Topstep vs Tradeify – Elite Prop Firms Comparison
Published: · Last updated:
Introduction
Topstep and Tradeify are both pure CME-futures prop firms, which makes them direct competitors for traders who only want to trade ES, NQ, CL, GC and other CME products. Topstep, founded in Chicago in 2012, is the firm that invented the modern evaluation-funding model and has paid out more than a billion dollars to funded traders. Tradeify, founded in 2022 by professional trader Brett Simba, is a newer entrant but has already processed $125 million-plus in payouts and built one of the strongest reputations in the futures-prop space, with a 4.7/5 Trustpilot score. Both run all execution through Tradovate’s brokerage backend, but their evaluation models, profit splits, and platform coverage diverge in ways that matter for trader selection.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Topstep | Tradeify |
|---|---|---|
|  | |
| Founded | 2012 | 2022 |
| Profit Split | 90% trader share; first-$10,000 lifetime-profit exception for traders who joined the new dashboard before Jan 12, 2026 | 90/10 Sim Funded; 80/20 Elite Live; Legacy Live terms vary |
| Maximum Account Size | $150,000 | — |
| Evaluation Phases | 1 | 1-step Growth/Select; no evaluation for Lightning |
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.4 | 4.7 |
| Expert Grade | 9 | 7.4 |
Program Types
| Program | Topstep | Tradeify |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | Growth |
| Advanced Program | — | Select |
| Scaling Options | No | Lightning Funded |
| Demo Account | No | — |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Topstep | Tradeify |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | Trading Combine Parameters — 50,000: 3,000 Trading Combine Parameters — 100,000: 6,000 Trading Combine Parameters — 150,000: 9,000 | — |
| Maximum Drawdown | Trailing MLL: $2,000-$4,500 | EOD trailing, enforced in real time against net liquidation value |
| Minimum Trading Days | Trading Combine can pass in as few as 2 days, subject to 55% consistency; funded payout paths have separate day requirements | Growth evaluation: 1; Select: 3 (2 with eligible 50% add-on); Lightning: no evaluation |
| News Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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) | — |
| 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 | Tradeify |
|---|---|---|
| Futures $25K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | Growth Evaluation / USD 99 / One-time Official help-center Growth Evaluation one-time purchase price. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $50K Account | Trading Combine / USD 49 / Monthly Standard Trading Combine monthly price. Source Checked 2026-08-10 | Growth Evaluation / USD 145 / One-time Official help-center Growth Evaluation one-time purchase price. 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 | Growth Evaluation / USD 255 / One-time Official help-center Growth Evaluation one-time purchase price. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $150K Account | Trading Combine / USD 199 / Monthly Standard Trading Combine monthly price. Source Checked 2026-09-27 | Growth Evaluation / USD 369 / One-time Official help-center Growth Evaluation one-time purchase price. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Refund Policy | — | Non-refundable evaluation fees |
| Coupons / Discount | Topstep discount | Tradeify discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Topstep | Tradeify |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | TopstepX; Quantower connectivity for Trading Combine and Express Funded accounts | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Tradesea, Quantower, Sierra Chart, R|Trader, WealthCharts |
| Forex | Currency futures, not spot Forex | No |
| Stocks | No | No |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| EA/Algo Trading | Yes | Conditional: exclusively owned personal strategy; no shared or HFT bots; verification required |
Payout
| Feature | Topstep | Tradeify |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Select Daily: conditional daily eligibility; Flex/Growth: 5 qualifying days; Lightning: profit goals and consistency. Plan-specific minimums and caps. |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Topstep | Tradeify |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 90/10 Sim Funded split, Lightning instant simulated access, Select Daily or Flex payout choice, One-time purchases, News trading 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 | Payout caps and date-specific rules, Real-time enforcement of EOD floor, No overnight holding, 35% Growth funded consistency, Personal algorithms subject to ownership restrictions |
| Best For | Serious futures traders seeking established firm with forgiving evaluation | Active intraday futures traders seeking fast payouts and platform flexibility |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Topstep if you want a cheaper entry, from USD 49 and coverage of forex that the other does not offer. Choose Tradeify if coverage of cryptocurrencies that the other does not offer matters 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 Tradeify’s programs?
Tradeify has Growth, Select and Lightning funded-account arrangements. Select offers a permanent choice between Flex and Daily payout policies. Tradeify official rules; Tradeify official program information.
How do payouts differ between Topstep and Tradeify?
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.
Growth pays the trader 90% of approved requests and requires five qualifying profitable days, a 35% consistency rule and the account-size balance threshold. Select Daily also lists a 90% share, with separate buffers and payout caps. Tradeify official rules; Tradeify official program information.
Which account rules matter when comparing Topstep and Tradeify?
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.
A minimum balance needed to qualify is not the same as the amount available to withdraw. Growth has per-request caps; Select Daily has additional rules for new profit and account purchase dates. Tradeify official rules; Tradeify official program information.
Is Topstep or Tradeify automatically the better choice?
No. Each firm wins on a different axis. Topstep has the cheaper entry at USD 49 and market access the other lacks, namely forex. Tradeify has market access the other lacks, namely cryptocurrencies. 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 Tradeify
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.