At-a-Glance: E8 Markets vs Funded Trading Plus
| Feature | E8 Markets | Funded Trading Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Max Drawdown / Daily Drawdown | 8% / 5% | 6% / 4% |
| Profit Target | 8% | 10% |
| Profit Split | 80/20 | 80/20 → 100% |
| Account Sizes | $5K – $250K | $5K – $200K |
| Challenge Cost | $48 – $988 | $119 – $999 |
| Leverage | 1:50 | 1:30 |
| Minimum Trading Days | 5 | 0 |
| Trading Period | Unlimited (both phases) | Unlimited |
| Weekend Holding | No | Yes (except some programs) |
| News Trading | Yes | Yes |
| EA/Algo Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Scaling | Performance-based, size grows as you profit | Up to $2.5M ($5.25M on Premium) at each 10% milestone |
| Payout Speed | Fast processing | From Day 0 or Day 1 |
| Instruments | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | Forex, Crypto, Indices, Commodities |
| US Traders Allowed | Yes | No |
| Instant Funding | No | Yes |
For a deeper, interactive breakdown, use our side-by-side comparison tool.
Challenge Structure & Costs
E8 Markets
- Challenge Cost: $48 (5K) to $988 (250K)
- Profit Target: 8% (single phase)
- Drawdown: 8% max, 5% daily
- Minimum 5 trading days
- Unlimited time to complete challenge
E8 Markets stands out for its lower challenge fees and lower profit target. For example, a $100K account costs $588 to challenge, with an 8% target ($8,000 profit) and 8% max drawdown ($8,000).
Funded Trading Plus
- Challenge Cost: $119 (5K) to $999 (200K)
- Profit Target: 10%
- Drawdown: 6% max, 4% daily (trailing, resets after profit split but shrinks after withdrawals)
- No minimum trading days
- Unlimited time to complete challenge
Funded Trading Plus is pricier at the low end ($119 for $5K) but similar at the high end. The 10% profit target means a $100K account requires $10,000 in profit, but with only 6% max drawdown ($6,000) and 4% daily ($4,000), leaving less room for error. The trailing drawdown can shrink after payouts, a non-obvious risk that impacts aggressive strategies.
Drawdown Rules: Room to Maneuver?
E8 Markets
With an 8% max and 5% daily drawdown, E8 Markets provides more breathing room than most. For a $50K account, you can lose up to $2,500 in a day or $4,000 overall before breaching. Drawdown is based on equity/balance at the end of the trading day.
Funded Trading Plus
Drawdown is tighter: 6% max, 4% daily, and crucially, it's trailing—meaning as your account grows, your max drawdown level moves up but is always 6% below your peak balance. After a withdrawal, the trailing drawdown can shrink, so you have less buffer for future losses unless you keep growing the account. This requires more precise risk management, especially for traders who want to scale out profits frequently. You can simulate different scenarios with our drawdown calculator.
Profit Split & Payouts
| Firm | Initial Split | Max Split | Payout Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| E8 Markets | 80/20 | 80/20 | Fast processing (typically within a few days) |
| Funded Trading Plus | 80/20 | 100% (after milestones) | Payouts from Day 0 or Day 1 |
E8 Markets keeps it simple: 80/20 split, no scaling. Funded Trading Plus starts at 80/20 but can go to 100% after hitting certain milestones—an edge for high-volume or high-profit traders. Additionally, their payout system is extremely fast, even allowing payouts immediately after passing the challenge in some cases.
Tradable Instruments & Platforms
- E8 Markets: Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
- Funded Trading Plus: Forex, Crypto, Indices, Commodities
Instrument selection is virtually identical. Both support EAs and algo trading. For weekend holding, E8 Markets does not allow it, while Funded Trading Plus does (except for some instant funding programs that auto-close positions over weekends).
Leverage: How Much Risk Can You Take?
- E8 Markets: 1:50 leverage
- Funded Trading Plus: 1:30 leverage
The difference is significant for day traders and scalpers. For example, on a $100K account, E8 Markets allows up to $5M notional exposure, while Funded Trading Plus caps you at $3M. This impacts position sizing, especially for multi-asset or high-frequency strategies.
Scaling: Room to Grow
E8 Markets
Scaling is available, but the model is less aggressive: your account size grows based on consistent performance, but there’s no published roadmap for scaling to multi-million dollar accounts. Realistically, you can expect incremental increases as you demonstrate profitability.
Funded Trading Plus
Scaling is more transparent and ambitious. You can scale from $200K up to $2.5M (or $5.25M on Premium tracks) by hitting 10% profit milestones. This structured pathway suits traders with long-term growth plans.
Payout Speed & Reliability
- E8 Markets: Fast payout processing, typically within a few business days.
- Funded Trading Plus: Payouts possible from Day 0/1 after passing the challenge, among the fastest in the industry.
Both firms are reliable, but Funded Trading Plus is consistently praised for speed—especially valuable for those who want to compound quickly or withdraw profits regularly.
Other Critical Differences
- US Traders: E8 Markets accepts US traders; Funded Trading Plus does not.
- Instant Funding: Only available at Funded Trading Plus, but with stricter rules and higher fees.
- Weekend Holding: Allowed at Funded Trading Plus (except instant funding); not allowed at E8 Markets.
- Challenge Refunds: Both refund challenge fees after first withdrawal.
- Firm Age/Trust: E8 Markets is a newer firm with less public track record compared to Funded Trading Plus.
Who Should Choose E8 Markets?
E8 Markets is the better fit for traders who:
- Value a lower profit target (8%) for easier challenge completion
- Want lower challenge fees and a wider range of account sizes (up to $250K)
- Prefer higher leverage (1:50) for more aggressive strategies
- Need more drawdown room (8% max, 5% daily)
- Are US-based or use trading approaches that require weekend hedging or EA flexibility
If you’re looking for a prop firm that gives you more room for mistakes, lower upfront costs, and fewer restrictions on trading style (hedging, EAs), E8 Markets is a strong choice. Learn more in our E8 Markets review.
Who Should Choose Funded Trading Plus?
Funded Trading Plus will appeal most to traders who:
- Want to scale to seven-figure funding ($2.5M+, or $5.25M on Premium)
- Care about fastest possible payouts (Day 0/1) and instant funding options
- Prefer no minimum trading days—pass the challenge as quickly as your strategy allows
- Are comfortable with stricter risk controls (6% max, 4% daily trailing drawdown)
- Want the possibility of a 100% profit split after milestones
- Need weekend holding (for most programs)
For disciplined traders focused on rapid scaling, fast cash-outs, and maximum profit retention, Funded Trading Plus is hard to beat. See detailed pros/cons in our Funded Trading Plus review.
Non-Obvious Trade-Offs
- Trailing Drawdown (FTP): After your first payout, your safety buffer shrinks—unlike most fixed drawdown models. This is rarely highlighted in marketing, but can be a hidden risk for traders who withdraw frequently.
- No Weekend Holding (E8): If your strategy relies on holding positions over weekends, E8 Markets will force you to close (or risk violation). This can disrupt swing and position traders.
- Leverage (FTP): Lower leverage (1:30) means you must use more capital margin per trade. If you’re used to 1:50 or 1:100, you’ll need to adapt your sizing.
- Hedging Restrictions (FTP): If your system involves hedging or grid trading, Funded Trading Plus will disqualify you. E8 Markets is more flexible here.
- Scaling Transparency: Funded Trading Plus has a clear, public scaling roadmap; E8 Markets' scaling is more discretionary and less predictable.
- Regulatory/Track Record: E8 Markets is newer, with less public track record and fewer reviews. Funded Trading Plus is more established.
Bottom Line: Which Should You Choose?
Both E8 Markets and Funded Trading Plus are top-tier prop firms with strong reputations and competitive offerings. The best choice comes down to your specific trading style, risk tolerance, and growth goals.
- Choose E8 Markets if: You want the easiest challenge (lower target, higher drawdown), use higher leverage, or need more flexibility in trading style—including for US traders.
- Choose Funded Trading Plus if: You want to scale fast, get paid instantly, and are aiming for 100% profit split—provided you can manage the tighter, trailing drawdown and work within the trading restrictions.
For a side-by-side data breakdown tailored to your account size and trading plan, try our comparison tool. To estimate your breakeven and risk under each firm's rules, check our drawdown calculator.