The split
The reward for your trading performance varies significantly between the two:
- E8 Markets Futures: Offers a base profit split of 80% on all plans. However, on Zero Starter and Zero Max accounts, you can purchase an add-on at checkout to increase this share to 100%.
- Hola Prime Futures: Provides a more aggressive standard split of 90% for both its 1-Step Prime Challenge and its Direct accounts.
How often you can withdraw
Access to your money follows different cycles:
- E8 Markets Futures: Zero Starter and Zero Max accounts allow for daily payout requests. Signature accounts are "on demand" once all specific requirements are met.
- Hola Prime Futures: Sim funded accounts (Prime and Direct) operate on a 7-calendar-day cycle from the first trade. Once you withdraw, a new 7-day cycle begins. If you are invited to a Live account, requests become daily.
Minimums and methods
Both firms use similar processors but have different entry barriers:
- Minimums: E8 requires a flat minimum of $100 across all accounts. Hola Prime scales its minimum based on account size: $250 (25K), $500 (50K), $1,000 (100K), and $1,500 (150K).
- Methods: Both support Bank Transfers, Crypto, and Rise.
- Fees: E8 does not charge payout fees (though processors might). Hola Prime charges a 2.5% fee per payout, with minimums of $25 for wires/Rise and $5 for crypto.
What delays a payout
The road to the first withdrawal is protected by risk and consistency rules that can extend your timeline:
- Consistency Rules: E8 uses a "Best Day" rule (40% for Zero Challenge, 35% for Signature Performance). If one day's profit exceeds this percentage of your total, you must continue trading to balance it. Hola Prime applies a 40% rule in its Prime Challenge, 35% in Prime Funded, and a strict 20% in Direct accounts.
- Profitable Days: E8 Signature requires 5 profitable days (minimum 0.3% profit each) between payouts after the first one. Hola Prime's Prime accounts require 5 non-consecutive profitable days in every payout cycle.
- Risk "Erasers": E8 uses an EOD Dynamic Drawdown that follows your end-of-day balance. Hola Prime uses an EOD Trailing Drawdown that also locks at the starting balance. A crucial difference is that Hola Prime mandates the use of Stop Losses in funded phases; failing to use one is treated as a breach.
What it takes to get there
To reach the funded stage, you must first invest in the evaluation:
- Investment (100K Size): An E8 Signature account costs $260 (one-time), while a Zero Max costs $588. Hola Prime's 1-Step Prime is a $259 monthly subscription, meaning you pay more if you take longer to pass. Alternatively, you can pay $698 for a 100K Direct account to skip the evaluation.
- Platforms: E8 is limited to Tradovate. Hola Prime offers more variety with NinjaTrader, Tradovate, and WealthCharts.
- Trading Styles: Both firms prohibit EAs and HFT (E8 caps trades at 300/day). E8 also requires that 50% of your profit comes from trades held longer than 10 seconds. Both require closing all positions before the daily market close (15:10 CT for E8, 15:30 CT for Hola Prime).
Which pays out more comfortably
E8 Markets Futures is the choice for traders who prioritize liquidity and simplicity. The ability to withdraw daily on Zero plans and a lower fixed minimum ($100) makes it easier to secure small, frequent profits without waiting for weekly cycles or reaching high thresholds.
Hola Prime Futures is better suited for disciplined traders who want a larger piece of the pie (90%) and are willing to pay for the "Direct" shortcut. It is also the superior choice for those who need NinjaTrader or WealthCharts, provided they can handle the stricter 20% consistency rule on Direct accounts and the mandatory Stop Loss requirement.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper for a 100K account, E8 Markets Futures or Hola Prime Futures?
E8 Markets Futures is generally cheaper for the evaluation phase, with its 100K Signature account priced at a one-time fee of $260. While Hola Prime Futures has a 100K challenge for $259, it is a monthly subscription that renews every 30 days, so it becomes more expensive if you don't pass within the first month.
Which firm pays a higher percentage of profits, E8 Markets Futures or Hola Prime Futures?
Hola Prime Futures offers a higher standard profit split of 90% on all its plans. E8 Markets Futures starts at 80%, although it allows traders on Zero plans to increase their share to 100% by paying for an additional add-on during the checkout process.
Can I use NinjaTrader with E8 Markets Futures or Hola Prime Futures?
You can only use NinjaTrader with Hola Prime Futures, which also supports Tradovate and WealthCharts. E8 Markets Futures is currently restricted to the Tradovate platform for all its futures accounts.
Which firm has faster payouts, E8 Markets Futures or Hola Prime Futures?
E8 Markets Futures offers faster payouts on its Zero Starter and Zero Max accounts, which allow for daily withdrawal requests. Hola Prime Futures requires a waiting period of 7 calendar days between the first trade and the payout request in its sim funded phase.
