Topstep vs Earn2Trade: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared

Topstep is one of the longest-running futures prop firms, and like Earn2Trade it bills monthly for its evaluations. The similarities end there. Topstep's daily loss limit is optional and its split is a flat 90/10. Earn2Trade's Gauntlet Mini has a hard daily loss limit that fails the evaluation and a split that depends on the size of each withdrawal. This comparison uses each firm's official site and help center as checked on November 3, 2026.

Quick verdict

• Choose Topstep if you want a low entry price, a 90/10 split on every payout and the option to trade without a daily loss limit, and you are happy on TopstepX.
• Choose Earn2Trade if you want a broader platform list including NinjaTrader and Tradovate, news trading with no restrictions, no minimum days and weekly withdrawals with no buffer, and you can batch profits into larger withdrawals to reach the 80% tier.

Side by side

50K account	Topstep	Earn2Trade
Pricing model	Monthly subscription	Monthly subscription
Price (50K, regular)	$49/month + $149 at activation, or $95/month with no activation fee	$170/month (Gauntlet Mini)
Activation fee	$149 (Standard path) or $0 (No Activation Fee path)	$139 LiveSim fee, taken from first withdrawal
Account sizes	$50K, $100K, $150K	$50K to $200K (TCP from $25K)
Profit split	90/10	50% on withdrawals under $2,250, 80% on $2,250+ (50K)
Drawdown type	End-of-day trailing, monitored in real time	End-of-day in evaluation and LiveSim; trailing on Live
Daily loss limit	Optional ($1,000 on 50K); not a rule violation	$1,100 on 50K; fails the evaluation
Consistency rule	Best day under 55% of target (Combine)	30% (evaluation only)
Minimum days	No stated minimum (can pass in 2 days)	None
Payouts	Standard: 5 winning days of $150+, up to 50% of balance. Consistency path: 3 days. $125 minimum	Weekly (Wednesdays) after 5 profitable days, $100 minimum, no buffer
Platforms	TopstepX only for new accounts	Tradovate, NinjaTrader, BlackArrow, TradingView, Finamark, DeepCharts
FuturesPro score	7.6 / 10	5.4 / 10

Cost

Topstep's 50K Combine costs $49 a month on the Standard path plus $149 at activation, or $95 a month with no activation fee. Earn2Trade's Gauntlet Mini 50K starts at $170 a month, with a one-time $139 LiveSim activation fee that is deducted from your first withdrawal rather than paid up front. Earn2Trade's homepage advertises a 50% discount code alongside its prices, so the price you pay may be lower.

At regular prices, a one-month pass costs $198 or $95 at Topstep and $170 at Earn2Trade, before Earn2Trade's activation fee comes out of your first payout. Earn2Trade also offers the Trader Career Path from $150 a month for a 25K account.

Rules

Drawdown

Both use an end-of-day drawdown of $2,000 on 50K. Topstep's limit is monitored in real time and locks at the starting balance in the Combine. Earn2Trade's stays end-of-day in evaluation and LiveSim but becomes a trailing drawdown once you move to a Live account.

Daily loss limit

This is the biggest rule difference. Topstep's $1,000 daily limit on 50K is optional. If you choose it, hitting it stops you for the day without failing the account. Earn2Trade's $1,100 limit on 50K is a hard rule in evaluation. It counts open and closed P&L plus commissions, and touching it fails the attempt. Our daily loss calculator helps you see how many losing trades fit inside each limit.

Consistency and minimum days

Topstep's best Combine day must stay under 55% of the target ($1,650 on 50K), and there is no stated minimum. Earn2Trade uses a stricter 30% rule in evaluation: no single day can be 30% or more of total profit. Breaking it does not fail you, but you keep trading until it is met. Earn2Trade has no minimum days. Earn2Trade's rule does not apply on LiveSim or Live accounts.

Trading hours and news

Topstep requires positions to be flat by 3:10 p.m. CT. Earn2Trade's evaluation cutoff is 3:50 p.m. CT. Neither allows overnight holds in evaluation. Earn2Trade says news trading is allowed with no restrictions. Topstep's pages did not list a news restriction.

Payouts

Topstep pays 90/10 with a $125 minimum. The Standard XFA path needs five winning days of $150 or more, with up to 50% of the balance per request (capped at $2,000 on 50K). The Consistency path needs three days and caps 50K at $3,000.

Earn2Trade pays weekly on Wednesdays after five new profitable days ($150 each on 50K), with a $100 minimum and no buffer. The split depends on each withdrawal's size. On 50K, withdrawals under $2,250 are split 50/50 and withdrawals of $2,250 or more are split 80/20. A $2,000 withdrawal gives you $1,000, while a $2,500 withdrawal gives you $2,000. Withdrawal providers also charge fees, such as Rise's $50 outside the US.

Platforms

New Topstep accounts trade only on TopstepX, with Quantower able to connect through ProjectX data. Earn2Trade lists Tradovate, NinjaTrader, BlackArrow, TradingView, Finamark and DeepCharts, with Rithmic and dxFeed connections.

Who each firm suits

Topstep

Topstep suits disciplined intraday traders who want a flat 90/10 split and control over whether a daily limit applies. It scores 7.6 out of 10.

Earn2Trade

Earn2Trade suits steady traders who rarely have one outsized day, can stay well inside a hard daily limit and prefer platforms such as NinjaTrader or Tradovate. It scores 5.4 out of 10, mainly because of the 50% split on smaller withdrawals and the hard daily limit. Earn2Trade also discloses that 8.89% of candidates passed its exams in 2025.

Read our full Topstep review and Earn2Trade review, compare them in our comparison tool, or see all futures prop firms we rank.

Frequently asked questions

Does either firm charge an activation fee?

Topstep charges $149 on the Standard path and nothing on the No Activation Fee path. Earn2Trade charges a one-time $139 LiveSim fee, deducted from your first withdrawal.

What happens if I hit the daily loss limit?

At Topstep, if you chose the optional limit, trading stops for the day but the account survives. At Earn2Trade, hitting the limit fails the evaluation.

How do the profit splits compare?

Topstep pays 90/10 on every payout. Earn2Trade pays 50% on 50K withdrawals under $2,250 and 80% on $2,250 or more.

Can I use NinjaTrader?

At Earn2Trade, yes. At Topstep, new accounts trade only on TopstepX.

How often can I withdraw?

Topstep allows a request after each set of qualifying days. Earn2Trade processes withdrawals weekly on Wednesdays after five profitable days.