Alpha Futures

*Alpha's product page lists Zero 50K at $169; its how-it-works page lists $139. $0 activation fee on Zero, Standard and Advanced.

Overview

Alpha Futures is run by Alpha Futures Limited, a UK company based in Harpenden, England. It offers three monthly-subscription evaluation tiers (Zero, Standard and Advanced), each with a $0 activation fee, plus a Direct account that skips the evaluation. Every account uses an end-of-day trailing maximum loss limit, and funded ("Qualified") traders receive a 90% split. Zero suits traders who want the lowest entry price, no consistency rule in evaluation and a one-day minimum. Standard suits traders who want larger position limits and no daily loss guard while they are being evaluated. Advanced suits experienced traders who can hit higher targets in exchange for the highest payout caps. The trade-offs are a monthly price that continues after you pass, a 40% consistency rule on Zero and Standard Qualified accounts, and a platform line-up that does not include NinjaTrader or Tradovate. You can read how we weigh these points on our how we rank page.

Plans and prices

Prices below are full monthly prices from Alpha's how-it-works page and product pages, before any discount code. Activation is $0 on Zero, Standard and Advanced. Alpha's pages show the same monthly price on the Qualified account after you pass.

Zero

*The Zero product page and help center list the 50K at $169 a month with a $149 reset. The how-it-works page lists $139 and $119. Check the price at checkout.

Standard

Advanced

Direct (no evaluation)

Alpha's page does not say whether the Direct price is one-time or recurring, or whether Direct has an activation fee. Direct uses a 20% consistency rule and has no scaling plan.

Rules explained

Maximum loss limit

Alpha says its maximum loss limit (MLL) is end-of-day trailing on all accounts. On a 50K Zero account it starts at $48,000. When your end-of-day balance makes a new high, the MLL rises by the same amount. It never moves down, and it stops trailing once it reaches the starting balance. For example, a closing balance of $52,000 sets the MLL at $50,000 for the life of the account. Floating losses still count, so if open equity touches the MLL during the day the account is breached. A breached evaluation can be reset or wait for the monthly rebill. A breached Qualified account is closed.

Daily loss guard and limits

Zero has a daily loss guard of $500, $1,000 or $2,000 in both evaluation and Qualified stages. Standard has no daily limit in evaluation but adds one on Qualified accounts ($1,000, $2,000 or $3,000). Advanced has no daily loss guard in either stage. Direct has a daily loss limit from the start.

Consistency rule

Zero has no consistency rule in evaluation. Standard evaluations use 50% and Advanced evaluations use 40%. Once funded, Zero and Standard Qualified accounts use a 40% rule, while Advanced Qualified has none. Direct uses 20%.

Minimum days

Zero can pass in one day, Standard needs two and Advanced needs three. All Qualified accounts need five winning days before each payout.

News and overnight

Evaluations have no news restrictions. Zero Qualified accounts cannot open trades within two minutes before or after high-impact news events. Advanced Qualified has no news restriction. The pages we checked did not cover overnight or weekend holding, so confirm this with Alpha before holding positions past the close.

Scaling

Zero 50K and 100K Qualified accounts have a scaling plan; Zero 25K does not. Advanced Qualified and Direct accounts have no scaling plan and trade at the full position limit. You can run up to five accounts at once.

How the tiers compare on a 50K account

On a 50K account the three evaluation tiers ask for different things. Zero and Standard both need $3,000 of profit with $2,000 of room, but Zero caps you at 3 minis and adds a $1,000 daily guard, while Standard allows 5 minis with no daily limit and a 50% consistency rule. Advanced asks for $4,000 with only $1,750 of room, so the target is more than twice the drawdown. That is the hardest ratio of the three, and it explains why Advanced carries the biggest payout cap once funded.

The payout caps also change the picture. A Zero 50K trader can take at most $1,500 per request, a Standard 50K trader $3,000 and an Advanced 50K trader up to $15,000, all subject to the 50% of profit limit. If you expect to build a large balance, the cap matters more than the monthly price. If you mainly want a low-cost way to learn the rules, the Zero 25K at $89 a month is the cheapest entry Alpha lists.

Remember that the monthly charge keeps running while the account is open. A trader who takes three months to pass Standard 50K pays $387 before reaching the Qualified stage, and Alpha's pages show the same monthly price on the Qualified account afterwards.

Payouts

On Zero, Standard and Advanced Qualified accounts, you can request a payout after every five winning days of $200 or more, up to four times a month. Each request can take up to 50% of profit; the rest stays in the account as a cushion. The split is 90% from the first payout, with no tiers. Withdrawals on Zero start at $200.

Direct works differently: there is no winning-day count. Instead you must reach a profit target before each payout ($3,000 first and $2,000 after on 50K) while keeping the 20% consistency rule. Alpha says approved payouts are currently paid within five business days. After reaching $40,000 in payable balance or five payout cycles, traders may be offered a move to a live program.

Platforms and data

Alpha's help center lists five platforms: AlphaTrader (its own web and mobile platform), TradingView (connected through Plus500), WealthCharts, DeepChart by Volumetrica (with the OrderFlow package included) and Quantower (desktop only, with dxFeed data). Your platform choice cannot be switched after purchase. NinjaTrader and Tradovate are not on the current list. The pages we checked did not mention data fees.

Pros and cons

• Pro: $0 activation fee on all evaluation plans.
• Pro: Zero has no evaluation consistency rule and a one-day minimum.
• Pro: 90% split from the first payout.
• Pro: Advanced Qualified has no consistency rule or daily guard and a $15,000 cap.
• Con: Monthly pricing, and Alpha's pages show it continuing on Qualified accounts.
• Con: Conflicting Zero 50K prices across Alpha's own pages.
• Con: 40% consistency rule on Zero and Standard Qualified accounts.
• Con: No NinjaTrader or Tradovate.

Who should choose it

Alpha Futures fits traders who want an EOD drawdown, no activation fee and a choice between a cheap, guarded Zero account and a higher-target Advanced account with large payout caps. It is less suitable if you depend on NinjaTrader or Tradovate, or if you want to stop paying once you pass. Size your trades against a $1,750 to $2,000 limit with our position size calculator, and check the NQ contract guide before trading the Nasdaq on a small account, since each point is worth $20.

Frequently asked questions

Does Alpha Futures charge an activation fee?

No. Zero, Standard and Advanced all list a $0 activation fee.

Is the drawdown trailing?

Yes, on an end-of-day basis. It trails your closing balance high and locks at the starting balance.

What is the profit split?

90% to the trader on Qualified accounts, from the first payout.

How often can I get paid?

Up to four times a month, after each set of five winning days of $200 or more, taking up to 50% of profit per request.

Which Alpha plan has no consistency rule?

Zero has none during evaluation, and Advanced Qualified has none once funded.

Can I use NinjaTrader?

No. Alpha's current list is AlphaTrader, TradingView via Plus500, WealthCharts, DeepChart and Quantower.

• How it works
• Zero product page
• Zero account overview
• Maximum loss limit (MLL)
• Trading platforms