What you are signing up for
An evaluation or "challenge" is a test where you trade with virtual money to prove you can be profitable before a firm lets you manage their capital. To enter, you pay an entry fee.
Breakout is a firm owned by the Kraken exchange. Their entry fees are very low for beginners. A $5,000 account starts at $20 for the "Turbo" version and goes up to $45 for the "Classic" version.
Upcomers Perpetuals is based in Dubai and offers "perpetual" contracts, which are trades that never expire. They are much more expensive for a first attempt. A $5,000 account costs between $190 and $390 depending on the plan you choose.
How hard each one is
Every firm sets a profit target, which is the specific amount of money you must earn to pass the test. They also set a drawdown, which is the maximum amount you are allowed to lose before they close your account.
- Breakout: You need to earn between 9% and 12% of the account balance. Your total loss limit is between 3% and 6%. This limit is "static," meaning it stays fixed based on your starting balance and does not move when you make profits.
- Upcomers: The targets are lower, between 4% and 9%. However, the loss limit is "trailing" or "dynamic" on most plans. This means the loss limit follows your account balance upward as you make money, giving you less room for error if you have a winning streak followed by a loss.
How long it takes
Beginners often want to know the "minimum trading days," which is the number of days you must open at least one trade before being allowed to pass.
- Breakout: There are no minimum days. If you hit the target in one hour, you pass immediately.
- Upcomers: Some plans like Thunderbolt have no minimum, but others like Horizon or Odyssey require at least 2 days of trading.
Neither firm has a maximum time limit, so you can take as many months as you need to reach the goal.
Where beginners fail
Most first-timers lose their accounts because of the "daily drawdown," which is a limit on how much you can lose within a single 24-hour period.
In Breakout, this limit is 3% and resets every day at 00:30 UTC. If your account value (equity) touches that limit, you are out.
In Upcomers, beginners often fail because of the "consistency rule" called the Best Day Rule. This rule means that no single day can account for more than 20% of your total profits when you ask for a payout. If you have one "lucky" huge trade, you will have to keep trading for many more days to balance it out before you can withdraw money.
What happens if you make it
If you pass, you get a "funded account" where you keep a percentage of the profits.
- Breakout: You keep 80% of what you earn (or 90% if you paid for an add-on). You can request your money any time, 24/7, and there is no limit on how much you can withdraw.
- Upcomers: You keep 80% or 90%. However, they have a "payout cap," which is a maximum limit on how much money you can take out during your first seven withdrawals. You only get unlimited withdrawals from the eighth payout onward. Also, they charge "funding rates," which are small fees paid or received every hour to keep a trade open.
If it is your first time
For a total beginner, Breakout is the better choice.
The entry price is significantly lower ($20 vs $190), which reduces your financial risk while you are still learning. Their rules are simpler because they don't have consistency requirements or payout caps. The static drawdown is also much easier for a beginner to manage than a trailing drawdown that moves against you as you win.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a $5,000 evaluation, Breakout or Upcomers?
Breakout is much cheaper for a first attempt. You can start a $5,000 Turbo evaluation for just $20, while the cheapest $5,000 plan at Upcomers (Thunderbolt) costs $190. This makes Breakout more accessible for those who are just starting and want to practice with low financial risk.
Does Breakout or Upcomers have a consistency rule for payouts?
Breakout does not have any consistency rules, meaning you can earn your profits however you like. Upcomers uses a "20% Best Day Rule" on several plans like Thunderbolt and Vanguard. This rule requires that no single trading day represents more than 20% of the total profit you are trying to withdraw, forcing you to trade more steadily.
Which firm allows the use of EAs, Breakout or Upcomers?
Breakout allows the use of Expert Advisors (EAs), which are automated trading programs, as long as they are not "off-the-shelf" or third-party strategies sold to pass challenges. Upcomers strictly prohibits the use of any EAs on their Perpetuals platform, requiring all trades to be executed manually by the user.
Who offers faster withdrawals, Breakout or Upcomers?
Breakout offers faster and more flexible withdrawals with "on-demand" payouts available 24/7 starting from the very first day you are funded. Upcomers varies by plan; while some allow on-demand requests, others like the Horizon and Odyssey plans only allow withdrawals every 14 days, and most require a minimum number of "qualifying" profitable days before you can pay out.
