Who is behind each firm
IQ Capital is led by CEO Christoph Radecker and operates out of Gros Islet, Saint Lucia. The firm positions itself as a specialized provider in the forex and CFD space, offering a variety of trading environments including futures-ready setups. On the other hand, QT Funded is headed by Tanswell Sassman and is based in Cape Town, South Africa. QT Funded has recently shown signs of corporate expansion, notably through the acquisition of Titan Capital Markets in late 2026, which indicates an active strategy to consolidate its community and market presence.
How long they have been around
QT Funded provides a clear foundation date of 2023, making it a relatively young but rapidly growing entity in the industry. This growth is evidenced by a substantial volume of public feedback, boasting over 13,383 reviews on TrustPilot, which suggests a high level of user interaction and operational throughput. IQ Capital’s specific foundation date is not explicitly detailed in the provided records, but its operational footprint is reflected in 628 TrustPilot reviews. While IQ Capital has a smaller volume of public feedback, it maintains a presence in the offshore jurisdiction of Saint Lucia, a common hub for international financial services.
What they promise and what backs it
IQ Capital promises a high profit split of up to 90% and offers evaluation-based accounts like the "Core" and "Rapid" plans, alongside "Instant" funding options. These promises are backed by a diverse technical infrastructure that includes access to brokers like FXCM, Bybit, and BlackBull. Their risk rules are quite specific, such as a 1% risk limit in evaluation and a 15-second rule for scalping, which suggests a focus on sustainable trading habits rather than aggressive HFT strategies.
QT Funded offers a wider variety of account structures, including one-step, two-step, and instant accounts, with profit splits ranging from 70% to 100% on certain plans. Their backing is reinforced by their own brokerage environment, Quant Tekel, and a more rigid set of risk management rules, such as mandatory Stop Loss placement within 60 seconds for several account types. The acquisition of Titan Capital Markets further backs their promise of stability by showing they have the capital to expand their user base through corporate moves.
How they handle your money
IQ Capital utilizes bank transfers and cryptocurrencies (USDC ERC-20) for payouts, advertising a 48-hour processing guarantee or a 100% split for that period. Their payout frequency varies by plan, with the "Core" accounts requiring 10 active sessions. They support both USD and EUR as alternative currencies, providing some flexibility for international traders.
QT Funded offers a more extensive range of payment and payout methods, including Card, Crypto, Bank Transfer, and PayPal. Their payout cycles are highly competitive, with 4-day cycles available for the "QT ONE" and "QT INSTANT" plans. However, they do implement profit caps on specific accounts like the "QT TWO" and "QT 1 Step," which limits the amount of profit that can be carried over to the next cycle—a measure often used to manage liquidity and risk across a large user base.
Operational maturity
The operational maturity of both firms is visible through their platform offerings and asset diversity. IQ Capital provides advanced tools such as Volumetrica and TradingView alongside Metatrader 5, catering to technical traders who require specialized order flow or charting software. QT Funded leans towards popular retail platforms like Metatrader 5, cTrader, and TradeLocker, ensuring a broad appeal to the global trading community. QT Funded’s maturity is also signaled by its sophisticated "add-on" system, allowing users to customize their accounts with features like swap-free options or enhanced profit splits for an additional fee.
What the record does and does not tell you
This comparison highlights the visible structures of both firms: one operating from a traditional offshore hub with specialized platform access (IQ Capital) and another with a massive retail community and recent corporate acquisitions (QT Funded). However, a high number of reviews or a specific headquarters location does not provide a complete picture of internal liquidity or long-term financial stability. These data points represent the current market positioning and the public-facing rules of each firm, which traders must weigh against their own risk tolerance and trading style.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is more affordable for a $100,000 evaluation, IQ Capital or QT Funded?
IQ Capital offers its "Core" 100K evaluation for $499 with a 90% profit split. In comparison, QT Funded offers the "QT TWO" 100K evaluation for $550 with an 80% profit split. While IQ Capital has a lower initial price for this specific tier, QT Funded provides an alternative in its "QT Power" 100K plan for $400, though it requires a $500 activation fee once funded, making IQ Capital the more cost-effective choice for the initial evaluation phase.
Between IQ Capital and QT Funded, which one allows for faster payouts?
IQ Capital’s "Rapid" plan allows for a payout after just one active session, though the account is limited to five total payouts. For its standard "Core" accounts, the wait is 10 active sessions. QT Funded offers a 4-day payout cycle on its "QT ONE" and "QT INSTANT" accounts, which provides a consistent and fast withdrawal schedule without the session-based limitations found in IQ Capital’s Rapid plan.
Which firm offers more trading platform options, IQ Capital or QT Funded?
Both firms provide Metatrader 5, but they differ in their secondary offerings. IQ Capital caters to specialized traders by offering Volumetrica and TradingView. QT Funded focuses on a different set of popular alternatives, providing cTrader and TradeLocker. Therefore, the choice depends on the trader's preference: IQ Capital is better for those needing order flow or TradingView integration, while QT Funded is better for those who prefer the cTrader ecosystem.
How do the inactivity rules compare between IQ Capital and QT Funded?
IQ Capital has a relatively strict inactivity rule, where an account is closed after 8 calendar days without trading activity. QT Funded is more lenient in this regard; its "QT TWO" plan has no inactivity rule at all, while its "Instant," "Power," and "1 Step" plans allow for up to 14 days of inactivity before the account is flagged. This makes QT Funded a more flexible option for traders who do not trade every week.




















