Topstep vs TradeDay: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared

Topstep and TradeDay both run monthly-subscription evaluations, and both keep the rulebook fairly short. TradeDay says its only hard rule is the maximum drawdown, with no daily loss limit. Topstep makes its daily limit optional. The real differences are in drawdown style once funded, how the profit split works and which platforms you can use. 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 flat 90/10 split from your first payout, the lowest 50K entry price and an end-of-day drawdown in both stages, and you are happy on TopstepX.
• Choose TradeDay if you want no activation fee and no daily loss limit, a wide choice of CQG and Rithmic platforms, or Quick Pay's payouts after one funded day with no buffer, and you accept a lower split on early profits.

Side by side

50K account	Topstep	TradeDay
Pricing model	Monthly subscription	Monthly subscription
Price (50K, regular)	$49/month + $149 at activation, or $95/month with no activation fee	$131 (Quick Pay Intraday), $175 (Quick Pay EOD), $189 (Fast Pass) per month
Activation fee	$149 (Standard path) or $0 (No Activation Fee path)	None
Account sizes	$50K, $100K, $150K	$25K to $150K
Profit split	90/10	Quick Pay 50/50 below $4,000 profit, then 80/20; Fast Pass 80/20; 90/10 on Funded Live
Drawdown type	End-of-day trailing, monitored in real time	Choice of intraday or end-of-day in evaluation; Quick Pay funded is always intraday; freezes at starting balance
Daily loss limit	Optional ($1,000 on 50K); not a rule violation	None
Consistency rule	Best day under 55% of target (Combine)	Quick Pay 30%; Fast Pass 45% (evaluation only)
Minimum days	No stated minimum (can pass in 2 days)	Quick Pay 5; Fast Pass 3
Payouts	Standard: 5 winning days of $150+, up to 50% of balance. Consistency path: 3 days. $125 minimum	Quick Pay after 1 day, $250 minimum, no buffer. Fast Pass after 5 profitable days, capped per cycle
Platforms	TopstepX only for new accounts	Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Jigsaw (CQG); R|Trader Pro, Quantower, ATAS, Sierra Chart and more (Rithmic)
FuturesPro score	7.6 / 10	6.7 / 10

TradeDay's prices are regular monthly prices. At the time of checking, it was showing discounts of about 50% to 55%.

Cost

Topstep's 50K Combine costs $49 a month plus $149 at activation (Standard path), or $95 a month with no activation fee. TradeDay's 50K plans cost $131 (Quick Pay Intraday), $175 (Quick Pay EOD) or $189 (Fast Pass) a month at regular prices, with no activation fee. At regular prices, Topstep is cheaper for most timelines. TradeDay's discounts change often, so compare the actual checkout price. At both firms, your next subscription payment also resets a failed attempt.

Rules

Drawdown

Topstep uses a $2,000 end-of-day trailing Maximum Loss Limit on 50K in both the Combine and funded account, monitored in real time. TradeDay's drawdown is also $2,000 on 50K and freezes once it reaches the starting balance. Quick Pay evaluations let you choose intraday or end-of-day, but Quick Pay funded accounts always use an intraday drawdown, even if you passed on EOD. Fast Pass stays end-of-day throughout. On Quick Pay, payouts do not lower the drawdown level, so each withdrawal reduces your cushion. Our trailing drawdown calculator shows how intraday trailing differs from end-of-day.

Daily loss limit

Topstep's $1,000 daily limit on 50K is optional and not a rule violation if hit. TradeDay has no daily loss limit on any plan.

Consistency and minimum days

Topstep's best Combine day must stay under 55% of the target, and there is no stated minimum. Topstep says you can pass in two days. TradeDay Quick Pay needs five days with a 30% rule, and Fast Pass needs three days with a 45% rule. Neither TradeDay funded account has a consistency rule.

Trading hours

Topstep positions must be flat by 3:10 p.m. CT. TradeDay requires trading within permitted times, but the articles we checked did not spell out its overnight rule, so confirm it before holding past the close.

Payouts

Topstep pays 90/10 with a $125 minimum. Its Standard XFA path needs five winning days of $150 or more and allows 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.

TradeDay Quick Pay lets you request after one day, with a $250 minimum and no buffer. The split is 50/50 while current profit is below $4,000 and 80/20 above it. Fast Pass pays 80/20 from the start but needs five profitable days ($150 each on 50K) per cycle, with a $1,500 cap on 50K. Funded Live accounts pay 90/10. TradeDay processes requests received before 5:30 p.m. CT within 24 hours on business days.

On a $1,500 request with $3,000 of profit on a 50K account, you would receive $750 on TradeDay Quick Pay, $1,200 on TradeDay Fast Pass and $1,350 at Topstep's 90/10 split, subject to each firm's qualifying days and caps.

Platforms

New Topstep accounts trade only on TopstepX, with Quantower able to connect through ProjectX data. TradeDay supports Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView and Jigsaw on CQG, and R|Trader Pro, Quantower, ATAS, MotiveWave, Sierra Chart, Bookmap, WealthCharts and others on Rithmic.

Who each firm suits

Topstep

Topstep suits intraday traders who want a simple 90/10 split, a low entry price and an EOD drawdown throughout, and who are comfortable on TopstepX. It scores 7.6 out of 10.

TradeDay

TradeDay suits traders who want no daily loss limit, no activation fee and a broad platform choice. Quick Pay fits traders who want small, early withdrawals and accept an intraday funded drawdown. Fast Pass fits traders who want an 80/20 split and EOD throughout. It scores 6.7 out of 10.

See our full Topstep review and TradeDay review, compare them in our comparison tool, or browse all ranked futures prop firms.

Frequently asked questions

Does TradeDay have a daily loss limit?

No. TradeDay says the maximum drawdown is its one hard rule. Topstep's daily limit is optional.

Which firm charges an activation fee?

Topstep charges $149 on its Standard path and nothing on its No Activation Fee path. TradeDay charges no activation fee.

How do the profit splits compare?

Topstep pays 90/10. TradeDay Quick Pay pays 50/50 below $4,000 of profit and 80/20 above, Fast Pass pays 80/20, and Funded Live pays 90/10.

Does either use an intraday drawdown?

TradeDay Quick Pay funded accounts do. Topstep and TradeDay Fast Pass use end-of-day.

Can I use NinjaTrader?

Yes at TradeDay. Not on new Topstep accounts, which trade on TopstepX.