Scalping
Both firms permit scalping, but they apply different time constraints that significantly impact high-frequency traders.
- Rules and Limits: E8 Markets allows scalping as long as no more than 50% of your total trades are held for less than one minute. Funded Elite is much stricter: by default, trades must last more than 3 minutes. To lower this limit to 30 seconds, you must purchase a specific "Allow Scalping" add-on at checkout.
- Costs: E8 charges a $5 commission per lot on Forex. Funded Elite is more competitive here, charging $3 per lot on Forex and $0 on indices and crypto.
- Platforms: E8 offers MatchTrader, cTrader, MT5, and TradeLocker, giving scalpers more variety in execution tools. Funded Elite is limited to MT5 and TradeLocker.
- Risk: Scalpers at E8 must be careful with the "One" account's 4% dynamic drawdown, which follows the highest closed balance. Funded Elite’s 1-step and 2-step evaluations use a static drawdown (8%), which is generally safer for scalping strategies that involve multiple small positions.
Automated Trading (EA)
There is a fundamental divide between these two firms when it comes to automation.
- Permissions: E8 Markets fully allows the use of Expert Advisors (EAs). Funded Elite strictly prohibits automated trading, permitting only manual trading tools.
- Interactions: Because E8 allows EAs, it is a viable home for grid or algorithmic traders. However, E8 prohibits "Multiple users utilizing the same EA," so you must ensure your bot is unique or heavily customized.
- Alternative for Funded Elite: If you intended to use a bot at Funded Elite, your only option is to trade manually, as any automated execution will lead to an account breach.
News Trading
The ability to trade during high-impact events varies depending on the specific account type chosen at E8, whereas Funded Elite is more uniform.
- E8 Markets: News trading is fully allowed on Pro and Signature accounts. However, on the "One" account (Performance phase), you cannot open or close positions within a 10-minute window (5 minutes before to 5 minutes after) around a news release.
- Funded Elite: News trading is permitted across all phases and account types without specific time restrictions.
- Risk: Trading news at E8 on a Signature account is risky because all positions are automatically closed at 23:00 server time, preventing you from holding through late-night volatility if it falls on a Friday.
Swing Trading and Weekend Holding
Holding positions over long periods involves different costs and restrictions at each firm.
- Weekend Rules: E8 allows weekend holding on "One" and "Pro" accounts. It is strictly prohibited on "Signature" accounts. Funded Elite requires the purchase of a "Weekend Trading" add-on if you wish to keep positions open; otherwise, it is not permitted.
- Swap Costs: E8 offers a "Swap-free" add-on for a 10% price increase. Funded Elite does not list a dedicated swap-free option in the provided data.
- Risk: Swing traders at E8 Pro benefit from an 8% static drawdown that only moves after the first payout, providing a solid buffer for long-term trades.
Copy Trading and Hedging
These strategies for managing risk and replicating success are treated differently by the two firms' compliance departments.
- Copy Trading: Both E8 Markets and Funded Elite allow copy trading. E8 prohibits external account management, while Funded Elite bans "Account Sharing" and "Passing services."
- Hedging: E8 Markets allows hedging. Funded Elite strictly prohibits it, including hedging across multiple accounts or using it as a strategy to circumvent risk rules.
- Risk: At Funded Elite, attempting to hedge will result in a breach, while at E8, it is a valid tool to manage drawdown during volatile sessions.
If you trade like this
- If you use Expert Advisors (EAs): E8 Markets is your only choice, as Funded Elite prohibits automation.
- If you are a high-volume manual Scalper: Funded Elite offers lower commissions ($3 vs $5), provided you buy the scalping add-on.
- If you want the cheapest entry for a $100k account: Funded Elite is cheaper ($369 for Lite 1-step vs $488 for E8 One).
- If you want daily payouts: E8 Markets (Pro account) is superior, as it allows daily requests once you have 1% profit.
- If you want to trade Stocks: Funded Elite includes them in their asset list, while E8 focuses on Forex, Indices, and Crypto.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper for a $5,000 starting account, E8 Markets or Funded Elite?
Funded Elite is significantly cheaper for this size. Their "Lite 2 Step" account costs only $19 and their "Lite 1 Step" is $24. In contrast, the cheapest $5,000 option at E8 Markets is the "Pro" account, which costs $38.
Can I use Expert Advisors (EAs) on both E8 Markets and Funded Elite?
No. E8 Markets allows the use of EAs and even copy trading, provided you don't share the same EA with other users. Funded Elite is a manual-only firm and strictly prohibits any form of automated trading.
Which firm offers faster payouts, E8 Markets or Funded Elite?
E8 Markets offers faster payouts through its "Pro" account, which allows for daily payout requests as long as you have at least 1% profit. Funded Elite requires you to choose a frequency at checkout (3, 7, 14, or 21 days), meaning the fastest you can get paid is every 3 days.
What are the drawdown differences between the E8 Markets "One" account and Funded Elite challenges?
The E8 Markets "One" account uses a 4% dynamic drawdown that follows the highest closed balance. Funded Elite's 1-step and 2-step challenges use a more traditional 8% static drawdown, which does not move upward as you make profits, providing more room for the trader.
