Topstep vs Darwinex Zero – Elite Prop Firms Comparison
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Introduction
Topstep and Darwinex Zero sit at opposite ends of the prop trading spectrum. Topstep, the Chicago-based firm that essentially invented the modern challenge model in 2012, is a CME-futures specialist running on its proprietary TopstepX platform – over a billion dollars paid out to funded traders, single-phase Trading Combine®, monthly subscription. Darwinex Zero (D-Zero) is the FCA-regulated arm of Tradeslide Trading Tech Ltd, offering a fundamentally different model: a monthly membership, a $100,000 virtual MetaTrader account, and a published DARWIN performance index that attracts real third-party investor capital – currently over $654 million deployed across all DARWINs. There is no challenge to pass at D-Zero; traders earn 15% of real profits on capital allocated to their verified track record. The two firms barely overlap on instruments or business model, so the right choice depends on whether you want a futures-only evaluation pipeline or a long-horizon, regulator-backed performance platform.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Topstep | Darwinex Zero |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| Founded | 2012 | — |
| Profit Split | 100% first $10,000, then 90/10 | 15% |
| Maximum Account Size | $150,000 | $500,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 1 | — |
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.4 | — |
| Expert Grade | 9 | 7.9 |
Program Types
| Program | Topstep | Darwinex Zero |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Program | — | — |
| Scaling Options | No | Yes |
| Demo Account | No | Yes |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Topstep | Darwinex Zero |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | 6% | — |
| Maximum Drawdown | Trailing MLL: $2,000-$4,500 | — |
| Minimum Trading Days | 5 | — |
| News Trading | Yes | — |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Topstep | Darwinex Zero |
|---|---|---|
| CFD CFDs Account | Not offered | USD 50 / Zero subscription / Monthly |
| CFD Crypto CFDs Account | Not offered | USD 50 / Zero subscription / Monthly |
| Futures Futures Account | Not offered | USD 56 / Zero subscription / Monthly |
| Futures $50K Account | USD 49 / Trading Combine / Monthly | Not offered |
| Futures $100K Account | USD 99 / Trading Combine / Monthly | Not offered |
| Futures $150K Account | USD 149 / Trading Combine / Monthly | Not offered |
| Stocks Stocks / ETFs Account | Not offered | USD 50 / Zero subscription / Monthly |
| Coupons / Discount | Topstep discount | Darwinex Zero discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Topstep | Darwinex Zero |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | TopstepX | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| EA/Algo Trading | Yes | Yes |
Payout
| Feature | Topstep | Darwinex Zero |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | Bi-weekly via ACH, wire, or Rise; $50 minimum | 15% profit share on real investor allocations, 1 business day wire transfer |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Topstep | Darwinex Zero |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Industry pioneer, generous first $10K profit split, no time limits, EAs permitted, no daily loss limit, $1B+ paid to traders | FCA-regulated, Real investor capital ($654M+ deployed), No challenge fees, Merit-based model |
| Weaknesses | Monthly subscription fees compound, $149 activation fee, TopstepX platform exclusive, futures-only, trailing MLL can catch intraday profit-takers | Requires months to build track record, Monthly subscription regardless of results, No instant funding |
| Best For | Serious futures traders seeking established firm with forgiving evaluation | Long-term career development; serious traders building verified track records |
FAQ
Do Topstep and Darwinex Zero offer the same instruments?
No. Topstep is CME Group futures only – index, energy, metals, and currency futures. Darwinex Zero covers Forex CFDs, index CFDs, commodity CFDs, US stock and ETF CFDs, futures, and crypto CFDs, across four separate asset-class memberships on MetaTrader 4 and 5.
Is there a challenge to pass at Darwinex Zero?
No. Darwinex Zero replaces the challenge model with a subscription-based virtual account. Performance accumulates on the trader’s DARWIN index over time, and real investors allocate capital based on the audited track record. Topstep, in contrast, uses a single-phase Trading Combine® with a 6% profit target and a trailing maximum loss limit.
Which firm is regulated?
Darwinex Zero. The platform is operated by Tradeslide Trading Tech Ltd, authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 586466). Topstep is a US prop firm and is not a regulated brokerage – the funded accounts are simulated until profits are paid.
How does the profit split actually work?
At Topstep, the first $10,000 of cumulative profits across all funded accounts goes 100% to the trader, then 90/10 thereafter, with a $50 minimum payout. At Darwinex Zero, the trader earns 15% of the real profits generated on third-party investor capital allocated to their DARWIN, paid within 1 business day, with a high-water mark to protect investors.
What is DarwinIA?
DarwinIA is Darwinex Zero’s monthly competition that awards up to €500,000 in additional virtual capital allocations to the top DARWIN strategies. It supplements third-party investor allocations and is one of the main scaling levers on the platform. Topstep has no equivalent; account scaling is limited beyond the largest Combine size.
How was this 2 companies Comparison Created?
1. We Collect
We pull each firm’s public-facing rules, fees, drawdown parameters, profit splits, platforms, and supported markets from their official documentation and our own JoinProp reviews.
2. We Examine
Each criterion is normalised so the two firms are compared on the same axis – for example, “drawdown” is broken down into trailing vs static, intraday vs end-of-day, and any reset conditions.
3. We Score
Where one firm offers a meaningfully better term – lower fees, broader markets, more permissive rules – we identify it and explain the trade-off.
4. You Choose
The conclusion is written so you can match a firm to your trading style: instrument coverage, evaluation tolerance, and payout cadence are the three filters most traders should care about.