Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Blue Guardian vs Topstep
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Blue Guardian |  Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge price | $54 to $2,200 | $49Lower |
| Profit split | 80% to 90% | 90% |
| Evaluation steps | Instant | 2 step |
| Account sizes | 5K, 10K, 25K, 50K, 100K, 200K, 300K, 400K | $50K, $100K, $150K buying power |
| Payout frequency | Instant on-demand; every 14 days standard, optional 7-day add-on | Every 2 weeks |
| Maximum drawdown | 6% | Not confirmed |
| Daily loss limit | 3% to 4% | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | National Futures Association (NFA) registered introducing broker, Topstep Brokerage LLC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) registered FCM / NFA member, Plus500US Financial Services LLC |
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Key differences
- Topstep scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.1.
- Challenge price is lower at Topstep: $49 vs $54 to $2,200.
- Support channels: only Topstep offers Phone.
Our verdict on each
Blue Guardian
Blue Guardian suits traders who want to skip the staged rounds: the instant evaluation gets you trading sooner, and payouts can be instant on demand. The trade-off is entry cost, since challenge fees of $54 to $2,200 sit above the €56.56 site median.
Topstep
Topstep suits beginners who want a low-cost route into futures prop trading, pairing a challenge price of $49 with a profit split of 90% that is competitive without topping the table. The brokerage account adds an account fee of $0 and payouts Every 2 weeks, so it suits a funded account you plan to grow.
Score breakdown
| Area | Blue Guardian | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Challenge fees of $54 to $2,200 sit above the €56.56 site median, and the split is 80% to 90% against a 100% top. | 9.4HigherAccount fees are $0, the inactivity fee is $0 and the challenge costs $49, against a site median of €56.56. |
| Offer | 9.0The instant evaluation, instant on-demand payouts, and a 6% maximum drawdown with a 3% to 4% daily cap. | 9.7Higher90% paid Every 2 weeks on a 2 step evaluation, with markets limited to futures. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.5 |
What it costs in practice
Pass one challenge, then make 10,000 profit
Blue Guardian
$5,800 to $8,946
80% to 90% of 10,000 - 1 × $54 to $2,200
Topstep
$8,951
90% of 10,000 - 1 × $49
Topstep comes out $5 ahead.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
How they place
| Ranking | Blue Guardian | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Prop trading firms | 13 of 37 | 7 of 37 |
Also worth a look
Hola Prime has challenge price at $39, against $54 to $2,200 for Blue Guardian and $49 for Topstep.
Hola Prime reviewSources behind this comparison
Blue Guardian
- blueguardian.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.blueguardian.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Topstep
- topstep.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- nfa.futures.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Blue Guardian | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Blue Guardian Limited | Topstep LLC |
| Headquarters | Saint Lucia | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2010 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Brokers
| Fact | Blue Guardian | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $49 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0.50 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Markets | Not confirmed | Futures |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Features | Not confirmed | Demo account, Futures |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | 1% processing fee on debit card deposits and withdrawals; wire fee $10 outbound, $0 inbound |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | TopstepX |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Blue Guardian | Topstep | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Challenge price | $54 to $2,200below the median | $49below the median | $75 |
| Profit split | 80% to 90%at the median | 90%at the median | 90 |
| Maximum drawdown | 6%below the median | Not confirmed | 10% |
| Daily loss limit | 3% to 4%at the median | Not confirmed | 3 |
Median across 26 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Blue Guardian
Pros
- The instant evaluation replaces the usual staged rounds, cutting the wait before you trade with funded capital.
- Payouts can be instant on demand, with a standard cycle and an optional faster add-on when you want cash sooner.
- Account sizes from 5K, 10K, 25K, 50K, 100K, 200K, 300K, 400K let you test the rules small and scale up once your results hold up.
Cons
- Challenge fees of $54 to $2,200 sit above the €56.56 site median for entry.
- Your cut is 80% to 90% here, while Apex Trader Funding pays 100%.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, and phone help appears on just 24.1% of the prop firms on the site.
Topstep
Pros
- Entry is priced at $49 for a 2 step evaluation, with a profit split of 90%.
- The brokerage account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so an account left open does not slowly bleed money.
- Payouts arrive Every 2 weeks, a steadier rhythm than a single monthly cycle.
Cons
- The split of 90% leaves a share of profits with the firm, where Apex Trader Funding shares 100%.
- Markets are futures only, against 80.6% of the brands here that cover stocks.
- Topstep ranks 7 of 21 on challenge price, and Alpha Capital Group lists $27 for its own challenge.
Who each suits
Blue Guardian
Who it suits
- Traders who want to clear a challenge without staged rounds, since the evaluation is instant.
- Forex traders who like hard limits, with a 6% maximum drawdown and a 3% to 4% daily loss limit.
- Traders who want money out quickly, since payouts can be instant on demand.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want the biggest share of profits: Apex Trader Funding pays 100%.
- Buyers on a small budget: Alpha Capital Group charges $27.
- Traders buying a large account on a lower budget: Funding Pips charges $29 to $555.
Topstep
Who it suits
- Beginners testing futures prop trading, since beginners lists beginners and demo account and futures includes a demo account.
- Traders who want low running costs on a funded account: an account fee of $0, an inactivity fee of $0 and 90% kept of profits.
- Anyone weighing entry price against share, since Funding Pips runs challenge prices of $29 to $555, a different price point to Topstep's $49.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want the whole profit, since Apex Trader Funding shares 100% against the 90% kept here.
- Anyone trading stocks, ETFs or crypto, because the market list is futures.
- Budget-first buyers, since Alpha Capital Group lists $27 for its challenge.
Current offers
Blue Guardian
Current offer
Discount code
25% off all accounts (CFDs and Futures): 25% off with code BG25
Applies to all CFD and Futures accounts; bundle discounts of 30-40% extra on 2-4 accounts
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Topstep
Current offer
Discount code
Responsible Trading Advantage discounts: Up to $30/month
Add a Daily Loss Limit to unlock exclusive benefits, including larger payout caps and discounts on eligible accounts; listed as -$10 / -$20 / -$30 on the $50K / $100K / $150K accounts
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Topstep Trading Combine monthly discount: -$10 to -$30
One-time activation fee paid after passing the Trading Combine; discount is shown alongside the eligible account price
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Blue Guardian
How much does a Blue Guardian challenge cost?+
Challenge fees run $54 to $2,200, with the smaller accounts at the low end and the largest at the top. The median price across the brands on the site is €56.56, so a Blue Guardian challenge sits above the middle of the market rather than at the budget end.
What profit split do I get once I pass?+
The profit split is 80% to 90%, the share of your trading profit that reaches you after the firm takes its cut. For comparison, the median split across the brands on the site is 90%, and the top figure listed is 100%.
Topstep
How much does the Topstep challenge cost?+
The evaluation fee is $49, and the same figure is listed as the minimum deposit, so that is the outlay before any trading. For context, the median challenge price across the brands here is €56.56. A failed attempt means paying the fee again to try, so treat it as a cost of repeated attempts rather than a single ticket.
What profit do I keep and how quickly are payouts made?+
Once funded, you keep 90% of the profit, and payouts go out Every 2 weeks. The split is a percentage of profit rather than a flat fee, so a thin month does not eat into it. The cadence matters as much as the percentage for cash flow, since a good month reaches your account sooner with a frequent schedule.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
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- Topstep vs Instant Funding
- Blue Guardian vs Ftmo
- Blue Guardian vs City Traders Imperium
- Blue Guardian vs E8 Markets
- Blue Guardian vs Alpha Capital Group
- Blue Guardian vs Funding Pips
- Blue Guardian vs Earn2Trade
- Blue Guardian vs Uprofit
- Topstep vs Angel One
- Topstep vs Interactive Brokers
- Topstep vs Webull
- Topstep vs eToro
- Blue Guardian vs Hola Prime
- Topstep vs Robinhood
- Topstep vs CapTrader