The split
The profit share depends heavily on the chosen program at both firms:
- IQ Capital: Offers a very aggressive 90% split for Core and Instant Funding accounts. The Rapid - Daily Payout program offers an 80% split.
- The5ers: Entry-level splits are lower, starting at 50% for Bootcamp and Hyper-Growth, or 80% for High Stakes and ProGrowth. However, through their scaling plan, traders can reach a 100% split. Additionally, High Stakes traders can earn fixed monthly payouts of $4,000 to $10,000 once they reach specific balance milestones ($350k+).
How often you can withdraw
Access to your earnings follows different timelines:
- IQ Capital: In Core and Instant accounts, you can request a payout every 10 active trading sessions. The Rapid program allows for daily payouts after just one session, though the account is terminated after the fifth withdrawal.
- The5ers: There is an initial 14-day waiting period after the funded account is activated. Subsequent withdrawals can be requested every 2 weeks.
Minimums and methods
- IQ Capital: Does not publish a minimum withdrawal amount. Payments are processed via Bank Transfer or USDC (ERC-20). There are maximum withdrawal caps per request based on account size (e.g., $3,000 for a 200K Core account on the first payouts).
- The5ers: Minimums range from $150 to $500 depending on the High Stakes account size, or $250 for Summer Plans. Methods include Rise, Bank Transfer, and Crypto. They charge a 3.5% fee on most withdrawal methods, except for Hub Credits.
What delays a payout
Several restrictive rules and consistency checks can postpone or disqualify a withdrawal:
- IQ Capital: The "15-second rule" is critical; at least 50% of trades and profits must come from positions held longer than 15 seconds. There is also a consistency rule (30% for Core funded, 40% for Rapid evaluation) where no single day can account for too much of the total profit. Furthermore, they aggregate risk across the same market, limiting it to 0.5% on funded accounts.
- The5ers: Beyond the 14-day mandatory wait, Summer Plans enforce a 50% consistency rule on profits intended for withdrawal. High Stakes accounts have a "news trading" restriction where opening or closing orders 2 minutes before/after high-impact news leads to profit deductions.
What it takes to get there
Before reaching your first dollar, you must navigate the evaluation costs and technical requirements:
- Investment: IQ Capital's 100K Core costs $499 plus a $149 activation fee. The5ers offers a much cheaper entry point with the 100K Bootcamp at $95 (plus a setup fee later), or the 100K High Stakes for approximately $405-$455.
- Risk Limits: IQ Capital uses a Trailing EOD drawdown (the floor follows your peak balance at the end of the day and never drops). The5ers uses a more trader-friendly balance-based drawdown, though they include a 3% daily loss limit on most plans.
- Platforms and Styles: Both firms support MetaTrader 5 and TradingView, but IQ Capital adds Volumetrica for specialized traders, while The5ers offers cTrader. Both allow EAs, but only if you own the source code or developed the logic yourself.
Which pays out more comfortably
IQ Capital is the more comfortable choice for traders who prioritize high immediate percentages and want to see money in their pockets as quickly as possible (Daily or every 10 sessions). It suits those who can handle trailing drawdowns and strict trade-duration rules.
The5ers is better for disciplined traders looking for a stable environment with a balance-based drawdown. It is the superior choice for those aiming for a long-term partnership where the reward is not just a split, but a 100% share of profits and a fixed professional salary.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a $100,000 challenge, IQ Capital or The5ers?
The5ers is significantly cheaper for a $100,000 account if you choose the Bootcamp program, which starts at just $95. In contrast, IQ Capital's 100K Core account requires an initial payment of $499 plus a subsequent activation fee of $149 once the evaluation is passed.
Who provides the first payout faster, IQ Capital or The5ers?
IQ Capital provides the fastest access to profits through its Rapid - Daily Payout program, which allows a withdrawal after just one trading session. The5ers requires a mandatory 14-day waiting period after the funded account is activated before the first payout can be requested.
Does IQ Capital or The5ers have a more restrictive drawdown for the trader?
IQ Capital is generally more restrictive because it uses a Trailing EOD drawdown, meaning the loss limit moves up with your account's highest closing value and never decreases. The5ers uses a balance-based drawdown, which is more static and easier to manage, although they do enforce a daily loss limit (typically 3%) that IQ Capital does not use in the same way.
Which firm offers a higher profit split, IQ Capital or The5ers?
IQ Capital offers a higher initial split of 90% for its Core and Instant programs from the first payout. While The5ers starts lower (at 50% or 80% depending on the plan), it is the only one of the two that allows a trader to scale up to a 100% profit split through their growth program.
