Key Takeaways

• Payouts at TradeDay are fast, clean, and start day one. I got mine in under 24 hours. No nonsense.
• Evaluation is fair but disciplined. The 30% profit day cap filters out gamblers, not real traders.
• You get to choose drawdown styles. EOD is the sweet spot for stress-free growth.

What is TradeDay? Quick Overview

Alright—here’s the deal upfront: I’ve tested and used TradeDay myself. Not just read the rules or watched YouTube recaps. I traded their evaluation, hit their funded account, took payouts, and poked at every detail that matters to an actual trader. So, this isn’t some SEO regurgitation. It’s the real breakdown.

Now, when I first tried TradeDay, I honestly didn’t expect much. The branding looked clean, but I’ve been burned by enough “serious” firms with vague rules and payout traps to approach any new one with low expectations. But yeah—TradeDay surprised me.

They’re not trying to be the flashiest firm on the block. No over-the-top hype, no fake funding counters ticking up like slot machines. What they do offer is structure. Clean, honest structure. Real rules, fast payouts, and zero nonsense when it comes to the backend.

They call it a “Clear Path to Live Funding.” And you know what? That tagline actually checks out. You pass their evaluation, you get funded. Period. No drama. No delays. No shifting goalposts like some of the usual suspects.

What stood out to me immediately: they’re 100% futures-only. So if you’re dabbling in crypto or FX, this isn’t for you. But if you’re a futures trader—especially on ES/NQ—and want a prop firm that won’t waste your time with sketchy rulebooks or mystery fees, TradeDay’s worth a serious look.

Let’s get into the details.

What Makes Them Different — TradeDay Unique Features & Benefits

Let’s be real—most prop firms sound the same on paper.

“High profit splits!”
“Fast payouts!”
“Trader support!”

Cool. But once you’re in, it’s often a different story. TradeDay’s edge? They actually back up the claims. No smoke, no mirrors.

1. Payouts That Actually Show Up

This is probably TradeDay’s biggest flex: you can request payouts from day one. No “wait 15 trading days,” no fake profit milestones, no hoops. Just trade well, request payout, get paid. My first withdrawal hit in under 24 hours. That’s rare.

Also worth noting: you keep 100% of the first $10K you make. Not just “up to” or “after” some checkpoint. Straight up—every dollar of your first 10K is yours. Then you move into a 90% split, and if you stick around long enough, they’ll even bump that to 95% after $100K in total withdrawals. That’s serious longevity money.

2. No BS Trading Costs

Here’s where many firms try to claw back money: data fees, platform surcharges, sketchy commission models. TradeDay? Zero hidden fees for funded traders. You pay to do the evaluation, and once you’re funded—no more charges. Simple. Clean. How it should be.

3. Clear, Tight Rules (With Trader-Focused Design)

Some firms use vague rules to trap you. TradeDay’s rules are strict—but you know what you’re working with from day one. I’ll break those down in the next section, but for now: they don’t play games. The structure pushes you to be consistent, not lucky.

They also offer different drawdown styles (EOD, Intraday, Static)—which is low-key one of the smartest things a firm can do. If you’ve ever had a great intraday bounce only to get clipped because of trailing drawdown, you know what I mean. Flexibility matters.

4. Real Coaching, Not Just Discord “Mods”

Here’s a rare one: TradeDay actually offers real 1-on-1 coaching. Not some overpriced upsell, not a random community manager spamming emojis. Legit mentors. People who know what they’re doing. I didn’t need it personally, but I tested it just to see—and yeah, the quality is there. Respect.

5. Optional Add-Ons That Don’t Trap You

They’ve got a “TradeDay CoPilot” option—basically access to all their tools, courses, webinars, squawk, etc., for $24/month, without needing to start an evaluation. Good for people who aren’t ready to dive into funding yet. And you don’t get punished for exploring—it’s separate from the evaluation stuff.

TradeDay Funding Options & Evaluation Process

Alright, here’s where most people either get hyped or bounce: the evaluation process. And I’ll say this upfront—TradeDay doesn’t hand out funded accounts like candy. But they don’t play bait-and-switch games either.

The Basics: One Path, Multiple Choices

TradeDay runs a simple, clean 3-step setup:

1. Join → get access to resources.
2. Take the evaluation → prove you can trade.
3. Get funded → and actually start withdrawing.

No instant funding gimmicks here—it’s evaluation-based only. But the structure is designed to be passable if you have a system and stay disciplined. Based on internal data, their pass rate sits around 28%. That’s not “easy,” but it’s honest—and way higher than the 5–10% success rates you’ll find with some other firms.

The 3 Evaluation Objectives (This Matters)

TradeDay filters for consistent traders, not YOLO gamblers. You’ll need to:

• Hit the profit target (varies by account size—$3K to $9K).
• Trade at least 7 days (non-consecutive is fine).
• Avoid one monster day—no single day can exceed 30% of your total profits.

That last rule? Controversial. It filters out lucky one-hit wonders, but yeah—it can feel punishing if you have a huge day early. Once you’re funded, though, this rule disappears. It’s a gatekeeper, not a leash.

The Real Deal: Drawdown Types

This is where TradeDay stands out. You can pick between:

• End of Day (EOD) – Drawdown freezes at EOD balance. Good for swing traders or those who hate intraday pressure.
• Intraday – Trailing drawdown updates tick-by-tick. More aggressive, more pressure.
• Static – Fixed $500–$1K limit, doesn’t trail. But super tight contract limits (1–3 lots).

Honestly, if you’re serious about passing and scaling, go for EOD. It’s more forgiving without being too lax. You can recover from dips without constantly worrying about getting clipped mid-trade.

Account Sizes & Costs

They’ve got three sizes: $50K, $100K, $150K.

Example (EOD):

• $50K: $165/mo → $99 with discount
• $100K: $275/mo → $165 with discount
• $150K: $375/mo → $225 with discount

All plans include:

• Live data
• Trading room access
• Daily market research
• Reset option ($99) or free on renewal

Use code TD40 to get the discounted rates above. Yes, I tested it. It works.

Resetting and Failing

Break a rule? You’re out. But—TradeDay lets you restart:

• Immediately with a $99 reset, or
• For free when your next billing cycle hits.

This model’s better than one-time evaluations in my book—if you want to stay engaged, you don’t need to keep rebuying from scratch. You just keep at it, adapt, and try again.

TradeDay Rules: Drawdown, Targets & What to Watch

Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Because let’s be honest—most traders don’t fail evaluations because they suck at strategy. They fail because they don’t understand the rules—or worse, they break them without realizing it.

TradeDay’s rules aren’t hidden in legalese or buried in 20-page PDFs. They’re upfront. But you still need to pay attention. A few of them can sneak up on you if you’re not careful.

The Big One: Drawdown

This is THE rule. Violate it, and you're done.

• EOD Drawdown: Trails only at the end of the trading day. If you dip intraday, but recover by close, you’re fine.
• Intraday Drawdown: Trails tick-by-tick. Brutal if you’re not scalping or managing risk tightly.
• Static: Fixed drawdown. Doesn’t trail at all. But yeah—you’re limited to 1–3 contracts. It’s the “tight discipline” account.

Whichever account type you pick, the drawdown is absolute. You can’t dip below it at any point. There’s no warning. No grace. No appeals.

And one thing I respect: once you’re funded, they stop trailing. You’re in control of risk at that point. That’s how it should be.

Profit Targets & Consistency Rule

Your target depends on account size:

• $50K → $3,000
• $100K → $6,000
• $150K → $9,000

And like I said before, no single day can make up more than 30% of your total profit target during evaluation.

This rule is divisive. Some hate it. I get it—it sucks to have a monster day and then realize you’ve just made it harder to pass. But from TradeDay’s POV? It filters for traders who can win repeatedly, not those who just caught a lucky reversal with oversized risk.

Once funded, this rule is gone. So think of it as an anti-lottery-ticket filter.

Trading Times & News Protection

• No holding past market close.
• No trading during Tier 1 news releases. They auto-liquidate positions 2 minutes before and reopen 2 minutes after.

This is standard. And honestly? Necessary. High-impact news events are where most evaluations blow up.

Prohibited Conduct: Read This Twice

TradeDay doesn’t mess around. Their list of forbidden behavior is long and detailed, and that’s a good thing. Why? Because it means they actually monitor it—and enforce it.

Some big ones:

• No spoofing or order book manipulation
• No trading outside the best bid/offer
• No AI bots or automation
• No multiple accounts per user
• No abusing delayed data feeds

Basically: trade like a pro, or you’re out. No gaming the sim, no shady tricks. This isn’t the place for gimmicks. It’s the place for skill.

Platforms & Assets: What Can You Trade with TradeDay?

Let’s not overcomplicate this—TradeDay is built for one thing: futures. Not stocks. Not crypto. Not forex. Just listed futures on the CME Group (CME, CBOT, NYMEX, COMEX). And honestly, that focus is refreshing.

You want a jack-of-all-assets prop firm? Go elsewhere.
You want a firm that actually understands futures? This is it.

Platforms: Ninja, Tradovate, Jigsaw... or Their Own

TradeDay supports:

• NinjaTrader
• Tradovate
• Jigsaw
• TradeDayX (their proprietary platform)

I used both Ninja and TradeDayX during my test runs. Execution was crisp on both, no weird fills, no platform lags. TradeDayX is surprisingly solid—it’s not a toy interface like some in-house platforms. It felt snappy, even during volatile sessions.

If you’re already locked into a platform like Ninja or Jigsaw, good news: no need to switch. That kind of flexibility goes a long way, especially if you’re already comfortable with your tools.

Also: everything works across Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android. You can monitor or adjust trades from your phone without needing five workarounds. Small detail—but it shows they actually thought about user experience.

Assets: Just Futures. But All the Key Ones.

TradeDay lets you trade:

• ES / NQ / YM
• CL / GC / ZB / ZN
• Basically anything listed on CME, CBOT, NYMEX, COMEX

No CFDs, no options, no off-exchange tickers. Just real futures contracts.

If you’re serious about ES or NQ, you’ll be right at home. Execution was smooth, and fills were tight during both regular and extended hours. They’re clearly set up to handle high-volume trading without nonsense.

What You Can’t Trade

No surprises here—but just so it’s clear:

• ❌ No stocks
• ❌ No forex
• ❌ No crypto
• ❌ No options
• ❌ No scalping with high-frequency bots

You either play the futures game—or you don’t play here.

Payouts at TradeDay: How They Work (and My Results)

This is the section everyone cares about—but few prop firms get right.

Payouts aren’t just a “feature.” They’re the trust metric.
And I’ve got good news here: TradeDay nails it.

My Real Payout Experience

No delay. No hoops. No drama.

I requested my first withdrawal the same week I got funded. Cleared the buffer (more on that below), hit the button—and got an approval email within 24 hours. The funds landed fast. Didn’t have to chase support. Didn’t get ghosted. Didn’t need to beg.

This is rare. If you’ve traded with enough firms, you know the silent anxiety that comes with pressing “withdraw.” That weird voice in your head saying, “Hope they actually send it...”
TradeDay? Silenced that voice.

Profit Split Structure

Here’s how it breaks down:

• First $10,000 → You keep 100%
• After that → You get 90%
• Lifetime withdrawal tiers:
  • First $50K: 80%
  • $50K–$100K: 90%
  • $100K+: 95%
• “Buffer zone” profits: 50% split (only applies if you’re not above your original account balance)

That 100% first 10K? Huge. Especially for traders trying to build early capital. No clawbacks, no hidden resets. Just keep it and scale.

The lifetime tiers are a nice touch too—it rewards longevity, not just initial success. A subtle nudge to trade smart and stay consistent.

Minimum Withdrawal? Just $250.

No silly thresholds. As long as you’re above the buffer, you can withdraw once you hit $250.

And here’s the only real restriction:
You can’t request a payout until you’ve cleared your trailing drawdown buffer.
In plain English: Your account has to grow enough so that the trailing drawdown is now above your starting balance. After that? It’s all fair game.

That’s just smart risk control. It protects the firm while keeping things fair for the trader. I had no issue with it, and most won’t—unless you’re trying to withdraw after one decent trade. In which case… maybe slow down.

Final Verdict: Is TradeDay Worth It in 2025?

Here’s the straight answer: Yes—if you’re actually serious about trading futures.

TradeDay isn’t trying to be the cool kid on Instagram. No flashy influencer hype, no sketchy Discord culture, no over-engineered rule traps. What they offer is rare in this space: consistency, transparency, and respect for real traders.

This isn’t the firm for dopamine chasers or martingale gamblers. It’s built for people who actually want to trade well, pass cleanly, and get paid—without feeling like they’re constantly walking into hidden landmines.

Who It’s For

• You trade futures, not forex or crypto.
• You care more about payout reliability than aggressive scaling.
• You’ve had enough of firms with vague rules and shady resets.
• You value clarity, solid platforms, and zero fluff.

Who Should Probably Skip

• If you want to trade FX, crypto, or copy bots—TradeDay’s not your playground.
• If you need instant funding—look elsewhere.
• If your entire strategy is built around front-loading profit in one day, the 30% rule during evaluation will wreck you.

My Take

After running through the process myself, I can say this: TradeDay does what 90% of firms promise—but don’t deliver.

You get:

• Fast, clean payouts
• Solid drawdown logic (especially EOD)
• Honest rules that make sense
• Real support (coaching, research, Discord)
• Zero fees once you’re funded

It’s not perfect. The consistency rule can be annoying. The lack of loud scaling options might turn off traders dreaming of $1M allocations. But if you’re looking for a firm you can grow with, and actually trust with your time and effort—this one holds up.

TradeDay FAQ

How fast are TradeDay payouts?

Payouts are processed within 24 hours after approval. In my case, funds hit the next day. There’s no waiting period or minimum trading days before you can withdraw—as long as you’ve cleared the drawdown buffer.

Can I really keep 100% of my first profits?

Yes. Funded traders keep 100% of their first $10,000 in profits. After that, you move to a 90% split, with long-term tiers up to 95% based on lifetime withdrawals.

Is TradeDay legit or a scam?

Legit. I tested it myself, took real payouts, and didn’t hit any hidden traps. They have a strong 4.6 Trustpilot score, enforce fair rules, and don’t play games with trader money.

What is the TradeDay evaluation pass rate?

As of early 2024, their pass rate was around 28.2%. That’s higher than most, but it’s still a challenge—especially if you don’t understand the consistency rule or drawdown mechanics.

Does TradeDay offer instant funding?

No. All funding is evaluation-based. But their structure is fair, and once you pass, you’re live immediately—no second steps or delayed “funding activation” periods.

Which platforms can I use with TradeDay?

You can trade using NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Jigsaw, or their own proprietary platform, TradeDayX. All are supported across Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android.

What’s the best account type to choose?

Go with End of Day (EOD) drawdown if you want the most breathing room. Intraday is more aggressive, and Static is ultra-tight (just 1–3 contracts) but fixed.

Are there any hidden fees?

No. Once you’re funded, there are zero platform, data, or payout fees. The only cost is your monthly evaluation fee, which stops once you’re funded.

Can I get multiple accounts?

Yes. TradeDay allows multiple funded accounts, and their discount code (TD40) makes it cheaper to run multiple evals if you want to scale.

What happens if I break a rule?

You fail the evaluation immediately. But you can reset right away for $99—or wait until your subscription renews to get a free reset. Funded accounts have fewer restrictions, but breaking terms can still lead to disqualification.

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