Elite Trader Funding Overview
Everything you need to know at a glance.
Elite Trader Funding ("ETF") is a futures prop firm operating since February 2022 that has paid out over $13 million to more than 13,000 funded traders. It runs one of the widest plan menus in futures prop trading: six plans — five single-phase evaluations (1-Step, Fast Track, End of Day, Static Drawdown, Diamond Hands) and one instant path (Direct to Funded) — each built around a different drawdown style. Every plan leads to the same place: an Elite Sim-Funded account where you keep up to 100% of sim profits, then LIVE ELITE — the firm's real capital on an 80/20 split — once you bank $25,000 in payouts.
The plans map to drawdown styles: 1-Step uses a live trailing drawdown with no daily loss limit — the fastest route for experienced traders. Fast Track is the cheapest entry ($57 one-time for a $10K account with a free month of funded activation). End of Day only trails at session close on realized profit. Static Drawdown never trails at all — the friendliest for newer traders. Diamond Hands is the only plan allowing overnight and weekend holds. Direct to Funded skips the evaluation entirely for a one-time payment.
The 30-second verdict
Want funded fastest? Go 1-Step. Want the cheapest way in? Fast Track at $57. Newer to trading? Static Drawdown — a fixed floor that never moves, from $147/mo. Swing trader? Diamond Hands is the only plan with overnight and weekend holds. Proven and impatient? Direct to Funded skips the test. Every path runs the same payout spine — up to 100% of sim profits, a $25K cap that acts as a doorway to LIVE ELITE real capital at 80/20 with daily payouts — and every plan currently sells at list price; no promo code is running.
Elite Trader Funding gives traders a rare combination — six genuinely different plans, four years of payout history, and a real path off the sim treadmill: LIVE ELITE puts the firm's own capital behind its best traders.
— Jered Klima, Editor in Chief
How we scored it
Our scoring breakdown
Elite Trader Funding scores highest on plan choice, promo pricing, and its four-year track record. The $25K sim payout cap before LIVE ELITE and a 3.8 Trustpilot score keep it shy of the top marks.
💰 Pricing & Value3.6
📊 Profit Split3.0
⚡ Payout Speed1.5
📜 Trading Rules1.8
🛠 Platforms & Tools3.6
🤝 Customer Support2.0
Account Types
Eval + Instant
6 plans
Days to Payout
Per Cycle
8 ATD 1st, 10 after · $100 min
Max Accounts
Up to 5
Active Elite Sim-Funded accounts
Account Sizes
$25K–$150K
4 sizes
Drawdown
3 Styles
Live trail · EOD · Static
Consistency
None*
*40% on Fast Track only
Platforms
Allowed
CME Futures
News Trading
Instant Funding (DTF)
Overnight/Weekend (Diamond Hands)
No Consistency Rule (evals)*
LIVE ELITE Real-Capital Path
Watch Outs
$25K Sim Payout Cap → LIVE ELITE
Evals Renew Monthly (subscriptions)
Activation Fee After Passing ($87/mo or one-time)
What we love
10 pros
- Six genuinely different plans across three drawdown styles
- $47 resets on every evaluation — far cheaper than re-buying (Fast Track excepted)
- $13M+ paid out since February 2022 — a real track record
- LIVE ELITE path — the firm's own capital, 80/20, uncapped, daily payouts
- No consistency rule on the evaluations (Fast Track's 40% is the exception)
- Diamond Hands allows overnight and weekend holds
- Direct to Funded — instant sim-funded, no activation fee
- $47 resets and unlimited funded resets (limited time)
- Wide platform menu: Tradovate, Rithmic, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Tickblaze
- Payouts via Rise — ACH or crypto — with same-day approval
Watch out for
6 cons
- Can move you to LIVE ELITE before your first sim payout — sim profits then sit in a non-cash Vault, not your live balance
- $25,000 sim payout cap per trader before the LIVE ELITE transition
- Eval fees are 30-day renewing subscriptions, plus an activation fee once you pass
- Per-cycle payout maximums ($1,000–$5,000) rather than uncapped sim withdrawals
- Active Trade Day requirements slow the payout cadence (8–10 per cycle)
- Trustpilot sits at 3.8/5 across 1,111 reviews
Comparison
Elite Trader Funding vs. its closest competitors
How Elite Trader Funding stacks up against Topstep and Alpha Futures — the two firms we most often recommend alongside it.
| Metric | Elite Trader Funding | Topstep | Alpha Futures |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50K Challenge Fee | $207 | $165$85 | $79$59 |
| Reward / Profit Split | Up to 100% sim · 80/20 live | 90% (100% first $10K) | 90% / 10% |
| Days to Payout | Per cycle (8–10 ATD) | 5 days | 5 days |
| Drawdown Type | EOD Trailing | EOD Trailing | EOD Trailing |
| Max Funded Accounts | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Daily Payout Option | Yes (LIVE ELITE) | No | No |
| CPF Score | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.9 |
💡 Bottom line: Elite Trader Funding wins on choice — six plans across three drawdown styles, all currently at list price. Its LIVE ELITE path is a genuine differentiator: real firm capital, 80/20, uncapped, with daily payouts. Topstep counters with a 100%-first-$10K threshold and brand recognition; Alpha Futures offers a simpler 90/10 sim split without a payout cap. If uncapped sim withdrawals matter most, look at the competitors; if plan choice, a four-year track record, and a real road to live capital matter most, Elite Trader Funding is worth a serious look.
Accounts
Compare all account types and sizes to find the perfect fit for your trading goals.
← Back to all account types
View Full Payout Rules ⧉
›
›
1️⃣
1-Step
Get Funded Fastest
1-Step Challenge • No Consistency Rule • No Daily Loss Limit
🏷️
One Time Fee
$99.99
No monthly costs.
📊
Profit Split
80%
Your share of profits.
🎯
Profit Target
$1,500
Single step to funding.
📉
Max Loss
$1,000
EOD trailing limit.
💵
Payouts
From 3 Days
How often you withdraw.
👥
Max Accounts
5 Funded
Run at once.
Account Overview
Key rules, payouts, and platforms at a glance.
🎯 Evaluation
Profit Target$1,500
Daily Loss Limit$600
Max Loss (Trailing)$1,000 EOD
Min Trading Days1 day
ConsistencyNone
📈 Trading
Max Contracts2 Minis (10 Micros)
InstrumentsFutures
Overnight Holding Not Allowed
News Trading Allowed
Copy Trading Allowed
💰 Funded
Profit Target$1,500 profit
Daily Loss Limit$600
Max Loss (Trailing)$1,000 EOD
Min Trading DaysNo Benchmark Days
Consistency (Funded)40%
📊 Scaling Plan
ScalingNot available
Starting Max—
Max Contracts—
Scaling Triggers—
First Trigger—
💵 Payouts
Profit Split80% / 20%
First Payout$1,500 profit
Subsequent$1,000 profit
FrequencyFrom 3 days
Consistency (Funded)40%
👥 Account
Max Accounts5 Funded
Account ResetAvailable
One Time Fee$207/mo
Activation FeeNone
About 1-Step
1-Step is ETF's fastest evaluation for experienced traders — a single phase with a live trailing drawdown that follows your highest unrealized profit and no daily loss limit. Pass in as few as 5 trading days and unlock an Elite Sim-Funded account where you keep up to 100% of sim profits; reach $25,000 in cumulative payouts and you graduate to LIVE ELITE (real capital, 80/20, uncapped, daily payouts). Sizes $50K–$150K; 30-day renewing subscription at list price ($207 on 50K).
- Single-phase evaluation — funded fastest
- No daily loss limit
- $207/mo for $50K (30-day renewing subscription)
- Up to 100% sim profit split, 80/20 LIVE ELITE after $25K
- $47 resets · unlimited funded resets (limited time)
Best For
- Experienced day traders who hit targets fast and lock in profit
- Traders who dislike daily loss limits
- Those aiming for the LIVE ELITE real-capital path
Not Ideal For
- Traders who sit through open-profit swings (live trailing DD — see End of Day)
- Swing traders holding overnight (see Diamond Hands)
- Smallest-budget entries (see Fast Track)
Trading Rules & Restrictions
Important rules to follow while trading your evaluation.
Risk Management
Drawdown TypeEOD Trailing
Daily Loss LimitNone
Max Loss (EOD)$1,000
Consistency RuleNone
Max Contracts2 Minis (10 Micros)
Trading Permissions
News TradingAllowed
Overnight / WeekendNot Allowed
Copy TradingApproved partners only
EA / AlgosNot Allowed
Dollar-Cost AveragingAllowed
High-Risk / GamblingNot Allowed
Trading Restrictions
High-Frequency TradingProhibited
Tick ScalpingProhibited
Latency ArbitrageProhibited
Reverse ArbitrageProhibited
Market Data AbuseProhibited
VPN / VPS UsageAllowed
Account Rules
Max Accounts5 Funded
Account ResetAvailable
Payout FrequencyFrom 3 days
Reward MethodsBank, Crypto
Activation FeeNone
Scaling PlanNone
These rules are designed to ensure a fair trading environment for all traders. Breaking any of these rules may result in account restrictions or termination.
Payouts & Withdrawals
How and when you get paid.
Payout Overview
Fast, consistent, and flexible payouts.
Reward Share80%
First Payout Threshold$1,500
Subsequent Payouts$1,000
Max Payout Per Request$1,000
Payout FrequencyFrom 3 days
Reward MethodsBank, Crypto
24-hour reward promise
Approved rewards are disbursed within 24 hours — or Elite Trader Funding pays you $1,000 extra.
How Payouts Work
Simple, transparent, and trader-first.
Fast Rewards
Approved Performance Rewards are typically disbursed within 24 hours (average around 5 hours). If a reward is late, Elite Trader Funding adds $1,000 on top.
Payout Methods
Choose your preferred payout method.
Bank Transfer Popular
Direct to your bank account.
Crypto
Fast global stablecoin payouts.
Scaling Plan
Learn how contract scaling works on Select accounts after you get funded.
Product FAQ
Common questions about this account program.
Rules & Policies
Important rules to know before you trade.
Trading Permissions
What you can do
News Trading ⓘ
Allowed
EA / Algo Trading ⓘ
Not Allowed
ToS clause (ac) bars AI, bots and automated trading systems unless expressly authorized in writing by ETF; 10-second minimum trade duration
Copy Trading ⓘ
Approved partners only
Only ETF-approved trade-copier partners (Tradesyncer, Tradecopia, Affordable Indicators, Replikanto Flowbot compliance edition, native platform copiers) per the ETF Trade Copier Disclaimer
Overnight / Weekend Holding ⓘ
Not Allowed
Flat before the daily close
High-Risk / Gambling ⓘ
Not Allowed
Account & Risk Rules
Account protection and risk parameters
Drawdown Type ⓘ
EOD Trailing
Live trailing (1-Step) · EOD (EOD/DH) · Static (Static)
Daily Loss Limit ⓘ
By Plan
EOD ($1,100/$2,200) & Diamond Hands ($1,500) hard breach; none elsewhere
Max Loss (EOD Trailing) ⓘ
See Sizes
$500–$5,000 by plan & size; cleared after banking drawdown + $100
Consistency Rule ⓘ
None*
None on evals except Fast Track (40%); funded phase uses the 23% Rule (each ATD ≥23% of best day)
Max Accounts ⓘ
Up to 5
Up to 5 active Elite Sim-Funded accounts (help center, 2026-07-08)
Payout Rules
Payout requirements and structure
Minimum Reward ⓘ
$250 – $500
By model and size
Payout Cadence ⓘ
Per Cycle (ATD)
8 ATD first cycle, 10 after; DTF 5/15/20 by size
Reward Share ⓘ
Up to 100%
Sim; 80/20 LIVE ELITE after $25K
Payout Speed ⓘ
Same-Day
Same-day approval · Rise (ACH/crypto)
Processing Time ⓘ
~24 Hours
48-hour approval guarantee on LIVE ELITE
Account Operations
Account management and flexibility
LIVE ELITE Path ⓘ
Yes
At $25K cumulative payouts — real capital, 80/20, uncapped
Weekend Holding ⓘ
Not Allowed
Positions must be closed before the daily close
News Trading ⓘ
Allowed
No news restrictions
Account Reset ⓘ
Available
$47 evals · DTF $200–$447 · no resets on Fast Track
Drawdown Clear ⓘ
DD + $100
Bank drawdown + $100 realized → drawdown removed
Other Policies
Additional important policies
Scaling Plan ⓘ
None
Contract limits fixed by size
Consistency Rule ⓘ
40%
Where it applies (see above)
Min Trading Days ⓘ
None
No minimum to pass a Challenge
One Time Fee ⓘ
$79.99 – $279.99
No monthly or activation fees
Tradable Products ⓘ
Futures Only
CME Group futures & micros
These rules are subject to change at any time. Please review the full rulebook before purchasing an account.
Payouts & Withdrawals
How Elite Trader Funding pays its traders — up to 100% of sim profits per cycle, a $25K cap that unlocks LIVE ELITE real capital at 80/20 with daily payouts. Funded consistency: the 23% Rule (each Active Trade Day must be ≥23% of your best day's realized P&L).
1-Step
Funded Fastest
Up to 100% sim · $25K cap → LIVE ELITE 80/20
$50K
$1,750
$100K
$2,000
$150K
$2,250
Profit Split
Up to 100% sim · 80/20 LIVE ELITE
Min Payout
$100 per cycle (sim) · $250 LIVE ELITE
Max Payout
$1,750
Consistency (Funded)
23% Rule — each ATD ≥23% of best day
Daily Loss Limit
None
Payout Cadence
8 Active Trade Days first cycle, 10 after
Processing
Same-day payout approval (sim) · 48-hour guarantee (LIVE ELITE) · paid via Rise (ACH or crypto)
Drawdown Clear
Bank drawdown + $100 realized → drawdown removed
Fast Track
Cheapest Entry
Up to 100% sim · $25K cap → LIVE ELITE 80/20
$10K
$1,000–$1,250
Profit Split
Up to 100% sim · 80/20 LIVE ELITE
Min Payout
$100 per cycle (sim) · $250 LIVE ELITE
Max Payout
$1,000–$1,250
Consistency (Funded)
40% eval · funded 23% Rule
Daily Loss Limit
None
Payout Cadence
8 Active Trade Days first cycle, 10 after
Processing
Same-day payout approval (sim) · 48-hour guarantee (LIVE ELITE) · paid via Rise (ACH or crypto)
Drawdown Clear
Bank drawdown + $100 realized → drawdown removed
End of Day
EOD Trailing
Up to 100% sim · $25K cap → LIVE ELITE 80/20
$50K
$2,000
$100K
$2,500
Profit Split
Up to 100% sim · 80/20 LIVE ELITE
Min Payout
$100 per cycle (sim) · $250 LIVE ELITE
Max Payout
$2,000
Consistency (Funded)
23% Rule — each ATD ≥23% of best day
Daily Loss Limit
$1,100 (hard breach)
Payout Cadence
8 Active Trade Days first cycle, 10 after
Processing
Same-day payout approval (sim) · 48-hour guarantee (LIVE ELITE) · paid via Rise (ACH or crypto)
Drawdown Clear
Bank drawdown + $100 realized → drawdown removed
Static Drawdown
Never Trails
Up to 100% sim · $25K cap → LIVE ELITE 80/20
$10K
$1,000
$25K
$1,500
$50K
$2,000
Profit Split
Up to 100% sim · 80/20 LIVE ELITE
Min Payout
$100 per cycle (sim) · $250 LIVE ELITE
Max Payout
$1,000
Consistency (Funded)
23% Rule — each ATD ≥23% of best day
Daily Loss Limit
None
Payout Cadence
8 Active Trade Days first cycle, 10 after
Processing
Same-day payout approval (sim) · 48-hour guarantee (LIVE ELITE) · paid via Rise (ACH or crypto)
Drawdown Clear
Bank drawdown + $100 realized → drawdown removed
Diamond Hands
Overnight OK
Up to 100% sim · $25K cap → LIVE ELITE 80/20
$100K
$2,500
Profit Split
Up to 100% sim · 80/20 LIVE ELITE
Min Payout
$100 per cycle (sim) · $250 LIVE ELITE
Max Payout
$2,500
Consistency (Funded)
23% Rule — each ATD ≥23% of best day
Daily Loss Limit
$1,500 (hard breach)
Payout Cadence
8 Active Trade Days first cycle, 10 after
Processing
Same-day payout approval (sim) · 48-hour guarantee (LIVE ELITE) · paid via Rise (ACH or crypto)
Drawdown Clear
Bank drawdown + $100 realized → drawdown removed
Direct to Funded
Instant
Up to 100% sim · $25K cap → LIVE ELITE 80/20
$10K
$1,200
$50K
$5,000
$100K
$5,000
Profit Split
Up to 100% sim · 80/20 LIVE ELITE
Min Payout
$100 per cycle (sim) · $250 LIVE ELITE
Max Payout
$1,200
Consistency (Funded)
23% Rule — each ATD ≥23% of best day
Daily Loss Limit
None
Payout Cadence
Active Trade Days per cycle by size: 5 (10K) / 15 (50K) / 20 (100K)
Processing
Same-day payout approval (sim) · 48-hour guarantee (LIVE ELITE) · paid via Rise (ACH or crypto)
Drawdown Clear
Bank drawdown + $100 realized → drawdown removed
Track record: Elite Trader Funding has paid out over $13 million to more than 13,000 funded traders since February 2022.
Get Funded →
Trading Platforms
Five platform routes — Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Rithmic, and Tickblaze — with Sierra Chart, Quantower, and MotiveWave available via Rithmic.
Automation note: ‹VERIFY automation / algo-trading policy for Elite Trader Funding›.
Trader Reviews
Trustpilot rating: 3.8/5 across 1,111 reviews. The quotes below are trader testimonials published on elitetraderfunding.app (captured July 2026).
3.8
★★★★★
Based on 1,111 reviews
Payout approved in hours
"My payout is approved in few hours."
Fast, fair support
"I sent in a support ticket about one of my eval accounts being charged the monthly/reset fee for months and not being reset during that time. Within minutes I started getting refund notifications for the months I was charged. They reset the account so I can use it again. Excellent service."
Clear rules, quick payouts
"Clear guidelines and quick payouts. I appreciate their transparency compared to other prop firms and their dashboard is easy to navigate and constantly improving."
Fast customer service
"One of the best prop firms available. They have the fastest customer service team I have seen among prop firms."