New to funded trading?
Explore all marketsThis BluSky review covers BluSky Trading Company, a US futures prop firm that people also search for as Blue Sky or BlueSky prop firm. BluSky is based in Florida, sells evaluations from $59 a month, pays a 90% split and advertises daily payouts from Monday to Friday. It supports Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView and a long list of Rithmic platforms.
The headline terms are attractive. The path to a payout is longer than the homepage suggests. On the two main plans you pass an evaluation, then a second stage called the Buffer Zone, and only then trade a simulated funded account that starts with $1,500 to $3,500, not the headline account size. Payouts are capped on a rolling 7-day window. This review sets out each stage using BluSky's own site and help centre, read on November 12, 2026.
Prices change with promotions, so check the official site before you buy.
Highlights of this article
- BluSky is futures-only (CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX), with a small separate stock program and no forex CFDs or crypto
- Three evaluation plans: Launch from $59 a month, Propel from $150 a month and Orbit from $199 one-time, plus two instant funding accounts
- No daily loss limit on Launch, Propel or Orbit; most accounts use an end-of-day trailing drawdown, and the larger sizes use a static one
- Launch and Propel have three stages before a payout: evaluation, Buffer Zone (34% consistency rule), then a simulated funded account
- The split is 90%, but payouts are capped at $1,500 to $3,000 per rolling 7 days until you reach a live brokerage account
What Is BluSky?
BluSky Trading Company LLC is a proprietary trading firm that funds futures traders through simulated accounts. Its site lists an address in St. Petersburg, Florida, and its terms are governed by Florida law. The official pages we read do not name a founder or a founding year.
BluSky is clear about what is simulated. Its terms say of the evaluation, Buffer and Sim Funded stages that "no real money is traded or exchanged". The Live Brokerage stage is "the only stage where your orders reach the real market", and you reach it by invitation after about $10,000 in total profit. Its homepage claims more than $15 million paid out, which is a company figure, not an audited one.
BluSky Plans and Prices
BluSky sells three evaluation plans and two instant funding accounts.
- Launch: the cheapest monthly plan. You pay a Launch fee when you pass.
- Propel: a higher monthly price with no fee on passing and more account sizes.
- Orbit: a one-time payment, two stages instead of three, and an evaluation that expires 30 days after purchase.
- Instant Sim Funded and Direct to Funded: no evaluation, higher price, stricter rules and a lower split.
| Plan | Size | Price | Billing | Fee on passing | Evaluation reset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launch | 50K | $59 | Every 30 days | $99 | $49 |
| Launch | 100K | $69 | Every 30 days | $149 | $59 |
| Launch | 200K static | $79 | Every 30 days | $179 | $69 |
| Propel | 25K | $150 | Every 30 days | None | $79 |
| Propel | 50K | $160 | Every 30 days | None | $89 |
| Propel | 100K | $220 | Every 30 days | None | $99 |
| Propel | 150K static | $170 | Every 30 days | None | $109 |
| Propel | 200K static | $270 | Every 30 days | None | $149 |
| Propel | 300K static | $320 | Every 30 days | None | $199 |
| Orbit | 50K | $199 | One-time | None | $129 |
| Orbit | 100K | $299 | One-time | None | $199 |
| Orbit | 150K | $419 | One-time | None | $279 |
| Orbit | 200K static | $419 | One-time | None | $279 |
| Instant Sim Funded | 50K | $599 | One-time | None | No resets |
| Direct to Funded | $3,500 | $749 | One-time | None | No resets |
List prices from BluSky's homepage plan data and compare page, November 12, 2026. A 30% discount code for Propel was live when we checked, and new traders were offered the Launch 50K at about half price. Check the live checkout.
Two billing details catch people out. First, the Launch fee must be paid within 14 days of passing, or the passed evaluation "expires immediately" and "cannot be reinstated". Second, subscriptions renew every 30 days even if the account has already failed. BluSky's help centre says there are no refunds.
Profit Targets and Drawdown by Plan
Launch, Propel and Orbit have no daily loss limit in any stage. The only way to fail is to fall below the drawdown floor.
Launch and Propel evaluation
| Account | Profit target | Drawdown | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Propel 25K | $1,500 | $1,200 EOD trailing | 2 minis / 20 micros |
| 50K | $3,000 | $2,000 EOD trailing | 5 minis / 50 micros |
| 100K | $6,000 | $2,500 EOD trailing | 10 minis / 100 micros |
| Propel 150K | $3,000 | $1,000 static | 1 mini / 10 micros |
| 200K | $6,000 | $2,000 static | 2 minis / 20 micros |
| Propel 300K | $20,000 | $5,000 static | 5 minis / 50 micros |
Orbit evaluation
| Account | Profit target | Drawdown | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50K | $3,000 | $2,000 EOD trailing | 5 minis / 50 micros |
| 100K | $6,000 | $3,000 EOD trailing | 10 minis / 100 micros |
| 150K | $9,000 | $4,500 EOD trailing | 15 minis / 150 micros |
| 200K | $8,000 | $3,000 static | 3 minis / 30 micros |
The static accounts are smaller in practice than their names. A Propel 150K allows 1 mini contract with a $1,000 drawdown, and the 300K needs a $20,000 target. The account size is a label. The drawdown and the contract limit are what you trade.
On the trailing accounts, the floor rises with your highest end-of-day balance. A 50K account starts with a floor at $48,000. Our guide to static maximum drawdown explains how a floor that never moves differs.
The Three Stages: Evaluation, Buffer Zone, Sim Funded
This is the part of BluSky that the price table does not show.
Stage 1, evaluation. Hit the profit target without breaching the drawdown. Launch and Propel evaluations have a consistency rule of about 50% to 55% (BluSky's own pages give both figures for Launch), so you need at least 2 profitable days. Orbit has no evaluation consistency rule and can be passed in 1 day.
Stage 2, Buffer Zone (Launch and Propel only). You trade again to build a buffer of $1,500 to $3,500, depending on size, under a 34% consistency rule (21% on the 300K). A failed Buffer Zone reset costs $250 or more.
Stage 3, Sim Funded. Your funded account starts with the buffer you built, not the headline size. A 50K Launch trader starts Sim Funded with $3,000. Contract limits drop too: 1 to 3 minis depending on the starting balance. The buffer itself cannot be withdrawn.
The consistency rule is calculated as your largest profitable day divided by the sum of all profitable days. If you break it, you do not lose the account. You trade more profitable days until the ratio falls back under the limit.
Orbit skips the Buffer Zone. Its funded account opens at full size, with a 40% consistency rule on payouts and lower contract limits (2 to 5 minis).
Profit Split and Payouts
BluSky's payout terms, from its help centre:
- Split: 90% to the trader on Launch, Propel and Orbit. Instant Sim Funded pays 80%. Direct to Funded pays 50% for the first 30 trading days, then 80%.
- First payout: no minimum number of days, but the balance must be $500 above the starting balance.
- Frequency: Launch and Propel can request daily, Monday to Friday. Orbit can request every 3 trading days once above its threshold.
- Minimum: $500, with at least $500 of new profit between requests.
- Processing: requests before 11 AM ET are processed the same trading day, then 1 to 3 business days to arrive, through Gusto or Rise.
"Daily payouts" come with a cap on a rolling 7-day window:
| Sim Funded account | Cap per rolling 7 days |
|---|---|
| 25K | $1,500 |
| 50K | $2,500 |
| 100K | $3,000 |
| 150K static | $1,500 |
| 200K static | $2,500 |
| 300K static | $3,000 |
| Orbit 50K / 100K / 150K / 200K | $2,000 / $2,500 / $3,000 / $2,500 |
The caps are lifted only in Live Brokerage. Sim Funded accounts also have profit stop-points: you must stop for the day after $5,000 of daily profit and for the week after $10,000.
Going Live: The Bonus Vault and the Buyout
At about $10,000 in total profit, BluSky reviews the account for Live Brokerage. Under rules that took effect on October 1, 2026, you get 5 calendar days to choose:
- Go Live: the live account starts at a $0 balance with only a drawdown. Your Sim Funded profits are not transferred. They go into a Bonus Vault that pays $1,000 for every $10,000 of live payouts you withdraw, and the vault is "permanently forfeited" if the live account is breached or closed.
- Buyout: a cash payment equal to 50% of the drawdown, for example $1,000 on a $2,000 drawdown.
Once the invitation is issued, your Sim Funded accounts are frozen. If the brokerage rejects your application, the account is closed and the sim profits are forfeited. Live accounts also pay $156 per exchange per month for data on Tradovate and Volumetrica.
Trading Rules: News, Copy Trading, Hedging and Bots
- News trading: allowed, at your own risk.
- Trade copiers: allowed across your own accounts on every plan. Copying another trader, account or signal provider is prohibited. See prop firms that allow copy trading for how this compares.
- Account limits: unlimited evaluations, a maximum of 3 funded accounts and 2 Live Brokerage accounts.
- Hedging: opposite or correlated positions across accounts are banned, for example long ES in one account and short NQ in another. The rule covers accounts at other prop firms and accounts held by other people in your household.
- Bots and algos: BluSky's pages do not give a clear yes or no. Its conduct policy restricts "automated software (AI, ultra-high speed, bulk data entry)" and latency exploits. If you automate, get written confirmation from support first, or read prop firms that allow EAs and trading bots.
- Overnight: BluSky recommends closing before 4:45 PM ET and auto-liquidates about 15 minutes before the close. It says it will not adjust accounts that still hold positions after 5 PM ET.
- Risk Team reviews: BluSky can review an account "at any time and for any reason" for up to 7 trading days, with payouts on hold. Outcomes include a changed profit split or a closed account.
Platforms and Restricted Countries
Through Tradovate you get Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Jigsaw and Bookmap. Through Rithmic you get NinjaTrader, Tradesea, R|Trader Pro, MotiveWave, Quantower, ATAS, Sierra Chart and others. Volumetrica platforms are also supported. Data fees are included in the evaluation and Sim Funded stages. Evaluation commissions on Rithmic are $2.00 per side on minis and $0.50 on micros.
BluSky accepts US traders, paid as 1099 contractors. It lists about 90 countries it cannot serve "due to brokerage limitations", including Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Africa, Turkey, Russia, Romania, Croatia and Morocco. If you fail identity checks or the brokerage rejects you, the funded account will not open and there is no refund. The minimum age is 18.
Is BluSky Legit?
Yes, BluSky is a real, operating US firm with a named legal entity, a public address and one of the more detailed help centres in the industry. It is not regulated as a prop firm, and its evaluation, Buffer and Sim Funded accounts are simulated.
Its Trustpilot profile showed 4.6 out of 5 across about 1,000 reviews when we checked on November 12, 2026, with 88% at 5 stars and 5% at 1 star. BluSky replies to its negative reviews. Its own homepage displays a 4.8 badge. Praise centres on fast support and same-day payout processing. Recent complaints involve payouts withheld from traders in countries BluSky does not serve and accounts that were not delivered after a crypto payment, both disputed by the company in its replies.
One caution: BluSky's own pages disagree in several places. The Launch evaluation consistency rule is 50% on one page and 55% on another. The payout claim window is 14 days on one page and 30 on another. The refund policy is "no refunds" in the help centre and a 48-hour window less 15% in the main terms. When the documents conflict, ask support in writing which rule applies to the plan you are buying. Our guide to how to evaluate a prop firm lists the checks to run.
BluSky Pros and Cons
Pros
- Low entry price: Launch from $59 a month
- No daily loss limit on Launch, Propel or Orbit
- 90% split from the first payout
- Daily payout requests on Launch and Propel, processed the same day before 11 AM ET
- Trade copiers allowed across your own accounts
- Wide platform choice and a detailed help centre
Cons
- Futures-only apart from a small stock program
- Three stages before a payout on Launch and Propel, with a 34% consistency rule in the Buffer Zone
- Funded account starts at $1,500 to $3,500, not the headline size
- Payouts capped at $1,500 to $3,000 per rolling 7 days
- Going live resets the balance to $0, with sim profits locked in a Bonus Vault
- Launch fee due within 14 days or the pass is lost, and subscriptions renew on failed accounts
- About 90 restricted countries, and official pages that contradict each other
Who BluSky Suits
BluSky fits a US-based intraday futures trader who wants a cheap monthly entry, no daily loss limit and frequent small withdrawals, and who is comfortable trading 1 to 3 contracts on the funded account. Orbit is the simpler product if you dislike the Buffer Zone and can pass within 30 days.
It is the wrong firm if you want large single withdrawals, trade from a restricted country, hedge across firms, or trade anything other than futures. For a wider shortlist, see the best prop firm for futures and our ranking of the best prop firms.
The Alternative: Multi-Asset With a Static Drawdown
If BluSky's low price appeals but the three stages, the weekly cap and the futures-only model do not fit, Velotrade makes different trade-offs. It is an educational, simulated evaluation service covering crypto, forex, stocks, index ETFs (SPY, QQQ, IWM) and commodities on one DXtrade account. The drawdown is static on every plan, fixed from your starting balance and never trailing. There is no consistency rule at any stage, no evaluation time limit, and news trading, weekend holding, EAs and your own API are allowed.
Plans start at $40 for the $5K PRO 1-Step (3% max drawdown, 3% daily loss) and run to $200K; the CLASSIC 1-Step (7% / 4%) starts at $67 and the CLASSIC 2-Step (10% / 5%) at $54. These are one-time fees with no subscription. The split is up to 90% from the first payout: 80% by default, with 90% as a paid add-on. Velotrade accepts US traders. Its payouts are slower than BluSky's: the first after 14 days, then weekly, with no payout cap. It has a daily loss limit, which BluSky does not, and it does not offer exchange-traded CME futures, so a pure ES or NQ trader belongs at a futures firm.
For other futures firms, see the Phidias Propfirm review, the Tradeify review, the Apex Trader Funding review, the Topstep review and the MyFundedFutures review.
Last updated: November 2026. BluSky changes plans, prices, caps and consistency percentages often, and several of its rules changed on October 1, 2026. Confirm current terms on BluSky's own site before purchasing.
Sources
- BluSky homepage, plan data and compare page: blusky.pro
- BluSky Launch, Propel and Orbit plan articles; Instant Funding article (BluSky Help Centre): help.blusky.pro
- BluSky Evaluation Rules, Buffer Stage, Sim Funded Accounts Rules and Sim Funded Account Resets (BluSky Help Centre)
- BluSky Payouts, Sim Funded Payouts, Billing, Resets and Refund Policy (BluSky Help Centre)
- BluSky Live Brokerage, Go Live or Buyout, and Bonus Vault articles (BluSky Help Centre)
- BluSky Multiple Accounts and Copy Trading, Hedging, Ethical Trading Conduct Policy, Risk Team Reviews, Supported Platforms and restricted countries (BluSky Help Centre)
- BluSky Terms of Use and terms and conditions: blusky.pro/terms-and-conditions
- BluSky reviews: Trustpilot, read November 12, 2026
How BluSky compares
This review is published by Velotrade, so here is where the two differ, including where BluSky is stronger.
| Rule | BluSky | Velotrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stages before a payout | Evaluation, Buffer Zone, then Sim Funded (Launch and Propel) | 1-step or 2-step evaluation, then funded |
| Max drawdown | End-of-day trailing on most accounts, static on larger sizes | Static on every plan |
| Consistency rule | About 50% to 55% in evaluation, 34% in the Buffer Zone | None at any stage |
| Payouts | Daily requests, capped at $1,500 to $3,000 per rolling 7 days | First after 14 days, then weekly, with no payout cap |
| Markets | CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX futures | Crypto, forex, commodities, index ETFs, stocks |
Where BluSky is stronger
- No daily loss limit on Launch, Propel or Orbit
- Daily payout requests and a 90% split as standard
- Exchange-traded futures, which Velotrade does not offer
Frequently Asked Questions
About the author
Vittorio De Angelis
Executive Chairman
Former equity-derivatives trader at JP Morgan, Dresdner Kleinwort and Bank of America in London. Later Head of Brokerage at a global broker in Hong Kong.
Velotrade was founded in Hong Kong in 2016 by a team from JP Morgan, Dresdner Kleinwort and Bank of America, has facilitated over $2.5 billion in trade-finance payments, and has been featured in Bloomberg, the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal and on Nasdaq. Its prop trading evaluations are simulated and educational.
View author page
