Topstep vs Take Profit Trader…

Name: Topstep Review 2026
Item: Topstep
Rating: 3.06
Author: TraderVerdict

Left firmRight firm

Topstep

61/100

Adequate

Take Profit Trader

60/100

Adequate

Topstep scores 1.0 higher under TVSM-PF/2.0.2.

Payout split

Topstep90% (flat for new traders as of Jan 12, 2026)

Take Profit TraderPRO: 80/20; PRO+ upgrade after $5,000 PRO profits: 90/10

Max funded

Topstep$150,000 (Express Funded Account)

Take Profit Trader$150,000

Payout cap

Topstep$2,000/payout Standard, $3,000/payout Consistency — new $50K accounts from Apr 28, 2026

Take Profit TraderNone monthly; $50 fee on withdrawals ≤$250

Drawdown model

TopstepTrailing EOD MLL — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, never resets down

Take Profit TraderPRO: 6% trailing intraday; PRO+: EOD trailing (balance-based)

Min trading days

Topstep5 winning days required before payout request

Take Profit Trader5 (PRO)

Challenge fee

Topstep$49–$149/month subscription

Take Profit Trader$150–360/mo subscription depending on account size; $130 one-time PRO activation

Fee refundable

TopstepNo — subscription model, no refund on payout

Take Profit TraderNo — subscription + one-time $130 PRO activation fee

News trading

TopstepAllowed — no restrictions on futures news trading

Take Profit TraderRestricted on funded accounts during major releases

Platforms

TopstepTopstepX (proprietary, mandatory as of 2026)

Take Profit TraderNinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView

Payout schedule

TopstepOn demand after 5 winning days — processed 1-3 business days

Take Profit TraderMonthly cycle; mixed speed reports

Specification	Topstep 61/100 Adequate	Take Profit Trader 60/100 Adequate
Payout split	90% (flat for new traders as of Jan 12, 2026)	PRO: 80/20; PRO+ upgrade after $5,000 PRO profits: 90/10
Max funded	$150,000 (Express Funded Account)	$150,000
Payout cap	$2,000/payout Standard, $3,000/payout Consistency — new $50K accounts from Apr 28, 2026	None monthly; $50 fee on withdrawals ≤$250
Drawdown model	Trailing EOD MLL — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, never resets down	PRO: 6% trailing intraday; PRO+: EOD trailing (balance-based)
Min trading days	5 winning days required before payout request	5 (PRO)
Challenge fee	$49–$149/month subscription	$150–360/mo subscription depending on account size; $130 one-time PRO activation
Fee refundable	No — subscription model, no refund on payout	No — subscription + one-time $130 PRO activation fee
News trading	Allowed — no restrictions on futures news trading	Restricted on funded accounts during major releases
Platforms	TopstepX (proprietary, mandatory as of 2026)	NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView
Payout schedule	On demand after 5 winning days — processed 1-3 business days	Monthly cycle; mixed speed reports
	Research only	Research only

Which one fits?

Topstep is best for cme futures traders who prioritize platform integration, established community, and a well-documented combine evaluation over uncapped payouts.
Take Profit Trader is best for existing tpt funded traders working through pro toward the pro+ upgrade with a defined intraday strategy and modest profit goals.

See the full Topstep review and Take Profit Trader review for the verified specs and editorial verdict on each.

Dimension by dimension: who wins where

Computed live from the per-variable evidence behind each firm's TVSM-PF score — Take Profit Trader takes 4 of 6 dimensions at current scores. Every variable links to a primary source on the firm pages.

Payout ReliabilityTopstep 19.2 · Take 20.8 / 32

Take Profit Trader wins. Topstep pays 90% (flat for new traders as of Jan 12, 2026); Take Profit Trader pays PRO: 80/20; PRO+ upgrade after $5,000 PRO profits: 90/10. Per-payout caps — Topstep: $2,000/payout Standard, $3,000/payout Consistency — new $50K accounts from Apr 28, 2026; Take Profit Trader: None monthly; $50 fee on withdrawals ≤$250 — decide who keeps more in a big month.

Rule FairnessTopstep 15.5 · Take 11.7 / 24

Topstep wins. Drawdown models differ: Topstep runs Trailing EOD MLL — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, never resets down; Take Profit Trader runs PRO: 6% trailing intraday; PRO+: EOD trailing (balance-based). The model decides how much intraday heat you can take before breaching.

Rules StabilityTopstep 5.6 · Take 7.0 / 10

Take Profit Trader wins. Mid-stream rule changes are penalized here, and every change is tracked in our append-only changelog — so a recent payout or drawdown change shows up in this dimension rather than being quietly absorbed.

Business ViabilityTopstep 12.8 · Take 9.6 / 16

Topstep wins. Operating history and scale matter most when a payout goes sideways — the longer-running, better-capitalised firm carries less counterparty risk, and this dimension reflects each firm's track record to date.

Platform & ExecutionTopstep 3.2 · Take 4.4 / 8

Take Profit Trader wins. Platforms: Topstep — TopstepX (proprietary, mandatory as of 2026); Take Profit Trader — NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView. If your edge depends on a specific platform, this is the deciding line.

Cost & ValueTopstep 4.8 · Take 6.6 / 10

Take Profit Trader wins. Evaluation cost: Topstep — $49–$149/month subscription; Take Profit Trader — $150–360/mo subscription depending on account size; $130 one-time PRO activation. Fee refundable — Topstep: No — subscription model, no refund on payout; Take Profit Trader: No — subscription + one-time $130 PRO activation fee.

Rule by rule, in each firm's own terms

Verbatim from our verified spec database — the conditions are the product, so nothing here is flattened to a yes/no. Where a rule has tiers or conditions, you are reading them.

Rule	Topstep	Take Profit Trader
Drawdown model	Trailing EOD MLL — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, never resets down	PRO: 6% trailing intraday; PRO+: EOD trailing (balance-based)
Max drawdown	Trailing EOD MLL — $2,000 buffer on $50K account	6% of starting balance trailing
Daily loss limit	Dynamic Daily Loss Limit — scales with account balance	No daily loss limit; trailing drawdown only
Payout split	90% (flat for new traders as of Jan 12, 2026)	PRO: 80/20; PRO+ upgrade after $5,000 PRO profits: 90/10
Payout cap	$2,000/payout Standard, $3,000/payout Consistency — new $50K accounts from Apr 28, 2026	None monthly; $50 fee on withdrawals ≤$250
Payout schedule	On demand after 5 winning days — processed 1-3 business days	Monthly cycle; mixed speed reports
Min trading days	5 winning days required before payout request	5 (PRO)
Consistency rule	Consistency EFA: largest single trading day cannot exceed 40% of total net profit during payout window. Standard EFA: no consistency target.	Disclosed pre-purchase; community reports of post-hoc enforcement
News trading	Allowed — no restrictions on futures news trading	Restricted on funded accounts during major releases
Weekend holds	Futures markets only — positions must be closed before CME weekend close per exchange rules.	Not permitted on funded accounts
Evaluation cost	$49–$149/month subscription	$150–360/mo subscription depending on account size; $130 one-time PRO activation
Fee refundable	No — subscription model, no refund on payout	No — subscription + one-time $130 PRO activation fee
Platforms	TopstepX (proprietary, mandatory as of 2026)	NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView
Max funded	$150,000 (Express Funded Account)	$150,000
Scaling	Express Funded scales to $150K via successful Combine passes; no automatic scaling within an account	PRO → PRO+ via Tradovate live brokerage upgrade

Verified June 2026 (Topstep) · June 2026 (Take Profit Trader). Source extracts for every scored variable are on the firm pages.

The verdict, by trader type

A comparison that ends in “it depends” is not a verdict. Picks below are per trading style — find yours.

Most traders

Take Profit Trader

Take Profit Trader takes 4 of the 6 scored dimensions at current scores, which makes it the safer default for a trader without a strong style preference. Read the per-dimension breakdown above first — a single dimension you care about can flip the decision.

Cost-conscious

Take Profit Trader

Entry cost: Topstep — $49–$149/month subscription; Take Profit Trader — $150–360/mo subscription depending on account size; $130 one-time PRO activation. Take Profit Trader wins on cost-value once refunds and discounts are weighed.

Rules-sensitive trader

Topstep

If clean, predictable rules matter most, read the drawdown model first: Topstep runs Trailing EOD MLL — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, never resets down; Take Profit Trader runs PRO: 6% trailing intraday; PRO+: EOD trailing (balance-based). Topstep scores better on rule fairness and clarity.

High earner

Take Profit Trader

Profit splits: Topstep — 90% (flat for new traders as of Jan 12, 2026); Take Profit Trader — PRO: 80/20; PRO+ upgrade after $5,000 PRO profits: 90/10. Take Profit Trader has the stronger payout profile once caps are factored in. Always read the per-payout cap in full before a large withdrawal.

Topstep vs Take Profit Trader — the questions traders actually search

Is Topstep or Take Profit Trader better in 2026?

Under TraderVerdict's independent TVSM methodology, Topstep scores in the Adequate band and Take Profit Trader in the Adequate band. Take Profit Trader wins 4 of the 6 scored dimensions at current scores. The right pick depends on which firm's payout, drawdown, and cost terms fit how you trade.

What is the main difference between Topstep and Take Profit Trader?

Topstep and Take Profit Trader differ across the TVSM-scored variables that decide whether a funded trader actually gets paid — profit split, drawdown model, payout caps, pricing, and operating stability. The rule-by-rule table on this page shows each one verbatim from our verified specs.

Which is cheaper — Topstep or Take Profit Trader?

Topstep: $49–$149/month subscription. Take Profit Trader: $150–360/mo subscription depending on account size; $130 one-time PRO activation. Weigh the fee against how long the evaluation takes you — a one-time fee beats a subscription on a slow pass, and the reverse on a fast one.

Which pays out more — Topstep or Take Profit Trader?

Profit split: Topstep — 90% (flat for new traders as of Jan 12, 2026). Take Profit Trader — PRO: 80/20; PRO+ upgrade after $5,000 PRO profits: 90/10. Per-payout caps: Topstep — $2,000/payout Standard, $3,000/payout Consistency — new $50K accounts from Apr 28, 2026; Take Profit Trader — None monthly; $50 fee on withdrawals ≤$250. Read both cap rules in full before buying — they bind hardest in your best months.

What is the difference between Topstep and Take Profit Trader drawdown rules?

Topstep: Trailing EOD MLL — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, never resets down. Take Profit Trader: PRO: 6% trailing intraday; PRO+: EOD trailing (balance-based). The drawdown model is the single most common reason funded accounts fail, so match it to whether you hold through intraday heat.

Do Topstep and Take Profit Trader allow news trading?

Topstep: Allowed — no restrictions on futures news trading. Take Profit Trader: Restricted on funded accounts during major releases.

What account sizes do Topstep and Take Profit Trader offer?

Topstep: $150,000 (Express Funded Account). Take Profit Trader: $150,000. Scaling: Topstep — Express Funded scales to $150K via successful Combine passes; no automatic scaling within an account; Take Profit Trader — PRO → PRO+ via Tradovate live brokerage upgrade.

Are TraderVerdict's prop-firm comparisons independent?

Yes. Every firm is scored against a public, versioned methodology before any commercial relationship, and affiliate links are only added to firms that clear our editorial bar. A firm cannot pay for a higher score or to remove a critical finding.

Topstep vs Take Profit Trader

Dimension by dimension: who wins where

Rule by rule, in each firm's own terms

The verdict, by trader type