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DayTraders vs Topstep: Head-to-Head Comparison (2026)

DayTraders

7.6 B+
United States Futures
VS

Topstep

7.9 A
United States Futures
Key Differences
Safety B+ vs A Split 100% vs 90% Price $30 vs $49

Verdict: Who Wins?

DayTraders 5 wins Decisive Win
5 - 3
Topstep 3 wins
Overall Rating 7.9 vs 7.6 Clear
TrustPilot 4.6 vs 3.6 Decisive
Starting Price $30 vs $49 Decisive
Profit Split 100% (Eval/Pro), 80/20 (Straight to Live) vs 90% Decisive
Safety Grade A vs B+ Narrow
Trust Score 80/100 vs 65.8/100 Clear
Challenge Variety 18 vs 3 options Decisive
Platform Choice 3 vs 1 platforms Narrow

Best For:

Budget-conscious traders DayTraders
Maximum profit potential DayTraders
Trust & reputation Topstep
Fast payouts DayTraders

Visual Comparison

DayTraders Topstep

Head-to-Head Comparison

DayTraders Metric Topstep
7.6/10 PFM Score 7.9/10
4.6/5 (434) TrustPilot 3.6/5 (14,382)
B+ Safety Grade A
65.8 B Trust Score 80 A
100% (Eval/Pro), 80/20 (Straight to Live) Profit Split 90%
Varies by plan: NONE (Trail/Static), $800-$3,250 (EOD), $1,000-$3,250 (S2L) Daily Drawdown $2,000 max loss limit ($50K) / $3,000 ($100K) / $4,500 ($150K)
Daily (S2L), 8 Qualifying Days (Eval/Pro), 10 Qualifying Days (S2F) Payout Frequency On-demand
$30 Starting Price $49
Proprietary Technology Proprietary
Trading View, Quantower, Rithmic Platforms Topstep X
No Direct Path to Funded Yes
United States Country United States
Jan 2023 Established Jan 2010
18 options Challenge Options 3 options

Price Comparison by Account Size

Cheapest challenge price at each account size (where both firms offer the same size)

Account Size DayTraders Topstep Savings
$50K $40 $49 Save $9
$100K $65 $99 Save $34
$150K $80 $199 Save $119

DayTraders vs Topstep: Detailed Analysis

DayTraders and Topstep are both Futures firms. Topstep has been in business longer, established in 2010, while DayTraders was founded in 2023.

Pricing

In terms of pricing, DayTraders is more affordable with challenges starting at $30, which is $19 less than Topstep's starting price of $49. DayTraders offers 18 challenge options, while Topstep offers 3.

Account Sizes

On account sizing, DayTraders offers account sizes from $25 to $300 across 5 funding tiers, while Topstep offers account sizes from $50 to $150 across 3 funding tiers. Picking the right tier matters because both the entry cost and the maximum capital you can scale to are tied to the account size you start with.

Trading Platforms

For trading platforms, DayTraders supports Trading View, Quantower and Rithmic, while Topstep runs on Topstep X. If you already trade on a specific platform, this can be the deciding factor between the two.

Profit Split & Payouts

DayTraders offers 100% (Eval/Pro), 80/20 (Straight to Live) profit split, while Topstep offers 90%. DayTraders pays out Daily (S2L), 8 Qualifying Days (Eval/Pro), 10 Qualifying Days (S2F), and Topstep pays out On-demand.

Risk & Drawdown Rules

Risk rules are a key difference for funded traders: DayTraders lists its daily drawdown as "Varies by plan: NONE (Trail/Static), $800-$3,250 (EOD), $1,000-$3,250 (S2L)", while Topstep lists "$2,000 max loss limit ($50K) / $3,000 ($100K) / $4,500 ($150K)". Always confirm the drawdown type before buying, since a trailing rule behaves very differently from a static end-of-day one.

Payout Methods

When it comes to getting paid, DayTraders supports withdrawals via Plane, while Topstep pays out through Wise, ACH and International Wire / SWIFT.

Trust & Safety

For trust and reputation, DayTraders has a 4.6/5 TrustPilot rating with 434 reviews, while Topstep has 3.6/5 with 14,382 reviews. Safety grades: DayTraders B+, Topstep A.

Who Should Choose Which

So who should pick which? DayTraders is the stronger choice for budget-conscious traders, maximum profit potential and fast payouts, while Topstep is the better fit for trust & reputation.

Overall, DayTraders edges ahead winning 5 out of 8 categories we compared. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs - both firms have their strengths.

Pros & Cons

DayTraders
Pros
Keep up to 100% of profits on Eval/Pro accounts (no profit split), automated payout approval, ONYX browser-based platform with TradingView charts + Rithmic data, 2-day pass evaluations on Trail/EOD/Static, 15 funded Pro accounts allowed, FREE real-time data fees, Straight-to-Funded (S2F) and Straight-to-Live (S2L) tracks, 100+ countries supported, no scaling rules.
Cons
Futures-only (CME/COMEX/NYMEX/CBOT) — no forex/CFD/stocks/crypto, all trading is simulated for Eval/Pro accounts (only S2L offers real live execution), $130 one-time Pro Activation Fee after passing, 8-day payout cycle on Pro is slower than daily-payout competitors, 50% consistency rule on evaluation phase (30% on Pro), only Rithmic data feed supported, S2L profit split is 80/20 (not 100%).
Topstep
Pros
90% profit split, instant payouts, no activation fee, pass in as little as 2 days, Chicago-based since 2010
Cons
Trailing max loss limit (not static daily DD), TrustPilot rating 3.6, monthly subscription billing

Active Deals & Promo Codes

DayTraders

No active deals

Topstep
$20 off No Activation Fee Trading Combine (any size). Up to 5 uses per trader.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, DayTraders or Topstep?

DayTraders scores higher overall, winning 5 out of 8 comparison categories including TrustPilot, Starting Price, Profit Split. However, the best choice depends on your trading goals and priorities.

Which is cheaper, DayTraders or Topstep?

DayTraders has the lower starting price at $30. DayTraders offers 18 challenge options starting from $30, while Topstep offers 3 options starting from $49.

Which has better reviews, DayTraders or Topstep?

DayTraders has a higher TrustPilot rating of 4.6/5. DayTraders has 434 reviews while Topstep has 14,382.

Which offers a higher profit split, DayTraders or Topstep?

DayTraders offers a higher maximum profit split. DayTraders offers 100% (Eval/Pro), 80/20 (Straight to Live) while Topstep offers 90%.

How fast do DayTraders and Topstep pay out?

DayTraders has Daily (S2L), 8 Qualifying Days (Eval/Pro), 10 Qualifying Days (S2F) payouts while Topstep offers On-demand payouts. Payout speed can be an important factor when choosing a prop firm.

Are DayTraders and Topstep legit?

Both firms have been independently verified by PropFirmMap. DayTraders holds a B+ safety grade and a 4.6/5 TrustPilot rating. Topstep holds a A safety grade and a 3.6/5 TrustPilot rating. Safety grades are based on payout history, community trust signals, and regulatory transparency.

Which is better for beginners, DayTraders or Topstep?

DayTraders may be more accessible for beginners due to its lower entry price. When starting out, consider challenge cost, drawdown rules, and profit split. Use the comparison table above to find which firm fits your experience level and risk tolerance.

Not sold on either? Explore alternatives

See the closest-matched prop firms ranked head-to-head against each contender, with live 2026 prices and safety grades.