DayTraders.com vs Topstep
Rule-by-rule comparison from each firm's own website, last verified . The marked figure is the stronger one on that line.
Quick take
- Cheaper entry: DayTraders.com ($40 vs $49).
- Higher headline split: DayTraders.com (100% on sim-funded accounts; 80% on live (S2L)).
- Higher Trustpilot rating: DayTraders.com (4.6).
- Overall PA Score: DayTraders.com 7.4 vs Topstep 6.4.
DayTraders.com stronger on 6Topstep stronger on 1of 8 lines where both publish a comparable figure
| DayTraders.com7.4 PA Score | Topstep6.4 PA Score | |
|---|---|---|
| PA Score | 7.4 (stronger figure) | 6.4 |
| Trustpilot | 4.6517 (stronger figure) | 3.714,989 |
| Founded | 2023 | 2012 (stronger figure) |
| HQ | Las Vegas, NV, United States | Chicago, IL |
| Markets | Futures | Futures |
| Challenge types | 1-step, instant | 1-step |
| Entry fee from | $40 (stronger figure) | $49 |
| Cost per $1K allocation | $0.47 (stronger figure) | $0.98 |
| Largest account | $300K (stronger figure) | $150K |
| Profit target | $1,500-$15,000 | 6% |
| Daily loss limit | $800-$3,250 (EOD); none on Trail/Static | optional (automatic in Live Funded) |
| Max drawdown | $750-$7,000 | $2,000-$4,500 |
| Drawdown type | EOD trailing, intraday trailing or static (chosen at checkout) | EOD trailing (locks at starting balance) |
| Profit split | 100% on sim-funded accounts; 80% on live (S2L) (stronger figure) | 90% |
| Leverage | Not published | Not published |
| Platforms | Rithmic, R|Trader Pro, Onyx, Quantower, MotiveWave, ATAS, Bookmap, Finamark, Jigsaw | TopstepX |
| Payout frequency | Per payout cycle of Qualifying Days (evaluations' Pro accounts); S2F every 10 Qualifying Days; S2L live: daily. Requests from $500 in $50 steps | after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path) |
| First payout (days) | Not published | 3 |
| Min trading days | 2 | 2 |
| Consistency rule | EOD/Trail/Static: 50% in evaluation, 30% per Pro payout cycle; S2F 20%; S2L evaluation 25% | 55% best-day rule in Combine; 40% on XFA Consistency path |
| News trading | Allowed | Not published |
| Weekend holding | Allowed | Not published |
| Discount code | Not published | Not published |
| Visit site (opens DayTraders.com in a new tab) | Visit site (opens Topstep in a new tab) |
Not published means we could not find the figure on the firm's own site. Sources are listed on each firm page.
Which should you choose?
DayTraders.com scores 7.4/10 and Topstep 6.4/10, a wide gap. Both are futures prop firms, so the rule differences below are like for like. Which one is better depends on how you trade, so here is who each firm suits, based only on what they publish.
Pick DayTraders.com if
- you want the cheaper way in ($40 vs $49 for the smallest account)
- you care about cost per $1K of account ($0.47 vs $0.98)
- a higher headline split matters (100% on sim-funded accounts; 80% on live (S2L))
- you prefer a static drawdown floor (Topstep uses EOD trailing (locks at starting balance))
- you trade high-impact news
- you hold positions over the weekend
Pick Topstep if
- you want the longer track record (operating since 2012)
- you weigh firm-reported payouts ($1.5B+ paid out to prop firm traders)
Price at each account size
Cheapest program each firm sells at the sizes both offer.
| Account | DayTraders.com | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| $50K | $50 | $49 |
| $100K | $75 | $99 |
| $150K | $90 | $199 |
Payouts
DayTraders.com: Per payout cycle of Qualifying Days (evaluations' Pro accounts); S2F every 10 Qualifying Days; S2L live: daily. Requests from $500 in $50 steps. Methods: Plane (payout method set up in dashboard), DT Wallet credit.
Topstep: after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path). First payout after 3 days. Methods: Prop-to-brokerage (US), Aeropay (US), Wise (China, Canada, UK), ACH (US, $30 fee), Wire/SWIFT ($30 fee). The firm reports "$1.5B+ paid out to prop firm traders" (homepage, checked 31 Oct 2026).
Firm-reported payout totals are the firms' own figures. We have not audited them.
Rule changes
No rule changes logged for either firm since tracking began. Any change will show here and on the rule-change log.
Legit check
Track record, review volume, payout terms and restrictions for each firm, on one page each: Is DayTraders.com legit? · Is Topstep legit?
FAQ
Which is cheaper, DayTraders.com or Topstep?
Smallest published entry fee: DayTraders.com $40, Topstep $49. Cheapest per $1K of account: DayTraders.com $0.47, Topstep $0.98.
Which pays out faster, DayTraders.com or Topstep?
DayTraders.com: Per payout cycle of Qualifying Days (evaluations' Pro accounts); S2F every 10 Qualifying Days; S2L live: daily. Requests from $500 in $50 steps. Topstep: after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path).
Which has the higher profit split?
DayTraders.com: 100% on sim-funded accounts; 80% on live (S2L); Topstep: 90%. Headline splits often need scaling or an add-on.
Which is better for beginners, DayTraders.com or Topstep?
On our six-point beginner checklist DayTraders.com meets 3 and Topstep meets 1. The checklist is explained on the best prop firms for beginners page.
Are DayTraders.com and Topstep legit?
Both publish their rules and are listed with sources. See the evidence pages: propanalyse.com/firms/daytraders/legit/ and propanalyse.com/firms/topstep/legit/.