Leeloo Trading 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 | Leeloo Trading | Topstep | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drawdown type | Trailing | Trailing | Topstep |
| Daily loss limit | None | Optional add-on since April 14, 2026 ($1K/$2K/$3K by size). Always mandatory on Live Funded. | Leeloo Trading |
| Payout split | 100% of first $12,500 then 90/10. | 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% on funded (no single day > 30% of total profit). | Combine: 50% (best day < 50% of total). Funded Standard: none. Funded Consistency tier: 40%. | — |
| News trading | Yes | Yes | — |
| Weekend holding | No | No | — |
| Copy trading | Yes | Yes | — |
| Platforms | Rithmic, NinjaTrader, Sierra Chart, Bookmap, MotiveWave, MultiCharts, ATAS, Jigsaw | TopstepX (all new accounts), Quantower (exception) | — |
Real talk
What traders actually experience beyond the marketing copy.
$26/mo Entry is the cheapest way to try prop trading. $77 Express is great value for 14-day challenge. But: unrealized-P&L trailing drawdown, 30% consistency, $88/mo funded fee, 30-day first payout wait, and monthly payouts make funded accounts frustrating.
Trailing drawdown follows UNREALIZED P&L in real-time. If your trade goes +$600 unrealized then you close at +$100, the floor already moved up $600. This is worse than EOD trailing. Locks at starting balance + $100.
100% first $12.5K then 90/10 is good. But $88/mo funded fee, 30-day wait for first payout, and monthly payout schedule (last Saturday) make it the slowest payout firm in the industry.
Drawdown trails UNREALIZED P&L (worst drawdown type). $88/mo funded fee. 30% consistency (tight). 30 traded days before first payout. Monthly payouts only (slowest). Automated trading PROHIBITED. 5% flipping rule.
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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