Advanced vs Growth vs Lightning Funded
Choosing the right account type depends on several factors — your preferred drawdown type, budget, trading schedule, and risk tolerance.
Let’s break down each option to help you decide which fits best.
Advanced Challenge
Growth Challenge
Lightning Funded
Feature | Advanced Challenge | Growth Challenge | Lightning Funded |
Payment Type | Monthly Fee | Monthly Fee | One-Time Payment |
Activation Fee | $125 | None | N/A |
Drawdown Type | Intraday Trailing Drawdown | End of Day Drawdown | End of Day Drawdown |
Daily Loss Limit | None | Yes | Yes |
Resets | Auto on next billing date | Auto on next billing date | No resets — replacement required |
Evaluation Required | Yes | Yes | No — skip evaluation |
Detailed Account Breakdown
Advanced Challenge
Best for: Experienced day traders with strong risk management discipline.
Billing & Costs
Monthly subscription: $45–$84 (renews every 30 days until passed, activated, or cancelled)
Activation fee: $125 (applied when converting to a simulated funded account)
Failed accounts reset automatically on next billing date
Lower monthly cost compared to Growth accounts
Trading Features
Real-time intraday trailing drawdown
No daily loss limit
Instant feedback on drawdown status
Profit targets: $3,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 depending on account size
Growth Challenge
Best for: Traders who prefer more flexibility with end-of-day risk calculations.
Billing & Costs
Monthly subscription: $90–$220 (renews every 30 days until passed, activated, or cancelled)
No activation fee — transition to sim funded is seamless
Failed accounts reset automatically on next billing date
Slightly higher monthly cost, but no extra fees upon passing
Trading Features
End-of-day trailing drawdown
Daily loss limits apply
End-of-day realized P&L tracking
Greater flexibility during active market hours
Profit targets: $3,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 depending on account size
Lightning Funded
Best for: Proven, confident traders who want immediate funding and to skip the evaluation phase.
Billing & Costs
One-time payment: $349–$729 (no recurring fees)
No monthly subscriptions or hidden charges
No resets — failed accounts must be replaced
Most cost-effective for long-term successful traders
Trading Features
End-of-day trailing drawdown
Immediate funded access — skip evaluation entirely
Daily loss limits apply
Profit goals: must meet to qualify for payouts
20% consistency rule applies for payout eligibility
Drawdown Types Explained
Real-Time Intraday Trailing Drawdown (Advanced Accounts)
How it works:
Your drawdown limit moves dynamically throughout the trading day based on your account balance.
Advantages:
✅ Promotes disciplined trading with real-time risk control
✅ Builds strong intraday management habits
✅ Lower monthly cost
Considerations:
⚠️ Less flexibility during volatile sessions
⚠️ Unrealized losses affect drawdown immediately
⚠️ $125 activation fee applies upon passing
End-of-Day Trailing Drawdown (Growth & Lightning Funded)
How it works:
The drawdown limit adjusts only at the end of the trading day, based on your highest balance.
Advantages:
✅ More flexibility during trading hours
✅ Intraday drawdowns don’t affect daily limits
✅ No activation fee for Growth accounts
Considerations:
⚠️ Daily loss limits apply
⚠️ Growth: Higher monthly cost
⚠️ Lightning Funded: Failed accounts require full replacement
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Advanced if you:
Are an experienced day trader
Prefer lower monthly costs
Want real-time feedback on performance
Don’t mind a $125 activation fee
Trade with strict discipline
Choose Growth if you:
Want more flexibility during trading hours
Prefer paying a bit more to avoid activation fees
Don’t mind monthly billing
Like end-of-day balance tracking
Choose Lightning Funded if you:
Want immediate funding — no evaluation
Prefer a one-time payment
Have proven consistency and profitability
Want to skip the challenge process entirely
Reset & Billing Policies
Monthly Challenges (Advanced & Growth):
Failed accounts reset automatically on the next billing date
You can manually reset early if desired
Subscription continues until cancelled
Lightning Funded:
No resets available
Replacement required if account fails
No recurring fees — one-time setup
Best for experienced, consistent traders