Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | E8 Markets | The Trading Pit |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 80% → 100% | 80% |
| First Payout | 14 | 14 |
| Payout Frequency | On-demand (after 14-day first wait) | Bi-weekly (CFDs), Weekly (Futures) |
| Max Account Size | $500,000 | $200,000 |
In this independent head-to-head comparison of E8 Markets vs The Trading Pit, we break down challenge rules, pricing, profit splits, and payout conditions to help you decide which prop firm is the better fit for your trading style.
E8 Markets: $38.9M Paid Out. Forex + Futures + Crypto. Full Customization.
The Trading Pit: Multi-program prop trading across CFDs, Futures, and Stocks from Liechtenstein.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, E8 Markets scores 9.2/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: E8 Markets scores 9.2/10 vs The Trading Pit at 8.6/10.
Minimum Fee: E8 Markets starts from $40; The Trading Pit starts from $49. E8 Markets is cheaper at entry level.
Profit Split: E8 Markets offers 80% → 100%; The Trading Pit offers 80%. E8 Markets has the higher split.
Platforms: E8 Markets supports MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker, MatchTrader, NinjaTrader, Quantower, TradingView, Sierra Chart; The Trading Pit is on MT4, MT5, cTrader (CFDs); ATAS, Quantower, Tradovate (Futures).
Tradeable Markets: E8 Markets covers Forex, Metals, Indices, Energies, Crypto, CME Futures; The Trading Pit offers Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities, US Stocks.
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how E8 Markets and The Trading Pit compare on pricing.
E8 Markets challenge fees start from $40. The firm has operated since 2021. Total payouts to date: $38,900,000+.
The Trading Pit challenge fees start from $49. The firm has operated since 2021. They have funded over 10,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $16,000,000+.
On entry-level pricing, E8 Markets offers a lower starting fee — an important factor if you are testing with a smaller account first.
E8 Markets profit split: 80% → 100%. The Trading Pit profit split: 80%. E8 Markets delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: E8 Markets pays On-demand (after 14-day first wait); The Trading Pit pays Bi-weekly (CFDs), Weekly (Futures). Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.
Here is our full independent review of E8 Markets:
E8 Markets (originally E8 Funding, founded November 2021) is a US-based prop firm led by CEO Dylan Elchami. In December 2024 the firm launched a dedicated futures division under the E8 Futures brand; that product line has since been absorbed into the main E8 Markets platform as the Signature Futures program — making E8 Markets one of a small number of firms that now covers forex, crypto, and CME futures under a single account dashboard.
The numbers back up its longevity: $38.9M+ paid across 12,772 verified payouts with an average payout of $3,049. Trustpilot sits at 4.3/5 from 3,275 reviews, with 84.8% five-star ratings.
E8 Markets has the broadest product range of any firm we have reviewed — seven distinct program types spanning 1-step, 2-step, 3-step, and instant-style evaluations, with full account customization on the flagship E8 One. This makes it suitable for a wide range of trader profiles: beginners can start at $5,000 with a fixed ruleset; experienced traders can dial in their exact drawdown tolerance and profit split on E8 One; futures traders have the Signature Futures track with NinjaTrader, Quantower, TradingView, and Sierra Chart.
Restricted countries note: E8 Markets restricts 34+ countries including Russia, Iran, North Korea — and notably the UAE. Traders based in Dubai or elsewhere in the UAE cannot currently join.
The standout product. Choose your account size ($5K–$500K), drawdown tolerance (4%–14% overall, 3%–9.2% daily), and profit split (80%, 90%, or 100%) at checkout — locked permanently for that account. Single-phase evaluation. Profit target scales with drawdown selection (6%–21%). Intraday dynamic trailing drawdown. Scaling path to $1,000,000. 40% best-day consistency rule on funded accounts. First payout after 14 days; subsequent on-demand with 5 profitable days gate (0.3% daily minimum). Fees $40–$1,627.
Account sizes $25K–$150K, fees $110–$390. 6% profit target. EOD dynamic drawdown (4% overall on $25K/$50K; 3% on $100K/$150K; 2% daily soft pause). Profit split fixed at 80% — no customisation. 35% best-day rule. First payout after 14 days with minimum payout thresholds that step up over time ($1,250 first payout on $50K → $3,250 on payout 5+). Payout caps are a known limitation of this track.
The integrated futures track inherited from the former E8 Futures brand. Same account sizes and fees as Signature Forex ($25K–$150K, $110–$390). 6% profit target. EOD dynamic drawdown capped at 4% overall. 80% profit split. 35% best-day rule. No overnight or weekend holds — all positions must be flat at session close. Instruments: CME Group only — ES, NQ, YM, RTY, CL, GC. Platforms: NinjaTrader, Quantower, TradingView, Sierra Chart. Contract limits: 2–12 mini / 20–120 micro depending on account size.
Same structure and pricing as Signature Forex. EOD dynamic drawdown. 80% split. Leverage capped at 1:2. Platforms: cTrader, MatchTrader, TradeLocker. BTC/USD, ETH/USD, altcoins.
Account sizes $5K–$200K. Two-phase: 8% Phase 1 / 4% Phase 2. Intraday dynamic trailing drawdown customizable 6%–14%. 80% split. 40% best-day rule.
Account sizes $10K–$400K. Three phases: 8% / 4% / 4%. Customizable drawdown 6%–14% overall, 3%–7% daily. 80% split. 40% best-day rule.
Two-phase with equal 5%/5% targets. Customizable 6%–14% drawdown. 80% split. 40% best-day rule.
E8 Markets earns an 8.3 BestProp score. No other single firm in our database matches its program breadth — seven evaluation types, forex/crypto/futures under one roof, full account customization on E8 One, and $38.9M in verified payouts give it a credibility foundation that newer firms simply cannot match yet. The 100% split option on E8 One and the futures track via CME instruments with four platform choices are genuine differentiators.
Trade-offs: Signature’s payout caps are a meaningful restriction for high-balance accounts, the 14-day wait on first payouts is longer than many competitors, and the UAE restriction will exclude a significant portion of the prop trading community. Overall, for traders who want a proven, multi-asset platform with deep customization, E8 Markets is one of the benchmark choices in 2026.
Here is our full independent review of The Trading Pit:
The Trading Pit was founded in 2021 and is registered in Liechtenstein (FL-0002.693.417-1), making it one of the few prop firms headquartered in an EU-adjacent jurisdiction. Under CEO Daniela Egli, the firm has scaled to over 10,000 active monthly accounts, recorded 450,000+ monthly trades, and paid out more than $16 million to funded traders.
The Trading Pit offers four tracks: CFD 1-Phase, CFD 2-Phase, Futures, and Stocks. CFD programs use MT4, MT5, and cTrader and cover forex, metals, indices, crypto, and US equities. The Futures program runs on Tradovate with access to CME, EUREX, CBOT, COMEX, and NYMEX markets. The Stocks program provides direct access to equity markets with $25K and $50K account sizes.
CFD programs use a static balance-based drawdown (calculated from initial balance). The Futures program uses a trailing drawdown model. Notably, Futures accounts feature a daily pause mechanism rather than a hard daily cut — when the daily drawdown limit is hit, the account is suspended for the remainder of that trading day rather than being terminated.
News trading is prohibited on CFD and Stocks programs with a 2-minute blackout window around major economic releases. The Futures program allows news trading. Expert Advisors are permitted but scalping under 1 minute, arbitrage, and signal copying across accounts are all prohibited. Overnight holding is allowed; cross-account hedging is not. Martingale strategies are banned.
CFD commissions are $5 per lot for forex, metals, and energies; 20% for crypto; 0% for US equities; and 20% for EU/UK equities.
CFD payouts are bi-weekly; Futures payouts are weekly. Payment methods include credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, crypto, and BinancePay. Payouts are made via bank wire, crypto, Binance, or Perfect Money. Maximum account allocation is $400,000 across all accounts.
Overall, our independent scoring gives E8 Markets the edge in this 2026 comparison. However, both firms have their merits. If The Trading Pit better matches your specific trading style, instruments, or preferred platform, it may still be the right choice for you.
Use our comparison table above and review the challenge fees at both firms before making your final decision. Both offer risk-free evaluation programs — the challenge fee is the only money at risk.
Based on our independent scoring, E8 Markets scores higher overall (9.2/10). The best choice depends on your trading style, preferred instruments, and account size.
E8 Markets offers a lower entry-level challenge fee. However, always compare the full account sizes you plan to trade before deciding purely on price.
E8 Markets offers the higher profit split. E8 Markets: 80% → 100%. The Trading Pit: 80%.
EA policies: E8 Markets — check the review. The Trading Pit — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: E8 Markets — check the review. The Trading Pit — check the review.
Read the full E8 Markets review → · Read the full The Trading Pit review →
Based on our scoring methodology, E8 Markets edges ahead in this comparison. However, the best choice depends on your trading style, preferred platform and account size. Read the full breakdown above for a detailed verdict.
E8 Markets offers 80% → 100% profit split, while The Trading Pit offers 80% profit split. Check each firm's current terms as these can change.
Check our offers page for the latest verified deals on both firms.
E8 Markets processes first payouts in 14 day(s), while The Trading Pit takes approximately 14 day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither E8 Markets nor The Trading Pit are regulated in the traditional financial sense — prop firms operate as private companies providing traders access to simulated or real capital. Always read the terms and conditions carefully before participating in any prop challenge.
