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The TradeMakers vs Topstep: Head-to-Head Comparison (2026)

The TradeMakers

4.7 C
United States Futures
VS

Topstep

8.0 A
United States Futures
Key Differences
Safety C vs A Price $108 vs $49

Verdict: Who Wins?

The TradeMakers 1 wins
1 - 4
Topstep 4 wins Decisive Win
Overall Rating 8.0 vs 4.7 Decisive
TrustPilot 4 vs 3.5 Clear
Starting Price $49 vs $108 Decisive
Profit Split Both Up to 90% (Futures), Up to 80% (Equities) Tie
Safety Grade A vs C Decisive
Trust Score 74.5/100 vs 30/100 Decisive

Best For:

Budget-conscious traders Topstep
Trust & reputation Topstep

Visual Comparison

The TradeMakers Topstep

Head-to-Head Comparison

The TradeMakers Metric Topstep
4.7/10 PFM Score 8.0/10
4/5 (4) TrustPilot 3.5/5 (14,272)
C Safety Grade A
30 F Trust Score 74.5 B+
Up to 90% (Futures), Up to 80% (Equities) Profit Split 90%
Futures Instant: $1,250 soft breach; Futures Eval: $1,250 hard breach; Equities Instant: $1,500 soft breach; Equities Eval: $1,000 soft breach (at $50K size) Daily Drawdown No daily loss limit on Standard plan. Max Loss Limit: $2,000 (50K) / $3,000 (100K) / $4,500 (150K) trailing EOD from highest balance. Optional DLL add-on: $1,000 / $2,000 / $3,000.
Every 6 days Payout Frequency On-demand
$108 Starting Price $49
White-Label Technology Proprietary
Blackarrow Platforms Topstep X
No Direct Path to Funded Yes
United States Country United States
- Established Jan 2010
4 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 The TradeMakers Topstep Savings
$50K $108 $49 Save $59

The TradeMakers vs Topstep: Detailed Analysis

The TradeMakers and Topstep are both Futures firms.

In terms of pricing, Topstep is more affordable with challenges starting at $49, which is $59 less than The TradeMakers's starting price of $108. The TradeMakers offers 4 challenge options, while Topstep offers 3.

The TradeMakers offers Up to 90% (Futures), Up to 80% (Equities) profit split, while Topstep offers 90%. The TradeMakers pays out Every 6 days, and Topstep pays out On-demand.

For trust and reputation, The TradeMakers has a 4/5 TrustPilot rating with 4 reviews, while Topstep has 3.5/5 with 14,272 reviews. Safety grades: The TradeMakers C, Topstep A.

Overall, Topstep edges ahead winning 4 out of 5 categories we compared. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs - both firms have their strengths.

Pros & Cons

The TradeMakers
Pros
Only prop firm offering BOTH futures AND equities, instant funding available, up to 90% profit split, payouts every 6 active trading days, same-day account activation, up to $1.75M in buying power, BlackArrow by Nelogica platform included with data fees and platform license
Cons
Equities Eval has $210/month recurring fee (not one-time), Equities Instant uses Static drawdown with strict $2,000 max loss at $50K size (4% of account), 20% consistency rule on Instant plans, no automation/EAs/copy trading allowed, account hedging across firms prohibited, no chargebacks permitted (arbitration only)
Topstep
Pros
Instant payouts (~9 seconds); 90% profit split; up to $12K payout cap; no daily loss limit; 15+ years in business; 200K+ traders; $1.4B+ paid out; proprietary TopstepX platform; live education via TopstepTV
Cons
Subscription-based monthly fee model (not one-time); 3.4 TrustPilot rating lower than some competitors; consistency rule limits largest winning days to 50% of total profits

Active Deals & Promo Codes

The TradeMakers

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, The TradeMakers or Topstep?

Topstep scores higher overall, winning 4 out of 5 comparison categories including Overall Rating, Starting Price, Safety Grade. However, the best choice depends on your trading goals and priorities.

Which is cheaper, The TradeMakers or Topstep?

Topstep has the lower starting price at $49. The TradeMakers offers 4 challenge options starting from $108, while Topstep offers 3 options starting from $49.

Which has better reviews, The TradeMakers or Topstep?

The TradeMakers has a higher TrustPilot rating of 4/5. The TradeMakers has 4 reviews while Topstep has 14,272.

Which offers a higher profit split, The TradeMakers or Topstep?

The TradeMakers offers a higher maximum profit split. The TradeMakers offers Up to 90% (Futures), Up to 80% (Equities) while Topstep offers 90%.

How fast do The TradeMakers and Topstep pay out?

The TradeMakers has Every 6 days payouts while Topstep offers On-demand payouts. Payout speed can be an important factor when choosing a prop firm.

Are The TradeMakers and Topstep legit?

Both firms have been independently verified by PropFirmMap. The TradeMakers holds a C safety grade and a 4/5 TrustPilot rating. Topstep holds a A 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, The TradeMakers or Topstep?

Topstep 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.