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Alpha Futures vs. TickTickTrader: Who is Better for Scalpers?

Written by Paul

Published on

January 4, 2026

If you're a scalper trying to decide between Alpha Futures and TickTickTrader, the answer is straightforward: TickTickTrader is significantly better for scalpers—and it's not even close.

Alpha Futures explicitly prohibits tick scalping (trades held under 2 minutes AND under 10 ticks), bans overnight holds entirely with mandatory 4:59 PM EST liquidation, and restricts news trading on Standard accounts. TickTickTrader, as of March 23, 2025, now permits micro scalping, allows overnight positions, unrestricted news trading, and provides multiple platform choices including ProjectX, Tradovate, and NinjaTrader.

That's the headline. But let's break down exactly why TickTickTrader dominates for scalpers, where Alpha still makes sense for specific traders, and the real-world cost implications of choosing one over the other.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with Lucid Trading and the info available when I published/updated this. Things change in prop trading — rules, payouts, promos, all of it.

For the absolute latest, check Lucid Trading´s website or their help center.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Alpha Futures vs. TickTickTrader for Scalpers

Feature	Alpha Futures	TickTickTrader
Micro Scalping Allowed	❌ Prohibited (under 2 min + under 10 ticks)	✅ Permitted as of March 23, 2025
Hold Time Restrictions	Pattern of sub-2-minute holds flagged if consistent	No minimum hold time restrictions
Overnight Holds	❌ Prohibited (mandatory 4:59 PM EST close)	✅ Allowed (one reactivation per account if holding overnight)
News Trading	Restricted (Standard), Unrestricted (Advanced/Zero)	✅ Unrestricted all accounts
Daily Loss Limit	Zero eval (Standard/Advanced), 2% eval (Zero), 2% all funded	2.5% eval, 2.5%-3.5% Direct accounts (soft rule)
Max Loss Limit	4% EOD trailing (locks at starting balance +4%)	5% EOD static (Direct accounts)
Consistency Rule	50% eval (Standard), 40% funded (Standard/Zero), 0% (Advanced funded)	20%-30% depending on account type
Evaluation Pricing	$79-$419/month + $149 activation (Standard/Advanced), $99-$199/month + $0 activation (Zero)	$145-$285/month, $99 one-time (Express 15 days)
Instant Funding	❌ No instant funding (evaluation required)	✅ Yes (Direct accounts $10K-$250K)
Profit Split	70%→90% progressive (Standard), 90% flat (Advanced/Zero)	80% first 3 months eval, then 90%, or 90% Direct accounts
Payout Frequency	Bi-weekly (Standard), Weekly (Advanced), Up to 4/month (Zero)	Anytime after meeting threshold (Direct), monthly minimum (eval)
Payout Speed	24-48 hours approval, 1-3 days delivery (2-5 days total)	5 business days processing
Platforms	Rithmic via supported platforms	ProjectX, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, CQG, TradingView, R\|Trader Pro
Max Funded Accounts	3 accounts, $450K cap total	5 Direct accounts, varies by type
Inactivity Policy	10 trading days (~14 calendar days)	7 calendar days (stricter)
HFT Trading	❌ Prohibited (100+ trades/day automated)	✅ Allowed if manual execution
Copy Trading	✅ Your own accounts only	❌ Prohibited entirely
Best For	Day traders, unlimited reset seekers, EOD MLL protection	Scalpers, news traders, overnight position traders, instant funding

Why TickTickTrader Dominates for Scalpers

1. Micro Scalping Is Actually Allowed

This is the dealbreaker. Alpha Futures explicitly states: "Tick or Micro Scalping (trades less than 10 ticks AND less than 2 minutes)" is prohibited when it becomes a consistent profit pattern.

TickTickTrader, as of March 23, 2025, now permits micro scalping with no hold time restrictions. Previously prohibited under 5 seconds, the firm reversed this policy recognizing legitimate scalping strategies.

Real scenario:

You're scalping NQ for 4-6 tick moves ($80-$120 per trade). Your average hold time is 45 seconds to 90 seconds. You execute 30-40 trades daily.

Alpha Futures: This pattern violates their tick scalping rule. If 70%+ of your profits come from sub-2-minute, sub-10-tick trades, you risk termination and profit forfeiture.
TickTickTrader: Completely compliant. Execute 40 trades held 30-90 seconds capturing 4-8 ticks each. No violations.

For genuine scalpers, this single difference eliminates Alpha from consideration.

2. Overnight Holds for Extended Scalping Windows

Alpha forces 4:59 PM EST liquidation. Every position closes daily whether you want it to or not. This eliminates:

Holding winners overnight to capture extended moves
Swing scalping (entering late afternoon, exiting next morning)
Weekend gap strategies
Asian/European session overnight positions

TickTickTrader allows overnight holds with one reactivation per account (excluding $10K Direct Swing which requires daily closure). This flexibility lets scalpers:

Enter late-session momentum trades, hold overnight, exit at optimal morning levels
Capture gap moves from overnight news
Trade extended timeframes when scalping opportunities align

Example: You enter 3 NQ long at 16,280 at 3:45 PM ET targeting 16,320. Market closes 16,295. Alpha forces liquidation at 4:59 PM for +$450. TickTickTrader lets you hold overnight. Market opens 16,310, you exit at 16,318 for +$2,280. The overnight flexibility generated an additional $1,830.

3. Unrestricted News Trading

TickTickTrader allows news trading on all accounts. Alpha restricts news trading on Standard accounts (their cheapest option), only permitting it on Advanced ($139-$419/month) or Zero plans.

For scalpers, high-volatility news events (NFP, FOMC, CPI, PPI) create prime scalping conditions with rapid 15-30 tick moves in seconds. TickTickTrader lets you capitalize. Alpha Standard forces you to sit out or upgrade to Advanced.

4. Superior Platform Flexibility

TickTickTrader supports:

ProjectX
Tradovate
NinjaTrader
CQG
TradingView
R|Trader Pro

Alpha primarily uses Rithmic-based platforms with limited third-party integration.

Scalpers benefit from TradingView's charting + DOM integration, NinjaTrader's advanced order flow tools, or ProjectX's speed-optimized execution. Platform choice matters when you're executing 40+ trades daily and milliseconds affect fills.

5. Higher Trade Volume Capacity

Alpha prohibits HFT strategies exceeding 100 trades daily. TickTickTrader has no explicit trade count limit as long as execution is manual.

If your scalping system generates 80-120 setups daily during volatile sessions, TickTickTrader accommodates. Alpha caps you at 99 trades maximum before HFT violations trigger.

Where Alpha Futures Still Makes Sense (Even for Some Scalpers)

TickTickTrader wins for pure scalpers, but Alpha has specific advantages:

1. Unlimited Resets During Subscription Month

Alpha's monthly subscription model includes unlimited evaluation resets. Blow your $50K account? Reset immediately. Do it 5 times in one month—you've only paid $79 (Standard) or $99 (Zero).

TickTickTrader charges $145-$285/month per evaluation. Reset once and you're effectively paying double that month ($290-$570 for two attempts).

When this matters: You're developing a new scalping strategy and expect multiple failed attempts during testing phase. Alpha's unlimited resets let you iterate cheaply.

2. EOD Trailing MLL Innovation

Alpha's 4% EOD trailing Max Loss Limit is brilliant for volatile scalpers. Your MLL trails to highest end-of-day close, locking in gains, then never drops below starting balance once you're up 4%+.

TickTickTrader uses static 5% EOD drawdown. Hit $95K on a $100K account and you're done—no trailing protection.

Example: You start Alpha $100K at $100K balance. Trade to $104,500 (MLL locks at $100K). Drop to $101,200 next day. MLL stays $100K—you're safe. TickTickTrader would terminate at $95K regardless of previous highs.

3. Zero Plan: $0 Activation Fee

Alpha's Zero plan charges $99-$199/month with $0 activation fee, versus Standard/Advanced's $149 activation. TickTickTrader Direct accounts require $629-$2,199 activation fees.

For traders running 3 simultaneous evaluations, activation fees add up:

Alpha Zero 3× $50K: $297 total (3× $99 monthly)
Alpha Standard 3× $50K: $684 total (3× $79 monthly + 3× $149 activation)
TickTickTrader 3× $50K Advanced: $480/month (3× $160)

Alpha Zero saves $183 vs. TickTickTrader on three accounts for the first month.

4. Copy Trading Across Your Own Accounts

Alpha permits copying trades across your own Alpha accounts. Execute on one "leader" account, auto-copy to your other 2 funded accounts.

TickTickTrader prohibits all copy trading, even across your own accounts.

When this matters: You've passed 3 Alpha accounts and want to execute once, scale 3×. Copy trading triples your position size without triple execution effort.

Cost Comparison: 6-Month Scalping Timeline

Let's compare real costs for a scalper running $100K account over 6 months:

Alpha Futures Standard $100K:

Month 1: $159 subscription + $149 activation = $308
Months 2-6: $159/month × 5 = $795
Total 6 months: $1,103

Alpha Futures Zero $100K:

Month 1: $199 subscription + $0 activation = $199
Months 2-6: $199/month × 5 = $995
Total 6 months: $1,194

TickTickTrader Pro $100K Evaluation:

Month 1: $285 subscription
Months 2-6: $285/month × 5 = $1,425
Total 6 months: $1,710

TickTickTrader $100K Core Direct (Instant Funding):

One-time activation: ~$1,299 (varies)
No monthly fees
Total 6 months: $1,299

Analysis: TickTickTrader evaluation costs $516 more over 6 months than Alpha Zero. But TickTickTrader Direct accounts eliminate monthly fees entirely after one-time activation—becoming cheaper than Alpha by month 7-8.

For scalpers passing quickly (1-2 months), Alpha Zero is cheapest. For scalpers taking 3+ months or wanting instant funding, TickTickTrader Direct makes financial sense.

The Consistency Rule Trap: Both Firms Have It

Alpha: 50% eval consistency (Standard), 40% funded (Standard/Zero), 0% (Advanced funded only)

TickTickTrader: 20%-30% depending on account type

What this means for scalpers: Your best trading day cannot exceed 20%-50% of total profits (depending on firm/account).

Example: $6,000 total profit. Your best day was $2,200.

Alpha Standard (50% rule): $2,200 ÷ $6,000 = 36.7% → Passes
TickTickTrader (30% rule): $2,200 ÷ $6,000 = 36.7% → Violates

Consistency rules punish concentrated profits from single explosive scalping sessions. If you capture $3,000 on NFP day but only $300-$500 on other days, you'll struggle with consistency requirements.

Solution: Trade more days with smaller daily profits, or choose Alpha Advanced (0% funded consistency) or TickTickTrader accounts with higher consistency thresholds.

Inactivity Policies: Both Are Strict

Alpha: 10 trading days (~14 calendar days)
TickTickTrader: 7 calendar days

Both firms terminate inactive accounts. TickTickTrader is actually stricter—you must trade every week minimum.

Workaround: Execute one micro contract "maintenance trade" weekly. Risk $5-$10 to keep account active during vacations or slow periods.

Real Scalper Recommendations by Profile

Pure micro scalper (30-second to 2-minute holds, 4-8 ticks):
→ TickTickTrader (only viable option, Alpha prohibits this entirely)

News scalper (NFP, FOMC, CPI focus):
→ TickTickTrader (unrestricted news trading all accounts) or Alpha Advanced (allowed but expensive)

Overnight scalper (late entry, morning exit):
→ TickTickTrader (Alpha can't hold overnight)

Day scalper with 5-15 minute holds:
→ Either firm works, slight edge to TickTickTrader for platform flexibility

Aggressive volume scalper (80-120 trades daily):
→ TickTickTrader (Alpha HFT rule caps at 100 trades)

Budget scalper testing new strategy:
→ Alpha Zero (unlimited resets, $99/month, no activation fee)

Experienced scalper wanting instant funding:
→ TickTickTrader Direct (start trading immediately, no evaluation)

Copy trader running multiple accounts:
→ Alpha (only firm permitting copy trading across own accounts)

The Bottom Line: TickTickTrader for 90% of Scalpers

Unless you specifically need Alpha's unlimited resets, EOD trailing MLL, or copy trading functionality, TickTickTrader is the superior choice for scalpers in 2025.

The fundamental reason: Alpha prohibits the core mechanics of scalping (sub-2-minute holds, sub-10-tick captures) while TickTickTrader explicitly permits micro scalping as of March 2025.

You can't scalp effectively when your trading style itself is prohibited. Alpha built their rule set around day trading with 5-15 minute minimum holds and 15-30 tick targets. TickTickTrader designed for all futures strategies including aggressive scalping.

For genuine scalpers—traders executing 30-60 trades daily, holding 30 seconds to 3 minutes, capturing 4-12 tick moves—TickTickTrader removes the violation risk that permanently hangs over Alpha accounts.

Add unrestricted news trading, overnight hold capability, superior platform selection, higher trade volume allowances, and instant funding options—TickTickTrader delivers everything scalpers need without the restrictions Alpha imposes.

The only scenarios where Alpha wins: budget-conscious traders ($99 Zero plan), unlimited reset seekers, copy traders, and day traders (not scalpers) wanting EOD MLL protection.

For everyone else scalping futures in 2025: TickTickTrader is the clear choice.

FAQ: Alpha Futures vs. TickTickTrader for Scalpers

1. Can I scalp with Alpha Futures?

Alpha prohibits "tick scalping" defined as trades held under 2 minutes AND capturing under 10 ticks when this becomes your consistent profit pattern. Occasional quick scalps are fine, but if 70%+ of profits come from sub-2-minute, sub-10-tick trades, you risk termination. Legitimate scalping (30+ seconds, 10+ ticks, varied patterns) is allowed.

2. Does TickTickTrader allow micro scalping?

Yes, as of March 23, 2025, TickTickTrader permits micro scalping with no minimum hold time. Previously prohibited under 5 seconds, the firm reversed this policy. You can now execute sub-10-second trades capturing 2-4 ticks without violations.

3. Which firm is cheaper for scalpers?

Short-term (1-2 months): Alpha Zero ($99-$199/month, $0 activation) is cheapest.
Long-term (6+ months): TickTickTrader Direct accounts ($629-$2,199 one-time, no monthly fees) become cheaper.
Multiple attempts: Alpha's unlimited resets save money if you fail 3+ evaluations in one month.

4. Can I hold scalping positions overnight?

Alpha: No, mandatory 4:59 PM EST liquidation daily.
TickTickTrader: Yes, overnight holds allowed with one reactivation per account (except $10K Direct Swing).

5. Which firm allows news trading for scalpers?

TickTickTrader: Unrestricted news trading all accounts.
Alpha: Restricted on Standard (cheapest plan), allowed on Advanced ($139-$419/month) and Zero plans only.

6. How many trades per day can I execute?

Alpha: No explicit limit, but HFT strategies with 100+ automated trades prohibited. Manual execution of 80-100 trades likely acceptable.
TickTickTrader: No trade count limit as long as execution is manual (not automated).

7. What consistency rules apply to scalpers?

Alpha: 50% eval (Standard), 40% funded (Standard/Zero), 0% funded (Advanced only).
TickTickTrader: 20%-30% depending on account type.

Both rules mean your best trading day cannot exceed X% of total profits. Concentrated scalping profits from single explosive sessions violate consistency requirements.

8. Which platforms support scalping best?

TickTickTrader offers more platforms: ProjectX, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, CQG, TradingView, R|Trader Pro.
Alpha primarily uses Rithmic-based platforms with limited third-party integration.

TradingView and NinjaTrader excel for scalpers needing advanced DOM, order flow, and execution speed.

9. Can I copy my scalping strategy across multiple accounts?

Alpha: Yes, copy trading across your own Alpha accounts permitted.
TickTickTrader: No, all copy trading prohibited (even across your own accounts).

10. What happens if I violate scalping rules?

Both firms: Immediate account termination, all profits voided, evaluation disqualification, potential permanent ban. No warnings, no appeals.

Violations include: tick scalping patterns (Alpha), hedging, account stacking, order book spamming, HFT abuse.

11. How fast are payouts for scalping profits?

Alpha: 2-5 days total (24-48 hours approval + 1-3 days delivery).
TickTickTrader: 5 business days processing.

Alpha is slightly faster, but both firms process payouts within one week.

12. Which firm has stricter inactivity policies?

TickTickTrader: 7 calendar days (stricter).
Alpha: 10 trading days (~14 calendar days).

Both require weekly trading minimum. Execute one micro contract trade weekly to maintain account activity during slow periods.

13. Can I get instant funding as a scalper?

TickTickTrader: Yes, Direct accounts provide instant funding ($10K-$250K).
Alpha: No instant funding—evaluation required for all accounts.

Experienced scalpers can skip evaluation entirely with TickTickTrader Direct accounts.

14. What's the best account for aggressive scalping?

TickTickTrader $100K Express: $99 one-time for 15 days, $6,000 target, no daily loss limit, allows aggressive scalping without DLL restrictions.
Alpha Advanced $100K: $279/month + $149 activation, 0% funded consistency, unrestricted news trading.

Express offers cheapest entry for aggressive scalping testing. Advanced offers long-term funded account with zero consistency restrictions.