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 while following strict risk rules. If you pass, the firm allows you to trade their capital and keep a share of the profits.
Earn2Trade works with a monthly subscription model. You pay a fee every month (starting at $150 for a $25,000 account) until you pass the test. Upcomers Futures uses a one-time payment model, but the entry price is significantly higher. Their smallest $25,000 evaluation costs $704. Upcomers also offers a "Vanguard" program, which is "instant funding": you skip the test and start earning immediately, but you must pay a very high upfront fee (starting at $2,090).
How hard each one is
The most important rule is the "drawdown," which is the maximum amount your account is allowed to lose before you are disqualified.
- Earn2Trade uses "End of Day" (EOD) drawdown. This means your risk is calculated based on your account balance at the end of the trading day. If you make a profit during the day but lose it before the market closes, only the final result counts.
- Upcomers Futures uses "Real-time Trailing" drawdown. This is much harder for beginners. It tracks the highest point your profit reaches during a trade. If you are winning $500 and the price drops, your allowed loss limit moves up with that peak, giving you less room for error.
Upcomers also has a "Maximum Risk Limit" of 1.5% per trade. This means if you open a position that could lose more than 1.5% of your total account size, you violate the rules.
How long it takes
For a beginner, time pressure is the biggest enemy.
- Earn2Trade has no minimum trading days. You can pass as soon as you hit your profit target (the specific amount of money you need to win to pass).
- Upcomers Classic can be passed in just 1 day.
- Both firms offer unlimited time to reach the goal, as long as you keep your account active.
Earn2Trade does not offer a free trial, but Upcomers includes an optional "Trial Phase" in their Thunderbolt Classic program to practice before the real test.
Where beginners fail
Most first-timers fail because of "consistency rules," which prevent traders from passing by getting lucky on a single trade.
- Earn2Trade has a 30% consistency rule. No single day can account for more than 30% of your total profit. If you hit your target too fast with one big trade, you must keep trading until that big day represents a smaller portion of your total gains.
- Upcomers has a 20% "Best Day Rule." Your best trading day cannot be more than 20% of your total profit when you ask for a withdrawal.
Earn2Trade also uses a "Progression Ladder." This limits the number of "contracts" (the size of your bets) you can use based on your current balance. You cannot trade at full size until you have built up a safety cushion of profit.
What happens if you make it
Once you pass, you become a "funded trader."
- Earn2Trade charges a one-time activation fee of $139 for your funded account. They give you 80% of the profits you earn.
- Upcomers Futures does not charge an activation fee. They offer a higher profit share of 90%.
Regarding platforms (the software you use to trade), Earn2Trade is very flexible. You can use NinjaTrader, Tradovate, or TradingView. Upcomers Futures requires you to use their own platform, Upcomers X.
If it is your first time
Earn2Trade is the better choice for a first attempt. The monthly subscription of $150 is much easier to manage than the $704 required by Upcomers. More importantly, the "End of Day" drawdown at Earn2Trade is much more forgiving for a beginner than the "Real-time Trailing" drawdown at Upcomers, which often causes newcomers to lose their accounts during normal market fluctuations.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a $50,000 evaluation, Earn2Trade or Upcomers Futures?
Earn2Trade is significantly cheaper for a beginner. A $50,000 "Gauntlet Mini" evaluation at Earn2Trade costs $170 per month. In contrast, the $50,000 "Thunderbolt Classic" evaluation at Upcomers Futures requires a one-time payment of $827.20. You would need to fail or stay in the evaluation for five months at Earn2Trade to reach the cost of a single attempt at Upcomers.
Is the risk of losing the account higher at Earn2Trade or Upcomers Futures?
The risk is higher at Upcomers Futures due to their "Real-time Trailing" drawdown. At Upcomers, your loss limit follows the peak of your profit during a trade, making it very easy to blow the account if a winning trade turns around. Earn2Trade uses an "End of Day" drawdown for evaluations, which only updates your loss limit based on your balance when the day ends, giving you more breathing room.
Which firm offers a better profit split, Earn2Trade or Upcomers Futures?
Upcomers Futures offers a higher profit split of 90% for the trader. Earn2Trade offers an 80/20 split, meaning you keep 80% of your gains. However, Earn2Trade requires a $139 activation fee once you pass, while Upcomers states they have no activation or recurring platform fees for their funded accounts.
Can I skip the evaluation phase in Earn2Trade or Upcomers Futures?
You can only skip the evaluation at Upcomers Futures through their "Vanguard" program. This provides instant funding without a test, though it is very expensive (e.g., $3,300 for a $50k account). Earn2Trade does not offer instant funding; every trader must pass either the "Gauntlet Mini" or the "Trader Career Path" evaluation before receiving a funded account.
