Alpha Capital vs The5ers
Alpha Capital and The5ers set the same targets and 8% static limit on a $100K two step, but they differ on price, refunds, weekend rules, payout timing and scaling.
Alpha Capital suits intraday traders who want on demand payouts paid within two business days, a choice of target and loss settings within each plan and platforms that include DXtrade and TradeLocker, and who are comfortable flattening before weekends on a qualified Pro account. The5ers suits traders who want a lower list price, weekend holding on funded accounts, part of the fee refunded, TradingView as a platform and a scaling plan that lifts the split to 100%. Both are UK companies and their $100K two steps share the same targets and limits, so the choice turns on funded account rules, payouts and cost.
All prices are list prices at the time of review in September 2026. Both firms price in US dollars and run frequent discounts.
Alpha Capital vs The5ers at a glance
The table compares the Alpha Pro 8% at $100,000 with on demand payouts and The5ers High Stakes Classic at $100,000.
| Feature | Alpha Pro 8% $100K | The5ers High Stakes Classic $100K |
|---|---|---|
| List price | $527 with on demand payouts, or $577 with payouts every 14 days | $455 |
| Steps | Two | Two |
| Profit target | 8% in phase 1, 5% in phase 2 | 8% in step 1, 5% in step 2 |
| Daily loss limit | 4%, from the higher of end of day balance or equity | 4%, from the higher of the previous day’s closing balance or equity |
| Maximum loss | 8%, static | 8%, static |
| Minimum trading days | Three in each phase | Three profitable days of at least 0.5% in each step |
| Profit split | 80%, or 90% with an add on | 80%, rising to 100% through scaling |
| First payout | On demand once profit reaches 2% and the best day is no more than 40% of profit | 14 days after the funded account is activated |
| Payout frequency | On demand, or every 14 days if chosen at purchase | Every 14 days, capped at $4,000 per payout |
| Fee refund | Evaluation fees are not refundable | 10% as hub credit after step 1, 20% after step 2, 70% in cash with the first payout |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5, cTrader, DXtrade, TradeLocker | MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView |
| Trustpilot | No rating shown (21,787 reviews) | 4.7 from 38,678 reviews |
Rules and drawdown
The core limits match. Both firms ask for 8% and then 5%, set a 4% daily limit and fix an 8% maximum loss from the starting balance, so a $100K account fails at $92,000. Both measure the daily limit from the higher of the previous day’s closing balance or equity, so open profit at the close raises the reference point for the next day. The trailing vs static drawdown guide explains the approach, and the drawdown calculator shows how much room remains after a losing day.
Minimum days are close. Alpha Pro needs three trading days in each phase, and The5ers needs three profitable days of at least 0.5% of the initial balance in each step. Neither sets a time limit, though Alpha Capital closes accounts after 30 days of inactivity and The5ers closes evaluation accounts after 30 days without activity and funded High Stakes accounts after 60.
Alpha Capital adds several rules on qualified accounts. A max risk rule for accounts bought after 21 July 2026 closes a qualified account of $50,000 or more if open losses on one asset reach 2%. Across all accounts the average trade must last longer than two minutes, and at least half of profit must come from trades held longer than two minutes. The maximum risk per trade guide explains how rules like these are applied.
Both firms offer other settings. Alpha Pro also comes in a 6% version at $397 for $100K, with 6% targets and 3% and 6% limits, and a 10% version at $447 with 5% and 10% limits, while Alpha Swing costs $577 with 5% and 10% limits and allows weekend holding once qualified. Alpha One is a one step with a trailing limit. The5ers sells High Stakes New at $405 for $100K with a 10% first target, and Pro Growth, a one step up to $50,000 with a 6% static limit.
News, holding and automation
Weekend holding is the clearest difference. The5ers allows overnight and weekend holding on all programmes, although indices held over the weekend carry high swaps. Alpha Capital allows it during Alpha Pro evaluations but not on qualified Alpha Pro accounts, so funded traders on this plan must close before the weekend. Alpha Swing is the Alpha Capital plan for traders who hold. The weekend and overnight holding rules guide compares firms.
News windows differ in length and stage. Alpha Capital places no restriction during evaluations, but qualified Pro accounts cannot open or close trades on listed instruments from five minutes before to five minutes after high impact news, and profits from such trades become ineligible. The5ers High Stakes bars order execution from two minutes before to two minutes after high impact news and deducts the profit, although holding through the release is allowed.
Automation is tighter at Alpha Capital. It allows expert advisors only on MetaTrader 5, only for trade management and only after approval, and bans fully automated EAs. The5ers allows expert advisors if the trader owns the source code and the EA does not copy others’ signals or use tick scalping, latency, arbitrage or high frequency methods.
Pricing and fee refunds
The5ers is cheaper at list price, at $455 for High Stakes Classic against $527 for Alpha Pro 8% with on demand payouts or $577 with payouts every 14 days. The5ers returns the High Stakes fee in stages, with 10% as hub credit after step 1, 20% after step 2 and 70% in cash with the first payout, and charges $10 extra for cTrader. Alpha Capital states that evaluation fees are not refundable, and the 90% split add on costs about 10% of the plan price.
Alpha Capital’s standard account has no commission, while its raw account charges $2.50 per lot per side, with indices free. A swap free add on is available on MetaTrader 5.
Payouts
Alpha Pro offers two payout schedules, chosen at purchase. On demand payouts can be requested once gross profit reaches 2% of the balance and the best day is no more than 40% of total profit. The schedule of every 14 days runs from the first qualified trade, needs five trading days before the first request and has a $100 gross minimum. Payouts are paid within two business days by Rise, Wise or bank transfer, and a discretionary bonus of 0.25% of the initial balance is added on the fourth payout. The consistency rule calculator checks results against the 40% rule.
The5ers pays the first High Stakes payout 14 days after the funded account is activated and then every 14 days, processed in up to three business days. On $100K the minimum is $500 and each payout is capped at $4,000. Payouts by Rise, crypto or bank transfer carry a 3.5% commission, while payouts taken as hub credits do not. The payout calculator shows what each split leaves after fees.
The scaling plans differ in reach and reward. Alpha Pro accounts can request a 10% increase of the initial balance after each 10% gain and a full withdrawal, up to $2 million across scaled accounts. The5ers scales High Stakes accounts at each 10% target reached with three profitable days, up to $500,000, with the split rising to 100% and fixed monthly payments of $4,000 from $350,000 and $10,000 at $500,000.
Platforms and markets
Alpha Capital supports MetaTrader 5, cTrader, DXtrade and TradeLocker, with forex, metals, indices and commodities and leverage of up to 1:100 on Alpha Pro. Alpha Capital Group Limited is a UK company founded in 2021, with support from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm GMT. It does not accept US residents or citizens. Trustpilot shows no rating for Alpha Capital because of a breach of its guidelines.
The5ers supports MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView, which is the only platform for US clients, with forex, metals, indices, oil and crypto and leverage of 1:100 on High Stakes. Its operating company is registered in London and has run trader programmes since 2016.
Who should choose each firm
Choose Alpha Capital if
- You want on demand payouts paid within two business days.
- You trade on DXtrade or TradeLocker, or want to pick your own target and loss settings.
- You close positions before weekends, or choose Alpha Swing if you do not.
Choose The5ers if
- You want a lower list price and part of the fee returned.
- You hold positions over weekends on a funded account or trade crypto CFDs.
- You run your own expert advisor or plan to scale towards a 100% split.
Read The5ers review, see The5ers against FTMO, FundedNext and Funding Pips, or look at The5ers alternatives. Filter every firm in the comparison table, browse more comparisons or visit the CFD prop firms hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alpha Capital or The5ers cheaper for $100K?
The5ers is cheaper at list price, at $455 for High Stakes Classic, against $527 for Alpha Pro 8% with on demand payouts or $577 with payouts every 14 days. The5ers also returns its fee in stages as hub credit and cash, while Alpha Capital states that evaluation fees are not refundable. Both firms ran discounts at the time of review.
Do Alpha Capital and The5ers use the same drawdown?
On these $100K products they are almost identical: an 8% static maximum loss and a 4% daily limit measured from the higher of the previous day's closing balance or equity. Alpha Capital adds a max risk rule on qualified accounts, closing an account of $50,000 or more if open losses on one asset reach 2%.
Can I hold trades over the weekend at Alpha Capital and The5ers?
The5ers allows overnight and weekend holding on all programmes, though weekend index positions carry high swaps. Alpha Capital allows weekend holding during Alpha Pro evaluations but not on qualified Alpha Pro accounts. Its Alpha Swing plan, at $577 for $100K with 5% and 10% limits, allows weekend holding once qualified.
How fast are payouts at Alpha Capital and The5ers?
Alpha Capital pays within two business days, on demand once gross profit reaches 2% and the best day is no more than 40% of profit, or every 14 days if chosen at purchase. The5ers pays 14 days after funding and then every 14 days, within three business days, with a $4,000 cap on $100K and a 3.5% commission unless taken as hub credits.
Can US traders join Alpha Capital or The5ers?
Alpha Capital asks buyers to declare that they are not US residents or citizens, so US traders cannot join. The5ers accepts US clients, who trade on TradingView only, since cTrader is not available to new US accounts. Traders elsewhere should check each firm's restricted country list before buying an evaluation.
