Head-to-head comparison
Topstep vs The Trading Pit: 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
The Trading Pit
- From
- $69
- Account sizes
- $50K – $150K
- Profit split
- 80%
- Payout
- 7 days
The verdict
The Trading Pit has the lower starting price ($69.3 vs $95 for Topstep). Topstep offers a higher max profit split (90% vs 80%). Topstep pays out faster (3-day vs 7 days). The Trading Pit offers a one-time payment option, avoiding recurring monthly fees. Topstep has an instant-funding path with no evaluation phase. 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 | Topstep | The Trading Pit |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge type | Evaluation + Instant Funding | Evaluation |
| Drawdown type | Static | EOD |
| Account sizes | $50K – $150K | $50K – $150K |
| Starting price | $95 | $69 |
| Profit split | 90% | 80% |
| Payout speed | 3 days | 7 days |
| Payout frequency | On demand | — |
| Consistency rule | Eval: 0–50% | Eval: 40–40% |
| Payment model | Subscription | One-time |
| Verified payouts | Yes | No |
| Sage rating | 4.5 / 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
The Trading Pit
The Trading Pit (Liechtenstein-registered) runs a multi-stage program that progresses from evaluation to an Earning Account and a longer-term partnership tier. Its futures program supports an unusually broad platform list including Tradovate, NinjaTrader, Rithmic, Quantower, Sierra Chart, ATAS, and Edge Clear.
Products
- Futures Prime — One-time · 80% split · 7 days
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to start, Topstep or The Trading Pit?
The Trading Pit has the lower starting price at $69 for its smallest evaluation account, compared to $95 for the other.
Which has the better profit split, Topstep or The Trading Pit?
Topstep pays out a higher max profit split (90%) compared to 80% on the other side.
Which firm pays out faster?
Topstep processes payouts in 3 days, vs 7 days on the other side.
Are payouts verified at Topstep and The Trading Pit?
Topstep has third-party verified payout history. The Trading Pit does not have third-party verified payout history.