Part of our prop firm guide series. Start with What is a Prop Firm? (2026 complete guide), then explore: trading evaluation, qualified trader, simulated funds, performance fee, trailing vs static drawdown, Alpha Capital rules, evaluation programmes, promo codes.
TL;DR: Instant Funding is live. No evaluation. You start on a Qualified Account from purchase, with a 90% performance split, on-demand performance fees, and Instant Funding rules from day one. It is the public name for Alpha Direct — same product, clearer label for the no-evaluation path.
Instant Funding is live on Alpha Capital.
It is our no-evaluation path to a Qualified Account. You choose Instant Funding next to our 1-Step and 2-Step options, pay once, and start under Instant Funding rules from day one.
You trade simulated funds in a simulated trading environment. When you meet the rules below, you may request performance fees. Outcomes are not guaranteed.
Instant Funding is the public name for our Alpha Direct plan. Same product. Clearer label for the no-evaluation path.
What is Instant Funding?
Instant Funding gives you a Qualified Account without completing a traditional evaluation first. There is no evaluation profit target to pass before you start.
In short:
- No evaluation
- Qualified Account from purchase
- 90% performance split as standard
- On-demand performance fee requests when you meet the rules
If you already know your process and want to start under Qualified Account rules immediately, Instant Funding is built for that.
How Instant Funding sits next to 1-Step and 2-Step
On Alpha Capital you now pick from three paths:
| Path | What it means |
|---|---|
| Instant Funding | No evaluation. Qualified Account from purchase. |
| 1-Step | One evaluation phase, then Qualified Account. |
| 2-Step | Two evaluation phases, then Qualified Account. |
Instant Funding does not replace 1-Step or 2-Step. It is the option when you want to skip the evaluation and accept this rule set instead. Compare programmes on the product page.
Account sizes and one-time pricing
Every Instant Funding size is a one-time pay. Confirm live checkout prices on the product page before you buy.
| Simulated account size | One-time fee |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $67 |
| $10,000 | $97 |
| $25,000 | $197 |
| $50,000 | $257 |
| $100,000 | $457 |
| $200,000 | $897 |
Save on Instant Funding. Check active Alpha Capital promo codes — including Direct / Instant Funding offers — before checkout.
Drawdown rules
| Rule | Instant Funding |
|---|---|
| Profit target | n/a (Qualified from purchase) |
| Max daily drawdown | 3% soft breach |
| Max drawdown | 5% trailing to high-water mark, then locks at starting balance / break-even |
Daily drawdown (3%)
Max daily drawdown is 3%, calculated over the highest end-of-day balance or equity, whichever is greater.
This is a soft breach. The limit is enforced under Instant Funding rules. Soft does not mean optional. Trade inside it.
Max drawdown (5% trailing → break-even)
The max drawdown trails your high-water mark (maximum balance reached on the account).
Example on a $100,000 simulated account:
- Starting floor: $95,000
- If balance reaches $102,000, the floor moves to $97,000
- Once balance reaches $105,000, the floor locks at the $100,000 starting balance and does not trail further
Protect your buffer. Do not assume the floor keeps moving forever. More on trailing vs static: trailing drawdown vs static drawdown.
Leverage, lot exposure, and open risk
Leverage by asset class
| Asset class | Leverage |
|---|---|
| FX | Up to 1:30 |
| Metals | Up to 1:9 |
| Indices | Up to 1:10 |
| Oil | Up to 1:10 |
Max lot exposure by size
| Simulated account size | Max lots |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | 2.5 |
| $10,000 | 5 |
| $25,000 | 10 |
| $50,000 | 20 |
| $100,000 | 40 |
| $200,000 | 80 |
Max lot exposure still depends on leverage needs and available margin.
Max open risk
On Instant Funding, max open risk is 1% per trade idea.
| Simulated account size | Max open risk (1%) |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $50 |
| $10,000 | $100 |
| $25,000 | $250 |
| $50,000 | $500 |
| $100,000 | $1,000 |
| $200,000 | $2,000 |
What happens if you breach max lots
Lot violations are reviewed at the performance fee stage and counted per position, not per trade idea.
- First violation: performance fee earned through lot sizes above the limit is not eligible
- Second violation: that performance fee is forfeited and the Qualified Account is deactivated
Example: if your max is 10 lots, an 11-lot position plus another 1-lot position while the first is still open can count as two violations and close the account.
News, weekends, inactivity, and allocation
| Rule | Instant Funding |
|---|---|
| News trading | Allowed, with a 5-minute window on both sides of the event |
| Weekend hold | Not allowed |
| Inactivity | 30 days |
| Performance fee cycle | On-demand |
| Max allocation | $400,000 shared across Pro, Swing, One, Three, and Direct / Instant Funding |
News window
You may trade around major news, but you cannot open a new trade or close an existing trade on the targeted instrument from 5 minutes before until 5 minutes after the release. See also news trading and overnight rules.
Weekend hold
Close before the weekend. Weekend holding is not allowed.
Inactivity
If there is no completed trading activity inside 30 days, the account can be closed under Instant Funding terms.
Max allocation
Combined allocation across Pro, Swing, One, Three, and Instant Funding (Direct) cannot exceed $400,000.
Performance fees on Instant Funding (on-demand)
Instant Funding uses on-demand performance fees.
Before you request, you need:
- At least 7 profitable trading days
- A 3% profit buffer on the account
- Then at least 1% more in gross profits on top of that buffer
- The 15% best-day consistency rule satisfied
- All other Instant Funding rules intact
15% best-day rule
No single trading day can contribute more than 15% of total generated profits in the current request window.
Consistency score = best day’s net profit ÷ total net profits. On Instant Funding you need 15% or below.
Performance split
90% performance split is standard on Instant Funding.
Performance fees are performance-based. Outcomes are not guaranteed. Read why performance fee requests get delayed before you request.
Instant Funding rules at a glance
| Rule | Value |
|---|---|
| Evaluation | None. Qualified from purchase. |
| Profit target | n/a |
| Daily drawdown | 3% soft breach |
| Max drawdown | 5% trailing to high-water mark, locks at starting balance |
| Max open risk | 1% per trade idea |
| Consistency (on-demand) | 15% best day |
| Min profitable trading days | 7 |
| Performance fee path | On-demand |
| PF minimum path | 3% buffer, then +1% gross profits |
| Performance split | 90% |
| News | 5-minute window either side |
| Weekend hold | Not allowed |
| Inactivity | 30 days |
| FX leverage | Up to 1:30 |
| Max lots | Scales by size (see table) |
| Max allocation | $400,000 across Pro, Swing, One, Three, Instant Funding |
| Account sizes | $5,000 to $200,000 |
| Fee type | One-time pay |
Always confirm live detail on the Alpha Direct help article and Alpha Capital rules explained.
Who Instant Funding is for
Choose Instant Funding if you:
- Want a Qualified Account with no evaluation
- Prefer a one-time fee and a clear size ladder from $5K to $200K
- Can trade inside 3% daily soft breach, 5% trailing max drawdown, and 1% max open risk
- Accept 15% best-day consistency, 7 profitable days, and the profit-buffer rules before a request
- Want 90% performance split and on-demand requests
- Can follow no weekend holds, the 5-minute news window, and 30-day activity expectations
Choose 1-Step or 2-Step instead if you want a lower entry through an evaluation first, and you prefer that path’s rule set over Instant Funding.
Instant Funding FAQ
Do I need to pass an evaluation?
No. Instant Funding has no evaluation. You start on a Qualified Account from purchase.
Is Instant Funding a live broker account?
No. It is still a simulated Alpha Capital programme. You trade simulated funds. You are not depositing money to trade your own capital through this purchase flow.
Is Instant Funding the same as Alpha Direct?
Yes. Instant Funding is the public name for the Alpha Direct plan.
How much does it cost?
One-time fees by size: $67 ($5K), $97 ($10K), $197 ($25K), $257 ($50K), $457 ($100K), $897 ($200K). Confirm live on the product page when you buy.
What is the performance split?
90% on approved performance fee requests.
When can I request a performance fee?
On-demand, after 7 profitable trading days, the 3% buffer, then +1% gross profits, while you meet the 15% best-day rule and all other Instant Funding rules.
Can I trade news?
Yes, outside the restricted window. No new opens or closes on the targeted instrument from 5 minutes before until 5 minutes after the release.
Can I hold over the weekend?
No.
What happens if I hit the daily loss limit?
Instant Funding uses a 3% daily drawdown as a soft breach. Stay inside it. Soft does not mean the rule is optional.
Does the max drawdown trail forever?
No. It trails with the high-water mark, then locks at the starting balance / break-even.
What is the max lot size?
It scales by account size, from 2.5 lots on $5K up to 80 lots on $200K. Lot breaches are reviewed at performance fee stage and counted per position.
How much allocation can I hold across plans?
Up to $400,000 combined across Pro, Swing, One, Three, and Instant Funding.
Related reading
- What is a Qualified Trader?
- What is a Trading Evaluation?
- What is a Performance Fee?
- What Are Simulated Funds?
- Trailing Drawdown vs Static Drawdown
- Alpha Capital evaluation programmes (Instant Funding, 1-Step, 2-Step)
- Alpha Capital Rules Explained
- Alpha Futures Premium Plan (futures path — different product)
Author: Alpha Capital Research Team · Updated: July 22, 2026 · Related: Product · Qualified trader · Rules explained
Alpha Capital Group is a proprietary trading firm operated from the United Kingdom. Instant Funding / Alpha Direct accounts operate in a simulated environment with simulated funds unless a specific product states otherwise. Performance fees are performance-based and outcomes are not guaranteed. Always confirm live rules, pricing, eligibility, and platform availability on alphacapitalgroup.uk and help.alphacapitalgroup.uk before purchasing.
