TradeDay Affiliate Program: How to Earn Commissions

Written by Paul

Published on

January 9, 2026

You're trading with TradeDay, you're in some trading Discord servers or Facebook groups, and you keep seeing other traders ask about prop firms. You answer questions, share your experience, and occasionally someone signs up for TradeDay based on your recommendation.

Right now, you're getting zero dollars for those referrals. But TradeDay has an affiliate program that pays you commissions every time someone signs up using your link. Some traders are making $500-2,000/month just from affiliate commissions on top of their trading income.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with TradeDay and the info available when I published/updated this. Things change in prop trading — rules, payouts, promos, all of it.

For the absolute latest, check TradeDay´s website or their faq page.

I ignored the affiliate program for my first six months with TradeDay because I assumed it was complicated or required some kind of influencer status. Turns out it's dead simple: get a link, share it, earn money when people subscribe. I've made $1,800 in affiliate commissions over the past 8 months just from casually sharing my link in trading communities.

This is your complete guide to TradeDay's affiliate program: how it works, how much you actually earn, how to get your link, and realistic strategies for making affiliate income without becoming a full-time YouTuber.

How the TradeDay Affiliate Program Works

The basic concept is simple: TradeDay gives you a unique referral link, and you earn commissions when people sign up through that link.

The Commission Structure

TradeDay pays you based on subscription revenue from your referrals.

What you earn:

30% commission on all subscription payments from traders you refer
Paid monthly for as long as your referrals stay subscribed
Recurring income (not just one-time payment)

What triggers a commission:

Someone clicks your affiliate link
They sign up for a TradeDay evaluation account
They pay their first month's subscription ($75-225 depending on account type)
You earn 30% of that payment
Every month they renew, you earn 30% again

Real Commission Examples

Let's run the math on actual earnings:

Scenario 1 - One referral subscribes to $100K EOD account:

Their monthly cost: $150/month
Your commission: $150 × 0.30 = $45/month
They stay subscribed 4 months = $180 total earned from one referral

Scenario 2 - Five referrals, various account types:

Referral A: $50K Intraday = $75/month → you earn $22.50/month
Referral B: $100K EOD = $150/month → you earn $45/month
Referral C: $100K Static = $165/month → you earn $49.50/month
Referral D: $150K EOD = $210/month → you earn $63/month
Referral E: $50K EOD = $99/month → you earn $29.70/month
Total monthly: $209.70/month from five active referrals

Scenario 3 - Active affiliate with 20 referrals:

Average subscription: $140/month across all referrals
Your commission per referral: $42/month average
Total monthly: $840/month from affiliate income alone

This is passive recurring income. Once someone signs up through your link, you keep earning as long as they stay subscribed.

The Cookie Duration

TradeDay uses a 30-day cookie for tracking referrals.

How it works:

Someone clicks your affiliate link
A cookie is saved in their browser for 30 days
If they sign up within those 30 days, you get credit for the referral
If they wait 31+ days, you don't get credit

Strategic implication: When sharing your link, encourage people to sign up soon rather than "think about it for a few months."

What Doesn't Earn Commissions

You don't earn commissions on:

Reset fees (when referrals fail and pay to reset)
Activation fees ($139 when they pass evaluation)
Funded Live upgrade fees ($140/month data fees)
Riseworks/payout processing fees

You only earn on the recurring evaluation subscription fees: the $75-225/month charges.

Payment Processing

TradeDay pays affiliate commissions monthly via their affiliate platform.

Timeline:

Commissions earned in January = paid in early February
Typical processing: 5-10 business days after month end
Minimum payout threshold: $50 (you need at least $50 in commissions before they pay out)

Payment methods:

PayPal
Bank transfer (ACH for US, wire for international)
Cryptocurrency (varies by affiliate platform they use)

How to Sign Up for the Affiliate Program

Getting started takes about 10 minutes.

Step 1: Apply for Affiliate Access

Log into your TradeDay account
Navigate to "Affiliate Program" in the menu (or footer links)
Click "Join Affiliate Program" or "Become an Affiliate"
Fill out the application form:
- Your name and contact info
- Website/social media where you'll promote (if applicable)
- Brief description of how you'll promote TradeDay
Submit application

Application approval: Usually approved within 24-48 hours. TradeDay approves most applications unless you have a history of violations or you're clearly trying to spam.

Step 2: Get Your Affiliate Link

Once approved:

Log into the affiliate dashboard (separate login from your trading account)
Find your unique referral link
Copy it

Example link format: tradeday.com/join?ref=yourname123 or similar

This link is tracked to your affiliate account. Anyone who signs up through it counts as your referral.

Step 3: Optional - Get Discount Codes

TradeDay may provide special discount codes for affiliates to share with their audience.

Example: A code for 40% off the first month subscription

These codes increase conversion rates (people are more likely to sign up with a discount) and you still earn full 30% commission on the discounted price.

Where to find codes: In your affiliate dashboard or via email from TradeDay's affiliate team.

Step 4: Start Promoting

Share your link wherever you interact with traders:

Trading Discord servers
Reddit trading communities
Twitter/X trading discussions
YouTube comments on trading videos
Trading forums and Facebook groups
Your own website or blog if you have one

We'll cover specific promotion strategies below.

Realistic Income Expectations

Let's be honest about what most affiliates actually earn.

The Income Distribution

Tier 1 - Casual Affiliates (80% of affiliates):

Share link occasionally in trading communities
1-5 active referrals at any time
Income: $50-250/month

Tier 2 - Active Affiliates (15% of affiliates):

Consistently share content, help traders, mention TradeDay regularly
10-25 active referrals
Income: $400-1,000/month

Tier 3 - Pro Affiliates (5% of affiliates):

Run YouTube channels, blogs, or large communities
50+ active referrals
Income: $2,000-5,000+/month

Most people reading this will be Tier 1 or Tier 2. Making $100-500/month in affiliate income is realistic if you're active in trading communities and genuinely helpful.

Time Investment vs Income

Low effort (~2 hours/month):

Post your link when people ask about prop firms
Respond to questions with genuine help + link
Expected income: $50-150/month

Medium effort (~10 hours/month):

Create Reddit posts or forum guides about prop trading
Actively participate in Discord communities helping traders
Share your personal TradeDay results and experience
Expected income: $300-800/month

High effort (~40 hours/month):

Create YouTube videos or written content regularly
Run a trading blog or newsletter
Build a community around your trading journey
Expected income: $1,000-3,000+/month

The beauty of affiliate income is it's recurring. Put in the work once to get a referral, earn monthly income from them for months or years.

Effective Affiliate Strategies (Without Being Sleazy)

Here's how to actually earn commissions without becoming a pushy salesperson.

Strategy #1: Answer Questions in Trading Communities

This is the lowest-effort, highest-integrity approach.

How it works:

Join trading Discords, Reddit communities (r/FuturesTrading, r/Daytrading, etc.)
Watch for questions like "What's a good prop firm?" or "Should I try TradeDay?"
Provide genuine, balanced answers based on your real experience
Include your affiliate link as a "if you want to try it, here's my link"

Example Reddit comment:

I've been trading with TradeDay for 6 months. Passed two evaluations, currently funded on one account making $1,500-2,000/month. The EOD drawdown type is way more forgiving than other firms I've tried.

Not perfect (they have news trading restrictions and the consistency rule during eval is annoying), but overall solid. If you want to check it out, here's my referral link: [link]

Why this works: You're being helpful first, selling second. People appreciate honest reviews more than hype.

Strategy #2: Document Your Trading Journey

Share your real TradeDay experience publicly.

Platforms to use:

Twitter/X: Daily trading updates
YouTube: Weekly recap videos
Reddit: Monthly progress posts
Blog: Detailed trading journal entries

What to share:

Your evaluation progress (profit, days completed, setups that worked)
Payout screenshots (blur sensitive info)
Mistakes you made and what you learned
Platform setup and tools you use

Include your affiliate link naturally:

"I'm trading on a TradeDay $100K account, 14 days into my second eval. Currently at $1,800 profit toward my $2,500 target. If you want to try TradeDay, here's my link: [link]"

People trust real documented experience more than generic "best prop firm!!!" promotion.

Strategy #3: Create Helpful Resources

Make genuinely useful content that helps traders, with your affiliate link included.

Content ideas:

"How I passed my TradeDay evaluation in 3 weeks" (step-by-step guide)
"TradeDay vs TopStep vs Apex: which is best for scalpers?" (comparison)
"My exact NinjaTrader setup for TradeDay trading" (tutorial)
"5 mistakes that failed my first TradeDay evaluation" (lessons learned)

Post these as blog articles, YouTube videos, or detailed Reddit posts.

Why this works: You're providing value first. Your affiliate link is a natural next step for readers who want to try what you're explaining.

Strategy #4: Build a Small Community

You don't need thousands of followers. A small engaged group of 20-50 traders is enough.

How to build it:

Start a free Discord server or Telegram group
Share your trades daily (screenshots, reasoning)
Help members with their questions
Create accountability (everyone shares their progress)
Mention TradeDay when relevant

Monetization:

Free community = affiliate link in the welcome channel
Paid community ($10-30/month) = affiliate link + premium content

A small group of 30 traders, where 10 end up signing up for TradeDay = $300-500/month in affiliate income for you.

Strategy #5: Partner with Trading Educators

If you know traders who run courses, offer to be their "official TradeDay partner."

The pitch:

"Hey [educator], I see you recommend prop firms to your students. I have a TradeDay affiliate link and I'm happy to answer their questions if they sign up. We could split commissions 50/50 if you send them through my link."

This works especially well with educators who teach futures trading but don't want to deal with prop firm affiliate programs themselves.

What Not to Do (Avoiding Sleazy Tactics)

These approaches will get you banned or damage your reputation:

Don't: Spam Links Everywhere

Dropping your affiliate link in every Discord/Reddit thread without context makes you look desperate and gets you banned from communities.

Bad example:

"TradeDay is the best! Sign up here: [link]" (posted 50 times per day)

Good example:

"I've tested TradeDay, TopStep, and Apex. Here's my comparison based on 6 months of experience: [detailed comparison]. If you choose TradeDay, here's my link: [link]"

Don't: Lie About Your Results

Don't claim you're making $10K/month from TradeDay if you're actually struggling to pass evaluations.

Why: People will sign up, realize it's harder than you claimed, and you'll get called out publicly. Reputation matters more than short-term commissions.

Don't: Promote TradeDay If You Don't Actually Use It

Affiliate marketing only works long-term if you genuinely use and believe in the product.

If you've never traded with TradeDay, don't promote them just because they have an affiliate program. Promote what you actually know works.

Don't: Hide That You're an Affiliate

Legally and ethically, you should disclose affiliate relationships.

How to disclose:

"Full disclosure: This is my TradeDay affiliate link, so I earn a commission if you sign up. I only promote them because I actually trade there and have had good experiences."

Transparency builds trust. People don't care that you earn commissions as long as you're honest about it.

Maximizing Your Conversion Rate

Getting people to click your link is only half the battle. Here's how to increase signup rates.

Tip #1: Offer Help Beyond Just the Link

Don't just drop a link and disappear. Offer to answer questions.

Better approach:

"If you sign up through my link and have questions about platform setup, evaluation strategies, or anything else, DM me. Happy to help."

Personal support increases conversion dramatically. People are more likely to sign up if they know they have someone to ask for help.

Tip #2: Share Discount Codes

If TradeDay provides affiliate discount codes, share them prominently.

Example:

"Use code PAUL40 for 40% off your first month when you sign up through my link: [link]"

Discounts reduce friction. A $150/month subscription becomes $90/month with 40% off, making the decision easier.

Tip #3: Target the Right Audience

Not every trader is a good fit for TradeDay.

Best targets:

Futures traders (ES, NQ, CL, GC)
Scalpers and day traders
Traders who've passed other prop evaluations before
Traders with 6+ months of trading experience

Poor targets:

Complete beginners (they'll fail and blame you)
Stock traders not interested in futures
Forex traders focused on currency pairs
Traders expecting "easy money" or get-rich-quick schemes

Focus your promotion on people who are likely to succeed, not just anyone who might sign up.

Tip #4: Create Comparison Content

Traders don't just decide "I want TradeDay." They compare options.

Create content like:

"TradeDay vs TopStep: Which is better for your trading style?"
"Best prop firm for scalpers: TradeDay, Apex, or Leeloo?"
"TradeDay review: 6 months of real trading results"

Comparison content ranks well in Google, gets shared in communities, and converts well because it helps people make informed decisions.

Tip #5: Follow Up on Clicks

Some affiliate platforms show you when someone clicks your link but doesn't sign up.

Follow-up strategy:

Send a friendly message: "Hey, saw you checked out TradeDay. Any questions about it?"
Address common objections: cost, difficulty, time commitment
Offer to walk them through the signup process

Simple follow-ups can increase conversion by 20-30%.

Tracking Your Affiliate Performance

Your affiliate dashboard shows key metrics.

Metrics to Watch

Clicks: How many people clicked your affiliate link

Goal: Increase this by sharing more and in more places

Signups: How many people created accounts

Goal: Improve conversion rate (signups ÷ clicks)

Active Subscriptions: How many are currently paying monthly

Goal: Keep this number growing month-over-month

Monthly Commissions: Total earnings this month

Goal: Compound growth over time

Churn Rate: How many referrals cancel per month

Goal: Keep this low by referring quality traders who succeed

Example Monthly Dashboard

Clicks: 487 Signups: 23 (4.7% conversion rate) Active Subscriptions: 18 Monthly Commissions: $756 Churn This Month: 2 canceled (11%)

Analysis: Decent conversion rate (industry average is 2-5%). Good retention (89% of referrals stayed subscribed). Focus on increasing total clicks to grow income.

Common Affiliate Questions

How long does it take to earn my first commission?

Timeline:

Day 1: Share your link
Week 1-2: First referral signs up
Week 2-3: Their first monthly payment processes
Week 3-4: You receive your first commission payout

Expect 3-4 weeks from first promotion to first dollar earned. Then it compounds as you get more referrals.

Do I need to be a funded trader to be an affiliate?

No. You can be an affiliate even if you're just in evaluation or haven't signed up yourself yet.

That said, your conversion rate will be much higher if you can say "I actually trade here and here's my experience" rather than "I heard this is good."

What if my referrals fail their evaluations?

You still earned commissions on their subscription payments while they were trying. If they cancel after failing, you stop earning from that referral, but you keep what you already earned.

Can I refer myself to get a discount?

No. Using your own affiliate link to sign up for another account is against the terms. TradeDay will catch it and ban your affiliate account.

How do I track which promotions work best?

Most affiliate platforms let you create multiple tracking links (sub-IDs) so you can see which traffic sources convert best.

Example:

Link A: YouTube video description → 15% conversion
Link B: Reddit posts → 8% conversion
Link C: Discord server → 12% conversion

Focus more effort on the channels that convert best.

What if TradeDay changes their affiliate terms?

They can change commission rates, cookie duration, or program structure. Usually, existing affiliates get grandfathered in or given advance notice of changes.

Check your affiliate dashboard and email regularly for updates.

Combining Trading Income + Affiliate Income

The real power is stacking both income sources.

Example Combined Income

Month 5 of trading:

Trading profit from one $100K funded account: $2,100
Your profit split (90% tier): $1,890
Affiliate commissions from 12 active referrals: $510
Total monthly income: $2,400

That $510 in affiliate income is almost 30% more on top of your trading income. And it required maybe 5 hours of work that month to maintain.

The Compounding Effect

As you keep trading and documenting your journey:

Your trading gets better → more profit → better results to share
Your audience grows → more clicks → more referrals → more commissions
Your referrals stay subscribed → recurring income grows

Timeline projection:

Month 1-3: Focus on passing evaluation, small affiliate effort → $50-100/month affiliate
Month 4-6: Funded + growing audience → $200-400/month affiliate
Month 7-12: Multiple funded accounts + established presence → $500-800/month affiliate
Year 2+: Consistent trading + larger audience → $1,000-2,000+/month affiliate

Both income streams compound if you're consistent.

Bottom Line: Passive Income for Helping Traders

TradeDay's affiliate program isn't going to make you rich overnight. But if you're already trading there, already talking to other traders, and already helping people in communities, you might as well earn commissions for it.

The key is being genuine. Share your real experience, help people make informed decisions, and include your link when relevant. If you do that consistently, you'll build a steady stream of passive affiliate income on top of your trading profits.

To get started: