TradeDay Free Trial: Is There One and What Are Alternatives?

Written by Paul

Published on

January 16, 2026

I emailed TradeDay support before purchasing my first evaluation in January 2024: "Do you offer a free trial so I can test the platform before committing to a $105/month subscription?"

Response arrived 4 hours later: "We don't offer free trials. You can sign up for an evaluation at our standard pricing."

No trial. No "test drive" period. No 7-day money-back guarantee. You pay $105 (for $50K account), you get evaluation access immediately, and there's no backing out if you decide you don't like it.

This isn't unique to TradeDay—most prop firms don't offer free trials. They're selling evaluation access and funded account opportunities, not software subscriptions. The business model doesn't support "try before you buy" in the traditional sense.

This guide covers why TradeDay doesn't offer free trials, what alternatives exist to evaluate the platform before fully committing, how demo accounts work (and why they're not the same as free trials), and what your best options are if you want to minimize risk while testing TradeDay's evaluation structure.

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.

The Direct Answer: No, TradeDay Doesn't Offer Free Trials

TradeDay's Official Policy:

No free trial periods
No money-back guarantees on evaluations
No "first 7 days free" promotions
No risk-free testing windows

What You Pay For:

Evaluation account access (starts immediately upon payment)
Monthly subscription to maintain that access
Opportunity to pass evaluation and receive funded account

What You Don't Get:

Refund if you change your mind after 2 days
Cancellation with credit if you don't like the rules
Partial refund if you fail evaluation quickly

This isn't advertised prominently because it's standard across the industry. Prop firms assume traders understand they're purchasing evaluation opportunities, not cancelable software subscriptions.

Why Prop Firms Don't Offer Free Trials

The business model doesn't support trials for several reasons:

Reason 1: High Operational Costs Per Account

Every evaluation account requires:

Platform infrastructure (data feeds, execution, risk management)
Compliance monitoring (reviewing trades for violations)
Support overhead (answering questions, troubleshooting)
Administrative processing (account setup, billing)

These costs exist whether you trade for 1 day or 30 days. Free trials mean TradeDay absorbs costs with zero revenue. Financially unsustainable.

Reason 2: Evaluation Abuse Potential

Without payment requirement:

Traders could open dozens of free accounts to find "lucky" ones
Scale into aggressive positions with no financial consequences
Test prohibited strategies to see what triggers violations
Game the system with temporary email addresses

Requiring payment (and no refunds) ensures only serious traders participate.

Reason 3: Funded Accounts Have Real Capital Risk

Once you pass evaluation, TradeDay gives you funded account with their capital. They need confidence you're committed trader, not someone testing platform casually during free trial who might pass evaluation and then disappear.

Payment creates commitment filter.

Reason 4: Industry Standard

TopstepTrader: No free trial
Apex Trader Funding: No free trial
MyFundedFutures: No free trial
Bulenox: No free trial

If TradeDay offered free trials when competitors don't, they'd attract primarily "free trial shoppers" rather than serious traders willing to invest in evaluation.

What About Demo Accounts?

TradeDay (and most prop firms) don't provide demo accounts in the traditional sense.

Traditional Demo Account:

Free access to platform with simulated capital
No real money risk
Test platform features, practice strategies
Available indefinitely or for extended periods
Common with retail brokers (TD Ameritrade, Interactive Brokers, etc.)

TradeDay's Approach:

No standalone demo account
Evaluation account IS simulated (not real capital)
But you're paying $105/month for access
Subject to evaluation rules and objectives

Your evaluation account functions like a "demo" in that you're trading simulated capital—but it's not free, and there are pass/fail conditions. Not the same as traditional free demo.

Can You Practice Before Buying?

Sort of. Options:

1. Use Your Own Brokerage's Demo

Open free demo with NinjaTrader, TradingView, or other platform
Practice strategies without prop firm rules
Learn platform mechanics before TradeDay evaluation
Downside: Doesn't simulate TradeDay's specific rules

2. Watch Other Traders

YouTube videos of TradeDay evaluations
Discord screen shares showing live trading
Learn platform interface visually
Downside: Not hands-on experience

3. Purchase Smallest Account for Minimum Risk

$50K account at $105/month is lowest cost entry
Consider it "paid trial" with potential upside
If you pass, you get funded account (not just trial experience)

I used option 3. Treated my first $105 payment as tuition to test whether TradeDay's structure fit my trading style. Figured worst case I'd learn prop firm evaluations aren't for me—best case I'd get funded.

Money-Back Scenarios: When You Might Get Refunds

While TradeDay doesn't offer free trials or standard money-back guarantees, there ARE limited scenarios where refunds occur:

Scenario 1: Technical Issues on TradeDay's Side

Examples:

Platform crashes that prevent trading
Data feed failures during evaluation
Billing errors (charged wrong amount)
Account access problems TradeDay caused

How to Request:

Document the issue (screenshots, timestamps)
Contact TradeDay support immediately
Explain problem and request refund consideration
Provide evidence

My Experience: During my third evaluation, TradeDay's platform had connectivity issues for 3 hours one afternoon. I wasn't affected (I'd finished trading earlier), but traders in Discord who couldn't access accounts during those hours contacted support. Some received partial subscription credits.

Refunds aren't guaranteed even for technical issues, but TradeDay reviews legitimate cases.

Scenario 2: Accidental Duplicate Purchases

If you accidentally purchase two evaluations or subscribe to wrong account size:

Contact support within 24 hours
Explain the error
Request cancellation/refund of duplicate

Important: This only works if you catch it immediately (same day) and haven't traded the accounts. Once you start trading, purchase is considered "used" and refunds won't be issued.

Scenario 3: Billing Disputes

If your card was charged after you canceled, or you were billed wrong amount:

Check your billing status
Contact support with documentation
File dispute if necessary

These are administrative errors, not discretionary refunds. TradeDay corrects proven billing mistakes.

What WON'T Qualify for Refund

Not Eligible:

"I changed my mind after 2 days"
"The rules are too hard"
"I failed my evaluation"
"I didn't realize it was monthly subscription"
"I can't pass the consistency rule"

Refunds don't exist for evaluation difficulty, buyer's remorse, or failing to pass. You're paying for opportunity, not guaranteed outcomes.

Alternative #1: Start With Smallest Account to Minimize Risk

If you're hesitant to commit to TradeDay without trial, minimize financial exposure:

$50K Account Strategy

Cost:

Monthly subscription: $105
Reset fees (if needed): $99
Total first-month cost: $105 (or less with discount codes)

Approach:

Treat it as "paid trial" lasting one month
Trade conservatively to test rules and platform
If you like it: continue and try to pass
If you don't: cancel before second month renewal

Outcome:

Best case: Pass evaluation, get funded, earn back initial $105 investment quickly
Worst case: Spend $105 to learn TradeDay isn't right for you

This is how I approached my first attempt. I told myself: "$105 is acceptable tuition to learn if prop firm evaluations fit my trading style." Turned out they did—I'm still trading with TradeDay two years later.

Why Start Small

Larger accounts cost more monthly:

$100K account: $155/month
$150K account: $185/month

If you fail evaluation and decide TradeDay isn't for you, you've spent $155-$185 for that learning experience. Starting at $50K caps your risk at $105.

You can always upgrade to larger account after passing if you want more capital.

Alternative #2: Research Extensively Before Purchasing

Free "trial" can be knowledge gathering rather than hands-on testing:

What to Research

1. Read Complete Rule Documentation

If rules don't align with your trading style BEFORE purchasing, you've saved $105.

2. Watch Evaluation Walkthroughs

YouTube videos showing full evaluation process
See dashboard interface, platform usage, rule tracking
Understand what day-to-day evaluation looks like

3. Read Trader Reviews

Trustpilot, Reddit r/FundedTradingAccounts
Discord community feedback
Look for patterns (common complaints, frequent issues)

4. Compare Alternative Firms

Maybe TopstepTrader's rules fit you better
Maybe Apex's no-minimum-days structure is better match
Compare before committing to TradeDay specifically

I spent 2 weeks researching before purchasing my first evaluation. Watched probably 15 hours of YouTube content, read 30+ Reddit threads, reviewed TradeDay's complete FAQ documentation. By the time I paid $105, I had high confidence the structure matched my trading approach.

That research was my "free trial"—knowledge instead of hands-on testing.

Alternative #3: Use TradeDay's Discord for Free Platform Familiarization

TradeDay's Discord server is free to join and provides indirect platform exposure:

What's Available Without Paying:

1. Screen Shares and Live Trading

Other traders stream their evaluations
Watch real-time platform usage
See how rules get tracked during sessions

2. Platform Questions Answered

Ask about specific features before buying
Current traders explain platform quirks
Get sense of support quality

3. Rule Clarifications

Compliance team answers rule interpretation questions
See what violations look like
Understand edge cases

4. Community Experience

Gauge overall trader satisfaction
See how many people are passing vs failing
Identify common pain points

I joined Discord 10 days before purchasing evaluation. Asked questions about consistency rule mechanics, watched screen shares of other traders entering positions, and got feel for TradeDay's support responsiveness. This "free" exposure helped me decide to commit.

Alternative #4: Compare "Per-Day Cost" vs "Per-Month Cost"

If you're worried about commitment, reframe the expense:

Monthly View:

$105/month for $50K account
Feels like big commitment
What if I fail day 3?

Daily View:

$105 ÷ 30 days = $3.50/day
Cost of coffee to test prop firm evaluation
More psychologically manageable

Hourly View (For Active Traders):

Trade 2 hours/day × 20 days = 40 hours of trading
$105 ÷ 40 hours = $2.62/hour
Less than minimum wage for professional trading development

Reframing the cost makes the "trial by purchasing" approach feel less risky.

What You Get for Your First $105 (Even If You Fail)

Let's say you purchase evaluation and fail on day 8 by hitting max drawdown. Was that $105 wasted?

Not necessarily. You gained:

1. Hands-On Experience With Prop Firm Evaluations

How rules feel during live trading (different from reading about them)
Whether you can maintain discipline under evaluation constraints
What your actual risk tolerance is with drawdown limits

2. Platform Familiarity

Learned Tradovate, NinjaTrader, or TradeDay's proprietary platform
Understand order entry, risk management, data feeds
Transferable skills for other prop firms or personal trading

3. Identification of Weak Points

Discovered if you violate consistency rule frequently
Learned if news trading restrictions conflict with your strategy
Found out if you scale positions too aggressively

4. Baseline for Future Attempts

Know exactly what to fix for reset or different firm
Have trade history to analyze mistakes
Understand evaluation pacing better

I failed my first two evaluations. Total cost: $315 (subscriptions + resets). But those failures taught me:

My scalping approach needed hold time adjustments for qualifying days
I entered positions too close to drawdown limits
Consistency rule required active daily tracking (I wasn't monitoring it)

That $315 "tuition" enabled my third attempt success. Worth it.

Why "No Free Trial" Is Actually Better for Serious Traders

Counterintuitive take: The lack of free trials filters out casual participants, which benefits committed traders.

How This Helps You:

1. TradeDay Can Offer Better Economics

No free trial abuse means lower operational costs
Savings passed to traders through better profit splits and payout speeds

2. Community Quality Is Higher

Discord isn't filled with "free trial tourists" asking basic questions
Traders are invested (literally), so discussions are more serious
Better knowledge sharing

3. Support Resources Focus on Paying Customers

No support bandwidth wasted on free trial users who won't convert
Faster response times for actual evaluation traders

4. Platform Performance

Server capacity allocated to paying users, not free trial accounts
Better execution during high-volume periods

I prefer communities where participants have skin in the game. TradeDay's Discord has notably higher signal-to-noise ratio than prop firm forums where free trials attract endless "just curious" questions.

TradeDay vs Firms That DO Offer Trials

For comparison, here's what trial-offering firms provide:

Typical "Free Trial" Structure:

7-14 day demo account access
Simulated capital with no pass/fail conditions
Limited platform features (no real evaluation tracking)
Marketing funnel to convert to paid evaluation

What This Actually Gives You:

Platform familiarity only
No evaluation rules experience
Not analogous to actual evaluation conditions

TradeDay's Approach:

No separate "trial" product
Evaluation account IS the product
You're immediately in real evaluation conditions
Either pass or fail (no limbo "trial" state)

I'd argue TradeDay's model is MORE honest. You're not getting fake "trial" that doesn't represent actual evaluation. You're immediately in the real environment with real stakes.

FAQ

Does TradeDay offer refunds if I don't like the platform after one day?

No. Once you purchase evaluation and access account, there are no refunds for dissatisfaction. You're paying for opportunity to attempt evaluation, not for guaranteed satisfaction. The purchase is non-refundable unless TradeDay made billing error or technical failure prevented access.

Can I cancel my subscription immediately after purchasing to avoid second month charges?

Yes, you can cancel anytime, but you won't get refund for current month. If you pay $105 for first month and cancel on day 2, you still paid $105—you just won't be charged again when renewal date arrives. Your access continues through end of paid period.

Is there a money-back guarantee if I fail my evaluation?

No. Failing evaluation doesn't qualify for refund. You paid for opportunity to attempt evaluation, not guarantee of passing. If you fail, you can purchase reset to try again, but original purchase isn't refunded.

Can I purchase evaluation, not trade it, and cancel for refund?

No. Whether you trade or not, the purchase is non-refundable. Buying evaluation and never using it doesn't entitle you to refund. The moment you pay and account activates, you've "consumed" what you purchased (access to evaluation opportunity).

Do any prop firms offer legitimate free trials?

Very few, and those that do typically offer limited demo accounts that don't represent actual evaluation conditions. The free "trial" is usually just platform testing, not full evaluation experience. If your goal is hands-on trial, you'll need to purchase evaluation at any reputable firm (TradeDay included).

What's the cheapest way to "test" TradeDay with minimal financial risk?

Purchase $50K account ($105/month), apply discount code for 10-20% off first month, commit to testing for one month only. If you don't like it, cancel before renewal. Total cost: $84-$105 for one-month access. This is essentially "paid trial" with lowest possible price.

Can I purchase evaluation, try it for a week, and transfer to different prop firm for refund?

No. Purchases are non-transferable and non-refundable. If you want to try different firm, you need to purchase their evaluation separately. You cannot get "credit" from TradeDay to use elsewhere. Each firm is independent entity with own billing.

If I pass evaluation, do I get my initial $105 back?

No. The $105 (or whatever you paid) is subscription fee for evaluation access, not deposit. Even after passing and getting funded, you don't receive refund of evaluation fees. However, once funded you can earn profits through payouts which can recover initial investment many times over.

Are there seasonal promotions where TradeDay offers free evaluations?

Extremely unlikely. TradeDay runs discount promotions (20-40% off during Black Friday, etc.) but not "free evaluation" offers. The business model doesn't support giving away evaluation access completely free. Best case: deep discount like 40% off, reducing $105 to $63.

What happens if I purchase evaluation by accident and contact support immediately?

Contact support within hours of purchase (same day ideally). If you haven't accessed or traded the account, they may consider refund on case-by-case basis. However, there's no guarantee—policy is no refunds. The faster you contact support after accidental purchase, better your chances of resolution.

Final Thoughts: "Free Trial" Is Research Phase, Not Platform Access

The "free trial" for TradeDay is the research you do before purchasing:

Reading rule documentation thoroughly
Watching YouTube walkthroughs
Joining Discord to ask questions
Comparing firms to find best fit
Understanding your trading style's compatibility

By the time you pay $105, you should have high confidence TradeDay's structure matches your needs. That research IS your trial—just knowledge-based instead of hands-on.

If you need hands-on experience, accept that $105 is tuition for one month of learning. Worst case: you learn prop evaluations aren't for you (valuable knowledge). Best case: you pass evaluation and earn back initial investment within weeks.

I spent $315 across three attempts before getting funded. Now I've earned $18,000+ in payouts. That initial "tuition" was the best investment I've made in my trading career.