TradeDay vs Alpha Futures: the rules compared
TradeDay and Alpha Futures differ most in drawdown type, daily loss limit and evaluation fee. TradeDay offers end-of-day and intraday drawdowns, while Alpha Futures uses an end-of-day drawdown on every plan. TradeDay sets no daily loss limit in its evaluations, while Alpha Futures sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 9 evaluations ($500 to $2,000).
The verdicts at 50K
Cheaper to start
TradeDay$79 against $129 to reach a funded account.
Runs your bot
TradeDayAlpha Futures does not allow automated trading.
Each firm’s 50K plan whose rules treat a trader with no edge best, or its least expensive when none is simulated.
8 rules differ
- Price$79 a month$129 a month
- Reset$79$109
- Best day, evaluation30%50%
- Minimum days5 trading days2 trading days
- First payout1 trading day5 trading days and 5 winning days of $200 or more
- Largest payoutNo cap$3,000
- Profit split50%90%
- Automated tradingAllowed with conditionsBanned
Plans on record
TradeDay sells 12 plans from 25K to 150K, while Alpha Futures sells 13 plans from 25K to 150K.
Evaluation fee
TradeDay charges $45 to $265 a month, while Alpha Futures charges $89 to $489 a month and $349 to $859 once.
Billing
TradeDay bills its evaluations monthly until they are passed, while Alpha Futures sells both monthly and one-time plans.
Drawdown type
TradeDay offers end-of-day and intraday drawdowns, while Alpha Futures uses an end-of-day drawdown on every plan.
Daily loss limit
TradeDay sets no daily loss limit in its evaluations, while Alpha Futures sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 9 evaluations ($500 to $2,000).
Consistency
TradeDay caps the evaluation's best day at 30% to 45% of the profit, while Alpha Futures caps the evaluation's best day at 40% to 50% of the profit on 6 of 9 plans.
Minimum trading days
TradeDay asks for at least 3 to 5 trading days, while Alpha Futures asks for at least 1 to 2 trading days.
First payout
TradeDay pays a first payout after 1 to 5 trading days, depending on the size, while Alpha Futures pays a first payout after 5 trading days, depending on the size.
Profit split
TradeDay pays a 50% to 80% profit split, while Alpha Futures pays a 90% profit split.
Automated trading
TradeDay allows automated trading with conditions, while Alpha Futures bans automated trading.
What they share
- Activation fee: None
TradeDay: Allowed with conditions
TradeDay allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Your own automated system may run on NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Jigsaw or Quantower; third-party bots, API access and identical trades across users are banned.
Checked 21 Oct 2026 · Source: tradeday.freshdesk.com
Alpha Futures: Banned
Alpha Futures bans automated and algorithmic trading. Bots, AI and other automated trading are banned on every account; only a signal indicator is allowed, with the trader placing and managing each trade by hand. A strategy tested on AlgoLift can only be traded there by hand.
Checked 16 Oct 2026 · Source: help.alpha-futures.com
TradeDay and Alpha Futures, topic by topic across each firm’s plans on saleShowHide
| Topic | TradeDay | Alpha Futures |
|---|---|---|
| Plans on record | 12 plans, 25K to 150K | 13 plans, 25K to 150K |
| Evaluation fee | $45 to $265 a month | $89 to $489 a month and $349 to $859 once |
| Billing | Billed monthly until passed | Monthly and one-time plans |
| Activation fee | None | None |
| Drawdown type | End of day and intraday | End of day on every plan |
| Daily loss limit | None in the evaluation | $500 to $2,000 on 3 of 9 evaluations |
| Consistency | Best day at most 30% to 45% | Best day at most 40% to 50% (3 with none) |
| Minimum trading days | 3 to 5 trading days | 1 to 2 trading days |
| First payout | After 1 to 5 trading days, depending on the size | After 5 trading days, depending on the size |
| Profit split | 50% to 80% | 90% |
| Funded accounts at once | Up to 5 | Not yet verified |
| Automated trading | Allowed with conditions | Banned |
25K
- TradeDay QP Intraday 25K$45 a month, $1,000, intraday
- TradeDay QP EOD 25K$54 a month, $1,000, end of day
- TradeDay Fast Pass 25K$65 a month, $1,000, end of day
- Alpha Futures Zero 25K$89 a month, $1,000, end of day
- Alpha Futures Direct 25K$349 once, $1,000, end of day
50K
- TradeDay Fast Pass 50K$95 a month, $2,000, end of day
- TradeDay QP Intraday 50K$59 a month, $2,000, intraday
- TradeDay QP EOD 50K$79 a month, $2,000, end of day
- Alpha Futures Zero 50K$139 a month, $2,000, end of day
- Alpha Futures Standard 50K$129 a month, $2,000, end of day
- Alpha Futures Advanced 50K$209 a month, $1,750, end of day
- Alpha Futures Direct 50K$519 once, $2,000, end of day
100K
- TradeDay Fast Pass 100K$175 a month, $3,000, end of day
- TradeDay QP Intraday 100K$108 a month, $3,000, intraday
- TradeDay QP EOD 100K$129 a month, $3,000, end of day
- Alpha Futures Zero 100K$279 a month, $3,000, end of day
- Alpha Futures Standard 100K$239 a month, $3,000, end of day
- Alpha Futures Advanced 100K$349 a month, $3,500, end of day
- Alpha Futures Direct 100K$689 once, $3,000, end of day
150K
- TradeDay Fast Pass 150K$265 a month, $4,500, end of day
- TradeDay QP Intraday 150K$162 a month, $4,500, intraday
- TradeDay QP EOD 150K$180 a month, $4,500, end of day
- Alpha Futures Standard 150K$349 a month, $4,500, end of day
- Alpha Futures Advanced 150K$489 a month, $5,250, end of day
- Alpha Futures Direct 150K$859 once, $4,500, end of day
TradeDay or Alpha Futures?
At 50K, the TradeDay QP Intraday 50K costs $59 to fund on a first attempt and the Alpha Futures Standard 50K $129.
TradeDay offers end-of-day and intraday drawdowns, while Alpha Futures uses an end-of-day drawdown on every plan. TradeDay sets no daily loss limit in its evaluations, while Alpha Futures sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 9 evaluations ($500 to $2,000). TradeDay charges $45 to $265 a month, while Alpha Futures charges $89 to $489 a month and $349 to $859 once. TradeDay bills its evaluations monthly until they are passed, while Alpha Futures sells both monthly and one-time plans. TradeDay caps the evaluation's best day at 30% to 45% of the profit, while Alpha Futures caps the evaluation's best day at 40% to 50% of the profit on 6 of 9 plans. TradeDay pays a first payout after 1 to 5 trading days, depending on the size, while Alpha Futures pays a first payout after 5 trading days, depending on the size. TradeDay pays a 50% to 80% profit split, while Alpha Futures pays a 90% profit split. TradeDay asks for at least 3 to 5 trading days, while Alpha Futures asks for at least 1 to 2 trading days. TradeDay allows automated trading with conditions, while Alpha Futures bans automated trading.
On a first attempt with no reset, the TradeDay QP Intraday 50K costs $59 ($59 evaluation (1 month)) against $129 for the Alpha Futures Standard 50K ($129 evaluation (1 month)). Resets and extra months can change the order.
TradeDay allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Your own automated system may run on NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Jigsaw or Quantower; third-party bots, API access and identical trades across users are banned. Alpha Futures bans automated and algorithmic trading. Bots, AI and other automated trading are banned on every account; only a signal indicator is allowed, with the trader placing and managing each trade by hand. A strategy tested on AlgoLift can only be traded there by hand.
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Replay of trade 1210 from an AlgoLift engine backtest of a research strategy on NQ, 13 February 2025: real bars, the trade still open.
Simulated results. They have inherent limitations. Read the full statementHide the statement
These results are based on simulated or hypothetical performance results that have certain inherent limitations. Unlike the results shown in an actual performance record, these results do not represent actual trading. Also, because these trades have not actually been executed, these results may have under-or over-compensated for the impact, if any, of certain market factors, such as lack of liquidity. Simulated or hypothetical trading programs in general are also subject to the fact that they are designed with the benefit of hindsight. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to these being shown.
Test yours
Run your strategy through both rulebooks at once.
One backtest, both accounts, every rule, before you pay either fee.
- 1Describe it to Algo, or build it yourself
- 2Backtest it on years of real futures data
- 3Replay every trade under your firm's rules
Rules checked against the firms’ own pages, most recently on 21 October 2026. This is a summary of each firm’s published rules, not financial advice and not a recommendation of any firm. Firms change their rules and prices; read the firm’s own page before you buy. Facts are paraphrased and linked to their source. Firm names are used only to say which firm a rule belongs to; they belong to their owners, and AlgoLift is not affiliated with or endorsed by any firm.