Going Live
2022
HQ
United States
CEO
Kanwal Singh
Website
elitetraderfunding.com
Trustpilot
3.8
Prop Firm Details
|
Trading Instruments: 261_55745b-37> |
Futures 261_3b7595-59> |
|
Futures Assets: 261_bd33ab-f0> |
Futures 261_21c88c-af> |
|
CFD Assets: 261_904d05-d3> |
None 261_7f3670-13> |
|
Challenge Types: 261_6ea4b0-5d> | 261_b7a17e-58> |
|
Activation Fee: 261_e3ff09-62> |
$150-$300 lifetime, or $80 per month 261_e79c6f-e4> |
|
Consistency Rule: 261_291b5b-6e> |
Not disclosed* 261_d93e20-e2> |
|
Account Sizes: 261_7572bb-2c> | 261_3ed67d-24> |
|
Futures Platforms: 261_ff6d52-33> |
Tools Compatible with Data Providers 261_d5b1e8-3f> |
|
Data Providers: 261_b685b2-3a> |
Rithmic, Tradovate 261_1a0590-62> |
|
Payments Methods: 261_5cdef5-04> |
Credit Card, Debit Card 261_20a5fd-c5> |
|
Withdrawal Methods: 261_cb3ff6-62> |
RiseWorks 261_817c41-05> |
*Elite Trader Funding has a different than usual consistency rule, called the 23% Rule. The trader must earn at least 23% of the best trading day profit to get a new day counted as an Active Trading Day, and you need at least 8 Active Trading Days in order to get a payout. In addition, there is a Minimum Realized Profit Rule and a Safety Net Rule in place. Also, note that in the first 3 payout cycles, there is an amount limit in place and you need to be a paying client during the payout process. Read the exact terms carefully to evaluate if this rule setting fits your needs.
Trading Challenges
|
Prop Firm 261_848c10-d8> |
Account Type 261_584b35-63> |
Account Size 261_45f731-62> |
Instrument 261_f719af-fc> |
Steps 261_a499e4-ae> |
Profit Split 261_614742-e6> |
Profit Target 261_c7faf0-4f> |
Daily Loss 261_890f9b-43> |
Max Loss 261_2a458e-29> |
Price 261_c0fef6-48> |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Elite Trader Funding 261_c42935-87> |
Direct To Funded 261_15ff34-a4> |
$25,000 261_50bad2-71> |
Futures 261_88db4c-ba> |
Instant 261_fb8163-87> |
90%-100% 261_b1f208-a0> |
None 261_b51070-7f> |
None 261_bd632e-dd> |
$2,500 261_ca64f0-a0> |
$599 261_aee68b-df> |
|
Elite Trader Funding 261_089451-36> |
Direct To Funded 261_ca6dab-f7> |
$50,000 261_67464a-cc> |
Futures 261_cf8e5c-b8> |
Instant 261_c3a002-c0> |
90%-100% 261_35e5a9-d4> |
None 261_9b4a55-ae> |
None 261_59a98c-98> |
$5,000 261_e1cd48-74> |
$699 261_141e39-93> |
|
Prop Firm 261_101a8c-95> |
Account Type 261_739e31-c0> |
Account Size 261_1baac2-74> |
Instrument 261_500011-5e> |
Steps 261_943579-25> |
Profit Split 261_603afa-f1> |
Profit Target 261_d67af9-4d> |
Daily Loss 261_043f87-76> |
Max Loss 261_64b013-1b> |
Price 261_7fdf24-ba> |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Elite Trader Funding 261_e5c9be-09> |
1 Step 261_8422eb-69> |
$50,000 261_c46501-b8> |
Futures 261_26089a-ba> |
1-Step 261_21108e-ba> |
90%-100% 261_88d857-c1> |
$3,000 261_7ccb0e-62> |
None 261_c0bee2-12> |
$2,000 261_9853e3-bd> |
$165 261_cc595e-3f> |
|
Elite Trader Funding 261_6b8cd0-fa> |
1 Step 261_f2f7ce-0c> |
$100,000 261_c62207-8c> |
Futures 261_e52356-f3> |
1-Step 261_f166f6-25> |
90%-100% 261_3d5e8f-f2> |
$6,000 261_95d083-c8> |
None 261_5580da-6c> |
$3,000 261_00c0c5-a5> |
$205 261_b65daf-a7> |
|
Elite Trader Funding 261_29ab24-7b> |
1 Step 261_3e86ac-02> |
$150,000 261_cb703d-da> |
Futures 261_932e3c-b3> |
1-Step 261_04b416-ea> |
90%-100% 261_be1a11-71> |
$9,000 261_5ffdac-17> |
None 261_f30377-1d> |
$5,000 261_ef0f19-84> |
$295 261_bdc0ba-2a> |
|
Elite Trader Funding 261_9d21b3-0d> |
1 Step 261_118335-ba> |
$250,000 261_fb132f-f4> |
Futures 261_d75496-38> |
1-Step 261_0ab4fa-bc> |
90%-100% 261_0349cc-8f> |
$15,000 261_95ca14-8d> |
None 261_566b87-a2> |
$6,500 261_ab8a63-e3> |
$515 261_712682-ad> |
|
Prop Firm 261_61a501-8c> |
Account Type 261_ad88f3-fc> |
Account Size 261_493604-a9> |
Instrument 261_f94580-94> |
Steps 261_2c14f0-f5> |
Profit Split 261_bb7122-1c> |
Profit Target 261_2c62e9-e3> |
Daily Loss 261_5a94eb-4c> |
Max Loss 261_9d4431-4d> |
Price 261_36d2a0-11> |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Elite Trader Funding 261_8e4733-03> |
Static Drawdown 261_34988f-8e> |
$10,000 261_9de9b3-06> |
Futures 261_78c3c7-e1> |
1-Step 261_f1f80b-8d> |
90%-100% 261_04014b-36> |
$1,000 261_893e14-47> |
None 261_226a89-2d> |
$500 261_272496-10> |
$99 261_e9f727-8a> |
|
Elite Trader Funding 261_486a50-6c> |
Static Drawdown 261_9e5a7b-0a> |
$25,000 261_cf9967-10> |
Futures 261_c14354-a5> |
1-Step 261_6b99ac-23> |
90%-100% 261_326ec8-32> |
$2,000 261_20db20-c7> |
None 261_dd8d80-a1> |
$1,000 261_e6f480-5e> |
$229 261_50361a-b3> |
|
Elite Trader Funding 261_04378d-09> |
Static Drawdown 261_d987b7-ff> |
$50,000 261_5247a4-b6> |
Futures 261_43ace1-c9> |
1-Step 261_f604f9-22> |
90%-100% 261_f1352e-25> |
$4,000 261_a1835b-a7> |
None 261_2a48b9-48> |
$2,000 261_45df6c-85> |
$449 261_04830a-50> |
|
Prop Firm 261_64c6b2-28> |
Account Type 261_e48064-95> |
Account Size 261_bfde64-82> |
Instrument 261_277860-7d> |
Steps 261_fa40df-29> |
Profit Split 261_32137b-6c> |
Profit Target 261_936897-c1> |
Daily Loss 261_af6742-45> |
Max Loss 261_eee923-b9> |
Price 261_ec67e4-ec> |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Elite Trader Funding 261_940149-07> |
Fast Track 261_35d409-de> |
$100,000 261_2b032b-92> |
Futures 261_c29194-7c> |
1-Step 261_4099ac-27> |
90%-100% 261_2d82d2-a7> |
$6,000 261_ef8ac8-2d> |
None 261_7cdc23-bd> |
$3,000 261_4b4fdd-6d> |
$75 261_7f0bc1-ff> |
|
Prop Firm 261_d3186f-e2> |
Account Type 261_a13aca-31> |
Account Size 261_69814d-df> |
Instrument 261_11c9aa-ab> |
Steps 261_237019-d3> |
Profit Split 261_e489f2-88> |
Profit Target 261_46199f-12> |
Daily Loss 261_c7dbb0-a3> |
Max Loss 261_3b4d38-56> |
Price 261_69f78d-2a> |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Elite Trader Funding 261_ae1bbc-4e> |
EOD Drawdown 261_ff2316-ee> |
$50,000 261_3092d0-aa> |
Futures 261_255db9-89> |
1-Step 261_b7a03d-97> |
90%-100% 261_9ee529-4c> |
$3,000 261_0056ce-25> |
$1,100 261_17a502-1f> |
$2,000 261_866281-f4> |
$295 261_656364-ff> |
|
Elite Trader Funding 261_46729b-e1> |
EOD Drawdown 261_ea3e8f-18> |
$100,000 261_528b15-59> |
Futures 261_f018e4-25> |
1-Step 261_0ccbf3-46> |
90%-100% 261_023ab2-67> |
$6,000 261_81455c-a6> |
$2,200 261_6b3923-97> |
$3,500 261_72b8bf-c7> |
$430 261_7436b6-8d> |
|
Elite Trader Funding 261_c3caab-f0> |
EOD Drawdown 261_ae1c6c-39> |
$50,000 261_db8d00-cf> |
Futures 261_019e91-86> |
1-Step 261_06e9b7-03> |
90%-100% 261_e113f3-15> |
$9,000 261_1fd312-78> |
$3,300 261_947945-ef> |
$4,500 261_a2c5a6-0f> |
$605 261_47a1df-3c> |
|
Prop Firm 261_e16209-e2> |
Account Type 261_936188-e5> |
Account Size 261_79ed9c-44> |
Instrument 261_57e2a8-03> |
Steps 261_1a5134-58> |
Profit Split 261_ea5bca-9f> |
Profit Target 261_f42a66-60> |
Daily Loss 261_7e6606-3d> |
Max Loss 261_4d2965-c0> |
Price 261_98346f-23> |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Elite Trader Funding 261_b33485-ee> |
Diamond Hands 261_031e92-8d> |
$100,000 261_29d849-72> |
Futures 261_125a6d-2e> |
1-Step 261_0fff92-dd> |
90%-100% 261_53805a-14> |
$5,000 261_c6cb02-55> |
$1,500 261_be1e9d-01> |
$3,500 261_f084bc-64> |
$365 261_c690fe-d1> |
Bottom Line Up Front: Elite Trader Funding wants to be your everything-futures prop firm with five different evaluation models (1-Step, EOD, Fast Track, Static, Diamond Hands), the ability to run up to 20 accounts from a single login, and a profit split that starts at 100% for your first $12,500 before dropping to 90%. Founded in 2022 by three traders who actually know what they’re doing, ETF has paid out over $10 million to traders and sports a 3.8 Trustpilot score from over 900 reviews, which sounds great until you realize their “Sim-Funded” accounts after passing aren’t actually funded with real capital. The path to genuine live funding through their “LIVE Elite” accounts is discretionary, opaque, and has no published criteria. With evaluations starting at $75, monthly activation fees of $80, and a 15-20% pass rate that’s higher than most firms, ETF offers legitimate payout opportunities if you’re treating this as a short-term income play. But if you’re expecting transparent access to real institutional capital after passing? The fine print tells a different story.
My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
What Is Elite Trader Funding, Really?
Elite Trader Funding launched in February 2022, which makes it relatively young in prop firm years, but not concerningly young. The founders, Clint Chaney, Kanwal Singh, and Eric Ho, bring decades of combined experience in trading, banking, and web development, which is exactly the skill mix you want running a futures prop firm in 2025.
Here’s what’s immediately different about ETF: they’re not trying to force everyone into the same cookie-cutter evaluation. They’ve built five distinct challenge types, each targeting a different trader profile. The 1-Step program for generalists. EOD Drawdown for swing traders who hate intraday monitoring. Fast Track for aggressive scalpers who’ll pass or fail in days. Static Drawdown for position traders who want a fixed safety net. And Diamond Hands, the only program where you can hold overnight and weekend positions.
That variety is smart product design. Most prop firms offer one path and force you to adapt. ETF lets you pick the ruleset that matches your actual trading style.
But here’s where things get complicated: ETF operates on a three-tier structure that’s not clearly explained on their homepage. You pass the evaluation → you get a “Sim-Funded” account that still uses demo capital → you might be invited to a “LIVE Elite” account with real capital if ETF deems you worthy. That third step has no published criteria, no guaranteed timeline, and no transparency about who gets invited or why.
So when ETF says they’ve “funded over 2,000 traders,” what they actually mean is: over 2,000 traders have been given Sim-Funded accounts with payout privileges. How many have received actual live capital? That number isn’t published anywhere.
The Five Evaluation Programs Explained (And Why They Actually Matter)
Let’s break down each evaluation type, because your choice here fundamentally changes your experience with ETF.
1-Step Evaluation: The Standard Path
This is ETF’s bread-and-butter program. Account sizes from $50K to $300K. Profit targets ranging from 6-7% depending on size. Trailing drawdown that adjusts with your unrealized profits.
The rules:
- Minimum 5 trading days required
- No maximum time limit, take as long as you need
- Maximum daily loss around 1.7-2.2% depending on account size
- Trailing drawdown from 2.8-6%
- Position limits based on account size
- All positions must be closed 1 minute before market close
- No overnight holding
Monthly cost: $80 for $50K accounts up to $515 for $300K accounts
Who it’s for: Intraday traders comfortable with trailing drawdowns who want a straightforward path to funded status. If you’re not sure which program to choose, start here.
Pass difficulty: The 5-day minimum prevents you from getting funded on one lucky day. The trailing drawdown is the real challenge, every time you hit a new unrealized high, your safety net moves with you. This means a $3,000 winner that retraces to breakeven doesn’t just cost you $3,000 in opportunity, it also reduces your drawdown cushion by $3,000.
2. EOD Drawdown Evaluation: For Swing Traders
The key difference? Your drawdown only updates at the end of each trading session based on your closed balance. This means you can take big intraday swings without worrying about blowing your drawdown mid-session.
The rules:
- Same 5-day minimum and profit targets as 1-Step
- EOD trailing drawdown (only updates after market close)
- Daily loss limit calculated from prior day’s ending balance
- No overnight holding
- Position limits apply
- Sunday/Monday count as a single trading day
Monthly cost: Same pricing as 1-Step
Who it’s for: Traders who want more breathing room during the trading day. If you’re running strategies that require wide intraday stops but you’re disciplined about daily risk management, this is your program.
Why it’s better for some traders: That EOD update means you can let a winner ride to $5,000 unrealized, watch it retrace to $1,000, and still close the day with $1,000 profit without losing $4,000 in drawdown room. For swing-style intraday traders, this is a massive psychological advantage.
3. Fast Track Evaluation: The High-Risk Sprint
Fast Track accounts are for aggressive traders who think they can hit profit targets in 10-14 days. You get lower monthly fees in exchange for a hard time limit.
The rules:
- Account sizes: $100K to $250K only
- Time limit: 10 or 14 days depending on the account (choose at purchase)
- Same drawdown and daily loss rules as 1-Step
- Same position limits
- No overnight holding
- Critical: No reset option if you fail
Monthly cost: Lower than 1-Step equivalents (pricing varies by promotion)
Who it’s for: Scalpers and high-frequency traders who know they’ll either crush the target in a week or blow up trying. This is not for methodical traders who need time to build positions carefully.
Why the no-reset policy matters: Most ETF programs give you free monthly resets if you fail. Fast Track doesn’t. If you blow your drawdown or don’t hit the target in time, you’re paying full price again. This makes Fast Track evaluations a gambling proposition unless you have a proven edge that works on compressed timelines.
4. Static Drawdown Evaluation: The Fixed Safety Net
Instead of a trailing drawdown that moves with your unrealized profits, Static accounts use a fixed minimum balance that never changes.
The rules:
- Account sizes: $10K to $50K
- Static maximum drawdown (5% for $10K, 4% for $25K and $50K)
- Higher profit targets (10% for $10K, 8% for larger accounts)
- No daily loss limit
- Minimum 5 trading days
- No overnight holding
Monthly cost: Lower than trailing programs
Who it’s for: Position traders and anyone psychologically uncomfortable with trailing drawdowns. If you’re the type of trader who needs to know your exact risk line at all times, Static is the program.
The trade-off: Higher profit targets. You’re getting more forgiving risk management in exchange for a bigger percentage requirement to pass. For $10K accounts, that 10% target ($1,000) is achievable but not trivial. You’re essentially trading peace of mind for harder profit hurdles.
5. Diamond Hands: The Overnight Hold Option
This is ETF’s only program where you can hold positions overnight and through weekends. It’s designed for true swing traders who want to capture multi-day moves.
The rules:
- Single account size: $100K only
- EOD trailing drawdown (updates daily, not intraday)
- 6% profit target ($6,000)
- Minimum 5 trading days
- You can hold positions overnight and through weekends
- Position limits: 20 contracts
Monthly cost: $200
Who it’s for: Swing traders who want to catch trends that develop over days or weeks. If your edge comes from holding through overnight gaps or weekend news, this is your only option at ETF.
The risk: Overnight gaps can destroy you. A Fed announcement, geopolitical event, or earnings surprise on a related sector can blow through your drawdown while you’re sleeping. This program requires iron discipline and excellent risk management because you’re exposed to time decay that doesn’t exist in intraday-only programs.
The “Funded” Account Structure (And Why “Funded” Doesn’t Mean What You Think)
This is where ETF’s model gets murky, and it’s the primary reason for the 3.5/5 rating instead of 4+.
When you pass an evaluation, you don’t get funded with real capital. You get moved to a “Sim-Funded” account, also known as an “Elite Account”, which is still demo-based but with payout privileges.
Sim-Funded (Elite) Accounts
These accounts have the same balance and rules as your evaluation account. Your trailing drawdown continues until you’ve earned realized profits equal to your max drawdown + $100. At that point, your drawdown converts to a static level (starting balance + $100), and you’re free to trade without the trailing stress.
The payout structure:
- 100% of first $12,500 in profits
- 90% of profits beyond $12,500
- Minimum 8 “Active Trading Days” required before first payout
- Active Trading Day = at least $200 in realized profit AND at least 23% of your best trading day’s P&L
- Weekly payout requests available (processed Wednesdays)
- $80 monthly activation fee continues
The 40% Consistency Rule: Your single best Active Trading Day cannot exceed 40% of your total accumulated profits (including previous withdrawals) at the time of any withdrawal request. This rule exists to prevent lottery-ticket trading, hitting one massive winner and withdrawing before you prove consistency.
What this means in practice: If you make $10,000 over 15 Active Trading Days, your biggest single day can’t exceed $4,000. If your best day was $5,000, you need to keep trading until your total profits reach $12,500 ($5,000 ÷ 0.40) before you can request a withdrawal.
This is where a lot of traders get frustrated. They pass the evaluation, hit their target in the Sim-Funded account, request a payout, and then discover they violated the 40% rule or didn’t have enough Active Trading Days. The rules are disclosed in the agreement you sign, but they’re not emphasized during marketing.
LIVE Elite Accounts: The Real Funding (Maybe)
After you’ve been consistently profitable in your Sim-Funded account, and this is the critical part, ETF may invite you to a LIVE Elite account. This is when you’re trading with actual capital, funded through EdgeClear, with daily payout access and no consistency rule restrictions.
The problem: There are no published criteria for who gets invited to LIVE Elite. ETF claims it’s based on “internal review of your Sim-Funded performance, payout history, and risk profile,” but that’s vague corporate speak with no actionable guidance.
Some traders report getting invited after 3-4 successful payouts. Others say they’ve taken 10+ payouts and never received an invitation. ETF hasn’t published statistics on what percentage of Sim-Funded traders are upgraded to LIVE Elite, which means there’s no way to assess your actual odds of accessing real capital.
What ETF should be transparent about:
- What’s the average number of payouts before LIVE Elite invitation?
- What’s the average Sim-Funded account longevity before invitation?
- What percentage of Sim-Funded traders are currently in LIVE Elite accounts?
- Are there minimum profit thresholds, minimum time requirements, or other specific metrics?
Without these answers, the LIVE Elite structure feels like a carrot on a stick, technically possible but practically ambiguous.
Pricing Breakdown: What You’re Actually Paying
ETF uses a subscription model. You pay monthly until you either pass the evaluation or cancel.
Evaluation Pricing (Monthly Subscription)
| Account Size | 1-Step/EOD | Fast Track | Static | Diamond Hands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10K | N/A | N/A | $77 | N/A |
| $25K | $80 | N/A | $115 | N/A |
| $50K | $165 | N/A | $155 | N/A |
| $100K | $235 | $150 | N/A | $200 |
| $150K | $365 | $200 | N/A | N/A |
| $200K | $440 | $290 | N/A | N/A |
| $250K | $490 | $365 | N/A | N/A |
| $300K | $515 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Reset fees: $75 (automatic free monthly reset if you’re still paying the subscription)
Funded account fee: $80/month for all Sim-Funded accounts (regardless of size)
The math: If you pass in 30 days, a $100K 1-Step costs you $235 + $80 = $315 total to get to funded status. If you take 3 months to pass, it’s $235 × 3 + $80 = $785. The monthly subscription model rewards fast passers and punishes indecisive traders.
Free monthly resets: If you fail your evaluation but keep paying the monthly subscription, ETF automatically resets your account at no extra charge. This is actually generous, it means your only real cost is time if you’re willing to keep paying the subscription while you figure out your strategy.
The Rewards Program
ETF offers a points system where you earn 1 point per dollar spent. You can redeem points for:
- Account reset: 1,250 points
- $100K Fast Track: 4,200 points
- $250K Fast Track: 8,000 points
If you’re a serial evaluation buyer who’s spent $5,000+ over time, the rewards program adds real value. But for most traders taking 1-2 attempts, it’s not a game-changer.
Trading Rules: The Devil’s in the Details
Let’s talk about the rules that will actually impact your daily trading experience.
Position Limits
ETF enforces contract limits based on your account size:
- $50K: 10 contracts
- $100K: 20 contracts
- $150K: 30 contracts
- $200K: 40 contracts
- $250K: 50 contracts
- $300K: 60 contracts
If you’re a micro scalper trading ES with 1-2 contracts, these limits are irrelevant. If you’re a swing trader trying to load 50 contracts of /NQ on a $100K account, you’re out of luck.
Daily Loss Limits (1-Step and EOD only)
Calculated as a percentage of your account size or prior day’s balance (depending on program type). Breaching the daily loss limit is an instant fail.
Trailing Drawdown Mechanics
This is where most traders struggle with ETF’s 1-Step program. Your drawdown trails your highest unrealized account balance.
Example: You start with a $100K account and a $3,000 trailing drawdown. Your account hits $103,000 unrealized (you’re up $3,000 in open positions). Your drawdown immediately trails to $100,000. If those positions now reverse and stop you out at breakeven, your new minimum balance is $100,000, not the $97,000 you started with. You just lost $3,000 in drawdown cushion despite making zero realized profit.
This mechanic punishes traders who let winners retrace. The solution is to aggressively take profits on the way up and never let unrealized gains evaporate without banking some of them first. But that’s easier said than done when you’re trading futures with inherent volatility.
The 23% Active Trading Day Rule
To qualify for a payout, you need at least 8 Active Trading Days. An ATD requires:
- Minimum $200 in realized profit (or $100 for smaller accounts)
- At least 23% of your best trading day’s P&L
Why this matters: If your best trading day was a $4,000 winner, every subsequent day needs at least $920 in realized profit to count as an ATD. Anything less doesn’t count toward your minimum 8 days, even if you’re consistently profitable.
This rule prevents traders from hitting one massive day and then turtling for payouts. But it also means you need sustained, relatively consistent performance, not just profitability, to access your money.
The 40% Consistency Rule
Your single best ATD cannot exceed 40% of total accumulated profits at withdrawal time. This stacks with the 23% rule to create a high bar for payout eligibility.
Combined effect: You need at least 8 days that meet the 23% threshold, none of which individually exceeds 40% of your total. For traders who naturally swing between big days and small days, this creates friction. You’re rewarded for mechanical consistency, not for occasional brilliance.
Platform and Instruments
ETF gives you broad platform choice:
- NinjaTrader
- Tradovate
- TradingView
- Rithmic
- Plus 10+ other Rithmic-compatible platforms (ATAS, Bookmap, MotiveWave, Quantower, Sierra Chart, etc.)
This is legitimately impressive. Most prop firms lock you into one or two platforms. ETF lets you use whatever you’re comfortable with, which matters if you’ve spent years customizing a specific trading setup.
Instruments: 76 futures contracts across major exchanges (CME, CBOT, COMEX, NYMEX). You get:
- Equity indices (ES, NQ, YM, RTY)
- Currencies (6E, 6J, 6B, 6A)
- Energies (CL, NG, RB, HO)
- Metals (GC, SI, HG, PA)
- Agriculturals (ZC, ZS, ZW, ZL)
- Crypto futures (BTC, ETH)
- Interest rates (ZN, ZB, ZF, ZT)
What’s missing: Stocks, forex spot pairs, options. This is futures-only. If you’re a multi-asset trader, you’ll need a different firm or multiple prop accounts.
Platform fees:
- Evaluation phase: Free (real-time data included)
- Funded phase: $80/month covers platform access
- LIVE Elite phase: $128/month per venue for exchange data fees
Support and Community
ETF operates a ticket-based support system. No phone line. No live chat (despite some marketing materials suggesting otherwise). Responses typically arrive within 24 hours on business days.
Hours: 8 AM – 4 PM Central Time, Monday-Friday
Discord community: 15,000+ members with active channels for support, announcements, and trader discussions. This is unofficial but practically serves as a faster support channel than tickets. You’ll often get answers from other traders or community mods before official support responds.
Educational resources:
- YouTube channel with 250+ videos (platform tutorials, market commentary, interviews)
- Blog with trading psychology and strategy articles
- Help desk with searchable FAQs
The education is surface-level. If you need hand-holding on trading fundamentals, you’re better off using FTMO or Earn2Trade’s structured curriculum. ETF assumes you already know how to trade and just need technical platform help.
Trustpilot and Community Sentiment
Current rating: 3.8/5 stars from 984 reviews
Star breakdown:
- 5 stars: 62%
- 4 stars: 7%
- 3 stars: 5%
- 2 stars: 2%
- 1 star: 24%
Positive feedback themes:
- Low evaluation costs and frequent promotions
- Fast payout processing (often same-day for Sim-Funded accounts)
- Responsive Discord community
- Generous profit split structure
- Multiple account management from one login
Negative feedback themes:
- Vague payout denials citing “dollar cost averaging” or “adding to losers” without clear definitions
- Confusion about the path to LIVE Elite funding
- Trailing drawdown frustrations
- $80 monthly activation fee for Sim-Funded accounts feels high
- Support responses can be slow or unhelpful
The pattern: Traders who treat ETF as a short-term payout opportunity love the firm. Traders who expected transparent access to real capital after passing feel misled by the Sim-Funded → LIVE Elite structure.
Elite Trader Funding vs. The Competition
Elite Trader Funding vs. MyFundedFutures
MyFundedFutures wins on:
- Transparent funding model (no Sim-Funded limbo)
- Faster path to payouts (no 23% ATD requirement)
- Lower monthly costs for funded accounts (included in original price, no $80 fee)
Elite Trader Funding wins on:
- More evaluation variety (5 programs vs. MFFU’s 2)
- Higher profit split (100% first $12,500 vs. MFFU’s flat 90%)
- Platform flexibility (12+ options vs. MFFU’s focus on NinjaTrader)
Bottom line: If you want simplicity and speed, go with MFFU. If you want customization and are willing to navigate complexity, try ETF.
Elite Trader Funding vs. Apex Trader Funding
Apex wins on:
- Clarity of funding structure (you know you’re funded when you pass)
- Lower evaluation costs at scale
- No $80 monthly activation fee
Elite Trader Funding wins on:
- Better profit split (ETF’s 100%/90% vs. Apex’s 90/10 default)
- More evaluation variety
- Free monthly resets included in subscription
Bottom line: Apex is for traders who want the largest account sizes and don’t mind lower splits. ETF is for traders who prioritize payout percentage over account size.
Elite Trader Funding vs. DayTraders.com
DayTraders wins on:
- Revolutionary 100% profit split (vs. ETF’s 100% first $12,500, then 90%)
- Higher pass rates (45% vs. ETF’s 15-20%)
- Clearer path to live funding
Elite Trader Funding wins on:
- Longer track record (2022 vs. DayTraders’ 2023)
- More evaluation options (5 vs. DayTraders’ 3)
- Lower monthly costs for smaller accounts
Bottom line: DayTraders is objectively better on profit split and pass rates. But ETF’s extra year of operations and broader program selection matters if you’re risk-averse about firm longevity.
Elite Trader Funding vs. TopStep
TopStep wins on:
- Industry credibility (been around since 2012)
- Transparent institutional funding
- Structured educational resources
- No Sim-Funded ambiguity
Elite Trader Funding wins on:
- Lower evaluation costs
- Better profit splits
- More evaluation variety
- No express vs. standard tiers
Bottom line: TopStep is the Lexus, more expensive, more established, undeniably legitimate. ETF is the Honda, cheaper, efficient, does the job well if you understand what you’re buying.
Pass Rates and Realistic Expectations
ETF reports a 15-20% pass rate across all evaluation types. That’s higher than the industry average of 10-12%, but it’s not a gimme.
Why the higher pass rate?
- 5-day minimum prevents immediate failure on one bad day
- Free monthly resets reduce pressure to rush
- EOD and Static options accommodate different risk tolerances
- No maximum time limit lets methodical traders take their time
But here’s the catch: The 15-20% pass rate is for the evaluation phase. The percentage of those traders who then navigate the Sim-Funded rules successfully, avoid payout denials, and eventually access LIVE Elite accounts? That number isn’t published.
Realistic timeline expectations:
- Fast traders: Pass evaluation in 10-30 days, request first payout in 30-60 days
- Methodical traders: Pass evaluation in 60-90 days, request first payout in 90-120 days
- Access to LIVE Elite: Unknown timeframe, discretionary approval
Legitimate or Scam? The Verdict
Elite Trader Funding is legitimate. They’ve paid out over $10 million to traders since 2022. They have institutional backing through EdgeClear (for LIVE Elite accounts). They have thousands of successful payout reviews on Trustpilot. They’re not a fly-by-night operation running on fake screenshots.
However, their funding model is more complicated, and less transparent, than they initially let on. The Sim-Funded vs. LIVE Elite distinction isn’t clearly explained in marketing materials. The criteria for accessing real capital aren’t published. And some traders report vague payout denials that cite rules not explicitly defined in the original agreement.
The truth: ETF works great if you approach it as a payout-first model where you’re essentially running a trading business that withdraws profits from demo accounts. If you’re okay with that structure and the associated rules (23% ATD requirement, 40% consistency rule, $80 monthly fee), ETF offers competitive economics.
But if you passed the evaluation expecting immediate access to real institutional capital with no strings attached, you’ll be disappointed by the Sim-Funded reality and frustrated by the opacity of LIVE Elite eligibility.
My Honest Assessment
Elite Trader Funding is a good futures prop firm with some glaring transparency issues.
What they do well:
- Five evaluation options covering multiple trading styles
- Competitive profit splits (100% first $12,500, 90% thereafter)
- Broad platform support (12+ options)
- Free monthly resets included in subscription
- Genuine payouts processed quickly for Sim-Funded accounts
- Legitimate institutional backing for LIVE Elite accounts
Where they fall short:
- Vague path to real funding through LIVE Elite
- Complex payout eligibility rules (23% ATD, 40% consistency, minimum 8 days)
- $80 monthly activation fee for Sim-Funded accounts
- Support limited to tickets and unofficial Discord
- Educational resources are surface-level
Who should use Elite Trader Funding:
- Futures traders comfortable with subscription pricing
- Traders who want evaluation variety (EOD, Static, Diamond Hands options)
- Scalpers and day traders who value platform flexibility
- Traders treating this as a payout opportunity rather than traditional capital allocation
Who should avoid Elite Trader Funding:
- Traders expecting transparent access to live capital after passing
- Traders who struggle with consistency (23%/40% rules will frustrate you)
- Traders who want comprehensive educational support
- Traders uncomfortable with the Sim-Funded ambiguity
The fundamental question: Are you okay with earning 90-100% of profits from demo accounts with weekly payout privileges, knowing that “real funding” is technically available but practically ambiguous?
If yes, ETF is competitive on economics and offers genuine flexibility. If no, look at TopStep (for institutional credibility), MyFundedFutures (for simplicity), or DayTraders.com (for better splits and transparency).
Promotions and Discount Opportunities
ETF runs frequent promotions:
- PriceSlash Add-On: Pass any evaluation, activate your Sim-Funded account, and get a 90% discount on your next evaluation of the same type (valid 90 days)
- Regional expansion promos: Occasional 90% discounts for specific countries
- Affiliate commissions: 7-15% on evaluation accounts, $5 per reset fee
Promo code culture: ETF is generous with discount codes, especially around holidays and during expansion pushes. If you’re paying full price, you’re doing it wrong, wait for a promotion or use an affiliate code.
Technical Details: What Happens When You Hit Drawdown
Evaluation phase: Instant fail. Your account is locked. You can pay $75 to reset or wait for the free monthly reset if you’re still subscribed.
Sim-Funded phase: Instant fail. You can reset for $75 or use Rewards Points (1,250 points).
LIVE Elite phase: Unknown (no published information on LIVE Elite reset procedures).
The Multiple Account Strategy
ETF allows up to 20 Sim-Funded accounts from one login. This creates an interesting strategic opportunity: diversify across multiple accounts to reduce single-account risk.
Example: Instead of trading one $300K account, you could run three $100K accounts with different strategies. If one blows up, you still have two others in play. Your total monthly cost is 3 × $80 = $240 (vs. $80 for a single $300K), but your risk is distributed.
The catch: Position limits are per-account, not aggregate. You can’t combine three $100K accounts to trade like a $300K account, each one is independently capped at 20 contracts.
Final Thoughts: Should You Use Elite Trader Funding?
Elite Trader Funding is best understood as a payout platform with evaluation gatekeeping, not as a traditional prop firm with transparent institutional funding.
If you’re a profitable futures trader looking for weekly withdrawals from demo accounts with competitive splits, ETF delivers on that promise. The evaluation variety is excellent. The platform flexibility is genuinely impressive. The profit splits are competitive (especially that 100% first $12,500 tier). And the payouts do process, fast.
But if you passed the evaluation expecting to trade $100K of real capital with institutional backing, you’re going to be frustrated by the Sim-Funded structure and confused about when (or if) you’ll access LIVE Elite.
My recommendation: Use ETF if you’re okay with the Sim-Funded model and treat LIVE Elite as a bonus possibility rather than a guaranteed outcome. The economics work at that level, you’re essentially running a trading business that withdraws profits from high-paying demo accounts.
Just don’t go in expecting the clarity and transparency of firms like TopStep or the simplicity of firms like MyFundedFutures. ETF sits in the middle, better than many firms, but with enough opacity in its funding structure to knock it from a 4-star to a 3.5-star rating.
The good news: At $75-$200/month with free resets, you can try ETF without massive financial commitment. If the Sim-Funded structure works for you, great. If it doesn’t, you’re not trapped for thousands of dollars.
Just read the fine print on the 23% ATD rule, the 40% consistency requirement, and the LIVE Elite eligibility before you get frustrated three months in when your payout gets denied for reasons that technically existed in the agreement but weren’t highlighted during marketing.
Verdict: Elite Trader Funding is a legitimate futures prop firm with competitive economics and excellent evaluation variety, held back by a confusing funding structure and lack of transparency around real capital access. Worth trying if you’re okay with Sim-Funded payouts. Approach with caution if you expect traditional prop firm capital allocation.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars


