What trading approaches are permitted at Alpha Capital, and are any strategies restricted?
💡 Answer
Is the use of EA Allowed at Alpha Capital?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.
Is News Trading allowed at Alpha Capital?
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; however, if a trade is initiated within 2 minutes before or up to 2 minutes after a release, its duration must exceed 2 minutes for the trade to be valid.
If a stop gain / take-profit is filled during the restricted window, it is treated as a violation and profits from that activity are not eligible for a performance fee.
Can Alpha Capital traders hold 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.
Is Copy Trading allowed at Alpha Capital?
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.
What are some main Prohibited Strategies at Alpha Capital?
Alpha Capital prohibits strategies and behaviours that are designed to exploit pricing/execution or that breach its fair-use and risk policies, including:
- Arbitrage, latency trading, front-running and other attempts to exploit unrealistic fills or price feeds.
- High-frequency trading and ultra-short-term execution patterns that do not reflect sustainable trading.
- Reverse trading and group hedging (including coordinated trading across multiple accounts).
- Order-block / order-book spamming (entering multiple orders in a short period of time).
- Group trading, signal-following schemes, or account-management services.
- Hedging across separate Alpha Capital accounts (hedging is only allowed within the same instrument on the same account).
- "All or nothing" / gambling behaviour, including sudden outsized lot-size changes relative to the account’s normal average.
Violations can result in profit removal, assessment failure, qualified account termination and/or a platform ban, depending on severity.
More FAQs about Alpha Capital
- How are payments processed at Alpha Capital, and what is the refund policy?
- How are trader payouts structured at Alpha Capital, including payout frequency and payment methods?
- What is the top profit split rate at Alpha Capital for funded traders?
- What markets does Alpha Capital allow traders to trade across?
- Can you explain the leverage limits at Alpha Capital for forex, indices, metals, and cryptocurrency trading?
- What trading platforms can traders access at Alpha Capital, and which broker is used for order execution?
- What are the key execution-related trading conditions at Alpha Capital, including spreads, commissions, and slippage?
- How does Alpha Capital regulate trading behavior, including restricted strategies, martingale rules, and lot size limits?
- What drawdown method is enforced by Alpha Capital?
- Are there specific consistency or percentage-based rules at Alpha Capital?
- Does Alpha Capital offer different program or evaluation models?
- Can you explain the challenge model used by Alpha Capital?
- What is the maximum account funding at Alpha Capital, and can traders benefit from a scaling plan?
- How many Trustpilot reviews does Alpha Capital have, and what is its rating?
- How do the program types at Alpha Capital break down?
- What restrictions apply to traders at Alpha Capital when it comes to account count, account merging, and lot size limits?
- How does Alpha Capital handle KYC requirements and verification timing?
- Are there any geographic restrictions at Alpha Capital?
Guides Where Alpha Capital Is Featured
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These guides include Alpha Capital alongside other prop firms, grouped by trading features, platforms, availability, and trader requirements.
Alpha Capital vs Funded Futures Family vs FundedNext - Prop Firm Comparison (March 2026)
Side-by-side comparison of Alpha Capital vs Funded Futures Family vs FundedNext. 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.
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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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Funded Futures Family
Funded Futures Family (FFF) is a US-based futures prop firm that offers evaluation challenges and Straight-To-Funded options with access via Tradovate, NinjaTrader, and TradingView, a ruleset centered on trailing drawdown (EOD or intraday by plan), structured payout eligibility based on...
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FundedNext
FundedNext is a UAE-registered prop trading platform that offers Stellar 1-Step, Stellar 2-Step, Stellar Lite evaluations plus Stellar Instant funding. It combines balance-based drawdown rules, access to MT4/MT5/cTrader/Match-Trader (TradingView supported for analysis), and reward shares up to 95% (with add-ons)...
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| Overview | |||
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.5 |
| Trustpilot Reviews | 17,698 | 1,475 | 61,473 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States | United Arab Emirates |
| Age (Years) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Max Funding | $400,000 | $600,000 | $300,000 |
| Profit Split Start | 80% | 100% | 80% |
| Profit Split Max | 80% | 100% | 95% |
| Platforms | MT5 cTrader DXtrade TradeLocker | TradingView NinjaTrader Tradovate | MT4 MT5 cTrader Match-Trader |
| Assets | FX Metals Indices Oil (Energy) | Commodities Energies Futures Metals | Commodities Crypto Forex Indices |
| Leverage | |||
| FX Leverage | 100 | 0 | 100 |
| Metals Leverage | 30 | 0 | 15 |
| Crypto Leverage | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 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 LossFFF’s futures programs are designed around a trailing max drawdown and contract-sizing rules rather than a separate daily loss limit.For S2F accounts, the published Daily Loss Limit is None across $50k, $100k, and $150k account sizes. | 5 |
| 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 LossFFF enforces maximum loss through a trailing max drawdown model whose calculation mode depends on the plan type.S2F trailing max drawdown (published): $2,000 on $50k; $3,000 on $100k; $4,500 on $150k (drawdown mode: End of Day).FFF also states that evaluation plans include both End-of-Day drawdown (Premiere/Classic) and intraday trailing drawdown (Elite), so traders should choose the model that best fits their risk style. | 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 ModelEnd-of-Day (EOD) drawdown: drawdown is assessed using end-of-day account values (used in Premiere/Classic evaluations; also shown for S2F account structures).Intraday trailing drawdown: drawdown trails equity highs intraday (used in Elite evaluations). | Stellar 1-Step / 2-Step / Lite: Daily Loss and Maximum Loss are calculated from the initial balance of the phase and include closed + floating PnL (plus commissions/fees). The daily limit resets at 00:00 (server time GMT+2). The maximum loss threshold is fixed as a percentage of the initial balance, while the “maximum permitted loss” displayed can expand or shrink with accumulated profit/loss within a trading cycle.Stellar Instant: Uses a 6% trailing maximum loss limit that ratchets upward with profits; it does not reset after withdrawals. |
| 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 FrequencyPayouts become requestable once the trader meets eligibility requirements (including 7 qualifying $200+ profit days and applicable consistency/buffer rules). Requests can be submitted as soon as eligible.Approved payout requests are processed on Tuesdays and Fridays (with cut-off times for each batch). | Payout Frequency (Performance Rewards)Payout timing depends on the account model:Stellar 1-Step FundedNext Account: rewards are requested on a 5 business day cycle (first and subsequent cycles).Stellar 2-Step & Stellar Lite FundedNext Accounts: first reward is available after an initial 21-day cycle, then bi-weekly (every 14 days) thereafter if eligibility is met; a “Bi-Weekly Reward” add-on can bypass the initial 21-day wait.Stellar Instant: first reward is available after 5 business days, then rewards can be requested on-demand, subject to eligibility and trailing drawdown buffer rules. |
| Days to First Payout | 14 | 7 | 5 |
| 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 delivered through Rise. After approval, traders receive an invite, complete Rise onboarding/KYC, and then sign the contractor documentation; payouts are sent after that step.Typical Rise timeframes: bank transfer/wire often 1–3 business days; crypto often same day to ~24 hours (network-dependent). | Payout ProcessingPerformance Reward requests are submitted through the FundedNext dashboard. Processing time can vary based on compliance checks, payout method/provider, and request volume; allow additional time for bank/crypto settlement after approval. |
| Payout Methods | Bank Transfer (WIRE/ACH/SWIFT) Wise Rise (Riseworks) | Rise (Bank Transfer/Wire Crypto Local Currency) | Rise Crypto Bank Transfer |
| Payments | |||
| Payment Methods | Credit/Debit Card Crypto PayPal | Credit/Debit Card | Credit/Debit Card Crypto Local Payment Methods |
| 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;... | FFF publishes a dedicated News Trading Policy in its help center; traders should follow that policy for their specific account type (evaluation, simulated funded, or live). | News trading is generally allowed across FundedNext CFD models, but FundedNext applies ‘restricted news time’ rules on funded accounts: if trades are executed during restricted high-impact, instrument-correlated news windows, a portion of the profit can be removed during cycle review (commonly referenced as a 40% deduction on affected profits). Stellar Instant has a distinct news-time profit treatment where FundedNext may retain a larger share of profits generated during designated news time. |
| 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 is generally not applicable for CME-style futures because markets are closed during the weekend maintenance window; trading is only possible during the exchange’s open sessions. Positions must comply with the product’s trading hours. | Overnight and weekend holding is allowed across all active CFD account types (Stellar Instant, Stellar 1-Step, Stellar 2-Step, Stellar Lite). Swap charges (unless swap-free) can impact floating PnL and therefore drawdown calculations. |
| 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. | FFF’s public materials emphasize that accounts are for the account holder’s own use. Any copying/account-management behavior should remain consistent with FFF’s fair-use/prohibited-conduct framework and must not involve third-party account management. | Copy trading is allowed only between your own FundedNext Challenge accounts (one ‘master’ and one or more ‘slave’ accounts) as long as total combined Challenge capital does not exceed $300,000. Copy trading is prohibited between any FundedNext Account and any other FundedNext Account or Challenge account (even if you own them). Cloud-based copy services are not allowed; VPS-based copiers are permitted only for copying between your own Challenge accounts. |
| 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. | Automation can be implemented via supported platforms (e.g., NinjaTrader tools or TradingView-based execution flows), but traders remain responsible for compliance with all rules, including position sizing, consistency, and prohibited conduct. | EAs/automation are supported on MT4/MT5 (and platform-native automation where applicable). Match-Trader is positioned for manual trading and does not support MetaTrader-style EAs. Any automation must still comply with FundedNext’s prohibited strategy and fair-use rules. |
| KYC & Restrictions | |||
| KYC Required | Yes | 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. | KYC is required through Rise before the first payout is sent (Rise onboarding/identity verification as part of contractor setup). | KYC (identity verification) is required after passing a Stellar Challenge and before a FundedNext Account is issued. Traders upload government-issued ID (and in some cases proof of address) via the dashboard Verification Center; once approved, FundedNext typically issues the FundedNext Account within 48–72 hours. KYC must be completed within 30 days after passing, otherwise the account can become inactive. |
| 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 Albania Algeria Angola Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Burkina Faso (Upper Volta) Burma/Myanmar Burundi Central African Republic Chad Chinese Military Companies Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Crimea (Region of Ukraine - Crimea Donetsk Luhansk Kherson Zaporizhzhia) Cuba Democratic Republic of Congo Ethiopia Iran Iraq Jamaica Kosovo Lebanon Liberia Libya Mali Monaco Morocco Montenegro Mozambique Namibia Nicaragua North Korea North Macedonia Puerto Rico Russia Senegal Somalia South Sudan Sudan and Darfur Syria Tanzania Trinidad and Tobago Ukraine Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zimbabwe | Afghanistan Albania Antigua and Barbuda Bangladesh Belarus Belize Bouvet Island Burundi Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Cuba Democratic Republic of the Congo Eritrea Ethiopia Fiji Grenada Iran Lebanon Libya Malaysia Mali Myanmar Nicaragua North Korea Russia Somalia South Sudan Sri Lanka Sudan Syria Tuvalu Ukraine Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zimbabwe |