Alpha Capital Group Prop Firm Review 2026
Evidence-based review of Alpha Capital Group: evaluation programmes, drawdown rules, fees, payout structure, and who each plan suits before you buy.
Alpha Capital Group (alphacapitalgroup.uk) is a UK-headquartered forex and CFD prop firm founded in November 2021 that runs fully simulated evaluations across four active programmes — Alpha One, Alpha Pro, Alpha Swing, and Alpha Direct — with account sizes from $5,000 to $200,000 and a standard 80% performance fee split on the Qualified Analyst stage. No stage involves real-money trading; the evaluation fee is the only capital at risk. This review covers how each programme works, what the rules actually say, what things cost, and who each plan suits.
All accounts operate in a simulated environment. Performance fees are based on simulated results and outcomes are not guaranteed. Always confirm live rules at alphacapitalgroup.uk and help.alphacapitalgroup.uk before purchasing. See our site disclosure and risk disclaimer. For more forex and CFD prop firm reviews, see our prop firm reviews hub.
What Is Alpha Capital Group?
Alpha Capital Group is a London-based proprietary trading company, not a broker. Traders pay a one-time evaluation fee to access a simulated trading environment; they do not deposit money to trade their own funds. The firm launched in November 2021 and sits within a wider Alpha Group that also includes Alpha Futures (a separate futures-focused prop firm), ACG Markets (the broker that provides execution infrastructure for the simulated environment), Alpha Prime (a progression path for consistent performers), and Alpha Trader (an in-house platform currently in development). [s2]
The firm self-reports over 1.2 million traders, $100 million-plus in performance fees paid, and availability in 140-plus countries. These are firm-published figures; PropCatalog has not independently verified them. US residents are noted at checkout as ineligible, and MT5 is specifically restricted for US residents. [s1]
ACG Markets is described by the firm as “an FSA-regulated brokerage.” This is a self-reported claim from the firm’s own product page; regulatory status should be verified directly with the relevant authority before relying on it. [s3]
Evaluation Programmes: How Each Plan Works
Four programmes are currently sold. Alpha Three (a legacy 3-step path) is documented in the help centre for existing accounts but is not available for new purchases. [s5]
| Programme | Steps | Phase targets | Max drawdown | Daily loss | Min trading days | FX leverage | Weekend holds (Qualified) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha One | 1 | P1: 10% | 6% trailing (locks at starting balance once up 6%) | 4% | 1 | 1:30 | Allowed |
| Alpha Pro 6% | 2 | P1: 6%, P2: 6% | 6% static | 3% | 3 per phase | 1:100 | Not allowed |
| Alpha Pro 8% | 2 | P1: 8%, P2: 5% | 8% static | 4% | 3 per phase | 1:100 | Not allowed |
| Alpha Pro 10% | 2 | P1: 10%, P2: see help centre* | 10% static | 5% | 3 per phase | 1:100 | Not allowed |
| Alpha Swing | 2 | P1: 10%, P2: 5% | 10% static | 5% | 3 per phase | 1:30 | Allowed |
| Alpha Direct | 0 (instant) | No evaluation | Per plan terms | Per plan terms | N/A | Per plan terms | Per plan terms |
*The Alpha Pro 10% Phase 2 target is not separately listed in the sources reviewed. Confirm at checkout or in the help centre before trading. [s5]
Alpha One is a single-phase evaluation with a 10% profit target and a 6% trailing drawdown. The trailing mechanic is specific: the floor starts 6% below your opening balance and rises as your balance grows, but it locks permanently at your starting balance once you are up 6%. After that point, the floor does not tighten further regardless of how high your balance climbs. Weekend holds are permitted at every stage including the Qualified Account. Minimum trading days: 1. For a deeper explanation of how trailing and static drawdown differ, see our drawdown rules explained guide. [s5]
Alpha Pro is a two-phase evaluation available in three risk variants (6%, 8%, 10%). The drawdown is static — fixed from the initial balance and never moving. The key restriction is that weekend holds are not permitted on the Qualified Account stage; they are allowed during the evaluation phases. Traders whose strategy requires holding through weekends should choose Alpha One or Alpha Swing instead. FX leverage on Alpha Pro is 1:100, higher than the other programmes. [s5]
Alpha Swing is built for traders who hold positions overnight, through weekends, and around news events. It carries the widest drawdown allowance (10% static) and the widest daily loss (5%). The news rule on Alpha Swing differs from other programmes: a trade opened within 2 minutes before or after a high-impact release (a 4-minute window) must stay open longer than 2 minutes to be valid. Weekend holds are permitted at every stage. Performance fees on Alpha Swing are on-demand only (no bi-weekly option). [s5]
Alpha Direct provides an instant Qualified Account with no evaluation phase. The 90% performance fee split is available on Alpha Direct or as an optional add-on on eligible plans (+10% on the on-demand price). [s3]
Evaluation Plan Pricing and Account Sizes
Evaluation fees start from $27 and scale with account size and programme. The sources provide specific price examples for certain plans; these are reproduced below as published. Always check the live product page before purchasing, as fees and promotions change. [s3]
| Plan and size | Published fee (source) |
|---|---|
| Alpha One 5K | $50 [s4] |
| Alpha Pro 25K | $197 [s4] |
| Alpha One 50K | $297 [s4] |
| Alpha Swing 100K | $577 [s4] |
Account sizes available across programmes: $5,000, $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, and $200,000. [s4]
Two account types are available at checkout: Standard (no commission) and Raw. The checkout interface lists “Raw spread” and “No commission” as separate options. Confirm the current Raw spread commission on the product page before purchasing. [s3]
The payout schedule — bi-weekly or on-demand — is selected at checkout and affects the base price. An optional 90% performance fee split add-on is available on eligible plans at an additional cost (+10% on the on-demand price). A swap-free add-on is also available (adds approximately 10% to the price). [s3]
The firm runs promotional codes periodically. A code visible in the fetched source at time of retrieval was 10KFOR40 for a $10K evaluation at $40; promotional codes expire and should be verified on the live site before use. See our prop firm discount codes page for context on how to verify active promotions. For a broader look at how evaluation fees compare across the industry, see our prop firm fees explained guide.
Account Metrics and Analytics Interface
Once in a Qualified Account, traders access account analysis tools. The dashboard shown below (sourced from alphacapitalgroup.uk) illustrates the type of metrics interface available — balance curve, win/loss analysis, trading history, and general statistics including win rate and average profit/loss.
Qualified Analyst Stage: Rules and Payouts
Passing all evaluation phases advances a trader to a Qualified Account (also called the Qualified Analyst stage). There is no profit target at this stage. The maximum allocation is $200,000 per account and $400,000 combined across all Alpha Capital simulated accounts. [s5]
Performance fee split: 80% standard on most programmes; 90% on Alpha Direct or with the optional 90% add-on on eligible plans. [s3]
Source discrepancy on the standard performance split: The firm’s about page states “up to 80% performance fee” ([s2]), while the homepage FAQ states “As a Qualified Analyst you can earn a 90% performance fee share on eligible profits” ([s1]). The rules page and review page both state “up to 80% of simulated profits” as the standard split, with 90% available on Alpha Direct or as an add-on ([s5], [s4]). The 80% standard / 90% with add-on or Alpha Direct interpretation is supported by the most detailed operative sources.
Payout schedules:
- Bi-weekly: available on Alpha Pro (and legacy Alpha Three accounts). Minimum $100 profit and at least 5 trading days for the first request.
- On-demand: available on Alpha Pro, Alpha Swing, and Alpha One. Requires a minimum of 2% gross profit on the account, plus the 40% Best Day Rule (no single trading day can represent more than 40% of total cumulative profit before a request is made).
- Alpha Swing is on-demand only.
For a broader look at how payout structures work across the industry, see our prop firm payout rules guide.
News trading on Qualified Accounts: The sources reviewed describe the Alpha Swing news rule in detail (the 2-minute/4-minute window described above). For non-Swing Qualified Accounts, the help centre lists a “Can I trade news?” article but the sources reviewed do not specify the exact restriction window for those programmes. Confirm the news trading window for your specific programme at help.alphacapitalgroup.uk before trading. [s6]
Weekend holds on Qualified Accounts: allowed on Alpha One, Alpha Swing, and legacy Alpha Three. Not allowed on Alpha Pro Qualified Accounts — a breach is treated as a soft breach (profits from those trades are removed; the account stays active provided the drawdown floor is not breached). [s5]
Trading Rules That Close Accounts
The following rules apply across all programmes and stages. Breaching them results in account closure. [s6] [s5]
- Maximum drawdown: if balance falls below the drawdown floor, the account closes. Static drawdown is fixed from the initial balance. Trailing drawdown (Alpha One only) follows the high-water mark until the account is up 6%, then locks at the starting balance.
- Daily loss limit: measured from the start of the daily candle (00:00 GMT+3). Open (unrealised) losses count, not just closed trades. On Alpha One, Alpha Three, and Alpha Pro 6%, the limit is based on the higher of that day’s starting balance or equity. On Alpha Pro 8%, Alpha Pro 10%, and Alpha Swing, it is balance-based.
- Minimum trade duration: average trade duration must exceed 2 minutes, and at least 50% of profit must come from trades held longer than 2 minutes. Occasional individual trades under 2 minutes are permitted.
- 30-day inactivity: no trade placed for 30 consecutive days deactivates the account at any stage.
- 40% Best Day Rule: applies to on-demand payout requests only. No single day can represent more than 40% of total cumulative profit before a request is submitted.
Prohibited strategies include latency arbitrage, HFT, group trading, account management for third parties, and copy trading from external groups. [s6]
For a broader look at how prop firm rules work, see our prop firm rules explained guide.
Trading Platforms and Instruments
Alpha Capital supports MT5, cTrader, DXTrade, and TradeLocker. An in-house platform called Alpha Trader is listed as coming soon. MT5 is restricted for US residents. [s1]
Instruments available include forex pairs, metals (gold, silver), indices (including GER30, NAS100, JPN225, US30, US500), commodities (oil), and other CFDs. All trading is on CFD/forex simulated accounts — not exchange-traded futures. [s1]
For a broader look at platform compatibility across prop firms, see our prop firm trading platforms guide and our guide to prop firms that support cTrader.
Trustpilot and Legitimacy Signals
Alpha Capital Group self-reports over 20,000 Trustpilot reviews with an average rating of approximately 4.7. The firm states it publicly responds to negative reviews. These are firm-reported figures; PropCatalog has not independently audited the review count or rating. Recurring positive themes cited by the firm include fast performance fees, responsive support, and clear rule communication. Negative reviews, per the firm’s own characterisation, tend to involve traders who breached drawdown or daily loss rules. [s4]
Other legitimacy indicators the firm publishes: a named public leadership team (George Kohler as Managing Director and Founder, Andrew Blaylock as Co-Founder and Director, among others), a registered UK company number (13719951), a registered office address in England, and a sister broker (ACG Markets, which the firm describes as FSA-regulated). These are self-reported; regulatory and company registration status should be verified independently. [s2] [s4]
The firm is not a broker and does not accept deposits for live trading. The evaluation fee is the only money a trader puts in. This structure is standard for the prop firm model; for a broader explanation of how the model works, see our guide on what is a prop firm.
Who Each Programme Suits
The right programme depends on trading style, not just price. Here is a plain summary based on the published rules:
- Alpha One: suits intraday traders who want the fastest path to a Qualified Account (1 minimum trading day, 1 phase) and are comfortable with a trailing drawdown mechanic. Weekend holds are permitted at every stage, making it more flexible than Alpha Pro for traders who occasionally carry positions.
- Alpha Pro 6%: suits disciplined traders who prefer a lower profit target per phase and can work within a tight 3% daily loss limit. The two-phase structure rewards consistency. Weekend holds are not permitted on the Qualified Account.
- Alpha Pro 8% / 10%: suits traders who need more drawdown room and can hit higher phase targets. The 1:100 FX leverage is the highest available across the programmes. Weekend holds are still not permitted on the Qualified Account stage.
- Alpha Swing: the only programme explicitly designed for swing traders holding overnight and through weekends at every stage, including the Qualified Account. The wider 10% drawdown and 5% daily loss accommodate the larger stops swing strategies typically require. On-demand payouts only.
- Alpha Direct: suits traders who want to skip the evaluation entirely and start on a Qualified Account immediately, at a higher fee. The 90% performance split is the highest available without an add-on purchase.
For comparison with other forex prop firms, see our E8 Markets review, FundedNext review, and The5ers review. For a broader look at challenge structures, see our prop firm challenge types guide.
Verdict
Alpha Capital Group is a well-documented UK prop firm with a clear programme structure, published rules, and a named leadership team. The four active programmes cover a wider range of trading styles than many comparable firms — particularly Alpha Swing for traders who need weekend hold flexibility and Alpha Direct for those who want to bypass evaluation entirely. The trailing drawdown mechanic on Alpha One is specific enough to require careful reading before trading; the lock-at-starting-balance behaviour once up 6% is a meaningful detail that affects risk planning.
The main limitations are that all accounts are CFD/forex simulated (no futures, no live capital at any stage), Alpha Pro Qualified Accounts prohibit weekend holds, and the 40% Best Day Rule applies to all on-demand payout requests. The firm’s Trustpilot presence and public response to complaints are positive signals, but they are self-reported and should be verified directly. Traders should read the full trading objectives and help centre rules for their specific programme before purchasing, as rules can change and the sources reviewed reflect a specific retrieval date.