Topstep vs The Trade Pool – Elite Prop Firms Comparison
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 Comparison |
||
|---|---|---|
| Feature | Topstep | The Trade Pool |
 |
 |
|
| Founded | 2012 (Chicago, IL) | September 2022 (Raanana, Israel; London office) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.4/5 (13,872+ reviews, April 2026) | 4.4/5 (616 reviews, April 2026); CLEAR™ Certified 4.3/5 |
| Account Sizes | $50K / $100K / $150K Trading Combine® | $2,000 – $200,000 buying power across Day Trade and Swing programs |
| Profit Split | 100% on first $10K, 90/10 thereafter | 70% standard, up to 80% on larger accounts |
| Evaluation Style | Single-phase Trading Combine® | Single-step evaluation across all four programs |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
Program Types – Which experience fits your goals? |
||
|---|---|---|
| Program | Topstep | The Trade Pool |
| Standard Evaluation | Trading Combine® at $50K, $100K or $150K | Day Trade Flex (no time limit) and Day Trade Max (60-day window) |
| Express / Single-Step | Combine is single-phase by default | Every TTP program is single-step |
| Practice / Demo | Not offered separately | Swing Flex / Swing Max – swing-style evaluations with overnight holds permitted |
| Educational Support | Discord (150,000+ traders), live trading rooms, daily sessions | Shared Five Percent Online education ecosystem |
| Account Scaling | Limited beyond the largest Combine size | Built-in scaling – buying power increases automatically at profit milestones, up to $200K |
Assessment Criteria – How can you pass the test? |
||
|---|---|---|
| Criteria | Topstep | The Trade Pool |
| Profit Target (Phase 1) | 6% – $3,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 (Small / Medium / Large) | Scaled per account size – milestone-based across all programs |
| Profit Target (Phase 2) | N/A – single phase | N/A – every program is single-step |
| Maximum Daily Loss | None – no daily loss limit | Daily stop loss enforced automatically |
| Maximum Trailing Drawdown | End-of-day trailing MLL: $2,000 / $3,000 / $4,500; stops trailing at starting balance | Drawdown enforced at account level alongside the daily stop loss |
| Minimum Trading Days | 5 trading days | None on Flex programs; Max programs run a 60-day evaluation window |
| Time Limit | None – trade at your own pace | None on Flex programs; 60-day window on Day Trade Max and Swing Max |
| Consistency Rule | Best day cannot exceed 50% of total profits at payout | Max Position Profit Ratio – a single trade cannot exceed 30% of the required profit target |
Fees and Pricing – How much will you pay? |
||
|---|---|---|
| Option | Topstep | The Trade Pool |
| Entry Level | $50K Combine: $49/month + $149 activation, or $109/month no-activation | Swing Max from $69; Swing Flex from $87; Day Trade Flex from $59 |
| Mid Tier | $100K Combine: $99/month + $149 activation, or $159/month no-activation | Mid Day Trade and Swing tiers – one-time evaluation fees |
| Premium | $150K Combine: $149/month + $149 activation, or $209/month no-activation | $200K buying power Day Trade tiers; Day Trade Max from $230 |
| Reset Fee | One free reset credit earned per monthly renewal | One-time fee model; reset terms per program |
| Refundable? | Activation-fee path or no-activation path; subscription is non-refundable | One-time fee; no monthly fees |
| Coupons | See discounts | Coupon Code |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
Platforms/Tools – What can you use? |
||
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Topstep | The Trade Pool |
| Trading Platforms | TopstepX only (mandatory for new accounts since July 2025) | Trader Evolution – professional platform with DOM, scalper view, Level 2 data |
| Data Feed | Bundled with TopstepX | Direct Nasdaq data feed via Interactive Brokers infrastructure |
| Mobile Trading | Mobile-browser support | Mobile and desktop versions of Trader Evolution |
| Custom Indicators | Integrated TradingView charting plus the proprietary Tilt™ risk indicator | Standard indicator support via Trader Evolution |
| Automated Trading | EAs fully permitted, no restrictions | Copy trading allowed between a maximum of two of your own accounts; no hedging or arbitrage |
| News Feed | Integrated within TopstepX | Standard equity news feed via the platform |
Available Markets/Products |
||
|---|---|---|
| Market | Topstep | The Trade Pool |
| Forex | Not offered | Not offered |
| Index Futures / Indices | ES, NQ and the full CME index suite | Not offered – TTP is US equity only |
| Energy / Commodities | CL and full CME energy and commodity complex | Not offered |
| Metals | GC and CME metals | Not offered |
| Crypto | Not offered | Not offered |
| Stocks | Not offered | Over 12,000 US stocks, ETFs, and penny stocks; pre-market and after-hours access |
| Total Coverage | CME Group futures only | US equity only – no PDT rule, short selling with locate fees covered |
Technical Capabilities/Performance |
||
|---|---|---|
| Feature | Topstep | The Trade Pool |
| Execution Speed | Direct via TopstepX infrastructure | Direct execution via Interactive Brokers (IBKR) infrastructure |
| Automated Trading | EAs permitted with no specific restrictions | Copy trading limited to two of your own accounts; no hedging or arbitrage |
| Order Types | Standard futures order set (Market, Limit, Stop, OCO) | Full equity order set via Trader Evolution; 30-second minimum trade duration |
| Platform Reliability | Established since 2012; $1B+ in cumulative payouts | Founded 2022 under Five Percent Online; CLEAR™ Certified 4.3/5 |
| Data Feed Quality | TopstepX-bundled CME data | Direct Nasdaq data feed via IBKR |
| Trading Hours | Standard CME futures sessions | Regular session plus pre-market and after-hours trading |
Support and Community |
||
|---|---|---|
| Support Feature | Topstep | The Trade Pool |
| Customer Support Hours | Live chat, email, phone, SMS, WhatsApp | Standard support channels via Five Percent Online operations |
| Response Time | Same-day during business hours | Not specified |
| Live Coaching | Daily live trading sessions and webinars | Shared with The5ers ecosystem under the same parent company |
| Trading Community | 150,000+ Discord members | Active equity-trader community across the Five Percent Online network |
| Educational Resources | Multiple tracks, courses, podcasts | Stock-focused education and analysis content |
| Success Stories | $1B+ in cumulative payouts | 4.4/5 Trustpilot with 82% of reviewers awarding five stars |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation |
||
|---|---|---|
| Key Element | Topstep | The Trade Pool |
| Strengths | Longest live track record in futures, no daily loss limit, EAs permitted, $1B+ payouts, deep education ecosystem | Only major prop firm built for US stocks, no PDT rule, short-selling locate fees covered, IBKR infrastructure, single-step evaluation, fees from $47 |
| Weaknesses | Monthly subscription compounds; TopstepX-only platform; CME futures only | US equity only – no forex, futures, or crypto; daily stop loss enforced; copy trading limited to two of your own accounts |
| Best For | Futures traders who want pedigree and the most established US-futures evaluation experience | US equity day and swing traders who want professional infrastructure, no PDT, and pre/after-hours access |
| Final Grade | 4.4/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Discount Codes | – | Coupon Code |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
FAQ
Do Topstep and The Trade Pool offer the same instruments?
No. Topstep is CME Group futures only – index, energy, metals, and currency futures (ES, NQ, CL, GC and similar). Trade The Pool is US equity only – over 12,000 stocks, ETFs, and penny stocks via the Trader Evolution platform. The two firms cover entirely different asset classes.
What is the PDT rule and does The Trade Pool enforce it?
The Pattern Day Trader rule normally requires US retail stock traders to maintain a $25,000 minimum equity balance to make more than three day trades in a five-day window. Trade The Pool does not enforce the PDT rule – you can day trade freely on any account size. Topstep is futures-only and is not subject to the PDT rule by design.
Can I short stocks at The Trade Pool?
Yes – short selling is permitted across all programs, and Trade The Pool covers the short-locate fees (handled via Interactive Brokers) so you do not pay them yourself. Topstep does not offer stock trading, so shorting is not applicable there.
What is the Flex vs Max program difference?
Flex programs (Day Trade Flex, Swing Flex) have no time limit on the evaluation phase. Max programs (Day Trade Max, Swing Max) run a 60-day evaluation window with stricter rules in exchange for lower fees relative to buying power. Topstep, in contrast, uses a single Trading Combine® with no time limit and a 5-trading-day minimum.
How do payouts work at each firm?
At Topstep, the first payout is available after a minimum holding period in the funded account (around 8–10 trading days), then every 14 days; daily payouts unlock after 30 consecutive winning days. At The Trade Pool, payouts are bi-weekly (every 14 days), processed in 1–2 business days, via bank wire or cryptocurrency.
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.
View More Elite Prop Firms Compared
Topstep vs The Concept Trading – Elite Prop Firms Comparison
