What you are signing up for
An evaluation is a test where you trade with virtual money to prove you are profitable. If you pass, the firm lets you trade their capital and keep a part of the profits. You pay an entry fee to start this test.
Blue Guardian offers very cheap entry points. You can start a $5,000 account for $40. They have many options: 1-step (one phase to pass), 2-step (two phases), and even 3-step evaluations.
The Trading Pit starts even smaller. You can buy a $2,500 account for $29. They focus on 1-phase and 2-phase evaluations. Unlike Blue Guardian, The Trading Pit offers a refund of your fee once you prove yourself and receive your first or third payout.
Neither firm offers a free trial, so your first attempt will require a small investment.
How hard each one is
To pass, you must hit a profit target. This is a specific amount of money you need to earn without breaking the rules.
- Blue Guardian usually asks for a 10% profit in 1-step plans and 8% then 4% in 2-step plans.
- The Trading Pit usually requires a 10% profit for 1-phase and 10% then 5% for 2-phase plans.
The main safety net in Blue Guardian is the "Guardian Shield." This tool automatically closes your trades if you lose 2% of your balance in a single day. It protects beginners from losing their entire account in one bad move. In The Trading Pit, you must manage this yourself, and they strictly require you to set a "Stop Loss," which is an automated instruction to close a trade at a specific loss level to prevent further damage.
How long it takes
Both firms have removed the pressure of time. There are no maximum trading days, meaning you can take months to reach your goal.
However, there are minimum trading days. This is the shortest time you must trade before being allowed to move to the next stage.
- Blue Guardian requires 3 to 5 profitable days where you earn at least 0.5%.
- The Trading Pit requires 3 profitable days of at least 0.5% for most accounts.
Where beginners fail
The biggest trap for beginners is the "Drawdown." This is the maximum amount you are allowed to lose before the firm closes your account.
Blue Guardian uses "Trailing Drawdown" on many of its popular plans. This means the loss limit follows your account balance as it goes up. If you make a profit, your allowed loss floor rises, making it easier to fail if you have a sudden drop.
The Trading Pit mostly uses "Static Drawdown." This is a fixed floor that does not move up as you make money. This is generally much safer for a first-timer. However, The Trading Pit has a strict "Inactivity Rule": if you do not place a trade for 21 days, you lose the account. Blue Guardian gives you 30 days.
What happens if you make it
Once you are a "funded trader," you can start withdrawing real money. This is called a "payout."
- Profit Split: Both firms usually give you 80% of what you earn. Blue Guardian can go up to 100% on their "Nano" accounts.
- Payout Frequency: Both firms allow you to withdraw every 14 days.
- Platforms: Blue Guardian uses MetaTrader 5, TradeLocker, and MatchTrader. The Trading Pit offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader.
- Style: Blue Guardian allows "Martingale" (doubling your bet after a loss), while The Trading Pit prohibits it.
If it is your first time
If you are nervous about making a technical mistake, choose Blue Guardian. Their "Guardian Shield" acts like a co-pilot that closes your trades before you break the daily loss limit. It gives you a second chance on your first mistake.
If you want a safer loss limit that doesn't move against you, choose The Trading Pit. Their static drawdown is easier to understand, and the fact that they refund your fee makes the successful end of the challenge even more rewarding.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper for a first attempt, Blue Guardian or The Trading Pit?
The Trading Pit is cheaper to start because it offers a $2,500 account for only $29. Blue Guardian’s smallest account is $5,000 and costs $40. However, if you want a larger $100,000 account, Blue Guardian is more affordable at $398 compared to $569 at The Trading Pit.
Does Blue Guardian or The Trading Pit offer a refund of the entry fee?
The Trading Pit offers a refund of the challenge fee after your first reward (for older accounts) or after your third reward (for newer accounts). Blue Guardian does not offer a refund of the initial fee on any of its standard plans according to their current terms.
Which firm allows more trading platforms, Blue Guardian or The Trading Pit?
The Trading Pit offers more variety by supporting MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader. Blue Guardian does not offer MetaTrader 4; they provide MetaTrader 5, TradeLocker, and MatchTrader. This makes The Trading Pit a better choice if you specifically need the older MetaTrader 4 software.
How does the drawdown differ between Blue Guardian and The Trading Pit for a beginner?
Blue Guardian uses a trailing drawdown on many plans, meaning the loss limit moves up as you earn profit, which can be harder for beginners to track. The Trading Pit primarily uses a static drawdown, which stays fixed at a certain level, providing a more stable and easier-to-manage loss limit for a first-time trader.
