Elite Trader Funding is a US futures prop firm launched in February 2022. It runs six evaluation models on accounts from $10,000 to $250,000, supports NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, and Rithmic, and lets traders keep 100% of sim-funded profits up to a $25,000 lifetime cap. After the cap, traders move to Live Elite with an 80/20 split, no cap, and daily payout requests. The firm reports over $13 million paid out.
Rating Breakdown
Pros
- Keep 100% of sim-funded profits up to the $25,000 cap
- Six evaluation models cover most trading styles
- End of Day drawdown option ignores intraday dips
- Diamond Hands account allows overnight and weekend holding
- No time limit on most evaluations
- No hard daily loss limit on 1-Step and Static accounts
- Cheap $87 resets on most failed evaluations
- Live Elite path with daily payouts and no cap after the sim stage
- $13M+ reported paid out since 2022
- News trading and micro scalping allowed
Cons
- $25,000 lifetime payout cap across all sim-funded accounts
- Strict Active Trading Day rules gate every payout
- Activation fee of $177 to $447 after passing
- Direct to Funded needs 15 to 20 ATDs before payout
- Live Elite split drops to 80/20 plus market data fees
- Fast Track has a 10 trading day limit and a 40% consistency rule
- Trustpilot sits at 3.9 with a meaningful share of 1-star reviews
- Support limited to weekday business hours (CST)
Account Plans and Pricing
1-Step Evaluation Rules
| Evaluation type | One-step, monthly subscription |
| Profit target | $3,000 on 50K / $6,000 on 100K / $9,000 on 150K / $15,000 on 250K |
| Max drawdown | $2,000 on 50K / $3,000 on 100K / $5,000 on 150K / $6,500 on 250K (trailing) |
| Time limit | None |
| Min. trading days | 5 |
| Daily loss limit | No hard daily loss limit |
| Reset fee | $87 |
| Activation fee after passing | $177 to $277 depending on size |
Other Evaluation Models
| Static | $10K to $50K accounts, fixed drawdown of $500 to $2,000, targets $1,000 to $4,000 |
| End of Day (EOD) | $50K to $150K, drawdown calculated at session close only, intraday dips ignored |
| Diamond Hands | $100K, $5,000 target, $3,500 drawdown, overnight and weekend holding allowed |
| Fast Track | $10K, $2,000 target, $500 drawdown, 10 trading day limit, 40% consistency rule, no activation fee |
| Direct to Funded (DTF) | $25K to $100K, no evaluation, higher entry cost and stricter payout requirements (15 to 20 ATDs) |
Payouts
| Sim-funded profit split | Keep 100% of sim profits |
| Lifetime sim cap | $25,000 across all sim-funded accounts |
| First payout requirement | 8 Active Trading Days (ATDs) |
| Later payouts | 10 ATDs each |
| ATD definition | Minimum daily realized profit of $100 to $300 (by model) plus a minimum share of your best day |
| Payout schedule | Processed on Mondays and Wednesdays, 48-hour processing window |
| After the cap | Move to Live Elite: 80/20 split, no cap, daily payout requests Mon–Fri, $250 minimum |
| Reported total paid | $13M+ since 2022 |
Trading Conditions
| Platforms | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Rithmic |
| Markets | CME futures only: ES, NQ, CL, GC and around 76 listed products |
| Forex / CFDs | Not offered; no MT4 or MT5 |
| News trading | Allowed |
| Overnight / weekend holding | Diamond Hands and DTF only; restricted elsewhere |
| Scalping | Allowed, including micro scalping |
| Commissions (live) | $2.00 per side on minis, $0.62 on micros |
| Live Elite data fee | Around $197 per month |
| Support hours | 8am to 4pm CST, Monday to Friday |
Our Verdict
Elite Trader Funding is one of the more flexible futures prop firms on the evaluation side. Six models is not marketing padding here. The 1-Step suits traders who want a single target with no time limit. Static gives beginners a fixed drawdown they can actually plan around. The End of Day option is the standout, since intraday dips do not count against you as long as you close the day above the line. Diamond Hands solves the overnight holding problem that trips up swing traders at most futures firms, and Direct to Funded lets impatient traders pay more to skip the test.
The headline offer is real: you keep 100% of your sim-funded profits. The catch is the $25,000 lifetime cap across all sim accounts. Hit it and your sim account closes. You then move to Live Elite, where you trade real CME capital, request payouts daily, and keep 80%. For consistent traders this is a reasonable path. For traders who wanted to farm multiple sim accounts indefinitely, it is a hard stop, and it is the single biggest complaint in negative reviews.
The Active Trading Day system deserves close attention before you buy. A payout is not just about profit. You need 8 qualifying days for your first withdrawal and 10 for each one after, and a day only counts if you book a minimum profit ($100 to $300 depending on the model) that also clears a percentage of your best day. Traders who bank one big day and coast will find their payout delayed. Plan your sizing so every session can qualify.
Costs are middling. Monthly evaluation fees start around $197 for the 1-Step, resets are a cheap $87, but the activation fee of $177 to $447 after passing is an extra bill some competitors skip. On Live Elite, market data adds roughly $197 per month. Flash sales run often, so paying full price is rarely necessary.
Trust signals are mixed but acceptable. The firm launched in February 2022, is US-based, reports over $13 million paid out, and holds a 3.9 Trustpilot rating across roughly 1,000 reviews. Traders do get paid, but a meaningful share of 1-star reviews cite payout disputes and confusion around the sim-to-live transition. Read the payout rules before you buy, not after.
Overall, Elite Trader Funding earns a 7.6. The evaluation variety, EOD drawdown option, and 100% sim profit split are genuinely strong. The $25,000 cap, ATD payout gates, and stacked fees keep it below the top tier. Best fit: disciplined futures traders who want cheap resets and rule variety, and who see the sim cap as a stepping stone to live capital rather than a ceiling.
Elite Trader Funding Discounts
Elite Trader Funding does not run a single permanent coupon code. Instead, it runs recurring flash sales that discount evaluation fees across all models. These sales appear frequently, so if you are not in a rush, waiting for the next one is usually worth it.
Note that discounts apply to the evaluation subscription. The activation fee after passing and the Live Elite data fees are separate costs and are not usually discounted.
| Code | None fixed — flash sales |
| Discount | Varies by sale |
| Applies to | Evaluation fees (not activation or data fees) |
| Last checked | July 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elite Trader Funding legit?
Elite Trader Funding launched in February 2022 in the United States and reports over $13 million paid out to traders. Its Trustpilot rating sits around 3.9 out of 5 across roughly 1,000 reviews. Traders do get paid, but the sim-funded stage is not broker-backed or regulated, which is standard for futures prop firms.
What evaluation models does Elite Trader Funding offer?
Six models: 1-Step (trailing drawdown), Static (fixed drawdown), End of Day (drawdown checked at close only), Diamond Hands (overnight and weekend holding allowed), Fast Track (10 trading day limit, low cost), and Direct to Funded (skip the evaluation). Account sizes run from $10,000 to $250,000.
What is the Elite Trader Funding payout cap?
Traders keep 100% of sim-funded profits up to a $25,000 lifetime cap across all sim accounts. After reaching the cap, the sim account is closed and the trader moves to Live Elite, which pays an 80/20 split with no cap and daily payout requests Monday to Friday with a $250 minimum.
What platforms does Elite Trader Funding support?
Elite Trader Funding supports NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, and Rithmic. It is a futures-only firm trading CME products such as ES, NQ, CL, and GC. MetaTrader and forex are not offered.
What are Active Trading Days at Elite Trader Funding?
An Active Trading Day (ATD) is a day that meets a minimum realized profit, from $100 to $300 depending on the account model, plus a minimum share of your best day’s profit. Most accounts need 8 ATDs for the first payout and 10 for each later payout. Direct to Funded accounts need 15 to 20.
Ready to try Elite Trader Funding?
6 evaluation models. NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Rithmic. Keep 100% of sim profits up to $25K. Flash sales run often.
Visit Elite Trader Funding →