Topstep vs Take Profit Trader – Elite Prop Firms Comparison
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, 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 Review |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Founded | 2012 | 2021 |
| Profit Split | 100% first $10,000, then 90/10 | 80/20 PRO, 90/10 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 Review |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Program | — | Yes |
| Scaling Options | No | Yes |
| Demo Account | No | Yes |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Topstep | Take Profit Trader Review |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | 6% | Varies by account size |
| Maximum Drawdown | Trailing MLL: $2,000-$4,500 | EOD trailing drawdown |
| Minimum Trading Days | 5 | — |
| News Trading | Yes | Yes |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Topstep | Take Profit Trader Review |
|---|---|---|
| $10K Account | — | — |
| $25K Account | — | $150 |
| $50K Account | $49 | $170 |
| $100K Account | $99 | $270 |
| $200K Account | — | — |
| Refund Policy | — | No |
| Coupons / Discount | Topstep discount | Take Profit Trader Review discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Topstep | Take Profit Trader Review |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | TopstepX | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Rithmic, ATAS, Bookmap, Quantower, Sierra Chart, Jigsaw Daytradr |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | No | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| EA/Algo Trading | Yes | Yes |
Payout
| Feature | Topstep | Take Profit Trader Review |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | Bi-weekly via ACH, wire, or Rise; $50 minimum | Day-one withdrawals; $50 fee under $250 |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Topstep | Take Profit Trader Review |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Industry pioneer, generous first $10K profit split, no time limits, EAs permitted, no daily loss limit, $1B+ paid to traders | Day-one payouts, No intraday daily loss limit, 1-step evaluation, News trading permitted, Multiple platform support |
| Weaknesses | Monthly subscription fees compound, $149 activation fee, TopstepX platform exclusive, futures-only, trailing MLL can catch intraday profit-takers | PRO simulated until PRO+ invite, $130 activation fee, Higher monthly fees, 50% consistency rule, No automation permitted, Weekly trading requirement |
| Best For | Serious futures traders seeking established firm with forgiving evaluation | Active futures traders valuing payout speed and trading flexibility |
FAQ
Do both firms allow EAs and news trading?
Yes. Topstep permits EAs with no specific restriction. Take Profit Trader explicitly permits EAs on both evaluation and funded accounts, and there is no news blackout window – making it particularly suitable for NFP, FOMC, and CPI strategies.
Which firm pays out faster?
Take Profit Trader has the most aggressive payout cadence in the futures space: day one of the PRO funded account, as long as the balance exceeds a small buffer zone. Topstep allows bi-weekly payouts after a minimum holding period and unlocks daily payouts after 30 consecutive winning days.
What’s the platform difference?
Topstep new accounts are TopstepX-only since July 2025. Take Profit Trader supports 15+ platforms including NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Rithmic, ATAS, Bookmap, Quantower, Sierra Chart, and Jigsaw Daytradr – much more choice for traders with a specific platform preference.
Are the consistency rules the same?
Functionally similar. Both apply a 50% rule – a single day cannot account for more than 50% of total profits. Topstep applies this at payout; Take Profit Trader applies it during the evaluation phase.
What’s the daily-loss situation on each firm?
Neither firm imposes an intraday daily loss limit. Topstep has never used one for funded accounts. Take Profit Trader removed its intraday daily loss limit in January 2025. Both rely on a trailing (EOD) drawdown as the active risk control.
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.