Entry price
Starting a challenge is noticeably cheaper at TradeDay, especially if you utilize their discounted rates.
- For a $50,000 account, TradeDay offers the Quick Pay option for $62 or Fast Pass for $85, while Hola Prime charges $159 for its 1-Step Prime.
- At the $150,000 level, TradeDay costs $225 (Fast Pass) compared to $359 at Hola Prime.
- Hola Prime offers a "Direct Account" (instant funding) which has no evaluation but costs significantly more: $348 for $25K up to $998 for $150K.
- Both firms operate on a monthly subscription basis for evaluations; if you don't pass within 30 days, you must pay the entry fee again to keep the account active.
What you pay while trading
Execution costs are higher at Hola Prime, which can erode your profit margin if you are a high-frequency trader.
- TradeDay commissions for ES/NQ are $2.38 per side.
- Hola Prime commissions for the same instruments on NinjaTrader/Tradovate are $2.88 per side. This difference of $1.00 per round turn adds up quickly.
- Platform costs: Both include Level 1 data in the simulation phase. However, TradeDay charges $49 per month if you require Level 2 (Depth of Market) data.
- Hola Prime requires a professional data fee of $130 per exchange (up to $520 total) only once you are invited to their "Live" program.
What mistakes cost you
A mistake at either firm results in a "hard breach" (account closure), but the calculation of that failure differs in financial impact.
- Hola Prime uses an End-of-Day (EOD) trailing drawdown. This is "cheaper" for the trader because unrealized intraday profits do not pull the drawdown floor up, giving you more breathing room during volatile sessions.
- TradeDay offers a choice: Intraday drawdown (calculated in real-time) or EOD. The Intraday version is riskier and can cost you the account even if the price retraces before the close.
- TradeDay charges an "Auto-liquidation fee" of $10 per contract if their risk system has to close your positions, an extra cost not mentioned by Hola Prime.
What it costs to get paid
Getting your money out is where the pricing models diverge most sharply.
- Hola Prime charges a 2.5% fee on every payout. For a $2,000 withdrawal, you lose $50 just in fees. They also enforce strict payout caps (e.g., $1,500 for the first payout on a 50K account).
- TradeDay is much cheaper for withdrawals: US bank wires are free, and international wires are a flat $15.
- Profit splits: Hola Prime offers a 90% split. TradeDay starts at 80% in the simulation phase but increases to 90% if you move to a Funded Live account.
- TradeDay's Quick Pay accounts have a hidden cost: if your total profit is under $4,000, the split is only 50/50, effectively doubling the cost of your time.
Where each one hides its cost
The "hidden" costs are found in the rules that delay your access to cash.
- Hola Prime uses a high consistency rule of 35% to 40%. If one lucky trade accounts for more than this percentage of your profit, you must keep trading (and paying the monthly subscription) until the average balances out.
- TradeDay prohibits trading during Tier 1 news events (2 minutes before and after). Breaking this rule leads to auto-liquidation, which might not close your account but will certainly erase that trade's profits and incur the $10 liquidation fee.
- Hola Prime requires a mandatory buffer after a payout; you cannot withdraw your full balance because the starting balance becomes the new "floor," meaning you must always leave a portion of your profits in the account to keep it alive.
Cheapest for whom
- TradeDay is the cheapest for the disciplined, low-frequency trader who wants to keep most of their profits and avoid high withdrawal fees.
- Hola Prime is the cheapest (in terms of time) for the experienced trader with high capital who prefers to pay $998 for a Direct Account to skip the evaluation phase entirely and start earning a 90% split immediately.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a $50,000 account, Hola Prime or TradeDay?
TradeDay is significantly cheaper, offering its 50K Quick Pay account for $62 per month, while Hola Prime charges $159 per month for its 50K 1-Step Prime challenge. This makes the initial entry cost at TradeDay less than half of what Hola Prime requires.
Does Hola Prime or TradeDay have higher trading commissions?
Hola Prime has higher commissions, charging $2.88 per side for ES/NQ contracts on NinjaTrader. In comparison, TradeDay charges $2.38 per side for the same instruments. For every 100 trades, a trader at Hola Prime would pay $100 more in execution costs than at TradeDay.
Which firm costs more when it comes to withdrawing profits, Hola Prime or TradeDay?
Hola Prime is more expensive for withdrawals because it charges a 2.5% fee on every payout. TradeDay offers free US bank wires and charges only a flat $15 for international wires. For a $3,000 withdrawal, Hola Prime would take $75, while TradeDay would take either $0 or $15.
Which firm has a stricter consistency rule, Hola Prime or TradeDay?
Hola Prime is generally stricter, with a consistency rule of 35% for funded accounts and 40% for challenges. TradeDay uses a 30% rule for its Quick Pay evaluation and 45% for Fast Pass, but notably removes the consistency rule entirely once the trader moves to a Funded Live account.
