DayTraders.com is a futures prop firm offering five distinct product types: Trail (intraday trailing drawdown, no daily loss limit), EOD (end-of-day trailing drawdown, has daily loss limit), Static (fixed floor, no daily loss limit), S2F (Straight to Funded, no evaluation required), and S2L (Straight to Live, real firm capital). Flagship features include a 100% profit split on all simulated accounts, 80/20 on live S2L accounts with daily payouts, ArcTrader (a proprietary free browser-based platform), real-time data included, DCA and news trading allowed, and automated payout approval.
Instruments: CME, CBOT, NYMEX, and COMEX futures only. Sim platform: ArcTrader (free, browser-based) with Rithmic data. Live platform: Onyx (free license included) or third-party platforms with your own license. Payments via Plane. Standard pre-promotional prices listed; verify current pricing at daytraders.com.
$85 OFF All Accounts: Use Code PROPFIRMPLUSFirm Overview
| Firm | DayTraders.com. 2300 W Sahara Ave. Suite 800, Las Vegas, Nevada 89102. |
| Rating | TrustPilot 4.7 Rated Excellent |
| Type | Simulated AND live futures prop trading. CME, CBOT, NYMEX, COMEX. |
| Tagline | Trade Live, Not Simulated |
| Products | Trail (intraday, no DLL) | EOD (EOD trailing, has DLL) | Static (fixed floor, no DLL) | S2F (straight to funded, no eval) | S2L (straight to live, real capital) |
| Account Sizes | $25K to $300K depending on product. S2L: Core $50K / Edge $150K / Ultra $300K. |
| Fees | One-time or monthly (standard pre-promo prices listed). $99 activation after passing. 10-day activation deadline. |
| Sim Profit Split | 100% on all Pro and S2F accounts |
| Live Profit Split | 80/20 on S2L accounts (real capital) |
| Sim Platform | ArcTrader (free, browser-based) | Rithmic data included |
| Live Platform | Onyx (free license included) | Quantower / ATAS / MotiveWave / EdgeProX / Sierra Chart / Bookmap (own license) |
| Payouts | Via Plane. Before 5PM ET = same day. Minimum $500 in $500 increments. |
| News Trading | Allowed (caution advised around volatility) |
| DCA | Allowed on evaluation and funded accounts |
| Live Transition | Approximately 1% of sim traders. Performance-based. No guaranteed promotion. |
| Max Accounts | 15 funded (Trail + Static) | 5 EOD | 5 S2F | 5 S2L live |
| DT-Games | 100% free daily demo. Win real prizes. No card required. |
All Five Product Types: Master Comparison
| Product | DD Type | DLL | No Eval? | Split | Consistency (Funded) | Max Accounts | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trail | Intraday trailing | None | No (eval req.) | 100% sim | 30% | 15 | Experienced day traders, no DLL |
| EOD (New) | EOD trailing | Yes | No (eval req.) | 100% sim | 30% | 5 | Intraday flexibility with DLL |
| Static | Fixed floor | None | No (eval req.) | 100% sim | 30% | 15 | Maximum drawdown predictability |
| S2F | EOD trailing | $50K+ | Yes | 100% sim | 20% (strictest) | 5 of 15 | Skip evaluation, instant funded |
| S2L Live | Intraday trailing | Yes | No (S2L eval) | 80/20 real | None on live | 5 | Real capital, daily payouts |
Trail: Intraday Trailing Drawdown, No Daily Loss Limit
| Size | One-Time Fee* | Profit Target | Intraday Trail DD | Contracts | Min Daily | Daily LL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25K | $249 | $1,500 | $1,500 | 6 minis / 60 micros | $100 | None |
| $50K | $379 | $3,000 | $2,500 | 10 minis / 100 micros | $200 | None |
| $150K | $699 | $8,500 | $4,500 | 24 minis / 240 micros | $300 | None |
| $300K | $879 | $15,000 | $7,000 | 40 minis / 400 micros | $400 | None |
Trail is the flagship plan. The intraday trailing drawdown follows the highest equity reached in real-time, including unrealized profits on open positions. There is no daily loss limit; only the drawdown floor applies. 100% sim profit split. Up to 15 accounts simultaneously.
EOD (New): End-of-Day Trailing, With Daily Loss Limit
| Size | One-Time Fee* | Profit Target | EOD Trail DD | Daily LL | Contracts | Min Daily |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25K | $309 | $1,500 | $1,000 | $800 | 6 minis / 60 micros | $100 |
| $50K | $469 | $3,000 | $2,000 | $1,250 | 10 minis / 100 micros | $200 |
| $150K | $899 | $8,500 | $4,000 | $2,000 | 24 minis / 240 micros | $300 |
| $300K | $1,599 | $15,000 | $6,500 | $3,250 | 40 minis / 400 micros | $400 |
EOD is the newest plan. EOD trailing drawdown updates only at session close; intraday equity spikes from open positions do not move the floor during the day, providing more intraday flexibility than Trail. A daily loss limit applies. Maximum 5 EOD accounts. Real-time data included (stated $55 value).
Static: Fixed Drawdown Floor, No Daily Loss Limit
| Size | One-Time Fee* | Profit Target | Static DD (Fixed) | Contracts | Min Daily | Daily LL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25K | $150 | $2,500 | $750 | 4 minis / 40 micros | $100 | None |
| $50K | $200 | $3,750 | $1,000 | 6 minis / 60 micros | $200 | None |
| $100K | $325 | $5,750 | $1,500 | 8 minis / 80 micros | $300 | None |
| $150K | $400 | $6,750 | $1,750 | 8 minis / 80 micros | $300 | None |
Static offers the most predictable drawdown: the floor is set on day one and never moves. Every dollar of profit becomes a permanent cushion. Static $25K has the lowest entry cost ($150) of any DayTraders plan. Contract limits are smaller than same-size Trail plans. Maximum 15 accounts.
S2F: Straight to Funded, Skip the Evaluation
| Size | One-Time Fee* | EOD Trail DD | Daily LL | Contracts | 1st Payout Target | Max Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25K | $370 | $1,000 | None | 2 minis / 20 micros | $2,000 | $1,000 |
| $50K | $570 | $2,500 | $1,250 | 10 minis / 100 micros | $3,500 | $2,000 |
| $150K | $825 | $6,000 | $3,750 | 24 minis / 240 micros | $10,000 | $3,000 |
S2F provides direct access to a simulated funded account without any evaluation. Rules are stricter: 20% consistency (the strictest of all products), 10 qualifying days per cycle (versus 8 on Pro), and progressive profit targets must be met before each payout. The first target is the highest, then decreases. Maximum 5 S2F accounts within the overall 15-account funded limit.
S2L: Straight to Live, Real Firm Capital
S2L Evaluation: Simulated Phase
| Plan | Fee* | Eval Size | Target | Intraday DD | DLL | Contracts | Min Days | Consistency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core | $329 | $50K | $3,000 | $2,000 | $1,000 | 2 minis / 20 micros | 8 | 25% |
| Edge | $469 | $150K | $8,500 | $4,500 | $1,750 | 3 minis / 30 micros | 8 | 25% |
| Ultra | $599 | $300K | $15,000 | $7,000 | $3,250 | 4 minis / 40 micros | 8 | 25% |
S2L Live Account: Real Capital
| Plan | Live Capital | Contracts | Total DD | DLL | Trail Locks At | Split | Payouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core | $50K | 1 mini / 10 micros | $2,000 | $1,000 | $50,000 | 80/20 | Daily |
| Edge | $150K | 2 minis / 20 micros | $4,500 | $1,750 | $150,000 | 80/20 | Daily |
| Ultra | $300K | 3 minis / 30 micros | $7,000 | $3,250 | $300,000 | 80/20 | Daily |
S2L Live uses real firm capital in live markets. Key live features: 80/20 split (80% to the trader), daily payouts, no consistency rule, no minimum daily profit, and scaling available. Payouts begin once the trailing drawdown locks at the initial balance. A $1,000 buffer above the initial balance is required. A free Onyx platform license is included. Approximately 1% of sim traders progress to live.
* Standard pre-promotional one-time fees. $99 activation required after passing, within a 10-day activation deadline. Verify current pricing at daytraders.com.
Pro Payout: Balance Requirements
| Account | Min Balance to Request | Min Balance After Withdrawal | Max Per Request |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25K | $26,600 | $26,000 | $1,000 |
| $50K | $52,600 | $52,000 | $2,000 |
| $100K | $103,100 | $103,000 | $3,000 |
| $150K | $155,100 | $153,500 | $3,500 |
| $300K | $307,600 | $305,000 | $5,000 |
Pro payouts require a minimum balance both before and after withdrawal. Minimum request is $500 in $500 increments. Requests submitted before 5PM ET are processed the same day. One trade must be placed after submitting a payout request to generate the system report. The day of the payout request does not count as a qualifying day.
ArcTrader: Free Proprietary Browser Platform
ArcTrader is DayTraders.com's proprietary trading platform: browser-based, connected directly to Rithmic, and 100% free with no download required. It works on desktops, laptops, tablets, phones, and older PCs. Features include TradingView charts, one-click trading, and sub-millisecond execution.
DayTraders describes ArcTrader as the only funding company with 100% free demo accounts. The DT-Games daily demo resets automatically, offers real prizes, and requires no payment or card to participate.
Trading Rules
- DCA is allowed on both evaluation and funded accounts.
- News trading is allowed (caution advised: liquidity can drop and volatility can spike).
- HFT is prohibited: automated high-frequency trading is banned on all accounts.
- Hedging is prohibited: being long in one account and short in another is a violation.
- Overnight and weekend positions are allowed but exposed to Mark-to-Market at approximately 4:59 PM ET.
- Trading day runs from 6PM ET to 5PM ET the next day. Half-day holidays do not count as qualifying days.
- Stop trading after passing the evaluation to avoid falling back below the profit target.
- Monthly accounts require 1 qualifying day per 30-day billing cycle to stay active.
Pros & Cons
PROS
- ✓ 5 distinct product types (Trail, EOD, Static, S2F, and S2L) cover every trading profile
- ✓ 100% profit split on all simulated accounts (Pro and S2F): no firm cut on sim profits
- ✓ S2L Straight to Live: trade real firm capital, not simulated funds
- ✓ S2L Live: daily payouts, no consistency rule, no minimum daily profit, and scaling available
- ✓ ArcTrader: proprietary browser-based platform, free, no download, works on any device
- ✓ Real-time data included free on all accounts ($55 value stated on EOD, $150 on live)
- ✓ DT-Games: 100% free demo accounts with daily resets and real prize giveaways
- ✓ DCA and news trading both explicitly allowed on all account types
- ✓ Trail and Static accounts: no daily loss limit, only the drawdown floor applies
- ✓ Static drawdown: floor fixed at day one and never moves, providing predictable protection
- ✓ EOD trailing (new): drawdown only updates at session close, no intraday floor movement
- ✓ Up to 15 funded accounts simultaneously (Trail and Static combined)
- ✓ Automated payout approval: transparent and fast
- ✓ Consistency rule relaxes from 50% (eval) to 30% (Pro funded), more leeway on live accounts
- ✓ S2L evaluation has lower min trading days (8) and smaller contract limits for a structured ramp-up
- ✓ Onyx platform license included free for live S2L traders
- ✓ 20% lifetime affiliate commission
- ✓ 24/7 customer support in English and Spanish
CONS
- ✗ EOD accounts limited to 5 total (versus 15 for Trail and Static)
- ✗ S2F limited to 5 accounts within the 15-account funded total
- ✗ $99 activation fee required after passing each evaluation
- ✗ 10-day deadline to activate after passing: must act quickly
- ✗ Static accounts: smaller contract limits and tighter drawdowns versus Trail
- ✗ S2F requires progressive profit targets before each payout; the first target is the highest
- ✗ S2F consistency: 20% (strictest) versus 30% on Pro accounts
- ✗ S2F: 10 qualifying days required versus 8 for Pro
- ✗ Minimum payout is $500 in $500 increments: no small withdrawals below $500
- ✗ Pro payout: specific minimum balance thresholds required both before and after withdrawal
- ✗ Live S2L: only approximately 1% of sim traders are transitioned, with no guaranteed promotion
- ✗ Live S2L: starts with very limited contracts (1 to 3 minis depending on plan)
- ✗ Live drawdown locks only after equity reaches starting balance plus drawdown amount intraday
- ✗ Mark-to-Market at approximately 4:59 PM ET: overnight positions can trigger a drawdown breach
- ✗ NinjaTrader and Tradovate not supported for live accounts
- ✗ Monthly accounts must have at least 1 qualifying day per 30-day billing cycle to stay active
Verdict
DayTraders.com stands out through the depth of its product lineup: five distinct types covering every trader profile, and unique access to real firm capital via the S2L program. ArcTrader is a genuine innovation, a free browser platform accessible on any device. The 100% sim profit split is rare in the space. News trading and DCA are both permitted. The new EOD plan adds a more flexible drawdown option with a built-in daily loss limit. The S2L program is the only reviewed firm offering direct real capital access for sim traders who progress, at approximately 1% transition rate, an ambitious but transparent goal.
Recommended: Trail $50K (no DLL, 100% split) for the most popular path. Static $25K ($150) for the lowest entry cost. EOD $50K for more intraday flexibility. S2F $50K to skip evaluation. S2L Core for real capital access. Verify current pricing at daytraders.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the five product types at DayTraders.com?
DayTraders.com offers five distinct product categories. Trail accounts use an intraday trailing drawdown with no daily loss limit; the floor rises in real-time with profits during the session. EOD accounts (new) use an end-of-day trailing drawdown that only updates at session close, combined with a daily loss limit. Static accounts have a fixed drawdown floor that never moves and no daily loss limit. S2F (Straight to Funded) accounts skip the evaluation phase entirely; traders are funded directly without any challenge. S2L (Straight to Live) accounts lead to real firm capital after passing a dedicated evaluation, the only product type where DayTraders uses actual market execution with an 80/20 profit split. All evaluation-based types share the same core rules: 50% consistency during evaluation, 30% when funded, 8 qualifying days per payout cycle, $99 activation, and a 10-day activation deadline.
What is the Straight to Live (S2L) program and how does it work?
The Straight to Live program is DayTraders.com's pathway to real firm capital. Traders purchase one of three S2L evaluation accounts (Core $50K, Edge $150K, or Ultra $300K) and must pass a single-phase evaluation with a 25% consistency rule, 8 minimum qualifying days, and an intraday trailing drawdown with daily loss limits. Upon passing, the live account is set up within 1 to 5 business days with no activation fee. Live accounts use real Rithmic-connected accounts with actual market execution, daily payouts, an 80/20 profit split, no consistency rule, and no minimum daily profit. Contract limits start conservatively (1 to 3 minis depending on plan) and can be scaled up once the trailing drawdown locks at the initial balance. A $1,000 buffer above the initial balance is required at all times.
How does the drawdown work differently across Trail, EOD, and Static accounts?
Trail accounts use an intraday trailing drawdown: the floor follows the highest balance reached at any point during the session, including unrealized profits on open positions. Any intraday equity peak raises the floor immediately. EOD accounts use an end-of-day trailing drawdown: the floor only updates at session close based on the highest realized balance, so intraday swings in open P&L do not move the floor during the day. This provides more flexibility for traders who hold larger intraday ranges. Static accounts have a fixed floor set on day one that never changes regardless of profits; each dollar of profit becomes permanent cushion. Trail and Static accounts have no daily loss limit. EOD accounts do have a daily loss limit that, if breached intraday, requires immediate trade cessation.
What are the payout rules for Pro accounts?
Pro accounts (earned after passing Trail, EOD, or Static evaluations) carry a 100% simulated profit split. To request a payout: complete 8 qualifying trading days (each meeting the minimum daily profit for the account size), maintain the required minimum balance before and after the withdrawal, and submit a minimum request of $500 in $500 increments. Payouts submitted before 5:00 PM ET are processed the same day. After approval, the withdrawn amount is deducted and the next session begins Day 1 of the new cycle. One trade must be placed after submitting the request to generate a system report. Example for $50K: balance must be at least $52,600 before requesting, must remain above $52,000 after withdrawal, with a maximum single request of $2,000.
What is the S2F (Straight to Funded) product and how do payouts work?
S2F accounts skip the evaluation phase; traders are funded in a simulated environment immediately upon purchase. S2F accounts use an EOD trailing drawdown and a 20% consistency rule, the strictest of any product type. Ten qualifying trading days are required per payout cycle. Payouts require hitting progressive profit targets between withdrawals: for a $50K account, the first payout requires $3,500 in profit, the second requires $3,000, and subsequent payouts require $2,500. The maximum payout per request for the $50K S2F is $2,000. Minimum request is $500. S2F accounts are limited to 5 total within the overall 15-account funded limit.
Can I hold positions overnight or over the weekend at DayTraders.com?
DayTraders.com does not automatically close positions at market close. Traders may hold positions overnight or over the weekend at their own risk. However, the Mark-to-Market settlement occurs at approximately 4:59 PM ET each day. An open position that moves against you overnight will have its unrealized loss applied to the account balance at settlement, which could trigger the trailing drawdown limit. DayTraders will not make account adjustments for accounts blown due to positions remaining open through market close. Half-day holidays do not count as qualifying trading days, though trading is permitted if the market is open.
Is news trading or DCA allowed at DayTraders.com?
Both news trading and Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) are explicitly allowed on all DayTraders.com accounts during both the evaluation and funded phases. News trading carries the standard market risks of thin liquidity and increased volatility around major releases, and DayTraders advises caution. There are no blackout windows or penalties for news event participation. DCA (averaging into a position by adding at lower or higher prices) is also permitted. What remains prohibited on all accounts is high-frequency automated trading and hedging (being long in one account and short in another on the same instrument).
What is ArcTrader and why is it unique?
ArcTrader is DayTraders.com's proprietary browser-based trading platform, connected directly to Rithmic for institutional-grade data feed access. It is fully browser-based with no download, no hardware requirements, and no platform license fee; it is available free to all DayTraders account holders. It runs on desktops, laptops, tablets, phones, and older PCs. ArcTrader includes built-in TradingView charting, sub-millisecond order execution, one-click trading, and a clean interface optimized for fast execution in volatile futures markets. DayTraders.com describes ArcTrader as the only funding company with 100% free demo accounts. The DT-Games free demo resets daily and allows traders to practice without any payment or card required.
How does the consistency rule work across different account stages?
The consistency rule has three tiers. During the evaluation phase on all account types, no single trading day may account for more than 50% of total simulated profits. On funded Pro accounts (after passing Trail, EOD, or Static evaluations), the threshold relaxes to 30% per payout cycle. On S2F funded accounts, the threshold is 20%, the strictest at DayTraders, applying because there is no prior evaluation to verify trading behavior. The S2L live account evaluation uses a 25% consistency rule. Once a trader transitions to a live S2L account, the consistency rule is removed entirely. In all cases, breaking the consistency rule during a payout cycle does not close the account; it blocks payout requests until further qualifying trading days dilute the concentration.
What platforms does DayTraders.com support for live accounts?
For simulated evaluation and Pro accounts, DayTraders.com provides ArcTrader (free, browser-based) connected to Rithmic. For live funded accounts (S2L program), DayTraders provides a free Onyx platform license. Quantower may also be used for live accounts but a full license is not provided; traders who already own a Quantower license may connect it. Other platforms supported for live accounts with your own license include ATAS, MotiveWave, EdgeProX, Sierra Chart, and Bookmap. NinjaTrader and Tradovate are explicitly not supported for live accounts. The platform infrastructure for all accounts is powered by Rithmic.
