Topstep vs Take Profit Trader – Elite Prop Firms Comparison
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Introduction
Topstep and Take Profit Trader are both US-based futures-only prop firms, but their personalities are very different. Topstep, founded in Chicago in 2012, is the original CME-futures prop firm with $1B+ paid out, a 150K-member Discord, and the proprietary TopstepX platform required on new accounts since July 2025. Take Profit Trader (Orlando, founded 2021 by James Sixsmith) leans into trader-friendly mechanics: day-one payouts on PRO accounts once a small buffer is exceeded, no intraday daily loss limit (removed January 2025), 15+ supported platforms including NinjaTrader, Tradovate, R|Trader (via Rithmic), ATAS, and Bookmap. Both are CME/CBOT/NYMEX/COMEX only – no Forex, no CFDs – so the choice comes down to payout cadence, platform freedom, and rule preferences.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Topstep | Take Profit Trader |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| 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 | PRO vs PRO+ at a glance — PRO: 80% PRO vs PRO+ at a glance — PRO+: 90% Payouts: 80% on PRO; 90% on the invitation-based live PRO+ |
| Maximum Account Size | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 1 | 1 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.4 | 4.4 |
| Expert Grade | 9 | 7.5 |
Program Types
| Program | Topstep | Take Profit Trader |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Program | — | Yes |
| Scaling Options | No | Yes |
| Demo Account | No | Yes |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Topstep | Take Profit Trader |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | Trading Combine Parameters — 50,000: 3,000 Trading Combine Parameters — 100,000: 6,000 Trading Combine Parameters — 150,000: 9,000 | The Test: account sizes, cost and rules — $25,000: $1,500 The Test: account sizes, cost and rules — $50,000: $3,000 The Test: account sizes, cost and rules — $75,000: $4,500 The Test: account sizes, cost and rules — $100,000: $6,000 The Test: account sizes, cost and rules — $150,000: $9,000 |
| Maximum Drawdown | Trailing MLL: $2,000-$4,500 | Test/PRO+: EOD trailing; PRO: intraday equity trailing. Floor breaches include unrealized losses. |
| Minimum Trading Days | Trading Combine can pass in as few as 2 days, subject to 55% consistency; funded payout paths have separate day requirements | Test: 3 trading days; best day below 50% of total net profit |
| News Trading | Yes | PRO/PRO+: no positions/orders 1 minute before through 1 minute after prohibited FOMC announcements, NFP and CPI |
| 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) | Payouts: None (removed in 2025); risk is governed solely by the trailing drawdown |
| 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 | Take Profit Trader |
|---|---|---|
| Futures $25K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | Trading Test / USD 150 / Monthly Official homepage standard monthly price before the displayed 40% promotion. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $50K Account | Trading Combine / USD 49 / Monthly Standard Trading Combine monthly price. Source Checked 2026-08-10 | Trading Test / USD 170 / Monthly Official homepage standard monthly price before the displayed 40% promotion. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $75K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | Trading Test / USD 245 / Monthly Official homepage standard monthly price before the displayed 40% promotion. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| 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 | Trading Test / USD 330 / Monthly Official homepage standard monthly price before the displayed 40% promotion. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $150K Account | Trading Combine / USD 199 / Monthly Standard Trading Combine monthly price. Source Checked 2026-09-27 | Trading Test / USD 360 / Monthly Official homepage standard monthly price before the displayed 40% promotion. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Refund Policy | — | No |
| Coupons / Discount | Topstep discount | Take Profit Trader discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Topstep | Take Profit Trader |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | TopstepX; Quantower connectivity for Trading Combine and Express Funded accounts | TradingView, NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Rithmic R Trader, Quantower, Bookmap, and 8 more |
| Forex | Currency futures, not spot Forex | Yes |
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | No | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| EA/Algo Trading | Yes | No; manual execution only on Test, PRO and PRO+ |
Payout
| Feature | Topstep | Take Profit Trader |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | PRO day-one eligibility after buffer; wallet withdrawals of $250 or less incur $50 fee; bank delivery is separate |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Topstep | Take Profit Trader |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Day-one PRO payout eligibility after buffer, No daily loss limit, 1-step Test with 3-day minimum, Multiple platforms, Live PRO+ by invitation |
| 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 | PRO is simulated with intraday trailing drawdown, $130 activation fee, Monthly Test subscription, Test best day must be below 50% of net profit, No automation, PRO/PRO+ news and weekly activity rules |
| Best For | Serious futures traders seeking established firm with forgiving evaluation | Active futures traders valuing payout speed and trading flexibility |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Topstep if you want a cheaper entry, from USD 49. Choose Take Profit Trader Review if a demo account to test the platform first 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 Take Profit Trader’s programs?
Take Profit Trader distinguishes PRO and PRO+ accounts. Their profit-sharing terms should be compared separately. Take Profit Trader official rules.
How do payouts differ between Topstep and Take Profit Trader?
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.
PRO pays an 80% share. Withdrawals can be eligible from day one, but ordinary withdrawals first require the account-size buffer; for a $50,000 PRO account the buffer balance is $52,000. Take Profit Trader official rules.
Which account rules matter when comparing Topstep and Take Profit Trader?
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.
Taking profits from inside the PRO buffer is a different process that requires account termination and uses separate profit-sharing conditions. Day-one eligibility does not remove the buffer requirement. Take Profit Trader official rules.
Is Topstep or Take Profit Trader automatically the better choice?
No. The two firms lead on different things: Topstep has the cheaper entry at USD 49, while Take Profit Trader Review has market access the other lacks, namely stocks and a demo account to test first. 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 platform availability, 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 Take Profit Trader
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.