Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Earn2Trade vs Topstep
Where Earn2Trade and Topstep differ
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Challenge price | $75 to $85 | $49Lower |
| Profit split | 50% to 80% | 90%Higher |
| Evaluation steps | 1 step | 2 step |
| Account sizes | $25K, $50K, $100K, $200K, $400K | $50K, $100K, $150K buying power |
| Payout frequency | Weekly payouts from $100 | Every 2 weeks |
| Maximum drawdown | 3.5% to 6% | Not confirmed |
| Daily loss limit | 2.2% | 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.
- Founded is lower at Topstep: 2010 vs 2017.
- Challenge price is lower at Topstep: $49 vs $75 to $85.
- Profit split is higher at Topstep: 90% vs 50% to 80%.
- Support channels: only Topstep offers Chat, Phone.
Our verdict on each
Earn2Trade
Earn2Trade is a futures prop firm aimed at experienced traders, with a 1 step evaluation and challenge fees of $75 to $85 on account sizes of $25K, $50K, $100K, $200K, $400K. Weekly payouts and platforms such as Tradovate, NinjaTrader and TradingView suit traders already working in futures.
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 | Earn2Trade | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Challenge fees of $75 to $85 sit above the site median of €56.56. | 9.4HigherAccount fees are $0, the inactivity fee is $0 and the challenge costs $49, against a site median of €56.56. |
| Offer | 8.3 | 9.7Higher90% paid Every 2 weeks on a 2 step evaluation, with markets limited to futures. |
| Trust | 9.6Higher | 9.5 |
The bill, worked out
Pass one challenge, then make 10,000 profit
Earn2Trade
$4,915 to $7,925
50% to 80% of 10,000 - 1 × $75 to $85
Topstep
$8,951
90% of 10,000 - 1 × $49
Topstep comes out $1,026 ahead.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
If neither fits
Hola Prime has challenge price at $39, against $75 to $85 for Earn2Trade and $49 for Topstep.
Hola Prime reviewWhere these facts come from
Earn2Trade
- earn2trade.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Topstep
- topstep.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- nfa.futures.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Earn2Trade | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Futures trading platforms | 26 of 83 | 12 of 83 |
| Prop trading firms | 14 of 37 | 7 of 37 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Earn2Trade | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Earn2Trade LLC | Topstep LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2017 | 2010Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Brokers
| Fact | Earn2Trade | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $75 | $49Lower |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0.50 |
| Account fee | $0 | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Markets | Futures | Futures |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Features | Futures | Demo account, FuturesCovers more |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Low fees |
| Audience | Experienced | Beginners |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No upfront activation fee; one-time activation fee deducted from profits on first withdrawal | 1% processing fee on debit card deposits and withdrawals; wire fee $10 outbound, $0 inbound |
| Platforms | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Finamark, BlackArrow, Rithmic | TopstepX |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Earn2Trade | Topstep | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Challenge price | $75 to $85at the median | $49below the median | $75 |
| Profit split | 50% to 80%lowest quarter | 90%at the median | 90 |
| Maximum drawdown | 3.5% to 6%below the median | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Daily loss limit | 2.2%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 3 |
Median across 26 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Earn2Trade
Pros
- A 1 step evaluation shortens the route to a funded account.
- Payouts are made weekly once the minimum payout amount is met, alongside a profit split of 50% to 80%.
- No upfront activation fee, with that fee instead deducted from profits on the first withdrawal.
Cons
- Challenge fees of $75 to $85 sit above the site median of €56.56.
- A profit split of 50% to 80% is below the site median of 90%.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community, so phone and chat are not part of the offering.
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
Earn2Trade
Who it suits
- Experienced futures traders who keep well inside a daily loss limit of 2.2%.
- Traders comfortable working to a maximum drawdown of 3.5% to 6% on a funded account.
- Futures traders on Tradovate, NinjaTrader or TradingView who want a profit split of 50% to 80%.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders chasing a bigger share of profits, since Apex Trader Funding lists a profit split of 100%.
- Buyers on a tight budget, as Alpha Capital Group charges a challenge fee of $27.
- Traders who want a spread of challenge prices, since Funding Pips fees run $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
Earn2Trade
Current offer
Discount code
Labor Day Special: 50% OFF + a FREE Reset With Every Evaluation: 50% off plus a free reset with every evaluation
Use code 50PLUSRESET at purchase
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
Earn2Trade
How much does an Earn2Trade challenge cost?+
Challenge fees are $75 to $85, with a starting payment of $75. There is no monthly subscription attached, since the account fee is $0. The price covers the evaluation itself, and any activation fee is handled separately at the first withdrawal.
Are there activation fees on top of the challenge price?+
There is no upfront activation fee. Instead, an activation fee is taken out of profits on the first withdrawal, so the first payout is smaller while the cost of entry stays at the challenge price.
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.
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