Head-to-head comparison
Elite Trader Funding vs Topstep: Which Futures Prop Firm Wins? (2026)
A side-by-side breakdown of the rules that decide which prop firm fits your strategy — drawdown type, profit splits, payout speed, account sizes, and total cost.
Elite Trader Funding
- From
- $11
- Account sizes
- $10K – $150K
- Profit split
- 100%
- Payout
- —
Topstep
Verified payouts
- From
- $95
- Account sizes
- $50K – $150K
- Profit split
- 90%
- Payout
- 3 days
The verdict
Elite Trader Funding has the lower starting price ($11.4 vs $95 for Topstep). Elite Trader Funding offers a higher max profit split (100% vs 90%). Elite Trader Funding offers a one-time payment option, avoiding recurring monthly fees. Topstep has third-party verified payout history.
Rules side by side
Each value is the best (or full range) across all of the firm's products.
| Rule | Elite Trader Funding | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge type | Evaluation + Instant Funding | Evaluation + Instant Funding |
| Drawdown type | Static / Intraday Trailing / EOD | Static |
| Account sizes | $10K – $150K | $50K – $150K |
| Starting price | $11 | $95 |
| Profit split | 100% | 90% |
| Payout speed | — | 3 days |
| Payout frequency | — | On demand |
| Consistency rule | Eval: 0–40% | Eval: 0–50% |
| Payment model | Mixed (one-time + subscription) | Subscription |
| Verified payouts | No | Yes |
| Sage rating | — | 4.5 / 5 |
About each firm
Elite Trader Funding
Elite Trader Funding offers a wide menu of evaluation styles — one-step, Static, Diamond Hands, End-of-Day, Fast Track, and Direct-to-Funded — each with different drawdown mechanics. Same-day payout approval with $2K–$5K caps per request, and platforms include TradingView, NinjaTrader, Tradovate, and Rithmic.
Products
- Fast Track (Static) — One-time · 100% split
- 1 Step — 100% split
- Static — 100% split
- End of Day — 100% split
- Diamond Hands — 100% split
- Direct to Funded (Static) — Instant funding · One-time · 100% split
- Fast Track (EOD) — One-time · 100% split
- Direct to Funded — Instant funding · One-time · 100% split
Topstep
Topstep is a long-running futures prop firm offering Trading Combine evaluations, Live Funded Accounts, and Express Funded Accounts. Restricted to CME, COMEX, NYMEX, CBOT futures.
Highlights
- Pass Trading Combine in as little as 2 days, no minimum time
- 90% profit split with payouts as fast as next trading day
- CFTC-registered Topstep Brokerage (NFA member)
- Run on proprietary TopstepX platform
Products
- Trading Combine — 90% split · 3 days
- Live Funded Account — 90% split
- Express Funded Account — Instant funding · 90% split
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to start, Elite Trader Funding or Topstep?
Elite Trader Funding has the lower starting price at $11 for its smallest evaluation account, compared to $95 for the other.
Which has the better profit split, Elite Trader Funding or Topstep?
Elite Trader Funding pays out a higher max profit split (100%) compared to 90% on the other side.
Are payouts verified at Elite Trader Funding and Topstep?
Elite Trader Funding does not have third-party verified payout history. Topstep has third-party verified payout history.