The split
The potential earnings differ significantly between the simulated and professional phases:
- Funded Futures Family: Offers a 90% split for the trader in Simulated Funded accounts. If the trader transitions to the Professional Stage (real capital), the split adjusts to 80%.
- Elite Trader Funding: The "Live Elite" phase offers an 80% split. For sim-funded accounts, the split is a maximum value subject to approval and specific payout limits per cycle.
How often you can withdraw
Access to liquidity depends on the plan chosen and the trader's performance:
- Elite Trader Funding: Sim-funded payouts are processed every Monday and Wednesday. Once in "Live Elite," requests can be made on any business day.
- Funded Futures Family: Frequency varies by plan. Prime accounts allow withdrawals every 3 trading days; Classic and S2F every 7 days; Premier/Elite every 5 days. They offer a "Velocity Daily Payout" add-on that allows one request per day.
Minimums and methods
Both firms use modern payment rails but have different entry barriers:
- Elite Trader Funding:
- Minimums: $100 for most plans (Static, EOD, Fast Track), $250 for 1-Step and Live Elite, and up to $1,000 for DTF 50K.
- Methods: Bank Transfer and Crypto.
- Funded Futures Family:
- Minimums: $500 for the Base Plan and $250 for all other plans.
- Methods: Bank Transfer, Crypto, and Rise.
What delays a payout
The "fine print" regarding risk and consistency is what usually stands between a trader and their first dollar:
- Safety Buffer: Both firms require a non-withdrawable "cushion." At ETF, it is the account drawdown + $100. At FFF, it is similar (drawdown level + $100), and you must maintain it to keep the account active.
- Consistency Rules (FFF): Most plans require that no single day exceeds 40% of the total profit. They also require "Qualifying Trading Days" (usually 7 days with at least $200 in profit) per payout cycle.
- Consistency Rules (ETF): For standard plans, each "Active Trading Day" (ATD) requires at least $250 in profit and that no day represents more than 30% of the total. You need 8 ATDs for the first cycle and 10 for subsequent ones.
- Risk Limits: ETF has a "Maximum Risk Limit" where losing 35% of accumulated profit (after reaching 20% gain) can disqualify the account. FFF applies a 2% CME price limit rule, prohibiting trading near market limits.
What it takes to get there
To reach the first payout, you must first navigate the evaluation costs and technical constraints:
- Investment (Price): FFF offers very cheap entry points like the Lab Sniper 25K ($69.99) or S2F Accelerate ($39.99). ETF evaluations range from $57 (Fast Track) to $997 (DTF 100K).
- Platforms: FFF supports Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, and WealthCharts. ETF supports a wider range of Rithmic-compatible tools (ATAS, Bookmap, Sierra Chart, etc.), though Tradovate is unavailable for their live accounts.
- Trading Styles: Both require trades to last at least 10 seconds. FFF is stricter with "micro-scalping" (50% of trades must last over 20 seconds). ETF allows EAs only with written authorization, while FFF generally prohibits bots and algorithms.
Which pays out more comfortably
Funded Futures Family is more comfortable for traders seeking immediate high splits (90%) and frequent liquidity, especially if they are willing to pay for the daily payout add-on and can manage the 40% consistency rule.
Elite Trader Funding is better suited for professional-grade traders who value a payout guarantee (with $1,000 compensation if missed) and want to transition to a true live brokerage environment, provided they can satisfy the $250 minimum daily profit requirement to count their trading days.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a challenge, Elite Trader Funding or Funded Futures Family?
Funded Futures Family is cheaper for entry-level accounts, with plans like the S2F Accelerate starting at $39.99 or the Lab Sniper at $69.99. Elite Trader Funding's cheapest option is the Fast Track EOD at $57, but its standard 50K evaluations typically start around $207 (monthly).
Does Elite Trader Funding or Funded Futures Family offer a better profit split?
Funded Futures Family offers a higher split of 90% for its simulated funded accounts. Elite Trader Funding offers an 80% split once the trader transitions to the Live Elite stage. In the professional/live phases, both firms align at 80% for the trader.
Which firm allows for faster withdrawals, Elite Trader Funding or Funded Futures Family?
Funded Futures Family allows for faster withdrawals through its Velocity plan with the Daily Payout Add-On, enabling one request per day. Elite Trader Funding processes sim-funded payouts only on Mondays and Wednesdays, although it offers a 48-hour processing guarantee.
Who has stricter consistency rules for payouts, Elite Trader Funding or Funded Futures Family?
Elite Trader Funding is generally stricter due to its $250 minimum profit requirement per "Active Trading Day" and its 30% best-day rule. Funded Futures Family uses a 40% consistency cap for most plans and requires $200 in profit for a day to be considered "qualifying" for a payout cycle.


















