Topstep is cheaper to start ($49 a month for 50K against $170 at Take Profit Trader) and keeps an end-of-day drawdown in its funded account. Take Profit Trader lets you withdraw from your first funded day once the balance is above its $52,000 buffer, but its PRO account switches to an intraday trailing drawdown and pays 80% until you reach PRO+.
Topstep vs Take Profit Trader
| Topstep | Take Profit Trader | |
|---|---|---|
| Market | Futures | Futures |
| Main 50K plan | $49 /mo | $170 /mo |
| Profit target (50K) | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Max loss (50K) | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Drawdown | End-of-day trailing | Depends on plan |
| Consistency rule | Eval only | Eval only |
| Profit split | 90% | 80% (90% live) |
| Payouts | Every 5 winning days | From day one above buffer |
| News trading | Restricted: prohibited to purposefully trade your full maximum position size directly into a scheduled major news event | Restricted: in PRO accounts you must be flat (no positions or open orders) from one minute before to one minute after prohibited events, including FOMC statements, NFP and CPI |
| Bots and EAs | Restricted: custom automated strategies are allowed through the TopstepX/ProjectX API ($29/month, 50% off with code 'topstep'), but not on Live Funded Accounts; HFT and software that gives an 'unfair advantage' are prohibited; VPS/VPN use is prohibited | Not allowed: PRO Account Rules state 'We do not allow any automated or bot trading of any kind' |
| US traders | Yes | — |
| Platforms | TopstepX, Quantower (via TopstepX, Combine and XFA only) | — |
| Public code | — | NOFEE40 |
Which to pick
Pick Topstep if the monthly cost and an end-of-day drawdown matter most. On its Standard path you pay $49 a month plus a $149 activation fee once you pass, or $95 a month with no activation fee. Pick Take Profit Trader if you want access to withdrawals early and are comfortable with an intraday trailing drawdown once funded. Its PRO activation fee is $130.
Rules that trip people up
Topstep's Combine has a best-day limit of 55% of the profit target. Going over it raises the target instead of failing you. Take Profit Trader's Test requires your best day to stay under 50% of total profit. On news, Take Profit Trader's PRO accounts must be flat from one minute before to one minute after events such as FOMC, NFP and CPI. Topstep only bans purposely trading your full maximum size into a scheduled major news event.