Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
E8 Markets vs Topstep
E8 Markets vs Topstep: the differences
| Compare |  E8 Markets |  Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge price | $36 to $1,499Lower | $49 |
| Profit split | 80% | 90%Higher |
| Evaluation steps | 1 step | 2 step |
| Account sizes | $5K to $500K | $50K, $100K, $150K buying power |
| Payout frequency | Payout on demand, any day; first payout in as little as 3 days | Every 2 weeks |
| Maximum drawdown | 6% | 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 |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Topstep scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Challenge price is lower at E8 Markets: $36 to $1,499 vs $49.
- Profit split is higher at Topstep: 90% vs 80%.
- Support channels: only Topstep offers Phone.
Our verdict on each
E8 Markets
E8 Markets suits traders who want a short route to funded status: the evaluation runs 1 step, payouts come on demand, and the drawdown cap of 6% keeps the risk rule simple. Entry costs run $36 to $1,499, with the low end suiting a first test and the top end suiting larger accounts.
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 | E8 Markets | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherEntry fee $36 to $1,499 starts below the prop-firm median of €51.74. | 9.4Account fees are $0, the inactivity fee is $0 and the challenge costs $49, against a site median of €56.56. |
| Offer | 9.080% trails the prop-firm median of 90%, so the retained share is modest. | 9.7Higher90% paid Every 2 weeks on a 2 step evaluation, with markets limited to futures. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.5 |
Which one suits you
Pick E8 Markets if challenge price matter most.
Pick Topstep if offer and profit split matter most.
What it costs in practice
Pass one challenge, then make 10,000 profit
E8 Markets
$6,501 to $7,964
80% of 10,000 - 1 × $36 to $1,499
Topstep
$8,951
90% of 10,000 - 1 × $49
Topstep comes out $987 ahead.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | E8 Markets | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Prop trading firms | 10 of 37 | 7 of 37 |
What we checked
E8 Markets
- e8markets.com: 9 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 | E8 Markets | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | E8 Funding LLC | Topstep LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2010 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Brokers
| Fact | E8 Markets | 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 | E8 Markets | Topstep | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Challenge price | $36 to $1,499below the median | $49below the median | $75 |
| Profit split | 80%lowest quarter | 90%at the median | 90% |
| Maximum drawdown | 6%below the median | Not confirmed | 10% |
Median across 26 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
E8 Markets
Pros
- Payouts come on demand on any day, so funded profit is not locked behind a monthly payout date.
- Account sizes run $5K to $500K, covering a modest test and a much larger funded allocation on the same model.
- The 6% drawdown cap is at the tight end of the field, which suits traders who size positions carefully.
Cons
- The 80% split trails the prop-firm median of 90%, so funded gains build more slowly.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line.
- The same 6% cap leaves little room for a losing run, so a weak stretch can end the account early.
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
E8 Markets
Who it suits
- Traders who want funded status quickly and treat on-demand payouts as the main draw.
- Traders who prefer a strict risk rule, since 6% sits at the tight end of this group.
- Anyone testing a prop firm on a small account, given the $5K to $500K range of sizes.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders chasing the highest share of profits, since Apex Trader Funding lists 100%.
- Traders on the smallest budget, since Alpha Capital Group charges $27 and Funding Pips fees run $29 to $555.
- Traders who need phone support, since help runs on email, chat and help centre only.
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
E8 Markets
Current offer
Discount code
E8: 25% off E8 One (Forex), E8 Pro (Forex), E8 Signature (Forex)
First purchase; one discount code per order
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
E8: 50% off E8 Pro (Perpetual) and E8 One (Perpetual)
First purchase
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
E8: 30% off E8 Pro (Perpetual) and E8 One (Perpetual)
All purchases
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
E8: 10% off E8 Pro (Forex), E8 Signature (Forex), E8 One (Forex)
All purchases
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
REB8: 35% off E8 Zero MAX (Futures) and E8 Zero Starter (Futures)
All purchases
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
E8 Markets
How much does an E8 Markets challenge cost?+
Challenge fees run $36 to $1,499 depending on the account you pick, so the top of that range sits well above the entry point for a modest test. The median challenge price across the prop firms ranked here is €51.74, which puts the low end below the field and the high end above it.
What profit split do funded traders keep?+
Funded traders keep 80% of the profits they make on the account. That is a workable share, but it is not the strongest in this group: the median profit split across the prop firms ranked is 90%, and Apex Trader Funding lists 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
- Topstep vs Nexo
- E8 Markets vs PropNext
- E8 Markets vs Instant Funding
- E8 Markets vs Ftmo
- E8 Markets vs City Traders Imperium
- E8 Markets vs Alpha Capital Group
- E8 Markets vs Funding Pips
- E8 Markets vs Blue Guardian
- E8 Markets vs Earn2Trade
- E8 Markets vs Uprofit
- Topstep vs Angel One
- Topstep vs Interactive Brokers
- Topstep vs Webull
- Topstep vs eToro
- E8 Markets vs Hola Prime
- Topstep vs Robinhood
- Topstep vs CapTrader