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Topstep vs Earn2Trade: Full Comparison
A side-by-side comparison of Topstep and Earn2Trade built from our normalised 31-firm dataset. Every figure was read off the firms’ own pages, and each row carries its source and check date. Where we could not verify something we mark it “not verified” rather than leaving it blank.
Key findings
- Topstep comes out ahead on Lowest entry fee ($49 vs $60).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Max profit split (100% vs 80%).
- Earn2Trade comes out ahead on Daily loss limit (2.2% vs 2%).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Min trading days (0 days vs 10 days).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Payout cycle (5 days vs 7 days).
- Earn2Trade holds the higher Trustpilot rating (4.6 (4,962) vs 3.6 (14,632)).
Terms compared
| Item | Topstep | Earn2Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation model | 1-step | 1-step |
| Lowest entry fee | $49 Better | $60 |
| Max profit split | 100% Better | 80% |
| Profit target | 6% | 6% |
| Daily loss limit | 2% | 2.2% Better |
| Max drawdown | 4% | 4% |
| Drawdown type | End-of-day trailing | End-of-day trailing |
| Min trading days | 0 days Better | 10 days |
| Payout cycle | 5 days Better | 7 days |
| Payout processing time | 3 days | Not verified |
| Max leverage | Not verified | Not verified |
| Account sizes | $50,000 / $100,000 / $150,000 | $25,000 / $50,000 / $100,000 / $150,000 / $200,000 |
| Asset classes | futures | futures |
| Trustpilot | 3.6 (14,632) | 4.6 (4,962) Better |
| Third-party payout verification | Self-reported only | Not verified |
| Recorded rule changes | 2 | None recorded |
How the drawdown works
Both firms use a end-of-day trailing drawdown, so open profit affects your loss allowance the same way at each.
Third-party payout verification
Topstep
$1.4B+ — Self-reported only
The largest claim in the set and the least checkable rail: payouts settle by ACH, wire/SWIFT, Wise or prop-to-brokerage transfer, none of which leave a public record, and Topstep does not appear among the firms Payout Junction tracks. It is nonetheless the only firm here that publishes a dated participant-level payout statistic: "From January through December 2025 … (c) 33.3% of all individual participants at the Funded Level received a payout". A cumulative total with no denominator says nothing about a reader’s odds; that disclosure does.
Topstep — homepage ("$1.4B+ Paid out to prop firm traders") and 2025 Trader Performance Statistics · 2026-08-05
Earn2Trade
Checked in a rendering browser to rule out a JavaScript-injected counter. Not among the firms Payout Junction tracks.
Earn2Trade — homepage (no payout figure published) · 2026-08-05
Recorded rule changes
Topstep
- Observed 2026-08-22 Before: Third-party platforms NinjaTrader, Tradovate and TradingView were offered as the trading platform lineup. → After: TopstepX, Topstep's in-house browser platform, is the standard for all accounts; the one external option is a Quantower connection via TopstepX credentials (Trading Combine and Express Funded Account only). Topstep Help Center — TopstepX™
- Effective 2026-01-12 Before: 100% of the first $10,000 in lifetime profits, then a 90/10 split. → After: 90/10 split from the first dollar. Topstep Help Center — Topstep Payout Policy
Earn2Trade
Our tracker holds no recorded changes for Earn2Trade. An absence of records is not proof that nothing changed.
Which one fits you
What the data says, priority by priority. The decision is yours; we do not give investment advice.
- Topstep comes out ahead on Lowest entry fee ($49 vs $60).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Max profit split (100% vs 80%).
- Earn2Trade comes out ahead on Daily loss limit (2.2% vs 2%).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Min trading days (0 days vs 10 days).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Payout cycle (5 days vs 7 days).
- Earn2Trade holds the higher Trustpilot rating (4.6 (4,962) vs 3.6 (14,632)).
FAQ
- Which is cheaper to start, Topstep or Earn2Trade?
- Topstep is $49 and Earn2Trade is $60, so Topstep is the better of the two on Lowest entry fee. This page is an informational comparison, not investment advice. Passing an evaluation is not guaranteed and entry fees may not be refundable.
- Which one pays the higher profit split?
- Topstep is 100% and Earn2Trade is 80%, so Topstep is the better of the two on Max profit split. This page is an informational comparison, not investment advice. Passing an evaluation is not guaranteed and entry fees may not be refundable.
- Which one has the shorter payout cycle?
- Topstep is 5 days and Earn2Trade is 7 days, so Topstep is the better of the two on Payout cycle. This page is an informational comparison, not investment advice. Passing an evaluation is not guaranteed and entry fees may not be refundable.
- Do they calculate drawdown the same way?
- Both firms use a end-of-day trailing drawdown, so open profit affects your loss allowance the same way at each.
- What do their Trustpilot ratings look like?
- Topstep: 3.6 (14,632). Earn2Trade: 4.6 (4,962). Profiles were checked on 2026-07-31. Where Trustpilot has withheld a rating for a guideline breach we publish no score.
Sources
- https://www.topstep.com/
- https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284197-trading-combine-parameters
- https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284204-what-is-the-maximum-loss-limit
- https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284207-what-is-the-daily-loss-limit-and-what-happens-if-i-exceed-it
- https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284233-topstep-payout-policy
- https://www.trustpilot.com/review/topstep.com
- https://earn2trade.com/
- https://www.earn2trade.com/gauntlet-mini
- https://help.earn2trade.com/en/articles/3224507-what-is-the-maximum-drawdown-on-the-trader-career-path-and-the-gauntlet-mini-challenges
- https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.earn2trade.com
Data currency
Terms data 2026-06-22 / payout verification 2026-08-05 / rule changes 2026-08-22. Prop firm terms change without notice — always confirm on the official site before you buy.
This page is an informational comparison, not investment advice. Passing an evaluation is not guaranteed and entry fees may not be refundable.