TradeDay 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 $100).
- Higher Trustpilot rating: TradeDay (4.6).
- Overall PA Score: TradeDay 7.4 vs Topstep 6.4.
TradeDay stronger on 3Topstep stronger on 3of 9 lines where both publish a comparable figure
| TradeDay7.4 PA Score | Topstep6.4 PA Score | |
|---|---|---|
| PA Score | 7.4 (stronger figure) | 6.4 |
| Trustpilot | 4.61,453 (stronger figure) | 3.714,989 |
| Founded | 2020 | 2012 (stronger figure) |
| HQ | Chicago, IL, United States | Chicago, IL |
| Markets | Futures | Futures |
| Challenge types | 1-step | 1-step |
| Entry fee from | $100 | $49 (stronger figure) |
| Cost per $1K allocation | $2.4 | $0.98 (stronger figure) |
| Largest account | $150K | $150K |
| Profit target | 6% ($1,500-$9,000) | 6% |
| Daily loss limit | none | optional (automatic in Live Funded) |
| Max drawdown | $1,000-$4,500 | $2,000-$4,500 |
| Drawdown type | intraday or EOD trailing (Quick Pay funded: intraday) | EOD trailing (locks at starting balance) |
| Profit split | 50% up to 90% | 90% |
| Leverage | Not published | Not published |
| Platforms | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Jigsaw, R|Trader Pro, Quantower, ATAS, MotiveWave, Bookmap, Sierra Chart, EdgeProX, Finamark, Volfix, WealthCharts, MultiCharts, Overcharts | TopstepX |
| Payout frequency | Quick Pay: day-one payouts from any positive balance, no buffer (min 1 day, min request $250); Fast Pass: structured payout schedule | after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path) |
| First payout (days) | 1 (stronger figure) | 3 |
| Min trading days | 5 | 2 |
| Consistency rule | Evaluation: no day >30% of total profit (Quick Pay), >45% (Fast Pass); Quick Pay Funded Sim: none | 55% best-day rule in Combine; 40% on XFA Consistency path |
| News trading | Restricted | Not published |
| Weekend holding | Restricted | Not published |
| Discount code | Up to 55% off (Quick Pay 55%, Fast Pass 50% shown at checkout prices) | Not published |
| Visit site (opens TradeDay 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?
TradeDay 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 TradeDay if
- you need Tradovate, NinjaTrader and TradingView
Pick Topstep if
- you want the cheaper way in ($49 vs $100 for the smallest account)
- you care about cost per $1K of account ($0.98 vs $2.4)
- 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 | TradeDay | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| $50K | $131 | $49 |
| $100K | $240 | $99 |
| $150K | $360 | $199 |
Payouts
TradeDay: Quick Pay: day-one payouts from any positive balance, no buffer (min 1 day, min request $250); Fast Pass: structured payout schedule. First payout after 1 days. Methods: Rise (bank wire), Rise (crypto, USDC). The firm reports "$10M+ Verified Payouts" (homepage, checked 31 Oct 2026).
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 TradeDay legit? · Is Topstep legit?
FAQ
Which is cheaper, TradeDay or Topstep?
Smallest published entry fee: TradeDay $100, Topstep $49. Cheapest per $1K of account: TradeDay $2.4, Topstep $0.98.
Which pays out faster, TradeDay or Topstep?
TradeDay: Quick Pay: day-one payouts from any positive balance, no buffer (min 1 day, min request $250); Fast Pass: structured payout schedule. Topstep: after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path).
Which has the higher profit split?
TradeDay: 50% up to 90%; Topstep: 90%. Headline splits often need scaling or an add-on.
Which is better for beginners, TradeDay or Topstep?
On our six-point beginner checklist TradeDay meets 3 and Topstep meets 1. The checklist is explained on the best prop firms for beginners page.
Are TradeDay and Topstep legit?
Both publish their rules and are listed with sources. See the evidence pages: propanalyse.com/firms/tradeday/legit/ and propanalyse.com/firms/topstep/legit/.