Earn2Trade vs Topstep (2026): rules, payouts, fees and AI visibility compared

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Data refreshed 24 Sep 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan · Earn2Trade facts verified by BrokerCatalogue research desk (from the firm's own site) on 2026-09-24 · Topstep facts verified by BrokerCatalogue research desk (from the firm's own site) on 2026-09-24

Earn2Trade

AI visibility score 3.8 / 100 · AI visibility rank #23 · Founded 2016

Earn2Trade is a proprietary trading firm based in Sheridan, United States, founded in 2016. It offers one-step evaluations on futures. Funded accounts go up to $200,000 (Trader Career Path scales to $400K).…

Open the Earn2Trade profile

Topstep

AI visibility score 31.4 / 100 · AI visibility rank #4 · Founded 2012

Topstep is a proprietary trading firm based in Chicago, United States, founded in 2012. It offers one-step evaluations on futures. Funded accounts go up to $150,000. The profit split is 90% (100%…

Open the Topstep profile

Earn2Trade (Sheridan, United States, founded 2016) scores 3.8 / 100 on the Q3 2026 AI Visibility Index (rank #23 of 76 prop firms), named in 5% of AI answers, runs One-step evaluations, funds accounts up to $200,000 (Trader Career Path scales to $400K), pays a 80% profit split and offers BlackArrow, Finamark, NinjaTrader, Rithmic, TradingView, Tradovate. Topstep (Chicago, United States, founded 2012) scores 31.4 / 100 on the Q3 2026 AI Visibility Index (rank #4 of 76 prop firms), named in 39% of AI answers, runs One-step evaluations, funds accounts up to $150,000, pays a 90% (100% of first $10,000) profit split and offers NinjaTrader, TopstepX, TradingView.

Verdict at a glance

  • Earn2Trade leads on platform choice and maximum allocation.
  • Topstep leads on AI visibility, how often AI names it, AI sentiment, track record and profit split.
  • Level on choice of evaluation models and asset-class range.

Scored on 9 measurable dimensions where both prop firms have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.

Earn2Trade vs Topstep: side-by-side data

CriteriaEarn2TradeTopstep
AI visibility score3.8 / 10031.4 / 100
AI visibility rank#23#4
Named in AI answers5%39%
AI sentiment (0–100)539
Founded20162012
HeadquartersSheridan, United StatesChicago, United States
Evaluation modelsOne-stepOne-step
Asset classesFuturesFutures
PlatformsBlackArrow, Finamark, NinjaTrader, Rithmic, TradingView, TradovateNinjaTrader, TopstepX, TradingView
Maximum allocation$200,000 (Trader Career Path scales to $400K)$150,000
Profit split80%90% (100% of first $10,000)
Challenge fee from$75/month (Trader Career Path $25K); $85/month (Gauntlet Mini)$49/month ($50K Combine)
Account sizes$25k, $50k, $100k (TCP), $50k, $100k, $150k, $200k (Gauntlet Mini)$50k, $100k, $150k
Payout frequencyweekly (from $100)on demand (instant payouts after 5 winning days or 3-day consistency path)
Daily drawdown limitNot verifiednone (optional Daily Loss Limit $1,000 on $50K)
Maximum drawdownNot verifiedtrailing $2,000 on $50K (4%, end-of-day)
Minimum trading daysnone2
Time limitnonenone
News tradingYesYes
Weekend holdingNoNo
EAs / algos allowedNot verifiedRestricted
Broker backingNot verifiedTopstep Brokerage LLC (NFA-registered introducing broker, affiliate)
Statusactiveactive

Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that prop firm — we never fill gaps with estimates.

AI visibility by engine: Earn2Trade vs Topstep

EngineEarn2TradeTopstep
ChatGPT1356
Perplexity3.138.6
Gemini2.233.9
Claude1.217.9
Google AI Mode3.841.6
Google AI Overview030.7
Google top-1000.2

Scores 0–100 from the Pipswire AI Visibility Index, Q3 2026. Higher means the engine names the firm more often and more favourably.

Earn2Trade vs Topstep: common questions

Which prop firm do AI assistants recommend more, Earn2Trade or Topstep?

Topstep scores higher on the Q3 2026 Pipswire AI Visibility Index (3.8 / 100 vs 31.4 / 100), which measures how often ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude and Google name a firm when traders ask which prop firm to use.

What profit split do Earn2Trade and Topstep pay?

Earn2Trade pays 80%; Topstep pays 90% (100% of first $10,000) (as published on each firm's site when we last checked).

Which is cheaper to start, Earn2Trade or Topstep?

Entry-level challenge fees start at $75/month (Trader Career Path $25K); $85/month (Gauntlet Mini) at Earn2Trade and $49/month ($50K Combine) at Topstep. Fees change often and discounts are common, so treat these as the floor.

Which platforms do Earn2Trade and Topstep support?

Earn2Trade: BlackArrow, Finamark, NinjaTrader, Rithmic, TradingView, Tradovate. Topstep: NinjaTrader, TopstepX, TradingView.

Keep comparing

Earn2Trade

Topstep

Risk warning: prop firms are not regulated brokers or investment firms. Evaluations are paid, fees are usually non-refundable, most accounts are simulated, and a firm can change its rules or stop paying out. Most participants fail the evaluation. Nothing on this page is financial advice; read the firm's terms before you pay. Full risk disclosure.