Earn2Trade Review 2024
Earn2Trade provides flexible funded trader evaluation programs, alongside a wealth of educational materials, for aspiring futures funded traders. Founded in 2016 by Ryan Masten and David A. Lojko, the proprietary trading firm is based in Sheridan, Wyoming, USA. In recent years, the team behind Earn2Trade have carefully established the firm’s strong reputation, enhanced its online presence and organized initiatives such as “The Trader Career Path”.
Earn2Trade is endorsed by over 2000 day traders worldwide on Trustpilot, underscoring its legitimacy. The prop firm provides a number of notable features, including a straightforward payouts process, complimentary access to a trading journal license through Journalytix, and “The Beginner Crash Course”, designed to give aspiring traders the essential knowledge for success in futures trading.
The firm’s mission is straightforward: traders who complete the Earn2Trade evaluation qualify for a funded account and can begin trading right away.
Earn2Trade Pricing & Evaluations
Earn2Trade’s accounts start at $95 and rise to $330, with the full set of fees detailed in the table below:
Option | Account size | Price |
Gauntlet Mini™ | $50K | $102 |
Gauntlet Mini™ | $100K | $189 |
Gauntlet Mini™ | $150K | $210 |
Gauntlet Mini™ | $200K | $330 |
Trader Career Path® | $25K scalling to $200K | $95 |
Trader Career Path® | $50K scalling to $400K | $120 |
Trader Career Path® | $100K scaling to $400K | $280 |
TRADER CAREER PATH® – Build Your Career With a Scaling Plan
The Trader Career Path® offers a definitive route for those aspiring to trade futures professionally. The first phase is an assessment of trading proficiency, with an emphasis on effective risk management and discipline. Once you have successfully completed the assessment you are integrated into the firm and will be provided with a funded account. You can then grow your account by achieving a series of objectives, and finally, withdraw a percentage of the profits you generate. In short, the steps are as follows:
- $25,000, $50,000 & $100,000 virtual account
- Completion of the assessment, receipt of funding and access to a trading platform
- Trading using the firm’s capital, and the ability to withdraw profits
- Advancing within the firm by meeting performance targets
- Qualification for the $400,000 funded trading account with a fixed drawdown
Scaling Plan
Earn2Trade’s scaling plan is tailored towards traders who successfully complete the Trader Career Path (TCP) evaluation, enabling them to trade with increasing amounts of trading capital based on their performance.
The plan offers two initial levels: TCP25, starting with a $25,000 account that can scale as high as $200,000, TPC50 & TPC100 starting with a $50,000 & $100,000 account extendable to $400,000.
The scaling mechanism is activated as traders reach specified profit targets and withdraw their earnings, leading Earn2Trade to allocate them more capital. Traders should bear in mind that each prop firm will have its own version of the “scaling plan”, which can influence choice of trading strategies and objectives. As such, it’s important to research each firm’s scaling plan carefully to have a thorough grasp of what’s on offer.
Live Account VS. LiveSim Account
One distinguishing feature of the Trader Career Path is its provision of a pathway for traders to engage in live trading on the futures market through a registered broker. By not restricting funded trading accounts to virtual environments only, the program establishes an incentive structure for the firm that aligns their interests with those of the trader. Any potential conflicts of interest are mitigated.
THE GAUNTLET MINI™ – Examination Focused on Intraday Traders
The Gauntlet Mini™ is an intraday futures trading exam offering the quickest route to funding, guaranteeing traders who successfully pass it funding through the Earn2Trade prop trading firm partner. To successfully complete the assessment, traders need to adhere to the trading rules for a minimum of 10 days and achieve the specified profit target. It operates on a subscription model that continues until you either pass, cancel or modify your plan.
- Register to test your intraday trading skills
- Make use of advanced journaling tools with Journalytix
- Stick to a stringent risk management protocol
- Succeed and qualify for funding after just 10 days of trading
Earn2Trade Rules & Objectives
Earn2Trade lays out a clear list of rules and guidelines to ensure safe, systematic trading. These help to foster a collaborative partnership between the firm and their traders, which in turn contributes to a positive trading atmosphere for all parties. Adhering to these rules is essential.
The trading rules for both the evaluation phases (Trader Career Path® and Gauntlet Mini™) and the subsequent account types (Live and LiveSim® accounts) differ, with each set of rules customised to meet the specific requirements and targets of each account.
The End-of-Day (EOD) Drawdown rules
The End-of-Day (EOD) drawdown rule applies to both the Trader Career Path® and Gauntlet Mini™ evaluations. It functions as a vital metric for monitoring the lowest permitted balance of a funded trading account. This rule works by adapting the account’s minimum balance according to the daily closing profits or losses from closed positions. It stipulates that any profit realised at the conclusion of a trading day will proportionately increase the minimum account balance.
The Earn2Trade prop firm imposes seven rules and restrictions for their trading challenges, including The Gauntlet Mini™ and Trader Career Path®, as follows:
- The drawdown:
- End-of-Day drawdown: Uses closed positions to calculate the minimum balance.
- Trailing drawdown: Includes open and closed positions in live accounts.
- Fixed drawdown: Establishes a constant minimum balance for certain funded accounts.
- The daily loss limit: Daily loss encompasses both open and closed trades, calculated from 5.00pm to 5.00pm (CT) the following day.
- Minimum trading days: Traders must trade for at least 10 days.
- The trading hours: Trading starts when the exchange opens, typically at 5.00pm (CT). All trades must be closed 3.50pm (CT) each day.
- The consistency rule: No single trading day should be worth more than 30% of total profit and loss during the evaluation.
- The progression ladder: Constraints the number of contracts based on account size and profit. Traders who exceed these limits will fail the exam.
- Available instruments: Participants can trade all CME (CME, CBOT, NYMEX, COMEX) futures assets, including Micros.
These rules are in place to ensure traders trade with discipline and consistency, and manage risks effectively, which are skills vital for succeeding in the professional trading industry.
The following table lists the drawdown value, daily loss limit and contract size for each account.
Option | Account size | Daily Loss Limit | Drawdown | Contract Size |
Gauntlet Mini™ | $50K | $1100 | $2000 | 6 Contracts |
Gauntlet Mini™ | $100K | $2200 | $3500 | 12 Contracts |
Gauntlet Mini™ | $150K | $3300 | $4500 | 15 Contracts |
Gauntlet Mini™ | $200K | $4400 | $6000 | 16 Contracts |
Trader Career Path® | $25K scaling to $200K | $550 | $1500 | 3 Contracts |
Trader Career Path® | $50K scaling to $400K | $1100 | $2000 | 6 Contracts |
Trader Career Path® | $100K scaling to $400K | $2200 | $3500 | 12 Contracts |
In cases where traders make a loss at the end of the day, the minimum account balance remains unaffected. The incremental process continues until the minimum balance reaches the account’s original point. Upon reaching this threshold, there will be no further increases in the minimum balance.
For instance, if you have an initial account size $100,000, subject to a maximum drawdown limit of $3,500, your initial minimum account balance is set at $96,500. If at the end of a trading day your account balance increases to $102,000, the minimum account balance is adjusted to $98,500. However, if by the end of the day you have instead incurred a loss, the minimum account balance stays the same as its previous level.
The table below gives the EOD drawdown value for each account:
Account name | Account Size | EOD Drawdown |
TCP25 | $25K | $1,500 |
TCP50 | $50K | $2,000 |
TCP100 | $100K | $3,500 |
GAU50 | $50K | $2,000 |
GAU100 | $100K | $3,500 |
GAU150 | $150K | $4,500 |
GAU200 | $200K | $6,000 |
Beginner Crash Course
Earn2Trade’s comprehensive training program provides newcomers to the futures trading industry with everything they need to know, presented in a simple and accessible way. The program goes through the fundamental principles of trading and futures markets, as well as more complex concepts, with a particular focus on managing risk and technical trading. A series of webinars, aimed primarily at traders with more experience, examine specific topics in greater detail.
How the Beginner Crash Course Works
The firm’s Beginner Crash Course consists of 60 brief videos, all under ten minutes long, which cover both basic and more advanced trading concepts. Participants gain insight into market mechanics, market conditions more broadly, how to effectively manage risk, technical trading, and other crucial topics. The lessons are structured in a way that clarifies complicated topics, supplemented with lots of examples and quizzes to help you remember what you learn. The program costs $199.20, which gives you lifetime access – meaning you can revisit the material whenever you want.
Trading Hours
The trading hours for The Gauntlet Mini™ and Trader Career Path® programs have specific regulations. You can generally start trading at 5.00pm (CT), though this may vary depending on the asset you’re trading or over holidays.
All trades must be closed by 3:50pm (CT) and can’t be reopened until 5.00pm (CT). However, for some assets (such as GF/HE/LE), trades must be closed by 1:05pm (CT), with trading permitted again after 5.00pm (CT). For other assets, like XC/XK/ZC/ZL/ZM/ZS/ZW, trades should be closed between 7:45am and 8:30am (CT) and between 1:20pm and 5pm (CT). Do bear in mind that trading is not permitted on public holidays or when the exchanges are closed. Adhering to these trading hours is essential if you are to comply with Earn2Trade’s guidelines.
Earn2Trade Withdrawal Policy
Earn2Trade’s withdrawal and payout policies outline how traders can withdraw earnings from their accounts. The details of how this works are broken down below:
- Withdrawal policy for Live and LiveSim® accounts:
- Withdrawals are processed once weekly, every Tuesday.
- Withdrawal requests need to be sent via email to the prop firm by 2pm the preceding Friday in order to be processed the following Tuesday.
- There is a minimum withdrawal amount of $100. Withdrawals above $500 don’t incur any fees.
- Non-professional LiveSim® traders pay a one-off activation fee of $139 per account, which covers all four CME exchanges. Professional traders pay a monthly fee of $130 per exchange, which is paid for out of pocket by the trader.
- Profit share between the firm and the trader:
- Traders receive 80% of the profits they generate, with the firm retaining the remaining 20%.
- Withdrawal methods:
- Traders can withdraw either through bank wire or cryptocurrency.
- Earn2Trade partners with Rise, an international contract and payment management platform that facilitates withdrawals. The firm charges a fee of $10 per withdrawal for withdrawals up to $500, above which there is no charge.
- LiveSim® withdrawals:
- The maximum amount traders can withdraw from a LiveSim® account is dependent on which evaluation they chose, and the profit target achieved.
- For Gauntlet Mini™ LiveSim®, the maximum withdrawal is $4,000 (which can be withdrawn once traders have generated at least $5,000 in profits).
- For Trader Career Path® LiveSim®, the maximum withdrawal corresponds to the profit target, with Earn2Trade retaining 20%.
- Additional notes:
- There are no restrictions on withdrawing profits once you qualify for funding.
- Income earned on the LiveSim® account is taxed as regular income.
- Funded traders have data, platform, and exchange fees, as well as brokerage contract and commission fees, deducted automatically from their account balance.
Earn2Trade’s Instruments
Traders partnering with Earn2Trade, have access futures assets from a number of major exchanges, including the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), and Commodity Exchange (COMEX), which includes Micro futures.
There are certain exceptions to note. Firstly, forex trading is not permitted in the Trader Career Path® or Gauntlet Mini™ programs. Secondly, from 5th December 2019 onwards, Bitcoin futures trading has not been allowed because of their high margin requirements. Trading Ether futures is also prohibited due to their extreme volatility.
Trading Platforms
Below we list the trading platforms that can be used in the Gauntlet Mini™ / Trader Career Path®. Unless otherwise noted, traders need to provide their own license.
- NinjaTrader® (recommended by Earn2Trade and free during the Trader Career Path® / Gauntlet Mini™)
- Finamark (free during the Trader Career Path® / Gauntlet Mini™, included a 90 day live trading license)
- R | Trader & R | Trader Pro (free)
- Overcharts (60 days free for new users)
- Inside Edge Trader
- Investor RT
- MotiveWave
- MultiCharts
- Bookmap
- Photon
- QScalp
- QSI- Quick Screen Trading
- ScalpTool
- Trade Navigator
- Volfix.net
- Jigsaw Trading
- ATAS Order Flow Trading
- Sierra Chart
- Quantower
Earn2Trade Pros & Cons
- Strong educational offering, with an impressive selection of lessons, webinars and quizzes.
- Flexible withdrawal process, with withdrawals allowed from day one.
- Simplified evaluation process with one sole stage.
- Dynamic funding scalability with the Trader Career Path.
- Trading during news events is allowed.
- Complimentary NinjaTrader license included.
- Access to the cutting-edge Finamark Platform, which boosts trading possibilities.
- Advanced Journalytix tool included for automated analytics and journaling.
- Clearly defined progression path for traders, with achievable targets to advance within the firm.
- Comprehensive Level 2 data, vital for helping traders make well-informed trading decisions.
- Absence of a monthly fee for funded traders is a substantial financial benefit.
- The firm is very well regarded within the prop trading industry, with a reputation for reliability and and effectiveness.
- Swift access to funding after completing the evaluation process.
- Pioneering technology empowers traders.
- A strict consistency rule limits how much traders can earn.
- Rules are strictly enforced, with no flexibility. Breaking a rule leads to your account being closed immediately.
- No free trial, meaning new traders have no time to get to grips with the platform before starting their evaluation.
- Limited Gauntlet Mini™ doesn’t have a reset-at-rebill feature, unlike its alternatives.
- Earn2Trade’s largest funded account is smaller than that of other prop firms.
Conclusion
Earn2Trade distinguishes itself in the prop trading industry with one of the most attractive funding programs on offer. Traders benefit from a wide array of features, such as access to the advanced journaling tool Journalytix, and the chance to engage with the firm’s trader community. The introduction of the Trader Career Path (TCP) offers traders the opportunity to trade with as much as $400,000 in starting capital and take home an 80% profit share. The number of funded trading programs ensures that there is one to suit the trading objectives and styles of every trader. For everyone from newcomers to the industry through to expert traders with years of experience, Earn2Trade provides a well-established prop trading platform with exceptional educational resources and a secure trading environment: everything you could ask for to encourage success in the industry.
However, we recommend gauging all advantages and disadvantages of Earn2Trade and compare them to its competitors. The Earn2Trade prop firm has many competitors, including industry leaders Topstep, Apex Trader Funding, and MyFundedFutures. Each one of these prop firms offer access to multiple account options for undercapitalized traders, enabling them to perform in the futures market. Like Earn2Trade, these prop firms grant you access to sophisticated trading platforms and futures contracts as well as offering attractive payout structures.
To learn more, get all the information you need in our comprehensive Prop Firm Plus reviews:
Earn2Trade FAQs
Is the setup fee refundable?
No, the setup fee is non-refundable, as it covers the costs of setting up and maintaining a funded account, which are paid immediately and cannot be reverted.
In what cases does the setup fee not apply?
Traders do not pay the setup fee if they pass the evaluation but do not generate any profits.
What is the minimum withdrawal amount?
The minimum amount you can withdraw is $100. However, for your first withdrawal, this amount increases to $239 due to the inclusion of the setup fee: $100 + $139. This setup fee is only charged once, so for subsequent withdrawals the standard $100 minimum will apply.
What are the withdrawal methods available?
You have the option to withdraw your profits either via bank transfer or in cryptocurrency. These methods are provided through our partnership with Rise, an international contract and payment management platform.