The Alpha Capital Swing account is a dedicated evaluation programme for traders who hold positions overnight, over weekends, or through news events. It is not a modifier on a standard evaluation. It is its own programme with its own rules, profit targets, and drawdown structure built from the ground up for the way swing traders actually trade.
This page covers everything you need to know before purchasing an Alpha Swing evaluation: how it works, what the rules are, how it compares to standard Alpha Capital programmes, and whether it is the right fit for your strategy.
What is the Alpha Capital Swing Account?
The Alpha Capital Swing account is a two-step evaluation programme that allows traders to hold positions across weekends, through major news releases, and overnight without restriction. Traders who pass both phases become eligible for performance fees on their simulated Qualified Account.
It exists because most standard prop firm evaluation rules actively penalise swing trading. Daily loss limits that close positions at end of day, news-time restrictions that force flat positions during key macro events, and bans on weekend holds all create friction for strategies that work on the daily and weekly timeframe. Alpha Swing removes those restrictions.
Alpha Swing Evaluation Rules at a Glance
Confirm all current figures on help.alphacapitalgroup.uk before purchasing your evaluation.
The 10% static drawdown on Alpha Swing is notably generous compared to most standard prop firm evaluations, which typically sit at 8% to 10% trailing (which tightens as your balance grows). A static drawdown means the limit is set from the initial balance and does not move as you make profits. That breathing room matters on a swing account where a single position might carry a wide stop.
Why Swing Traders Need a Different Evaluation Programme
Most prop firm evaluation accounts are built around the assumption that traders open and close positions intraday. The rules reflect that:
- Daily loss limits that apply to open positions at the end of the trading day
- News restrictions that require positions to be closed before high-impact macro releases
- Bans on holding trades over the weekend, when spreads widen and liquidity disappears
For a day trader, none of those rules create meaningful friction. For a swing trader working from the daily or weekly chart, every one of them is a structural problem.
A swing trader who identifies a setup on Monday and expects it to play out by Thursday cannot risk a forced close on Tuesday because of a daily drawdown rule. A trader holding through a major NFP event because their entry was a weekly order block cannot meaningfully exit five minutes before the release and re-enter afterwards. The strategy does not survive contact with intraday rules.
Alpha Swing is designed specifically to remove that friction. The rules are written for longer holding periods, which means traders can execute their strategy as they built it rather than retrofitting it to fit an evaluation format designed for scalpers.
The 4-Minute News Window Rule
Alpha Swing allows news trading. The rule is not a blanket ban on trading during news. The specific condition is: any trade opened within 2 minutes before or up to 2 minutes after a high-impact news release must remain open for more than 2 minutes to be valid. The window is 4 minutes in total (2 before, 2 after), and the requirement is trade duration, not a prohibition on entering.
In practice, this means a swing trader placing a limit order that fills near a news release just needs to ensure the position is not closed within 2 minutes of entry if it was filled inside that window. For most swing strategies this is not a meaningful constraint at all.
The exact wording of the news rule and the list of affected events is published in the Alpha Capital help centre. Check it before trading through a macro event.
Weekend and Overnight Holds
Alpha Swing allows positions to remain open across Friday's close and into Monday's open, throughout both evaluation phases and on the Qualified Account.
This includes:
- Holding limit orders that have not yet been filled over the weekend
- Holding open positions that were entered during the week
- Holding through central bank decisions and other scheduled macro events
This is confirmed across Phase 1, Phase 2, and the Qualified Account stage. It applies consistently throughout the programme.
Alpha Swing vs Alpha Pro vs Alpha One
The key difference is not just the drawdown. Alpha Swing is the only programme where weekend and overnight holds are allowed through both evaluation phases and into the Qualified Account stage without restriction.
How Much Does the Alpha Swing Evaluation Cost?
Alpha Capital publishes its evaluation prices on alphacapitalgroup.uk . One confirmed example as of 2026:
- Alpha Swing 100K: $577
Pricing scales with account size. Discount codes are available periodically and can reduce the fee. Always check the live product page for current pricing before purchasing.
Who the Alpha Swing Account Is For
Alpha Swing is the right choice if all of the following apply to your trading:
- You trade from the daily or weekly chart and hold positions for multiple days
- Your strategy requires positions to remain open through weekends or major news releases
- You use limit orders placed in advance rather than reactive market execution
- You can trade profitably with a stop loss that fits within a 5% daily limit and a 10% total drawdown
It is not the right fit if:
- You are an intraday trader who opens and closes within the session (Alpha Pro or Alpha One will cost less)
- You want to maximise your news trading activity during high-impact events (the 4-minute rule still applies)
- You need a very large drawdown cushion beyond 10% (no standard prop firm programme supports that)
How Alpha Swing Compares to FTMO Swing
FTMO offers a swing option as an account-type modifier within its 2-Step Challenge. It removes news-trading and overnight restrictions on the FTMO Account stage.
The structural difference is that Alpha Swing is a standalone programme with dedicated pricing, rule documentation, and evaluation structure built for swing traders. FTMO Swing is a setting applied to an existing evaluation format.
Both allow overnight and weekend holds. Both remove standard news restrictions for swing-designated accounts. The relevant comparison for your decision is whether you prefer a dedicated programme or a modified standard one, and whether other factors like pricing, platform, or location affect your preference.
How to Start an Alpha Swing Evaluation
- Visit alphacapitalgroup.uk and navigate to the evaluations page
- Select Alpha Swing from the programme options
- Choose your account size ($5K to $200K)
- Apply a discount code if you have one
- Pay the evaluation fee and receive your login by email
- Begin Phase 1, hit 10% profit while respecting the rules, and advance to Phase 2
- Hit 5% in Phase 2 and become a Qualified Analyst with a 0% profit target
Start your Alpha Swing evaluation
FAQs
Can you hold trades over the weekend on Alpha Capital?
Yes, on Alpha Swing throughout all stages: Phase 1, Phase 2, and the Qualified Account. Alpha One also allows weekend holds on the Qualified Account stage. Alpha Pro allows weekend holds during Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the evaluation but not on the Qualified Account stage. Check help.alphacapitalgroup.uk for your specific programme.
Can you trade the news on Alpha Capital Swing?
Yes. Alpha Swing allows news trading. The rule is that any trade opened within 2 minutes before or after a high-impact news release must remain open for more than 2 minutes to count as valid. It is not a ban on trading during news, it is a minimum duration requirement for trades that are entered in the window.
What is the drawdown on Alpha Swing?
10% static, based on the initial balance. Static drawdown does not move as your balance grows, unlike trailing drawdown which tightens with your profits.
What is the difference between Alpha Swing and FTMO Swing?
Alpha Swing is a dedicated evaluation programme at Alpha Capital with its own pricing and rule stack for swing traders. FTMO Swing is a modifier applied to FTMO's 2-Step Challenge that removes overnight and news restrictions. Both support swing trading strategies; the difference is structural.
How much does the Alpha Swing evaluation cost?
Pricing scales by account size. A confirmed example: Alpha Swing 100K is $577. Check live pricing on alphacapitalgroup.uk and look for active discount codes before purchasing.
What happens after I pass Alpha Swing Phase 2?
You become a Qualified Analyst with access to a simulated Qualified Account with a 0% profit target. Alpha Swing accounts use on-demand performance fees only (bi-weekly is not available on the Swing programme). You can request a performance fee of up to 80% on simulated profits once you meet the two conditions: a minimum of 2% gross profit on the account balance, and the 40% Best Day Rule (no single trading day representing more than 40% of total profits).
Alpha Capital Group is a proprietary trading firm based in the United Kingdom. All accounts operate in a simulated trading environment with simulated funds unless a specific product states otherwise. Performance fees are based on eligible simulated trading results and outcomes are not guaranteed. Always confirm live rules, pricing, eligibility, and evaluation requirements on alphacapitalgroup.uk and help.alphacapitalgroup.uk before purchasing an evaluation.
