releases (NFP, FOMC, CPI, PPI, GDP) — you cannot open new positions in that window. Advanced accounts have no news trading restrictions whatsoever, making Advanced the only Alpha plan fully compatible with entry strategies timed to the release itself.
How does the trailing drawdown work?
Alpha Futures calculates its trailing Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) on your end-of-day (EOD) balance rather than on intraday unrealised profits. This means intraday equity peaks do not tighten your drawdown floor — only confirmed daily closes do. For example, if you end the day flat, your MLL floor does not move, even if you were up significantly during the session.
Can I hold positions overnight or over the weekend?
Yes. Alpha Futures places no restrictions on holding futures positions overnight or across weekends. This applies to all three account types — Standard, Zero, and Advanced. Traders using swing or position strategies are fully accommodated.
Is there a scaling plan?
No. Alpha Futures does not offer a scaling plan. Your funded account stays at the size you selected at sign-up indefinitely. Traders who want a larger allocation must purchase a new account at the desired size.
How quickly are payouts processed?
Payout requests are processed within 48 business hours. Withdrawals require a minimum of $200 in profit and can be requested after every 5 winning trading days. Winning days do not need to be consecutive.
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