What you are signing up for
An evaluation is a testing phase where you trade with simulated money to prove you can be profitable before the firm grants you access to a funded account. To enter, you must pay a fee.
- Alpha Futures offers several paths. Their Zero, Standard, and Advanced plans use a monthly subscription, meaning you pay every month until you pass the evaluation. They also have a "Direct" plan, which is a one-time fee to skip the test and start earning immediately.
- Boxcar Trading uses a one-time purchase model for its evaluations (Prime, Flex, and Payout). You pay once, and there are no recurring monthly bills while you are trying to pass. Like Alpha, they also offer "BoxcarFunded" for those who want to buy a funded account directly without a test.
Neither firm offers a free trial, so your first attempt will require an initial investment.
How hard each one is
The difficulty is measured by two main factors: the profit target (the specific amount of money you must earn to pass) and the drawdown (the maximum loss allowed before your account is closed).
- Alpha Futures uses an "End of Day" (EOD) trailing drawdown. This means your loss limit only updates based on your balance at the end of the trading day, giving you more "breathing room" during the session.
- Boxcar Trading offers more variety. Depending on the plan, you can choose an EOD drawdown or an "Intraday" drawdown. Intraday is harder for beginners because the loss limit moves up in real-time as your profits grow, even before you close a trade.
Both firms use a "trailing" drawdown, which means the floor (the point where you fail) follows your profits upward but never moves back down if you lose money.
How long it takes
Prop firms often require a minimum number of trading days to ensure your success isn't just a one-day stroke of luck.
- At Alpha Futures, you can pass in as little as 1 day on the Zero plan, 2 days on Standard, or 3 days on Advanced.
- Boxcar Trading allows you to pass their Prime evaluation in just 1 day. Other plans like Flex or Payout don't have a fixed minimum of days, but you must still meet the consistency requirements.
There is no maximum time limit to pass on either firm, as long as you keep your account active.
Where beginners fail
Most beginners fail because of "drawdown" or the "consistency rule." The consistency rule is a requirement that no single trading day accounts for too much of your total profit (usually 40% or 50%). It prevents "gambling" on a single news event to pass the test.
- Alpha Futures has a 40% to 50% consistency rule depending on the plan. If you make $1,000 total, but $600 came from one lucky trade, you won't pass yet; you'll need to keep trading to balance your numbers.
- Boxcar Trading also uses consistency rules (20% to 50%). A unique risk at Boxcar is their 30-day inactivity rule: if you don't place at least one trade every 30 days, your account is permanently closed.
What happens if you make it
If you pass, you move to the "payout" phase, where you can finally withdraw real earnings.
- Alpha Futures pays out up to 4 times per month. However, for most plans, you must first complete 5 "winning days" where you earn at least $200 each before you can ask for money.
- Boxcar Trading allows for daily payout requests once you meet their requirements. They also offer a free VPS (a virtual computer that stays online 24/7) to help your trading software run smoothly.
Both firms offer a 90% profit split, meaning you keep 90% of what you earn and the firm keeps 10%.
If it is your first time
If you are completely new, Boxcar Trading is a more relaxed choice because of its one-time payment model. You won't feel the pressure of a monthly bill "ticking" while you are learning. Additionally, their inclusion of a free VPS is a significant technical advantage for a beginner.
Alpha Futures is better if you are confident and want to start with a very small initial cost (like the $89 Zero 25K plan), or if you want to skip the test entirely through their "Direct" plan, provided you have the budget for a higher upfront fee.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alpha Futures or Boxcar Trading cheaper for a first evaluation?
For a 50K account, Alpha Futures has a lower entry price starting at $139 for their Zero plan, but this is a monthly subscription that repeats if you don't pass quickly. Boxcar Trading is more expensive upfront, with their 50K Prime plan costing $175, but it is a one-time payment with no recurring fees, which may save you money if you need several weeks to reach the profit target.
Which firm allows me to skip the evaluation phase, Alpha Futures or Boxcar Trading?
Both firms offer this option. Alpha Futures has the "Direct Plan," where you pay a one-time fee (for example, $519 for a 50K account) to get a "Direct Qualified" account immediately. Boxcar Trading offers "BoxcarFunded," which also skips the test for a one-time fee (for example, $515 for a 50K account). Alpha's direct accounts have a 20% consistency rule for withdrawals, while Boxcar's funded accounts have specific cycle goals.
Who has better platform options for beginners, Alpha Futures or Boxcar Trading?
Alpha Futures is very beginner-friendly because it supports "TradingView," a popular and easy-to-use web platform. Boxcar Trading focuses on more professional tools like "NinjaTrader" and "RTrader Pro." While Boxcar's tools are more complex, they compensate by providing a free Windows VPS from NinjaMobileTrader to all customers, which ensures a more stable connection for the trading platforms.
Does Alpha Futures or Boxcar Trading have stricter withdrawal rules?
Alpha Futures requires you to have 5 "winning days" of at least $200 in profit before each withdrawal request on their Zero, Standard, and Advanced plans. Boxcar Trading does not have that specific daily profit minimum for most plans, but they do require a minimum of 5 trading days per cycle for their "Funded" accounts and have "buffer" requirements (a minimum amount of money that must stay in the account) for their Prime and Payout plans.
