Where you trade
Hola Prime Futures provides a setup based on the most recognized tools in the futures market. Traders can operate through NinjaTrader, Tradovate, or WealthCharts. This allows for a professional environment where technical analysis and order flow tools are natively supported.
Upcomers Futures offers a different technological path, utilizing its own platform, Upcomers X, alongside Volumetrica. While Upcomers X is designed for an integrated experience within their ecosystem, Volumetrica caters to traders who require advanced volume analysis and order flow visualization.
Who executes your orders
Both firms operate primarily in a simulated environment (sim-funded). However, their paths to live execution differ:
- Hola Prime Futures: Offers a transition to a real Live Account by invitation from the risk team. Eligibility usually requires at least 10 payouts totaling $50,000. In this phase, professional data fees apply ($130 per exchange).
- Upcomers Futures: All accounts are simulated. There is no documented path to a live brokerage environment, meaning all trades and payouts are executed based on the performance within their simulation engine.
Leverage and margin
Risk management is where these two firms diverge most technically. The "margin call" or account closure is determined by the drawdown type:
- Hola Prime Futures uses an End-of-Day (EOD) Trailing Drawdown. This is significantly more flexible for the trader as it only updates based on the balance at the end of the trading day, ignoring intraday unrealized profit peaks. It locks at the starting balance once the drawdown distance is earned. Additionally, they enforce a maximum risk limit of 2% of the initial balance per trade idea.
- Upcomers Futures employs a Real-time Trailing Drawdown (4% on Classic, 3% on Vanguard). This means the trailing floor moves up instantly as profit is made during a trade, making it harder to manage volatility. They also have a strict maximum loss of 1.5% of the account size per open trade.
Markets available
Both firms provide access to the major futures markets:
- Equity Indexes: ES, NQ, YM, RTY (and micros).
- Commodities: Metals (GC, SI), Energy (CL, NG), and Agricultural products.
- Financials: Interest rates and Currencies (6E, 6B, etc.).
- Crypto: MBT and MET (Bitcoin and Ethereum futures).
What the setup lets you do
The execution rules define the allowed trading styles:
- Automation: Upcomers Futures allows the use of EAs and bots, provided the strategy is unique. Hola Prime Futures strictly prohibits any partial or full automation.
- Holding: Upcomers allows holding positions over the weekend and overnight. Hola Prime requires all positions to be closed daily by 15:28 CT.
- Scalping: Both allow high-frequency manual styles, but Hola Prime prohibits systematic sub-three-minute patterns that lack a clear plan or exploit latency.
What the setup costs
- Evaluation Price: Hola Prime operates on a monthly subscription model for its 1-Step Prime (e.g., $159/month for a 50K account). Upcomers uses a one-time payment which is significantly higher for its "Instant" accounts (e.g., $3,300 for a 50K Vanguard account) but lower for evaluations.
- Commissions: Hola Prime charges per contract (e.g., $2.88 per side for ES/NQ on Tradovate). Upcomers does not specify a per-lot fee but includes data in its initial costs.
- Payouts: Hola Prime charges a 2.5% fee (minimum $25 for wires). Upcomers charges $19.90 + 2.49% for bank transfers. Hola Prime allows payouts every 7 days, while Upcomers requires 5 qualifying days for the first payout in Vanguard.
Better setup for
- Hola Prime Futures is the better setup for manual professional traders who prefer an End-of-Day drawdown and a clear (though difficult) path to a real Live Account.
- Upcomers Futures is the better setup for algorithmic traders and those who need instant funding without evaluation, provided they can manage a real-time trailing drawdown.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is more affordable for a 50K evaluation, Hola Prime or Upcomers?
Hola Prime is cheaper upfront with a $159 monthly subscription for the 50K account, whereas Upcomers charges a one-time fee of $827.20 for its 50K Thunderbolt Classic evaluation. However, the trader must consider that Hola Prime will continue to charge every 30 days until the evaluation is passed, while Upcomers is a single payment.
Does Hola Prime or Upcomers have a more restrictive drawdown rule?
Upcomers is more restrictive because it uses a Real-time Trailing Drawdown (4% or 3%), which tracks profit peaks during an active trade. In contrast, Hola Prime uses an End-of-Day Trailing Drawdown, which only calculates the trailing stop based on the balance at the close of the day, allowing for more intraday breathing room.
Which firm allows the use of EAs and automated trading, Hola Prime or Upcomers?
Upcomers allows the use of bots and automation as long as the strategy is unique and responsible. Hola Prime strictly prohibits any form of partial or full automation, requiring all trading to be executed manually by the account holder.
Which firm offers faster payouts and better conditions, Hola Prime or Upcomers?
Hola Prime offers a faster cycle with payouts available every 7 calendar days for sim-funded accounts and daily for live accounts, charging a flat 2.5% fee. Upcomers offers same-day processing after approval but requires 5 qualifying days with at least 0.5% profit each for the first payout in its Vanguard program, charging $19.90 + 2.49% for transfers.
