Overview
TradeDay is a proprietary trading firm based in the United States, specializing in futures trading. It provides aspiring and experienced traders with the opportunity to earn a funded trading account by successfully completing a single-phase evaluation. With a focus on transparency, education, and trader development, TradeDay positions itself as a professional yet accessible pathway into the world of funded futures trading.
Company Profile
TradeDay was founded in Chicago by a team with extensive industry experience in institutional trading, proprietary trading, and financial education. The firm’s mission is to democratize access to capital for futures traders through a fair, realistic, and educational evaluation process. The company operates entirely online and offers global access to its platform and services.
The firm is structured to align its interests with those of traders by offering profit-sharing models, risk management tools, and trader development resources. TradeDay’s management and educational team consists of former proprietary traders and market educators who provide direct insights to its trading community.
Evaluation Process
Single-Phase Challenge
TradeDay offers a simplified, one-step evaluation process that traders must pass to qualify for a funded account. The process is designed to assess risk management, consistency, and strategy execution under realistic trading conditions.
Key features of the evaluation include:
- Profit Target: Varies based on account size (e.g., a $50,000 account typically requires a profit target of $3,000).
- Drawdown Limit: Accounts are subject to trailing drawdown or fixed drawdown limits depending on tier.
- Minimum Trading Days: Traders must trade a minimum number of active days (often 10) to demonstrate consistency.
- No Maximum Time Limit: Traders may take as long as needed to meet objectives, as long as they comply with rules.
- Reset Option: If a rule is breached, an account reset is available for a fee.
TradeDay does not require multiple stages, eliminating the need for successive evaluations and reducing the time required to become funded.
Funded Accounts
Upon successful completion of the evaluation, traders receive a funded account with the same balance as the one they used during the test phase. Funded traders are permitted to retain profits based on a structured payout model:
- First $10,000 in profits: Trader retains 100%.
- After $10,000: Profit split is 90% to the trader, 10% to TradeDay.
There are no restrictions on payout frequency or amounts, provided the trader maintains compliance with risk parameters. Funded traders no longer pay the monthly subscription fee associated with the evaluation phase.
Account Options
TradeDay offers various account sizes, commonly including:
- $10,000
- $25,000
- $50,000
- $100,000
- $250,000
Each account tier comes with specific profit targets and risk limits. As account size increases, so do the available number of contracts and daily loss thresholds. This allows traders to choose an account that matches their strategy and experience level.
Trading Rules
TradeDay enforces a clear set of rules designed to maintain risk discipline:
- No Overnight Trading: All positions must be closed before the daily market close.
- No Trading During Major News Events: Traders must avoid trading during restricted high-impact economic announcements.
- Trailing Drawdown Applies: Depending on the account, a trailing drawdown may reduce as profits increase.
- Position Limits: Traders must adhere to contract limits based on account size.
These rules are applied to both evaluation and funded accounts, ensuring continuity in expectations and performance.
Supported Platforms
TradeDay integrates with several leading futures trading platforms, giving traders flexibility and access to professional-grade tools:
- NinjaTrader – Offers advanced charting, strategy building, and historical data analysis.
- Tradovate – A modern, cloud-based platform with cross-device functionality.
- TradingView – Provides comprehensive charting and indicator features in a browser-based interface.
- Jigsaw Daytradr – Designed for order flow and depth-of-market analysis, particularly for advanced users.
All platforms used with TradeDay include real-time data feeds from CME Group exchanges.
Market Access
TradeDay restricts trading to futures contracts listed on regulated U.S. exchanges, including:
- Equity Index Futures: E-mini and Micro E-mini S&P 500, Nasdaq, Russell 2000, Dow.
- Energy Futures: Crude Oil, Micro Crude, Natural Gas.
- Metals Futures: Gold, Micro Gold, Silver, Platinum.
- Agricultural Futures: Corn, Soybeans, Wheat.
- Interest Rate Futures: U.S. Treasury Bonds and Notes.
- FX Futures: Euro FX, British Pound, and other currency pairs traded as futures.
All trading is subject to real-time exchange rules and margin requirements.
Fees and Pricing
TradeDay uses a subscription model for its evaluation accounts:
- Monthly Fee: Varies by account size (e.g., starting around $99 per month for lower-tier accounts).
- Reset Fee: Traders can reset a failed evaluation for a one-time fee.
- No Additional Platform Fees: Most trading platforms are included in the subscription or offer free versions for use.
Once funded, traders do not pay any recurring fees. All commissions, data costs, and platform fees are covered by TradeDay on the funded account.
Trader Support and Education
TradeDay places significant emphasis on trader development. Key resources include:
- Live Market Commentary: Hosted daily to offer insights, trade setups, and news.
- Market Research: Regular updates on economic indicators, futures sentiment, and price levels.
- Trader Community: Includes live chatrooms, Discord channels, and group discussions.
- Coaching and Mentorship: Direct access to experienced traders who provide feedback and strategy refinement.
- Educational Content: E-books, guides, and webinars on trading psychology, risk management, and technical analysis.
These tools are intended to promote disciplined trading habits and long-term skill development.
Performance Tracking
TradeDay provides real-time metrics and dashboards for performance evaluation, including:
- Daily Profit and Loss Tracking
- Drawdown Monitoring
- Win/Loss Ratio and Trade Logs
- Consistency Analysis
These tools are available during both evaluation and funded stages to help traders optimize their performance.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Single-phase evaluation simplifies access to funding.
- No time limit to complete the evaluation.
- High profit split after funding, with full retention of the first $10,000.
- Access to multiple high-quality trading platforms.
- Strong educational and support infrastructure.
- Transparent rules with no hidden conditions.
- No ongoing costs once funded.
Cons
- Only futures contracts are supported.
- No overnight or news-event trading allowed.
- Only one account per trader at a time.
- Evaluation accounts have monthly fees.
Conclusion
TradeDay offers a structured and transparent path for futures traders to access funding without the complexity of multi-phase evaluations. Its focus on education, daily market guidance, and profit sharing makes it suitable for disciplined traders seeking a professional environment. While its exclusive focus on futures and rule-based restrictions may not suit all traders, those comfortable with intraday strategies will find a supportive and well-defined ecosystem in TradeDay.
