Alpha Capital vs DNA Funded - Prop Firm Comparison (March 2026)
Head-to-head comparison of Alpha Capital and DNA Funded. Check max funding, profit splits, daily and overall drawdown rules, leverage, tradable assets, payout frequency, payment and payout methods, trading permissions and KYC restrictions before you buy a challenge. Data refreshed March 2026.
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Alpha Capital
Alpha Capital Group (Alpha Capital) is a UK-based CFD prop firm (founded 2021) that provides simulated-funded "Qualified Analyst" accounts via ACG Markets and lets traders choose between a 1-step (Alpha One), multiple 2-step options (Alpha Pro 6% / 8% /...
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DNA Funded
DNA Funded is a broker-backed Australian prop firm partnered with DNA Markets that lets traders choose between 1-step, 2-step, rapid 10-day challenges and instant funding, with 80%–90% profit splits, access to 800+ CFD markets via TradeLocker, and combined simulated funding...
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| Overview | ||
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.7 | 3.8 |
| Trustpilot Reviews | 17,698 | 84 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Australia |
| Age (Years) | N/A | N/A |
| Max Funding | $400,000 | $600,000 |
| Profit Split Start | 80% | 80% |
| Profit Split Max | 80% | 90% |
| Platforms | MT5 cTrader DXtrade TradeLocker | TradeLocker |
| Assets | FX Metals Indices Oil (Energy) | FX Commodities Indices Stocks Crypto |
| Leverage | ||
| FX Leverage | 100 | 50 |
| Metals Leverage | 30 | 10 |
| Crypto Leverage | 0 | 2 |
| Risk & Drawdown Rules | ||
| Max Daily Loss | Maximum Daily LossAlpha Capital Group enforces a plan-specific daily drawdown limit that is measured from defined daily reference points (based on balance or equity, depending on the plan). The daily loss limit is evaluated against the current equity value, and breaches are treated as a hard breach (trades are closed automatically).Alpha Pro 10%: 5% balance-based daily drawdown.Alpha Pro 8%: 4% balance-based daily drawdown.Alpha Pro 6%: 3% daily drawdown calculated over the higher of end-of-day balance or equity.Alpha Swing: 5% balance-based... | Maximum Daily LossDaily loss limits at DNA Funded depend on the program. Single Helix uses a 5% max daily drawdown, Double Helix typically applies 6% in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2, Rapid Challenge runs with a 4% daily loss cap and Instant Funding does not apply a separate daily limit but is constrained by a tight trailing overall drawdown.The daily loss check is balance- or equity-based around the end-of-day snapshot, and breaching the permitted percentage at any point in the trading day constitutes an account violation. |
| Max Total Loss | Maximum Overall LossMaximum total loss is defined by the plan’s maximum drawdown model and is set as a percentage of the initial starting balance. If balance or equity drops below the maximum drawdown threshold, the account is breached and trades are closed automatically.Alpha Pro: static max drawdown of 10% (Pro10) / 8% (Pro8) / 6% (Pro6).Alpha Swing: 10% static max drawdown.Alpha Three: 6% static max drawdown.Alpha One: 6% trailing max drawdown based on the high-water mark (maximum balance achieved). | Maximum Overall LossFor Single Helix, Double Helix and Rapid Challenge, DNA Funded uses static lifetime loss caps, typically around 10% for the main 1-phase and 2-phase models and 5% for Rapid.Instant Funding accounts instead use a 4% trailing overall drawdown that ratchets up as new equity highs are made; if balance or equity falls below this trailing line the account is breached, even if it remains above the initial starting balance. |
| Drawdown Type | Drawdown ModelAlpha Capital Group uses both static and trailing drawdown models depending on the plan:Static max drawdown: Used on Alpha Pro (6% / 8% / 10%), Alpha Swing (10%) and Alpha Three (6%). The maximum-loss line is fixed from the initial starting balance and does not move up as the account grows.Trailing max drawdown (high-water mark): Used on Alpha One (6%). As new balance highs are made, the trailing drawdown line moves up; once the account reaches a high-water mark... | Drawdown ModelThe evaluation challenges primarily rely on static drawdown limits calculated from either the initial balance or an end-of-day balance snapshot, while the Instant Funding program uses a classic trailing drawdown that tracks new highs and never resets upward after a payout.In practice this means evaluation traders can stabilise their static loss buffers by growing the account gradually, whereas Instant Funding traders must protect profits more aggressively because the allowed loss band follows their performance. |
| Payouts | ||
| Payout Frequency | Payout FrequencyAlpha Capital offers two payout schedules for qualified accounts, depending on the payout type selected at checkout:Bi-Weekly: performance-fee requests are available every 14 days (starting 14 days after the initial trade on the qualified account). The first request requires a minimum of 5 trading days using the same trading strategy, and the minimum withdrawal is $100 gross profits.On-Demand: traders can request a payout at any time once they have at least 2% gross profit in the account and meet... | Payout FrequencyFunded traders at DNA Funded can usually request a payout every 14 days, provided they have traded on at least three separate days and finished the period with a positive balance.With the optional Early Payout Booster, that payout frequency can be shortened to every 7 days on eligible challenges, offering weekly cash flow for consistent performers. |
| Days to First Payout | 14 | 14 |
| Payout Processing Time | Payout ProcessingPerformance-fee requests are submitted via the Alpha Capital dashboard and are processed and paid within about 2 business days once approved. Traders must close all trades before requesting, and the account remains locked while the balance is reset.Scaling requests (where applicable) are handled separately and are typically completed within 24–48 business hours. | Payout ProcessingPayouts are requested through the DNA Funded dashboard and, once approved, are typically processed within about 1–4 business days, after which arrival time depends on the chosen payment rail.The firm warns that additional time may be needed for bank wires, compliance checks or during periods of high demand, but most crypto withdrawals are completed relatively quickly once released. |
| Payout Methods | Bank Transfer (WIRE/ACH/SWIFT) Wise Rise (Riseworks) | Crypto International Bank Transfer |
| Payments | ||
| Payment Methods | Credit/Debit Card Crypto PayPal | Credit Card (Visa Mastercard) Crypto (TRC20 ERC20 BTC) |
| Trading Permissions | ||
| News Trading | News trading is permitted, but Alpha Capital applies plan-specific rules around certain high-impact announcements on Qualified Analyst accounts.Alpha Pro 8%/10% Qualified: no executing trades (opening or closing, including pending orders, stop-loss or take-profit fills) on targeted instruments within 2 minutes before and 2 minutes after the specified news releases.Alpha Pro 6% / Alpha One / Alpha Three Qualified: the same restriction applies within 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the specified releases.Alpha Swing: trading during major news is allowed;... | News trading is permitted in principle, but traders must avoid opening, modifying or closing positions within roughly 10 minutes before and after high-impact economic releases or other designated major events, as defined by calendars such as FXStreet.Pure news scalping, latency or gap exploitation around data releases is prohibited, and violations can lead to profit removal or account closure, especially on funded accounts. |
| Weekend Trades | Weekend holding rules depend on the plan and stage.Alpha Pro: holding trades over the weekend is allowed during the Evaluation phase, but is not allowed on the Qualified Analyst account stage (treated as a soft breach with profits removed).Alpha Swing / Alpha One / Alpha Three: weekend holding is allowed during both the Evaluation phase and on the Qualified Analyst account stage.Swap/rollover charges still apply when positions are held over weekends. | Weekend trading rules differ by instrument and program. For most challenges, crypto positions can be opened and managed over the weekend, while positions on other markets may be held but not actively traded while markets are closed.The Rapid and Instant Funding challenges are stricter and generally do not allow weekend trading at all, so traders on these products should ensure positions are closed before the weekly market close. |
| Copy Trading | Copy trading is allowed but tightly controlled. Alpha Capital permits copy trading only where the trader can provide proof of ownership of the master account (e.g., account number/investor password/server) when requested. Copy trading between two Alpha Capital accounts can also be permitted with both account numbers disclosed.Copy trading is currently supported on MT5 only; copying trades on or from cTrader, DXTrade or TradeLocker is not possible. Only one master account can be connected at a time, and copying other traders or group trading arrangements is prohibited. | Copy trading is tightly controlled at DNA Funded. Copying or mirroring trades from non-DNA accounts, between different users or across multiple profiles is prohibited, and managing other people's accounts is considered a breach.Within a single user's own DNA Funded accounts, limited internal copying may be acceptable, but traders must still respect all risk rules and avoid patterns that resemble large-scale account netting or group trading. |
| EA Allowed | Expert Advisors (EAs) are permitted on MT5 accounts, provided they comply with Alpha Capital’s rules. Traders must enable the EA feature at checkout and contact support for approval; Alpha Capital may request the EA's EX5 file and MQ5 market link for review.EAs are not supported on TradeLocker, DXTrade or cTrader accounts. Automated strategies that attempt to exploit unrealistic fills or use high-frequency/latency-style execution are prohibited. | Expert Advisors and algorithmic strategies are allowed on 1 Phase, 2 Phase and Rapid challenge accounts, provided they do not implement banned behaviours such as high-frequency scalping, latency arbitrage, martingale or grid systems.On Instant Funding accounts, EAs and fully automated algos are not permitted; these programs are meant to be traded manually or with very light automation that still reflects the trader's own discretion. |
| KYC & Restrictions | ||
| KYC Required | Yes | Yes |
| KYC Stage | Alpha Capital requires identity verification (KYC) after passing an assessment and before issuing Qualified Analyst account credentials. Traders complete KYC via a third-party provider (Veriff) and must also provide the necessary withdrawal/payment details; qualified credentials are typically issued within a maximum of 2 working days after completing KYC.Payment details may be cross-checked against the verified identity, and third-party payments are not accepted. | DNA Funded applies full KYC for larger withdrawals, requiring a government-issued photo ID, proof of address and a selfie or likeness check through its third-party verification provider.KYC is typically required once withdrawals exceed about $1,000, and failed or unverifiable KYC will result in account closure without refund, as decisions from the external provider cannot be manually overridden. |
| Restricted Countries | Afghanistan Belarus Burundi Central African Republic Chad Cuba Democratic Republic of the Congo Eritrea Iran Iraq Libya Myanmar (Burma) North Korea Regions of Ukraine: Crimea Donetsk and Luhansk Republic of the Congo (Congo Brazzaville) Russia Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syria Venezuela Vietnam Yemen | Australia Cuba Iran Iraq North Korea Myanmar Russia (including Crimea Donetsk Luhansk and Sevastopol) Somalia Syria Central African Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Guinea-Bissau Sudan South Sudan Afghanistan Lebanon Yemen Zimbabwe Libya |