Head-to-head comparison
Topstep vs TradeDay: 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.
Topstep
Verified payouts
- From
- $95
- Account sizes
- $50K – $150K
- Profit split
- 90%
- Payout
- 3 days
TradeDay
- From
- $88
- Account sizes
- $50K – $150K
- Profit split
- 80%
- Payout
- —
The verdict
TradeDay has the lower starting price ($87.5 vs $95 for Topstep). Topstep offers a higher max profit split (90% vs 80%). Topstep has an instant-funding path with no evaluation phase. Topstep has third-party verified payout history. Topstep carries a higher Sage rating (4.5 vs 4.2).
Rules side by side
Each value is the best (or full range) across all of the firm's products.
| Rule | Topstep | TradeDay |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge type | Evaluation + Instant Funding | Evaluation |
| Drawdown type | Static | Intraday Trailing / EOD / Static |
| Account sizes | $50K – $150K | $50K – $150K |
| Starting price | $95 | $88 |
| Profit split | 90% | 80% |
| Payout speed | 3 days | — |
| Payout frequency | On demand | — |
| Consistency rule | Eval: 0–50% | Eval: 30–30% |
| Payment model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Verified payouts | Yes | No |
| Sage rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
About each firm
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
TradeDay
TradeDay offers a 2-step futures evaluation with day-one payouts, no activation fees, and education + mentoring included.
Highlights
- Day-one payouts after passing evaluation
- No activation fee
- Up to 6 concurrent funded accounts
- Education and mentoring included
Products
- Intraday — 80% split
- End of Day — 80% split
- Static — 80% split
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to start, Topstep or TradeDay?
TradeDay has the lower starting price at $88 for its smallest evaluation account, compared to $95 for the other.
Which has the better profit split, Topstep or TradeDay?
Topstep pays out a higher max profit split (90%) compared to 80% on the other side.
Are payouts verified at Topstep and TradeDay?
Topstep has third-party verified payout history. TradeDay does not have third-party verified payout history.