Take Profit Trader vs Topstep

Topstep is $34 cheaper to get started. Take Profit Trader charges $102/mo (monthly subscription) plus a $130 activation fee. Topstep charges $49/mo (monthly subscription) plus a $149 activation fee. Take Profit Trader currently has an active promotion which may further reduce cost.

Take Profit Trader uses EOD Trailing drawdown at 4% ($2,000 buffer once locked at initial), while Topstep uses EOD Trailing at 4% ($2,000 buffer once locked at initial). Take Profit Trader also has a $1,100 daily loss limit, while Topstep does not. Topstep's daily loss limit is a soft mechanism (pause until next day), while Take Profit Trader has no such soft protection.

No timing winner is declared until both selected paths have formula-ready public evidence. Take Profit Trader: Missing public evidence: Fee Monthly|Fee Onetime, Max Payout Per Request, Selected Economic Product. Topstep: Missing public evidence: Selected Economic Product.

Take Profit Trader offers up to 80% profit split(Daily payouts), while Topstep offers up to 90%(Daily payouts, $125 min). 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.

When comparing withdrawal frequency, the gap between payouts matters. Take Profit Trader has no minimum profitable days requirement between withdrawals. Topstep requires 5 profitable trading days between each withdrawal — at 20 trading days per month, that works out to roughly 4 payouts per month.

Take Profit Trader requires clearing a buffer zone before your first payout — you must earn above your starting balance plus the drawdown amount before any withdrawal is allowed. Topstep has no buffer requirement, meaning payouts are available from day one.

Topstep requires 5 trading days between payout requests. Take Profit Trader has no minimum trading day gap between payouts.

Topstep requires a minimum of $150 daily profit for a day to count toward payout eligibility. Take Profit Trader has no qualifying day minimum.

Topstep limits each payout to 50% of accumulated profit, keeping the remainder as an account buffer. Take Profit Trader has no percentage-of-profit cap on payouts.

Take Profit Trader requires a $2,000 safety net buffer before your first payout — you must earn above starting balance plus this amount. Topstep has no safety net requirement.

Take Profit Trader's buffer never clears — withdrawals from the buffer zone earn a reduced 50%/50% split permanently.

Topstep caps each withdrawal at $2,000 per request. Take Profit Trader has no per-request cap.

Topstep is more flexible overall. Automation: Topstep allows bots and algo trading while Take Profit Trader prohibits it — a critical difference for systematic traders. News trading: Topstep allows it while Take Profit Trader restricts it. Copy trading: allowed at Topstep but restricted at Take Profit Trader. Both require flat-by deadlines: Take Profit Trader at 5:00 PM ET, Topstep at 3:10 PM CT.

Both firms work well for day traders. Take Profit Trader is a stronger fit for budget traders (starting at $90). Topstep is a stronger fit for scalpers (news trading ok). 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, Take Profit Trader reaches break-even on day 12 while Topstep reaches it on day 12. Topstep costs $34 less to get started. Take Profit Trader projects $3,367/mo more in funded earnings.

Overall, Topstep scores higher (75 vs 56) on our trader-friendliness index. Key advantages: lower starting cost, more forgiving drawdown rules, better profit split, fewer trading restrictions. See the full glossary to understand any unfamiliar terms, or explore trading styles to find the best firm for your approach.