At a glance

Category winners across the firms you picked

Cheapest to start

E8 Markets (Futures)

$128 true cost

Highest rated

IQ Capital

4.7 / 5 trader rating

Best profit split

E8 Markets (Futures)

80% to the trader

Tied — shown first

Fastest payout

E8 Markets (Futures)

On demand

The bottom line

E8 Markets (Futures) is the cheaper way in at $128 true cost versus $135 for IQ Capital. IQ Capital has the stronger reputation with a 4.7/5 trader rating.

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.

48 of 61 metrics differ

E8 Markets (Futures)4.5Details

IQ Capital4.7Details

Side-by-side comparison of E8 Markets (Futures), IQ Capital
	E8 Markets (Futures)$50K	IQ Capital$50K
Account Pricing
Price	Best value: $128$17025% OFF	$135$67580% OFF
Activation Fee	None	None
True Cost	Best value: $128after discount + activation	$135after discount + activation
Reset Fee	Not published	Not published
Current Promotion	LUMI: $128.00 initial fee	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	4 contracts	Not published
Consistency Rule	No	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: $2,000Min: $100	$1,500Min: Not published
Consistency Rule	35%	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: 877%	641%
Target : Drawdown	1.50lower = easier to pass	—
Company Info
Established	2021	Not published
CEO	Dylan Elchami	Christoph Radecker
Country	United States	Saint Lucia
Trader Rating	4.5	Best value: 4.7
Features
Allows Scaling	Yes	No
Daily Payouts	Yes	Yes
1-Day Pass	Yes	Yes
KYC Required	Required	Required
Trading
Instruments	Not published	Not published
Evaluation Types	1-step	1-step, Instant funding
Platforms	Tradovate, TradingView	Quantower, ATAS, DeepCharts +11 more
Max Funding	$750,000	—
Profit Split	80%	80%
Max Accounts	8 funded · Unlimited evaluation	Not published funded · Unlimited evaluation
Trading Rules
Scalping	Allowed	Restricted
Payouts
Payout Frequency	On demand	Every 1 trading days
Min Payout	$100	Not published
Payout Methods	WorkMarket, Rise	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	On demand	Every 1 trading days
Eligibility	5 profitable days · profit above buffer	1 trading days · profit above buffer
Payout cap	$1,250 (#1-#2) → $2,000 (#3-#4)	$1,000 (#1-#2) → $1,500 (#3-#5)
Payout limit	4 payouts	5 payouts
Safety-net buffer	Max loss + $0	Not published
Scaling	None	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	None	Not published
Fastest possible pass	1 day	Not published
Resets	Allowed	Not published
Consistency rule	35%	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	✓ AllowedDedicated futures news policy allows news trading on Zero and Signature, both Challenge and Performance, without…	✓ AllowedNo additional news blackout window is published.
Weekend holding	✗ Not allowed	! RestrictedProhibited for Futures.…
Overnight holding	✗ Not allowedAll positions must close by 15:10 CT; trading resumes at 17:00 CT.	! RestrictedFutures must close daily; CFD/Crypto may hold overnight.
Bots & automation	✗ Not allowedBots and Expert Advisors (EAs) are prohibited on E8 Signature Futures accounts.…	? Not publishedHelp articles allow transparent, trader-controlled systems, but the Terms of Use prohibit automated trading tools.…
High-frequency trading	✗ Not allowedSemi-automated and fully automated systems, AI tools and HFT exceeding 300 trades per day are prohibited.	✗ Not allowed
Dollar-cost averaging	✓ Allowed	? Not publishedA separate dollar-cost-averaging policy was not found; combined positions remain subject to per-market loss limits.
Hedging	✗ Not allowed	! RestrictedAllowed only within a CFD/Crypto hedging account.…
Copy trading	! RestrictedSelf-owned Challenge, Performance and personal accounts may copy using any compatible tool.…	✗ Not allowedCopying, external signals, account sharing and third-party account management are prohibited.
Microscalping	! RestrictedAt least 50% of all profits must come from trades held at least 10 seconds.…	! RestrictedAt least 50% of trades and at least 50% of profits must come from positions held longer than 15 seconds.…
VPN	? Not publishedNo specific VPN/VPS rule was found in current official help searches or Terms.…	! RestrictedAllowed for security or connectivity, never to hide identity or bypass jurisdiction restrictions.

E8 Markets (Futures) vs IQ Capital: Full Comparison

E8 Markets (Futures), founded in 2021, based in US, and IQ Capital, based in LC, are both popular choices among futures and crypto and forex prop traders. E8 Markets (Futures) offers up to $750,000 in funding across 8 accounts, while IQ Capital provides up to not published. Both firms support Tradovate, TradingView.

The verdict

E8 Markets (Futures) is the cheaper way in at $128 true cost versus $135 for IQ Capital. IQ Capital has the stronger reputation with a 4.7/5 trader rating. True cost compares E8 Markets (Futures)'s $50,000 Signature account with IQ Capital's $50,000 Futures Rapid Daily (1D) account, after current discounts and activation fees.

Key statistics for E8 Markets (Futures) and IQ Capital
Feature	E8 Markets (Futures)	IQ Capital
Profit Split	80%	80%
Trader rating	4.5/5	4.7/5
Max Funding	$750,000	not published
Entry cost (cheapest account)	$84	$135
True Cost (selected account)	$128 · $50,000	$135 · $50,000
Max Drawdown (selected account)	$2,000	$2,000
Daily Loss Limit (selected account)	$1,000	$1,000
Largest Account	$200,000	$200,000
Payout Frequency	On demand	Every 1 trading days
Trading days per payout cycle (selected account)	Not published	1 trading day
Evaluation Type	1-step	1-step, Instant funding
Platforms	2	14
Discount	up to 40% off	up to 80% off

Where E8 Markets (Futures) Wins

+Lower entry cost on its cheapest account, a $25,000 ($84 vs $135 for a $50,000)

Read the full E8 Markets (Futures) review for rules, pricing tiers and payout details.

Where IQ Capital Wins

+Higher trader rating (4.7 vs 4.5)
+More platform options (14 vs 2)
+Bigger current discount (up to 80% vs up to 40%)

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between E8 Markets (Futures) and IQ Capital?

E8 Markets (Futures) offers a 80% profit split with 1-step evaluation, while IQ Capital offers a 80% profit split with 1-step/Instant funding evaluation. E8 Markets (Futures) supports 2 trading platforms and IQ Capital supports 14. E8 Markets (Futures) has a trader rating of 4.5/5 compared to IQ Capital's 4.7/5.

Which is cheaper, E8 Markets (Futures) or IQ Capital?

E8 Markets (Futures) is cheaper to enter: $128 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 — E8 Markets (Futures) at up to 40% off and IQ Capital at up to 80% off.

Which has better payout terms, E8 Markets (Futures) or IQ Capital?

E8 Markets (Futures) pays out on demand with a minimum of $100, while IQ Capital pays out every 1 trading days with no published minimum for that selected account. The trading-day requirement for E8 Markets (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 E8 Markets (Futures) and IQ Capital?

E8 Markets (Futures) does not allow trading bots, while IQ Capital does not publish a trading-bot policy. On VPNs, E8 Markets (Futures) does not publish a VPN policy and IQ Capital permits VPN use under published conditions.

E8 Markets (Futures) vs IQ Capital — quick answer

E8 Markets (Futures) vs IQ Capital for 2026: compare evaluation types (1-step vs 1-step, Instant funding), payout cadence for the selected accounts (On demand vs Every 1 trading days), platforms, and true challenge cost. Both pay the same profit split on the accounts compared here. Use the tables below for drawdown, minimum days, and current promotion status before you buy.

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