Choosing between the 1-Phase Challenge and Direct Access is one of the first decisions you make when you start with a simulated account at Funded Profit. Both lead to the same place, a funded account with a reward split, but the path and the rules are different. In this guide you'll compare the two side by side, see which trader profiles tend to feel at home in each, and leave with a set of questions to help you decide for yourself.
In short: the 1-Phase Challenge asks for a 9% target with wider loss limits (4% daily, 6% overall); Direct Access has no target but tighter limits (3% and 5%) and requires 8 active days before each payout. Neither is better in the abstract: the right fit depends on your style, your experience and how you handle pressure.
Two roads to the same account
The core difference is simple:
- 1-Phase Challenge: you first show that you can reach a target without breaking the rules. Once you pass and your identity verification is approved, you receive the funded account.
- Direct Access: you skip the evaluation. You trade a funded account from day one, with no profit target, and your discipline is measured in every payout cycle.
Either way you trade on cTrader with 1:100 leverage, static drawdown and the same shared rules. What changes is how much loss room you get, whether there's a target to hit and how many active days you need.
The rules, side by side
| 1-Phase Challenge | Direct Access | |
|---|---|---|
| Profit target | 9% | None |
| Max daily loss | 4% | 3% |
| Max overall loss | 6%, static | 5%, static |
| Active trading days | 5 to pass and 5 before each payout | 8 before each payout |
| Time limit | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Sizes | $15K, $30K, $60K, $100K, $200K | $5K, $10K, $25K, $50K, $100K |
| Prices | $89, $179, $249, $499, $899 | $69, $129, $249, $379, $629 |
| KYC | Before you receive the funded account | Before your first payout |
Some rules stay the same across programs: every trade must stay open at least 3 minutes, max risk per trade is 2.5% of starting capital, the split is 80% (100% with an add-on), payouts run every 14 days (weekly with an add-on), the minimum per payout is $50 and it's paid in crypto. News trading and holding over the weekend are allowed. For the full detail, the rules page has everything in one place.
What the table doesn't show at first glance
Look at the relationship between target and loss room. In the Challenge you have 6% of overall loss to work toward 9%: there's pressure to get there, but also more room for mistakes. In Direct Access you're not chasing any number, but your cushion is 5% overall and 3% per day. A bad day weighs more.
Example: on a $100,000 Challenge account, your daily limit is $4,000 and the overall limit $6,000. On a $100,000 Direct Access account, they're $3,000 and $5,000. With the same risk per trade, Direct Access fits fewer consecutive losses before you reach a limit.
Who tends to feel at home in the 1-Phase Challenge
The Challenge tends to suit traders who:
- Want a test with a clear finish line. A defined target helps some people focus.
- Prefer more loss room. A 4% daily and 6% overall limit leave space for a normal losing streak.
- Like paying less for a larger size. For example, $499 for a $100K account versus $629 for Direct Access.
- Are willing to take their time. With no time limit, you can take as many weeks as you need.
The thing to watch is the target. For some traders, having 9% ahead pushes them to force trades or size up. If that sounds like you, read how to pass the 1-Phase Challenge before you start.
Who tends to feel at home in Direct Access
Direct Access tends to suit traders who:
- Tense up around targets. With no number to chase, you trade your plan without a mental countdown.
- Already have stable risk management. Tighter limits are less punishing for someone who risks small and consistently.
- Prefer to start with smaller accounts. Sizes start at $5K, which is useful for trading a single risk rule and learning the environment.
- Want to trade funded from day one. The account is delivered after purchase, and KYC is required before your first payout.
The thing to watch here is the margin. With a 3% daily limit, two or three oversized trades that go wrong can close the account. And 8 active days before each payout call for patience: the rhythm is slower than on a funded account that comes from the Challenge.
Questions to answer honestly before you pick
Before you choose, write down your answers to these. There are no right answers, only yours.
- How do you react to a target? If a number to reach makes you overtrade, a program without a target may take that pressure off. If it keeps you organized, the Challenge may help.
- What does your typical worst day look like? Check your history or your trading journal. If your bad days often go past 3%, the Direct Access daily limit will feel tight with the way you trade today.
- How much do you risk per trade? At 1% per trade, four losses in a row already put you near 4%. At 0.5%, you have far more breathing room. You can check your limits with the loss limits calculator.
- How often do you trade? If you only trade a few days a week, think about how long 8 active days before each payout would take you.
- What account size do you need to trade your plan? A bigger account doesn't change your method; it only amplifies the outcome of each decision.
- How would losing an account feel? No program removes risk. Pick one whose possible loss you can accept without it affecting your next decisions.
A quick test with your own numbers
Take your last 30 trades, live or demo. Note your worst losing streak and your worst day. Then compare them with each program's limits at the size you're considering. If your worst day would already have broken a 3% daily limit, you have two options: adjust your risk before choosing Direct Access, or consider the extra room in the Challenge. If your worst streak fits comfortably in both, the decision comes down to how you relate to a target.
What stays the same either way
Whichever program you choose, these rules apply equally and are worth keeping in mind from day one:
- 3-minute minimum duration per trade, whether you close it, or a Stop Loss or Take Profit does.
- 2.5% max risk of starting capital on a single trade.
- Consistency: no single day can account for more than 40% of your total profit on accounts under $30K, or 30% from $30K up. We break it down in the consistency rule explained.
- Max 2 IP addresses per account.
- No new trades on weekends or US holidays; positions already open can stay open.
They also share something less visible: trading involves risk, and no program structure replaces a plan with clear rules.
A common mistake when choosing
Many traders pick the program they imagine is faster. Direct Access looks like a shortcut because there's no evaluation, and the Challenge looks longer because there's a target. In practice, speed depends on how you trade, not on the program. A trader with solid risk management can be comfortable in either one; a trader who oversizes struggles in both.
That's why it pays to choose by fit, not by a promise of speed. Your ideal program is the one that lets you trade your plan without changing it.
FAQ
Can I hold a Challenge and a Direct Access account at the same time?
Yes. You can hold several accounts from any program as long as their combined allocation stays within $200,000. Each account is traded independently, and copying trades between them is not allowed.
Is the reward split different in each program?
No. It's 80% in both, or 100% with the add-on. Payouts run every 14 days, or weekly with the add-on, with a $50 minimum paid in crypto.
Does Direct Access have a time limit?
No. Neither program has a time limit, although you need to open at least one trade every 30 calendar days so the account isn't closed for inactivity.
When do I complete identity verification?
In the 1-Phase Challenge, before you receive the funded account. In Direct Access, before your first payout.