> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.polyfundr.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Free $1,000 Demo Account Guide

> Try PolyFundr risk-free with a free $1,000 simulated account. Learn how to activate it, what rules apply, and what happens when the 3-day window ends.

The demo account gives you a free \$1,000 simulated balance to explore the full PolyFundr platform before committing to a paid challenge. You can place trades, track positions, watch live Polymarket prices, and see how the risk rules work in practice. There is no fee to activate it and no credit card required.

## Activating your demo account

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign in">
    Go to [polyfundr.com](https://polyfundr.com) and sign in. Authentication uses Privy. You can log in with an email address or a connected wallet.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start the demo">
    From your accounts page, select **Start Free Demo**. Your \$1,000 simulated balance is available immediately.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start trading">
    Browse markets on your dashboard and place your first trade. All prices are live Polymarket prices, identical to what you would see on a paid challenge.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Each user gets one demo account. Once your demo expires or ends early, it cannot be restarted.
</Note>

## How the demo works

The demo is a full end-to-end experience of the platform. You trade the same markets, see the same prices, and are subject to the same drawdown and risk limits as a real challenge, with a few differences.

### What is the same

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Live Polymarket prices" icon="trending-up">
    All trades execute at real Polymarket prices. The experience mirrors a paid challenge exactly.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Daily drawdown limit" icon="shield-alert">
    If your account drops more than 10% from the day's opening equity, the demo ends.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Total drawdown limit" icon="shield-x">
    If your equity falls more than 20% below your all-time peak, the demo ends.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Max risk per trade" icon="ban">
    Each trade is capped at 5% of your \$1,000 starting balance (\$50 maximum risk per trade).
  </Card>
</Columns>

### What is different

| Rule                | Demo              | Paid challenge                                               |
| :------------------ | :---------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------- |
| Starting balance    | \$1,000           | \$5,000 to \$50,000                                          |
| Duration            | 3 days (72 hours) | Unlimited                                                    |
| Consistency         | Does not apply    | No single day over the account's cap of winning days' profit |
| Max inactivity      | Does not apply    | 14 days                                                      |
| Profit split        | Not applicable    | 80% to trader, or 90% upgraded                               |
| Profit withdrawable | No                | Yes                                                          |

<Warning>
  Demo profits are simulated and cannot be withdrawn. The demo is for practice only.
</Warning>

## What happens when the demo ends

Your demo account expires automatically 72 hours after activation. If you breach a drawdown or risk limit before that point, the demo ends early.

When the demo ends, you can purchase a paid challenge from the accounts page to start trading with real capital at stake. Your challenge account and funded account are fully separate from the demo.

<Tip>
  Use the demo to get familiar with position sizing relative to the 5% max risk rule and to understand how the daily drawdown limit affects intraday trading decisions before you buy a challenge.
</Tip>

## Demo account limits at a glance

| Rule               | Value                             |
| :----------------- | :-------------------------------- |
| Starting balance   | \$1,000                           |
| Duration           | 3 days (72 hours from activation) |
| Daily drawdown     | 10% of day's starting equity      |
| Total drawdown     | 20% trailing from peak equity     |
| Max risk per trade | 5% of starting balance (\$50)     |
| Consistency        | Not applicable                    |
| Max inactivity     | Not applicable                    |
| Accounts per user  | 1                                 |