By Alex Firdaus · Updated 27 September 2026 · Rules checked 27 September 2026 on each firm's help center
Short answer: Futures prop firm rules decide when your account fails and when you can withdraw. The main ones are the trailing drawdown, the daily loss limit, the consistency rule, the payout buffer, contract limits, news rules and a daily close time. All seven firms we checked use a $2,000 trailing drawdown on a 50K account, but they differ on almost everything else.
Firms covered: Topstep, Apex Trader Funding, TradeDay, My Funded Futures, FundedNext Futures, Lucid Trading, Alpha Futures. All figures are for the 50K plan named in each row.
Table of Contents
- What are futures prop firm rules?
- Futures prop firm drawdown rules
- Daily loss limit
- Consistency rule
- Buffer rule and safety net
- Contract limits on a 50K account
- News trading and overnight rules
- Futures prop firm payout rules
- Futures prop firm rules comparison table
- How to check the rules before you pay
- FAQ
What are futures prop firm rules?
Futures prop firm rules are the limits a trader must follow on an evaluation and a funded account. They set the maximum loss, the daily loss, how profit is spread across days, how many contracts you can trade, when you must be flat and when you can take a payout.
Every futures prop firm uses the same rule types, but the numbers and the timing change from firm to firm. The rules also change between the evaluation and the funded account at the same firm. My Funded Futures uses a 30% consistency rule on its Rapid EOD evaluation and drops it on the funded account. Alpha Futures does the reverse on news, with no news limits on the evaluation and a news window on the funded account.
This guide covers one rule type at a time, then puts all seven firms side by side. For single terms, the prop firm glossary has short definitions.
Futures prop firm drawdown rules: intraday trailing, EOD trailing and static
The drawdown rule is the maximum loss limit on a futures prop firm account. On a 50K account it is $2,000 at all seven firms we checked. What changes is how the limit moves: intraday trailing, end-of-day (EOD) trailing, or static.
Intraday trailing drawdown
An intraday trailing drawdown follows your highest balance in real time, including open profit. Say you start at $50,000 with a $2,000 limit, so you fail at $48,000. A trade runs to $51,200 in open profit and then reverses. Your fail level is now $49,200, even if you closed the trade at $50,300. TradeDay uses an intraday trailing drawdown on its 50K Quick Pay plan. Apex Trader Funding uses one on its 50K Intraday Trail plan.
EOD trailing drawdown
An EOD trailing drawdown only moves up based on your balance at the end of the session. Open profit during the day does not raise the fail level. In the same example, the fail level stays at $48,000 until the session closes, then moves to $48,300 if you end the day at $50,300. Topstep, My Funded Futures, FundedNext Futures, Lucid Trading and Alpha Futures use an EOD trailing drawdown on the 50K plans in this guide. Several of these firms still check the limit in real time. At Topstep, Alpha Futures and FundedNext Futures, a floating loss that touches the limit fails the account during the day.
Static drawdown
A static drawdown never moves. On a 50K account with a $2,000 static limit, you fail at $48,000 no matter how much profit you make first. TradeDay offers a static drawdown option alongside its intraday and EOD plans.
When does the trailing drawdown stop trailing?
Most futures prop firms lock the drawdown once you are far enough in profit. Topstep locks the maximum loss limit at $50,000 once your end-of-day balance reaches $50,000. Lucid Trading locks at $50,100 once your balance passes $52,100. Alpha Futures stops at the $50,000 starting balance. Apex Trader Funding stops its evaluation drawdown at $53,000 on Rithmic and Wealthcharts, but on Tradovate it never stops. The lock level matters more than the $2,000 figure, because it decides how much room you have after your first good week. Our guide to EOD, intraday and static trailing drawdown goes deeper on the math.
What is a daily loss limit at a futures prop firm?
A daily loss limit caps how much you can lose in one session. At most futures prop firms it is a soft limit. Hitting it closes your positions and stops trading until the next session, but the account stays open. On a 50K account it is usually $1,000.
At the seven futures firms in this guide, a daily loss limit breach pauses the account for the session. It does not fail the account.
- Topstep: optional $1,000 daily loss limit on the Trading Combine and Express Funded Account. Trading stops until 5 PM CT the next session.
- Apex Trader Funding: no daily loss limit on the 50K Intraday Trail evaluation. The funded account has a daily loss limit that starts at $1,000 and rises to $3,000 as profit grows.
- Alpha Futures: no daily loss limit on the evaluation. The funded account has a $1,000 Daily Loss Guard that locks you out until 6 PM ET the next trading day.
- FundedNext Futures: no daily loss limit by default on Rapid Pro. A $1,000 limit is an optional add-on.
- Lucid Trading: you choose daily loss limit on or off when you buy a LucidFlex account. The "on" version costs less.
- My Funded Futures and TradeDay: no firm daily loss limit on the Rapid EOD and Quick Pay plans.
Read more on how the daily loss limit works across prop firms.
How does the consistency rule work at futures prop firms?
The consistency rule limits how much of your total profit can come from one day. With a 30% rule and a $3,000 profit target, no single day can make more than $900. If one day goes over, you usually keep trading until the total catches up.
The rule is set as a percentage, and it can apply to the evaluation, the funded account, or both. On the 50K plans we checked:
- TradeDay: 30% on the evaluation, none on the funded account.
- My Funded Futures (Rapid EOD): 30% on the evaluation, none on the funded account.
- Lucid Trading (LucidFlex): 50% on the evaluation, none on the funded account.
- Alpha Futures (Standard): 50% on the evaluation, 40% on the funded account.
- Topstep: your best day must stay under 55% of the profit target on the Trading Combine. The Express Funded Account has a 40% consistency payout path.
- Apex Trader Funding: none on the evaluation, 50% on the funded account per payout.
- FundedNext Futures (Rapid Pro): none on the challenge, 40% on the funded account.
Breaking a consistency rule rarely fails the account. It usually delays the pass or the payout. Our page on the consistency rule shows what happens at each stage when you break it.
What is the buffer rule in futures prop trading?
A buffer rule sets the minimum profit you must hold above your drawdown level before you can take a payout. It stops you from withdrawing profit that would leave the account one bad trade from failing. Firms call it a buffer, a safety net or a minimum payout balance.
Apex Trader Funding calls it the Safety Net. The Safety Net is the drawdown limit plus $100, so it is $52,100 on a 50K funded account. You need a balance of at least $52,600 to request a payout, and only profit above the Safety Net can be withdrawn. Source: Apex Trader Funding payout rules.
My Funded Futures calls it the Required Buffer. On the Rapid EOD 50K plan you must build $2,100 in realized profit before your first payout. After that, you can request a new payout once you have $500 net profit since the last one. Source: My Funded Futures Rapid EOD 50K.
Some firms state that they have no buffer. TradeDay Quick Pay has no buffer to clear and lets you request a payout from any positive balance. Lucid Trading states that LucidFlex funded accounts have no buffer balance. Alpha Futures has no named buffer but caps each withdrawal at 50% of profit, so the other half stays in the account.
How many contracts can you trade on a 50K futures prop account?
A 50K futures prop account allows 3 to 6 mini contracts on the evaluation at the firms we checked, or 10 micros per mini. Most firms then cut the limit on a new funded account and raise it as profit grows.
- Apex Trader Funding: 6 minis or 60 micros on the evaluation. The funded account scales from 2 to 4 minis.
- Topstep: 5 minis or 50 micros on the Trading Combine. The Express Funded Account follows a scaling plan.
- TradeDay: 5 minis or 50 micros.
- Alpha Futures: 5 minis or 50 micros, with scaling on the funded account only.
- FundedNext Futures: 4 minis or 40 micros.
- Lucid Trading: 4 minis or 40 micros on the evaluation. The funded account starts at 2 minis and reaches 4 minis at $2,000 profit.
- My Funded Futures: 3 minis or 30 micros on the Rapid EOD evaluation and sim funded account, per the help center.
Contract limits matter because one ES mini point is worth $50. At 5 minis, a 4-point move against you costs $1,000, which is half of a $2,000 trailing drawdown.
Can you trade news or hold overnight at a futures prop firm?
News trading rules
News trading rules at futures prop firms range from no limits to a full ban around Tier 1 releases like FOMC, CPI and the jobs report. Where a ban exists, you must be flat from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after the release.
- TradeDay: Tier 1 releases are banned on the evaluation and funded account. Positions close 2 minutes before FOMC, CPI and NFP and can reopen 2 minutes after.
- My Funded Futures: Tier 1 news is allowed on the evaluation and banned on the Rapid sim funded account, with the same 2-minute window.
- Alpha Futures: no news limits on the evaluation. On the Standard funded account you cannot place orders 2 minutes either side of red-folder events, but you can hold through them.
- Topstep, Apex Trader Funding, FundedNext Futures and Lucid Trading: trading during news is allowed on the plans in this guide. Apex Trader Funding bans "news trading" strategies that place orders on both sides of the market.
For how traders handle the release itself, see our guide to trading economic news in volatile markets.
Overnight and weekend rules
None of the seven firms allow overnight holds on simulated accounts. Each one closes positions before the daily futures close:
- Topstep, My Funded Futures and FundedNext Futures: 4:10 PM ET
- Alpha Futures: 4:20 PM ET
- Lucid Trading: 4:45 PM ET
- TradeDay: 4:50 PM ET
- Apex Trader Funding: 4:59 PM ET
TradeDay lets you trade the overnight session, but you must be flat before the next day's close. Alpha Futures allows overnight holds on live accounts only.
Futures prop firm payout rules
Futures prop firm payout rules set how often you can withdraw, the minimum you can request and your profit split. On a 50K funded account the minimum payout runs from $125 at Topstep to $500 at Apex Trader Funding, My Funded Futures, Lucid Trading and Alpha Futures.
- My Funded Futures (Rapid EOD): daily payouts after the $2,100 buffer, $500 minimum, 90/10 split.
- FundedNext Futures (Rapid Pro): every 3 days, $250 minimum, $1,200 maximum per cycle, 90% split. The account ends after 5 payouts.
- TradeDay (Quick Pay): from day one, $250 minimum. The split is 50/50 below $4,000 profit and 80/20 above it.
- Topstep: 5 winning days of $150 or more on the standard path, or 3 trading days on the consistency path. $125 minimum, 90/10 split.
- Lucid Trading (LucidFlex): 5 days of $150 or more, $500 minimum, up to 50% of profit capped at $2,000, 90/10 split.
- Apex Trader Funding: 5 qualifying days of $200 or more, $500 minimum, up to 6 payouts per account.
- Alpha Futures (Standard): every 5 winning days of $200 or more, up to 4 times a month. $500 minimum, $3,000 maximum, 90% split.
Compare these alongside fees and platforms on our list of the best futures prop firms.
Futures prop firm rules comparison table
This table compares futures prop firm rules on the 50K plan at seven firms. Every value comes from the firm's own help center, checked on 27 September 2026. Firms change rules often, so check the linked review before you buy.
Risk rules
| Firm and 50K plan | Evaluation drawdown | Drawdown stops at | Daily loss limit | Consistency (eval / funded) | Buffer before payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topstep Trading Combine | $2,000 EOD trailing | $50,000 | Optional $1,000, soft | 55% of target / 40% path | None named |
| Apex Trader Funding Intraday Trail | $2,000 intraday trailing | $53,000 (not on Tradovate) | None on eval | None / 50% | Safety Net $52,100 |
| TradeDay Quick Pay | $2,000 intraday trailing | $50,000 | None | 30% / none | None |
| My Funded Futures Rapid EOD | $2,000 EOD trailing | Not stated (funded: $100) | None | 30% / none | $2,100 profit |
| FundedNext Futures Rapid Pro | $2,000 EOD trailing | $50,100 | Optional $1,000 add-on | None / 40% | None named |
| Lucid Trading LucidFlex | $2,000 EOD trailing | $50,100 | On or off at purchase | 50% / none | None |
| Alpha Futures Standard | $2,000 EOD trailing | $50,000 | $1,000 on funded, soft | 50% / 40% | None named |
Trading and payout rules
| Firm and 50K plan | Max contracts (eval) | Tier 1 news | Flat by (ET) | Minimum payout | Profit split |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topstep Trading Combine | 5 minis / 50 micros | Allowed | 4:10 PM | $125 | 90/10 |
| Apex Trader Funding Intraday Trail | 6 minis / 60 micros | Allowed | 4:59 PM | $500 | 100% |
| TradeDay Quick Pay | 5 minis / 50 micros | Banned, 2 min window | 4:50 PM | $250 | 50/50, then 80/20 |
| My Funded Futures Rapid EOD | 3 minis / 30 micros | Eval allowed, funded banned | 4:10 PM | $500 | 90/10 |
| FundedNext Futures Rapid Pro | 4 minis / 40 micros | Allowed | 4:10 PM | $250 | 90% |
| Lucid Trading LucidFlex | 4 minis / 40 micros | Allowed | 4:45 PM | $500 | 90/10 |
| Alpha Futures Standard | 5 minis / 50 micros | Eval allowed, funded 2 min window | 4:20 PM | $500 | 90% |
Sources: Topstep, Apex Trader Funding, TradeDay, My Funded Futures, FundedNext Futures, Lucid Trading, Alpha Futures.
How to check futures prop firm rules before you pay
Check the rules for the exact plan you are buying, on the firm's own help center. My Funded Futures, FundedNext Futures, Alpha Futures and Lucid Trading each sell several 50K plans with different drawdown, consistency and payout rules under one firm name.
- Find the plan name first. "My Funded Futures 50K" can mean Rapid EOD, Builder or Pro. Each one has its own rules.
- Read the evaluation and funded rules separately. Consistency, news and daily loss rules often change after you pass.
- Find the drawdown lock level, not just the $2,000. A drawdown that stops at $50,000 gives you more room than one that never stops.
- Find the buffer. A $2,100 buffer means your first $2,100 of profit cannot be withdrawn.
- Check the platform. Apex Trader Funding runs a different drawdown on Tradovate than on Rithmic.
- Check the help article date. Several help articles used for this guide were updated in September 2026.
Futures prop firm rules FAQ
Do prop firms allow futures trading?
Yes. Futures prop firms such as Topstep, Apex Trader Funding, TradeDay, My Funded Futures, FundedNext Futures, Lucid Trading and Alpha Futures fund traders on CME futures like ES, NQ, CL and GC. Traders pass an evaluation on a simulated account first, then trade a funded account under the same type of rules.
What is the 80% rule in futures trading?
The 80% rule is a Market Profile setup, not a prop firm rule. If price opens outside the prior day's value area, then trades back inside it for two 30-minute periods, traders expect it to travel to the other side of the value area. No futures prop firm in this guide uses an 80% rule.
Do you need $25,000 to trade futures?
No. The $25,000 figure comes from the FINRA pattern day trader rule, which covers stock and options margin accounts. Futures accounts do not fall under that rule. A futures prop firm evaluation costs a one-time or monthly fee, and the trader never deposits the account balance.
Which futures prop firms have no consistency rule on the funded account?
TradeDay, My Funded Futures (Rapid EOD plan) and Lucid Trading (LucidFlex plan) have no consistency rule on the funded account as of 27 September 2026. Each of them still uses a consistency rule during the evaluation: 30% at TradeDay and My Funded Futures, 50% at Lucid Trading.
Is the buffer the same as the trailing drawdown?
No. The trailing drawdown is the balance that fails your account. The buffer is the profit you must hold above that level before a payout. At Apex Trader Funding the Safety Net on a 50K account is $52,100, which is the drawdown limit plus $100.
Can you hold futures trades overnight at a prop firm?
Not on the simulated accounts at the seven firms in this guide. Each firm closes positions before the daily futures close, between 4:10 PM ET and 4:59 PM ET. Alpha Futures allows overnight holds on live accounts only.
Compare futures prop firms side by side
See fees, platforms and coupon codes for every futures prop firm we review.
See the best futures prop firms
