Alpha Futures Zero Plan Guide: Instant Funding, No Evaluation

What the Zero Plan Is (and Isn’t)

Zero Plan = no evaluation phase. You buy an account, get credentials, and start trading for real payouts on a simulated account that mirrors live market conditions. Your profits are withdrawable once you meet the program’s payout rules.

It is not a shortcut for undisciplined trading. You still have drawdown limits, contract caps, payout gates, and a consistency requirement. Treat it like capital with consequences.

Account Sizes & Typical Parameters

Alpha rotates pricing and caps, but the Zero Plan usually mirrors their eval tiers with higher position caps and stricter risk control. Expect something like:

• $50K / $100K / $150K funded-sim accounts
• Daily balance–based trailing drawdown (resets off prior day’s balance)
• Daily loss guard on live/qualified stages
• Contract caps comparable to evaluation tiers (micros and minis supported)

If you’re buying the Zero Plan to “swing big,” don’t. Trailing drawdown + DLL will clip you. Pick the size you can manage on micros first, then scale.

Numbers shift. Before checkout, read Alpha’s Zero Plan page and the current Program Rules—not the marketing banner.

Rules That Actually Matter

• Drawdown model: Daily balance–based trailing in pre-live; static or guarded drawdown once fully qualified/live. This is more trader-friendly than equity-peak trailing, but you can still trip it if you average losers.
• Daily loss guard: Hit it and you’re locked for the session (good; it prevents spiral days).
• Consistency rule: Zero Plan often mirrors Advanced/Standard logic. Plan for a 40–50% best-day cap relative to total cycle P&L to keep payouts eligible.
• News window: Expect a short no-new-entries window around major releases on qualified/live stages.
• Bans: No HFT, no ultra-short micro-scalping (sub-2-minute flip games), no fully automated bots or copier abuse. If it smells like a loophole, assume it’s not allowed.
• Flat by cutoff: Be flat by the stated EOD; don’t rely on auto-flatten.

Payouts: Speed, Split, and Friction

Alpha pays. On Zero Plan, payout cadence is generally weekly once you hit eligibility. Expect:

• Minimums: Typically higher on instant-funded plans (e.g., $1,000+).
• Split: Up to 90%. Some plans start at 90%; others ramp (70→80→90). Read the current schedule.
• Impact on risk: On certain tiers, withdrawals reduce your buffer (max loss cushion). If you’re trying to scale, take smaller, more frequent payouts or wait until you’ve built a cushion.
• Methods: Bank wires/ACH and fintech rails (Wise/Rise) after KYC.

If your goal is cash-flow, weekly access is the draw. Just don’t drain the account and then complain about a tighter loss line the next day.

Platforms & Markets

• Platforms: AlphaTicks (their web platform, no commissions—reg fees only), NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView (via Tradovate), ProjectX/Quantower coverage varies.
• Markets: CME futures only (indices, energies, metals, ags, rates; micros & minis).

AlphaTicks is fine if you want speed and low friction. If you’re deep into custom studies, you’ll probably prefer NinjaTrader or TradingView+Tradovate. Either way, execution should feel snappy in sim; remember fills differ from live.

Who the Zero Plan Fits (and Who It Doesn’t)

Good fit if you:

• Already trade a repeatable playbook with tight risk.
• Want to skip the eval delay and start a new payout stream fast.
• Can manage daily balance–based trailing without yo-yo P&L.

Bad fit if you:

• Rely on one or two outsized days per cycle (consistency rule bites).
• Need swing holds or news-scalp freedom.
• Expect to brute-force with size. You’ll clip the DLL and trail.

How to Play It (Practical Game Plan)

1. Start on micros only the first week. Your job is to not touch DLL while you learn the trail’s rhythm.
2. Cap worst day at ~60–70% of DLL. If DLL is $1,200, your hard personal stop is $700–$800. Live to trade tomorrow.
3. Stair-step targets: Aim for $300–$600/day on a $100K tier. String 5–8 green days; don’t force a “finish line” day.
4. Scale rules: Only add size when up ≥ 30–40% of the first payout goal.
5. Payout discipline: If withdrawals reduce cushion on your variant, either (a) take smaller, more frequent payouts or (b) defer the first withdrawal until you’ve built 2× the cushion.
6. Consistency guard: If your top day creeps toward 40–50% of the cycle P&L, downshift size so the ratio normalizes over the next sessions.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Immediate funded-sim trading; no evaluation delay
• Weekly payout cadence possible
• Daily balance–based trailing drawdown (saner than equity-peak)
• Multiple platforms, micros supported
• Clear rulebook vs. “gotcha” prop traps

Cons

• Higher upfront cost vs. evaluation
• Consistency & DLL still gate payouts
• Withdrawal-reduces-buffer on some tiers
• No HFT/bots; tight stance on sub-2-minute flips

Verdict

Zero Plan does what traders actually want: skip the challenge, start withdrawing fast—as long as you trade like an adult. The guardrails (daily balance trail, DLL, consistency) are there to prevent roulette-wheel behavior. If your process is stable and your sizing sane, Zero Plan is a legitimate fast lane. If not, it’s an expensive way to learn restraint.

Tip: If you haven’t proven your edge lately, pass a cheaper evaluation first. If you’re already printing across other props, Zero Plan is a clean add to your rotation.

FAQs

Is Zero Plan real funding?
It’s funded simulation with real payouts tied to your performance. Standard for instant-funded futures props.

How fast are payouts?
Usually weekly on Zero-style tiers after eligibility. Transfers are straightforward once KYC is done.

What split do I get?
Up to 90%. Some Zero variants start at 90%; others ramp. Read the current split table before purchase.

Can I automate?
No full bots/HFT. Discretionary or semi-discretionary with normal trade durations is the expectation.

What about news?
Expect a small no-entry window around major releases on qualified/live. Holding through is typically allowed.

Which platform should I pick?
If you value speed/simplicity, AlphaTicks or Tradovate. If you need custom tooling, NinjaTrader or TradingView.

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