TradeDay 2.0 is a futures prop firm founded in 2020 in Chicago by James Thorpe and Steve Miley, with 80+ combined years of futures industry experience. Official 36% pass rate (Jan–Jun 2026). Two distinct plan types Quick Pay (day-one payout access) and Fast Pass (80/20 split from day 1 in Funded Sim) with three drawdown types to choose from (Intraday, EOD, Static). Clear progression structure: Funded Sim → Funded Live, with milestone reviews at $5K/$10K/$15K/$20K.
Day trading only no overnight or weekend positions. Platforms: Tradovate (primary), NinjaTrader, TradingView (charting), Jigsaw Trading. Payments via Riseworks. No activation fee on any plan. Standard non-promotional pricing listed verify current pricing at tradeday.com.
Firm Overview
| Firm | TradeDay (TradeDay 2.0). TradeDay LLC, Chicago, Illinois |
| Type | Simulated futures prop trading. Day trading only. |
| Founded | 2020 by James Thorpe (CEO) and Steve Miley (COO), with 80+ combined years in futures |
| Paid Out | $10M+ in verified payouts |
| Community | 1,000s of funded traders. 15,000 trader community. |
| Pass Rate | 36% (January to June 2026, official disclaimer) |
| Ratings | TrustPilot 4.6 | PropFirmMatch 4.8 | Google 4.9 |
| Plan Types | Quick Pay (day-1 payouts) | Fast Pass (80/20 split from start) |
| Drawdown Options | Intraday | EOD (end of day) | Static. Choose when purchasing. |
| Account Sizes | $50K | $100K | $150K (and static variants) |
| No Activation Fee | None on any account type |
| Platforms | Tradovate | NinjaTrader | TradingView (charting) | Jigsaw Trading |
| Payout Processing | Via Riseworks. Within 24 hours (before 5:30pm CT deadline). |
| Max Accounts | 6 total simultaneously (3 Funded Sim max, 1 Funded Live) |
| Payout Fees | US wire: free | International wire: $15 | L1 Crypto: $2.50 + gas | L2 Crypto: free |
Quick Pay vs Fast Pass: Which to Choose?
| Feature | Quick Pay | Fast Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Eval min trading days | 5 | 3 (fewer to pass) |
| Eval consistency | 30% | 45% (stricter) |
| Eval pass drawdown | Intraday or EOD | EOD only |
| Funded Sim split | 50/50 below $4K, then 80/20 | 80/20 from day 1 |
| Funded Live split | 90/10 | 90/10 |
| First payout in Sim | Day 1 (minimum $250) | After 5 days, plus 5 profitable days |
| Starting contracts (50K funded) | 5 (full allocation) | 2 (scales +1 per $2K profit) |
| Starting contracts (100K funded) | 10 (full allocation) | 3 (scales +1 per $2K profit) |
| Funded Sim milestones | None | None |
| Best for | Day-1 payout access | Better split from start |
Simple rule: choose Quick Pay if you want access to payouts from day 1 in Funded Sim, accepting a lower initial split. Choose Fast Pass if you prefer 80/20 from the start and are comfortable with fewer evaluation days (3 versus 5) but more restrictive consistency (45%) and fewer starting contracts in funded.
Full Pricing: Standard Rates
| Account | Monthly* | Target | Max DD | Contracts | Consistency | Min Days | Reset | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50K QP Intraday | $125 | $3,000 | $2,000 (intraday) | 5 (50 Micros) | 30% | 5 | $60 | Quick Pay |
| 50K QP EOD | $175 | $3,000 | $2,000 (EOD eval / intraday funded) | 5 (50 Micros) | 30% | 5 | $85 | Quick Pay |
| 50K FP EOD | $180 | $3,000 | $2,000 (EOD) | 5 eval, starts 2 funded | 45% | 3 | $89 | Fast Pass |
| 100K QP Intraday | $230 | $6,000 | $3,000 (intraday) | 10 (100 Micros) | 30% | 5 | $110 | Quick Pay |
| 100K QP EOD | $285 | $6,000 | $3,000 (EOD eval / intraday funded) | 10 (100 Micros) | 30% | 5 | $135 | Quick Pay |
| 100K FP EOD | $320 | $6,000 | $3,000 (EOD) | 10 eval, starts 3 funded | 45% | 3 | $140 | Fast Pass |
* Standard monthly prices (non-promotional). No activation fee on any plan. Resets available at a discounted price, or free on subscription renewal if the account failed at renewal time. Verify current pricing at tradeday.com.
Three Drawdown Options
| Type | How It Trails | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intraday | Updates in real-time with the highest intraday balance | Disciplined intraday traders | Tightest option; any intraday spike raises the floor immediately |
| EOD (End of Day) | Updates only at end of session with the closing balance | Traders with intraday volatility | More forgiving; intraday spikes don't raise the floor |
| Static | Never moves, fixed from the starting balance | Maximum drawdown predictability | Floor is fixed regardless of profits |
Important Quick Pay EOD note: the Quick Pay EOD evaluation uses EOD trailing drawdown, but the Funded Sim account switches to intraday trailing drawdown. The drawdown type changes when transitioning from evaluation to funded. Confirm this before choosing the Quick Pay EOD option.
Payout Buffer Thresholds
| Account | Max Drawdown | Min Balance for 1st Payout |
|---|---|---|
| $50K | $2,000 | $52,000 |
| $50K Static | $500 | $50,500 |
| $100K | $3,000 | $103,000 |
| $100K Static | $750 | $100,750 |
| $150K | $4,000 | $154,000 |
| $150K Static | $1,000 | $151,000 |
The buffer zone is the area between starting balance and the balance required for the first payout. Withdrawals that draw into the buffer zone are subject to a 50/50 split. Above the buffer threshold, the standard plan split applies (80/20 or higher). Once the trailing drawdown freezes at the starting balance, the account cannot fall below the starting balance.
Funded Sim Milestones: Progression Structure
| Milestone | Gross Profit Level | Action Required | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $5,000 | Stop trading, account paused 4:30pm CT | Review overnight, then extend or Funded Live |
| 2nd | $10,000 | Stop trading, account paused 4:30pm CT | Review overnight, then extend or Funded Live |
| 3rd | $15,000 | Stop trading, account paused 4:30pm CT | Review overnight, then extend or Funded Live |
| 4th | $20,000 | Stop trading, account paused 4:30pm CT | Majority moved to Funded Live |
Critical: profits above the milestone level are permanently forfeited. If gross profit reaches $5,000 and trading continues to $5,300 before the 4:30pm CT EOD pause, the extra $300 is confiscated. Stop trading immediately on reaching any milestone.
Profit Split: Full Structure
Per-plan structure: Quick Pay runs 50/50 below $4K net profit, then 80/20 above that, then 90/10 once in Funded Live. Fast Pass runs 80/20 from day 1 in Funded Sim, then 90/10 in Funded Live. Buffer zone withdrawals are 50/50 regardless of plan.
Lifetime cumulative tiers (across all accounts and time): 80/20 on the first $50K total withdrawn from TradeDay, 90/10 on the next $50K (between $50K and $100K total), and 95/5 on any amount above $100K total withdrawn. The more a trader earns over their TradeDay career, the better the split becomes.
Multiple Accounts
- Maximum 6 accounts total (3 Funded Sim, 1 Funded Live).
- All accounts must be on the same trading platform.
- Copy trading is allowed, from the trader's own personal accounts.
- Hedging is prohibited (long in one account, short in another for the same product).
- Accounts are queued if more than 3 evaluations are passed simultaneously.
- New accounts cannot be purchased while in Funded Live until off-boarded.
Profit Split: Full Structure
Per-plan structure: Quick Pay runs 50/50 below $4K net profit, then 80/20 above that, then 90/10 once in Funded Live. Fast Pass runs 80/20 from day 1 in Funded Sim, then 90/10 in Funded Live. Buffer zone withdrawals are 50/50 regardless of plan.
Lifetime cumulative tiers (across all accounts and time): 80/20 on the first $50K total withdrawn from TradeDay, 90/10 on the next $50K (between $50K and $100K total), and 95/5 on any amount above $100K total withdrawn. The more a trader earns over their TradeDay career, the better the split becomes.
Multiple Accounts
- Maximum 6 accounts total (3 Funded Sim, 1 Funded Live).
- All accounts must be on the same trading platform.
- Copy trading is allowed, from the trader's own personal accounts.
- Hedging is prohibited (long in one account, short in another for the same product).
- Accounts are queued if more than 3 evaluations are passed simultaneously.
- New accounts cannot be purchased while in Funded Live until off-boarded.
Pros & Cons
PROS
- ✓ 36% official pass rate, the highest verified pass rate among reviewed futures prop firms
- ✓ $10M+ in verified payouts since 2020, the longest-running futures prop firm in this review set
- ✓ Founded by practitioners with 80+ combined years in the futures industry (Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse, CME alumni)
- ✓ Quick Pay: day-one payout access, request a payout from the very first day in Funded Sim
- ✓ Trailing max drawdown freezes at the starting balance, no trailing risk once the account grows enough
- ✓ Two distinct plan types (Quick Pay vs Fast Pass) give genuine strategic choice for different trading styles
- ✓ Three drawdown options (Intraday / EOD / Static), the most drawdown flexibility of any reviewed firm
- ✓ Fast Pass: 80/20 split from day 1 in Funded Sim, reaching 90/10 at Funded Live
- ✓ Lifetime split progression: 80/20 to 90/10 to 95/5, rewarding loyalty over time
- ✓ Up to 6 accounts simultaneously (3 Funded Sim, 1 Funded Live)
- ✓ No activation fee on any account type
- ✓ Fast Pass: only 3 minimum trading days to pass evaluation, fewer than Quick Pay's 5
- ✓ Fast Pass: contracts scale +1 per $2K profit at EOD, growing buying power with performance
- ✓ Copy trading allowed (own accounts)
- ✓ Support 24/7. TrustPilot 4.6. Google 4.9. PropFirmMatch 4.8.
- ✓ Funded Sim milestones reviewed within one day, no prolonged waiting periods
- ✓ Payout processed within 24 hours (before 5:30pm CT deadline)
- ✓ Clear, structured path from Funded Sim to Funded Live with transparent milestones
CONS
- ✗ Quick Pay starts at a 50/50 split for the first $4K net profit, a low initial payout ratio
- ✗ Funded Sim milestones ($5K/$10K/$15K/$20K) require mandatory trading stops; profits above the milestone are forfeited
- ✗ Fast Pass: fewer starting contracts (2 for 50K, 3 for 100K in funded), must earn contract increases
- ✗ Fast Pass: requires 5 profitable days ($150+ each for 50K, $200+ for 100K) before the first payout
- ✗ Buffer zone withdrawals at a 50% split, a lower ratio on withdrawals that draw into the buffer
- ✗ Must stop trading when Funded Sim milestones are reached, a mandatory pause
- ✗ Day trading only, no overnight or weekend holding
- ✗ All multiple accounts must be on the same platform, no cross-platform flexibility
- ✗ Cannot purchase new accounts while in Funded Live
- ✗ VPN/VPS use restricted under a separate policy
- ✗ Hedging across accounts strictly prohibited, grounds for suspension and profit forfeiture
- ✗ Third-party ATS and purchased bots prohibited
- ✗ Quick Pay EOD: evaluation drawdown is EOD but funded drawdown converts to intraday, a different DD type in funded
- ✗ 36% pass rate, despite being the highest reviewed, still means 64% of challenges are failed
Verdict
TradeDay 2.0 is the longest-operating and most experienced futures prop firm in this guide, founded in 2020 by industry practitioners. Its 36% official pass rate is the highest among reviewed firms. Two clearly differentiated plan types, three drawdown options, and a transparent Funded Sim to Funded Live progression structure distinguish it from the competition. The escalating split structure (50/50 to 80/20 to 90/10 to 95/5 lifetime) rewards consistent long-term performers. Funded Sim milestones are the main operational watchpoint: profits above any milestone are permanently forfeited.
Recommended entry: Quick Pay 50K Intraday ($125/month standard) for day-1 payout access. Fast Pass 50K EOD ($180/month standard) for an 80/20 split from Funded Sim day 1 with only 3 minimum evaluation trading days. Verify current pricing at tradeday.com.
Verdict
TradeDay 2.0 is the longest-operating and most experienced futures prop firm in this guide, founded in 2020 by industry practitioners. Its 36% official pass rate is the highest among reviewed firms. Two clearly differentiated plan types, three drawdown options, and a transparent Funded Sim to Funded Live progression structure distinguish it from the competition. The escalating split structure (50/50 to 80/20 to 90/10 to 95/5 lifetime) rewards consistent long-term performers. Funded Sim milestones are the main operational watchpoint: profits above any milestone are permanently forfeited.
Recommended entry: Quick Pay 50K Intraday ($125/month standard) for day-1 payout access. Fast Pass 50K EOD ($180/month standard) for an 80/20 split from Funded Sim day 1 with only 3 minimum evaluation trading days. Verify current pricing at tradeday.com.
What are the two plan types at TradeDay and which one should I choose?
TradeDay offers two plan types: Quick Pay and Fast Pass. Quick Pay prioritizes immediate payout access. Once in Funded Sim, a payout can be requested from the very first day (minimum $250). However, the split starts at 50/50 for the first $4,000 in net profit, then improves to 80/20, and reaches 90/10 at Funded Live. Fast Pass offers 80/20 from the start of Funded Sim with fewer trading day requirements to pass the evaluation (3 versus 5). The tradeoff is that Fast Pass has a stricter consistency rule (45% versus 30%), starts funded accounts with fewer contracts (which scale up +1 per $2K profit at EOD), and requires 5 profitable days ($150+ per day on 50K) before the first payout. Choose Quick Pay for immediate payout access at a lower initial split. Choose Fast Pass for a better split from day one and fewer evaluation trading days.
What are the three drawdown options at TradeDay?
TradeDay offers three distinct drawdown calculation methods. Intraday trailing: the drawdown floor follows the highest balance reached at any point during trading hours, updating in real time. This is the tightest option. EOD (End of Day) trailing: the floor only updates at the end of each trading session based on the closing balance, so intraday spikes in equity do not immediately raise the floor. This is more forgiving for intraday volatility. Static: the drawdown floor is a fixed amount based on the starting account balance and never moves, regardless of profits made, providing the most predictable protection. For Quick Pay EOD accounts, the evaluation uses EOD trailing but the Funded Sim drawdown converts to intraday trailing, an important distinction to understand before selecting this option.
How do Funded Sim milestones work at TradeDay?
Funded Sim milestones are mandatory review points at $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, and $20,000 in gross profits (realized profits plus any withdrawals made). At each milestone, the trader must stop trading immediately. During the End of Day run at 4:30pm CT, access is automatically paused and the account is reviewed by the Head of Trading overnight. A decision is made to either extend trading to the next milestone or move the account to Funded Live. The review typically completes before the next US cash equity market opens. Critically, any profits earned above a milestone level before the review are forfeited, not eligible for withdrawal, transfer, or the next extension. This means traders should stop trading immediately upon reaching a milestone. After reaching the $20,000 milestone, the majority of traders are moved to Funded Live.
How does the tiered profit split work at TradeDay?
TradeDay uses a multi-layered tiered split structure. At the account level, Quick Pay starts at 50/50 for the first $4,000 in net profit, then 80/20, then 90/10 at Funded Live. Fast Pass starts at 80/20 in Funded Sim, then 90/10 at Funded Live. Buffer zone withdrawals, meaning withdrawals that draw into the drawdown buffer, are always 50/50. At the lifetime level across all withdrawals from TradeDay, the split is 80/20 on the first $50,000 of total profits withdrawn across all accounts and time, then 90/10 on the next $50,000 (between $50K and $100K total), then 95/5 on any amount above $100,000 total withdrawn. This means long-term successful traders who accumulate significant withdrawals across their TradeDay career progressively earn better terms.
What is the buffer zone and how does it affect payouts?
The buffer zone is a pre-payout threshold equal to the starting balance plus the maximum drawdown amount. For a $50K account with a $2,000 max drawdown, the balance must reach $52,000 before the first payout can be requested. Funds within the buffer zone (the first $2,000 of profits on a $50K account) can be withdrawn, but at a 50/50 split rather than the normal plan split. Funds above the buffer are subject to the normal plan split. The buffer also represents the trailing max drawdown freeze point: once the trailing drawdown floor reaches the starting balance, it permanently locks at that level. After the trailing freeze, the funded account cannot go below its starting balance.
What are the rules for Funded Sim and Funded Live accounts?
Funded accounts have two rules. Rule 1: do not hit or exceed the maximum drawdown. The trailing drawdown freezes permanently when it reaches the starting account balance, and from that point the account cannot go below the starting balance. Rule 2, for funded accounts only: do not trade within 2% of a price limit. Traders in breach of the price limit rule lose their funded account. The three evaluation guidelines (permitted times, permitted products, position limits) still apply to funded accounts, but accidental breaches are not automatically penalized; only persistent abuse loses the account. Funded Live traders have an additional slippage risk management rule on position limits. Both Funded Sim and Funded Live accounts use day trading only, with no overnight or weekend holding.
How many accounts can I have at TradeDay?
TradeDay allows up to 6 accounts in total at any one time across all types. The maximum for Funded Sim is 3 accounts simultaneously, and there is only 1 Funded Live account; when multiple Funded Sim accounts graduate to Funded Live, their profits are merged into a single Funded Live account. All accounts must be on the same trading platform, so a trader cannot have a 50K evaluation on Tradovate and a 50K evaluation on NinjaTrader simultaneously. Copy trading from a personal account to TradeDay accounts is permitted. Hedging between accounts (long in one, short in another for the same product) is strictly prohibited and results in suspension with profit forfeiture.
Who founded TradeDay and what is their background?
TradeDay was founded in 2020 by James Thorpe (CEO) and Steve Miley (COO), with over 80 years of combined futures industry experience between them. James Thorpe has 15+ years of full-time trading experience, 10 years managing professional trading groups, and served as CEO of Mercury Derivatives/Futures First, Clear Capital Group, and Lakeside Trading. Steve Miley founded the award-winning Market Chartist research group and served as head of technical analysis at Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse for 13 years. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois, the historic heart of US futures trading.
What trading practices are prohibited at TradeDay?
TradeDay prohibits using purchased third-party trading bots or ATS, exploiting the simulated fill algorithm (stray fills in gapped or illiquid markets, sim-specific stop-loss execution), generating more than 200 trades per day, order splitting (multiple orders at the same price simultaneously), hedging across accounts, VPN/VPS use (per separate policy), scalping strategies designed to exploit queue advantage in the simulated matching engine, trading within 2% of a price limit on funded accounts, and any strategy designed to game the simulated environment rather than reflect viable live market trading. All first payout requests are reviewed for compliance with these policies, and profits from prohibited practices are confiscated.
What payment methods does TradeDay support and what are the fees?
TradeDay processes payouts through Riseworks. Payment method fees are as follows: US bank wire transfers are free, international bank wire transfers cost $15 per withdrawal, Layer 1 cryptocurrency withdrawals cost $2.50 plus estimated gas fees, and Layer 2 cryptocurrency withdrawals are free. Payout requests submitted before 5:30pm Central Time on business days are processed within 24 hours, on a next-business-day basis. The minimum payout request is $250. The payout split depends on the account type (Quick Pay versus Fast Pass), the profit threshold reached ($4K on Quick Pay), and the stage (Funded Sim versus Funded Live), with overall lifetime cumulative tiers improving the split the more a trader has withdrawn from TradeDay over time.
