TakeProfitTrader Simulated vs Live Account: PRO vs PRO+ Explained

Reality check: Your TakeProfitTrader PRO account is simulated. Your orders aren't hitting the CME exchange—they're staying inside Rithmic or Tradovate's simulation environment. Yes, TPT pays you real money from sim profits (80/20 split), but you're not trading live capital until PRO+. And to get PRO+, you need $5,000 in profits, which gets frozen as your live account collateral.

Most traders don't realize PRO is simulated until after they pass evaluation. TPT discloses this clearly in their FAQs, but if you're scanning marketing materials about "funded accounts" and "day one withdrawals," the sim detail gets buried. Here's what you're actually trading—and when you transition to live capital.

What PRO Simulated Actually Means

PRO accounts trade in a simulated environment via Rithmic or Tradovate. Your orders never reach the CME exchange—they stay inside Tradovate's internal system, matched against real-time data feeds but not competing with actual market participants.

Fills are easier in sim. TPT admits this openly: no real liquidity constraints, slippage, or order queue positioning. If price trades at your limit, you get filled—period. No waiting behind 50 other orders in the queue.

TPT pays real money from sim profits. Your profits are simulated, but payouts are real. TPT aggregates PRO trader data to inform their own trading through partners, then shares profits with you at 80/20 (you keep 80%).

Why sim first: Risk management. Most traders blow funded accounts immediately. By keeping PRO in sim, TPT filters out emotional traders without risking live capital.

What PRO+ Live Actually Means

PRO+ is live trading through Tradovate (NFA-regulated broker). Your orders route directly to CME and compete with real market participants.

Key differences from PRO:

• Real fills: Subject to actual slippage, order queues, liquidity constraints
• 90/10 profit split: You keep 90% vs 80% in PRO
• No buffer requirement: Withdraw from day one with no minimum balance
• EOD drawdown only: Updates at 5 PM ET, not real-time (way easier to manage than PRO's intraday trailing)

Rule Differences: PRO vs PRO+ Side-by-Side

Key takeaway: The only meaningful differences are execution (sim vs live), profit split (80/20 vs 90/10), drawdown type (intraday vs EOD), and buffer requirement. News trading rules, contract limits, and the 5 PM flat rule stay identical.

The $5,000 Frozen Capital Controversy

To qualify for PRO+, you need $5,000 in total PRO profits. That $5K gets frozen as PRO+ collateral—you can't withdraw it while PRO+ is active.

How it works:

1. Hit $5K total profit in PRO (e.g., $50K account at $55K)
2. TPT sends PRO+ invitation
3. Accept → PRO suspends, $5K frozen, anything above $5K withdrawable at 80/20
4. PRO+ starts at $0 balance with your original max drawdown (e.g., -$2K on $50K account)
5. Grow PRO+ from $0, keep 90% of profits
6. Close PRO+ → get 90% of PRO+ profits + your 80% share of frozen $5K

The controversy: Traders expected to withdraw $5K then get PRO+. Instead, it becomes locked working capital. Some call it "paying $5K for live access." TPT calls it "deploying earned capital into live trading."

Reality: It's your money, but locked. If $5K locked bothers you, stay in PRO or use another firm.

How to Qualify for PRO+ (Two Paths)

Path 1: $10,000 single-day profitMake $10K in a single trading day on any PRO account. TPT sends PRO+ invitation within 24-48 hours. You can keep trading your PRO account during the 4-6 business day PRO+ setup.

Path 2: Consistent profit withdrawals over timeWithdraw meaningful profits consistently from PRO over an extended period. TPT reviews your account performance and sends an invitation if you qualify. No specific threshold disclosed—it's discretionary on TPT's side.

Important: During PRO+ setup, you must maintain at least $5,000 in PRO profits. If your PRO balance drops below $5K while PRO+ is being created, TPT may revoke the upgrade.

Does Sim vs Live Actually Matter?

For most traders: No. If you're getting paid in 24-48 hours, execution environment doesn't matter. TPT pays real money from sim profits.

For psychological traders: Yes. Some need to know orders hit real markets. If that's you, TPT's sim-first won't work—try Apex or TopStep instead.

For scalpers: Maybe. If your edge relies on precise order queue positioning or micro-inefficiencies in real depth, sim won't replicate that. Price action/indicator traders won't notice a difference.

Key Takeaways

PRO is simulated: Orders stay in Rithmic/Tradovate's internal system, never hit CME. TPT pays you real money (80/20) from sim profits.

PRO+ is live: Orders route to CME via Tradovate, you compete with real market participants, keep 90/10 split, no buffer, EOD drawdown.

$5K gets frozen: To qualify for PRO+, you need $5K in PRO profits. That $5K becomes frozen collateral—still your money, but locked while PRO+ is active.

Two qualification paths: Either make $10K in a single day OR withdraw consistent profits over time. TPT sends invitation, 4-6 business day setup.

Sim isn't bad: Easier fills, no real slippage, filters out emotional traders. If you're generating profits and getting paid, execution environment doesn't matter.

Most traders stay in PRO: Less than 10% of PRO traders ever reach PRO+ (estimated based on community discussion). $5K profit threshold is high, and most traders blow accounts before hitting it.

Final verdict: If you're profitable in PRO, getting paid fast, and don't care about psychological aspects of live trading, stay in PRO. If you need to know your orders are hitting real markets, grind to $5K and upgrade to PRO+—but understand the frozen capital requirement before you accept the invitation.