Select 2 or more firms to compare evaluation costs, drawdown rules, profit splits, payout structures, and trading restrictions across all 14 CME futures prop trading firms.
Specific tiers and funded paths from the selected firms, ranked with public-rule fit and blockers visible.
Why this plan/path
This is a partial fit: $0 to first payout, payout access 80/100.
4 public evidence blockers still reduce confidence. Missing values are not treated as favorable.
Weekly email when firms update their rules. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Why this plan/path
This is a partial fit: $0 to first payout, payout access 80/100.
4 public evidence blockers still reduce confidence. Missing values are not treated as favorable.
Why this plan/path
This is a partial fit: $130 to first payout, payout access 60/100.
3 public evidence blockers still reduce confidence. Missing values are not treated as favorable.
| Category | DayTraders ✓ Verified Mar 31, 2026 | Topstep ✓ Verified Apr 11, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Account Size | $25K | $50K |
| Overall Score | ||
| Trader Friendliness | 63/100Good | 69/100Good |
| Cost Summary | ||
| Eval Cost | $309DT | $49/mo |
| Total to Start | $439(eval + activation) | $198(first mo + activation) |
| Monthly Cost (Funded) | — | — |
| Activation Fee | $130 | $149 |
| Reset Fee | — | $49 |
| Evaluation Rules | ||
| Profit Target | $1,500 (6%) | $3,000 (6%) |
| Min Trading Days | 2 days | 2 days |
| Min Days to Funded | 2 days | 2 days |
| Pass Rate | N/A | 12.4% |
| Drawdown Rules | ||
| Type | EOD Trailing | EOD Trailing |
| Max Drawdown | $1,000(6%) | $2,000(4%) |
| Daily Loss Limit | $800 | $1,000 |
| DLL Breach Type | N/A | Soft |
| Lock Behavior | Locks at $25,000 after $1,000 profit | Locks at $50,000 after $2,000 profit |
| Strictness | Moderate | Moderate |
| Trading Restrictions | ||
| News Trading | News trading allowed on all accounts (eval + funded). Not recommended due to volatility/liquidity risks. No flat window, no prohibited events. Exercise caution during high-impact releases. | No explicit news trading restriction. CBOT commodity market pause 7:45-8:30 AM CST on TopstepX (exchange-level, no orders accepted during pause). No swing trading allowed — all positions must close by 3:10 PM CT daily. |
| Automation | Banned | Banned |
| Hedging | Banned | Banned |
| Overnight Holds | ||
| Must Be Flat By | 4:59 PM ET | 3:10 PM CT |
| Inactivity Limit | — | — |
| Weekend Holding | Allowed | Must Flat |
| Account Rolling | No Restriction | No Restriction |
| Min Payout | $500 | $125 |
| Funded Account | ||
| Payout Accessibility | 75/100 | 78/100 |
| Consistency Rule | 30% max/dayModerate | None |
| Funded Rules | ||
| Funded Consistency | 30% max/day | None |
| Funded DLL | None | $1,000(soft) |
| Buffer Requirement | None | None |
| Activation Fee | $130 | $149 |
| Min Profitable Days | 8 days | 5 days |
| Profit Split | 100% | 90% |
| Payout Frequency | On Demand | Daily |
| Max Payout | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| Winning Days | 8 days($100+) | 5 days |
| Days Between Payouts | — | 5 trading days |
| Qualifying Day Min | $100/day | $150/day |
| Max Payout % | — | 50% of profit |
| Min Balance for Payout | $26,600 | — |
| Min Balance After Payout | $26,000 | — |
| Day 1 Payouts | Yes | No |
| Min Payout | $500 | $125 |
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | $30 |
| Processing Time | ~32 minutes (automated) | 1-3 business days |
| Payout Methods | ProjectX Automated | Wire/ACH ($30), Wise (Free) |
| Max Contracts | 6 full / 60 micro | 5 full / 50 micro |
| Max Accounts | 5 accounts | 5 accounts |
| Platforms | ProjectX, Quantower | TopstepX, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Quantower |
| Total Withdrawal Cap | $150,000 | — |
| Min Payout | $500 | $125 |
| Max Per Request | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| Withdrawal Fee | — | $30 |
| Post-Payout DD | — | Converts to Static ($0) |
| Account Lifecycle | ||
| Max Funded Accounts | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Inactivity Limit | None | None |
| Quick Math | ||
| True Cost to Start | $439 $309 eval + $130 activation | $198 $49/mo eval + $149 activation |
| Daily Profit Target | $750/day over 2 days | $1,500/day over 2 days |
| First Payout Timeline | ~42 days 2d eval + 8d winning + 32d processing | ~10 days 2d eval + 5d winning + 3d processing |
| Best Profit Split | 100% | 90% |