What drawdown method is enforced by Alpha Capital?

💡 Answer

Drawdown Model

Alpha 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 equal to the trailing drawdown distance (e.g., +6% on Alpha One), the trailing drawdown becomes fixed at the initial balance.

Daily drawdown calculations also vary by plan: Pro8/Pro10 and Swing use balance-based daily limits, while Pro6, One and Three calculate daily drawdown over the higher of end-of-day balance or equity.

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Alpha Capital vs Trade The Pool vs Instant Funding - Prop Firm Comparison (March 2026)

Side-by-side comparison of Alpha Capital vs Trade The Pool vs Instant Funding. Quickly scan maximum funding, profit splits, risk rules, leverage, platforms, instruments, payout schedules, payment options, trading permissions and KYC restrictions to narrow down your prop trading firm shortlist. Data updated March 2026.

Alpha Capital vs Trade The Pool vs Instant Funding - Prop Firm Comparison (March 2026)
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% /...
Trade The Pool
Trade The Pool is a stock-focused prop firm operated by Five Percent Online Ltd (Trade The Pool is the brand) that evaluates traders on one-step Day Trade and Swing programs, provides access to thousands of US stocks and ETFs on...
Instant Funding
Instant Funding (operated by Acello Ltd in the UK and IF Pro Ltd in Saint Lucia) is a no-evaluation prop firm offering Instant Funding (smart drawdown), IF Micro, IF1 (24-hour account), One-Phase, One-Phase Micro, Two-Phase, and Two-Phase Max programs. The flagship Instant Funding account has...
Overview
Trustpilot Rating 4.7 4.4 0
Trustpilot Reviews 17,698 583 0
Headquarters United Kingdom Israel United Kingdom
Age (Years) N/A N/A 5
Max Funding $400,000 $450,000 $3,840,000
Profit Split Start 80% 70% 80%
Profit Split Max 80% 80% 95%
Platforms MT5 cTrader DXtrade TradeLocker Traderevolution MT4 MT5 cTrader dxTrade TradeLocker
Assets FX Metals Indices Oil (Energy) Stocks ETFs Forex Commodities Metals Indices Cryptocurrencies
Leverage
FX Leverage 100 0 100
Metals Leverage 30 0 20
Crypto Leverage 0 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... Daily Pause (Max Daily Loss)Trade The Pool controls daily risk using a Daily Pause threshold. If the Daily Pause is hit, the account is disabled for the remainder of the trading day (with recalibration at the start of the next day).Current program parameters on the public program page show:Day Trade: 2% Daily Pause on FLEX and 1% Daily Pause on MAX.Swing: 3% Daily Pause (FLEX and MAX). 2
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). Max Loss (Maximum Overall Loss)Each account type has a lifetime Max Loss limit (overall drawdown from the starting level):Day Trade: 4% Max Loss on FLEX and 3% Max Loss on MAX.Swing: 7% Max Loss (FLEX and MAX).On funded accounts, Trade The Pool also applies a buffer rule: once equity reaches 3× the Daily Pause, the account’s max drawdown is moved up to the initial balance (falling below it can terminate the account). 10
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 ModelTrade The Pool’s primary risk model is static (starting-level) drawdown, implemented via (1) a Daily Pause (daily loss allowance) and (2) a Max Loss (overall loss limit). These limits are expressed as percentages of buying power for each program.For funded accounts, an additional protective rule can effectively tighten drawdown after strong performance: once equity reaches 3× the Daily Pause, the max drawdown line is moved up to the initial balance. Smart drawdown (Instant Funding) and static drawdown (evaluation accounts)
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 can request a payout every 14 days (and at least 14 days since the last payout or since a new scaled account is activated), provided the account meets the minimum profit requirement.Minimum profit to withdraw is generally $300 (for $5K accounts, $150). FLEX funded accounts also require meeting the 0.5%/day consistency rule on 3 separate days within the 14‑day period. Weekly or Bi-Weekly
Days to First Payout 14 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 processed via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, Hub credits, or credit card and typically take 3–5 business days, depending on the payout method and banking/card rails. 2
Payout Methods Bank Transfer (WIRE/ACH/SWIFT) Wise Rise (Riseworks) Wire Transfer Crypto Hub Credits Credit Card Bank Transfer Crypto (USDT TRC20/ERC20/BEP20 BTC)
Payments
Payment Methods Credit/Debit Card Crypto PayPal Credit/Debit Card Bank Transfer (plus other methods offered at checkout) Credit/Debit Card Apple Pay Google Pay PayPal Crypto
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 TradingTrade The Pool does not publish a blanket “no news trading” restriction for evaluations on its public program parameters, but equity trading around major news is inherently higher-risk and may involve volatility, slippage, and halts. Trading is not permitted during regulatory trading halts. Allowed during evaluation; funded accounts require add-on to trade major news events.
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 TradingUS equity markets are closed on weekends. Swing program positions can be held overnight/weekend subject to market hours and risk limits; Day Trade programs are designed for intraday trading. Overnight trades allowed; weekend holding requires add-on on funded accounts.
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 TradingTrade The Pool offers optional “boosters” (including a SignalStack booster) that can be used for automation workflows. Any copying/automation must still comply with all risk, volume, and consistency rules, and each evaluation is reviewed independently for compliance. Allowed only between accounts owned by the same trader.
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. EAs / AutomationTrade The Pool does not run on MT4/MT5; it provides a TraderEvolution-based platform (desktop/web/mobile). Automation is typically handled via platform tools and optional integrations/boosters (e.g., SignalStack), rather than MetaTrader EAs. EAs allowed if non-abusive and non-latency based.
KYC & Restrictions
KYC Required Yes Yes No
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. Trade The Pool applies AML/KYC checks and may request identity documentation at any stage, particularly after a trader passes evaluation and before becoming (or remaining) a funded user. KYC required before first payout.
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 Afghanistan Belarus Burundi Central African Republic Cuba Congo Republic Crimea Democratic Republic of Congo Eritrea Guinea Guinea-Bissau Iraq Iran Israel Laos Lebanon Liberia Libya Myanmar North Korea Palestinian Territory Papua New Guinea Russia South Sudan Sudan Somalia Syria Vanuatu Venezuela Yemen Afghanistan Belarus Central African Republic Cuba Democratic Republic of the Congo Eritrea Guinea-Bissau Iran Iraq Lebanon Libya Mali Myanmar North Korea Russia Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syria Yemen Zimbabwe

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