Scalping
Scalping is permitted at both firms, though the technical environment differs.
- Rules: FunderPro allows scalping without specific time restrictions on trades. The Trading Pit allows it specifically on its CFD Prime accounts, including trades lasting less than one minute.
- Platforms: FunderPro traders can use TradeLocker or MT5, which are optimized for fast execution. The Trading Pit offers MT4, MT5, and cTrader, providing more traditional options for high-frequency manual entries.
- Risk and Cost: At FunderPro, commissions only apply to funded accounts, meaning the evaluation phase is "commission-free." The Trading Pit applies commissions from the start, such as $5 per lot for Forex and 0.2% for Crypto, which scalpers must factor into their tight profit targets.
Swing Trading
Holding positions over time is treated very differently, especially regarding the weekend.
- Rules: FunderPro requires a "Swing Add-On" to hold positions over the weekend or overnight on Challenge and Funded accounts; without it, all trades must close by Friday at 16:30 EST. The Trading Pit is more flexible for its Instant Earning accounts, allowing weekend holding for most assets except Gold, Oil, and Crypto.
- Risk: FunderPro’s fixed drawdown (10% on Classic) is ideal for swing traders as it doesn't move upward with profits, unlike trailing drawdowns. The Trading Pit also uses static drawdown for most challenges, though its Instant accounts use a trailing model that stops moving once it reaches the initial balance.
- Cost: To swing trade at FunderPro, you must pay for the specific add-on during checkout. At The Trading Pit, the limitation is asset-specific rather than a paid feature.
News Trading
Trading high-impact economic events is restricted by default in several account types.
- Rules: At FunderPro, news trading is allowed during challenges but restricted on Funded and Instant accounts unless you purchase the News Trading or Swing Add-Ons. The Trading Pit allows news trading on most accounts but imposes a "2-minute window" restriction (no opening trades 2 minutes before or after news) specifically for its $100,000 and $200,000 accounts.
- Platforms: Both firms provide economic calendars within their platforms (MT5/cTrader) to help traders track these windows.
- Risk: Volatility during news can trigger the 5% daily drawdown at FunderPro or the 3-5% daily limit at The Trading Pit. FunderPro calculates daily drawdown based on a 5 PM EST snapshot, while The Trading Pit uses the previous day's closing balance.
Automated Trading (EA)
Both firms are EA-friendly but have different "ownership" philosophies.
- Rules: FunderPro allows EAs and bots but requires that you own the EA or its source code; third-party EAs are generally prohibited on Instant accounts. The Trading Pit allows EAs but strictly prohibits High-Frequency Trading (HFT) and strategies that exploit latency.
- Interactions: FunderPro’s 30-day inactivity rule means an EA must place at least one trade a month to keep the account active. The Trading Pit is stricter, requiring activity every 21 days.
- Platform: The Trading Pit’s inclusion of MetaTrader 4 is a major advantage for EA users, as many legacy bots only run on that platform, whereas FunderPro is limited to MT5, cTrader, and TradeLocker.
Copy Trading
If you use signals or replicate trades across multiple accounts, the rules are clear.
- Rules: FunderPro is open to copy trading. The Trading Pit only allows copy trading between accounts owned by the same trader (including external accounts you own); copying third-party signals or shared trading is prohibited.
- Risk: At FunderPro, copying must not lead to "account rolling" to bypass drawdown. At The Trading Pit, the best-day consistency rule (50% max of total profit on certain accounts) ensures that copy trading doesn't result in a single lucky day passing the evaluation.
Hedging
- Rules: FunderPro allows hedging only within the same trading account. The Trading Pit allows hedging more broadly but prohibits "hedging-arbitrage" between different accounts or firms to exploit price discrepancies.
- Risk: Since both firms use equity-based drawdown calculations, a hedged position that is deeply in "unrealized" loss can still breach the daily drawdown limit even if the net balance seems safe.
If you trade like this
- The Copy Trader or Signal Follower: FunderPro is the better choice, as it lacks the "own accounts only" restriction found at The Trading Pit.
- The Micro-Budget Trader: The Trading Pit is superior, offering $2,500 accounts for just $29, whereas FunderPro’s cheapest entry is $69.
- The News Trader: The Trading Pit is more favorable for accounts under $100k, as news trading is allowed by default without needing to buy extra add-ons.
- The Weekend Swing Trader: FunderPro is more reliable if you are willing to pay for the Swing Add-On, as it provides a clear framework for all assets, while The Trading Pit restricts key assets like Gold and Oil on its Instant accounts.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start with, FunderPro or The Trading Pit?
The Trading Pit is significantly cheaper for beginners, offering a $2,500 challenge for a one-time fee of $29. In contrast, FunderPro's most affordable option is a $5,000 account (Classic or One Phase) for $69. Even when comparing similar sizes, The Trading Pit's $5,000 challenge costs $49, which is still $20 less than FunderPro's equivalent.
Which firm allows news trading with fewer restrictions, FunderPro or The Trading Pit?
The Trading Pit is generally more flexible for news trading on its smaller and mid-sized accounts (up to $50,000), where it is allowed without extra fees. FunderPro permits news trading during the challenge phase, but once you are funded or using an Instant account, you must purchase a specific add-on to trade during news events. However, The Trading Pit does restrict news trading on its $100k and $200k accounts using a 2-minute window rule.
Can I use a third-party copy trading service on FunderPro or The Trading Pit?
FunderPro allows copy trading, making it the better choice for those who follow external signal services. The Trading Pit has a much stricter policy: it only allows copy trading between accounts owned by the same person. If The Trading Pit detects you are copying a third-party provider or participating in shared trading, it is considered a violation of their rules.
Which firm has a more lenient inactivity rule, FunderPro or The Trading Pit?
FunderPro is more lenient, allowing you up to 30 consecutive days without trading activity before the account is closed. The Trading Pit is more demanding, requiring at least one trade every 21 days. If you fail to meet these deadlines at either firm, you lose the account without the possibility of a refund or renewal.





















