Navigating the world of proprietary trading firms requires a clear understanding of the path to funding. For traders who prefer a direct route, one-step evaluations are increasingly popular. This in-depth analysis compares the flagship one-step programs from two prominent firms, E8 Markets and The Trading Pit, to help you determine which aligns best with your trading style and career goals.
1. Program Overview & Philosophy
E8 Markets – E8 One: The Speedy Path
E8 Markets designed the E8 One program for efficiency and flexibility. The philosophy is to identify disciplined traders quickly and grant them fast access to capital and, crucially, fast access to profits. This program is built for the modern trader who values speed and control.
The Trading Pit – Prime & Classic: The Structured Path
The Trading Pit offers two one-step options, both emphasizing a measured, disciplined approach. The Prime One-phase evaluation is a balanced offering, while the Classic One-phase evaluation is geared toward long-term, ambitious growth. Their philosophy leans towards building lasting partnerships with traders through structured scaling and education.
2. Trading Objectives & Rule Comparison
This is the core of the challenge. How do the rules you must follow compare?
| Trading Rule | E8 Markets (E8 One) | The Trading Pit (Prime) | The Trading Pit (Classic) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| Maximum Daily Loss | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Maximum Loss | 6% Trailing Drawdown | 7% Static (Balance-Based) | 7% Trailing Drawdown |
| Minimum Trading Days | None | 5 Days | 5 Days |
| Time Limit | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Key Takeaways on Rules:
- The Drawdown Battle: This is the most significant difference.
- The Trading Pit (Prime) has the most trader-friendly drawdown model. A 7% static, balance-based maximum loss does not move. If you start with a $100,000 account, your breach level is fixed at $93,000.
- The Trading Pit (Classic) and E8 One both use a trailing drawdown. However, The Trading Pit offers a 1% larger buffer (7% vs. 6%), providing slightly more room for the market to move against you after hitting a new high.
- Speed of Completion: E8 Markets wins decisively. The absence of minimum trading days means a skilled trader can pass the evaluation in a single session. The Trading Pit’s 5-day minimum enforces a more patient, consistent approach.
3. Funded Account Benefits & Payouts
What happens after you pass the evaluation is what truly matters.
| Funded Feature | E8 Markets (E8 One) | The Trading Pit (Prime) | The Trading Pit (Classic) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit Split | 80% (Default) Customizable up to 100% | 80% | 50% – 70% ($10k/$20k) 60% – 80% ($50k/$100k) |
| First Payout | On-Demand (From Day 1) | 14 Calendar Days | 14 Calendar Days |
| Future Payout Frequency | On-Demand | Bi-weekly | Bi-weekly |
| Minimum Withdrawal | None | $100 | $100 |
Key Takeaways on Payouts:
- Payout Speed: E8 Markets is Unmatched. The “on-demand” payout system is a game-changer. You are not locked into a bi-weekly or monthly schedule. If you make a profit on Monday, you can request a withdrawal on Monday. This provides incredible liquidity and control.
- Profit Split Structure:
- E8 One and The Trading Pit Prime both offer a strong, straightforward 80% split from the start.
- The Trading Pit Classic starts with a lower split but is designed to scale up as you prove your consistency, ultimately offering a very high ceiling (up to 90%).
4. Scaling Plan: Growing Your Capital
A good prop firm rewards success with more capital.
- E8 Markets (E8 One) Scaling:
- Model: Simple and direct. When you request a profit split, the firm pays you your 80% and then adds the total profit (100%) back to your account balance.
- Example: You earn $10,000 on a $100,000 account. You receive an $8,000 payout and your new account balance becomes $110,000.
- Verdict: Excellent for consistent, compounding growth.
- The Trading Pit Scaling:
- Prime Model: After 2 months of being funded and receiving at least 2 payouts with a total profit of 10%, you qualify for a 25% account increase. This is a structured, milestone-based approach.
- Classic Model: This is where The Trading Pit shines for long-term players. It features a detailed, multi-step scaling plan that can potentially grow a $100,000 account into a $5,000,000 account. This is one of the most ambitious scaling plans in the industry.
Key Takeaways on Scaling:
- For immediate, compounding growth, E8 One’s model is very effective.
- For long-term, massive capital growth, The Trading Pit’s Classic program is arguably unbeatable.
5. Trading Conditions & Instruments
- Leverage: The Trading Pit offers higher leverage (1:50) compared to E8 One (1:30), which can be beneficial for certain strategies.
- News Trading: E8 Markets allows news trading during the evaluation phase. The Trading Pit prohibits it entirely. This is a critical differentiator for traders who employ news-based strategies.
- Instruments: Both firms offer a wide range of Forex, Commodities, Indices, and Cryptos. The Trading Pit also offers Stocks through its brokers (FXFlat and GBE Brokers).
- Customization: A unique advantage for E8 Markets is the ability to customize your evaluation’s profit split and drawdown levels before purchase, allowing you to tailor the challenge to your risk tolerance.
Final Verdict: Which One-Step Program is for You?
Choose E8 Markets (E8 One) if:
- Speed is your priority. You want no minimum trading days and on-demand payouts.
- You are a news trader. The ability to trade during high-impact events is non-negotiable.
- You value flexibility. You appreciate the ability to customize your challenge and withdraw profits whenever you want.
- You prefer a straightforward, compounding scaling plan.
Choose The Trading Pit (Prime One-Phase) if:
- You prefer a static drawdown. The 7% balance-based maximum loss is one of the most forgiving models available.
- You want a strong, fixed 80% profit split without a lower starting point.
- You are comfortable with a more structured timeline (5-min trading days, 14-day first payout).
Choose The Trading Pit (Classic One-Phase) if:
- Your goal is long-term, massive capital growth. The path to a $5M account is the primary attraction.
- You are a consistently profitable trader who doesn’t mind a lower starting profit split in exchange for a much higher future ceiling.
- You are disciplined enough to handle a trailing drawdown and the 5-day minimum trading rule.
In summary, E8 Markets is the champion of speed and flexibility, while The Trading Pit is the master of structure and long-term ambition. Your choice should reflect your trading strategy and your definition of success.
Don’t forget to use the provided discount codes:
- E8 Markets: TraffiliatesFX for a 5% discount.
- The Trading Pit: TraffiliatesFX for a 10% discount.
6. Deep Dive: The Psychology of Risk & Drawdown Management
Understanding the psychological impact of each drawdown model is crucial for long-term success.
E8 One’s 6% Trailing Drawdown: The “Lock-In” Pressure
- Psychological Challenge: The trailing mechanism creates a unique form of pressure. After you hit a new equity high, your safety net rises. This can lead to overly conservative trading after a profitable run, as the fear of giving back “locked-in” progress becomes intense. A period of drawdown after a new high can feel particularly stressful.
- Strategic Adaptation: Successful E8 One traders often adopt a “grinder” mentality. They focus on consistent, smaller gains and are meticulous about closing trades to secure equity peaks. Strategies that use tight trailing stops on individual positions can align well with this account structure.
The Trading Pit Prime’s 7% Static Drawdown: The “Safety Net”
- Psychological Benefit: This model provides immense psychological comfort. Once you build a profit cushion, the static breach level feels far away. This allows traders to let profitable trades run longer and endure normal market volatility without the fear of a moving goalpost.
- Strategic Adaptation: This model favors “home-run” strategies. Traders can be more patient with their winners, as a 5% retracement from an equity high does not necessarily bring them closer to the breach point. It encourages a focus on absolute profit over the preservation of every single peak.
The Trading Pit Classic’s 7% Trailing: The “Balanced Challenge”
- Psychological Balance: It carries the same mental challenge as the E8 One model but with a critical 1% larger buffer. This extra 1% can be the difference between a stressful week and a breached account. It reduces the “hair-trigger” feeling, allowing for slightly deeper breathing room during pullbacks.
- Strategic Adaptation: The strategy is similar to E8 One, but traders can afford to be slightly less reactive. The larger buffer might allow for holding through minor news spikes or overnight gaps that would otherwise be catastrophic with a tighter trailing drawdown.
7. The Broker & Trading Infrastructure: Beyond the Rules
The broker and platform can significantly impact your execution and overall experience.
| Aspect | E8 Markets | The Trading Pit |
|---|---|---|
| Broker Partners | Virtual Markets & a Tier-1 Liquidity Provider | FXFlat & GBE Brokers |
| Available Platforms | cTrader, MatchTrader, TradeLocker, MT5 (depending on broker) | MetaTrader 4 & MetaTrader 5 |
| Key Implication | Platform Choice & Modern Tech. E8 offers access to modern, dedicated prop firm platforms like TradeLocker and cTrader, which often have better integration for tracking rules. The tier-1 liquidity promise suggests potentially tighter raw spreads. | Familiarity & Stability. Sticking with the industry-standard MT4/MT5 platforms means no new learning curve. Both FXFlat and GBE are established, regulated German-based brokers, which implies high stability and reliability. |
Analysis:
- If you are a platform enthusiast who values modern interfaces and deep rule-integration, E8 Markets has a distinct advantage.
- If you are an MT4/MT5 purist and value the reputation of well-regulated EU brokers, The Trading Pit will be more appealing.
8. The “Hidden” Costs: Understanding Fees & Commissions
While the evaluation fee is clear, trading costs eat into profits.
- E8 Markets:
- Commission: A flat $3 per lot per side on all instruments (Forex, Commodities, Indices, Crypto).
- Implication: This is simple and transparent. For a forex pair, this means a round turn (opening and closing a trade) costs $6 per lot. This cost structure is predictable.
- The Trading Pit:
- Commission: Varies. As is typical with MT4/MT5 brokers, the trading costs are built into the spreads. They do not charge a separate commission.
- Implication: You must analyze their demo accounts to see the live spreads. While often convenient, the spreads might be wider than E8’s “raw spread + commission” model, especially during volatile periods. This can be more costly for high-frequency or scalping strategies.
Strategic Cost Consideration:
- Scalpers/HFT Traders: Might prefer E8’s fixed commission model as it provides cost certainty regardless of market spread widening.
- Swing/Position Traders: Might prefer The Trading Pit’s commission-free model as they trade less frequently and are less impacted by spread variations.
9. The Support & Community Ecosystem
A firm’s support system can be a lifeline.
- E8 Markets:
- Trustpilot: 4.3/5 (Excellent) from over 2,600 reviews. The community frequently praises fast support and quick resolution of issues.
- Community: Large Discord (52k+ members) and Telegram groups. The focus seems to be on rapid, peer-to-peer interaction and support.
- The Trading Pit:
- Trustpilot: 4.4/5 (Excellent) from nearly 600 reviews. The community highlights transparency and a systematic, professional approach.
- Community & Education: This is a major strength. They offer an extensive library of webinars, ebooks, podcasts, and infographics. Their Discord is smaller (15k+) but likely more focused on education. This indicates a firm invested in your growth, not just your performance.
Analysis:
- For quick fixes and a large peer network, E8’s ecosystem is robust.
- For structured learning and professional development, The Trading Pit’s resources are superior.
10. Final Strategic Decision Matrix
Use this matrix to guide your final choice based on your personal trading profile:
| Your Profile | Recommended Program | Primary Reason |
|---|---|---|
| The Speed Trader (Part-time, wants fast results) | E8 Markets (E8 One) | No minimum days & on-demand payouts. |
| The News/Scalper (Trades economic events) | E8 Markets (E8 One) | News trading allowed & fixed commission cost. |
| The Risk-Averse Grinder (Prefers safety buffers) | The Trading Pit (Prime) | 7% static drawdown is the ultimate safety net. |
| The Long-Term Visionary (Career-focused, aims for millions) | The Trading Pit (Classic) | Unbeatable path to a $5M account. |
| The Platform Enthusiast (Loves modern tech) | E8 Markets (E8 One) | Choice of TradeLocker, cTrader, etc. |
| The MT4/5 Traditionalist (Doesn’t want to learn new tech) | The Trading Pit (Any) | Exclusive MT4/MT5 offering. |
| The Continuous Learner (Wants to improve skills) | The Trading Pit (Any) | Superior educational resources and structured content. |
Ultimate Conclusion: It’s a Choice of Identity
Your selection between these two elite firms is more than a choice of rules; it’s a choice of identity and trajectory.
- Choosing E8 Markets is a declaration of independence and agility. You are saying, “I am a disciplined, self-sufficient trader who can perform under a trailing drawdown, and I value having direct, immediate control over my capital and my time.” Your journey is a sprint powered by compounding growth.
- Choosing The Trading Pit is a commitment to a structured career path. You are saying, “I see myself as a professional fund manager in training. I value the security of a static drawdown (Prime) or the long-term ambition of a massive scale-up (Classic), and I will use the firm’s educational structure to build a lasting career.” Your journey is a marathon with a defined and ambitious finish line.
Both paths are valid and profitable. The right one aligns with who you are as a trader today, and who you aspire to become tomorrow.
Final Reminder:
- E8 Markets: Use discount code TraffiliatesFX for a 5% discount on the E8 One.
- The Trading Pit: Use discount code TraffiliatesFX for a 10% discount on the Prime or Classic program.
