Topstep vs Take Profit Trader: which prop firm is better?

Cost: Topstep vs Take Profit Trader

Both firms bill the evaluation as a monthly subscription with no time limit to pass, and both charge an activation fee when you pass. The difference is the code: Take Profit Trader's own NOFEE40 promotion takes 40% off the monthly price for the life of the account and waives the $130 activation fee. Topstep does not publish a sitewide code of its own; codes from its affiliate creators take 20% off the first month.

NOFEE40 brings Take Profit Trader close, but Topstep is still cheaper. Its No Activation Fee path costs $95 a month with nothing to pay after passing, against $102 a month at TPT with NOFEE40, and its Standard path ($49 a month plus $149 once) is the cheapest route if passing takes three months or more. Resets cost less at Topstep too ($49 or $95, against $99).

Without NOFEE40 the gap is large: a one-month pass at TPT list prices costs $300.

Promotions change, so check the price at checkout. TPT's help center explains the terms of NOFEE40 in its own FAQ.

Rules and drawdown

During the evaluation the two firms are very similar: the same target and the same end-of-day drawdown, and neither fails you for breaking the consistency rule; your target simply rises. TPT allows one more contract but needs at least three trading days.

The big difference comes after you pass. Topstep's Express Funded Account keeps an end-of-day trailing drawdown. Take Profit Trader's PRO account switches to an intraday trailing drawdown, which follows open profit in real time until it reaches the starting balance. A trade that runs up and comes back can tighten your limit at TPT but not at Topstep. Our trailing drawdown guide explains the difference.

Topstep also limits funded size with a Scaling Plan (2 lots at the start on 50K, 5 lots at $2,000 of profit). TPT has no scaling plan.

Payouts: Topstep vs Take Profit Trader

This is where the two firms differ most. Take Profit Trader lets you withdraw every day with no cap, but only profit above a buffer equal to your drawdown, and it keeps 20% until you are invited to PRO+. Topstep keeps 10% and caps each payout, but the Risk Team can call consistent traders up to a Live Funded Account with no dollar cap and daily payouts after 30 winning days.

TPT charges $50 for wallet withdrawals of $250 or less. Topstep charges $30 for ACH and wire payouts.

Platforms and trading rules

Topstep runs on TopstepX, with Quantower as the only alternative. Take Profit Trader supports seven platforms: NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Quantower, MotiveWave, MultiCharts and Bookmap, with Rithmic or CQG data.

• Automation: Topstep allows automated strategies. Take Profit Trader does not allow trading bots.
• News: Topstep allows news trading but bans trading your full maximum size into major scheduled news. TPT has no news rule in the Test, but PRO accounts must be flat from one minute before to one minute after FOMC, NFP and CPI.
• Overnight positions: neither allows them. Close by 3:10 PM CT at Topstep and 4:55 PM ET at TPT.
• Trade copiers: both allow copying across your own accounts.

Trust and track record

Topstep has run its Trading Combine since 2012 in Chicago and says it has paid more than $1.5 billion to traders. It also owns Topstep Brokerage, a separate introducing broker and NFA member. Take Profit Trader is led by founder and CEO James Sixsmith and routes orders through Rithmic, CQG/Tradovate and NinjaTrader. We could not verify its founding year from official sources.

Both firms publish their rules in detailed public help centers, which we used for this comparison.

Bottom line

Pick Take Profit Trader if fast, uncapped withdrawals matter most, and you want NinjaTrader, Tradovate or TradingView. Pick Topstep if you want an end-of-day drawdown once funded, a 90% split, automation, the lower price and a firm with more than a decade of history. For every rule in detail, read our full Topstep review and Take Profit Trader review.