How to Get Started with TradeDay: Step-by-Step Guide

Written by Paul

Published on

January 9, 2026

You decided TradeDay is worth trying. Now you're staring at their website wondering what to actually click, which account to pick, and how to go from "interested" to "actively trading" without screwing something up in the signup process.

Most prop firms make onboarding unnecessarily complicated. Ten different forms, confusing account options, unclear platform connections, and zero guidance on what to do after you pay. TradeDay is better than most, but there are still decisions you need to make before you click "subscribe" — and getting them wrong means wasting time or money.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with TradeDay 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 TradeDay´s website or their faq page.

I've signed up for four different TradeDay accounts over the past 14 months. I've also watched a dozen other traders fumble through their first signup, pick the wrong drawdown type, then realize three days later they should have chosen differently.

This is your complete step-by-step guide to getting started with TradeDay the right way. From picking your account configuration to placing your first trade, with every decision point explained and every potential mistake flagged before you make it.

Before You Subscribe: The Pre-Signup Checklist

Don't touch the signup page yet. First, make sure you're actually ready.

1. You Know How Futures Trading Works

TradeDay is not a training program. They give you capital to trade, but they assume you already know what you're doing.

Required knowledge before subscribing:

How futures contracts work (ES, NQ, CL, etc.)
What margin and leverage mean
How to place market orders, limit orders, and stop losses
Basic risk management (position sizing, stop placement)
How to read a DOM (depth of market) if you're using one

If you don't have this knowledge yet: Stop. Go open a free demo account on Tradovate or NinjaTrader. Trade sim for 30 days. Learn the mechanics of futures before you spend $150/month on a TradeDay subscription.

2. You Have a Profitable Strategy (In Sim)

You don't need a perfect win rate or some holy grail system. But you need something that works in simulation over at least 20-30 trades.

Minimum proof before subscribing:

20+ sim trades showing you can make net profit
Consistent risk management (not randomly sizing positions)
Understanding of when your strategy works vs when it doesn't

If you're still figuring out your strategy: Keep trading sim until you have 30+ days of consistent (not perfect, just consistent) results. TradeDay will still be here when you're ready.

3. You Can Afford to Fail 2-3 Times

Budget for multiple evaluation attempts. Most traders don't pass on their first try.

Realistic budget for getting funded:

Best case: $300-400 (one attempt, 1-2 months)
Realistic case: $600-900 (2-3 attempts, 2-4 months)
Worst case: $1,500+ (5+ attempts, or you realize prop trading isn't for you)

If spending $600-900 over a few months would be financially stressful, you're not ready. Save up more or stick with your personal trading account.

4. You Have Time to Trade

TradeDay evaluations require a minimum of 5 trading days. You need at least a few hours per week to trade consistently.

Time commitment:

Minimum: 5-10 hours spread over 2-4 weeks
Realistic: 10-20 hours per month once you're in a rhythm
Optimal: 1-2 hours per day, 3-5 days per week

If you're working 80-hour weeks and barely have time to sleep, this isn't the moment to start prop trading.

Step 1: Choose Your Account Configuration

This is the most important decision in the signup process. You're picking three things: account size, drawdown type, and trading platform.

Picking Your Account Size

You choose between $50K, $100K, or $150K. This determines your profit target, position limits, and monthly cost.

Quick recommendation:

New to prop trading? Start with $50K ($75-105/month depending on drawdown type)
Some experience? Go $100K ($120-165/month)
Already passed other prop evaluations? Consider $100K or $150K

The $100K is the sweet spot for most traders. Enough capital to trade naturally (2 contracts), reasonable monthly cost, $2,500 profit target that's achievable but not trivial.

For complete details on the differences, see the account sizes comparison.

Picking Your Drawdown Type

This is where most traders screw up. You have three options: Intraday Trailing, End-of-Day (EOD) Trailing, or Static.

Quick recommendation:

Default choice for 80% of traders: EOD Trailing
If you're a scalper with super tight stops: Intraday Trailing (save $24-30/month)
If you're ultra-conservative and trade tiny size: Static

EOD trailing costs $24-30/month more than Intraday but gives you massive flexibility. Your drawdown is only calculated at market close (4:10 PM CT), not in real-time during the session. This means you can let trades develop without unrealized losses triggering your drawdown limit.

For the technical breakdown of all three types, see the drawdown types guide.

Picking Your Trading Platform

TradeDay supports seven platforms. For your first account, I recommend one of these three:

Tradovate (web-based, easiest):

Best for beginners
Works on any device (Mac, PC, iPad, phone)
Free, no additional costs
Trade within 10 minutes of signup

NinjaTrader (desktop, advanced):

Best for experienced traders
Requires Windows (or Mac with Boot Camp/Parallels)
Free for basic trading, $60/month for advanced features
Steep learning curve but powerful order flow tools

TradingView (web/mobile, chart-focused):

Best if you already use TradingView for charting
Requires TradingView Premium ($15-60/month)
Great charts, basic execution
Good for swing traders

My advice: If you're uncertain, pick Tradovate. It's the path of least resistance and works for 90% of trading styles. You can always switch to NinjaTrader later if you need more advanced tools.

For complete platform details, see the supported platforms guide.

Example Configurations

Here's what I'd pick for different trader profiles:

Trader Profile	Account Size	Drawdown Type	Platform	Monthly Cost
Complete Beginner	$50K	EOD Trailing	Tradovate	$99
Intermediate Trader	$100K	EOD Trailing	NinjaTrader	$150
Tight-Budget Scalper	$50K	Intraday Trailing	TradeDayX	$75
Experienced Pro	$100K	EOD Trailing	NinjaTrader	$150

Step 2: Sign Up and Subscribe

Now you're ready to actually create your account.

The Signup Process

Go to TradeDay's website (tradeday.com)
Click "Get Started" or "Sign Up"
Enter your email and create a password
Fill out basic personal info (name, address, date of birth)
Select your account configuration (size, drawdown, platform)
Enter payment information (credit card or debit card)
Confirm and subscribe

Time required: 5-10 minutes for the entire signup flow.

Payment Information

TradeDay charges your card immediately for the first month. Your subscription renews monthly on the same date unless you cancel.

What you're paying for:

Month 1: Access to your evaluation account for 30 days
Month 2+: Continued access if you haven't passed yet

When the charges stop:

Once you pass and get funded, your evaluation subscription ends
You stop paying monthly fees (unless you upgrade to Funded Live which costs $140/month for data)

Account Verification

After payment processes, you'll get login credentials for:

Your TradeDay dashboard (web portal)
Your chosen trading platform

Some traders need to verify identity (upload ID, proof of address). TradeDay will email you if this is required. Usually takes 24-48 hours to process verification if needed.

Using Discount Codes

Before you hit "subscribe," check for active discount codes. TradeDay runs promotions offering 20-50% off your first month or even first quarter.

For current codes, see the TradeDay discount codes page.

Step 3: Set Up Your Trading Platform

You have your TradeDay account. Now you need to connect it to your trading platform.

Tradovate Setup (5 Minutes)

Log into your TradeDay dashboard
Navigate to "Platform Connection" or "Credentials"
Copy your Tradovate username and password
Go to trader.tradovate.com
Log in with those credentials
You're connected — your TradeDay account is now accessible in Tradovate

Start trading immediately. No waiting period, no approval process.

NinjaTrader Setup (30-60 Minutes)

Download NinjaTrader from ninjatrader.com
Install the application (Windows only)
Open NinjaTrader
Go to Tools > Options > Data (or Connections)
Add a new connection using "TradeDay" as the provider
Enter your TradeDay connection credentials from your dashboard
Test the connection — it should show "Connected"
Set up your workspaces (charts, DOM, order entry)

First-time NinjaTrader users: This will take longer. Expect to spend 1-2 hours configuring your workspace, learning hotkeys, and setting up your preferred layout. Watch YouTube tutorials for "NinjaTrader workspace setup" to speed up the process.

TradingView Setup (10 Minutes)

Log into TradingView.com (requires Premium subscription)
Go to Trading Panel > Connect Broker
Search for "TradeDay" in the broker list
Enter your TradeDay credentials
Authorize the connection
Your TradeDay account appears in the trading panel

You'll see your account balance, positions, and order entry buttons directly in TradingView charts.

Step 4: Understand Your Evaluation Requirements

Before you place a single trade, make sure you understand what you need to pass.

The Five Objectives You Must Hit

You need all five simultaneously — passing four out of five doesn't count:

1. Profit Target

$50K account: $1,500
$100K account: $2,500
$150K account: $3,750

2. Minimum Trading Days

Trade on at least 5 separate calendar days
Must open at least one position each day that counts
Holding overnight positions from previous days doesn't count toward new days

3. Consistency Rule (30% Max Per Day)

No single day can account for more than 30% of your total profit
Formula: Single Day Profit ÷ Total Profit = must be under 30%
Applies only during evaluation, not after you're funded

4. Maximum Drawdown

Stay within your drawdown limit ($2K, $3K, or $4K depending on size)
How it's calculated depends on your drawdown type (Intraday, EOD, or Static)
Hit this limit and your evaluation fails immediately

5. Trading Rules Compliance

Don't exceed position limits (1, 2, or 3 contracts depending on account size)
No trading within 2 minutes of Tier 1 news events (NFP, FOMC, CPI, etc.)
No hedging across multiple TradeDay accounts
Follow all prohibited practices rules

For complete technical details on each objective, see the evaluation rules guide.

Step 5: Place Your First Trade (Carefully)

You're set up, you understand the rules, now it's time to actually trade.

Start Small on Day 1

Don't go all-in on your first trade trying to knock out 50% of your profit target. Start with minimum size to verify everything works.

First trade checklist:

Use 1 micro contract (MES or MNQ) or 1 mini if you're on $100K+
Place a simple limit order to verify execution works
Set a stop loss to verify your platform routes orders correctly
Close the position after a few minutes

This is a system test, not a profit attempt. Make sure your platform connects properly, orders execute, and you understand the flow before you trade for real.

Check Your Dashboard After Each Trade

After your first trade, log into your TradeDay dashboard and verify:

Trade shows up in your transaction history
Profit/loss is recorded correctly
Drawdown calculation updated (if applicable)
Trading day counter incremented

Some traders don't check their dashboard for days, then realize their trades weren't being recorded properly due to a connection issue.

Trading Day 1 Strategy

Option A - Conservative Start:

Take 1-2 small trades
Target $100-300 profit (small piece of your total target)
Close the day in positive territory
Verify everything works before ramping up

Option B - Normal Trading:

Trade your normal strategy with proper position sizing
Don't overthink it just because it's "official"
Treat it like another sim day but with real rules enforcement

Most traders do Option A on Day 1 just to verify the platform works correctly, then switch to normal trading on Day 2.

Step 6: Track Your Progress

Don't just trade blindly and hope you're hitting objectives. Actively monitor where you stand.

What to Track Daily

After each trading session, check:

Current profit toward target (need $2,500 on $100K)
Number of trading days completed (need 5 minimum)
Biggest winning day as percentage of total profit (must stay under 30%)
Current drawdown from peak balance
Days remaining on your subscription

Using TradeDay's Dashboard

Your TradeDay dashboard shows:

Real-time profit/loss
Drawdown status with visual indicator
Trading days counter
Consistency breakdown (shows which day had biggest percentage)

Check this after every session. Don't wait until you think you're done to verify you actually hit all objectives.

Keep a Simple Spreadsheet

I track my evaluations in a basic spreadsheet:

DateTradesP&LCumulative ProfitDrawdownDays CountConsistency %1/63+$350$350$01100%1/72+$180$530$0266%

This helps me see patterns and know exactly where I stand without constantly refreshing the dashboard.

Step 7: Navigate Common First-Week Mistakes

Here are the screw-ups I see new TradeDay traders make in their first week:

Mistake #1: Trading Too Aggressively Day 1

You want to pass fast, so you take big risk trying to hit $1,000 profit on Day 1. You end up down $800 and in drawdown trouble by Day 2.

Fix: Trade your normal size. Don't try to speed-run the evaluation.

Mistake #2: Not Checking the News Calendar

You take a trade at 8:29 AM on NFP Friday. TradeDay auto-liquidates your position because you're within the 2-minute Tier 1 news window. Your account gets flagged.

Fix: Check the economic calendar every morning. Set alarms for 5 minutes before major news releases.

Mistake #3: Forgetting About Consistency

You make $1,200 on Day 3 (48% of your $2,500 target). You finish the evaluation with $2,600 total profit. You failed consistency because Day 3 was 46% of your total.

Fix: If you have a huge winning day early, you need to make significantly MORE total profit to dilute that day under 30%. Either stop early when you have big winners, or commit to making much more total profit.

Mistake #4: Not Understanding Your Drawdown Type

You chose Intraday Trailing, then got confused why your -$600 unrealized loss triggered a drawdown warning. You thought it only counted when you closed the trade.

Fix: Read the drawdown rule guide before your first trade. Understand exactly when your risk is measured.

Mistake #5: Violating Position Limits

You're on a $100K account (2 contract limit). You accidentally enter 3 MNQ thinking micros don't count. Your evaluation fails immediately.

Fix: Know your limits. 10 micros = 1 standard contract. On a $100K account, 2 contracts means: 2 ES, OR 20 MES, OR 1 ES + 10 MES. Not 3 of anything.

Step 8: Request Review When You're Done

Once you've hit all five objectives, you don't automatically get funded. You need to request evaluation review.

When to Request Review

Check all five boxes first:

✅ Hit profit target ($2,500 on $100K)
✅ Traded at least 5 days
✅ Consistency under 30% (biggest day less than 30% of total)
✅ Never hit max drawdown
✅ No rule violations (no news trading, position limits, etc.)

If any box isn't checked, keep trading until it is.

How to Request Review

Log into TradeDay dashboard
Navigate to "Request Review" or "Submit Evaluation"
Verify all objectives are met (the system shows your current status)
Click "Submit for Review"
Wait 24-48 hours for approval

What Happens During Review

TradeDay's team manually checks your account:

Verifies all five objectives were genuinely met
Reviews trades for prohibited practices violations
Checks for signs of gaming the system or suspicious activity
Confirms your trading matches normal market behavior

Most reviews approve in 24-48 hours. Some take 3-5 days if there's heavy volume or questions about your trading.

If You Get Denied

TradeDay will email you explaining why. Common reasons:

You traded during restricted news windows
You violated position limits
Consistency calculation was wrong (you miscalculated your percentages)
Suspicious trading patterns that look like gaming

If denied, you're back in evaluation mode. Fix the issue and try again. Or pay a reset fee to start completely fresh if you blew the account.

Step 9: Get Funded and Start Making Money

Review approved? You're funded. Now what?

The Activation Fee

TradeDay charges a $139 activation fee when you pass. This is one-time, non-refundable, pays for moving you from evaluation to funded status.

Pay the fee and your account transitions from evaluation to funded within 24 hours.

What Changes When Funded

Rules that disappear:

No more profit target (trade as much as you want)
No more minimum trading days (trade daily, weekly, monthly, whatever)
No more consistency rule (make 80% of your monthly profit in one day, nobody cares)

Rules that stay:

Maximum drawdown (same limits, same type)
Position limits (still 2 contracts on $100K)
Prohibited practices (still can't news trade, hedge, etc.)

For complete details on funded account rules, see the funded account rules guide.

Set Up Riseworks for Payouts

You can't withdraw money until you set up a Riseworks (Rise) account. Do this immediately after getting funded:

Go to riseworks.io
Create account with same email as TradeDay
Verify identity (upload ID, proof of address)
Add payment method (bank account, crypto wallet, etc.)
Link to your TradeDay dashboard

Verification takes 1-3 days. Do this NOW so you're ready to request payouts as soon as you build buffer.

For complete payout details, see the payout policy guide.

Quick-Start Summary

If you just want the fastest path from zero to trading:

Pre-signup:

Practice 30 days in sim first
Budget $600-900 for multiple attempts
Have 10-20 hours per month available

Signup:

Pick $100K, EOD Trailing, Tradovate (default recommendation)
Subscribe and pay first month ($150)
Log into Tradovate with provided credentials

First trade:

Verify objectives in dashboard (profit target, drawdown limit, etc.)
Take small test trade to verify connection works
Start normal trading Day 2

Complete evaluation:

Hit all five objectives (profit, days, consistency, drawdown, rules)
Track progress daily in dashboard
Request review when done

Get funded:

Pay $139 activation fee
Set up Riseworks for payouts
Start trading with no more evaluation constraints

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take from signup to placing first trade?

With Tradovate: 10-15 minutes. Signup takes 5 minutes, Tradovate connection takes 5 minutes, you're trading.

With NinjaTrader: 1-2 hours if you're new to NinjaTrader. Signup + download + installation + workspace setup.

Can I start my evaluation the same day I subscribe?

Yes. There's no waiting period. Pay the subscription, connect your platform, start trading immediately.

What if I realize I picked the wrong account size?

Cancel your current subscription, sign up again with the correct configuration. You lose your progress, but if you're only 1-2 days in, it's worth switching to the right setup.

Do I need to trade all 5 days in one week?

No. Spread them over 2, 3, 4 weeks — doesn't matter. You just need 5 separate calendar days where you opened at least one position.

What happens if I don't pass in my first month?

Your subscription auto-renews. You keep trading until you pass or decide to cancel. Some traders take 2-4 months to pass their first evaluation.

Can I have multiple evaluation accounts at once?

Yes. Sign up for a second account anytime. You'll pay two monthly subscriptions, but you can run multiple evaluations simultaneously.

Bottom Line: Just Start

The hardest part of TradeDay is clicking "subscribe" and committing. Everything after that is straightforward — connect platform, understand rules, trade normally, pass evaluation.

Don't overthink the account configuration. $100K EOD Trailing with Tradovate works for 80% of traders. If you're uncertain, start there. You can always get a different configuration later.

For complete information on TradeDay — rules, features, payouts, and real trader experiences — check the full TradeDay review.

Stop researching. Start trading.