TradeDay Prop Firm Review – What You Need to Know in 2025
Founded in 2020, TradeDay is a proprietary trading firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, operated by TradeDay LLC and led by co-founders James Thorpe and Steve Miley, both trading industry veterans with experience in prop trading and investment banking. It offers funded futures accounts from $10,000 to $250,000, scalable to $750,000, with profit splits up to 95%. Traders access futures markets (CME, CBOT, COMEX, NYMEX) on platforms like TradeDayX, NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, and Jigsaw Daytradr, partnered with CQG for reliable data feeds. With a 4.5/5 Trustpilot rating from 836 reviews and over $5 million in payouts, TradeDay is lauded for its transparency, fast payouts, and educational resources. However, strict drawdown limits and platform restrictions for some countries (e.g., Philippines) are notable drawbacks.
TradeDay Best suited for:
- Beginners: Affordable evaluations starting at $80/month with a 14-day free trial and extensive educational content.
- Experienced Traders: High capital access, up to 95% splits, and scaling to $750,000.
- Day Traders: Tailored for futures day trading with no overnight positions and flexible platforms.
Pros & Cons of TradeDay
Pros
High Profit Splits: Up to 95% with consistent performance, 80% default.- Fast Payouts: Withdrawals from day one, processed within 24 hours, no minimum trading days.
- Flexible Accounts: Static, End of Day, and Intraday accounts cater to various strategies.
- Comprehensive Education: Daily webinars, live squawk, mentoring, and hours of video content.
- Cutting-Edge Platforms: TradeDayX (commission-free), NinjaTrader, Tradovate, and TradingView with CQG data feed.
- Transparent Rules: Fair, trader-friendly policies with free resets on subscription renewals.
Cons
Weekend trading not available on most accounts:- Payout timelines may vary based on verification speed:
How Does TradeDay Work? (Step-by-Step Guide)
- Select Account & Challenge: Choose Static, End of Day, or Intraday ($10,000-$250,000) for $80-$600/month.
- Pass Evaluation: Achieve profit targets (e.g., $1,000 for $10K, $5,500 for $250K), trade 7 days, and maintain consistency (no single day >30% of profit).
- Get Funded: Trade a funded account after KYC, with live capital from day one.
- Earn Profits: Keep 80%-95% of profits, paid from day one via Rise or bank transfer.
TradeDay Account Types & Funding Options
- Account Sizes: $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $250,000, scalable to $750,000. Funding Models: Static: Fixed drawdown, no trailing (e.g., $500 for $10K, $2,500 for $250K). End of Day: 1.5%-2.5% daily loss, 3%-5% max drawdown, based on end-of-day balance. Intraday: 1.5%-2.5% daily loss, 3%-5% max trailing drawdown. Profit Splits: 80% default, up to 95% with scaling or loyalty. Fees: $80-$600/month for evaluation
- $99 reset fee or free on renewal:
- no activation fees.:
Profit Targets & Payouts
- Profit Targets: $1,000-$5,500 based on account size
- single-day profit ?30% of total.
- Payouts: Via Rise or bank transfer, processed in 24 hours, no minimum trading days
- minimum $250 withdrawal. Some report 5-7 day delays.
- Drawdown Limits: 1.5%-2.5% daily, 3%-5% max (trailing or static).
- Comparison: TradeDay’s 1.5%-2.5% daily loss is stricter than FundedNext (5%), but its day-one payouts are faster than FTMO’s bi-weekly schedule.
Leverage & Trading Conditions
- Leverage: 1:10, based on futures contracts (e.g., 10 micros for $10K, 50 micros for $250K).
- Commissions: Not publicly detailed
- typically $3-$5/round turn, free on TradeDayX.
Allowed & Restricted Trading Strategies
Allowed Trading Strategies
- Scalping, hedging
- Expert Advisors (EAs) on supported platforms (NinjaTrader, Tradovate).
Restricted Trading Strategies
- High-frequency trading (HFT)
- arbitrage
- overnight positions (close 10 minutes before market)
- news trading during Tier 1 data releases
- micro-lot scalping to meet minimum days.
How Long Does It Take to Get Funded by TradeDay?
- Challenge Duration: Unlimited, with 7 minimum trading days.
- Evaluation Speed: Can take as little as 7 days
- funding in 24-48 hours post-KYC.
- User Experiences: Traders praise fast funding and payouts (e.g., $500 in 3 minutes via Rise), but some fail due to strict drawdowns or consistency rules (e.g., @K3_Trades on X).
How Long Has TradeDay Been Around?
Since 2020, TradeDay has paid out over $5 million and funded thousands of traders. Its 4.5/5 Trustpilot score from 836 reviews, CQG data feed, and CME Group partnership affirm legitimacy, though country restrictions (e.g., Philippines) and limited reviews on some platforms (e.g., Forex Peace Army) suggest caution compared to FTMO (2014).
Who Owns TradeDay? (Founder & Company Background)
Founders: James Thorpe and Steve Miley, trading industry veterans. Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois (412 S. Wells, 2nd Floor, 60607). Mission & Vision: Foster trader success with real capital, transparent rules, and robust education. Regulatory Status: Unregulated prop firm, uses CQG data feed and CME exchanges.
What Can You Trade with TradeDay? (Supported Markets & Assets)
Markets: Futures on CME, CBOT, COMEX, NYMEX (equity, forex, agricultural, energy, metals, micro futures). Assets: E-mini S&P 500, gold, silver, crude oil, natural gas, USD/JPY futures. Restrictions: No forex, crypto, or stocks, no overnight positions, restricted illiquid products (e.g., minor FX futures).
Does TradeDay Offer Education & Trader Support? (Learning Resources & Coaching)
Daily webinars, live squawk, real-time market commentary, hours of video content, and mentoring. Trader Development: Daily research, performance analytics, and coaching to build discipline. Coaching Programs: Free daily coaching sessions and webinars. Community & Networking: Active Discord and forum for trader collaboration, though some report limited engagement.
How Good is TradeDay’s Customer Support? (Response Time & Availability)
Support Channels: Live chat, email (support@tradeday.com (mailto:support@tradeday.com)), phone (+1-872-222-7850), Discord. Response Times: Typically within hours, with agents like Evan and Steve praised for quick fixes (e.g., payment issues). Operating Hours: 24/5 for live chat and Discord. Trader Feedback: Positive for responsiveness and transparency, negative for payout issues or rule breach explanations.
Is TradeDay a Scam or a Legit Prop Firm?
TradeDay is legitimate, verified by US registration (TradeDay LLC), a 4.5/5 Trustpilot rating from 836 reviews, and over $5 million in payouts. Its CQG data feed, CME Group partnership, and transparent rules (e.g., free resets) enhance trust, with traders praising same-day payouts ($500 in 3 minutes). However, concerns include strict drawdown limits (1.5%-5%), payout delays for some (5-7 days), and country restrictions (e.g., Philippines).
Alternatives to TradeDay – How It Compares
- FTMO: Higher trust score (4.9/5), 90% split, two-step evaluation, forex/crypto trading, more education. FundedNext: 95% split, MT4/MT5/cTrader, scaling to $4 million, higher leverage (1:100), crypto trading. MyFundedFutures: 100% split on first $10,000, one-step evaluation, fewer restrictions, similar futures focus.
Final Verdict – Should You Trade with TradeDay?
TradeDay is a top choice for futures day traders seeking high profit splits (up to 95%), fast payouts (from day one), and robust education (daily webinars, live squawk). Its one-step evaluation, flexible accounts (Static, End of Day, Intraday), and platforms (TradeDayX, NinjaTrader) cater to diverse strategies, while a 14-day free trial lowers the entry barrier. It excels for disciplined traders. However, strict drawdown limits (1.5%-5%), futures-only focus, and country restrictions (e.g., Philippines) may deter some compared to FTMO or FundedNext. Traders should leverage the free trial and monitor X feedback ( @TradeDay ) before joining in 2025, balancing its transparency and support against restrictive rules.
