Alpha Futures

Alpha Futures is a UK-based futures-only proprietary trading firm running one-step, unlimited-time evaluations that lead to simulated funded accounts. The company publishes detailed program rules, instrument lists, platform options, and payout workflows on its public Help Center and site, emphasizing an end-of-day (EOD) trailing drawdown framework rather than intraday equity-peak rules. Founded in 2023 (Q3), the firm operates under Alpha Futures Limited and focuses on CME Group markets via a choice of supported futures platforms.

The evaluation catalog (Zero, Premium, Advanced) differs mainly by consistency requirements, daily-loss guard, and payout caps, while all share the same EOD Maximum Loss Limit methodology. Payouts may be requested up to four times per month after each block of five winning days. Alpha also operates a path-to-live program called Alpha Prime, which can transition consistently profitable simulated traders to live-capital arrangements managed by its risk team in London.

Legally, the service is provided by Alpha Futures Limited (England & Wales company no. 15655643). Its Terms and Conditions specify that all accounts are simulated, set out refund/return policies, list addresses in Harpenden and London for notices, and name third‑party processors (e.g., Checkout.com, Nuvei, CoinPayments) and identity verification (Veriff). The site prominently communicates performance and Trustpilot metrics and includes standard CFTC Rule 4.41 hypotheticals disclaimers.

Suitability: Alpha Futures tends to fit futures day traders and swing traders who prefer a one-step evaluation, EOD trailing drawdown, frequent payout windows, and multiple platform choices. Advanced and Premium plans are appealing to traders who want no preset daily loss guard and no news restrictions on qualified accounts, while Zero is designed for low-cost, fast-pass evaluations.

Overview

Alpha Futures frames trust around public, versioned program rules, transparent evaluation objectives, and a documented payout policy. The site and help center repeatedly clarify that all evaluation and qualified accounts are simulated; performance fees paid to traders are not the proceeds of live market trading. Legal terms identify the provider as Alpha Futures Limited (England & Wales, no. 15655643) with published addresses and standard risk disclosures. The site also displays community metrics such as a 4.9/5 Trustpilot score, though these are marketing representations rather than guarantees of outcomes.

Broker and Market Access

Trading occurs in a simulated environment mapped to CME Group products (CME/CBOT/NYMEX/COMEX). Platform connectivity is offered through AlphaTrader (in-house), Tradovate, NinjaTrader, WealthCharts, TradingView (via Tradovate add-on), Quantower, and Deepchart; operating hours and trade-closure cutoffs reflect exchange schedules with firm-specific session rules. Alpha’s fee schedule shows exchange/NFA fees and per-side commissions by contract family for the supported platforms.

Trustworthiness and Data Security

Key rules (EOD Maximum Loss Limit, news policies, prohibited practices, consistency rules, scaling, allocation) are published and time-stamped in the Help Center, and the Terms name identity verification (Veriff) and payment processors (e.g., Checkout.com, Nuvei, CoinPayments). The firm enforces anti-abuse measures (e.g., no AI/bots, no group or reverse trading, no tick/micro scalping, no trading within 2% of CME price limits) and restricts VPN usage intended to mask IP; VPS usage is permitted. As with any prop firm, traders should read the Terms and Payout Policy carefully and keep documentation of qualifying trades and payout requests.

Alpha Futures runs one-step evaluations with unlimited time. Passing requires reaching the plan’s profit target and respecting rules; failing occurs if the EOD Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) is breached. Minimum trading days: Zero 1 day (no evaluation consistency), Premium/Advanced 2 days due to the 50% evaluation consistency rule. Time limit: none. Once passed, some plans require a $149 activation fee; Zero has no activation fee and Premium can be configured with or without it.

• Zero: $25k/$50k/$100k; profit targets $1,500/$3,000/$6,000; MLL $1,000/$2,000/$3,000; Daily Loss Guard (2% of start balance); evaluation fees $79/$119/$239 per month; resets $69/$109/$219.
• Premium: $50k/$100k/$150k; profit targets $3,000/$6,000/$9,000; MLL $2,000/$3,000/$4,500; no preset daily loss guard; evaluation fees typically $79–$379 per month depending on activation-fee choice; optional $149 activation on qualified accounts.
• Advanced: $50k/$100k/$150k; profit targets $4,000/$8,000/$12,000; MLL $1,750/$3,500/$5,250; no daily loss guard; evaluation fees $139/$279/$419 per month; $149 activation on qualified accounts.

Evaluation fee rebills monthly until you pass or cancel; a rebill resets failed evaluations to starting balance. Qualified traders do not pay monthly fees but may owe the activation fee where applicable. Resets are available and priced by plan and size; Premium and Zero now also support limited qualified-account resets.

Trading Rules (Qualified accounts)

• Maximum Loss Limit (MLL): EOD trailing from the end-of-day balance high; it never trails below the starting balance. Breaching MLL closes the account.
• Daily Loss Guard: None on Advanced and Premium; Zero includes a daily loss guard equal to 2% of the starting balance (soft breach that locks trading until the next session).
• Consistency: Zero qualified accounts must meet a 40% consistency rule for payout eligibility; Premium and Advanced have no qualified consistency rule. Evaluations on Premium/Advanced use a 50% consistency rule to pass.
• Trading hours: Firm day runs 6:00 PM to 5:00 PM ET; all positions must be closed by 4:20 PM ET each day on simulated accounts.
• News trading: Advanced and Premium qualified accounts have no news restrictions; Zero (and legacy Standard) impose a two‑minute no‑trade window before/after high‑impact events for the relevant asset (per ForexFactory red-folder items).
• Payout cadence: Up to four payout requests per month after five winning trading days of $200+ each (days need not be consecutive). Standard processing target is within 48 business hours. Profit split is 90% on Advanced, Premium, and Zero. Minimum/maximum per request depend on plan and size.

Trading Restrictions

• Automation: Full automation, AI/bots, and HFT patterns (e.g., 100+ trades/day) are prohibited; semi-automation with manual execution is permitted.
• Scalping constraints: Patterns of tick or micro scalping (e.g., trades under 10 ticks and under two minutes) designed to exploit the simulated environment are not allowed.
• Hedging/cross-account behavior: Reverse trading or hedging across accounts (e.g., long ES on one account, short MES on another) and coordinated group trading are prohibited. Copy trading is permitted only for a single individual across their own accounts; use the smallest account as leader to avoid leverage mismatches.
• Price-limit proximity: Trading is prohibited within 2% of a CME price limit to reduce halt/limit-condition risks.
• Connectivity: VPS is allowed; VPNs used to hide or alter IP are prohibited.

Leverage Structure

As a futures program, Alpha uses position caps (minis/micros) rather than retail-style leverage ratios. Caps vary by plan and account size, and some plans include scaling rules that expand maximum contracts as profits accrue. For example, Premium scaling allows higher contract counts after specific profit thresholds; Advanced generally has full contract limits without scaling. Crypto micros (MBT, MET) are treated as full minis for position-limit purposes.

Alpha Futures lists CME Group products only, spanning multiple asset classes:

• Equity Index: ES/MES (S&P 500), NQ/MNQ (Nasdaq-100), YM/MYM (Dow), RTY/M2K (Russell 2000), NKD (Nikkei).
• FX Futures: 6E/E7/M6E (Euro), 6B/M6B (GBP), 6A/M6A (AUD), 6C (CAD), 6J (JPY), 6S (CHF), 6M (MXN), 6N (NZD).
• Metals: GC/MGC (Gold), SI/SIL (Silver), HG/MHG (Copper), PL (Platinum).
• Energy: CL/MCL/QM (Crude Oil variants), NG/MNG (Natural Gas), RB (RBOB), HO (Heating Oil).
• Agricultural: ZC (Corn), ZW (Wheat), ZS/ZM/ZL (Soybeans, Meal, Oil), LE (Live Cattle), HE (Lean Hogs).
• Interest Rates: ZT/ZF/ZN/ZB/UB/TN (Treasuries).
• Crypto Micros: MBT (Micro Bitcoin), MET (Micro Ether).

Trading hours follow exchange sessions with the firm’s daily cut-off at 4:20 PM ET on simulated accounts. MBT/MET are counted as minis for position-limit purposes. Instrument availability and exchange data entitlements are controlled by account setup and signed market-data agreements.

Traders can select from in-house AlphaTrader, Tradovate (web), NinjaTrader (desktop), WealthCharts (web), and TradingView (via the Tradovate add-on). Additional options such as Quantower (desktop) and Deepchart by Volumetrica are available. Platform choice must be selected at checkout and cannot be changed later. VPNs used to mask IP are disallowed; VPS is supported. Platform choices do not change risk rules (MLL, daily loss guard, consistency, scaling) which are plan-specific.

AlphaTrader (web, in-house)Designed for desk-style futures execution with TradingView charts, one‑click trading, personal risk controls, and a built-in trade copier. Access is launched from the dashboard after signing the Non‑Professional Agreement.

• Benefits: native futures workflow, integrated risk controls, simplified onboarding.
• Key features: TradingView charts, DOM-style tools, commission/fee schedule documented by contract family, manual lock and daily profit/loss settings.

Tradovate (web)Browser-based futures trading; shares credentials with NinjaTrader on the same account. Suitable for traders who prefer web access and potential TradingView connectivity.

• Key features: web-native interface, add-on marketplace, TradingView integration, real-time quotes after required data agreements.

NinjaTrader (desktop)Desktop execution with robust indicator/library support and shared credentials with Tradovate. Recommended for traders invested in the NinjaTrader ecosystem.

• Key features: advanced charting, strategy builder, custom indicators; requires initial Tradovate agreement step for data.

WealthCharts (web)A browser platform with built-in scanners, alerts, and community features; credentials are provided by Alpha via email.

• Key features: multi-chart layouts, alerts/scanners, integrated prop routing; Non‑Professional Agreement required.

TradingView (via Tradovate add‑on)Connect a Tradovate evaluation or qualified account to TradingView for chart-trade workflows; TradingView is not a separate checkout option and requires an active TV subscription.

Quantower (desktop) and Deepchart by VolumetricaAdvanced order flow and multi‑connect desktops; Alpha notes complimentary Deepchart OrderFlow package access, with upgrades available from the vendor.

Mobile trading: Tradovate and NinjaTrader provide mobile access paths; web platforms (AlphaTrader, WealthCharts, Deepchart) are accessible on modern mobile browsers. TradingView mobile can be used when connected via the Tradovate add‑on.

Alpha Futures blends a rules-transparent evaluation environment with a multi-platform stack and a formal pathway to potential live capital. Notable elements include:

• AlphaTrader: In-house, web-native execution environment integrating TradingView charting, one-click trade management, manual risk controls, and a trade copier.
• Platform breadth: Choice of Tradovate, NinjaTrader, WealthCharts, TradingView (via Tradovate), Quantower, and Deepchart, allowing traders to stay with known workflows.
• Alpha Prime (Path to Live): A documented selection process for consistently profitable qualified traders, with two routes—Alpha Futures Live (80% split, daily uncapped withdrawals) or Alpha Prime (live trading under a professional risk desk with salary component, coaching, and scaling potential).
• Scaling and allocation: Published scaling plans on Premium and Zero qualified accounts increase max contracts as profits grow; maximum qualified allocations vary by plan (e.g., Premium/Zero up to five qualified accounts, Advanced three).
• Payout structure: Up to four payout requests monthly after each block of five $200+ winning days, 90% split standard on Advanced, Premium, and Zero; processing targeted within 48 business hours.
• Market data and tools: Level 1 CME data is included with subscriptions; optional Level 2 (DOM) data is $41/month per user; optional EUREX DOM is $26/month. Help content also explains session times, daily close rules, and price-limit protections.
• Community and education: Roadmap posts, platform “how-to” articles, instrument primers, and Discord/social channels; Alpha Group announced education integrations (e.g., Divento Financials) to expand structured learning.
• Affiliate program: Optional partner program with recurring commissions on eligible subscriptions and resets, with payout requests processed within 48 hours.

The overall toolset is geared toward active futures traders who value EOD drawdown arithmetic, clear payout and scaling milestones, and the ability to remain on familiar trading platforms.

Evaluation Fees

Monthly subscription pricing by plan and size (rebills until you pass or cancel): Zero $79/$119/$239 (25k/50k/100k); Premium typically $79–$379 depending on size and whether you choose the no-activation variant; Advanced $139/$279/$419 (50k/100k/150k). After passing, qualified accounts have no monthly fee; some plans require a one-time $149 activation fee (Zero has none; Premium offers a no-activation option). Evaluation resets are available (e.g., from $69 on 50k Premium, $139 on 50k Advanced, $69 on 25k Zero), and the firm has added limited qualified-account resets for Zero and Premium.

Trading Commissions

Alpha publishes a product-by-product fee sheet that includes: NFA fees per side, exchange fees per side, and a per-side commission, along with an indicative round-trip total by contract. Illustrative examples (per side): ES/NQ/RTY/YM $0.02 NFA + $1.38 exchange + $0.99 commission (about $4.78 round trip); MES/MNQ/MYM/M2K $0.02 + $0.35 + $0.29 (about $1.32 round trip); CL $0.02 + $1.50 + $0.99 (about $5.02 round trip); GC/SI $0.02 + $1.60 + $0.99 (about $5.22 round trip). The sheet also lists crypto micros MBT/MET and rates/FX contracts with their respective exchange/NFA/commission components.

Swap/Holding Costs

Futures do not incur overnight “swap” financing in the CFD sense. On simulated accounts, Alpha requires positions to be closed by 4:20 PM ET each day; the new session begins at 6:00 PM ET. Market‑data fees are separate from trading commissions: Level 1 CME Top of Book is included; optional Level 2 DOM data is $41/month per user; EUREX DOM is $26/month.

Refund Policy

The Return Policy states that all sales are final and no refunds are issued. The Terms add that if Alpha suspends services for more than 30 days, users can cancel and receive a refund of any fees paid in advance for services not received. Activation fees must be paid, and contracts signed, within 30 days of passing to obtain qualified-account access.

Profit Split

Advanced, Premium, and Zero qualified accounts pay a 90% trader split on each approved performance-fee withdrawal. Legacy Standard (retired 1 May 2026) used a tiered split (70% for the first two payouts, then 80%, then 90%).

Payout Eligibility

Eligibility requires five winning trading days of $200+ each since the last request (days need not be consecutive). Zero qualified accounts must also meet a 40% consistency rule; Premium/Advanced have no qualified consistency rule but Premium requires positive net profit in the current cycle. Traders may request up to 50% of current profits per request (within plan-specific caps); the remainder stays on the account to preserve the EOD MLL buffer.

Payout Schedule

Up to four payout requests per month; processing targets within 48 business hours. Per-request caps vary by plan and size: Zero min/max per request are $200/$1,000 (25k), $200/$1,500 (50k), and $200/$2,500 (100k). Premium caps are tiered by withdrawal count and account size (e.g., 50k: $2,000 on the 1st request, up to $4,000 from the 5th+; 150k: $3,000 on the 1st, rising to $6,000 from the 5th+). Advanced has a flat maximum of $15,000 per request across sizes. The firm states it maintains the EOD MLL buffer level across payouts (i.e., does not reset the buffer to entry on withdrawal).

Payment Methods

Payout methods include ACH (US), Wire, SWIFT, Wise, and Rise. All payments are made in USD.