Topstep vs E8 Markets – Elite Prop Firms Comparison
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Introduction
Topstep and E8 Markets operate in different corners of the prop trading market. Topstep, founded in Chicago in 2012, is the original CME-futures prop firm – exclusively US futures, exclusively the TopstepX platform, with more than a billion dollars paid out to funded traders. E8 Markets (formerly E8 Funding, rebranded 2024) is a Dallas-based multi-asset Forex/CFD firm founded in 2021, offering two single-phase evaluation programs (E8 Signature and E8 One) with a refundable evaluation fee and an 80% profit split that activates on the funded Performance Account stage. The two firms barely overlap on instruments: Topstep is futures-only, E8 covers Forex, metals, and crypto – so the right pick depends almost entirely on what you trade.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Topstep | E8 Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| Founded | 2012 | 2021 |
| Profit Split | 90% trader share; first-$10,000 lifetime-profit exception for traders who joined the new dashboard before Jan 12, 2026 | Up to 100%, configuration-dependent; Signature 80%. Pro share applies to requestable half; retained buffer carries forward |
| Maximum Account Size | $150,000 | $500,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 1 | 1 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.4 | 4.4 |
| Expert Grade | 9 | 9 |
Program Types
| Program | Topstep | E8 Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Program | — | Yes |
| Scaling Options | No | No |
| Demo Account | No | Yes |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Topstep | E8 Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | Trading Combine Parameters — 50,000: 3,000 Trading Combine Parameters — 100,000: 6,000 Trading Combine Parameters — 150,000: 9,000 | One 6%-21% by configuration; Pro 8% standard; Signature 6%; Zero $3K/$6.5K/$13.5K on $50K/$100K/$200K |
| Maximum Drawdown | Trailing MLL: $2,000-$4,500 | The Products Compared — E8 Zero: 3% EOD trailing The Products Compared — E8 One: 4–14% closed-balance trailing The Products Compared — E8 Pro: 8% static standard; first payout raises floor The Products Compared — E8 Signature: EOD trailing: $1,000 / $2,000 / $3,000 / $4,500 on 25K / 50K / 100K / 150K |
| Minimum Trading Days | Trading Combine can pass in as few as 2 days, subject to 55% consistency; funded payout paths have separate day requirements | One/Signature can pass in 1 day; Zero practically 3 via 40% best-day rule; standard Pro at least 4 via daily profit cap |
| News Trading | Yes | One Performance: restricted on affected instruments 5 minutes before/after high-impact news. One challenge, Pro, Signature and Zero: allowed |
| 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) | — |
| Consistency / Best Day Rule | — | The Products Compared — E8 Zero: 40% challenge; none Performance The Products Compared — E8 One: 40% Performance The Products Compared — E8 Pro: None; 2% daily profit cap The Products Compared — E8 Signature: 35% Performance |
| 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) | — |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Topstep | E8 Markets |
|---|---|---|
| CFD $5K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | E8 One / SimFi / USD 48 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| CFD $10K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | E8 One / SimFi / USD 88 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| CFD $25K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | E8 One / SimFi / USD 188 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| CFD $50K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | E8 One / SimFi / USD 288 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| CFD $100K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | E8 One / SimFi / USD 488 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| CFD $200K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | E8 One / SimFi / USD 798 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| CFD $400K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | E8 One / SimFi / USD 1598 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| CFD $500K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | E8 One / SimFi / USD 1998 / One-time List price before E8 first-order discount. Source Checked 2026-08-09 |
| 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 |
| Refund Policy | — | Non-refundable per Terms |
| Coupons / Discount | Topstep discount | E8 Markets discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Topstep | E8 Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | TopstepX; Quantower connectivity for Trading Combine and Express Funded accounts | CFDs: TradeLocker, Match-Trader, cTrader, MetaTrader 5. Perpetual Futures: E8 Terminal. Futures: Tradovate, TradingView, NinjaTrader |
| Forex | Currency futures, not spot Forex | Yes |
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| EA/Algo Trading | Yes | Eligible Classic/Perpetual accounts: allowed subject to strategy/order rules. Futures: EAs prohibited. Own-account copying allowed |
Payout
| Feature | Topstep | E8 Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | $100 minimum received after split plus product conditions. One: 40% best-day and net payout above half daily DD. Pro: 1% fresh profit, 50% retained buffer. Signature: 35% best-day, buffer/caps. Zero: daily eligibility, Starter/Max caps, 5 requests then free challenge. Processing may take up to 5 business days |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Topstep | E8 Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Single-phase programs; configurable One accounts; Pro automatic payout buffer; Signature daily soft pause; own-account copying allowed |
| 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 | Product/market rules differ; Zero cycle caps; Pro daily profit cap and retained buffer; One Performance news restriction; Futures 7-day inactivity |
| Best For | Serious futures traders seeking established firm with forgiving evaluation | Traders who match the market, loss-limit model and payout conditions to their strategy |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Topstep if you are serious futures traders seeking established firm with forgiving evaluation. Choose E8 Markets if a larger funded ceiling at $500K and a cheaper entry, from USD 48 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 E8 Markets’s programs?
E8 Signature Forex is a one-step simulated evaluation with a 6% profit target and end-of-day dynamic drawdown. It is one E8 product, not a rulebook for every E8 account. E8 Markets official rules.
How do payouts differ between Topstep and E8 Markets?
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.
E8 Signature Forex lists an 80% share, a $100 net minimum, a 35% Best Day Rule, a payout buffer and per-request caps. Five qualifying profitable days are required between later payouts, but not the first. E8 Markets official rules.
Which account rules matter when comparing Topstep and E8 Markets?
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.
There is no overall completion deadline, but a trade must be opened and closed at least every 60 days. The Performance account also has a 2% daily pause. E8 Markets official rules.
Is Topstep or E8 Markets automatically the better choice?
No, neither is the default pick. Topstep is built for serious futures traders seeking established firm with forgiving evaluation, and E8 Markets has the larger funded ceiling at $500K and the cheaper entry at USD 48. 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 country eligibility, 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 E8 Markets
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.