Earn2Trade vs Topstep
Every rule that actually affects your account — drawdown, daily loss, consistency, payout split, news, platforms — with a clear winner per category.
Rule by rule
Green = winner on that row. Ties show as "—".
| Rule | Earn2Trade | Topstep | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drawdown type | Trailing | Trailing | — |
| Daily loss limit | Yes - 2.2% across all sizes. | Optional add-on since April 14, 2026 ($1K/$2K/$3K by size). Always mandatory on Live Funded. | — |
| Payout split | 80/20 (lowest in industry). Max $4K per LiveSim withdrawal. | Post-Jan 2026: 90/10 from day one. Pre-Jan 2026: 100% first $10K then 90/10. | — |
| Min trading days | 10 | 0 | Topstep |
| Consistency rule | 30% during eval (no single day > 30%). Does NOT apply on funded. | Combine: 50% (best day < 50% of total). Funded Standard: none. Funded Consistency tier: 40%. | — |
| News trading | Yes | Yes | — |
| Weekend holding | No | No | — |
| Copy trading | No | Yes | Topstep |
| Platforms | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Rithmic, Finamark, 15+ platforms | TopstepX (all new accounts), Quantower (exception) | — |
Real talk
What traders actually experience beyond the marketing copy.
Most restrictive firm overall. 80/20 split, $4K withdrawal cap, 30% consistency on eval, 2.2% daily loss limit, copy/automation prohibited. But: TCP free monthly resets and scaling to $400K are genuinely unique. Widest platform support. Very reputable.
EOD trailing on eval/LiveSim is fair. But Live funded switches to intraday trailing. Most traders stay on LiveSim to avoid this.
80/20 split is the worst in the industry. $4K max per withdrawal on LiveSim. Email-based process feels outdated. Live account data fees ~$140/mo per exchange make live transition expensive.
80/20 split (worst in industry). $4K max withdrawal. Copy trading PROHIBITED. Automation PROHIBITED. 2.2% daily loss limit. Live account data fees ~$140/mo. Email-based payout process.
Most established firm. Free resets are huge. Automated trading allowed on TopstepX. But: all new accounts forced to TopstepX (no NinjaTrader/Tradovate choice). Post-payout MLL reset is dangerous. Scaling starts at only 2-3 contracts on funded.
EOD trailing is fair - intraday swings don't move the floor. Locks once profit exceeds drawdown amount. CRITICAL: After a payout, your MLL resets to $0 - one bad day right after withdrawing can blow the account instantly.
90/10 from day one for new traders. Post-payout MLL reset to $0 is the biggest hidden risk. Free resets are genuinely valuable. Back2Funded ($599-829) lets you revive a blown funded account.
After payout, MLL resets to $0 - extremely vulnerable. New accounts TopstepX only (no NinjaTrader/Tradovate). Funded starts at 2-3 contracts (must scale up). VPS/VPN usage PROHIBITED. Positions must close by 3:10 PM CT. $30 ACH payout fee.
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