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

Topstep

8.0 A
United States Futures
VS

TradeDay

8.1 A+
United States Futures
Key Differences
Safety A vs A+ Split 90% vs 95% Price $49 vs $87

Verdict: Who Wins?

Topstep 2 wins
2 - 6
TradeDay 6 wins Decisive Win
Overall Rating 8.1 vs 8.0 Narrow
TrustPilot 4.6 vs 3.5 Decisive
Starting Price $49 vs $87 Decisive
Profit Split 80% initially, up to 95% after $50K cumulative profit vs 90% Clear
Safety Grade A+ vs A Narrow
Trust Score 74.5/100 vs 73.7/100 Narrow
Challenge Variety 9 vs 3 options Clear
Platform Choice 3 vs 1 platforms Narrow

Best For:

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

Visual Comparison

Topstep TradeDay
TradeDay
Grade A+ 4.6

Save 50% on TradeDay today

CODE TDNEW from $87
Save 50% Now Verified deal

Head-to-Head Comparison

Topstep Metric TradeDay
8.0/10 PFM Score 8.1/10
3.5/5 (14,272) TrustPilot 4.6/5 (1,350)
A Safety Grade A+
74.5 B+ Trust Score 73.7 B+
90% Profit Split 80% initially, up to 95% after $50K cumulative profit
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. Daily Drawdown Trailing drawdown (no separate daily loss limit). $2,000 for $50K, $3,000 for $100K, $4,500 for $150K accounts (Intraday: calculated intraday; EOD: calculated at end of day).
On-demand Payout Frequency Daily
$49 Starting Price $87
Proprietary Technology Proprietary
Topstep X Platforms Trading View, NinjaTrader, Tradovate
Yes Direct Path to Funded Yes
United States Country United States
Jan 2010 Established Jan 2020
3 options Challenge Options 9 options

Price Comparison by Account Size

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

Account Size Topstep TradeDay Savings
$50K $49 $87 Save $38
$100K $99 $140 Save $41
$150K $199 $210 Save $11

Topstep vs TradeDay: Detailed Analysis

Topstep and TradeDay are both Futures firms. Topstep has been in business longer, established in 2010, while TradeDay was founded in 2020.

Pricing

In terms of pricing, Topstep is more affordable with challenges starting at $49, which is $38 less than TradeDay's starting price of $87. Topstep offers 3 challenge options, while TradeDay offers 9.

Account Sizes

On account sizing, Topstep offers account sizes from $50 to $150 across 3 funding tiers, while TradeDay 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, Topstep supports Topstep X, while TradeDay runs on Trading View, NinjaTrader and Tradovate. If you already trade on a specific platform, this can be the deciding factor between the two.

Profit Split & Payouts

Topstep offers 90% profit split, while TradeDay offers 80% initially, up to 95% after $50K cumulative profit. Topstep pays out On-demand, and TradeDay pays out Daily.

Risk & Drawdown Rules

Risk rules are a key difference for funded traders: Topstep lists its daily drawdown as "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.", while TradeDay lists "Trailing drawdown (no separate daily loss limit). $2,000 for $50K, $3,000 for $100K, $4,500 for $150K accounts (Intraday: calculated intraday; EOD: calculated at end of day).". Always confirm the drawdown type before buying, since a trailing rule behaves very differently from a static end-of-day one.

Payout Methods

Topstep supports withdrawals via Wise, ACH and International Wire / SWIFT.

Trust & Safety

For trust and reputation, Topstep has a 3.5/5 TrustPilot rating with 14,272 reviews, while TradeDay has 4.6/5 with 1,350 reviews. Safety grades: Topstep A, TradeDay A+.

Who Should Choose Which

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

Overall, TradeDay edges ahead winning 6 out of 8 categories we compared. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs - both firms have their strengths.

Pros & Cons

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
TradeDay
Pros
Day-one payouts with no buffer on Quick Pay, Fast Pass funded in 3 days, over $10M in verified payouts since 2020, no activation fee, multiple funded accounts allowed, free ebook library
Cons
Monthly subscription pricing (recurring), trailing drawdown calculated intraday (strict), 30% consistency rule, limited to 50K/100K/150K account sizes only

Active Deals & Promo Codes

Topstep
$20 off No Activation Fee Trading Combine (any size). Up to 5 uses per trader.
TradeDay
30% OFF 30% off + no activation fee on all evaluations
50% OFF 50% off all evaluation accounts. Code TDNEW. Verified live on tradeday.com 2026-06-13.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Topstep or TradeDay?

TradeDay scores higher overall, winning 6 out of 8 comparison categories including Overall Rating, TrustPilot, Profit Split. However, the best choice depends on your trading goals and priorities.

Which is cheaper, Topstep or TradeDay?

Topstep has the lower starting price at $49. Topstep offers 3 challenge options starting from $49, while TradeDay offers 9 options starting from $87.

Which has better reviews, Topstep or TradeDay?

TradeDay has a higher TrustPilot rating of 4.6/5. Topstep has 14,272 reviews while TradeDay has 1,350.

Which offers a higher profit split, Topstep or TradeDay?

TradeDay offers a higher maximum profit split. Topstep offers 90% while TradeDay offers 80% initially, up to 95% after $50K cumulative profit.

How fast do Topstep and TradeDay pay out?

Topstep has On-demand payouts while TradeDay offers Daily payouts. Payout speed can be an important factor when choosing a prop firm.

Are Topstep and TradeDay legit?

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

Which is better for beginners, Topstep or TradeDay?

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.