TradeDay is a US-based futures prop firm offering simulated evaluation accounts on CME and CBOT futures. Traders pass an evaluation, receive a Funded Sim account, and after their third successful withdrawal may be moved to Funded Live (real-capital deployment). The firm is one of the more established futures-prop platforms with a single-rule structure (don't break the maximum drawdown) and a lifetime-tiered profit split.

How does TradeDay work in one sentence?

Buy an evaluation account ($87-$262 depending on size and variant), pass three objectives (5-day minimum, profit target, 30% consistency) without breaking the maximum drawdown, get funded, and withdraw profits at 80%/90%/95% of net trades depending on cumulative withdrawals.

What is TradeDay's only hard rule?

Don't break the Maximum Drawdown Limit. The Help Center summarizes it directly: 'TradeDay has just one rule — Don't break the Maximum Drawdown Limit!' Three drawdown variants (Intraday Trailing, EOD Trailing, Static) are chosen at signup.

What is TradeDay's maximum drawdown rule?

The maximum drawdown is a per-account loss threshold that ends the account if breached. On a $100K Intraday TMD account, the drawdown starts at $97,000. Trailing variants update with your highest balance until they reach the starting balance, then lock. Static variants stay fixed from day one.

Does the trailing drawdown trail forever at TradeDay?

No. The trailing drawdown trails until it reaches your starting account balance, then freezes. After the lock-in, it behaves like a static drawdown. The Help Center states: 'Trailing max drawdown limits continues to trail your account growth until they reach the starting account balance.'

What is TradeDay's 30% consistency rule?

On the evaluation, no single day's profit can exceed 30% of total profits earned. If you have a $1,200 winning day on a $3,000 target, your new required total profit becomes $4,000. The rule applies to evaluation only — funded accounts have no consistency objective.

Does the 30% rule apply to funded accounts?

No. The 30% consistency rule is evaluation-only. Once funded, a single $5,000 day on a $50K account is allowed.

How many minimum trading days does TradeDay require?

Five trading days. Days don't need to be consecutive. Subscriptions before September 13, 2025 require 7 days; signups after that date see the 5-day minimum.

What is TradeDay's profit target?

On Intraday and EOD accounts: $3,000 ($50K), $6,000 ($100K), $9,000 ($150K). On Static accounts: $1,500 ($50K), $2,500 ($100K), $3,750 ($150K).

What happens if I trade tier-1 news at TradeDay?

TradeDay auto-liquidates open positions two minutes before tier-1 economic releases (FOMC, NFP, US CPI, EIA Crude/Nat Gas, Crop Production) and reopens markets two minutes after. Accidental breaches don't fail you; deliberate circumvention can end the account.

Are scalpers allowed at TradeDay?

Yes, with limits. The cap is 200 trades per day, no automated HFT scalping, no queue-position gaming. Manual scalping within those rules is fully allowed.

Can I copy-trade between TradeDay accounts?

Partially. External-to-TradeDay copies allowed. Copies between two or three of your own Funded Sim accounts allowed. Copies between Funded Sim and Funded Live forbidden. Hedging across your own accounts also forbidden.

What gets a TradeDay account terminated?

Breaching the max drawdown ends the account automatically. Beyond that: simulator gaming, third-party trading bots, multiple-username sign-ups, hedging across accounts, VPN/VPS location masking, or trading more than 200 times per day. Profits from prohibited practices are confiscated.

Are funded accounts different from evaluation accounts at TradeDay?

Yes. Funded accounts drop the 30% consistency rule. The max drawdown rule still applies but resets to zero on Funded Live graduation. The 5-day minimum becomes irrelevant. Withdrawal rules kick in: $250 minimum, day-one eligibility once buffer cleared, 80%/90%/95% lifetime tier.

What is the buffer at TradeDay?

Buffer = starting balance + max drawdown. For a $50K account with $2,000 max drawdown, you need $52,000 in the account before any withdrawal request goes through. Withdrawals from inside the buffer split 50/50 instead of the lifetime tier.

What account sizes does TradeDay offer?

Three sizes: $50K, $100K, $150K. Each size comes in three drawdown variants (Intraday TMD, EOD TMD, Static). Total of 9 SKUs.

What does a TradeDay account cost?

Current sale pricing: Intraday TMD $87/$140/$210 for $50K/$100K/$150K. EOD TMD $122/$192/$262. Static $115/$175/$245. Reset fees: $80/$124/$149 by size. Discount code SAVE30 takes 30% off plus removes the activation fee.

What is the SAVE30 code?

SAVE30 is TradeDay's standard discount code, applying 30% off the listed account price plus removal of the activation fee. The code is publicly available and works on all 9 account SKUs. Final price varies by size and drawdown variant.

What is the TradeDay reset fee?

Reset fees by account size: $80 for $50K, $124 for $100K, $149 for $150K. Reset clears your evaluation account back to starting balance with the trailing drawdown returned to its initial position. The reset doesn't extend any existing time limits — TradeDay evaluations have no time limit.

How many accounts can I have at TradeDay?

Up to six simultaneous accounts, with a maximum of three Funded Sim and one Funded Live. The other slots are evaluation-stage. All accounts must run on the same trading platform. You cannot purchase new accounts while Funded Live is active.

Can I have multiple TradeDay accounts on different platforms?

No. The single-platform rule means all your TradeDay accounts must run on the same platform — Tradovate, NinjaTrader 8, TradingView, or Jigsaw. Switching platforms requires reconfiguring all active accounts.

What is TradeDay CoPilot?

CoPilot is TradeDay's $24/month educational coaching subscription. It includes mentorship, training content, and feedback on trading practices. CoPilot is not a funded account — it provides no trading capital. Standalone product, optional add-on to evaluation or funded accounts.

What is the difference between Funded Sim and Funded Live at TradeDay?

Funded Sim is a simulated funded account — TradeDay pays withdrawals from its own books based on your profits, but trades aren't executed in live markets. Funded Live is real-capital deployment — TradeDay places you on a live brokerage account with real fills. The third Funded Sim withdrawal triggers a possible Funded Live offer.

How do I get to Funded Live at TradeDay?

After your third successful withdrawal from a Funded Sim account, TradeDay may invite you to move to Funded Live. The move requires a $1,000 minimum balance transfer and resets the maximum drawdown to zero on the new live account. Same trading rules and same payout policy apply.

What platforms does TradeDay support?

Tradovate (primary), NinjaTrader 8, TradingView, and Jigsaw. The Help Center lists only these four. Other platforms (ATAS, Quantower, Sierra Chart, etc.) are not officially supported.

Does TradeDay support Tradovate?

Yes. Tradovate is TradeDay's primary platform — most traders default to it. TradeDay handles the Tradovate licensing as part of the account fee, so you don't pay a separate Tradovate subscription.

Does TradeDay support NinjaTrader?

Yes, NinjaTrader 8 is officially supported. NinjaTrader 7 is not. TradeDay handles NinjaTrader licensing and connectivity within the account fee structure.

Does TradeDay support TradingView?

Yes. TradingView is officially supported as one of the four platforms. Charting and order entry route through TradeDay's brokerage connection. Standard TradingView subscription not required for execution.

Does TradeDay support Jigsaw?

Yes. Jigsaw is the fourth officially supported platform, focused on order-flow tools and Daytradr execution. TradeDay handles the Jigsaw connection licensing.

Can I trade on ATAS at TradeDay?

ATAS is not currently listed as an officially supported platform in the Help Center. Treat as unsupported until TradeDay confirms otherwise.

Can I trade on Sierra Chart at TradeDay?

Sierra Chart is not listed in the Help Center's supported-platforms list. Treat as unsupported.

Can I run an Expert Advisor or trading bot at TradeDay?

No. TradeDay prohibits all automated trading systems, third-party bots, and AI-driven execution tools. Manual execution only. Detected automation results in account termination.

Can I use NinjaTrader strategies on TradeDay?

Custom NinjaTrader strategies that automate entries/exits are prohibited. Manual execution from NinjaTrader (using its charts and order entry) is allowed. Auto-trading strategy templates are not.

What products can I trade at TradeDay?

Approved CME and CBOT futures and options products. The Help Center maintains the current permitted-products list. Restricted: certain illiquid contracts, gapped markets, and instruments where simulator fills don't approximate live execution.

Can I trade options at TradeDay?

TradeDay supports approved CME and CBOT options products as part of the permitted-products list. Specific options contracts vary by what's currently approved in the Help Center.

What's the best evaluation strategy at TradeDay?

Spread profits across multiple sessions to clear the 30% consistency rule cleanly. Aim for 6-10 trading days hitting 10-20% of total profit each. Avoid single-day windfalls that double your required total profit. Stay well above max drawdown — most failures come from bad-day position sizing, not bad-strategy fundamentals.

How long does it take to pass TradeDay's evaluation?

Minimum five trading days. Most consistently profitable traders pass in 7-15 trading days. There is no upper time limit on the evaluation — you can trade until you pass or until you breach the drawdown.

Can I withdraw money from TradeDay's evaluation account?

No. Evaluation accounts have no payout. Profits during evaluation are accounting entries that get reset on graduation to Funded Sim. Only Funded Sim and Funded Live accounts pay out.

What's the best TradeDay account size to start with?

$50K is the cheapest entry point ($87 Intraday with no discount, ~$61 with SAVE30) and the easiest target to clear ($3,000 = 6%). $100K and $150K offer larger position limits and higher absolute profit targets but cost more upfront. Most new traders start at $50K, scale to $100K once consistent.

Should I pick Intraday, EOD, or Static drawdown at TradeDay?

Intraday TMD suits aggressive scalpers comfortable with tight intraday stops. EOD TMD suits intraday traders who want overnight-style breathing room within a session — losses don't update the trail until close. Static suits conservative traders who want a fixed dollar floor and don't mind the smaller profit target.

When can I request my first TradeDay payout?

From day one (after the End of Day settlement) once the buffer is cleared. Buffer = starting balance + max drawdown. On a $50K Intraday account, you need $52,000 settled before any withdrawal request will process.

What is TradeDay's minimum withdrawal?

$250. Smaller accumulated balances stay in the account until they reach $250.

What is TradeDay's payout cutoff time?

5:30 PM CT (Central Time). Submit before 5:30 PM CT for next-business-day processing. Submit after 5:30 PM CT for processing the day after that. Weekend submissions process Monday.

What withdrawal fees does TradeDay charge?

US bank wire FREE. International bank wire $15. Layer 1 crypto $2.50 plus network gas. Layer 2 crypto FREE. Most US-based traders pick US wire (free, 1-2 day clearing). International traders typically pick Layer 2 crypto (free, sub-15-minute clearing).

How does TradeDay's profit split work?

Lifetime-tiered: 80% on first $50K cumulative withdrawals, 90% from $50K-$100K, 95% above $100K. The tiers are lifetime — they don't reset on new accounts or on graduation to Funded Live.

What is the 50/50 buffer-zone split at TradeDay?

Funds withdrawn from inside the buffer zone (above starting balance but below buffer threshold = starting + max drawdown) split 50/50 instead of the lifetime tier. This is why most traders wait until past buffer for their first withdrawal.

Are TradeDay payouts taxable?

Yes. US-based traders receive a 1099 form for the gross payout amount, treated as ordinary income. International traders' tax treatment varies — talk to a CPA in your jurisdiction.

How long do TradeDay payouts take?

US bank wire: 1-2 business days post-processing. International wire: 2-5 business days. Layer 1 crypto: 30-60 minutes. Layer 2 crypto: 5-15 minutes. Total time from request to funds depends on the cutoff timing.

Can I withdraw the full account balance from TradeDay?

No. Withdrawals are limited to balance above the buffer (starting + max drawdown). The starting balance and the drawdown cushion stay in the account.

What is TradeDay's KYC process?

Standard one-time KYC on first withdrawal: government photo ID, proof of address (utility bill or bank statement under 90 days), matching banking or wallet details. Most clear in 24-48 hours. New banking methods may trigger re-verification.

How does TradeDay compare to Apex Trader Funding?

TradeDay runs simpler rules (1 hard rule vs Apex's longer rulebook) and a lifetime-tiered profit split (80%/90%/95%) vs Apex's flat split. Apex offers more account size variations and more aggressive promotional pricing. TradeDay's free US wire and Layer 2 crypto are advantages for high-frequency withdrawal traders.

TradeDay FAQ 2026: 60+ Questions Answered

Quick Answer — TradeDay FAQ — Quick Navigation

• Rules: 1 hard rule (max drawdown), 3 evaluation objectives, 3 guidelines.
• Accounts: 9 SKUs total — 3 sizes ($50K/$100K/$150K) × 3 drawdown variants (Intraday/EOD/Static).
• Payouts: day-one eligibility once buffer cleared, $250 min, 80%/90%/95% lifetime tier.
• Platforms supported: Tradovate (primary), NinjaTrader 8, TradingView, Jigsaw.
• Multiple accounts: up to 6 simultaneous (max 3 Funded Sim + 1 Funded Live).
• Restricted countries: ~80 listed, including most of Africa, parts of SE Asia, Russia/Ukraine.

Why you can trust this: I started trading TradeDay in December 2024, traded multiple accounts, and pulled around $14,000 in cumulative payouts before stepping off the platform. I'm currently not active on TradeDay — which actually puts me in a clearer position to write about it than someone with a live account they're trying to protect. Strengths: simplest rulebook in futures-prop, day-one payouts after the buffer clears, three drawdown variants so you can pick the one that fits your style. Weaknesses: subscription pricing rather than one-off challenge fees, the consistency rule on evaluation surprises traders who weren't expecting it, copy-trading restrictions between Funded Sim and Funded Live. Full breakdown in the complete TradeDay review. Verify everything at the TradeDay Help Center, or sign up at TradeDay with code SAVE30 for 30% off plus no activation fee.

# TradeDay FAQ 2026: 60+ Questions Answered Across Every Cluster

This is the comprehensive FAQ for TradeDay — 60+ questions answered with verified facts from the TradeDay Help Center as of April 2026, organized by cluster. Use it as a navigation hub: each section gives a short overview of the cluster and points to the deeper article on each topic, then the FAQ schema renders the answers in detail.

I started trading TradeDay in December 2024 and have run multiple accounts since, with around $14,000 in cumulative payouts before going inactive. The questions below come from real account experience plus systematic Help Center verification — not from marketing pages or third-party summaries. Where rules have changed in 2025-2026 (multi-account launch, 5-day minimum), the version reflected here is current as of April 2026.

The piece is structured for two reading modes. If you have a specific question, scan the FAQ schema directly — answers are detailed enough to stand alone. If you want context on a cluster (rules, payouts, comparisons, etc.), read the section intro and follow the links to the deeper articles where the topic gets full treatment.

Rules

The rules cluster covers TradeDay's single hard rule (max drawdown), three evaluation objectives (5-day minimum, profit target, 30% consistency), three guidelines (permitted products, trading times, position limits), and the prohibited practices that end accounts.

The full rulebook walkthrough is in TradeDay rules 2026: one hard rule, three objectives, three guidelines. The drawdown-specific deep-dive is in TradeDay maximum drawdown rule explained. The consistency-rule calculator with worked examples is in TradeDay 30% consistency rule calculator. News-trading lockout details are in TradeDay news-trading auto-liquidation. The full prohibited practices list is in TradeDay prohibited practices.

The most common rules questions traders ask before signing up: what's the only hard rule, how does the trailing drawdown work, what's the 30% consistency rule actually calculate, when does it apply, and what gets your account terminated. The rules cluster FAQ section below answers all of those plus the edge cases on news trading, scalping, and copy trading.

Accounts

The accounts cluster covers the 9 SKUs (3 sizes × 3 drawdown variants), pricing with the SAVE30 discount, multiple-account policy, the Funded Sim to Funded Live progression, and the TradeDay CoPilot educational add-on.

The full pricing and SKU breakdown is in TradeDay pricing 2026. The drawdown variant comparison (Intraday vs EOD vs Static) is in TradeDay drawdown types compared. The multi-account policy is in TradeDay multiple accounts policy. The Funded Live transition mechanics are in TradeDay Funded Live explained. The CoPilot subscription details are in TradeDay CoPilot review.

The accounts cluster FAQ below answers the most common pre-purchase questions: which size to start with, which variant fits which trading style, how the discount stacks, what the reset fee covers, and how the multi-account limits actually work.

Platforms

The platforms cluster covers the four officially supported platforms (Tradovate, NinjaTrader 8, TradingView, Jigsaw), the licensing handling, and what's not supported.

The Tradovate setup walkthrough is in TradeDay Tradovate setup guide. NinjaTrader 8 details are in TradeDay NinjaTrader 8 setup. TradingView integration is in TradeDay TradingView setup. Jigsaw integration is in TradeDay Jigsaw setup. The platform comparison for new traders is in Best TradeDay platform 2026.

The platforms FAQ below answers which platforms are officially supported, whether common alternatives (ATAS, Sierra Chart, MultiCharts) work, the bot/EA prohibition, and what about NinjaTrader strategies. The single-platform multi-account rule is also covered.

Strategies

The strategies cluster covers what works on TradeDay's specific rule structure: spreading profits to clear the 30% rule, picking the right account size for your style, position sizing under the contract limits, and avoiding the common evaluation traps.

The evaluation-passing strategy walkthrough is in How to pass TradeDay's evaluation. Position-sizing math is in TradeDay position sizing strategy. The micros-vs-minis decision is in TradeDay micros vs minis guide. News-trading strategy under the lockout window is in TradeDay news-trading strategy. Trade-management with the trailing drawdown is in TradeDay trade management with trailing drawdown.

The strategies FAQ below answers the most common pre-purchase questions: what's the best evaluation strategy, how long does it take to pass, can you withdraw from evaluation, which size to start with, and which drawdown variant fits which style.

Trust and Payouts

The trust cluster covers the payout policy in detail — when withdrawals open, the buffer, the lifetime tier, the fees, the cutoff, the third-withdrawal Funded Live trigger, and the tax treatment.

The full payout policy walkthrough is in TradeDay payout policy 2026: day-one eligibility, buffer math & fees. The buffer-zone explanation is in TradeDay buffer zone explained. The profit-split tier is in TradeDay profit split tiers explained. Withdrawal methods compared is in TradeDay withdrawal methods compared. The walkthrough with screenshots is in How to withdraw from TradeDay step by step. Tax treatment by country is in TradeDay tax treatment.

The trust FAQ below answers the most asked payout questions: when can you withdraw, what's the minimum, what's the buffer, how does the tier work, what fees apply, how long do withdrawals take, and what about taxes. This is the cluster where most pre-purchase trust questions live.

Comparisons

The comparisons cluster covers TradeDay versus the rest of the futures-prop space — Apex Trader Funding, Topstep, FundedNext Futures, Lucid Trading, and the broader landscape.

The Apex comparison is in TradeDay vs Apex Trader Funding. The Topstep comparison is in TradeDay vs Topstep. The FundedNext Futures comparison is in TradeDay vs FundedNext. The Lucid Trading comparison is in TradeDay vs Lucid Trading. A general best-futures-prop overview is in Best futures prop firms 2026.

The comparisons FAQ below answers how TradeDay's structure differs from each major competitor on rules, payouts, account sizing, and platform support. Most readers come to comparisons after having read the rules and payout sections — the comparisons help finalize the firm choice.

General and Eligibility

The general cluster covers the firm itself (legitimacy, location, founders), the country restrictions, the age requirements, and the operational basics (support, password recovery, refunds, affiliate program).

The country eligibility article is in TradeDay banned countries 2026. The eligibility requirements are in TradeDay eligibility requirements. The firm history and legitimacy review is in Is TradeDay legit? Full review 2026. The terms of service summary is in TradeDay terms of service explained. Customer support contact info is in How to contact TradeDay support.

The general FAQ below answers the basics: is TradeDay legit, where it's based, country restrictions, age, corporate vs individual accounts, and the operational questions about support and refunds. Most pre-purchase traders glance through this section to verify the firm fits their personal eligibility.

How to use this FAQ

If you're brand new to TradeDay, the recommended reading order is: rules → accounts → payouts → comparisons. Get the rule structure first, pick your account size and variant, understand the payout flow, then see how it compares to alternatives. The FAQ below mirrors that order.

If you're already trading and have a specific question, scan the FAQ directly. Each answer stands alone with enough context to be actionable. For deeper context, follow the inline links to the cluster-specific articles.

If you're researching TradeDay versus a specific competitor, jump to the comparisons section and follow the dedicated comparison article for that firm. Comparisons answer "should I pick TradeDay over X" with structured rule-by-rule and payout-by-payout breakdowns.

The full topic map is in the TradeDay hub on PTV — start there if you want to browse the full cluster of TradeDay coverage.

The bottom line

TradeDay's FAQ universe is large because the firm covers a wide rule surface (3 drawdown variants, 9 SKUs, 4 platforms, ~80 country restrictions, lifetime profit tiers) but the underlying structure is one of the simplest in futures-prop. One hard rule, three objectives, three guidelines. Day-one payouts once buffer cleared. Lifetime tier that rewards staying with the platform.

Most pre-purchase questions cluster around: rules (what fails me), payouts (when and how much), platforms (does my software work), and comparisons (TradeDay versus X). The 60+ questions above cover all four exhaustively, plus the edge cases on eligibility and operations.

For deeper reading, TradeDay rules 2026 and TradeDay payout policy are the two foundation articles. TradeDay vs Lucid Trading and TradeDay vs Apex are the most-asked-for comparisons. TradeDay pricing 2026 is the pre-purchase article most readers want before signing up.

TradeDay FAQ 2026: 60+ Questions Answered Across Every Cluster