TradeDay Prop Firm Review: Evaluation Rules, Drawdown, Payout Policy & Activation Fees (2026)
Updated: April 2026
This TradeDay review breaks down everything you need to know about this futures prop firm in 2026: TradeDay evaluation rules, TradeDay drawdown rules, TradeDay payout rules and withdrawal policy, the real TradeDay activation fee, and whether this futures funding program is worth it compared to other funded futures accounts.
TradeDay is a futures‑only prop firm that funds traders who pass its Evaluation Challenge in a simulated environment, then promotes them into funded futures accounts with fast payouts and some of the most transparent rules in the industry.
On this page, I cover how TradeDay funding works from start to finish, how long the TradeDay evaluation takes, and how TradeDay compares to other futures prop firms like Topstep, Lucid Trading, Take Profit Trader, and FundedNext.
TradeDay Futures Prop Firm at a Glance
- Type: Futures‑only prop firm with a single Evaluation Challenge and funded accounts.
- Evaluation: One‑phase TradeDay evaluation with three objectives: profit target, minimum 5 trading days, and consistency (no single day more than 30% of total profit).
- Drawdown: Choice of End‑of‑Day (EOD), Intraday / trailing, or Static drawdown depending on account type.
- Funding: Up to 6 evaluations at once, up to 3 funded SIM accounts and 1 Live account per trader.
- Payouts: Tiered payout rules with aggressive scaling and day‑one payout eligibility once you meet the buffer requirements.
- Best for: Futures traders who want a transparent evaluation, EOD drawdown options, and a clear funded futures account path.
If you want to see where TradeDay ranks versus other firms by drawdown, payout rules, and max funding, check my full breakdown in Best Prop Firms for Futures Trading.
TradeDay Review: Is TradeDay a Good Futures Prop Firm?
TradeDay is a futures prop firm run by industry veterans that keeps the rules simple: pass a one‑phase Evaluation Challenge, show a consistent track record over at least 5 days, respect the maximum drawdown, and you get funded futures trading capital.
Unlike many newer futures prop firms, TradeDay is very transparent about its rules, payouts, and drawdown, and publishes a clear payout policy and fee schedule, which is one of the reasons I include it as a top pick in my futures prop firms hub.
In my opinion, TradeDay is a legit futures prop firm that works well for traders who value education, clear TradeDay evaluation rules, and realistic drawdown rules more than ultra‑cheap, ultra‑gimmicky challenges.
Pros of TradeDay
- One‑phase TradeDay evaluation that mirrors professional prop desks, with only three core objectives: make money, trade at least five days, and be consistent.
- Multiple account styles (End‑of‑Day, Intraday/trailing, and Static) so you can pick the drawdown rules that fit your strategy.
- Up to 6 evaluations at the same time and up to 3 funded SIM accounts plus 1 Live account, making TradeDay a serious futures funding program for scaling.
- Clear TradeDay payout rules and payout policy, with day‑one payout eligibility once you build a profit buffer.
- Strong education focus with daily webinars, a research report, and tools like TradeDay CoPilot.
Cons of TradeDay
- Not the cheapest evaluation pricing, especially compared to deep‑discount firms, but rules and support are more robust.
- No overnight holds and strict news trading rules can feel restrictive to swing traders who want to hold positions longer.
- Static drawdown accounts are simpler but provide less intraday freedom than some max‑drawdown style firms with huge buffers.
TradeDay Evaluation Rules Explained
The TradeDay evaluation is a one‑phase challenge in a simulated futures environment where you must hit a profit target, trade for a minimum number of days, and meet a consistency rule without breaking the maximum drawdown.
TradeDay evaluation rules are designed to mimic a real prop desk: they want profitable, repeatable performance, not one lucky day of over‑leveraged trading.
TradeDay Evaluation Objectives
- Profit Target: $3,000 on 50K, $6,000 on 100K, $9,000 on 150K accounts.
- Minimum Trading Days: 5 trading days (you can trade longer if needed).
- Consistency Rule: No single day’s profit can be greater than 30% of your total profit in the evaluation.
That last rule is the key TradeDay consistency rule. If your best day is more than 30% of total profits, you will fail the consistency target even if you hit the profit target.
TradeDay Trading Rules and Daily Limits
- Permitted Times: Day trading only, no holding positions overnight or through major Tier‑1 economic releases.
- Permitted Products: CME Group futures only, as listed on TradeDay’s permitted products page.
- Position Limits: Each evaluation has a maximum position limit (max contracts) you cannot exceed.
- Daily Loss Limit: Each account style has a daily loss limit or recommended daily risk to keep you within the maximum drawdown.
There is only one hard way to fail the TradeDay evaluation: exceeding your maximum drawdown. Break that rule and the evaluation is over, but you can reset or wait for your subscription to renew and restart.
I share specific TradeDay evaluation strategies—how to handle the 30% consistency rule and daily loss limits—in my combine strategy posts under trading strategies.
TradeDay Drawdown Rules: EOD vs Intraday vs Static
TradeDay drawdown rules are one of the biggest reasons traders pick this futures prop firm. You can choose between End‑of‑Day drawdown, Intraday / trailing drawdown, or Static drawdown depending on how you trade.
End-of-Day Drawdown (EOD)
End‑of‑Day drawdown accounts are best for intraday swing traders who want more room for trades to breathe. The maximum drawdown is only recalculated on your end‑of‑day balance, not intraday spikes up or down.
For example, if you start a 100K EOD account with a $3,000 max drawdown and finish the day at $104,000, the drawdown may trail up based on your closing balance, not based on every tick during the day. That gives you more freedom than full intraday trailing drawdown.
Intraday Trailing Drawdown
Intraday drawdown accounts use a trailing maximum loss that updates during the session based on your highest unrealized equity. If your account spikes up and then reverses, the trailing drawdown can be hit even if your end‑of‑day balance is positive.
This style is aimed at shorter‑term scalpers who manage tight risk and want lower evaluation pricing in exchange for stricter drawdown rules.
Static Drawdown Accounts
Static drawdown accounts have a fixed max loss number that never moves. Your maximum drawdown is set when you start the TradeDay evaluation and stays there regardless of how high the account goes.
Static drawdown is simple to understand and can feel similar to max‑loss style firms that give you a fixed buffer, but you must still respect daily risk guidelines and position limits.
If you want a deep dive on which futures prop firms have the largest drawdown, including TradeDay’s place among them, read my breakdown in Prop Firm with the Largest Drawdown.
TradeDay Payout Rules and Withdrawal Policy
TradeDay payout rules are straightforward and built around a tiered payout policy that rewards growth and protects your account with a buffer.
How Do TradeDay Payouts Work?
Once you pass the TradeDay evaluation and receive a funded SIM or Live account, you can request payouts as soon as you have enough profit and a sufficient buffer above your maximum drawdown. There is no long “first payout waiting period” like many challenge firms.
- You must be in profit and maintain a buffer above your max drawdown / static loss limit.
- Payout requests are generally processed quickly, often within a couple of business days.
- Payouts are subject to TradeDay’s payout policy tiers and any minimum withdrawal requirement.
TradeDay Payout Policy (Tiers)
TradeDay uses a tiered payout structure where you keep a large majority of profits and build a protective buffer zone in the account:
- On the initial profit layer, you keep a high percentage (commonly 80%).
- As your account grows into higher tiers, your split can increase up to 90–95% of profits.
- Profits allocated to the buffer zone are shared (for example, 50/50) to build protection while still rewarding you.
The exact percentages and thresholds are laid out in TradeDay’s official payout policy and can change, so always check the latest payout policy page before you request a withdrawal.
For a more visual breakdown of TradeDay payout rules and payout policy, I recommend also reading third‑party guides plus my own commentary inside the TradeDay review when I update it with payout proofs.
TradeDay Activation Fee and Funded Account Costs
A lot of traders search for “TradeDay activation fee” because they want to know what it really costs to run a funded futures account with TradeDay.
TradeDay has two cost stages:
- Evaluation subscription: Monthly fee based on account size and drawdown type (EOD, Intraday, or Static).
- Funded account fees: A funded SIM setup fee and then exchange / data costs once you are Live.
The TradeDay “activation fee” is essentially the cost to move from the evaluation to funded SIM (and eventually Live), and it can change over time. Check the latest “fees when I am funded” article on TradeDay’s help site for the current funded SIM setup fee and Live costs.
If you want to compare the real TradeDay activation fee and ongoing costs to other firms’ evaluation fees and activation fees, I break that down side by side in Best Prop Firms for Futures Trading.
TradeDay Evaluation Pricing & Account Sizes (30% OFF with Code DGT)
These are the current TradeDay evaluation options for futures traders. The first price is the normal monthly fee; the second is the discounted price when you use code DGT for 30% OFF. All TradeDay evaluations require a minimum of 5 trading days to pass.
| Account | Type | Profit Target | Max Drawdown | Position Limits | Normal Price | Price with DGT (30% OFF) | Reset Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50K Evaluation | End-of-Day (EOD) | $3,000 | $2,000 trailing (EOD) | 5 contracts / 50 micros | $175.00 / month | $122.50 / month | $105.00 |
| 100K Evaluation | End-of-Day (EOD) | $6,000 | $3,000 trailing (EOD) | 10 contracts / 50 micros | $275.00 / month | $192.50 / month | $125.00 |
| 150K Evaluation | End-of-Day (EOD) | $9,000 | $4,000 trailing (EOD) | 15 contracts / 50 micros | $375.00 / month | $262.50 / month | $149.00 |
| 50K Evaluation | Intraday / Trailing | $3,000 | $2,000 trailing (intraday) | 5 contracts / 50 micros | $125.00 / month | $87.50 / month | $80.00 |
| 100K Evaluation | Intraday / Trailing | $6,000 | $3,000 trailing (intraday) | 10 contracts / 50 micros | $200.00 / month | $140.00 / month | $125.00 |
| 150K Evaluation | Intraday / Trailing | $9,000 | $4,000 trailing (intraday) | 15 contracts / 50 micros | $300.00 / month | $210.00 / month | $149.00 |
| 50K Evaluation | Static | $1,500 | $500 static (does not trail) | 1 contract / 10 micros | $165.00 / month | $115.50 / month | $105.00 |
| 100K Evaluation | Static | $2,500 | $750 static (does not trail) | 2 contracts / 20 micros | $250.00 / month | $175.00 / month | $125.00 |
| 150K Evaluation | Static | $3,750 | $1,000 static (does not trail) | 3 contracts / 30 micros | $350.00 / month | $245.00 / month | $149.00 |
Use code DGT at checkout or click the TradeDay banner at the top of this review to automatically apply the 30% OFF discount. Pricing and promos can change, so always verify the latest evaluation prices on TradeDay’s website before you sign up.
To compare these TradeDay evaluation options against other futures prop firms like Topstep, Lucid Trading, and Take Profit Trader, see my side‑by‑side tables in Best Prop Firms for Futures Trading.
Final Verdict
TradeDay continues to evolve, giving traders scalable accounts, end-of-day drawdown flexibility, and some of the fastest funding timelines available today. With up to 6 evaluations, 3 SIM funded accounts, and 95% profit splits, it’s a firm well worth considering for both new and experienced futures traders.
DamnPropFirms is proud to recommend TradeDay as a top choice in the prop firm space.
TradeDay FAQ – Evaluation Rules, Drawdown & Payouts
These TradeDay FAQ answers cover the most common search questions: what TradeDay is, how TradeDay works, how long the evaluation takes, and how TradeDay payouts and drawdown rules really work.
Is TradeDay a legit prop firm?
Yes, TradeDay is a legit futures prop firm run by experienced industry professionals. They offer a transparent evaluation, clear drawdown rules, and a published payout policy, and they fund traders with real futures accounts after passing the evaluation.
What is TradeDay and how does it work?
TradeDay is a futures funding program where you first complete a TradeDay evaluation in a simulated environment, hitting a profit target over at least five trading days while respecting the max drawdown and consistency rule. Once you pass, you move into funded SIM and then Live accounts where you can trade funded futures capital under TradeDay’s rules.
How long does the TradeDay evaluation take?
The TradeDay evaluation has a minimum of five trading days, but how long it actually takes depends on how quickly you hit the profit target while staying consistent and within the maximum drawdown. Many traders complete the evaluation within one to four weeks of focused trading.
What are the TradeDay evaluation rules?
TradeDay evaluation rules include three main objectives: reach the profit target for your account size, trade at least five days, and follow the consistency rule where no single day’s profit is more than 30% of your total profits. You must also respect the maximum drawdown, position limits, and news trading restrictions.
What is TradeDay drawdown and how does it work?
TradeDay drawdown is the maximum loss you are allowed on an account before the evaluation or funded account is closed. TradeDay offers End‑of‑Day drawdown accounts where the drawdown is based on your end‑of‑day balance, Intraday/trailing accounts where the drawdown moves intraday with your highest equity, and Static accounts where the max loss is a fixed amount that never moves.
How do TradeDay payouts work?
TradeDay payouts follow a tiered payout policy. Once you have a profit buffer above your max drawdown and meet the payout rules, you can request a withdrawal. You keep a high percentage of profits (commonly starting around 80%) and can scale to higher splits as the account grows, while part of the profits may go into a buffer to protect your account.
How much is the TradeDay activation fee?
TradeDay does not use the term “activation fee” heavily in marketing, but you should plan for a funded SIM setup fee and Live account costs once you pass the evaluation. These fees can change, so always check the latest “fees when I am funded” article on TradeDay’s help center before you start the evaluation.
How many TradeDay accounts can I have?
TradeDay allows up to six evaluations at once and up to three funded SIM accounts per trader, plus one Live account once you reach the live stage. This makes TradeDay a strong option if you want to scale your funded futures capital across multiple accounts.
Can I trade news on TradeDay?
TradeDay has strict news rules: you cannot hold positions over major scheduled Tier‑1 economic releases. You must be flat before the news and wait until after the event to re‑enter, which helps protect accounts from extreme volatility spikes.
Does TradeDay allow copy trading or automation?
TradeDay allows some degree of automation and copy trading as long as you follow their fair‑use and risk rules. Tools like trade copiers can be used to manage multiple accounts, but you are still responsible for staying within max drawdown and position limits.
TradeDay vs Topstep vs Lucid Trading vs Take Profit Trader
Here’s how TradeDay compares to other major futures prop firms for evaluation style, max funding path, drawdown rules, and multi‑account limits.
| Prop Firm | Max Funding Path | Max Accounts | Drawdown Type | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TradeDay | Evaluation sizes up to 150K with the ability to hold multiple funded SIM accounts and one Live account. | Up to 6 evaluations at once, up to 3 funded SIM accounts, and 1 Live account. | End‑of‑Day, Intraday/trailing, or Static drawdown depending on account type. | One‑phase evaluation, strong education, multiple drawdown options, and clear payout rules with fast funding. |
| Topstep | Trading Combine → Express Funded Accounts → Live Funded Account up to a 150K tier plus performance bonuses. | Up to 5 Express Funded Accounts and 1 Live account. | End‑of‑day trailing Maximum Loss Limit that stops at the starting balance. | 1‑step combine, XFA Standard & Consistency paths, Back2Funded reactivation, and a big education library. |
| Lucid Trading | Multiple futures account types (LucidFlex, etc.) with sizes commonly up to 150K per account. | Up to 5 funded accounts (varies by product and rules). | End‑of‑day style drawdown and generous buffers on key accounts. | Simple single‑phase evaluations, fast payouts, and strong futures funding options for active traders. |
| Take Profit Trader | Evaluations up to 150K and Pro / Pro+ funded futures accounts. | Up to 5 funded accounts (with unlimited evals possible). | Intraday trailing drawdown on Pro, with more EOD‑style options on some plans. | Two‑phase challenges, day‑one payouts in funded, copy‑trading allowed, and no activation fee. |
