Topstep vs Elite Trader Funding: which futures prop firm wins in 2026?
Topstep and Elite Trader Funding are both futures prop firms, but they split on the things that decide whether you pass and get paid. On the $50,000 evaluation, Topstep costs $49 with a $2,000 end-of-day trailing drawdown, while Elite Trader Funding costs $197 with $2,000 intraday trailing. Here's the full head-to-head.
Short version: Topstep is cheaper to start ($49 vs $197), and Topstep has the more forgiving drawdown. The right pick depends on what you trade — full breakdown below.
Side by side
| Topstep | Elite Trader Funding | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price (50K) | $49 | $197 |
| Profit target | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Max drawdown | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Drawdown type | End-of-Day Trailing | Intraday Trailing |
| Daily loss limit | $1,000 | None |
| Consistency rule | 55% | None |
| Profit split | 100% | 100% |
| Payouts | Winning days, from day 5 | Daily (business days) |
| Min trading days | 2 | 5 |
| News trading | yes | limited |
| Reset fee | — | $47 |
| Rating | ★ 4.5 | ★ 4.3 |
Where each firm wins
Where Topstep wins
- Cheaper to start — $49 vs $197 on the 50K evaluation.
- Kinder drawdown style — End-of-Day Trailing is more forgiving than ETF's intraday trailing.
- Stronger profit split — 100% of your first $10,000, then 90/10.
- Better for news trading — News trading is yes at Topstep.
- Higher user rating — Rated ★ 4.5.
Where Elite Trader Funding wins
- No daily loss limit — One fewer way to breach the account in a single bad session.
- No consistency rule — Your best day can be any size — no balanced-profit maths to pass.
Which should you pick?
Pick Topstep if you want cheaper to start and kinder drawdown style. Pick Elite Trader Funding if you want no daily loss limit and no consistency rule. Either way, run your real account size through the simulator first to see exactly where the drawdown would put you.
Full Topstep review · Full Elite Trader Funding review
Frequently asked questions
Is Topstep or Elite Trader Funding cheaper?
On the 50K evaluation, Topstep is cheaper to start at $49, versus $197 for Elite Trader Funding.
Which has the more forgiving drawdown — Topstep or Elite Trader Funding?
Topstep uses a $2,000 end-of-day trailing drawdown; Elite Trader Funding uses $2,000 intraday trailing. Topstep is generally the more forgiving of the two.
Does Topstep or Elite Trader Funding have a daily loss limit?
Topstep: $1,000 daily loss limit. Elite Trader Funding: no daily loss limit.
Which profit split is better, Topstep or Elite Trader Funding?
Topstep: 100% of your first $10,000, then 90/10. Elite Trader Funding: Keep up to 100% of your simulated profits; top traders graduate to LIVE ELITE (real capital) on an 80/20 split with daily payouts.
Compare these firms with others
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