Topstep vs Take Profit Trader: the rules compared
Topstep and Take Profit Trader differ most in drawdown type, daily loss limit and evaluation fee. Topstep offers end-of-day and static drawdowns, while Take Profit Trader uses an end-of-day drawdown on every plan. Topstep sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 7 evaluations ($500 to $5,000), while Take Profit Trader sets no daily loss limit in its evaluations.
The verdicts at 50K
Cheaper to start
Topstep$198 against $232 to reach a funded account.
Better odds trading small
About 27% of attempts pass at $300 a day on both.
More money a year, no edge
TopstepBest size +$3,402 a year against +$833, after every fee.
Runs your bot
TopstepTake Profit Trader does not allow automated trading.
Each firm’s 50K plan whose rules treat a trader with no edge best, or its least expensive when none is simulated.
Simulated · a trader with no edge
Which rulebook suits how big you trade?
Daily swing
An attempt passes
Topstep
27%
Take Profit Trader
27%
Days to pass, when it does
Topstep
49
Take Profit Trader
49
Net a year, after fees
Topstep
−$233
Take Profit Trader
−$954
A coin-flip trader with no edge and no costs, thousands of simulated years at each size, every rule of both accounts, fees included.
Simulated results. They have inherent limitations. Read the full statementHide the statement
These results are based on simulated or hypothetical performance results that have certain inherent limitations. Unlike the results shown in an actual performance record, these results do not represent actual trading. Also, because these trades have not actually been executed, these results may have under-or over-compensated for the impact, if any, of certain market factors, such as lack of liquidity. Simulated or hypothetical trading programs in general are also subject to the fact that they are designed with the benefit of hindsight. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to these being shown.
10 rules differ
- Price$49 a month$102 a month
- Activation$149$130
- Reset$49$99
- Best day, evaluation55%50%
- Minimum days2 trading days3 trading days
- Contracts5 contracts6 contracts
- First payout5 winning days of $150 or moreNo minimum
- Largest payout$2,000No cap
- Profit split90%80%
- Automated tradingAllowed with conditionsBanned
Plans on record
Topstep sells 7 plans from 25K to 250K, while Take Profit Trader sells 5 plans from 25K to 150K.
Evaluation fee
Topstep charges $49 to $199 a month and $75 to $499 once, while Take Profit Trader charges $90 to $216 a month.
Billing
Topstep sells both monthly and one-time plans, while Take Profit Trader bills its evaluations monthly until they are passed.
Activation fee
Topstep charges a $0 to $149 activation fee, while Take Profit Trader charges a $130 activation fee.
Drawdown type
Topstep offers end-of-day and static drawdowns, while Take Profit Trader uses an end-of-day drawdown on every plan.
Daily loss limit
Topstep sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 7 evaluations ($500 to $5,000), while Take Profit Trader sets no daily loss limit in its evaluations.
Consistency
Topstep caps the evaluation's best day at 55% of the profit on 6 of 7 plans, while Take Profit Trader caps the evaluation's best day at 50% of the profit.
Minimum trading days
Topstep asks for at least 2 trading days, while Take Profit Trader asks for at least 3 trading days.
First payout
Topstep pays a first payout after 5 winning days of $150 or more, while Take Profit Trader lets a funded trader ask for a payout with no minimum number of days.
Profit split
Topstep pays a 90% profit split, while Take Profit Trader pays a 80% profit split.
Automated trading
Topstep allows automated trading with conditions, while Take Profit Trader bans automated trading.
What they share
- Funded accounts at once: Up to 5
Topstep: Allowed with conditions
Topstep allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Bots and automated strategies may trade through the TopstepX / ProjectX API, under the platform rules, with high-frequency trading banned, orders sent from the trader's own device, and not on Live Funded Accounts.
Checked 21 Oct 2026 · Source: help.topstep.com
Take Profit Trader: Banned
Take Profit Trader bans automated and algorithmic trading. Universal Trading Policies #1 (Test, PRO, PRO+): automated systems, bots and algorithmic execution tools not permitted; PRO Account Rules 1: trades must be executed manually. Homepage account cards list no trading bots. A strategy tested on AlgoLift can only be traded there by hand.
Checked 16 Oct 2026 · Source: takeprofittraderhelp.zendesk.com
Topstep and Take Profit Trader, topic by topic across each firm’s plans on saleShowHide
| Topic | Topstep | Take Profit Trader |
|---|---|---|
| Plans on record | 7 plans, 25K to 250K | 5 plans, 25K to 150K |
| Evaluation fee | $49 to $199 a month and $75 to $499 once | $90 to $216 a month |
| Billing | Monthly and one-time plans | Billed monthly until passed |
| Activation fee | $0 to $149 | $130 |
| Drawdown type | End of day and static | End of day on every plan |
| Daily loss limit | $500 to $5,000 on 3 of 7 evaluations | None in the evaluation |
| Consistency | Best day at most 55% (1 with none) | Best day at most 50% |
| Minimum trading days | 2 trading days | 3 trading days |
| First payout | After 5 winning days of $150 or more | No minimum number of days |
| Profit split | 90% | 80% |
| Funded accounts at once | Up to 5 | Up to 5 |
| Automated trading | Allowed with conditions | Banned |
25K
- Topstep Labs 25K Static$75 once, $1,000, static
- Take Profit Trader 25K Test$90 a month, $1,500, end of day
50K
- Topstep 50K Combine$49 a month, $2,000, end of day
- Topstep Labs 50K Static$149 once, $2,000, static
- Take Profit Trader 50K Test$102 a month, $2,000, end of day
100K
- Topstep 100K Combine$99 a month, $3,000, end of day
- Take Profit Trader 100K Test$198 a month, $3,000, end of day
150K
- Topstep 150K Combine$199 a month, $4,500, end of day
- Take Profit Trader 150K Test$216 a month, $4,500, end of day
Only Topstep sells 250K. Only Take Profit Trader sells 75K.
Topstep or Take Profit Trader?
At 50K, the Topstep Labs 50K Static costs $149 to fund on a first attempt and the Take Profit Trader 50K Test $232.
Topstep offers end-of-day and static drawdowns, while Take Profit Trader uses an end-of-day drawdown on every plan. Topstep sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 7 evaluations ($500 to $5,000), while Take Profit Trader sets no daily loss limit in its evaluations. Topstep charges $49 to $199 a month and $75 to $499 once, while Take Profit Trader charges $90 to $216 a month. Topstep sells both monthly and one-time plans, while Take Profit Trader bills its evaluations monthly until they are passed. Topstep caps the evaluation's best day at 55% of the profit on 6 of 7 plans, while Take Profit Trader caps the evaluation's best day at 50% of the profit. Topstep pays a first payout after 5 winning days of $150 or more, while Take Profit Trader lets a funded trader ask for a payout with no minimum number of days. Topstep pays a 90% profit split, while Take Profit Trader pays a 80% profit split. Topstep charges a $0 to $149 activation fee, while Take Profit Trader charges a $130 activation fee. Topstep asks for at least 2 trading days, while Take Profit Trader asks for at least 3 trading days. Topstep allows automated trading with conditions, while Take Profit Trader bans automated trading.
On a first attempt with no reset, the Topstep Labs 50K Static costs $149 ($149 evaluation) against $232 for the Take Profit Trader 50K Test ($102 evaluation (1 month) + $130 activation). Resets and extra months can change the order.
Topstep allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Bots and automated strategies may trade through the TopstepX / ProjectX API, under the platform rules, with high-frequency trading banned, orders sent from the trader's own device, and not on Live Funded Accounts. Take Profit Trader bans automated and algorithmic trading. Universal Trading Policies #1 (Test, PRO, PRO+): automated systems, bots and algorithmic execution tools not permitted; PRO Account Rules 1: trades must be executed manually. Homepage account cards list no trading bots. A strategy tested on AlgoLift can only be traded there by hand.
- Topstep vs Apex
- Topstep vs My Funded Futures
- Topstep vs Tradeify
- Topstep vs TradeDay
- Topstep vs Alpha Futures
- Topstep vs Bulenox
- Topstep vs Earn2Trade
- Topstep vs FundedNext Futures
- Topstep vs Lucid Trading
- Apex vs Take Profit Trader
- My Funded Futures vs Take Profit Trader
- Tradeify vs Take Profit Trader
- TradeDay vs Take Profit Trader
- Take Profit Trader vs Alpha Futures
- Take Profit Trader vs Bulenox
- Take Profit Trader vs Earn2Trade
- Take Profit Trader vs FundedNext Futures
- Take Profit Trader vs Lucid Trading
Replay of trade 1210 from an AlgoLift engine backtest of a research strategy on NQ, 13 February 2025: real bars, the trade still open.
Simulated results. They have inherent limitations. Read the full statementHide the statement
These results are based on simulated or hypothetical performance results that have certain inherent limitations. Unlike the results shown in an actual performance record, these results do not represent actual trading. Also, because these trades have not actually been executed, these results may have under-or over-compensated for the impact, if any, of certain market factors, such as lack of liquidity. Simulated or hypothetical trading programs in general are also subject to the fact that they are designed with the benefit of hindsight. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to these being shown.
Test yours
Run your strategy through both rulebooks at once.
One backtest, both accounts, every rule, before you pay either fee.
- 1Describe it to Algo, or build it yourself
- 2Backtest it on years of real futures data
- 3Replay every trade under your firm's rules
Rules checked against the firms’ own pages, most recently on 21 October 2026. This is a summary of each firm’s published rules, not financial advice and not a recommendation of any firm. Firms change their rules and prices; read the firm’s own page before you buy. Facts are paraphrased and linked to their source. Firm names are used only to say which firm a rule belongs to; they belong to their owners, and AlgoLift is not affiliated with or endorsed by any firm.