What you are signing up for
A prop firm evaluation is a test where you trade with simulated money to prove you can be profitable. If you pass, the firm lets you trade their capital and keep a share of the profits.
- Earn2Trade uses a monthly subscription model. You pay a fee every month (for example, $170 for a $50,000 account) until you pass the test or cancel.
- Finotive Futures uses a one-time purchase fee. You pay once (for example, $179 for a $50,000 evaluation) and there are no recurring charges while you are taking the test.
How hard each one is
Both firms use "drawdown" rules to manage risk. Drawdown is the maximum amount of money your account is allowed to lose before you are disqualified.
- Earn2Trade has a Daily Drawdown (a limit on how much you can lose in a single day) and a Maximum Drawdown. In their Gauntlet Mini, the drawdown is "End of Day," meaning it is calculated based on your balance when the markets close, which is more forgiving for beginners.
- Finotive Futures also has a daily limit, but it is a "soft breach." This means if you hit the daily limit, the firm closes your trades and stops you for the day, but you do not lose the account. However, their Maximum Drawdown is "trailing," meaning the loss limit follows your highest profit point in real-time.
How long it takes
There is no need to rush, but you should know how much time you have to reach your "profit target," which is the specific amount of money you must earn to pass the evaluation.
- At Earn2Trade, there are no minimum trading days. You can pass as soon as you hit the target. There is no maximum time limit as long as you keep paying the monthly fee.
- At Finotive Futures, you can also pass in a single day. There is no time limit to finish, but your account will be closed if you do not place a trade for 15 consecutive days.
Where beginners fail
Most beginners fail because they break technical rules they didn't fully understand.
- Earn2Trade has a "30% Consistency Rule." This means that no single trading day can represent more than 30% of your total profit. If you have one "lucky" day that makes all your money, you must keep trading until that day becomes a smaller part of your total. They also have a "Progression Ladder," which limits how many contracts (the size of your bets) you can trade based on your current balance.
- Finotive Futures is more relaxed during the evaluation but becomes stricter once you are funded. On funded accounts, you cannot trade during "high-impact news" (major economic announcements), specifically from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after the news.
What happens if you make it
If you pass, you move to the "payout" phase, where you finally earn real money.
- Earn2Trade gives you an 80/20 "profit split," meaning you keep 80% of what you earn. They charge a one-time activation fee of $139 when you pass. You can request money every Wednesday if you have at least $100.
- Finotive Futures offers a 90/10 profit split, letting you keep 90% of the profits. There is no activation fee. However, you must reach a "minimum withdrawal" of $500 before the split is calculated.
If it is your first time
If you are just starting, Finotive Futures is generally the better choice. The one-time payment removes the pressure of a ticking monthly clock, and the "soft breach" on the daily loss limit acts as a safety net that prevents you from losing your entire account over one bad day. While Earn2Trade’s "Career Path" is excellent for long-term growth, their monthly fees and strict consistency rules can be stressful for someone still learning the basics of market discipline.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start an evaluation, Earn2Trade or Finotive Futures?
Finotive Futures is cheaper for a first attempt because it uses a one-time payment model. For a $50,000 account, you pay $179 once. Earn2Trade costs $170 for a similar account, but it is a monthly subscription, meaning if you take two months to pass, you will have paid $340.
Does Earn2Trade or Finotive Futures offer a better profit share?
Finotive Futures offers a better profit split at 90%, allowing the trader to keep almost all the gains. Earn2Trade offers an 80/20 split, where the firm keeps 20% of your earnings. Additionally, Earn2Trade requires a $139 activation fee when you pass, while Finotive Futures has no such fee.
Which firm has stricter trading rules, Earn2Trade or Finotive Futures?
Earn2Trade is generally stricter due to its "30% Consistency Rule" and the "Progression Ladder," which forces you to limit your trade size based on your profits. Finotive Futures has fewer rules during the evaluation, although it does impose a 15-day inactivity rule that can close your account if you stop trading for two weeks.
Can I use automated bots (EAs) on both Earn2Trade and Finotive Futures?
Yes, both firms allow the use of EAs (Expert Advisors), which are programs that trade automatically. However, Earn2Trade is more flexible for beginners as it allows them without specific restrictions on profit source. Finotive Futures allows them but warns that no more than 50% of your profit can come from "micro-scalping" (trades lasting less than 30 seconds).
