- ·Uses EOD trailing that never locks — maximum profit retention.
- ·Cheapest entry: 1-Step $50K at $35 with GOFUTURES.
- ·Best profit split available: 90/10 (up to 100/0 in Elite phase).
Overview
Elite Trader Funding is a US-based futures prop trading firm operating as Elite Trader Funding, LLC since February 2022. The firm offers six evaluation plan types — 1-Step (Live Trailing), Static Drawdown, End of Day (EOD), Diamond Hands, Direct To Funded (DTF), and Fast Track — across CME futures markets only. Forex and crypto are not part of the offering. All evaluations and post-pass funded accounts trade in a simulated environment branded as "Elite Sim-Funded," with a discretionary pathway to real CME capital through ETF's Live Elite program.
As of May 2026, the active plan structure spans monthly-subscription evaluations (1-Step at $197 to $597, Static at $277 to $497, EOD at $347 to $657, Diamond Hands at $397, Fast Track at $87), one-time-fee instant-funded DTF accounts ($647 / $747 / $997), and the $87/month Fast Track speed evaluation with a strict 10-calendar-day deadline. Account sizes span $10,000 (Fast Track only) up to $250,000 (1-Step only). The September 17, 2025 overhaul reset the rule baseline: HFT, Martingale and VPN/VPS restrictions were removed, scratch trades and DCA were permitted, and the maximum active Elite Sim-Funded accounts per trader was tightened from 20 to 5 for new accounts.
ETF's positioning is built around three structural facts. First, plan diversity: six different drawdown and pacing models let a futures trader pick a rule set that matches their style instead of being funneled into one generic eval. Second, the Live Elite program: top sim performers may be invited to trade real CME capital with starting balances from $1,250 to $2,500, an 80/20 split, daily Monday-to-Friday payouts, and no lifetime cap — a documented pathway that few competitors match. Third, twice-weekly payouts: requests are reviewed daily since the September 2025 update and disbursed Mondays and Wednesdays through Rise, with a published 48-Hour Guarantee that pays the trader a $1,000 bonus if approval misses the window.
The firm is best suited to futures-only traders who want to compare drawdown models, are comfortable with the 23% Active Trading Day (ATD) consistency rule, and want a documented path to real capital. It is a poor fit for forex or crypto traders, traders who share a residential address with another prospective ETF user (the household policy is one of the strictest in the industry), and traders allergic to consistency math. This review is PTV research, not personal testing — Paul has not taken an ETF evaluation himself. Every rule, drawdown amount, fee and payout figure below comes from ETF's help center, ETF blog comparisons, and the September 2025 update documentation, all retrieved in early May 2026.
- Six plan types covering trailing, static, EOD, swing-friendly Diamond Hands, instant-funded DTF, and a $87/mo Fast Track entry.
- Live Elite real-capital pathway with daily Mon-Fri payouts and uncapped earnings — rare among futures prop firms.
- Twice-weekly Mon/Wed payouts with 100% on first $12,500 per cycle, then 80/20 above.
- 48-Hour Payout Guarantee: missed approval pays the trader a $1,000 bonus.
- News trading is explicitly permitted across CPI, FOMC and NFP — no flatten requirement.
- $25,000 lifetime sim payout cap forces traders into discretionary Live Elite qualification.
- 23% ATD consistency rule resets future qualifying day floors after any large win.
- Founder, CEO and office location are not publicly disclosed anywhere on ETF properties.
- Trustpilot ~3.9 across roughly 1,000 reviews is below industry-leading firms (4.5+).
- Same-household trading is strictly banned — violation forfeits funds across all accounts.
Account Types & Pricing
5 account types available. Pricing verified May 18, 2026.
| Plan | Price (GOFUTURES) | Cycle | DLL | Split | Paul-tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Step $50K | $35$197 | 7-day | None | 90/10 (up to 100/0 in Elite phase) | No |
| 1-Step $100K | $35$247 | 7-day | None | 90/10 | No |
| 1-Step $150K | $35$347 | 7-day | None | 90/10 | No |
| Diamond Hands $100K (EOD trailing) | $365 | — | $1,500 | 90/10 | No |
| Live Elite (post-Elite Sim funded; min balance $1,250-$2,500) | — | — | None | up to 100/0 | No |
Elite Trader Funding offers six active plan types as of May 2026. Five are subscription evaluations that flow into Elite Sim-Funded status on pass, and one (Direct To Funded) skips evaluation for a one-time fee. All are futures-only and all sit on simulated capital until a trader is discretionarily invited to Live Elite. Pricing below is sourced from ETF's help center and blog comparison tables retrieved in early May 2026.
The GOFUTURES promo code applies 80% off the first month's subscription on every evaluation product except DTF. After that first month, subscriptions renew at full price. The promo has no listed expiration date as of the April 2026 promo-codes article. Below the plan-by-plan breakdown, the activation, reset and add-on cost section covers what happens after a trader passes evaluation and rolls into Elite Sim-Funded.
1-Step (Live Trailing Drawdown)
Single-phase evaluation. The drawdown trails the highest unrealized equity peak during the eval. Once safety net is achieved in Elite Sim-Funded, the floor locks at starting balance plus $100. Notably, 1-Step does NOT have a daily loss limit during evaluation. By design, the trailing drawdown ceiling is the only risk gate. This is the only plan that reaches $250,000.
| Account Size | Monthly Price | Max Drawdown | Min Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $197 | $2,000 | $48,000 |
| $100,000 | $247 | $3,000 | $97,000 |
| $150,000 | $347 | $5,000 | $145,000 |
| $250,000 | $597 | $6,500 | $243,500 |
Profit target is approximately 6% of account size based on the confirmed $50K example ($3,000 target). Minimum five trading days, waivable through the One Day To Pass add-on. No time limit, so the subscription renews monthly until the trader passes or cancels. The 1-Step is the only plan that scales to the $250,000 size and is the closest match for traders coming from Apex's pre-4.0 trailing-drawdown model.
Static Drawdown
The drawdown is set as a fixed dollar amount below starting balance and never trails. Static plans have a daily loss limit calculated from prior day's close. Drawdowns are unusually tight at the larger sizes — a documented design feature that makes Static a precision plan rather than a swing plan.
| Account Size | Monthly Price | Max Drawdown |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $277 | $1,000 |
| $50,000 | $497 | $2,000 |
Five-day minimum trading days, waivable via One Day To Pass. ATD consistency rule applies in Elite Sim-Funded phase at the standard 23%. Safety net is achieved when realized profit equals max drawdown plus $100, after which the drawdown locks permanently. Static is the right pick for traders who actively dislike trailing-drawdown logic and want a fixed risk envelope they can plan against from the first trade.
End of Day (EOD)
The drawdown trails only to the highest end-of-day balance. Intraday unrealized swings do not move the floor. EOD plans have a daily loss limit during evaluation calculated from prior day's close; once safety net is achieved in Elite Sim-Funded, the daily loss limit is removed.
| Account Size | Monthly Price | Max Drawdown | Min Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $347 | $2,000 | $50,100 |
| $100,000 | $487 | $3,500 | $100,100 |
| $150,000 | $657 | $4,500 | $150,100 |
Five-day minimum, no time limit. Payout cycle 1 maximum is $2,000 with subsequent cycles increasing toward the $25,000 lifetime sim cap. EOD is the most popular plan for trend day-traders who want intraday breathing room — unrealized swings during the session do not move the drawdown floor, so a position that goes adverse and then recovers does not penalize the trader the way it would on a 1-Step live-trailing model.
Diamond Hands
EOD trailing drawdown, the same mechanic as the EOD plan, with one defining differentiator: overnight and over-weekend position holds are explicitly permitted. Only available at $100,000.
| Account Size | Monthly Price | Max Drawdown |
|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $397 | $3,500 |
Payout cycles are documented per cycle: cycle 1 caps at $1,750, cycle 2 at $2,000, cycle 3 at $2,250, cycle 4 and onward at $2,500 — all with a $100 minimum withdrawal. Lifetime cap remains $25,000. Daily loss limit applies during evaluation and through Elite Sim-Funded until safety net is hit.
Direct To Funded (DTF)
No evaluation phase. Trader starts directly in Elite Sim-Funded. One-time fee, not monthly subscription. Swing trading permitted (overnight and over-weekend holds allowed). The GOFUTURES code does NOT apply to DTF.
| Account Size | One-Time Fee | Drawdown Type | Max Drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $647 | Static | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $747 | EOD trailing | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $997 | Static | $5,000 |
DTF runs different ATD requirements per size: $25K requires 10 ATDs per cycle with $300 minimum profit per ATD and 38% consistency; $50K requires 15 ATDs at $600 minimum and 62% consistency; $100K requires 20 ATDs at $500 minimum and 50% consistency. Minimum withdrawal is $1,000 for $25K and $50K, $500 for $100K. DTF accounts can be reset twice. At least one trade per week is required to keep the account active.
Fast Track
Speed evaluation with a strict 10-calendar-day deadline. Two variants (EOD and Static) at a single $10K size. Designed as the cheapest entry path. The first month is free on activation, then $87/month.
| Account Size | Variant | Monthly Price | Profit Target | Max Drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | EOD | $87 | $2,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | Static | $87 | $2,000 | $500 |
Maximum position is 1 mini OR 10 micros. Minimum three trading days. Eval-phase consistency rule is 40% (best profitable day cannot exceed 40% of total eval profit). Fast Track is the only plan with a strict time limit (10 calendar days, auto-fail on expiry, cannot be reset). Maximum one Fast Track account per trader.
Activation, reset and add-on costs
Three activation paths exist after passing an evaluation: the Double Down Deal (3D) at $47, a $87/month standard subscription, or a one-time fee that varies by account size (approximately $177 at $75K and below, $177 to $307 at $100K to $150K, and $277 at $250K). The Elite Sim-Funded Credit Bonus reimburses the original evaluation cost back into the account at activation.
Reset fees range from $87 to $557 depending on plan and size. Confirmed examples: 1-Step $50K reset costs $147; Static $10K is $117; EOD $100K is $437; DTF $100K is $447. Maximum three resets per Elite Sim-Funded account, two per DTF account. Fast Track evaluations cannot be reset.
Add-on suite includes One Day To Pass (waives 5-minimum-trading-day rule), TradeShield (prevents instant breach on daily loss limit), PriceSlash (90% off coupon for next eval after passing), and the Double Down Deal at $47. Add-on prices outside Double Down Deal are not published in help-center articles and only surface at checkout.
Who Elite Trader Funding Is For (And Who It Isn't)
Match yourself to Elite Trader Funding's structure before signing up. Based on the 5 account types, drawdown mechanic, and Paul's testing data.
- ·Systematic traders who close cleanly each day
- ·Maximum profit-retention via trailing without lock
- ·Aggressive sizers — at least one plan has no consistency rule on funded
- ·Traders allergic to daily loss limits — at least one plan has no DLL
- ·Micro-account testers — smallest plan starts at $50K
Plan Economics: What Each Elite Trader Funding Account Actually Costs You
The headline price isn't the full picture. Here's the per-account math — buying-power cost, risk buffer, and breakeven estimate based on standard 30%-buffer-utilization assumptions.
| Plan | Buy-in | Risk buffer | Cost per $1K BP | Breakeven* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Step $50K | $35GOFUTURES | $2,000 | $0.70 | ~1 cycles |
| 1-Step $100K | $35GOFUTURES | $52,000 | $0.35 | ~1 cycles |
| 1-Step $150K | $35GOFUTURES | $102,000 | $0.23 | ~1 cycles |
| Diamond Hands $100K (EOD trailing) | $365 | $3,500 | $3.65 | ~1 cycles |
| Live Elite (post-Elite Sim funded; min balance $1,250-$2,500) | — | — | — | — |
How to read this:
- Buy-in = price you pay to start the evaluation (with PTV code applied where available).
- Risk buffer = dollars between your starting balance and the Maximum Loss Limit — the absolute drawdown room before breach.
- Cost per $1K buying power = price ÷ starting balance × $1,000. Lower = cheaper leverage. Useful to compare account sizes within the firm and across firms.
- Breakeven estimate* = approximate number of payout cycles to recoup your buy-in, assuming you utilize 30% of your risk buffer profitably per cycle at the plan's profit split. This is a baseline expectation, not a guarantee — your actual cycle output depends on strategy and discipline.
*Breakeven uses a standard 30%-buffer-utilization-per-cycle assumption. Aggressive sizing can shorten breakeven (and increase breach risk); conservative sizing extends it.
Sweet spot for new users: 1-Step $50K at $35 is the cheapest entry to learn Elite Trader Funding's rules without risking a larger buy-in. If you're already confident in your strategy, sizing up to 1-Step $50K typically improves your cost-per-$1K-buying-power ratio.
How Elite Trader Funding Drawdown Works
EOD · Trails upElite Trader Funding uses end-of-day trailing drawdown that follows your highest EOD equity forever. The MLL never locks — it keeps moving up as your account grows. Intraday equity peaks don't affect it; only closing balance.
How Elite Trader Funding's mechanic works in practice
- Daily close determines the new MLL high-water mark.
- A profit at close = MLL moves up by the profit amount.
- A loss at close (with overall account still above MLL) = MLL stays at the previous high.
- Intraday drawdown does NOT trigger the MLL — only EOD close matters.
- No lock event. The mechanic favors profit retention but never gives back the protection of a locked floor.
Best fit
Best for systematic strategies that close positions cleanly each session. Maximum profit retention without the lock-up trade-off. Strong fit for traders who care more about pulling profits than protecting initial capital.
What to watch out for
- The MLL keeps climbing forever — a 20% gain followed by a 15% retracement can still breach the account.
- Without a lock, every winning streak creates a higher threshold for the next losing streak.
- Holding a swing through close is risky — the EOD position decides whether the MLL moves up or stays put.
Calculate Your Drawdown
⚡ ToolPre-selected for Elite Trader Funding. Full tool with all firms →
Elite Trader Funding vs Same-Mechanic Alternatives
4 other firms use the same drawdown mechanic. Side-by-side on the dimensions that matter most when choosing within a category.
| Firm | Plans | Cheapest | Mechanic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elite Trader Funding This page | 5 | $35 (GOFUTURES) | eod-trail |
| Alpha Capital Group | 6 | $50 | eod-trail |
| AquaFutures | 4 | $166 | eod-trail |
| BluSky | 8 | $497 | eod-trail |
| Blue Guardian Futures | 8 | $99 | eod-trail |
All firms in this table use eod-trail drawdown. See all drawdown mechanics →
How Elite Trader Funding Payouts Actually Work
Payout cycle is 7 days depending on plan. 3 payout methods supported.
Cycle requirements per plan
- 1-Step $50K — minimum 7 days between payouts on funded.
- 1-Step $100K — minimum 7 days between payouts on funded.
- 1-Step $150K — minimum 7 days between payouts on funded.
Payout method comparison
| Method | Fees | Speed | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer (via Rise) | Free for traders | Same-day after request | Tradeify-class platform — 7 days/week processing. |
| Crypto (via Rise) | Free for traders | Same-day after request | Tradeify-class platform — 7 days/week processing. |
| Local currency (via Rise) | Free for traders | Same-day after request | Tradeify-class platform — 7 days/week processing. |
Practical takeaway: Elite Trader Funding's cycle length means you can realistically expect ~4 payouts per month on a profitable funded account. The actual processing time after request varies by method — pick the option that matches your residency and crypto-comfort.
Trading Rules
The Elite Trader Funding rule set is denser than most futures prop firms because the same plan family covers six different mechanics. Every rule below is sourced from a specific help-center article retrieved in early May 2026.
The 35% loss limit rule
The 35% rule activates once a funded Elite Sim-Funded account reaches 20% profit above starting balance. From that point, the trader cannot lose more than 35% of total accumulated profit (the "Payout Adjustment" figure, not current balance). Example: $50,000 in accumulated profits caps the maximum allowable drawdown at $17,500.
The rule is checked at every payout request review and during routine risk audits. Breach removes the account from Elite Sim-Funded AND disqualifies the trader from Live Elite. Payouts do NOT reset the calculation — the running total continues across payouts. There is no recovery pathway documented; breach is permanent.
The 23% ATD consistency rule
An Active Trading Day (ATD) qualifies only when both conditions are met: at least $200 in realized profit on that day (or $100 for smaller accounts: $10K and $25K 1-Step, $100K Static), AND profit on that day is at least 23% of the trader's best ATD P&L to date. The 23% rule is the rule that surprises unprepared traders most often — one $10,000 day raises every future ATD floor to $2,300.
DTF accounts run different consistency thresholds: 38% at $25K, 62% at $50K, 50% at $100K. Those apply to the consistency rule itself, not the per-day ATD minimum.
Safety net mechanic
The safety net requires the trader to earn realized profit equal to the account's max drawdown plus $100 before the drawdown level permanently locks. Once achieved, the drawdown stops trailing, the daily loss limit is removed on most plans, and the minimum balance becomes a permanent floor.
| Plan Family | Safety Net Threshold (example: $50K) |
|---|---|
| 1-Step | $52,100 (covers $2,000 DD + $100) |
| Static | $52,100 |
| EOD | $52,100 |
| Diamond Hands ($100K) | $103,600 |
The mechanic applies to 1-Step, Static, EOD, Diamond Hands and DTF. Once safety net is hit, the trader trades against a static minimum balance for the rest of the account's life.
Drawdown variants compared
| Plan | Drawdown Type | Daily Loss Limit | Overnight Holds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Step | Live trailing (intraday peak) | NO (by design) | NO |
| Static | Fixed dollar floor | YES | NO |
| EOD | Trails end-of-day close only | YES | NO |
| Diamond Hands | EOD trailing | YES (until safety net) | YES (defining feature) |
| DTF $25K, $100K | Static | Documented per plan | YES |
| DTF $50K | EOD trailing | Documented per plan | YES |
| Fast Track EOD | EOD trailing | NO | NO (implied) |
| Fast Track Static | Fixed | NO | NO (implied) |
The 1-Step's missing daily loss limit during evaluation is intentional and is the documented product differentiator versus EOD, Static, and Diamond Hands.
Restricted countries
ETF does not publish its own country list. Eligibility is determined by three external frameworks combined: the OFAC sanctioned-countries list (which excludes citizens and residents of sanctioned states), Rise (Riseworks) supported countries for payouts, and Stripe's supported regions for billing. Because each of these can change independently, ETF's effective restricted list shifts over time. Traders outside the US should verify Rise availability and Stripe support before purchase rather than rely on a fixed list.
Account caps and the September 2025 update
Maximum active Elite Sim-Funded accounts per trader: five for accounts opened after September 17, 2025; up to twenty for legacy accounts opened before that date (with a max of five Fast Track and five DTF inside the twenty). Accounts exceeding the post-September cap may be deactivated without notice. DTF accounts count toward the five-account limit.
The September 17, 2025 update also lifted three legacy restrictions: HFT, Martingale strategies and VPN/VPS use are all permitted post-update. Scratch trades, contract scaling and dollar-cost averaging are now permitted without limitation.
30-day login policy and weekly trade requirement
Two activity rules govern Elite Sim-Funded account maintenance. First, traders must log into their accounts at least once every thirty days. Second, every Elite Sim-Funded account must execute at least one trade per week. Sustained inactivity allows ETF to close the account. The 30-day login is more restrictive than the weekly trade rule alone — traders who pause to wait for setups need to plan around both.
Household policy
Same-household trading is one of the strictest rules in the futures-prop industry. As of the March 20, 2024 policy revision, traders from the same household are not allowed to participate on ETF under any circumstances. The rule covers family members, roommates and anyone sharing a residential address. Violation triggers immediate suspension and termination of all linked accounts, forfeiture of funds, and possible legal action.
News trading is permitted
News trading is fully unrestricted. ETF's help center is explicit: "ETF does not impose any restrictions or limitations on traders during major economic news events." CPI, FOMC, NFP, ECB rate decisions and any other release can be traded without flatten requirements. ETF disclaims liability for platform malfunctions during volatile periods, which is standard.
Position size limits
The platform-side rule is consistent across all plans except DTF: 1 mini equals 1 position; 10 micros equals 1 position (the 1:10 micro-to-mini conversion). Fast Track caps at one mini OR ten micros. DTF uses a 1:1 mini-to-micro relationship rather than 1:10 — a documented exception. Specific maximum position counts per account size on 1-Step, EOD, Static and Diamond Hands are listed only on the JS-rendered evaluations page and are not extractable from public documentation.
Hedging and trading-for-others
Hedging against yourself on the same or correlated instruments is prohibited, as is trading on behalf of another user. Both rules carry account closure as the breach consequence.
Strategies & Best Practice
Strategies for Elite Trader Funding come down to plan-selection-as-strategy first, execution second. The right plan choice eliminates entire categories of breach risk before a single trade is placed. Below are the documented best practices for each major rule and plan combination as of May 2026.
Match the drawdown model to your style first
If your trading style is intraday momentum scalping with quick exits, the EOD plan removes intraday-trailing risk — your unrealized peaks during the session do not move the drawdown floor. If your style runs tight stops with clean exits, 1-Step's live-trailing model is workable because you rarely sit on big unrealized open trades. If you are a swing trader holding through the close, Diamond Hands at $100K is the only plan that permits overnight and over-weekend holds. Static is the precision plan for traders who want a fixed risk envelope that never moves.
The wrong plan choice creates breaches that no execution discipline can prevent. Picking 1-Step for a swing strategy is a structural mismatch — the live trailing locks at the unrealized peak, and a position held through a positive-then-negative session can fail the eval on paper gains that never materialized.
Plan around the 23% ATD rule before you compound
The 23% ATD consistency rule is the rule that catches unprepared traders most often. The mechanic is asymmetric: one large day permanently raises every future qualifying ATD floor to 23% of that high. A trader who hits a $10,000 day must clear $2,300 on every subsequent ATD to qualify it.
Two practices control the math. First, on cycle one (8 ATDs required to first payout), aim for a tight band of $400 to $800 days rather than one $5,000 home run. The total profit is similar; the future ATD floor stays low. Second, if you do hit an outsized day early, accept that subsequent ATDs need to scale up — and pace the next ten sessions to land in the 23%-or-above zone deliberately. The rule is detailed in the 23% consistency rule article.
Hit the safety net before pushing for size
The safety net (max drawdown + $100 in realized profits) is the inflection point on every Elite Sim-Funded account. Pre-safety-net, the drawdown is moving and the daily loss limit is live on most plans. Post-safety-net, the drawdown locks, the daily loss limit is removed on most plans, and you trade against a static minimum balance. Trading bigger size before safety net is the most common avoidable breach. Trade light to safety net, then scale.
Avoid the 35% rule trigger by managing peak profit
The 35% loss limit only activates once accumulated profit hits +20%. Until then, the rule is dormant. Once active, it is harsh — 35% of total accumulated profit is the maximum drawdown the account can take. Two strategic responses: either consciously stay below the +20% activation threshold and pull payouts aggressively (each payout reduces the account balance back toward starting), or push past +20% with an explicit risk plan that never lets equity drop more than 35% of the running profit total.
Use the cycle structure for payout pacing
Payout cycles run on Active Trading Day counts: 8 ATDs to first payout, then 10 ATDs each for cycles 2 through 4. Mon/Wed processing means a trader who clears 8 ATDs in two weeks can pull a payout the same week the eighth ATD lands. Rise disbursement post-approval typically runs 1-3 business days for bank transfer.
News trading and overnight strategies
News trading is fully permitted across CPI, FOMC, NFP and other releases. ETF disclaims platform-malfunction liability during volatile windows, which is standard. For overnight or weekend strategy work, Diamond Hands ($100K) and DTF (all sizes) are the only valid plans — every other plan requires positions to close one minute before market close.
Prevent two avoidable breaches
The two avoidable breaches that catch traders most often are (1) holding a position past the close on a non-overnight plan, and (2) sustained inactivity triggering the 30-day login or weekly-trade rules. The fix on both is procedural: set a daily auto-flatten alarm before close on 1-Step / Static / EOD accounts, and place at least one $200+ trade per week even on slow setups. The detailed strategy framework is in the ETF strategy guide.
Platforms
Elite Trader Funding supports five trading platforms as of May 2026: Tradovate, NinjaTrader 8, Rithmic, TradingView and QuanTower. Help-center connection guides exist for each, including a dedicated guide for running NinjaTrader on macOS via Parallels. MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 are not supported because ETF is a futures-only firm focused exclusively on CME products.
Tradovate. The most common entry-point platform across the ETF user base. Web-based with no installation, cleared through the Tradovate-to-ETF account credentials flow issued from the trader dashboard. Tradovate also serves as the bridge for TradingView execution. Detailed troubleshooting articles exist in the help center for connection drops, real-time data issues and group-trading setups.
NinjaTrader 8. Standard heavyweight charting and strategy-builder platform with replay-mode functionality. The macOS-via-Parallels setup is documented in a dedicated help article, useful for Mac-based traders who would otherwise hit a Windows-only wall. Connects to ETF via Rithmic credentials issued post-purchase.
Rithmic. Connects to NinjaTrader and QuanTower. Rithmic data feed is an additional fee on top of the base ETF subscription (amount not published in help-center articles), and is targeted at traders who want low-latency execution and serious order-flow tooling. Routine weekend maintenance windows are documented.
TradingView. Routes through Tradovate to ETF accounts. Suitable for traders already using TradingView for charting who want to keep their workflow inside one tool. Setup requires both an active Tradovate connection AND a TradingView Pro+ subscription or higher. Order types, HAR file troubleshooting and login-session handling are covered in dedicated help-center articles.
QuanTower. Less common in the futures-prop landscape but documented in the ETF help-center platform section. Connects via Rithmic. Useful for traders who prefer QuanTower's order-flow, DOM and volume-profile tooling over the standard Tradovate or NinjaTrader workflow.
All accounts trade in a simulated environment branded as Elite Sim-Funded until a trader is discretionarily invited to Live Elite, which executes on real capital across CME exchanges. Non-professional Level 1 data is included free with the evaluation subscription. Rithmic data carries an additional fee (amount not published). CME Market Depth (Level 2) is an optional monthly add-on at approximately $15/month, purchased per calendar month from the Trader Dashboard. Live Elite participants pay $197/month per exchange for data fees with Level 1 and Level 2 included; commissions are $2.00 per contract on minis, $0.62 per contract on micros and $0.69 per contract on Eurex products. Auto-liquidation in Live Elite carries a $5 per-contract fee, and the EdgeProX platform fee of $34.99/month is covered by ETF after three months of genuine trading activity.
Trust & Legitimacy
Trust signals at Elite Trader Funding are mixed. The structural fundamentals are competitive: four-plus years operating, $13M+ paid out, 13,000+ funded traders, documented payout rails through Rise, real-capital pathway through Live Elite. The opacity around leadership and the modest Trustpilot footprint are the two areas where ETF lags top-tier competitors.
Firm fundamentals
Elite Trader Funding, LLC was founded in February 2022, making it a 4+ year operation as of May 2026. The legal entity is confirmed via footer copyright; the state of incorporation is not publicly disclosed. The canonical domain is elitetraderfunding.app. The legacy elitetraderfunding.com domain returns 403 forbidden during recon, and etfunded.com is not active. The firm is futures-only on CME products (ES, NQ, CL, GC and others); forex and crypto are not part of the offering.
Founder, CEO and office disclosure
ETF does not publicly disclose its founder, CEO or office location. No About page identifies leadership. No LinkedIn profile resolved during research. No help-center article names individuals. The X/Twitter account is gated behind premium. State of LLC incorporation is also not disclosed. This is unusual for a 4-year-old firm with $13M+ in payouts, and it is the most consistent gap in the public record. Treat this as a structural negative: not necessarily a red flag, but worth weighing against firms that publish leadership openly.
Payout track record
ETF's published payout track record is competitive: $13M+ total paid out, 6,800+ payouts processed, 13,000+ funded traders served. All three figures appear consistently across ETF homepage, blog comparison articles and recent 2026 content. Payout proof is visible in the ETF Discord's #payout-success channel.
The 48-Hour Payout Guarantee is a documented commitment: if a qualifying payout is not approved within 2 business days, the trader receives a $1,000 bonus. The guarantee excludes weekends, US bank holidays, ETF system outages and third-party (Rise, SumSub) delays, which is standard fine print.
Trustpilot
Trustpilot rating is approximately 3.9/5 across roughly 1,000 reviews. ETF's own blog cites this figure as "solid but not outstanding," which is accurate. Direct Trustpilot access was blocked during research (403 on all endpoints), so the figure should be verified directly at trustpilot.com/review/elitetraderfunding.com before relying on it. The 3.9 rating is below the typical top-tier prop firm rating of 4.5+, which is a meaningful gap for traders who weight third-party review sentiment heavily.
Community footprint
The community has two distinct stats that are often conflated. Discord membership is approximately 17,000 elite users, a focused community for payout proof and rule discussion. Total customer base (homepage figure) is 59,000+ "happy customers." The 59,000 number refers to total customers ever, not Discord, a correction worth flagging because some third-party comparison articles cite 59,000 as Discord-specific.
ETF also runs the Beat the Beast competition. Entry is available via paid account purchase or free AMOE (200-word essay submission). Open to US residents 18+. Prizes include auto-pass for evaluation, coupon codes or funded accounts. Challenge timing is unannounced.
KYC and account security
KYC is handled by SumSub (AI plus biometric verification). Verification is required at initial registration AND at payout time. If SumSub cannot verify, ETF must comply with their decision and may close the account, because ETF cannot override the third-party verifier. Account ownership is permanent and cannot be transferred. Email address is permanent and cannot be changed after registration. LLC and business accounts must be registered at initial signup; they cannot be added to an existing personal account.
Live Elite as a credibility signal
The Live Elite program is documented in detail with starting balances, profit splits, exchange fees ($197/month per exchange), per-contract commissions, EdgeProX platform fees and inactivity rules. ETF claims to have invested $5M+ into live traders as of 2026. The structural detail is credible, though Live Elite qualification is discretionary, not guaranteed. A trader who hits the $25,000 sim cap may or may not be invited.
What I would weigh
For a futures-only trader, the trust read is mid-tier-positive: documented payouts, real-capital pathway, third-party KYC, and a public help-center library. The detractors are the leadership opacity, the 3.9 Trustpilot vs 4.5+ industry leaders, and the strict household and 30-day login policies that can catch traders who do not read the rule library carefully. ETF is verifiably operating; the transparency gap is the gap.
How Elite Trader Funding Compares
Three head-to-head comparisons matter most for a trader deciding whether ETF is the right futures prop firm: ETF vs Apex (the biggest direct competitor), ETF vs Topstep (the brand benchmark), and ETF vs MyFundedFutures / Lucid Trading (the closest mid-tier peer). Each is summarized below; the full breakdowns live in dedicated comparison articles.
ETF vs Apex Trader Funding
| Dimension | Elite Trader Funding | Apex Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Plan diversity | 6 plan types | Standard + Static (2 main types) |
| Drawdown options | Trailing, Static, EOD, EoP, hybrid | Trailing through full life |
| Live capital path | Live Elite (real CME capital) | None (sim only) |
| Profit split | 100% first $12.5K/cycle, 80/20 above | 100% first $25K, then 90/10 |
| Account cap | 5 active sim funded (post Sep 2025) | Up to 20 evaluations / 10 funded |
| Eval cost ($50K) | 1-Step $197/mo, Static $497/mo | Approx $147 one-time |
| Payout cadence | Twice weekly Mon/Wed | 8-day cycle |
| Trustpilot | 3.9 / ~1,000 | UNKNOWN here, verify directly |
Apex wins on account stacking economics and a cheaper per-eval entry point. ETF wins on plan diversity, payout cadence and the Live Elite real-capital pathway. Full breakdown is in the ETF vs Apex comparison.
ETF vs Topstep
| Dimension | Elite Trader Funding | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Plan diversity | 6 plan types | Trading Combine (1 plan, 3 sizes) |
| Max account size | $250,000 (1-Step) | $150,000 ceiling |
| Overnight holds | YES (Diamond Hands and DTF) | NO |
| Live capital path | Live Elite real CME | TopstepX live trading |
| Brand tenure | 4 years | Longer brand history |
| News trading | Permitted unrestricted | Permitted with caveats |
| Trustpilot | 3.9 / ~1,000 | UNKNOWN here, verify directly |
Topstep wins on brand history and per-Trustpilot review depth. ETF wins on plan diversity, larger maximum account size, and overnight-hold availability through Diamond Hands and DTF. Full breakdown is in the ETF vs Topstep comparison.
ETF vs MyFundedFutures (Lucid Trading)
| Dimension | Elite Trader Funding | MyFundedFutures (Lucid) |
|---|---|---|
| Max account size | $250,000 | $150,000 |
| Plan diversity | 6 types | Simpler product line |
| Cheapest entry ($25K) | DTF $647 one-time, Static $277/mo | Approx $75 one-time |
| Live capital path | Live Elite | LucidLive (similar concept) |
| Payout guarantee | 48-Hour with $1,000 bonus | UNKNOWN here, verify directly |
| Trustpilot | 3.9 / ~1,000 | UNKNOWN here, verify directly |
Lucid wins on cheaper entry economics for the smaller-account traders. ETF wins on maximum account size, plan diversity and the 48-Hour Payout Guarantee. Full breakdown is in the ETF vs MyFundedFutures comparison.
The right answer depends on trader profile. For a futures-only trader who values plan diversity and a documented real-capital pathway, ETF is a serious contender. For a trader who prioritizes cheapest-entry economics or the largest brand footprint, Lucid or Topstep respectively will be a better starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions About Elite Trader Funding
What drawdown mechanic does Elite Trader Funding use?
What account types does Elite Trader Funding offer?
How much does Elite Trader Funding cost?
What's the profit split at Elite Trader Funding?
Does Elite Trader Funding have a daily loss limit?
Does Elite Trader Funding have a consistency rule?
How often does Elite Trader Funding pay out?
What payout methods does Elite Trader Funding support?
Has Paul personally tested Elite Trader Funding?
What's Elite Trader Funding's Trustpilot rating?
What trading platforms does Elite Trader Funding support?
More questions about Elite Trader Funding
Is Elite Trader Funding legit?
Elite Trader Funding, LLC has been operating since February 2022, has documented $13M+ in cumulative payouts to 13,000+ funded traders, runs KYC through SumSub, and disburses through Rise (Riseworks). The structural fundamentals are credible. Caveats: the firm does not publicly disclose its founder, CEO or office location, and Trustpilot sits at approximately 3.9/5 across roughly 1,000 reviews — below the typical 4.5+ rating of top-tier competitors. ETF is verifiably operating; the transparency on leadership is the gap. Detail: Is ETF Legit?.
How do payouts work at Elite Trader Funding?
ETF processes payout requests daily (since the September 2025 update) and disburses on Mondays and Wednesdays via Rise. The first $12,500 per cycle is paid at 100% to the trader; profits above that on the same cycle are split 80/20. Per-request maximum is $25,000. Lifetime sim payout cap is $25,000 across all sim accounts (extendable to $150,000 for Live Elite graduates who return to sim post-liquidation). Minimum withdrawal is $100 on most plans, $1,000 for DTF $25K and $50K, and $500 for DTF $100K. Detail: ETF Payout Proof.
What is the 35% loss limit rule?
The 35% rule activates once an Elite Sim-Funded account reaches 20% profit above starting balance. After activation, the trader cannot lose more than 35% of total accumulated profit (Payout Adjustment figure). Example: $50,000 in accumulated profits caps maximum drawdown at $17,500. Breach removes the account from Elite Sim-Funded and disqualifies the trader from Live Elite. Payouts do not reset the calculation; the running total continues across payouts. Detail: The 35% Loss Rule at ETF.
What is Live Elite and how do I qualify?
Live Elite is ETF's real-capital trading program — the trader receives real CME capital and trades on actual exchange. Qualification requires any one of: 5 sim payouts completed, 50 ATDs accumulated, OR $25,000 cumulative sim payouts, plus a background check and completion of 34 core CME rules lessons. Starting balances range from $1,250 to $2,500 depending on account type. Profit split is 80/20 (trader keeps 80%). Payouts run daily Monday through Friday. There is no lifetime cap on Live Elite earnings. Detail: The Live Elite Program.
What is the GOFUTURES code?
GOFUTURES is ETF's permanent promo code at 80% off the first month's subscription. It applies to all evaluation products (1-Step, Static, EOD, Diamond Hands, Fast Track) but does NOT apply to Direct To Funded accounts. The code is single-use per purchase and cannot be combined with other discounts. Sample first-month prices with the code: 1-Step $50K at $39.40, Fast Track at $17.40. After the first month, subscriptions renew at full price. Detail: ETF Coupon Codes.
What changed at ETF in September 2025?
The September 17, 2025 overhaul reset several baseline rules. Maximum active Elite Sim-Funded accounts dropped from 20 to 5 for new accounts. HFT, Martingale and VPN/VPS restrictions were removed. Scratch trades, contract scaling and DCA are now permitted without limitation. Payout review moved to daily processing. The Live Elite liquidation pathway was extended to up to $150,000 in lifetime sim payouts in $25,000 increments. Detail: What Changed at ETF in September 2025.
Can I trade news on ETF?
Yes — news trading is fully unrestricted. ETF's help center is explicit: there are no restrictions or limitations during major economic news events including CPI, FOMC, NFP, ECB rate decisions and BoE decisions. ETF disclaims liability for platform malfunctions during volatile periods, which is standard. Detail: News Trading at ETF.
How many ETF accounts can I have?
Five active Elite Sim-Funded accounts per trader for accounts opened after September 17, 2025. Legacy accounts opened before that date can hold up to twenty (with sub-caps of five Fast Track and five DTF inside the twenty). DTF accounts count toward the five-account post-September limit. Accounts exceeding the cap may be deactivated without notice. Detail: The 5-Account Cap at ETF.
What platforms does ETF support?
Five platforms: Tradovate, NinjaTrader 8, Rithmic, TradingView (routed through Tradovate) and QuanTower. Help-center connection guides exist for each, including a NinjaTrader-on-macOS-via-Parallels setup. MetaTrader 4 and 5 are not supported because ETF is futures-only. Non-professional Level 1 data is included free; Rithmic data carries an additional fee; CME Market Depth (Level 2) is approximately $15/month. Detail: The 5 Platforms at ETF.
Are there restricted countries?
ETF does not publish its own country list. Restrictions are determined by three external frameworks: the OFAC sanctioned-countries list (citizens and residents of sanctioned states cannot be approved), Rise (Riseworks) supported countries for payout eligibility, and Stripe's supported regions for billing eligibility. Traders outside the US should verify Rise and Stripe support before purchase. Detail: Restricted Countries at ETF.