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Phoenix Trader Funding vs Topstep: Head-to-Head Comparison (2026)

Phoenix Trader Funding

6.7 B+
France Futures
VS

Topstep

7.3 B
United States Futures
Key Differences
Safety B+ vs B Price $39 vs $49

Verdict: Who Wins?

Phoenix Trader Funding 6 wins Decisive Win
6 - 1
Topstep 1 wins
Overall Rating 7.3 vs 6.7 Clear
TrustPilot 4.6 vs 3.5 Decisive
Starting Price $39 vs $49 Clear
Profit Split Both 90% Tie
Safety Grade B+ vs B Narrow
Trust Score 75.4/100 vs 53.5/100 Decisive
Challenge Variety 6 vs 3 options Narrow
Platform Choice 10 vs 1 platforms Decisive

Best For:

Budget-conscious traders Phoenix Trader Funding
Trust & reputation Phoenix Trader Funding
Fast payouts Phoenix Trader Funding

Visual Comparison

Phoenix Trader Funding Topstep

Save 30% on Phoenix Trader Funding today

CODE PFMAP from $39
Save 30% Now Verified deal

Head-to-Head Comparison

Phoenix Trader Funding Metric Topstep
6.7/10 PFM Score 7.3/10
4.6/5 (832) TrustPilot 3.5/5 (14,272)
B+ Safety Grade B
75.4 B+ Trust Score 53.5 C
90% Profit Split 90%
No standard daily loss limit. Classic and Spark use trailing EOD drawdown from highest balance. Merit accounts apply a 25% dynamic daily drawdown of starting balance. Daily Drawdown $2,000 max loss limit ($50K) / $3,000 ($100K) / $4,500 ($150K)
Bi-Weekly Payout Frequency On-demand
$39 Starting Price $49
White-Label Technology Proprietary
Trading View, NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Quantower, Atas, dxFeed, Volumetrica, Phoenix Instant Logger, Rithmic, DeepCharts Platforms Topstep X
Yes Direct Path to Funded Yes
France Country United States
Aug 2023 Established -
6 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 Phoenix Trader Funding Topstep Savings
$50K $69 $49 Save $20
$100K $269 $99 Save $170

Phoenix Trader Funding vs Topstep: Detailed Analysis

Phoenix Trader Funding and Topstep are both Futures firms.

Pricing

In terms of pricing, Phoenix Trader Funding is more affordable with challenges starting at $39, which is $10 less than Topstep's starting price of $49. Phoenix Trader Funding offers 6 challenge options, while Topstep offers 3.

Account Sizes

On account sizing, Phoenix Trader Funding offers account sizes from $2 to $100 across 4 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, Phoenix Trader Funding supports Trading View, NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Quantower, Atas, dxFeed, Volumetrica, Phoenix Instant Logger, Rithmic and DeepCharts, 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

Phoenix Trader Funding offers 90% profit split, while Topstep offers 90%. Phoenix Trader Funding pays out Bi-Weekly, and Topstep pays out On-demand.

Risk & Drawdown Rules

Risk rules are a key difference for funded traders: Phoenix Trader Funding lists its daily drawdown as "No standard daily loss limit. Classic and Spark use trailing EOD drawdown from highest balance. Merit accounts apply a 25% dynamic daily drawdown of starting balance.", 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, Phoenix Trader Funding supports withdrawals via Payoneer and PayPal, while Topstep pays out through Wise, ACH and International Wire / SWIFT.

Trust & Safety

For trust and reputation, Phoenix Trader Funding has a 4.6/5 TrustPilot rating with 832 reviews, while Topstep has 3.5/5 with 14,272 reviews. Safety grades: Phoenix Trader Funding B+, Topstep B.

Who Should Choose Which

Across the use cases we scored, Phoenix Trader Funding is the stronger choice for budget-conscious traders, trust & reputation and fast payouts.

Overall, Phoenix Trader Funding edges ahead winning 6 out of 7 categories we compared. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs - both firms have their strengths.

Pros & Cons

Phoenix Trader Funding
Pros
Three funded account programs: Classic (subscription-based, 90% profit split), Spark (lower-cost subscription with $29 one-time activation, all strategies allowed), and Merit (one-time $2K challenge with 50/80 profit split structure). No daily drawdown limit on Classic and Spark programs. Multiple platform choices including NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Rithmic, TradingView, Odin, Quantower, Atas, and Volumetrica. Bi-weekly payouts via PayPal and Payoneer.
Cons
Classic and Spark programs require ongoing monthly subscription fees that continue while subscribed. Spark accounts require a $29 one-time activation fee at signup. Trailing EOD drawdown on Classic and Spark tracks from highest account balance. Merit program limited to $2K account size with EdgeClear broker only.
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), lower TrustPilot rating (3.4★), monthly subscription billing

Active Deals & Promo Codes

Phoenix Trader Funding
30% OFF 30% off every challenge but Merit Accounts
10% OFF 10% off Spark accounts. Verified live on phoenixtraderfunding.com homepage 2026-06-07 ("10% OFF on Spark Accounts, Starting at $35! ... Use This Code At Checkout JUNE").
30% OFF 30% off Classic accounts. Verified live on phoenixtraderfunding.com 2026-06-24 ("Odin got upgraded! Enjoy 30% OFF Classic Accounts! ... Use This Code At Checkout ODIN").
Topstep
$20 off No Activation Fee Trading Combine (any size). Up to 5 uses per trader.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Phoenix Trader Funding or Topstep?

Phoenix Trader Funding scores higher overall, winning 6 out of 7 comparison categories including TrustPilot, Starting Price, Safety Grade. However, the best choice depends on your trading goals and priorities.

Which is cheaper, Phoenix Trader Funding or Topstep?

Phoenix Trader Funding has the lower starting price at $39. Phoenix Trader Funding offers 6 challenge options starting from $39, while Topstep offers 3 options starting from $49.

Which has better reviews, Phoenix Trader Funding or Topstep?

Phoenix Trader Funding has a higher TrustPilot rating of 4.6/5. Phoenix Trader Funding has 832 reviews while Topstep has 14,272.

Which offers a higher profit split, Phoenix Trader Funding or Topstep?

Phoenix Trader Funding offers a higher maximum profit split. Phoenix Trader Funding offers 90% while Topstep offers 90%.

How fast do Phoenix Trader Funding and Topstep pay out?

Phoenix Trader Funding has Bi-Weekly payouts while Topstep offers On-demand payouts. Payout speed can be an important factor when choosing a prop firm.

Are Phoenix Trader Funding and Topstep legit?

Both firms have been independently verified by PropFirmMap. Phoenix Trader Funding holds a B+ safety grade and a 4.6/5 TrustPilot rating. Topstep holds a B safety grade and a 3.5/5 TrustPilot rating. Safety grades are based on payout history, community trust signals, and regulatory transparency.

Which is better for beginners, Phoenix Trader Funding or Topstep?

Phoenix Trader Funding 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.

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