At a glance

Category winners across the firms you picked

Cheapest to start

Alpha Futures

$65 true cost

Highest rated

IQ Capital

4.7 / 5 trader rating

Best profit split

Alpha Futures

90% to the trader

Fastest payout

IQ Capital

Every 1 trading days

The bottom line

Accounts compared here

True cost here means the initial account fee plus activation after the displayed promotion. It excludes renewals, resets, taxes and optional charges. Open each account for its billing terms, evaluation rules and funded payout requirements; a lower entry cost does not guarantee a payout.

50 of 61 metrics differ

Alpha Futures4.4Details

IQ Capital4.7Details

Side-by-side comparison of Alpha Futures, IQ Capital
	Alpha Futures$50K	IQ Capital$50K
Account Pricing
Price	Best value: $65$12950% OFF	$135$67580% OFF
Activation Fee	None	None
True Cost	Best value: $65after discount + activation	$135after discount + activation
Reset Fee	$109	Not published
Current Promotion	LUMI (50% off)	LUMI: $135.00 initial fee
Evaluation Phase
Profit Target	$3,0006.0% of account	Not published
Max Drawdown	$2,000	Not published
Drawdown Type	End of Day	Not published
Daily Loss Limit	None	Not published
Max Position Size	5 contracts	Not published
Consistency Rule	50%	Not published
Funded Phase
Max Drawdown	$2,000	$2,000
Drawdown Type	End of Day	End of Day
Daily Loss Limit	$1,000	$1,000
Max Payout/Cycle	Best value: $3,000Min: $500	$1,500Min: Not published
Consistency Rule	40%	No
Value MetricsDerived from price, discount, targets and payout caps — fewer breakeven cycles and higher first-cycle ROI mean the account pays for itself faster.
Breakeven Winning Cycles	1 cycle	1 cycle
Max First-Cycle ROI	Best value: 4551%	641%
Target : Drawdown	1.50lower = easier to pass	—
Company Info
Established	Not published	Not published
CEO	Not disclosed	Christoph Radecker
Country	United Kingdom	Saint Lucia
Trader Rating	4.4	Best value: 4.7
Features
Allows Scaling	Yes	No
Daily Payouts	No	Yes
1-Day Pass	Yes	Yes
KYC Required	Required	Required
Trading
Instruments	ES, MES, NKD, NQ, MNQ, RTY, M2K, YM +42 more	Not published
Evaluation Types	1-step, Instant funding	1-step, Instant funding
Platforms	AlphaTrader, TradingView, WealthCharts +5 more	Quantower, ATAS, DeepCharts +11 more
Max Funding	$750,000	—
Profit Split	Best value: 90%	80%
Max Accounts	5 funded · Not published evaluation	Not published funded · Unlimited evaluation
Trading Rules
Scalping	Allowed	Restricted
Payouts
Payout Frequency	Every 5 trading days	Every 1 trading days
Min Payout	from $200	Not published
Payout Methods	ACH (US bank accounts), Wire Transfer +4 more	USDC (ERC-20), Bank transfer
Payout StructureHow money actually leaves the account: what you must do to qualify, how much each payout may be, and when the cap stops applying.
Payout cadence	Every 5 trading days	Every 1 trading days
Eligibility	5 profitable days	1 trading days · profit above buffer
Payout cap	Up to 50% of profit, max $3,000 per payout	$1,000 (#1-#2) → $1,500 (#3-#5)
Payout limit	Not published	5 payouts
Safety-net buffer	None	Not published
Scaling	Profit-based · 3 tiers	Not published
Activation fee	None	None
Evaluation TermsThe shape of the challenge itself, including where the consistency rule applies — an evaluation-only rule and one that binds for the life of the account are very different obligations.
Evaluation type	1-step	1-step
Time limit	None	Not published
Min trading days	2	Not published
Fastest possible pass	2 days	Not published
Resets	Allowed	Not published
Consistency rule	40%	Not published
Consistency applies to	Every payout cycle	Not published
What You May TradeEach firm's own position on the strategies traders get breached for, with its published qualification. A restriction is not the same as a ban.
News trading	! RestrictedFree on every Evaluation and on Advanced Qualified, fenced on the other Qualified plans: "There are no news trading"…	✓ AllowedNo additional news blackout window is published.
Weekend holding	✗ Not allowedNothing survives the daily close, so nothing survives the weekend: "all trades must be closed before 4:20PM EST every"…	! RestrictedProhibited for Futures.…
Overnight holding	✗ Not allowedSame rule as the weekend, on every simulated account: "You may begin trading at 6PM EST to start a new trading day, but"…	! RestrictedFutures must close daily; CFD/Crypto may hold overnight.
Bots & automation	✗ Not allowed"The use of AI, bots, and other automated trading mechanisms is strictly prohibited across all account types" and…	? Not publishedHelp articles allow transparent, trader-controlled systems, but the Terms of Use prohibit automated trading tools.…
High-frequency trading	! RestrictedExpressed as a trade-count threshold rather than a flat ban: "Alpha Futures restricts the use of automated systems"…	✗ Not allowed
Dollar-cost averaging	! RestrictedAllowed in moderation, with the line drawn at order stacking: "'Order Book Spamming' we have no rules against"…	? Not publishedA separate dollar-cost-averaging policy was not found; combined positions remain subject to per-market loss limits.
Hedging	✗ Not allowed"'Reverse Trading' or Hedging, meaning going short on one account, and long on the other is strictly prohibited at"…	! RestrictedAllowed only within a CFD/Crypto hedging account.…
Copy trading	! RestrictedOwn-account copying only: "Copy trading in general is permitted as long as it is a single user executing the trades,"…	✗ Not allowedCopying, external signals, account sharing and third-party account management are prohibited.
Microscalping	✗ Not allowedListed under prohibited conduct as "'Tick or Micro Scalping' (trades less than 10 ticks AND less than 2 minutes)" -…	! RestrictedAt least 50% of trades and at least 50% of profits must come from positions held longer than 15 seconds.…
VPN	✗ Not allowedVPS yes, VPN no: "The use of VPS is permitted in your trading, however the use of VPN attempting to hide or change you"…	! RestrictedAllowed for security or connectivity, never to hide identity or bypass jurisdiction restrictions.

Alpha Futures vs IQ Capital: Full Comparison

Alpha Futures, based in GB, and IQ Capital, based in LC, are both popular choices among futures and crypto and forex prop traders. Alpha Futures offers up to $750,000 in funding across 5 accounts, while IQ Capital provides up to not published. Both firms support TradingView, Quantower, dxFeed and 1 more platforms.

The verdict

Alpha Futures is the cheaper way in at $65 true cost versus $135 for IQ Capital. Alpha Futures returns more to the trader with a 90% profit split. IQ Capital has the stronger reputation with a 4.7/5 trader rating. True cost compares Alpha Futures's $50,000 Standard account with IQ Capital's $50,000 Futures Rapid Daily (1D) account, after current discounts and activation fees.

Key statistics for Alpha Futures and IQ Capital
Feature	Alpha Futures	IQ Capital
Profit Split	90%	80%
Trader rating	4.4/5	4.7/5
Max Funding	$750,000	not published
Entry cost (cheapest account)	$53.40	$135
True Cost (selected account)	$65 · $50,000	$135 · $50,000
Max Drawdown (selected account)	$2,000	$2,000
Daily Loss Limit (selected account)	$1,000	$1,000
Largest Account	$150,000	$200,000
Payout Frequency	Every 5 trading days	Every 1 trading days
Trading days per payout cycle (selected account)	Not published	1 trading day
Evaluation Type	1-step, Instant funding	1-step, Instant funding
Platforms	8	14
Discount	up to 50% off	up to 80% off

Where Alpha Futures Wins

+Higher profit split (90% vs 80%)
+Lower entry cost on its cheapest account, a $25,000 ($53.40 vs $135 for a $50,000)

Read the full Alpha Futures review for rules, pricing tiers and payout details.

Where IQ Capital Wins

+Higher trader rating (4.7 vs 4.4)
+Offers daily payouts
+More platform options (14 vs 8)
+Bigger current discount (up to 80% vs up to 50%)

Read the full IQ Capital review for rules, pricing tiers and payout details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Alpha Futures and IQ Capital?

Alpha Futures offers a 90% profit split with 1-step/Instant funding evaluation, while IQ Capital offers a 80% profit split with 1-step/Instant funding evaluation. Alpha Futures supports 8 trading platforms and IQ Capital supports 14. Alpha Futures has a trader rating of 4.4/5 compared to IQ Capital's 4.7/5.

Which is cheaper, Alpha Futures or IQ Capital?

Alpha Futures is cheaper to enter: $64.50 all-in for a $50,000 account, against $135 for IQ Capital's $50,000 account. Both figures are after the current discount and include the activation fee. Entry cost excludes renewals, resets, taxes and optional charges; it is not the total cost of reaching a payout. Both firms offer discounts — Alpha Futures at up to 50% off and IQ Capital at up to 80% off.

Which has better payout terms, Alpha Futures or IQ Capital?

Alpha Futures pays out every 5 trading days with a minimum of $500, while IQ Capital pays out every 1 trading days with no published minimum for that selected account. The trading-day requirement for Alpha Futures's selected payout cycle is not published, and IQ Capital's selected account requires at least 1 trading day per payout cycle. Qualifying-day profit thresholds, buffers, consistency rules and approval requirements still apply. A trading-day minimum is not a payment-delivery estimate.

Can I use trading bots with Alpha Futures and IQ Capital?

Alpha Futures does not allow trading bots, while IQ Capital does not publish a trading-bot policy. On VPNs, Alpha Futures restricts VPN use and IQ Capital permits VPN use under published conditions.

Alpha Futures vs IQ Capital — quick answer

Alpha Futures vs IQ Capital for 2026: compare evaluation types (1-step, Instant funding vs 1-step, Instant funding), payout cadence for the selected accounts (Every 5 trading days vs Every 1 trading days), platforms, and true challenge cost. Alpha Futures offers a higher profit split (90% vs 80%). Use the tables below for drawdown, minimum days, and current promotion status before you buy.

Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you use our links. How we stay unbiased.