Scalping and Intraday Trading
Both firms allow scalping, but with significantly different operational constraints that affect high-frequency traders.
- Execution Rules: Goat Funded Trader (GFT) imposes a strict 2-minute rule; any trade opened and closed in less than 120 seconds will have its profits invalidated. Ment Funding (MF) has no such time restriction for scalping.
- Costs: MF is more expensive for high-volume traders with a $7 per lot commission compared to GFT’s $5 per lot.
- Platforms: GFT offers a wider range of platforms including MetaTrader 5, cTrader, MatchTrader, TradeLocker, and Volumetrica. MF is limited to cTrader, DXTrade, and MatchTrader.
- Risk: Both use static drawdown for their evaluation phases, which is safer for scalpers, though GFT’s "Instant" accounts may use trailing or EOD high-watermark drawdown depending on the specific model.
Swing Trading
The ability to hold positions over long periods is where these two firms diverge the most, especially regarding weekend risk.
- Weekend Holding: GFT allows holding positions over the weekend across its programs. In contrast, MF prohibits weekend holding by default; traders must pay a 10% price increase as an "add-on" to enable this feature.
- Leverage: GFT provides much higher leverage for swing traders (up to 100:1 in evaluations and 50:1 in funded stages for Forex). MF limits leverage to 20:1, which may restrict the number of simultaneous long-term positions.
- Swap Fees: Both firms specify they do not offer swap-free accounts by default, meaning swing traders must factor in overnight financing costs.
News Trading
Trading high-impact economic events is permitted in both firms but is heavily regulated to prevent "gambling" on volatility.
- Profit Restrictions: GFT allows news trading but limits the maximum profit from trades opened or closed 2 minutes before or after a high-impact event to 1% of the initial balance.
- Operational Restrictions: MF is more restrictive regarding execution; traders are forbidden from opening new positions within a 6-minute window (3 minutes before and 3 minutes after the news).
- Impact: GFT is better for those who already have positions open and want them to run through the news, while MF is more restrictive for those looking to enter precisely at the moment of the release.
Automated Trading (EAs)
Traders using Expert Advisors will find that both firms are open to automation, provided the strategies are not "toxic" or generic.
- Prohibited EA Strategies: GFT specifically bans Martingale, Grid, and high-frequency trading (due to the 2-minute rule). MF bans the use of "challenge-passing" services or third-party marketed EAs that are used by multiple traders simultaneously.
- Risk Management: GFT features "Goat Guard," an automated system that closes all trades if a 2% loss is reached, which can act as a safety net for EAs, though it reduces profit split on the first breach.
- Infrastructure: GFT does not allow VPN usage, which might complicate some VPS setups for EAs, a detail not specified for MF.
Copy Trading and Hedging
For traders managing multiple accounts or using hedging to mitigate risk, the rules are clear.
- Hedging: Ment Funding allows hedging. Goat Funded Trader expressly prohibits hedging across different accounts.
- Copy Trading: MF allows copy trading without specific limitations mentioned. GFT allows it but with a major caveat: it is not permitted between evaluation phases.
- Consistency: GFT applies consistency rules to its Instant accounts (where no single day can exceed 15-20% of total profit), whereas MF does not mention a consistency rule, making it easier for traders who have occasional "big days" through copy trading.
If you trade like this
- If you are a Scalper: Ment Funding is better because it lacks the 2-minute minimum hold rule, despite the higher commissions.
- If you are a Swing Trader: Goat Funded Trader is the choice, as it allows weekend holding for free and offers much higher leverage.
- If you use EAs: Goat Funded Trader is safer due to the Goat Guard and lower commissions, provided you avoid Martingale.
- If you trade News: Goat Funded Trader is slightly more flexible as it allows you to open positions (albeit with a profit cap), whereas Ment Funding blocks new entries entirely.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a $25,000 challenge, Goat Funded Trader or Ment Funding?
Goat Funded Trader is significantly cheaper, offering a $25,000 2-step challenge for $158 or a 1-step for $268. Ment Funding charges $250 for its $25,000 1-step evaluation. GFT also offers even smaller accounts (starting at $5,000 for as low as $17), while MF's smallest entry is the $25,000 account.
Which firm offers a faster payout cycle, Goat Funded Trader or Ment Funding?
Goat Funded Trader provides a much faster payout schedule, with biweekly withdrawals or even every 10 days on certain accounts like Instant Premium. Ment Funding, on the other hand, requires traders to wait 30 days between payouts after the first "on-demand" withdrawal.
Who allows more total capital allocation, Goat Funded Trader or Ment Funding?
Ment Funding allows for a much higher maximum allocation, reaching up to $2,000,000 through its scaling plan. Goat Funded Trader has a maximum allocation limit of $400,000 per trader (reduced to $50,000 in specific countries like Pakistan).
Can I hold trades over the weekend for free in Goat Funded Trader or Ment Funding?
You can hold trades over the weekend for free in Goat Funded Trader across its evaluation and funded programs. In Ment Funding, holding over the weekend is not allowed by default and requires purchasing a 10% price add-on at checkout.























