Topstep vs TradeDay (2026): rules, payouts, fees and AI visibility compared
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Data refreshed 24 Sep 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan · Topstep facts verified by BrokerCatalogue research desk (from the firm's own site) on 2026-09-24 · TradeDay facts verified by BrokerCatalogue research desk (from the firm's own site) on 2026-09-24
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%…
AI visibility score 2.6 / 100 · AI visibility rank #25 · Founded 2020
TradeDay is a proprietary trading firm based in Chicago, United States, founded in 2020. It offers one-step evaluations on futures. Funded accounts go up to $150,000. The profit split is 80% Funded…
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. TradeDay (Chicago, United States, founded 2020) scores 2.6 / 100 on the Q3 2026 AI Visibility Index (rank #25 of 76 prop firms), named in 4% of AI answers, runs One-step evaluations, funds accounts up to $150,000, pays a 80% Funded Sim, 90% Funded Live (50/50 below $4k net profit on some plans) profit split and offers Jigsaw, Quantower, Rithmic, Tradovate.
Verdict at a glance
Topstep leads on AI visibility, how often AI names it, AI sentiment, track record and profit split.
TradeDay leads on platform choice.
Level on choice of evaluation models, asset-class range and maximum allocation.
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.
Topstep vs TradeDay: side-by-side data
Criteria
Topstep
TradeDay
AI visibility score
31.4 / 100
2.6 / 100
AI visibility rank
#4
#25
Named in AI answers
39%
4%
AI sentiment (0–100)
39
4
Founded
2012
2020
Headquarters
Chicago, United States
Chicago, United States
Evaluation models
One-step
One-step
Asset classes
Futures
Futures
Platforms
NinjaTrader, TopstepX, TradingView
Jigsaw, Quantower, Rithmic, Tradovate
Maximum allocation
$150,000
$150,000
Profit split
90% (100% of first $10,000)
80% Funded Sim, 90% Funded Live (50/50 below $4k net profit on some plans)
Challenge fee from
$49/month ($50K Combine)
$45 (25k)
Account sizes
$50k, $100k, $150k
$25k, $50k, $100k, $150k
Payout frequency
on demand (instant payouts after 5 winning days or 3-day consistency path)
day-one payouts (min 1 to 5 days to payout by plan)
Daily drawdown limit
none (optional Daily Loss Limit $1,000 on $50K)
none
Maximum drawdown
trailing $2,000 on $50K (4%, end-of-day)
trailing $1,000 on 25k (intraday or end-of-day by plan)
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: Topstep vs TradeDay
Engine
Topstep
TradeDay
ChatGPT
56
1.5
Perplexity
38.6
0.5
Gemini
33.9
7.8
Claude
17.9
4.5
Google AI Mode
41.6
1.6
Google AI Overview
30.7
0
Google top-10
0.2
0
Scores 0–100 from the Pipswire AI Visibility Index, Q3 2026. Higher means the engine names the firm more often and more favourably.
Topstep vs TradeDay: common questions
Which prop firm do AI assistants recommend more, Topstep or TradeDay?
Topstep scores higher on the Q3 2026 Pipswire AI Visibility Index (31.4 / 100 vs 2.6 / 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 Topstep and TradeDay pay?
Topstep pays 90% (100% of first $10,000); TradeDay pays 80% Funded Sim, 90% Funded Live (50/50 below $4k net profit on some plans) (as published on each firm's site when we last checked).
Which is cheaper to start, Topstep or TradeDay?
Entry-level challenge fees start at $49/month ($50K Combine) at Topstep and $45 (25k) at TradeDay. Fees change often and discounts are common, so treat these as the floor.
How do the drawdown rules compare at Topstep and TradeDay?
Topstep: maximum drawdown trailing $2,000 on $50K (4%, end-of-day), daily none (optional Daily Loss Limit $1,000 on $50K). TradeDay: maximum drawdown trailing $1,000 on 25k (intraday or end-of-day by plan), daily none.
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.