Topstep vs The Trade Pool – Elite Prop Firms Comparison
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Introduction
Topstep and The Trade Pool are purpose-built for opposite ends of the US market. Topstep, founded in Chicago in 2012, invented the modern prop-firm evaluation model and has paid out more than $1 billion to funded CME futures traders – single-phase Trading Combine®, monthly subscription, mandatory TopstepX platform for new accounts since July 2025. Trade The Pool (TTP), founded September 2022 by Five Percent Online Ltd (the same team behind The5ers) and led by CEO Michael Katz, is the only major prop firm built exclusively around US equity trading – over 12,000 stocks, ETFs and penny stocks via the Trader Evolution platform backed by Interactive Brokers infrastructure, with no PDT rule and covered short-selling locate fees. The two firms barely overlap on instruments (futures vs US stocks), so the right pick comes down to which asset class you actually trade.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Topstep | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| Founded | 2012 | 2022 |
| Profit Split | 90% trader share; first-$10,000 lifetime-profit exception for traders who joined the new dashboard before Jan 12, 2026 | 70 |
| Maximum Account Size | $150,000 | $200,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 1 | 2 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.4 | Not available |
| Expert Grade | 9 | 8.5 |
Program Types
| Program | Topstep | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | FLEX |
| Advanced Program | Not available | MAX |
| Scaling Options | No | Yes |
| Demo Account | No | No |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Topstep | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | Trading Combine Parameters - 50,000: 3,000 Trading Combine Parameters - 100,000: 6,000 Trading Combine Parameters - 150,000: 9,000 | 6% (day), 15% (swing) |
| Maximum Drawdown | Trailing MLL: $2,000-$4,500 | 4% daily, 4% max (Flex day); 3% daily, 3% max (Max day); 3% daily, 7% max (swing) |
| Minimum Trading Days | Trading Combine can pass in as few as 2 days, subject to 55% consistency; funded payout paths have separate day requirements | Not available |
| News Trading | Yes | No |
| Daily Loss Limit | Trading Combine Parameters - 50,000: Optional (1,000) Trading Combine Parameters - 100,000: Optional (2,000) Trading Combine Parameters - 150,000: Optional (3,000) | Not available |
| Maximum Contracts | Trading Combine Parameters - 50,000: 5 (50 micros) Trading Combine Parameters - 100,000: 10 (100 micros) Trading Combine Parameters - 150,000: 15 (150 micros) | Not available |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Topstep | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Futures $50K Account | Trading Combine / USD 49 / Monthly Standard Trading Combine monthly price. Source Checked 2026-08-10 | Not listed in review pricing source |
| Futures $100K Account | Trading Combine / USD 99 / Monthly Standard Trading Combine monthly price; tier was marked temporarily on hold when verified. Source Checked 2026-08-10 | Not listed in review pricing source |
| Futures $150K Account | Trading Combine / USD 199 / Monthly Standard Trading Combine monthly price. Source Checked 2026-09-27 | Not listed in review pricing source |
| Stocks $2K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | FLEX Swing / USD 87 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Swing FLEX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 MAX Swing / USD 69 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Swing MAX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 |
| Stocks $5K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | FLEX Day / USD 59 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Day Trade FLEX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 MAX Day / USD 47 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Day Trade MAX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 |
| Stocks $10K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | FLEX Swing / USD 420 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Swing FLEX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 MAX Swing / USD 297 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Swing MAX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 |
| Stocks $20K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | FLEX Swing / USD 670 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Swing FLEX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 MAX Swing / USD 447 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Swing MAX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 |
| Stocks $25K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | FLEX Day / USD 120 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Day Trade FLEX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 MAX Day / USD 97 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Day Trade MAX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 |
| Stocks $40K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | FLEX Swing / USD 1240 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Swing FLEX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 MAX Swing / USD 800 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Swing MAX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 |
| Stocks $50K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | FLEX Day / USD 285 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Day Trade FLEX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 MAX Day / USD 230 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Day Trade MAX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 |
| Stocks $100K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | FLEX Day / USD 545 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Day Trade FLEX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 MAX Day / USD 435 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Day Trade MAX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 |
| Stocks $200K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | FLEX Day / USD 1475 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Day Trade FLEX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 MAX Day / USD 1100 / One-time Official Trade The Pool Day Trade MAX evaluation price from the current program page. Source Checked 2026-08-11 |
| Refund Policy | Not available | Not available |
| Coupons / Discount | Topstep discount | Trade The Pool discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Topstep | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | TopstepX; Quantower connectivity for Trading Combine and Express Funded accounts | TraderEvolution |
| Forex | Currency futures, not spot Forex | No |
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | No |
| Commodities | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrencies | No | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| EA/Algo Trading | Yes | Not available |
Payout
| Feature | Topstep | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | $125 minimum; eligibility by funded-account path, not a bi-weekly schedule. XFA Standard: 5 winning days of $150+; XFA Consistency: 3 trading days and 40% consistency. Balance limits, account caps and method availability apply. | Minimum $300 profit ($150 on $5K accounts); available 14 days after inception |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Topstep | Trade The Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Trading Combine has no maximum completion deadline while the subscription remains active; automated strategies permitted subject to rules; 90% current trader share; Standard or Consistency Express payout paths. Daily-loss-limit arrangements vary. | US traders accepted, no PDT rule, static max drawdown, one-time fee, free real-time data, 24/5 overnight trading |
| Weaknesses | Recurring Combine subscription; $149 XFA activation on Standard pricing path; futures-only; end-of-day trailing MLL can be breached intraday on unrealised losses | 70% split below CFD rates, 3x daily loss trap, 30-second hold rule, 10-cent minimum move, overnight buying power reduced, stocks/ETFs only, dated platform |
| Best For | Serious futures traders seeking established firm with forgiving evaluation | US stock traders seeking day trading without $25K minimum or PDT restrictions |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Topstep if you want a shorter evaluation at 1 phase, a cheaper entry, from USD 49 and coverage of forex, indices, commodities and bonds that the other does not offer. Choose Trade The Pool if a larger funded ceiling at $200K and coverage of stocks that the other does not offer matter more to you. Neither firm is better in the abstract. The right choice depends on your strategy, your budget and the instruments you trade, so read both full reviews before you commit. Verify current rules and pricing on each firm’s own site before purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
What should I know about Topstep’s programs?
Topstep distinguishes Express Funded Account Standard and Consistency paths, followed by a separate Live Funded Account stage. Topstep official rules.
What should I know about Trade The Pool’s programs?
Trade The Pool has stock-trading programs with different MAX and FLEX requirements. Buying power and a loss allowance are different measures. Trade The Pool official rules.
How do payouts differ between Topstep and Trade The Pool?
The current payout policy lists a 90/10 split and a $125 minimum. Standard requires five winning days of $150 or more; Consistency requires three days and a 40% consistency target. Requests are subject to account-size caps. Topstep official rules.
The published program guide allows funded requests after 14 days from account inception or the previous withdrawal. The stated minimum is $300, with a $150 exception for $5,000 accounts. Trade The Pool official rules.
Which account rules matter when comparing Topstep and Trade The Pool?
Express payouts are generally limited to 50% of account balance up to the applicable cap. Legacy eligibility and optional daily-loss-limit arrangements can change the caps or split treatment. Topstep official rules.
FLEX also requires three profitable days of at least 0.5% of buying power within a 14-day period. This specific requirement does not apply to MAX. Scaling starts a new withdrawal waiting period. Trade The Pool official rules.
Is Topstep or Trade The Pool automatically the better choice?
No, neither is the default pick. Topstep has the shorter evaluation at 1 phase and the cheaper entry at USD 49, and Trade The Pool has the larger funded ceiling at $200K and market access the other lacks, namely stocks. Which of those matters more depends on how you actually trade, so compare how each firm measures drawdown, the total fee once add-ons and resets are included and the evaluation objectives for the exact program you buy, rather than the headline numbers. If you fail an evaluation, do not assume either firm offers a fixed reset discount: check the reset terms for the specific account you bought.
How We Compared Topstep and The Trade Pool
Both firms carry a JoinProp Rating out of 10, scored on the same nine weighted factors, led by payout reliability at 20%, then fee structure, drawdown rules and profit split at 15% each. The scores come from our own firm reviews, built from each firm’s current terms rather than its marketing pages and re-checked at least every 90 days. Affiliate relationships have no effect on any rating, and ratings are never sold. The tables above are the evidence behind those scores. Read our full ranking methodology.
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