Futures Trading Blog

Earn2Trade Rules Explained

Earn2Trade's Gauntlet Mini rules: EOD drawdown, a $1,100 daily loss limit that fails the evaluation, 30% consistency, the 3:50 p.m. CT close-out and withdrawal-size splits.

TradeDay Rules Explained

TradeDay's Quick Pay and Fast Pass rules: intraday vs EOD trailing drawdown, 30% and 45% consistency, the 2% price-limit rule, prohibited practices and payout splits.

Alpha Futures Rules Explained

Alpha Futures rules for Zero, Standard and Advanced: EOD max loss limit, daily loss guard, consistency by stage, scaling tiers, the 2-minute news window and payouts.

My Funded Futures Rules Explained

My Funded Futures rules by plan: Rapid's intraday funded drawdown, consistency rules from 30% to 50%, Builder's daily stop, Tier 1 news limits and payout timing.

Tradeify Rules Explained

Tradeify's Growth and Select rules explained: EOD drawdown enforced in real time, soft daily loss limit, 40% consistency, session-only holding and Flex vs Daily payouts.

Topstep Rules Explained: Drawdown, Consistency and Payouts

How Topstep's Maximum Loss Limit, optional daily loss limit, 55% consistency target, 3:10 p.m. CT close, scaling plan and XFA payout paths work, with dollar examples.

Tradeify vs Bulenox: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared

Tradeify and Bulenox both charge one-time evaluation fees, but only Tradeify publishes its full payout rules. We compare cost, drawdowns, daily limits, payouts and platforms.

Earn2Trade vs Bulenox: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared

Earn2Trade bills monthly with published but tiered payouts; Bulenox charges once but did not publish its payout rules. We compare cost, drawdowns, daily limits and platforms.

Topstep vs TradeDay: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared

Topstep and TradeDay both bill monthly, but they differ on activation fees, drawdown style, profit splits and platforms. Here is how their 50K accounts compare.

My Funded Futures vs Bulenox: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared

My Funded Futures and Bulenox both sell one-time evaluations, but only MFFU publishes its split and payout rules. We compare cost, drawdowns, daily limits, payouts and platforms.

Tradeify vs Alpha Futures: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared

Tradeify charges once with no activation fee; Alpha Futures bills monthly with a flat 90% split. We compare costs, drawdowns, daily limits, consistency rules, payouts and platforms.

Topstep vs Earn2Trade: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared

Topstep and Earn2Trade both bill monthly, but their daily loss limits, profit splits and platform choices differ sharply. Here is a side-by-side look at the 50K accounts.

Topstep vs Bulenox: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared

Topstep bills monthly with fully published payout rules; Bulenox sells one-time qualification accounts but did not publish its split or payout terms. Here is how they compare.

Topstep vs Alpha Futures: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared

Topstep and Alpha Futures both bill monthly and pay 90% to funded traders. We compare their prices, drawdowns, daily limits, consistency rules, payouts and platforms.

My Funded Futures vs Alpha Futures: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared

My Funded Futures charges a one-time fee while Alpha Futures bills monthly with a flat 90% split. We compare drawdowns, daily limits, consistency rules, payouts and platforms.

Tradeify vs My Funded Futures: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared

Tradeify and My Funded Futures both sell one-time evaluations with no activation fee. Here is how their drawdowns, daily limits, payout schedules and platforms differ.

Economic Calendar for Futures Traders: CPI, NFP and FOMC

What CPI, the jobs report and FOMC decisions are, when they're released (ET), why futures move on them and how prop firms restrict trading around them.

Fastest-Paying Futures Prop Firms (2026)

Which futures prop firms let you request payouts soonest and process them fastest, from daily payout plans to five-winning-day cycles, with the trade-offs that come with speed.

Cheapest Futures Prop Firm Evaluations by Account Size

The lowest evaluation prices at 25K, 50K, 100K and 150K, plus cost per $1,000 of drawdown, so you can compare futures prop firms on value, not just sticker price.

Best Futures Prop Firm for Beginners (2026)

Which futures prop firm plans are most forgiving for new traders: small account sizes, soft daily loss limits, end-of-day drawdowns and low entry costs.

AMP Futures vs NinjaTrader: Fees, Margins and Platforms

AMP Futures offers all-in pricing, $40 MES margins and 50+ platforms. NinjaTrader offers low base commissions and its own platform. Here's how to choose.

Tradeify vs Topstep: 100K and 150K Accounts Compared

How Tradeify's Growth, Select and Lightning plans line up against Topstep's Combine at 100K and 150K: cost, drawdown, contract limits and funded payouts.

How Much Money Do You Need to Trade Futures?

Broker minimums can be $0, but that's not what you need. Here's how to work out a sensible starting balance from margin and risk per trade, plus the prop firm alternative.

Futures Trading Hours Explained (CME Globex, ET)

When ES, NQ, crude oil, gold and currency futures trade, the daily maintenance break, and which hours see the most volume.

NinjaTrader vs Tradovate: Same Clearing Firm, Different Platforms

NinjaTrader and Tradovate share a clearing firm and commission plans. The real difference is the platform. Here's how to choose.

Best Futures Brokers for Day Trading (2026)

Day traders care about commissions, day-trade margins and platforms. We compare NinjaTrader, AMP, Optimus, Plus500, Tradovate and more using each broker's own pricing.

Futures Tick Value Cheat Sheet (ES, NQ, CL, GC and More)

Tick size, tick value and point value for 16 popular CME futures contracts in one table, with the formula to work out profit and loss.

NQ vs MNQ: Nasdaq Futures Compared

NQ and MNQ track the Nasdaq-100. MNQ is one-tenth the size at $2 a point. Here's how tick values, risk and costs compare.

What Is a Consistency Rule? Prop Firm Rules Explained

Consistency rules stop one big day from passing an evaluation. Here's how they're calculated, with examples and each firm's percentage.

Futures Prop Firms With No Daily Loss Limit (2026)

Which futures prop firms and plans have no daily loss limit, which make it optional, and what to watch for instead.

Cheapest Futures Prop Firms in 2026 (Real Total Cost)

The sticker price isn't the whole cost. We add up evaluation fees, activation fees and monthly billing to find the cheapest path to a funded futures account.

EOD vs Intraday Trailing Drawdown: What's the Difference?

The drawdown type decides how much room you really have in a prop firm account. Here's how end-of-day, intraday trailing and static drawdowns work, with examples.

Topstep vs My Funded Futures: Rules, Costs and Payouts Compared

Topstep offers an optional daily loss limit and the cheapest entry price; My Funded Futures has no activation fees and daily payouts on Rapid accounts.

Topstep vs Tradeify: Which Futures Prop Firm Is Better in 2026?

Topstep has the lowest monthly entry price; Tradeify sells one-time evaluations with no activation fee. We compare cost, rules, payouts and platforms.

5 Common Futures Trading Strategies Explained

Five widely used approaches to trading futures (trend following, breakouts, mean reversion, opening range and news trading), with their trade-offs.

Top Futures Contracts to Trade: ES, NQ, CL and GC Compared

The most popular futures contracts for active traders, what each one tracks, what a move is worth and how their micro versions compare.

How to Start Futures Trading in 2026

A step-by-step path for new futures traders: learn the basics, choose a contract, pick a broker or prop firm, practice, and manage risk.

ES vs MES: What's the Difference?

ES and MES track the same index, but MES is one-tenth the size. Here's how tick values, margins and costs compare, and which suits your account.

Best Futures Prop Firms of 2026: Rules and Prices Compared

Our 2026 ranking of futures prop firms, with evaluation prices, drawdown types, profit splits and payout rules checked against each firm's official site.