TradeDay Account Sizes Compared: $50K vs $100K vs $150K

Staring at TradeDay's pricing page trying to figure out which account size to choose? You're not alone. The $50K looks cheap and approachable. The $150K sounds impressive. And the $100K sits right in the middle like some kind of Goldilocks option.

But here's the thing: choosing the wrong account size can cost you way more than the difference in subscription fees. Pick too small and you might struggle to hit profit targets with your strategy. Go too big and you're risking unnecessary capital on reset fees if things go sideways.

I'm breaking down all three TradeDay account sizes with real numbers, actual trading implications, and a clear framework for choosing the right one based on where you are right now. No fluff, no affiliate-driven BS pushing you toward the most expensive option. Just the facts you need to make a smart call.

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.

Quick Overview: What You're Actually Choosing

When you pick a TradeDay account size, you're not just choosing how much fake capital you get to trade. You're choosing your profit target, your drawdown limits, your position sizing constraints, and ultimately your path to getting funded.

Here's what's actually different across the three sizes:

The $50K Account is the entry point. Lower monthly cost, tighter rules, smaller profit targets. It's designed for newer traders or anyone wanting to test TradeDay without a big commitment.

The $100K Account is the middle ground. Double the capital, double the profit target, more breathing room on position limits. This is what most experienced traders end up using.

The $150K Account is the scaling option. Bigger targets, more contracts allowed, higher monthly fees. It's built for traders who've already proven they can pass evaluations and want to stack accounts faster.

The real question isn't "which sounds better" — it's "which matches where I am right now and how I actually trade."

The $50K Account: Entry-Level Specs

Let's start with the smallest option and work up.

Core Numbers

The $50K evaluation account gives you a $1,500 profit target to hit during your evaluation. You need to trade for at least 5 days, maintain 30% consistency (no single day can account for more than 30% of your total profit), and stay within your drawdown limits.

Position limits are capped at 1 contract for standard futures like ES or NQ, or 10 micros (which equals one full-size contract). This is tight — if you normally trade 2-3 contracts, you'll need to adjust.

Pricing Breakdown

Monthly subscription fees vary based on which drawdown type you choose:

• Intraday trailing drawdown: $75/month (most popular, cheapest option)
• EOD trailing drawdown: $99/month
• Static drawdown: $105/month

If you fail your evaluation, reset fees to try again are $75, $99, or $119 depending on your drawdown type.

Who This Account Is For

The $50K makes sense if you're:

• New to prop trading and want to dip your toes in without spending $200/month
• Testing TradeDay before committing to a bigger account
• Trading micro contracts or using very small position sizing
• Comfortable hitting a $1,500 target with 1-contract limits

It's not ideal if you're an experienced trader used to larger size, because the position limits will feel restrictive. Trying to hit $1,500 with 1 contract means you need bigger moves or more trades, which increases the chance of catching a bad streak.

The $100K Account: The Sweet Spot

This is where things start to feel more realistic for most traders.

Core Numbers

The $100K evaluation comes with a $2,500 profit target. Same 5-day minimum, same 30% consistency rule, but now you have more flexibility on how you hit that number.

Position limits jump to 2 contracts for standard futures or 20 micros. This is a massive difference — you can scale into trades, manage risk better, and generally trade more like you would in a real funded account.

Pricing Breakdown

Monthly costs by drawdown type:

• Intraday trailing: $120/month
• EOD trailing: $150/month
• Static drawdown: $165/month

Reset fees run $119, $139, or $159 depending on drawdown choice.

Why Most Traders Pick This One

The $100K hits a sweet spot between affordability and realistic trading conditions. With 2-contract limits, you can:

• Scale into positions (start with 1, add 1 more if it moves your way)
• Trade NQ at 2 micros instead of being forced into 1 full ES contract
• Have more flexibility on trade duration (smaller size = less urgency to cut winners early)

The extra $45-60/month compared to the $50K is worth it for the breathing room. And compared to the $150K, you're saving $60-75/month while still getting plenty of size to prove your strategy works.

For detailed rules on what you need to pass, check out the complete TradeDay evaluation objectives guide.

The $150K Account: For Serious Scalers

The biggest account isn't just "more of the same" — it's designed for traders planning to stack multiple funded accounts.

Core Numbers

The $150K evaluation requires a $3,750 profit target. Still 5 trading days, still 30% consistency, but now you're aiming for nearly 4 grand in profit while managing tighter risk on a larger account balance.

Position limits increase to 3 contracts or 30 micros. This is where you can really start trading with conviction — 3 contracts of ES or NQ gives you meaningful P&L on every tick.

Pricing Breakdown

This is where costs jump significantly:

• Intraday trailing: $180/month
• EOD trailing: $210/month
• Static drawdown: $225/month

Reset fees climb to $139, $159, or $189.

When This Makes Sense

The $150K is built for traders who:

• Have already passed smaller evaluations and know they can do it consistently
• Plan to run multiple funded accounts simultaneously
• Trade strategies that need 2-3 contract minimum size to work properly
• Want to maximize profit per account (hitting $3,750 vs $2,500 means more monthly income per funded account)

It's not a good starting point. The monthly cost is double the $50K, and if you fail a couple evaluations, you're burning through serious cash on reset fees. Start smaller, prove you can pass, then scale up.

Side-by-Side Comparison: All The Numbers That Matter

Here's everything laid out in one place so you can see exactly what changes as you move up in account size.

Notice how the profit target as a percentage of account size actually drops as you go bigger. The $50K requires 3% profit, while the $100K and $150K both ask for 2.5%. That's not an accident — larger accounts give you slightly easier percentage targets to compensate for the higher absolute dollar amounts.

Cost vs Opportunity: The Real Math

Let's talk about what these accounts actually cost when you factor in realistic scenarios.

Scenario 1: Pass on First Try

If you nail your evaluation on the first attempt, here's what you've spent to get funded:

• $50K Intraday: $75 (1 month subscription)
• $100K Intraday: $120
• $150K Intraday: $180

Plus the $139 activation fee when you pass (one-time, applies to all account sizes). Check the full TradeDay pricing breakdown for all the fee details.

Scenario 2: Pass on Second Try

More realistic for most traders. You fail once, reset, then pass:

• $50K Intraday: $75 + $75 reset + $75 = $225 total
• $100K Intraday: $120 + $119 reset + $120 = $359
• $150K Intraday: $180 + $139 reset + $180 = $499

Suddenly that $50K doesn't look quite as cheap, and the $150K starts feeling expensive for someone who's still figuring things out.

Scenario 3: Three Attempts to Pass

This is where costs get real:

• $50K Intraday: $75 + $75 + $75 + $75 = $300
• $100K Intraday: $120 + $119 + $120 + $119 + $120 = $598
• $150K Intraday: $180 + $139 + $180 + $139 + $180 = $818

If you're burning through three attempts before passing, the $150K has cost you nearly a grand. The $50K has only eaten $300. This is why starting small makes sense when you're still learning.

Decision Framework: Which Account Is Right for You

Forget the marketing. Here's how to actually choose:

Choose the $50K If...

• You're new to prop trading or new to futures
• You've never passed a prop firm evaluation before
• Your strategy works fine with 1-contract size
• You want to minimize risk while testing TradeDay
• You're tight on budget and can't afford $150-200/month in subscription fees

Red flag: Don't choose the $50K just because it's cheapest if you normally trade 2-3 contracts. The position limit will mess with your execution and might actually make it harder to pass.

Choose the $100K If...

• You have some prop trading experience (or at least sim trading experience)
• Your strategy needs 2 contracts minimum to work properly
• You can comfortably afford $120-150/month
• You want realistic trading conditions without overpaying
• You've passed at least one other prop evaluation before (any firm)

This is the default choice for most traders. It gives you enough size to trade naturally without the premium cost of the $150K.

Choose the $150K If...

• You've already passed TradeDay evaluations at smaller sizes
• You're planning to scale to 3+ funded accounts
• Your strategy requires 3-contract minimum position sizing
• You have the budget to handle 2-3 failed attempts at $180/month + reset fees
• You're treating this like a serious business investment, not a lottery ticket

Don't start here. Seriously. Even if you have the money, start with the $100K first. Prove you can pass. Then upgrade.

Common Mistakes When Choosing Account Size

I see traders make the same dumb moves over and over:

Mistake #1: Choosing the $150K because it "looks more professional"

Your account size doesn't matter until you pass. Nobody cares if you failed a $150K evaluation. They care if you have a funded account making payouts. Start where you can actually succeed.

Mistake #2: Picking the $50K to "minimize risk" when you trade 3 contracts normally

You're not minimizing risk — you're making it harder to pass by forcing yourself to trade differently than you're used to. The position limits matter more than the monthly fee.

Mistake #3: Not factoring in reset costs

Everybody thinks they'll pass on the first try. Most don't. Budget for at least 2-3 attempts before you get funded. The difference between $75 and $180 per attempt adds up fast.

Mistake #4: Choosing based on profit target instead of position limits

The profit target is just a number. What actually affects your trading is how many contracts you can use. A $2,500 target with 2 contracts is easier to hit than a $1,500 target with 1 contract if your strategy relies on scaling in.

For more on passing evaluations efficiently, check out the proven strategies guide.

My Recommendation for Different Trader Types

Here's what I'd do based on experience level:

Complete Beginners (Never traded futures or prop firms):Start with the $50K Intraday account. Cheapest option, lowest risk. Use it to learn how prop evaluations work without spending $200/month. Once you pass, you can always add a $100K account later.

Intermediate Traders (Some prop or futures experience):Go straight to the $100K EOD account. The EOD drawdown gives you more flexibility than intraday, and 2 contracts is enough size to trade naturally. Skip the $50K — you'll outgrow it fast anyway.

Experienced Traders (Passed other prop evaluations):Also $100K EOD, but plan to add multiple accounts once you pass. Don't jump to the $150K yet unless your strategy literally cannot work with 2 contracts. Prove your system at $100K first, then scale.

Advanced Scalers (Already funded with TradeDay):Now you can justify the $150K accounts. Stack 2-3 of these and you're making real money. But get at least one funded account under your belt before you go all-in on the premium pricing.

For complete details on all account types and rules, see the main TradeDay review.

What Happens After You Pick Your Size

Once you choose an account size and pay for your subscription, you're immediately in evaluation mode. The clock starts ticking.

You need to hit your profit target in at least 5 trading days while staying within all the rules. The profit target guide breaks down specific strategies for each target amount.

If you blow your account — hit max drawdown or violate a rule — you can reset immediately. Just pay the reset fee and you're back in with a fresh account. No waiting period, no approval process.

When you pass, TradeDay reviews your account (usually takes 24-48 hours), then you move to Funded Sim status. That's where you start trading real money and making actual payouts. But you're still using the same account size you chose for evaluation. A $100K eval becomes a $100K funded account.

Upgrading and Downgrading

TradeDay doesn't make it easy to switch account sizes mid-evaluation. If you start with a $50K and realize you need the $100K, you're better off just canceling the $50K subscription and starting fresh with the size you actually want.

Once you're funded, you can't upgrade that specific account. A funded $100K account stays at $100K forever. But you can add additional accounts at any size. Most traders end up running multiple accounts at different sizes — maybe a $100K and two $150Ks, or three $100Ks, depending on their capital and risk tolerance.

This is why choosing the right size upfront matters. You don't want to pass a $50K evaluation and then realize you should have started with the $100K from the beginning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have multiple TradeDay accounts at different sizes?

Yes, you can run multiple evaluation accounts and multiple funded accounts at the same time. Most traders who scale end up with 2-4 funded accounts. You can mix sizes — for example, two $100K accounts and one $150K.

Does the profit split change based on account size?

No, the profit split structure is the same across all account sizes. You get 80% of the first $10K in profit (across all your funded accounts combined), then the split increases to 90% and eventually 95% as you earn more. Account size doesn't affect this.

What if I start with $50K but want to add a $100K later?

Totally fine. You can have both running simultaneously. Just start a new subscription for the $100K. If you already passed the $50K and got funded, that stays active while you work on passing the $100K evaluation.

Is there a discount for buying multiple accounts at once?

Not officially, but TradeDay runs seasonal promotions and has discount codes that can save 40% or more on subscription fees. Check the current discount codes page before subscribing.

Can I downgrade from $150K to $100K if it's too expensive?

During evaluation, yes — you can cancel your $150K subscription and start fresh with a $100K. Once you're funded, no — that account stays at $150K. But you don't have to keep paying the evaluation subscription fee once you're funded, so the monthly cost drops to zero (unless you want additional eval accounts).

Do reset fees increase if I fail multiple times?

No, reset fees stay the same no matter how many times you reset. $75 for $50K intraday is $75 whether it's your first reset or your tenth.

Which account size do most people pass on?

TradeDay doesn't publish pass rate data by account size, but anecdotally, the $100K seems to be the sweet spot. The $50K has the tightest position limits (which trips people up), and the $150K has the highest absolute profit target (which takes longer to hit). The $100K balances both.

Bottom Line: Start Smart, Scale Later

If you're still not sure which account size to choose, default to the $100K with intraday trailing drawdown. It's $120/month, gives you 2 contracts to work with, and has a $2,500 profit target that's achievable but not trivial.

The $50K feels safer because it's cheaper, but the 1-contract limit can actually make passing harder if you're used to bigger size. And the $150K is a waste of money until you've proven you can pass at smaller sizes first.

Once you get funded, you can scale up by adding more accounts. That's the smart play. Not gambling on the most expensive option hoping it works out.

Pick your account size based on how you actually trade, not based on how it looks or what your ego wants. This is a business decision, not a flex.

Your Next Steps

‍👉 Start Trading at tradeDay Today

‍👉 Read My Full TradeDay Review

‍👉 Check out TradeDay´s Payout Rules