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Pipstone Capital vs The Upside Funding: Head-to-Head Comparison (2026)

Pipstone Capital

United Arab Emirates CFD
VS

The Upside Funding

6.3 A
Hong Kong CFD
Key Differences
Split 100% vs 95% Price $49 vs $34

Verdict: Who Wins?

Pipstone Capital 1 wins
1 - 5
The Upside Funding 5 wins Decisive Win
Overall Rating 6.3 vs 0.0 Decisive
TrustPilot 4.8 vs 2.1 Decisive
Starting Price $34 vs $49 Decisive
Profit Split Up to 100% vs 95% Clear
Safety Grade A vs Decisive
Trust Score 64.2/100 vs 27.7/100 Decisive

Best For:

Budget-conscious traders The Upside Funding
Maximum profit potential Pipstone Capital
Trust & reputation The Upside Funding
Fast payouts Pipstone Capital

Visual Comparison

Pipstone Capital The Upside Funding

Save 25% on The Upside Funding today

CODE INSIDER25 from $34
Save 25% Now Verified deal

Head-to-Head Comparison

Pipstone Capital Metric The Upside Funding
- PFM Score 6.3/10
2.1/5 (342) TrustPilot 4.8/5 (43)
- Safety Grade A
27.7 F Trust Score 64.2 B
Up to 100% Profit Split 95%
3% (Instant), 4% (1-Step), 5% (2-Step) Daily Drawdown 1-Step: no daily, 4% trailing / 2-Step: 4% daily static, 8% total static
Varies by model (Bi-weekly 1-Step, Weekly 2-Step, On Demand Instant) Payout Frequency Fast payouts (on-demand)
$49 Starting Price $34
White-Label Technology Proprietary
cTrader, MT5 Platforms cTrader
No Direct Path to Funded No
United Arab Emirates Country Hong Kong
Jan 2025 Established Jan 2020
14 options Challenge Options 12 options

Price Comparison by Account Size

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

Account Size Pipstone Capital The Upside Funding Savings
$5K $49 $59 Save $10
$10K $121 $99 Save $22
$25K $142 $199 Save $57
$50K $314 $349 Save $35
$100K $375 $589 Save $214

Pipstone Capital vs The Upside Funding: Detailed Analysis

Pipstone Capital and The Upside Funding are both CFD firms. The Upside Funding has been in business longer, established in 2020, while Pipstone Capital was founded in 2025.

Pricing

In terms of pricing, The Upside Funding is more affordable with challenges starting at $34, which is $15 less than Pipstone Capital's starting price of $49. Pipstone Capital offers 14 challenge options, while The Upside Funding offers 12.

Account Sizes

On account sizing, Pipstone Capital offers account sizes from $5 to $100 across 5 funding tiers, while The Upside Funding offers account sizes from $2 to $100 across 6 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, Pipstone Capital supports cTrader and MT5, while The Upside Funding runs on cTrader. If you already trade on a specific platform, this can be the deciding factor between the two.

Profit Split & Payouts

Pipstone Capital offers Up to 100% profit split, while The Upside Funding offers 95%. Pipstone Capital pays out Varies by model (Bi-weekly 1-Step, Weekly 2-Step, On Demand Instant), and The Upside Funding pays out Fast payouts (on-demand).

Risk & Drawdown Rules

Risk rules are a key difference for funded traders: Pipstone Capital lists its daily drawdown as "3% (Instant), 4% (1-Step), 5% (2-Step)", while The Upside Funding lists "1-Step: no daily, 4% trailing / 2-Step: 4% daily static, 8% total static". Always confirm the drawdown type before buying, since a trailing rule behaves very differently from a static end-of-day one.

Payout Methods

Pipstone Capital supports withdrawals via Crypto.

Trust & Safety

For trust and reputation, Pipstone Capital has a 2.1/5 TrustPilot rating with 342 reviews, while The Upside Funding has 4.8/5 with 43 reviews.

Who Should Choose Which

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

Overall, The Upside Funding edges ahead winning 5 out of 6 categories we compared. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs - both firms have their strengths.

Pros & Cons

Pipstone Capital
Pros
No consistency rules, refund of evaluation fee on first payout, up to 100% profit split, unlimited trading days, zero activation fee, MT5 and cTrader platforms, news trading allowed
Cons
60-second minimum trade duration rule (payout deductions if breached), TrustScore 2.1 with frequent payout-delay and BOGO-second-account complaints, trailing drawdown on Instant $25K+ accounts
The Upside Funding
Pros
Founded by ex-Citibank MDs (60+ years combined), 1:1 mentorship from CEO, path to 50K/yr full-time position, 24hr payout guarantee (K penalty if missed), 100% fee refund on 3rd payout, news trading + weekend holding allowed, cTrader via regulated Purple Trading, EAs allowed
Cons
Very new (launched 2024/2025), only 39 TrustPilot reviews (100% 5-star is unusual), only cTrader platform, challenge pricing not transparent on website, simulated environment, co-founder James last name not disclosed

Active Deals & Promo Codes

Pipstone Capital

No active deals

The Upside Funding
25% OFF 25% off all challenges

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Pipstone Capital or The Upside Funding?

The Upside Funding scores higher overall, winning 5 out of 6 comparison categories including Overall Rating, TrustPilot, Starting Price. However, the best choice depends on your trading goals and priorities.

Which is cheaper, Pipstone Capital or The Upside Funding?

The Upside Funding has the lower starting price at $34. Pipstone Capital offers 14 challenge options starting from $49, while The Upside Funding offers 12 options starting from $34.

Which has better reviews, Pipstone Capital or The Upside Funding?

The Upside Funding has a higher TrustPilot rating of 4.8/5. Pipstone Capital has 342 reviews while The Upside Funding has 43.

Which offers a higher profit split, Pipstone Capital or The Upside Funding?

Pipstone Capital offers a higher maximum profit split. Pipstone Capital offers Up to 100% while The Upside Funding offers 95%.

How fast do Pipstone Capital and The Upside Funding pay out?

Pipstone Capital has Varies by model (Bi-weekly 1-Step, Weekly 2-Step, On Demand Instant) payouts while The Upside Funding offers Fast payouts (on-demand) payouts. Payout speed can be an important factor when choosing a prop firm.

Are Pipstone Capital and The Upside Funding legit?

Both firms have been independently verified by PropFirmMap. Pipstone Capital holds a unrated safety grade and a 2.1/5 TrustPilot rating. The Upside Funding holds a A safety grade and a 4.8/5 TrustPilot rating. Safety grades are based on payout history, community trust signals, and regulatory transparency.

Which is better for beginners, Pipstone Capital or The Upside Funding?

The Upside 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.

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.