Earn2Trade 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: Topstep ($49 vs $150).
- Higher headline split: Topstep (90%).
- Faster payout cycle: Earn2Trade (Weekly).
- Higher Trustpilot rating: Earn2Trade (4.5).
- Overall PA Score: Earn2Trade 7.7 vs Topstep 6.4.
Earn2Trade stronger on 3Topstep stronger on 4of 8 lines where both publish a comparable figure
| Earn2Trade7.7 PA Score | Topstep6.4 PA Score | |
|---|---|---|
| PA Score | 7.7 (stronger figure) | 6.4 |
| Trustpilot | 4.55,059 (stronger figure) | 3.714,989 |
| Founded | 2016 | 2012 (stronger figure) |
| HQ | Sheridan, WY, United States | Chicago, IL |
| Markets | Futures | Futures |
| Challenge types | 1-step | 1-step |
| Entry fee from | $150 | $49 (stronger figure) |
| Cost per $1K allocation | $2.5 | $0.98 (stronger figure) |
| Largest account | $200K (stronger figure) | $150K |
| Profit target | 6-7% ($1,750 on 25K, $3,000 on 50K) | 6% |
| Daily loss limit | $550-$4,400 | optional (automatic in Live Funded) |
| Max drawdown | $1,500-$6,000 | $2,000-$4,500 |
| Drawdown type | EOD trailing | EOD trailing (locks at starting balance) |
| Profit split | 50% up to 80% | 90% (stronger figure) |
| Leverage | Not published | Not published |
| Platforms | Rithmic, NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, BlackArrow, DeepCharts, R|Trader, Sierra Chart, Quantower, Bookmap, ATAS, MotiveWave, MultiCharts, Finamark, Jigsaw | TopstepX |
| Payout frequency | Weekly (processed Wednesdays; request by 2 PM CT preceding Friday); no minimum days or consistency once funded | after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path) |
| First payout (days) | Not published | 3 |
| Min trading days | Not published | 2 |
| Consistency rule | Eval: no single day ≥30% of total PnL (needs ≥4 profitable days in practice); none on LiveSim/Live | 55% best-day rule in Combine; 40% on XFA Consistency path |
| News trading | Allowed | Not published |
| Weekend holding | Restricted | Not published |
| Discount code | 60% off evaluations + 50% off resets (Halloween flash sale) | Not published |
| Visit site (opens Earn2Trade 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?
Earn2Trade scores 7.7/10 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 Earn2Trade if
- you want a faster payout cycle (weekly)
- you trade high-impact news
- you need Rithmic, NinjaTrader and Tradovate
Pick Topstep if
- you want the cheaper way in ($49 vs $150 for the smallest account)
- you care about cost per $1K of account ($0.98 vs $2.5)
- a higher headline split matters (90%)
- 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 | Earn2Trade | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| $50K | $170 | $49 |
| $100K | $315 | $99 |
| $150K | $375 | $199 |
Payouts
Earn2Trade: Weekly (processed Wednesdays; request by 2 PM CT preceding Friday); no minimum days or consistency once funded. Methods: Rise ($50 non-US / 1.5% US), Deel ($50), Bayzat ($5-$40), Direct crypto (select cases, 0.735%).
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 Earn2Trade legit? · Is Topstep legit?
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Earn2Trade or Topstep?
Smallest published entry fee: Earn2Trade $150, Topstep $49. Cheapest per $1K of account: Earn2Trade $2.5, Topstep $0.98.
Which pays out faster, Earn2Trade or Topstep?
Earn2Trade: Weekly (processed Wednesdays; request by 2 PM CT preceding Friday); no minimum days or consistency once funded. Topstep: after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path).
Which has the higher profit split?
Earn2Trade: 50% up to 80%; Topstep: 90%. Headline splits often need scaling or an add-on.
Which is better for beginners, Earn2Trade or Topstep?
On our six-point beginner checklist Earn2Trade meets 2 and Topstep meets 1. The checklist is explained on the best prop firms for beginners page.
Are Earn2Trade and Topstep legit?
Both publish their rules and are listed with sources. See the evidence pages: propanalyse.com/firms/earn2trade/legit/ and propanalyse.com/firms/topstep/legit/.