Earn2Trade and TopStep are the two heavyweights in futures trading evaluations. Traders often struggle choosing the right path to professional funding. Earn2Trade offers huge scaling potential, aiming for maximum career growth. TopStep prioritizes lightning fast funding and superior performance coaching. We compare both options to find the perfect prop trading path for you.
Professional funding with stellar support.
We recognize Earn2Trade as a highly reputable prop firm offering structured pathways for futures traders seeking funded accounts. Overall, the platform stands out due to its longevity, clarity in evaluation design, and consistent commitment to providing exceptional customer service.
Structured path to funded futures trading.
We found that Topstep offers a highly structured evaluation process and impressive speed toward funded accounts, sometimes taking only two days. We appreciate the overwhelmingly positive user reports regarding customer service and rapid, reliable payouts. Overall, this is a top-tier option for serious futures traders seeking financial backing and extensive support.
Earn2Trade functions as a critical bridge between skilled retail traders and established proprietary trading firms. They have been in the business for over eight years, helping participants earn professional funding.
Their programs involve passing structured examinations designed to test your ability to trade futures products effectively. Success in these evaluations leads directly to trading a live account with a partner firm. Notably, this program is suitable only for experienced individuals; it's not suggested for beginner traders. 💡
Topstep has established itself as a reliable source, spending over 12 years funding futures traders. The platform serves dedicated individuals looking to elevate their trading through structure and evaluation. The core program, the Trading Combine®, operates under "1 Rule, 1 Goal": to build discipline and strong habits.
After passing the Combine, you transition to a Topstep Funded Trader™ and begin trading with the firm's capital, allowing you to keep your own funds safe. A major draw is the ability to pay yourself up to four times every month, making the financial incentives very clear. They have already delivered 81,177 payouts to traders in 2024. 💡
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Earn2Trade targets much higher long-term capital goals than TopStep.
Earn2Trade focuses on maximizing career growth for funded traders. The Trader Career Path® (TCP) goal is scaling up to a $400,000 funded account. This provides serious upside potential for disciplined individuals. TopStep offers three account sizes during the evaluation phase up to $150,000 buying power. While reliable, the capital ceiling is significantly lower than Earn2Trade. TopStep does allow managing up to five funded accounts for scalability. Choose Earn2Trade if your primary goal is maximizing the capital you manage eventually. TopStep is better if you prioritize funding speed over maximum capital size initially. If you consistently need a massive capital base to execute your futures strategy, Earn2Trade offers the better path.
TopStep gets traders funded significantly faster than Earn2Trade options.
TopStep allows traders to pass the Trading Combine® evaluation in as little as two winning days. This is exceptionally fast access to an Express Funded Account. You must still demonstrate consistency and follow the rules. Earn2Trade offers The Gauntlet Mini™ which requires a 10-day minimum trading period. The Trader Career Path® (TCP) path requires longer, tiered progress before funding occurs. TopStep is superior for traders who already have high confidence and want instant funding access. Earn2Trade offers a slightly longer evaluation period, focusing on proving consistency. If speed to capital is your absolute priority, TopStep provides the quickest runway to trading a live account.
TopStep is fully transparent with costs; Earn2Trade does not list pricing.
TopStep clearly publishes its required monthly subscription costs ranging from $49 to $149/month. This transparency lets you easily budget the evaluation phase. TopStep also clearly states the $149 one-time activation fee post-pass. Earn2Trade’s pricing for its various evaluation programs is not explicitly stated on the public pages. Users must often purchase or inquire to determine the exact monthly subscription fee. This lack of transparency can frustrate potential applicants. TopStep wins due to straightforward, accessible pricing for all three evaluation levels. Earn2Trade requires users to subscribe to its monthly billing without clear listed prices. Clear costs help new traders choose the plan that best fits their initial budget commitment.
TopStep offers faster and much more frequent payouts than Earn2Trade.
TopStep processes payouts daily, enabling funded traders to receive money up to four times per month. Traders need only five winning days greater than $150 to qualify for a payout. This structure provides reliable, frequent cash flow. Earn2Trade also offers flexible withdrawals, describing the process as easy and simple once funded. However, the exact frequency and minimum requirements are not specified in the same detail as TopStep. Earn2Trade offers unique Crypto Payouts. If frequent access to your profits is vital, TopStep’s structure is demonstrably better and more frequent. Earn2Trade offers payout flexibility that includes modern cryptocurrency options. TopStep is ideal for traders treating their funded account as a source of steady, reliable monthly income.
TopStep provides a superior, proprietary trading and coaching tool suite.
TopStep has developed its proprietary platform, TopstepX™, built specifically for prop firm traders. This platform includes commission-free trading and advanced features like charts from The Tilt™ Indicator. TopstepX is repeatedly praised for being user-friendly. Earn2Trade provides advanced journaling assistance via an external tool called journalytix®. This focuses heavily on performance tracking and strict risk management. The core trading platform is not proprietary. TopStep offers a better integrated and dedicated environment for trading with unique analysis tools. Earn2Trade relies on external tools to monitor performance discipline. TopStep integrates trading and coaching tools brilliantly. Traders who value an exclusive, commission-free trading experience should prefer TopStep’s TopstepX™ platform.
Earn2Trade has a higher rated support experience with exceptional responsiveness.
Earn2Trade's customer support receives outstanding reviews, achieving a stellar 4.8 TrustPilot rating. Users frequently report technicians responding quickly, often fixing account issues within minutes. Support is highly personalized and professional. TopStep offers ‘Kick-Ass Trader Support’ via both call and chat options. Users consistently praise their support as being reliable and responsive. TopStep also fosters community via free coaching and a large Discord chat. Earn2Trade wins narrowly here due to the exceptional volume of specific praise for rapid response times and personalized service. Both companies offer high-quality support structures. If you foresee needing rapid technical help or personalized human interaction, Earn2Trade appears to have a slight service edge.
Earn2Trade provides distinct, purpose-built paths; TopStep uses a singular Combine.
Earn2Trade offers two distinct evaluation programs: the Trader Career Path® (TCP) and The Gauntlet Mini™. The TCP is built for long-term scaling up to $400,000, while the Mini is for rapid 10-day funding. TopStep uses a singular, straightforward program called the Trading Combine® across all three account sizes. The focus is consistent rules and rapid assessment for the Express Funded Account. Earn2Trade provides tailored experiences, allowing traders to select a path matching their specific goal: rapid funding or long-term scaling. TopStep offers versatility within one program structure. Choose Earn2Trade if you need a distinct path that maps directly to exponential capital growth (TCP).
Choosing between Earn2Trade and TopStep means deciding your ultimate goal: maximum capital growth or maximum speed and cash flow. Both Earn2Trade and TopStep are top-tier prop firm evaluations for futures traders. You won't risk your own money with either provider. TopStep wins in speed and transparency, while Earn2Trade delivers superior capital opportunity. Earn2Trade’s superpower is its massive $400,000 capital scaling goal using the Trader Career Path®. Earn2Trade is better for long-term career planning and provides distinct paths like The Gauntlet Mini™. Plus, Earn2Trade boasts slightly higher rated, exceptionally responsive customer support. TopStep shines with extreme speed, offering funding in as little as two days through the Trading Combine®. TopStep provides crucial clarity with up-front pricing and faster cash flow access. You can get paid up to four times monthly using the excellent TopstepX™ platform. The deciding factor should be your goal size versus required cash flow. If you need maximum capital ($400k) and exceptional service, choose Earn2Trade. If fast funding, predictable pricing, and frequent payouts are essential, TopStep is your perfect fit. Both Earn2Trade and TopStep provide strong, reliable funding opportunities for serious traders.
Earn2Trade offers the potential to scale your capital up to an impressive $400,000 via the Trader Career Path® program. TopStep's maximum starting buying power is $150,000. Earn2Trade is better for maximizing potential future capital.
Yes, TopStep offers the absolute fastest path, potentially funding you in two successful trading days. Earn2Trade’s rapid evaluation, The Gauntlet Mini™, requires a minimum of ten trading days. TopStep is the clear choice for speed.
TopStep processes payouts daily, allowing funded traders to receive money up to four times per month. Earn2Trade offers flexible and easy withdrawals, but the frequency is not specified. TopStep offers much more reliable, frequent cash flow.
No, Earn2Trade does not feature a proprietary trading environment like Topstep’s TopstepX™. TopStep actively supports its exclusive platform, which includes commission-free trading. Earn2Trade provides advanced performance tracking via journalytix.
TopStep requires a clear one-time $149 Activation Fee once you pass the Combine evaluation. Earn2Trade does not mention a required activation fee in the provided information. This fee is an extra cost only for TopStep traders.
Earn2Trade explicitly offers the flexibility of convenient Crypto Payouts for withdrawals. TopStep only mentions standard daily payout processing. If crypto payments are important, Earn2Trade supports them directly.
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.