DayTraders vs Topstep

DayTraders is $30 cheaper to get started. DayTraders charges $38 one-time plus a $130 activation fee. Topstep charges $49/mo (monthly subscription) plus a $149 activation fee. DayTraders currently has an active promotion which may further reduce cost.

DayTraders uses Intraday Trailing drawdown at 5% ($2,500 buffer once locked at initial), while Topstep uses EOD Trailing at 4% ($2,000 buffer once locked at initial). DayTraders uses intraday trailing, the strictest type — your floor moves in real time with every tick of profit. Topstep's EOD trailing only adjusts at market close, giving intraday profits a safer cushion. Lock behavior differs: DayTraders — locks at $50,000 after $2,500 profit, while Topstep — locks at $50,000 after $2,000 profit.

Both firms have comparable timelines to first payout.

DayTraders offers up to 100% profit split(On Demand payouts), while Topstep offers up to 90%(Daily payouts). The 10 percentage point difference in profit split can add up significantly over time — on a $10,000 profit, that's $1,000 more in your pocket.

Both firms have similar trading restrictions.

DayTraders is a stronger fit for budget traders (starting at $22.5). Explore all trading styles to see which firms match your approach.

Based on $500/day profit, 20 trading days/month, 55% win rate

At $500/day profit, DayTraders reaches break-even on day 11 while Topstep reaches it on day 12. DayTraders costs $30 less to get started. DayTraders projects $5,292/mo more in funded earnings.

Overall, Topstep scores higher (79 vs 75) on our trader-friendliness index. Key advantages: more forgiving drawdown rules, more lenient consistency rules. That said, DayTraders wins on lower starting cost, better profit split. See the full glossary to understand any unfamiliar terms, or explore trading styles to find the best firm for your approach.