ThinkCapital currently offers four main routes: Lightning, Dual Step, Nexus and Bolt. The names represent different evaluation lengths, targets and risk limits rather than simple pricing tiers. Lightning is the shortest evaluation, Dual Step is the conventional two-stage route, Nexus spreads qualification over three phases, and Bolt skips evaluation.
This comparison is based on ThinkCapital’s official website and FAQ material checked on 4 September 2026. Product cards, optional account settings and regional access can change, so the issued account agreement remains authoritative. For the broader company assessment, see the ThinkCapital review on Prop Firm Audit.
ThinkCapital programs at a glance
| Rule | Lightning | Dual Step | Nexus | Bolt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | One-step evaluation | Two-step evaluation | Three-step evaluation | Instant funded |
| Targets | 10% | 9% then 5% | 7%, 6%, then 5% | No evaluation target |
| Daily loss | 3% | 4% | 4% | Check selected Bolt terms |
| Challenge maximum loss | 6% | 7% | 8% | No challenge stage |
| Funded maximum loss | 6% | 8% | 8% | Check selected Bolt terms |
| Minimum trading days | 3 | 3 | 3 | None shown |
| Leverage | 1:30 | Dynamic, up to 1:100 | 1:100 | Dynamic, up to 1:50 |
| Standard payout frequency | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days |
| Faster cycle | Seven-day account option listed | Seven-day account option listed | Seven-day account option listed | Standard card shows 14 days |
| Profit share | Up to 90% | Up to 90% | Up to 90% | Up to 90% |
The table reflects the official ThinkCapital program cards. The “up to” share is a ceiling and may depend on account configuration or progression; traders should budget using the exact starting share displayed in their terms.
Lightning: one phase with tight risk limits
Lightning is ThinkCapital’s one-step evaluation. The current card lists a 10% target, 3% daily loss limit and 6% maximum loss in both challenge and funded stages. Traders must complete at least three trading days.
A one-stage challenge reduces the number of targets, but it does not automatically reduce difficulty. The trader must make 10% while operating inside a maximum allowance of 6%. This target-to-loss relationship rewards smooth returns and conservative position sizing.
On a $100,000 theoretical account, the maximum amount starts at $6,000 and the daily allowance is $3,000 before considering the exact calculation method. Risking 1% on each trade would leave only six full losses before the maximum line and three in a single day. A smaller personal risk limit provides more room for ordinary variance.
ThinkCapital lists 1:30 leverage for Lightning. Lower leverage can naturally limit oversized exposure, but traders still need to aggregate correlated positions and account for floating loss, spreads and commissions.
Lightning drawdown risk
ThinkCapital’s published material describes Lightning as using a trailing maximum-loss structure that later locks. A trailing floor rises as the relevant account reference reaches new highs. Once it reaches the defined lock level, it stops moving upward.
Suppose an account begins at $100,000 with a $94,000 initial floor. If the relevant high reaches $103,000 before the lock, the floor may rise toward $97,000. A later retracement therefore has less room than the original 6% headline suggests.
The dashboard’s live threshold should be recorded before every session. A strategy that closes profit quickly and later gives back part of it may find Lightning more demanding than a static model.
Dual Step: a conventional two-stage route
Dual Step requires 9% in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2. The current card lists a 4% daily limit, 7% maximum loss during evaluation and 8% maximum loss on the funded account. At least three trading days apply.
The second phase makes qualification longer, but the 5% target after Phase 1 is smaller than Lightning’s single 10% objective. This structure suits traders who prefer to validate their strategy over two distinct periods.
ThinkCapital lists dynamic leverage up to 1:100. Higher available leverage is not a larger risk budget. Position size should be calculated from the 4% daily and 7% overall thresholds, not nominal buying power.
The change from 7% evaluation maximum loss to 8% funded maximum loss is positive, but it should be confirmed in the dashboard when the account transitions. Funded-stage rules, payout eligibility and prohibited practices remain active after passing.
Dual Step Intraday vs Swing
The website presents Intraday and Swing variants. Their most visible difference is strategy permission rather than target structure.
ThinkCapital’s official FAQ says Dual Step Intraday does not allow news trading, while Dual Step Swing allows it. Traders holding through scheduled releases should therefore select the product whose written permissions match their method.
A Swing label should not be treated as blanket permission for every event, instrument or weekend exposure without checking current terms. Server close, swap charges, market gaps and restricted event windows can still matter.
Nexus: three targets with an 8% loss allowance
Nexus uses three evaluation stages:
- Phase 1 target: 7%
- Phase 2 target: 6%
- Phase 3 target: 5%
The current card lists a 4% daily loss limit, 8% maximum loss in challenge and funded stages, at least three trading days and 1:100 leverage.
Nexus spreads the evaluation over more stages. Each individual target is smaller than Lightning’s 10%, but the trader must demonstrate compliant performance three times. This favors patience and a repeatable process rather than a strategy built around one exceptional run.
The same 8% maximum threshold across challenge and funded stages can simplify risk planning. However, traders should confirm whether the calculation is static, trailing or equity-based on the selected account, because the percentage alone does not define how much room remains after gains.
News trading on Nexus
ThinkCapital’s current FAQ says news trading is restricted on Nexus unless the relevant account option is selected. A trader should not open or close targeted instruments around a restricted event based only on the assumption that swing trading is generally permitted.
Economic releases can also widen spreads and create slippage even when trading is allowed. Set a personal event-risk policy inside the formal rule.
Bolt: instant funding without an evaluation
Bolt removes the evaluation phases. ThinkCapital’s current main card shows no minimum trading days, dynamic leverage up to 1:50, profit share up to 90% and a 14-day payout frequency.
The absence of an evaluation target does not mean the account has no conditions. ThinkCapital’s FAQ maintains separate Bolt articles for daily and maximum simulated drawdown. Traders should open those current rules from the dashboard or official FAQ hub before placing a trade.
Instant access changes the sequence: risk limits, conduct checks and payout eligibility apply from the beginning. There is no challenge stage in which to learn the account’s mechanics without affecting funded status.
Bolt is most appropriate for a trader who has already tested the strategy against the exact daily and maximum-loss calculations. It is less appropriate for someone choosing instant access primarily to avoid reading evaluation rules.
Payout structure across programs
The current product cards list a standard 14-day payout frequency for all four routes. Lightning, Dual Step and Nexus also display a seven-day account option. ThinkCapital advertises shares of up to 90%.
A payout schedule means a request can become eligible on that rhythm; it is not a guarantee that every request is immediately approved or received. Account history, KYC, prohibited-strategy review and payment processing can affect timing.
Before requesting a payout, calculate:
- Current balance and equity
- The dashboard’s maximum-loss threshold
- Balance after the proposed withdrawal
- Remaining loss buffer
- Current profit-share percentage
- Earliest eligible request date
- Any minimum profit or trading-day condition
Removing too much profit can leave a narrow buffer even when the request itself is allowed.
Minimum trading days
Lightning, Dual Step and Nexus each show three minimum trading days. The product card should be checked to determine whether that means three total days, per phase or profitable days for the selected configuration.
A minimum-day rule should not encourage token trades. Each position still creates spread, commission and execution risk. Plan the evaluation so genuine setups naturally cover the required days.
Bolt shows no minimum trading days because it has no evaluation phase, but payout eligibility can still have time-based conditions.
Platforms and broker relationship
ThinkCapital currently names ThinkTrader with TradingView integration as its main platform environment. The firm also presents itself as backed by ThinkMarkets.
That relationship provides identifiable infrastructure, but the prop evaluation remains distinct from depositing personal funds into a regulated brokerage account. The nominal funded balance is governed by the program agreement.
Platform availability can vary by residence. Confirm supported instruments, leverage, server time, commissions and payout routes for the trader’s country.
Trading rules to verify before choosing
The official FAQ separates news permissions by program:
- Lightning: restricted unless the relevant account option is selected
- Dual Step Intraday: restricted
- Dual Step Swing: allowed
- Nexus: restricted unless the relevant account option is selected
Personal automation may be permitted within program conditions, but account sharing, coordinated copying, latency exploitation and attempts to abuse price feeds remain material compliance risks.
Weekend and overnight permissions can also differ by Intraday or Swing selection. Save the selected rules rather than relying on the program family name alone.
Which ThinkCapital program fits each trader?
Choose Lightning if:
- One evaluation phase is the priority.
- A 10% target fits a low-drawdown strategy.
- A 3% daily and 6% maximum loss limit is manageable.
- Three trading days are enough for the method.
- You can actively track a trailing floor.
Choose Dual Step if:
- Two phases are acceptable.
- Targets of 9% and 5% suit the strategy.
- You prefer a 4% daily limit and wider funded maximum allowance.
- Intraday or Swing permissions can be matched to your holding style.
- Dynamic leverage is useful but will be controlled.
Choose Nexus if:
- Smaller individual targets are preferable.
- Three evaluation stages do not create pressure.
- An 8% maximum allowance fits historical drawdown.
- You can maintain discipline over a longer validation sequence.
Choose Bolt if:
- You already understand the exact funded risk rules.
- Immediate funded-stage access matters more than an evaluation.
- A 14-day standard payout cycle fits expectations.
- You do not need the challenge as a low-cost strategy test.
Practical risk plan
Set a personal daily stop well inside the formal limit. On a 3% firm boundary, a personal cap around 0.75% to 1% creates room for slippage and prevents one session from consuming the account.
Track correlated exposure. EUR/USD, GBP/USD and gold can all react to the same dollar event, making three positions behave like one oversized trade.
For trailing accounts, record the floor after each new closed-balance high. For static accounts, preserve the fixed reference but still monitor the separate daily line.
Finally, run historical trades through every phase. Count the worst daily loss, peak-to-trough drawdown, time needed for each target and impact of a withdrawal. The best program is the one the strategy can survive, not simply the one with fewer phases.
Conclusion
Lightning is ThinkCapital’s fastest evaluation but combines a 10% target with tight 3% daily and 6% maximum loss limits. Dual Step requires 9% and 5% across two stages with more risk room. Nexus spreads qualification over 7%, 6% and 5% targets, while Bolt removes evaluation and applies funded rules immediately.
Choose by drawdown behavior, target sequence and trading permissions. Confirm the selected card at checkout and keep the dashboard thresholds in the trading plan from day one.