Topstep vs Tradeify

Topstep and Tradeify are both US futures prop firms with end-of-day trailing drawdowns and a 90% top split. The big difference is how you pay: Topstep bills monthly, Tradeify charges once. This comparison uses prices and rules checked on each firm's official site on 3 November 2026.

At a glance

Topstep

• Founded: 2010, Chicago.
• Program: one-step Trading Combine, then an Express Funded Account and a possible route to live funding.
• Sizes: 50K, 100K, 150K.
• Billing: monthly subscription.
• Entry price: $49 a month (50K Standard Path) plus $149 activation.
• Drawdown: end-of-day trailing, locks at the starting balance.
• Daily loss limit: optional, chosen at checkout.
• Platform: TopstepX only.
• Split: up to 90%.

Tradeify

• Based in: Boca Raton, Florida.
• Programs: Growth and Select evaluations, plus Lightning instant funding.
• Sizes: 25K to 150K.
• Billing: one-time fee, no monthly billing.
• Entry price: $99 (Growth 25K), no activation fee.
• Drawdown: end-of-day trailing.
• Daily loss limit: yes on Growth and Lightning; none on Select.
• Platforms: NinjaTrader, Tradovate, WealthCharts, Rithmic, Tradesea.
• Split: 90/10 on Sim Funded accounts.

Pricing

Topstep (per month)

• Standard Path: $49 (50K), $99 (100K), $199 (150K), plus $149 activation per Express Funded Account.
• No Activation Fee Path: $95 (50K), $149 (100K), $229 (150K), $0 activation.
• Resets: same as the monthly price. Each rebill banks a Reset Credit.
• Paths can't be changed after purchase. Official pricing.

Tradeify (one-time)

• Growth: $99 (25K), $145 (50K), $255 (100K), $369 (150K).
• Select: $109 (25K), $165 (50K), $265 (100K), $369 (150K).
• Lightning (instant funding): $345 (25K) to $796 (150K).
• Resets: Growth $60 to $229; Select $75 to $239; Lightning has no resets.
• No activation fees on any account type. Official pricing.

Cost at 50K

• Topstep Standard, pass in month 1: $49 + $149 = $198.
• Topstep No Activation Fee, pass in month 1: $95.
• Topstep No Activation Fee, pass in month 3: $285.
• Tradeify Growth 50K: $145, however long it takes.
• Tradeify Select 50K: $165, however long it takes.

What this means: Topstep can be cheaper if you pass inside the first month on the No Activation Fee Path. Tradeify is cheaper the longer you take. Our guide to the cheapest prop firm challenges runs more scenarios.

Evaluation rules

Topstep Trading Combine

• Profit target: $3,000 (50K), $6,000 (100K), $9,000 (150K).
• Max loss: $2,000, $3,000 or $4,500, trailing end-of-day and locking at the starting balance.
• Daily loss: optional.
• Consistency: your best day should stay below 55% of the profit target.
• Minimum days: you can pass in as few as two days.
• Time limit: none, but the subscription rebills every 30 days.
• Max position: 5, 10 or 15 minis (50, 100 or 150 micros). Official rules.

Tradeify Growth

• Profit target: $1,500 (25K), $3,000 (50K).
• Max loss: $1,000 (25K), $2,000 (50K), end-of-day trailing.
• Daily loss: $600 (25K), $1,250 (50K).
• Consistency: none in the evaluation; 35% on funded payouts.
• Minimum days: 1, so you can pass in one day.

Tradeify Select

• Profit target: $1,500 (25K), $3,000 (50K), $6,000 (100K), $9,000 (150K).
• Max loss: $1,000 (25K), $2,000 (50K), $4,500 (150K), end-of-day trailing.
• Daily loss: none.
• Consistency: 40% during the evaluation only, with an optional 50% add-on.
• Minimum days: 3.

Both firms set no time limit on evaluations. Tradeify requires at least one trade per week on each evaluation account.

What this means: at 50K, the target and max loss are the same at both firms. Topstep lets you skip the daily limit. Tradeify Growth needs only one day and has no evaluation consistency rule. Tradeify Select matches Topstep's no-daily-limit setup with a stricter 40% consistency rule. See consistency rules explained.

Payouts

Topstep

• Up to 90% split.
• Payouts on request, with per-request caps on Express Funded Accounts.
• Back2Funded reactivation costs $599 to $829 if you lose an Express Funded Account before the first payout.

Tradeify

• 90/10 split on Sim Funded accounts.
• Payouts are requested from the dashboard and are usually processed within 24 hours after onboarding with its payment provider.
• Only one payout request can be open per account at a time.
• Payout caps apply per period on funded accounts.

Trading restrictions

Topstep

• No overnight or weekend holding. You must be flat by 3:10 PM CT.
• News trading is allowed, but deliberately placing your full maximum position size into a news event can break its rules. Check the help center.
• Automated software isn't banned outright, but some uses of software, AI or high-speed systems are prohibited.
• Level 2 data for DOM or Matrix tools costs $38 a month.

Tradeify

• No overnight holding. Positions must close within the same session.
• Bots are allowed only if you can prove sole ownership.
• Weekly activity is required on evaluation accounts.

Downsides of each

Topstep

• The subscription keeps billing until you pass or cancel.
• The Standard Path adds $149 at activation.
• One platform only (TopstepX).
• No 25K option; the smallest account is 50K.
• Capped payouts per request.

Tradeify

• Three account types with different rules can be confusing.
• Growth has a daily loss limit; Select has a 40% consistency rule.
• Lightning instant accounts are costly ($345 to $796) and can't be reset.
• Payout caps per period on funded accounts.
• Fees are non-refundable.

Frequently asked questions

Is Topstep or Tradeify cheaper?

It depends on how fast you pass. Topstep's 50K No Activation Fee Path costs $95 for one month. Tradeify's Growth 50K costs $145 once. If you need two months or more, Tradeify is cheaper at 50K. If you count resets, compare Tradeify's reset fee with Topstep's next rebill.

Do either charge an activation fee?

Tradeify charges none on any account type. Topstep charges $149 on the Standard Path and nothing on the No Activation Fee Path.

Can I hold trades overnight?

No. Topstep requires you to be flat by 3:10 PM CT. Tradeify requires positions to close within the same session.

Which has a daily loss limit?

Topstep's is optional at checkout. Tradeify Growth has one ($600 on 25K, $1,250 on 50K). Tradeify Select has none. See daily loss limits explained.

Which suits a beginner?

A beginner who trades slowly will usually pay less at Tradeify, because the fee doesn't rebill. A beginner who wants a detailed help center and a single program may prefer Topstep. Either way, size trades small with our position size calculator.

Verdict by trader type

• Traders who expect to pass fast: Topstep's No Activation Fee Path, at $95 for one month at 50K.
• Patient traders: Tradeify. A one-time fee doesn't grow if you need several weeks.
• Traders on the smallest budget: Tradeify Growth 25K at $99, or Topstep's 50K at $49 if you accept the $149 activation.
• Traders who want to pass in one day: Tradeify Growth, with a 1-day minimum and no evaluation consistency rule.
• Traders who dislike daily loss limits: Topstep (optional) or Tradeify Select (none).
• NinjaTrader, Tradovate or Rithmic users: Tradeify, since Topstep uses only TopstepX.
• Traders who want a long track record and a path to live funding: Topstep, operating since 2010.

Read the full Topstep review and Tradeify review, or compare more futures firms on our comparison page. Check your floor before each session with our drawdown calculator.

Prices and rules were checked on each firm's official site on 3 November 2026. Confirm current terms on the firm's site before you buy. This is educational content, not financial advice; trading involves risk. FundedKings may earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.