Best Prop Firms for Swing Traders in 2026
Swing trading on a prop firm account is tricky—most firms require closing positions before the weekend, and some don't even allow overnight holds. We've checked the actual rules of 50+ firms to find the ones that genuinely let you hold trades for days or weeks. If you need weekend holding, no time limits, and generous drawdowns, these are your best options.
Top 5 Picks at a Glance
Why It's Great for Swing Traders
FTMO is the only major prop firm with dedicated Swing accounts that explicitly allow weekend holding and news trading on funded accounts. Standard FTMO accounts prohibit weekend holds, but the Swing option removes this restriction entirely—perfect for trades that need days or weeks to play out. The 2-Step at $499.00 for 100K (reg $619, 19% off applied automatically) has a 10% target then 5% verification, 5% daily loss, and 10% max drawdown. No consistency rule, no time limit on the 2-Step evaluation (minimum 4 trading days per phase); the cheaper 1-Step does carry a 50% best-day rule. The scaling plan grows your account to $2M with a 90% split. Platforms include MT4, MT5, cTrader, and DXTrade. Over 10 years in operation—the most trusted name in prop trading.
Why It's Great for Swing Traders
Alpha Capital offers a dedicated Alpha Swing program specifically designed for traders who hold positions overnight and over weekends. The 100K Swing account is $461.60 (reg $577, code GUIDE for 20% off) — a 2-Step evaluation with 10%-5% targets, 5% daily loss, and a 10% static max drawdown, generous room for positions that fluctuate. On-demand payouts mean you can withdraw when you're ready, subject to a 40% best-day rule on funded accounts and a 2% minimum. Alpha Capital also offers Alpha Direct (instant funding, 90% split), Alpha One (1-Step) and Alpha Pro (2-Step) if you want non-swing options — though weekend holding is a Swing-account feature. Supports cTrader, MT5, DXTrade, and TradeLocker. Code GUIDE for discount. Full review here.
Why It's Great for Swing Traders
Phidias is the rare futures firm that allows overnight and over-weekend holding—most futures firms force a daily close, so this alone makes it stand out for swing traders. The 100K Premium account is a one-time $180 (80% off reg $900, code GUIDE) with a $6,000 profit target, $3,000 max loss (EOD trailing), and a progressive split that climbs from 75% to 100% by your fifth payout. Payouts every 5 days, no activation fee on the one-time-payment version, 30% consistency rule on funded accounts, and a 3-trading-day minimum. Premium also includes a one-time Cash Account Reset ($499 on the 100K). If you don’t need weekend holding, the Fundamental track is cheaper at $144.60 for 100K, and the newer Express to Live track puts you on a real live account after your first payout with static drawdown and no consistency rule. Up to 15 funded accounts and $1.6M max allocation. Platforms include NinjaTrader, Quantower, Tradovate, TradingView, Rithmic, Sierra Chart, Bookmap, DeepCharts, and ATAS. Full review here.
Why It's Great for Swing Traders
City Traders Imperium allows overnight and weekend holding on ALL account types—including crypto positions. No need to choose a special "swing" account. The 1-Step 100K at $381.65 (reg $449) has just an 8% target with no daily loss limit and 5% max drawdown. The 2-Step at $466.65 (reg $549) gives you 10% max drawdown and 5% daily loss. No consistency rule on the 1-Step or 2-Step (a 20% consistency score only gates scaling on the instant plans). Profit split starts at 80% on the challenges and 70% on the instant programs, both scaling to 100% through the VIP program. First payouts land in 5-7 days, then monthly on the challenges and bi-weekly on the instant accounts, paid by bank transfer, crypto or PayPal. Two rules to plan around: a stop-loss must be placed within 1 minute of opening any trade, and hedging is banned outright. Supports Match Trader and MT5. CTI also has a VIP Program with a monthly salary for Elite traders. Full review here.
Why It's Great for Swing Traders
Crypto Fund Trader allows overnight and weekend holding on all accounts including crypto positions—ideal if you swing trade both forex and crypto. The 2-Step at $627 for 100K (reg $660) has 8%-5% targets, 5% daily loss, and 10% max drawdown. The key advantage: no time limit on evaluations—take as long as you need to hit your targets at your own pace. Supports Bybit, Match Trader, and MT5. Note the $10,000 daily profit cap on funded accounts and $300K max allocation across 1-Step/2-Step programs. EAs are allowed. Full review here.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Firm | 100K Price | Profit Split | Weekend Hold | Consistency | Time Limit | Trustpilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTMO | $499.00 | 80-90% | Swing accounts | None | None | 4.8 ⭐ |
| Alpha Capital | $461.60 | 80% | Swing program | 40% best-day | None | 4.7 ⭐ |
| Phidias | $180 | Up to 100% | Premium accounts | 30% (funded) | None | 3.9 ⭐ |
| City Traders Imperium | $381.65 | 80→100% | All accounts | None | None | 4.2 ⭐ |
| Crypto Fund Trader | $627 | 80% | All accounts | None | None | 4.5 ⭐ |
FTMO price is for the 2-Step (reg $619, 19% off applied automatically at checkout). Alpha Capital Swing uses code GUIDE for 20% off (reg $577). CTI 1-Step price shown (reg $449). CFT 2-Step price shown (reg $660). Phidias is a futures firm—Premium one-time price shown (reg $900, code GUIDE).
What Swing Traders Need from a Prop Firm
Swing trading on a prop firm is fundamentally different from day trading. You need to hold trades overnight, sometimes over weekends, and your positions may take days or weeks to reach your target. Here's what to check before you commit.
Weekend Holding is Non-Negotiable
Most prop firms close all positions before the weekend or charge swap fees that eat into your profits. For swing traders, weekend holding is a must. FTMO and Alpha Capital offer dedicated Swing account types. City Traders Imperium and Crypto Fund Trader allow weekend holding on all accounts by default, and Phidias—a futures firm—permits overnight and over-weekend holds on its Premium accounts.
Futures and Swing Trading: The Phidias Exception
Nearly every futures prop firm forces you to close positions by ~4:10 PM EST each day, which makes true swing trading impossible. The rare exception is Phidias, whose Premium accounts allow overnight and over-weekend holding—so it’s the one futures firm that earns a spot on this list. For standard futures day trading, check our scalpers guide or beginners guide instead. Compare all futures firms.
No Time Limit on Evaluations
Swing traders take fewer trades and need more time to hit profit targets. A 30-day evaluation deadline is a scalper's timeline, not a swing trader's. The forex firms on this page have no time limit on their evaluations, and Phidias sets only a 3-trading-day minimum—so every pick lets you take weeks or months to pass at your pace.
Drawdown Type and Size
Swing positions fluctuate more than day trades. A 5% drawdown can feel tight when your trade needs a 2-3% pullback before reaching target. The FTMO 2-Step and Crypto Fund Trader 2-Step both offer 10% max drawdown—the most room to breathe. Use our Forex Calculator to plan your position sizes and ensure a single swing doesn't risk more than 1-2% of your account.
Consistency Rules and Swing Trading
Swing traders naturally have uneven profit distribution—one big winner can account for the majority of monthly profits. Strict consistency rules penalize this. FTMO and CTI have no consistency rules at all. Use our Consistency Calculator to check your trading history before choosing a firm with consistency requirements.
Swap Fees Can Kill Your Profits
Every night you hold a forex position, you pay or receive a swap (overnight interest) fee. Over 3-5 days, swaps on positions like EUR/USD can add up significantly. Check each firm's swap rates before committing—some firms offer swap-free options. Plan your entries to minimize holding time when swaps work against you. The Economic Calendar helps you time entries around central bank decisions that affect swap rates.
Pro Tip: Start with a single swing strategy on one pair (e.g., EUR/USD or GBP/USD on the daily chart). Pass your evaluation, get your first payout, then consider scaling to multiple accounts. Read our risk management guide for position sizing strategies and our guide on making a living from prop trading.
Ready to Swing Trade on a Funded Account?
Compare all forex firms side-by-side, grab the latest discount codes, and use our calculators to plan your entries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swing trade on prop firm accounts?
Yes—mostly on forex prop firms that allow overnight and weekend holding, plus a few futures firms like Phidias. Most futures firms require closing positions by 4:10 PM EST daily. FTMO and Alpha Capital have dedicated swing account types; CTI and Crypto Fund Trader allow weekend holding on all accounts; Phidias allows it on its Premium accounts.
Which prop firm is best for swing trading?
FTMO is the best overall—dedicated Swing accounts, weekend holding, no consistency rule on the 2-Step, no time limit, and the industry's longest track record. Alpha Capital is a strong alternative with its dedicated Alpha Swing program and on-demand payouts.
Are there any futures firms that allow swing trading?
Almost none—most require closing positions by end of day (typically 4:10 PM EST). Phidias is the exception: its Premium accounts allow overnight and over-weekend holding, which is why it’s the one futures firm on this list. For standard futures day trading, see our scalpers guide or beginners guide.
Do swap fees affect swing trading on prop firms?
Yes. Every night you hold a forex position, swap fees apply. These can be positive or negative depending on the pair and direction. Over multiple days, swaps add up and can reduce profits. Check each firm's swap rates and consider timing entries to minimize negative swap impact.
What drawdown type is best for swing traders?
Static drawdown is safest since it doesn't trail your equity. A 10% max drawdown (FTMO 2-Step, CTI 2-Step, CFT 2-Step) gives the most room for swing positions that need temporary pullbacks. Use our Forex Calculator to plan position sizes.
Do consistency rules affect swing traders?
Yes. Swing traders often have uneven profit distribution—one big winner can dominate monthly results. FTMO's 2-Step and CTI's 1-Step and 2-Step have no consistency rules. Alpha Capital applies a 40% best-day rule on funded accounts. Use our Consistency Calculator to check your history.
What other guides do you have?
We have guides for beginners, scalpers, Indian traders, cheapest firms, no consistency rule, and more on our Best Prop Firms hub.