Everything you need to know.
Straight answers about the model, the Free Add, prop firm challenges, running it on a real account, risk, setup, billing and your data.
General
What is Tradedge Pulse?
Tradedge Pulse is a rule-based trading model for gold (XAUUSD) built on institutional imbalance and market-structure concepts (often called ICT or Smart Money concepts). The same rules are available as live signals, an MT5 signals indicator, an MT5 Expert Advisor (EA), copy trading into your own MT5 account, and trade alerts.
Who built it?
Fuzail Naqash, a Kashmir-based trader and founder of The Alife Trading Private Limited, Tradedge Pulse and Tradedge Markets. See the About page.
Is it a signal service or software?
Both. You can let the EA trade for you, copy the master account, or use the indicator and alerts and place trades yourself. All of them run the same rules, so results line up.
Which markets and timeframes does it trade?
XAUUSD only for now. Setups come from 1-hour, 2-hour and 3-hour candles, and entries are timed on the 15-minute chart. Other markets such as US30 are being researched and will only be added if they pass the same tests.
How often does it trade?
About 3 trades a month with the core model, and about 4–5 positions a month with the optional Free Add switched on. It is selective by design: most days there is no trade.
Does the indicator repaint?
No. It uses only closed candles and confirmed swing points. A signal that appears on your chart stays there.
Is the full strategy published?
No. The exact rules are proprietary. We publish how the model was tested and every simulated trade, so you can judge the results without the rules being given away.
Performance & testing
Are the performance figures from a live account?
No. They are hypothetical: a four-year backtest on broker price data with spread and slippage charged on every trade, cross-checked in the MetaTrader 5 Strategy Tester. Live trading is usually weaker than a backtest, so plan as if the real edge is about half of what you see.
What does 'R' mean?
R is the amount you risk on one trade. +2R means you made twice what you risked; −1R means you lost the full amount risked. At 1% risk per trade, +1R is about +1% of the account.
How was the model tested?
On about 98,000 fifteen-minute gold candles from July 2022 to September 2026. Stops are assumed to be hit before targets inside a candle, costs are charged on every trade, results are checked on data the rules weren't tuned on (2025–26 versus 2022–24), neighbouring parameter values are tested for stability, and the model is compared with random entries.
What is the worst drawdown?
The largest peak-to-trough fall was about 5.9R with the Free Add and 6.3R for the core model. Random reshuffles of the trade order suggest a bad-luck case of about 9–10R, so size for that, not the historical figure.
Are there losing months?
Yes. About 30% of months were negative, the worst about -3.0R. Every calendar year from 2022 to 2026 was positive in testing, but that is not a guarantee.
Why will live results differ from the backtest?
Real fills, spread widening at news, slippage, broker price differences, platform downtime and your own interventions all cost something. The rules were also developed on the same history they are measured on. A cautious assumption is roughly half the backtested edge.
Has the EA been checked independently of the backtest?
Yes. The MT5 EA was run in the MetaTrader 5 Strategy Tester on real ticks and 1-minute OHLC data, and the results matched the research backtest closely. The figures are on the performance page.
The Free Add
What is the Free Add?
An optional setting. When a trade has moved one full risk unit in your favour and its stop is already at breakeven, the model may add one extra position in the same direction on the next pullback. The extra position has its own stop, shares the main trade's final target and is closed together with the main trade.
Does the Free Add increase my risk?
Not at the moment of entry. It only opens once the main trade can no longer lose, so the most you can have at risk at any time is still about one position's worth. It does raise floating drawdown slightly: in the 2026 MT5 test at 2% risk, equity drawdown went from 9.2% to 10.9%, while balance drawdown fell from 6.5% to 5.7%.
What did it add in testing?
About +50R over four years (78 adds), taking the model from +91R to +141R with no increase in maximum drawdown. It helped in every year and in both the 2022–24 and 2025–26 halves of the data.
Do I need anything special to use it?
A hedging MT5 account, because the add is a second position on the same symbol. On a netting account the EA leaves the Free Add switched off automatically. Most retail MT5 brokers and prop firms use hedging accounts.
Can I turn it off?
Yes. It is a single on/off input in the EA and the indicator, and it is off by default.
Prop firms & funded accounts
Can I use Tradedge Pulse on a prop firm challenge?
Yes, provided your firm allows it. The model trades gold during normal hours, uses a fixed stop on every trade and risks a fixed % per trade, which fits most challenge rules. Always read your firm's current rules on EAs, copy trading and third-party tools first.
Do prop firms allow EAs and copy trading?
It varies by firm and changes often. Some allow any EA, some ban third-party EAs, some ban copy trading from outside sources, and many prohibit 'identical trading' across many customers. If the EA or copier is not allowed at your firm, use the indicator and alerts and place the trades yourself. You are responsible for staying within your firm's terms.
What risk should I use on a challenge?
1% per trade is the recommended default. At 1% the 2026 MT5 test had a 5.3% maximum equity drawdown with the Free Add on, well inside a typical 10% overall limit. At 2% the same test reached a 10.9% equity drawdown, which would have breached a 10% static limit. Don't go above 1% on an account with a 10% maximum loss.
How long does it take to pass a two-step challenge?
In our 2026 simulation of a $100k two-step challenge at 1% risk (8% then 5% targets), Phase 1 passed on 29 January (started 12 January) and Phase 2 on 2 March (started 20 February). That is one period of history; a flat patch at the start can make it take much longer, and a challenge can fail. Pick a firm without a short time limit if you can.
How does the daily loss limit work with this model?
Most firms measure daily loss from the higher of the day's opening balance and equity. The model usually has at most one main position open, with at most about one risk unit at stake at any time, so a normal losing day is about −1% at 1% risk. Gaps and slippage can make a loss slightly larger than planned, so leave a buffer.
Static or trailing maximum drawdown: does it matter?
Yes. A static limit (for example 10% below the starting balance) is far easier with this model than a trailing one that follows your equity high, because profitable runners give back some open profit before they close. With a trailing limit, use lower risk (0.5–0.75%).
What about weekend holding and news rules?
Some funded accounts ban holding positions over the weekend or trading close to high-impact news. The core model can hold trades for several days, so a weekend rule means closing on Friday, which reduces returns somewhat. A prop mode with Friday flattening and a news filter is in development; until then, close manually or use the indicator.
Is there a per-trade or 'per idea' risk limit?
Several firms cap the loss on one trade idea (for example 2% of the account) or warn on a floating loss above a threshold. At 1% risk the model stays inside these. The Free Add is treated as part of the same idea by some firms; because it only opens after the main trade is at breakeven, the combined risk of the idea stays at about 1%.
Do consistency rules affect this model?
Some firms limit how much of your profit can come from one day or one trade. The model's biggest winners are runners that reach far targets, so one trade can be a large share of a small total. If your firm has a strict consistency rule, check it against the trade list on the performance page before you start.
Can I run it on several funded accounts at once?
Technically yes, one licence per account. But many firms forbid opening the same trades across multiple accounts at the same firm, or across firms, above a combined allocation. Check their rules on account stacking and 'hedging between accounts', which is never allowed.
What is the minimum number of trading days?
Many challenges require a minimum number of trading days (for example 3). At about 3–5 trades a month you will normally reach it, but if you hit the target early you may need to place a minimal trade on another day; check what your firm allows.
What happens with payouts?
Payouts are handled entirely by your prop firm under its own rules. In our funded-account simulation we assumed profits were withdrawn after each winning trade with an 80% split; real payout cycles are usually fixed (for example every 14 days).
Is Tradedge affiliated with any prop firm?
No. We reference FundingPips' published rules as an example only. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any prop firm.
Real & personal accounts
How much capital do I need on a real account?
Stops are placed at market structure, so their size varies: the median is about $23 of gold price, 90% are under about $73, and the widest was about $200. At the minimum 0.01 lot, every $1 of price is $1 of risk. So at 1% risk, about $2,500 sizes half the trades correctly, about $7,500 sizes 90% of them, and about $20,000 sizes every trade. Below that, use a cent account or accept that some trades are skipped.
What is a cent account and should I use one?
A cent account shows your balance in cents, so the minimum lot is 100 times smaller in money terms. It lets a small account follow the model's sizing accurately. Spreads can be wider on cent accounts, so check gold spreads before you commit.
Which broker should I use?
Any regulated MT5 broker with low, stable gold spreads (ideally under $0.25 typical), a hedging account type, fast execution and reliable withdrawals. Avoid brokers with large spread spikes at the daily rollover. We don't recommend specific brokers and have no referral relationships.
What leverage do I need?
Not much. At 1% risk per trade, margin use is small. 1:100 or higher is more than enough; leverage doesn't change your risk, the stop distance and lot size do.
Do spreads, commissions and swaps matter?
Yes. The backtest charges your broker's recorded spread plus slippage on every trade. Commission accounts are fine if the total cost is lower. Trades can last several days, so overnight swap charges on gold matter too; check your broker's swap rates, especially for long positions.
Should I run the EA on a VPS?
Yes, for automated trading. A Windows VPS near your broker's server keeps the EA running 24/5 when your computer is off and reduces execution delays.
Should I compound or use a fixed amount?
The EA sizes from your current balance, so profits compound automatically. If you withdraw regularly or prefer steadier numbers, keep the balance near your starting level by withdrawing profits.
Can I intervene in the EA's trades?
You can, but manual changes break the tested rules and the results will no longer match. If you need to stop trading, disable the EA and let the open trade finish, or close it deliberately.
Can residents of India use it?
Indian residents may only trade forex through authorised Indian exchanges and brokers under RBI and FEMA rules, and the RBI has warned against unauthorised overseas forex platforms. Trading gold CFDs with overseas brokers may be restricted. Take your own legal advice; you are responsible for complying with the law where you live.
What about taxes?
Trading profits are usually taxable. Tax treatment depends on your country and situation; speak to a qualified tax adviser. Nothing here is tax advice.
Risk management
What risk per trade do you recommend?
1% per trade for most people and for all prop accounts. Up to 2% on a personal account only if you can accept drawdowns above 10%. At 5–10% per trade, a normal losing streak can cost 30–60% of the account.
What is a normal losing streak?
Three losses in a row happened several times in testing, and random reshuffles show five or six in a row is possible. At 1% risk that is a 5–6% drawdown; plan for it before it happens.
When should I stop using the model?
Decide in advance. A sensible rule is to review if the drawdown passes about 12R, twice the historical maximum, or if results over 40–50 trades are far below the backtest.
Can I lose more than I deposit?
On some accounts, yes: a price gap through your stop can cause a loss larger than planned. Many retail brokers offer negative-balance protection; check yours. Never trade money you can't afford to lose.
Products, setup & licences
Which platforms are supported?
MetaTrader 5 for the indicator and the EA, and any phone or computer for the signals. MetaTrader 4 is not supported. Our free Tradedge Imbalance Zones script runs on TradingView, and an invite-only TradingView version of the Pulse Indicator with full trade details is coming soon.
How do I get the Pulse Indicator?
It is a licensed MetaTrader 5 tool. After your plan starts, download it from My account → My products, enter your MT5 account number there, and attach it to an XAUUSD M15 chart. It draws every setup with entry, stop and targets and alerts you at each step, but it never places trades. It switches itself off when your plan ends. On TradingView, our free Tradedge Imbalance Zones script shows the same higher-timeframe zones.
Where do I download the EA?
In My account → My products. Customers on the Pulse EA plan see a Download button for the latest version, plus the installation guide. When we release an update, the new version appears there.
How does the EA licence work?
The EA runs on the one MT5 account number you enter in My products and checks its licence with our server every few hours (allow WebRequest for https://jpyhsigowimprizjizea.supabase.co in MT5). When your plan ends it stops opening new trades, but it keeps managing any trade that is already open until it closes. Backtesting in the Strategy Tester works without a licence. You can move the licence to another account up to 3 times in 30 days.
How is the EA licensed?
One licence per MT5 account number. You can move a licence to a different account by contacting support.
How does copy trading work?
A small copier EA on your MT5 terminal mirrors entries, partial closes, stop moves and exits from the master account, scaled by a risk multiplier you choose. Your broker's gold price may differ slightly from the master's, so fills can differ by a few cents.
Do I get updates?
Yes. Improvements released during your subscription are included. Changes to the trading rules are only released after they pass the same tests as the original model.
Can I get alerts on my phone?
Yes. Signals arrive as push notifications and email the moment a trade is placed, filled, moved or closed. The MT5 indicator and EA can also send MT5 push notifications to the MetaTrader app on your phone.
Billing, privacy & legal
How much does it cost?
There are three monthly plans: Signals, Indicator (includes Signals) and EA (includes both). Current prices in USD and INR are on the plans page.
How do I pay?
Create an account, choose a plan at checkout and pay by UPI, bank transfer or USDT using the details shown. Then send your receipt on WhatsApp or email. We verify it and activate your plan, usually within a few hours. You can see the status in My account.
How do I receive the signals?
Every plan includes live signals. The moment the model places, fills, updates or closes a trade you get a push notification on your phone or laptop and an email, and the full levels appear under Live signals in My account. After your plan starts, My account asks you to turn on alerts (it takes 30 seconds). On iPhone, first add the site to your Home Screen from Safari's Share menu, then open it from there to turn alerts on.
Does my plan renew automatically?
No. Plans last one month. Near the end, My account shows a Renew button; if you renew early, the new month starts when the current one ends, so you don't lose any days.
Can I cancel or get a refund?
Plans don't renew automatically, so there is nothing to cancel: simply don't renew. Refund terms are in the refund policy.
What data do you collect?
Only what we need to run the service: your email, your MT5 account number for licensing, and payment records from our payment provider. We don't store card details. See the privacy policy.
Is this financial advice?
No. Everything we provide is educational and informational. You make your own trading decisions. See the terms and risk disclosure.
Talk to us
Email support@tradedgepulse.com or message @tradedgepulse on Instagram.