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 | 100% first $10,000, then 90/10 | 100% of first $15,000, then 90/10 |
| Maximum Account Size | $150,000 | — |
| Evaluation Phases | 1 | 1-step |
| 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 | 6% | — |
| Maximum Drawdown | Trailing MLL: $2,000-$4,500 | EOD trailing or trailing |
| Minimum Trading Days | 5 | — |
| News Trading | Yes | Yes |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Topstep | Tradeify |
|---|---|---|
| $25K Account | Not offered | USD 99 / Growth Evaluation / One-time |
| $50K Account | USD 49 / Trading Combine / Monthly | USD 145 / Growth Evaluation / One-time |
| $100K Account | USD 99 / Trading Combine / Monthly | USD 255 / Growth Evaluation / One-time |
| $150K Account | USD 149 / Trading Combine / Monthly | USD 369 / Growth Evaluation / One-time |
| Coupons / Discount | Topstep discount | Tradeify discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Topstep | Tradeify |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | TopstepX | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Quantower, WealthCharts |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Stocks | No | No |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| EA/Algo Trading | Yes | No |
Payout
| Feature | Topstep | Tradeify |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | Bi-weekly via ACH, wire, or Rise; $50 minimum | Rise or Plane; 24-48 hours to wallet, 1-3 business days to bank |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Topstep | Tradeify |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Industry pioneer, generous first $10K profit split, no time limits, EAs permitted, no daily loss limit, $1B+ paid to traders | 100% profit on first $15K, Lightning Funded instant access, Daily payouts available, Five platform options, News trading allowed, $125M+ paid out, 4.7/5 Trustpilot |
| Weaknesses | Monthly subscription fees compound, $149 activation fee, TopstepX platform exclusive, futures-only, trailing MLL can catch intraday profit-takers | Monthly subscription billing, No EAs in funded phase, No weekend trading, 35% consistency rule on Growth, Founded 2022 shorter track record |
| 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 on this page carry a JoinProp Rating out of 10. We produce that rating with the same 9-factor methodology we apply to every firm we review: payout reliability (20%), fee structure (15%), drawdown rules (15%), profit split (15%), evaluation terms (10%), trading rules (10%), support access and responsiveness (5%), scaling plan (5%), and track record and transparency (5%).
The inputs come from our firm reviews, not from this page. For each firm we work from the current terms and conditions rather than marketing pages, track rule and pricing changes over time, and read payout and support reports across Trustpilot, Reddit and Discord, looking for recurring patterns rather than isolated complaints. Every firm is re-checked at least every 90 days, or sooner after a material change. Affiliate relationships have no effect on any rating, and ratings are never sold.
The tables above show the evidence behind those factors. A few rows, including trading platforms, available instruments, maximum account size and demo availability, are there to help you judge fit and do not affect either rating.
Read our full ranking methodology