Day one
The entry barrier is noticeably lower at Blue Guardian. A $100,000 1-Step Evaluation costs $398, whereas Blueberry Funded charges $605 for its 1-Step counterpart ($835 for the Flex version). For the traditional 2-Step challenge, Blue Guardian’s Standard $100k account is $463, while Blueberry Funded’s Prime $100k is $650.
In terms of technology, the choice depends on your preferred terminal:
- Blue Guardian: Provides MetaTrader 5, TradeLocker, and MatchTrader. They use a proprietary liquidity provider.
- Blueberry Funded: Offers a wider range including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradeLocker, and DXTrade. They use Blueberry Markets as their broker, which provides a more "institutional" feel.
Leverage is slightly more generous at Blue Guardian for Forex (1:50) compared to Blueberry Funded’s 1-Step and Instant accounts (1:30), though Blueberry matches the 1:50 on its 2-Step programs.
The first months
Once funded, the pressure shifts to risk management and payout efficiency. Both firms prohibit "tick scalping" (holding trades for only a few seconds), but their definitions differ:
- Blue Guardian has a strict minimum holding time of 2 minutes. Any trade closed before that is a violation. They also feature the "Guardian Shield," which automatically closes all trades if you hit a 2% loss in a session (reducing your profit split on the first strike).
- Blueberry Funded uses a "Risk Per Trade Idea" rule. On most funded accounts, you cannot risk more than 1.5% of the initial balance on a single idea (including re-entries within 10 minutes).
Payouts at both firms typically occur every 14 days. However, Blueberry Funded offers a unique "110% Payout Option": if you withdraw to a live Blueberry Markets brokerage account, they add a 30% bonus (effectively giving you more than you earned). Blue Guardian counters this with a "Payout Guarantee": if they don't process your request within 24 business hours, you get 100% of the profit split (no firm cut).
The first year
For the professional trader, the ability to manage large amounts of capital is key.
- Blue Guardian allows for account merging. You can buy multiple accounts and fuse them up to a $400,000 total (Instant accounts capped at $200,000). This allows you to reach a high capital base much faster than through performance alone.
- Blueberry Funded does not allow merging. You must grow each account individually. However, their scaling plan is highly structured: every 3 months, if you have made 10% net profit and processed 4 payouts, your balance increases by 25%.
As you scale, the profit split also evolves. Blue Guardian starts at 85% (and offers up to 100% on specific Nano products), while Blueberry Funded starts at 80% but increases to 90% once you enter their scaling program.
The ceiling
Both firms advertise a maximum allocation of $2,000,000 through scaling.
Blue Guardian’s path to the ceiling is faster if you have the capital to buy and merge multiple challenges, as you can start with $400,000 in funded capital. Their consistency rule (20% to 50% depending on the account type) means you cannot earn all your profit in a single day, ensuring the firm sees steady growth.
Blueberry Funded’s ceiling is tied to a more rigorous institutional path. To reach $2 million starting from a $100,000 account, you would need several successful 3-month cycles. The "ceiling" here is more than just a number; it is a gateway to their brokerage, where commissions are $7 per lot (compared to Blue Guardian’s $5), but the environment is more regulated.
Room to grow
Blue Guardian is the better choice for traders who want to start with a lower investment, merge multiple accounts quickly, and benefit from lower commissions ($5 vs $7). Their "Guardian Shield" and 2-minute rule are the primary obstacles to navigate.
Blueberry Funded is designed for the long-term "career" trader who values platform variety (MT4/DXTrade) and wants to eventually move profits into a live brokerage account with a 30% bonus. While more expensive at the start, its scaling plan rewards consistency with a 90% profit split and a 25% balance increase every quarter.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is more affordable for a $100,000 1-step challenge, Blue Guardian or Blueberry Funded?
Blue Guardian is significantly cheaper for this specific challenge. Their $100,000 1-step account costs $398, while Blueberry Funded charges $605 for their standard 1-step and $835 for the Flex 1-step version. This makes Blue Guardian a more accessible option for traders looking to minimize their initial overhead.
How do the news trading rules compare between Blue Guardian and Blueberry Funded on funded accounts?
Both firms have restrictions but different windows. Blue Guardian prohibits opening or closing trades 5 minutes before and after high-impact news on Standard Funded accounts. Blueberry Funded (excluding Prime) has a tighter 2-minute window before and after news for opening new trades, though it allows managing existing positions. Blue Guardian is more restrictive as it also prohibits closing trades during that 10-minute window.
Which firm offers a better profit split and scaling potential, Blue Guardian or Blueberry Funded?
Blue Guardian starts with a higher base profit split of 85% (up to 100% on Nano accounts). Blueberry Funded starts lower at 80% but allows traders to reach 90% through its scaling program. While both allow scaling up to $2,000,000, Blue Guardian offers an advantage in the first year by allowing the merging of accounts up to $400,000, which Blueberry Funded does not permit.
What are the main differences in trading platforms between Blue Guardian and Blueberry Funded?
Blueberry Funded offers more variety, providing MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradeLocker, and DXTrade. Blue Guardian focuses on MetaTrader 5, TradeLocker, and MatchTrader. If you specifically require MetaTrader 4 or DXTrade, Blueberry Funded is the only option between the two; if you prefer MatchTrader, you must choose Blue Guardian.
