Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | Alpha Capital Group | ThinkCapital |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 80% | Up to 90% |
| First Payout | — | 14 |
| Payout Frequency | Bi-weekly or on-demand | Bi-weekly (weekly add-on available) |
| Max Account Size | $200,000 | $600,000 |
Winner: Alpha Capital Group
In this independent head-to-head comparison of Alpha Capital Group vs ThinkCapital, 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.
Alpha Capital Group: Four Evaluation Paths. One Million Traders. $100M Paid.
ThinkCapital: Backed by ThinkMarkets Broker. 4.6/5 Trustpilot. Fee Refunded on First Payout. Scales to $1.5M.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, Alpha Capital Group scores 8.9/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: Alpha Capital Group scores 8.9/10 vs ThinkCapital at 8.8/10.
Minimum Fee: Alpha Capital Group starts from $50; ThinkCapital starts from $39. ThinkCapital is cheaper at entry level.
Profit Split: Alpha Capital Group offers 80%; ThinkCapital offers Up to 90%. ThinkCapital has the higher split.
Platforms: Alpha Capital Group supports MT5, cTrader, DXtrade; ThinkCapital is on ThinkTrader, TradingView, MT5.
Tradeable Markets: Alpha Capital Group covers Forex, Metals, Indices, Commodities; ThinkCapital offers Forex, Metals, Commodities, Crypto, Indices.
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how Alpha Capital Group and ThinkCapital compare on pricing.
Alpha Capital Group challenge fees start from $50. The firm has operated since 2021. They have funded over 1,200,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $100M+.
ThinkCapital challenge fees start from $39. They have funded over 20,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $4,000,000+.
On entry-level pricing, ThinkCapital offers a lower starting fee — an important factor if you are testing with a smaller account first.
Alpha Capital Group profit split: 80%. ThinkCapital profit split: Up to 90%. ThinkCapital delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: Alpha Capital Group pays Bi-weekly or on-demand; ThinkCapital pays Bi-weekly (weekly add-on available). Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.
Here is our full independent review of Alpha Capital Group:
Alpha Capital Group is a UK-based prop firm founded in November 2021 by George Kohler and Andrew Blaylock. With 1.2 million+ traders across 140+ countries and $100M+ in performance fees paid out, it is one of the largest prop firms by trader count outside of FTMO. The firm offers four evaluation paths — Alpha One, Alpha Pro, Alpha Swing, and Alpha Three — each with distinct drawdown structures and profit target sequences, giving traders more genuine program diversity than most competitors.
The firm’s broker arm, ACG Markets, is licensed in Seychelles, providing the regulated infrastructure behind the simulated trading environment. Note: Alpha Capital Group does not accept US residents or citizens.
Alpha Capital Group suits non-US forex and multi-asset traders who want to choose between trailing and static drawdown structures based on their strategy. The Alpha One trailing drawdown — which locks permanently at the starting balance once you are 6% in profit — is one of the most trader-friendly trailing drawdown structures in the industry: the trailing period ends once you clear the threshold, removing the risk of giving back gains indefinitely.
The three Alpha Pro variants (6%, 8%, 10% targets) also give traders genuine control over the difficulty/cost trade-off, rather than a single fixed evaluation path.
Alpha Capital Group offers four evaluation paths:
Three platforms supported: MT5, cTrader, and DXtrade — covering the full range of preferences from legacy MetaTrader users to modern platform traders. Instruments include forex pairs, metals, indices, and commodities. Spreads from 0 pips with zero commission.
Alpha Capital Group earns an 8.0 BestProp score. The 1.2M+ trader base and $100M+ in payouts establish it as one of the most proven mid-tier prop firms available. The program diversity — four evaluation paths with three Pro variants — is genuinely useful rather than marketing noise, and the Alpha One trailing drawdown lock is one of the most intelligent trailing structures we have seen.
The 80% maximum split (no path to 90%+) and the Best Day Rule on on-demand withdrawals are the main limitations. For non-US traders who want program flexibility and a proven track record at competitive fees, Alpha Capital Group is a strong choice.
Here is our full independent review of ThinkCapital:
ThinkCapital is the proprietary trading arm of ThinkMarkets — a multi-regulated institutional broker with global operations. The prop firm is headquartered in London, UK, and is led by CEO Faizan Anees. ThinkCapital holds a 4.6/5 Trustpilot rating from 470+ reviews and has funded 20,000+ traders with $4M+ in verified payouts. Maximum initial account is $600,000, scaling to $1,500,000. Platforms: ThinkTrader, TradingView, and MetaTrader 5.
The backing of ThinkMarkets is a meaningful structural advantage: unlike standalone prop firms, ThinkCapital operates within an established, multi-regulated broker’s infrastructure. Challenge fees are refunded with the first funded payout across all evaluation programs.
Lightning – 1-Step ($59-$1,099 for $5K-$200K): Single phase, 10% profit target. Daily loss: 3%. Max drawdown: 6% trailing. Minimum 3 profitable trading days. Up to 90% split. News trading: restricted. A 4-minute trading blackout applies around ForexFactory red-folder events on Lightning accounts. EAs not permitted during evaluation; supported on funded MT5/TradingView accounts. Fee refunded on first payout. Best for structured traders comfortable with tighter drawdown and news restrictions.
Dual Step – 2-Step ($59-$1,099 for $5K-$200K): Phase 1: 8% target. Phase 2: 5% target. Daily loss: 4%. Max drawdown: 8% static. Up to 90% split. Dynamic leverage up to 1:100. Dual Step Swing variant allows news trading. Fee refunded on first payout. The most popular program — wider drawdown than Lightning, two-phase structure builds consistency. Optional Swing add-on enables event-driven trading strategies.
Nexus – 3-Step ($39-$749 for $5K-$200K): Phase 1: 7%. Phase 2: 6%. Phase 3: 5%. Total combined target: 18%, achieved across three progressively confirmed stages. Daily loss: 4%. Max drawdown: 8% static. Leverage 1:100. Up to 90% split. News trading restricted. Lowest entry fee in the lineup — $39 for a $5K account. Suited for methodical traders who want the lowest upfront commitment and three-stage consistency verification.
Bolt – Instant Funding ($49 for $2.5K, up to $50K): No evaluation required. Direct funded access from $2.5K with leverage up to 1:50. Up to 90% split. No profit target to begin trading; scaling requires meeting performance milestones. Verify full drawdown parameters and rules on the ThinkCapital website for Bolt accounts.
ThinkCapital offers purchasable add-ons for additional features including: weekly payouts (base is bi-weekly), EA allowance on challenge accounts, 90% profit split uplift (base varies), and Swing mode (news trading). These add-ons carry an additional cost of approximately 25% per feature on top of the base challenge fee. This modular structure lets traders pay only for features they need — but traders wanting news trading and EAs should factor the add-on costs into total outlay.
Platforms: ThinkTrader (proprietary), TradingView (integrated), MetaTrader 5. Instruments: Forex, Metals, Commodities, Crypto, Indices. The ThinkMarkets infrastructure provides institutional-grade liquidity and execution across all instrument categories.
ThinkCapital earns a 7.8 BestProp score. The ThinkMarkets backing is the defining differentiator: an established multi-regulated institutional broker providing infrastructure, counterparty credibility, and execution quality that standalone prop firms cannot match. 4.6/5 Trustpilot from 470+ reviews. Three evaluation tracks (1-Step, 2-Step, 3-Step) plus instant access, with Nexus starting at just $39. Fee refund on first payout. Scales to $1.5M. The modular add-on system lets traders pay for exactly the features they need.
Key considerations: news trading is restricted on Lightning and Nexus without the Swing add-on (4-minute blackout around red events), EAs require a funded account or an add-on purchase, and the base bi-weekly payout cycle requires an upgrade for weekly cash flow. Add-ons at ~25% per feature can push the effective cost meaningfully above the base fee for traders wanting full flexibility. Overall ThinkCapital is an excellent choice for traders who value institutional broker backing and a structured, transparent program — particularly on the Dual Step and Nexus tracks.
Overall, our independent scoring gives Alpha Capital Group the edge in this 2026 comparison. However, both firms have their merits. If ThinkCapital 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, Alpha Capital Group scores higher overall (8.9/10). The best choice depends on your trading style, preferred instruments, and account size.
ThinkCapital offers a lower entry-level challenge fee. However, always compare the full account sizes you plan to trade before deciding purely on price.
ThinkCapital offers the higher profit split. Alpha Capital Group: 80%. ThinkCapital: Up to 90%.
EA policies: Alpha Capital Group — check the review. ThinkCapital — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: Alpha Capital Group — check the review. ThinkCapital — check the review.
Read the full Alpha Capital Group review → · Read the full ThinkCapital review →
Based on our scoring methodology, Alpha Capital Group 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.
Alpha Capital Group offers 80% profit split, while ThinkCapital offers Up to 90% profit split. Check each firm's current terms as these can change.
Check our offers page for the latest verified deals on both firms.
Alpha Capital Group processes first payouts in a variable timeframe, while ThinkCapital takes approximately 14 day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither Alpha Capital Group nor ThinkCapital 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.
