Topstep vs TradeDay: the rules compared
Topstep and TradeDay differ most in drawdown type, daily loss limit and evaluation fee. Topstep offers end-of-day and static drawdowns, while TradeDay offers end-of-day and intraday drawdowns. Topstep sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 7 evaluations ($500 to $5,000), while TradeDay sets no daily loss limit in its evaluations.
The verdicts at 50K
Cheaper to start
TradeDay$79 against $198 to reach a funded account.
Better odds trading small
TopstepAt $300 a day 27% of attempts pass, against 24%.
More money a year, no edge
TopstepBest size +$3,402 a year against +$1,843, after every fee.
Runs your bot
Both allow automated trading, with conditions.
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%
TradeDay
24%
Days to pass, when it does
Topstep
49
TradeDay
52.5
Net a year, after fees
Topstep
−$233
TradeDay
−$184
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.
8 rules differ
- Price$49 a month$79 a month
- Activation$149$0
- Reset$49$79
- Best day, evaluation55%30%
- Minimum days2 trading days5 trading days
- First payout5 winning days of $150 or more1 trading day
- Largest payout$2,000No cap
- Profit split90%50%
Plans on record
Topstep sells 7 plans from 25K to 250K, while TradeDay sells 12 plans from 25K to 150K.
Evaluation fee
Topstep charges $49 to $199 a month and $75 to $499 once, while TradeDay charges $45 to $265 a month.
Billing
Topstep sells both monthly and one-time plans, while TradeDay bills its evaluations monthly until they are passed.
Activation fee
Topstep charges a $0 to $149 activation fee, while TradeDay charges no activation fee.
Drawdown type
Topstep offers end-of-day and static drawdowns, while TradeDay offers end-of-day and intraday drawdowns.
Daily loss limit
Topstep sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 7 evaluations ($500 to $5,000), while TradeDay 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 TradeDay caps the evaluation's best day at 30% to 45% of the profit.
Minimum trading days
Topstep asks for at least 2 trading days, while TradeDay asks for at least 3 to 5 trading days.
First payout
Topstep pays a first payout after 5 winning days of $150 or more, while TradeDay pays a first payout after 1 to 5 trading days, depending on the size.
Profit split
Topstep pays a 90% profit split, while TradeDay pays a 50% to 80% profit split.
What they share
- Funded accounts at once: Up to 5
- Automated trading: Allowed with conditions
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
TradeDay: Allowed with conditions
TradeDay allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Your own automated system may run on NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Jigsaw or Quantower; third-party bots, API access and identical trades across users are banned.
Checked 21 Oct 2026 · Source: tradeday.freshdesk.com
Topstep and TradeDay, topic by topic across each firm’s plans on saleShowHide
| Topic | Topstep | TradeDay |
|---|---|---|
| Plans on record | 7 plans, 25K to 250K | 12 plans, 25K to 150K |
| Evaluation fee | $49 to $199 a month and $75 to $499 once | $45 to $265 a month |
| Billing | Monthly and one-time plans | Billed monthly until passed |
| Activation fee | $0 to $149 | None |
| Drawdown type | End of day and static | End of day and intraday |
| 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 30% to 45% |
| Minimum trading days | 2 trading days | 3 to 5 trading days |
| First payout | After 5 winning days of $150 or more | After 1 to 5 trading days, depending on the size |
| Profit split | 90% | 50% to 80% |
| Funded accounts at once | Up to 5 | Up to 5 |
| Automated trading | Allowed with conditions | Allowed with conditions |
25K
- Topstep Labs 25K Static$75 once, $1,000, static
- TradeDay QP Intraday 25K$45 a month, $1,000, intraday
- TradeDay QP EOD 25K$54 a month, $1,000, end of day
- TradeDay Fast Pass 25K$65 a month, $1,000, end of day
50K
- Topstep 50K Combine$49 a month, $2,000, end of day
- Topstep Labs 50K Static$149 once, $2,000, static
- TradeDay Fast Pass 50K$95 a month, $2,000, end of day
- TradeDay QP Intraday 50K$59 a month, $2,000, intraday
- TradeDay QP EOD 50K$79 a month, $2,000, end of day
100K
- Topstep 100K Combine$99 a month, $3,000, end of day
- TradeDay Fast Pass 100K$175 a month, $3,000, end of day
- TradeDay QP Intraday 100K$108 a month, $3,000, intraday
- TradeDay QP EOD 100K$129 a month, $3,000, end of day
150K
- Topstep 150K Combine$199 a month, $4,500, end of day
- TradeDay Fast Pass 150K$265 a month, $4,500, end of day
- TradeDay QP Intraday 150K$162 a month, $4,500, intraday
- TradeDay QP EOD 150K$180 a month, $4,500, end of day
Only Topstep sells 250K.
Topstep or TradeDay?
At 50K, the Topstep Labs 50K Static costs $149 to fund on a first attempt and the TradeDay QP Intraday 50K $59.
Topstep offers end-of-day and static drawdowns, while TradeDay offers end-of-day and intraday drawdowns. Topstep sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 7 evaluations ($500 to $5,000), while TradeDay sets no daily loss limit in its evaluations. Topstep charges $49 to $199 a month and $75 to $499 once, while TradeDay charges $45 to $265 a month. Topstep sells both monthly and one-time plans, while TradeDay 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 TradeDay caps the evaluation's best day at 30% to 45% of the profit. Topstep pays a first payout after 5 winning days of $150 or more, while TradeDay pays a first payout after 1 to 5 trading days, depending on the size. Topstep pays a 90% profit split, while TradeDay pays a 50% to 80% profit split. Topstep charges a $0 to $149 activation fee, while TradeDay charges no activation fee. Topstep asks for at least 2 trading days, while TradeDay asks for at least 3 to 5 trading days.
On a first attempt with no reset, the TradeDay QP Intraday 50K costs $59 ($59 evaluation (1 month)) against $149 for the Topstep Labs 50K Static ($149 evaluation). 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. TradeDay allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Your own automated system may run on NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Jigsaw or Quantower; third-party bots, API access and identical trades across users are banned.
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- Apex vs TradeDay
- My Funded Futures vs TradeDay
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- TradeDay vs Bulenox
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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.