StartTrader, SwiftTrader or ProTrader? Fintokei programs compared, plus the rules you need to know
At Fintokei, you can choose from four programs: StartTrader, SwiftTrader, ProTrader and ProTrader Swing. They differ in the number of phases, profit targets, loss limits and performance reward. The rules that can get your account closed, though, are the same for all of them. Get clear on them before you start trading – that's how you get to your dream payout.
Quick summary:
- StartTrader – your first challenge at Fintokei ($34). One phase with a +3% target, 80% performance reward and a second chance when a day goes wrong. Made for complete beginners.
- SwiftTrader – one phase with a +6% target and a 90% performance reward. For traders who want to reach a payout as fast as possible.
- ProTrader – two phases (+8% and +6%), no maximum time limit, 80% performance reward. For more experienced traders.
- ProTrader Swing – the same targets as ProTrader, but the daily loss limit only counts closed trades. For traders who hold positions longer.
What will you learn in this article?
- The conditions of each program and who it suits
- What a balance-based daily loss limit is in ProTrader Swing
- What happens if you trade too riskily after passing a challenge
- Which practices will get your account closed
Which programs does Fintokei offer?
Fintokei offers two one-phase programs (StartTrader and SwiftTrader) and two two-phase programs (ProTrader and ProTrader Swing). All of them lead to a virtually funded account, but each one suits a different type of trader.
Across all programs, you can't go more than 30 days without trading. We close inactive accounts.
What are the StartTrader conditions?
StartTrader is your first challenge at Fintokei: for $34 you get a $5,000 virtual account, one phase with a +3% target and the chance to withdraw up to $400. You can only buy it as one of your first two purchases at Fintokei. It's a stepping stone – afterwards, you can move on to SwiftTrader or ProTrader.
A second chance when a day goes wrong
With StartTrader, one bad day won't cost you the whole challenge. If you lose 2% in a day during the challenge, your account doesn't close. Trading is just paused until the end of the day, and you carry on the next day. You only lose the account if it happens a second time during the challenge.
Why do we do this? Every beginner has a day when nothing works. Instead of losing the challenge, you get a break and time to learn from the mistake. And you pick up a habit the pros have: stop after a bad day and come back with a clear head.
This only applies to the challenge. On a virtually funded account, breaching the daily loss limit ends the account, just like in the other programs.
A stepping stone to bigger accounts
StartTrader isn't the final destination – it's your first stop. You'll get to know the rules, withdraw your first payout and check that your strategy works. That's why it comes with clear limits:
- A $400 payout cap per account. That's 80% of a $500 profit, or +10%. You can withdraw it all at once or in no more than two payouts.
- Maximum of 2 purchases. You can buy StartTrader twice.
- Only as your first or second purchase. If you buy ProTrader first, for example, you can still buy StartTrader. After that, it locks, and your next challenges are SwiftTrader or ProTrader.
Once you reach the cap, it's time for a bigger account. SwiftTrader gets you to a payout fastest, while ProTrader gives you wider loss limits and much bigger accounts.
Does StartTrader have consistency rules?
No. There's no daily profit cap – you trade according to your own plan. Just keep an eye on the loss limits.
Count to three. And you're ready to go.
The new StartTrader is designed to make your first step into prop trading simple, affordable and stress-free. One phase, two chances and a 3% profit target. The rest is up to you.
What are the SwiftTrader conditions?
SwiftTrader is the fastest route to a payout: one phase with a +6% target, after which you can withdraw your first payout from +3% profit. The performance reward is 90% (SwiftTrader).
What does a maximum risk of –3% on open trades mean? All your open trades combined can't be more than 3% in loss. That way, one oversized trade can't wipe out your whole account.
What are the ProTrader conditions?
ProTrader is the classic two-phase challenge for more experienced traders: you need +8% in phase 1 and +6% in phase 2. The reward is the biggest virtual accounts at Fintokei and a fixed 80% of your profit.
The challenge is harder, so take your time. Just don't try to pass it in under 3 days with random "all-in" trades. We won't accept that.
What is ProTrader Swing and how does a balance-based daily loss limit work?
ProTrader Swing has the same conditions as ProTrader, with one key difference: the daily loss limit is calculated from your balance, not your equity. That means open trades don't count towards the limit – only the ones you've already closed.
What's the difference between balance and equity?
- Balance is your account value after closed trades.
- Equity is your balance plus the current profit or loss on open trades. It changes with every market move.
Example: You have a $100,000 account and a –5% daily loss limit, so $5,000. During the day, an open trade drops to –$6,000, but in the evening the market turns around.
- On ProTrader, you'd have breached the daily limit the moment the drop went past $5,000.
- On ProTrader Swing, nothing happens. Only what you close counts.
Why is that an advantage?
- You can give your trade room to breathe. A temporary drop during the day won't knock out your account.
- You can hold trades overnight and over the weekend without worrying about a single swing.
- It suits the wider stop loss that swing strategies on higher timeframes need.
- Less stress around news and volatile days.
ProTrader Swing is also swap-free, so you don't pay any swaps for holding trades overnight. The –10% maximum loss limit still applies here, though – so don't skip your stop loss.
Curious what's inside?
Create a free account and explore the Fintokei zone — loyalty rewards, dashboards, refer a friend and more. No challenge required.
Which program should you choose?
It depends on how much experience you have and how long you hold your trades.
- Is this your first challenge? Start with StartTrader. For $34, you'll see how prop trading works and can reach your first payout. One bad day won't cost you the challenge, and after your first payouts you can move up to a bigger account.
- Want to reach a payout as fast as possible? Choose SwiftTrader. One phase with a +6% target and 90% of the profit.
- Got some experience and want a bigger account? Go for ProTrader. You get wider loss limits and no maximum time limit.
- Do you hold trades for several days or weeks? Choose ProTrader Swing. Temporary drops on open trades won't ruin your daily limit.
What happens if you trade too riskily after passing the challenge?
If you trade riskily, you'll get a warning first. If nothing changes, we apply consistency rules to rein in your trading. Passing the challenge is just the beginning – your trading has to make sense afterwards too.
What do consistency rules look like in practice? First, you'll get an email explaining the situation. Then these rules apply:
- Leverage reduced to 1:10 (Forex) and 1:5 (other)
- Max. daily profit: +1%
- Max. daily loss: –1%
- No progress in the Scaling program
- Possible ban on buying new challenges
What can trigger consistency rules?
- Gambling behavior: trading without a stop loss, passing the challenge with a single trade, overleveraging and "all-in" trades
- Unsustainable strategies: random clicking with no system, repeatedly breaching limits, losses with no sign of improvement
We don't follow a script – every case is assessed individually. Find out more in our FAQ.
The restrictions aren't forever. After 3–6 months of successful trading, we can review your consistency rules and lift them if you show positive progress.
What can get your account closed at Fintokei?
We close accounts for copying signals, HFT bots, tick scalping, latency arbitrage, hedging across accounts and opening accounts under different emails. These rules apply to all four programs. If we catch one of these practices, you'll get a warning first. If you keep going, the account is closed.
Trading without a plan or using too much leverage? We don't like to see it, but we won't close your account for it. At most, we'll apply consistency rules.
Copying signals and third-party account management
We want to help you grow – not someone whose trades you copy. That's why copy trading leads to account closure.
Bots built just to pass the challenge
Some automated trading systems (Expert Advisors) are fine. Not the ones designed only to rush through the challenge, though. Typically, these are HFT (high-frequency trading) bots that:
- make hundreds of trades per minute
- sometimes only work in the first phase, then stop
- often cost more than the challenge itself
Tick scalping
A trade shorter than 15 seconds, followed by a burst of similar ones? That won't fly here. Trades like these can't be realistically copied to the market, and it isn't trading – it's abusing platform delays.
Latency arbitrage
Trading that relies on price delays between platforms or data sources is banned. Just like tick scalping, it exploits technical weaknesses, not your trading skills.
Hedging across accounts or between traders
Two accounts, opposite directions, one result. That's not allowed here – we're looking for traders, not people hunting for loopholes. Hedging within a single account is totally fine, though, and you won't get in trouble for it.
Opening accounts under different emails
Some traders caught using a banned practice open a new account under a different email and think they've outsmarted us. But we can tell. It's a clear attempt to get around the rules, which is why it counts as a banned practice.
You'll find more about tick scalping, hedging and other rules in our FAQ.
FAQ
Which Fintokei program is best for beginners?
StartTrader. It costs $34, has one phase with a +3% target and is made for traders who are just starting out at Fintokei. If you breach the daily loss limit for the first time during the challenge, your account doesn't close.
Which program has the fastest payout?
SwiftTrader. It has just one phase with a +6% target, and you can withdraw your first payout from +3% profit.
What's the difference between ProTrader and ProTrader Swing?
The profit targets and limits are the same. In ProTrader Swing, though, the daily loss limit only counts closed trades, so a temporary drop on an open trade won't ruin it.
Does StartTrader have consistency rules?
No. StartTrader has no consistency rules and no daily profit cap. You only need to watch the –2% daily loss limit and the –8% maximum loss limit.
How much can I withdraw from StartTrader?
Up to $400 per account, in no more than two payouts. You can withdraw your first payout from +2% profit. After that, it's time to move on to SwiftTrader or ProTrader.
What happens if I breach the daily loss limit on StartTrader?
During the challenge, the first time it happens your trading is only paused until the end of the day, and you carry on the next day. You lose the account on the second breach. On a virtually funded account, a breach ends the account.
Who can buy StartTrader?
Only new traders at Fintokei. You can buy StartTrader only as your first or second purchase – after that, it locks.
Can I hold trades over the weekend?
Yes, in all four programs. For holding trades longer, ProTrader Swing is the best fit.
Are trading bots allowed at Fintokei?
Yes, automated trading systems (EAs) are allowed. Only HFT bots and systems built purely to pass the challenge are banned.
What happens if I don't trade for 30 days?
We close your account. The inactivity rule applies to all programs.
Got it figured out? Pick your challenge
Compare all programs in one place and find the one that suits your trading style.
At Fintokei, I keep the operations and support engine running smoothly: processes, pressure, and people included. When I’m off the clock, I clear my head with a run in fresh air or hunt momentum on gold and US indices. Favorite platform: cTrader. Favorite challenge: ProTrader.
