Elite Trader Funding vs Topstep (October 2026): Price, Drawdown and Payouts Compared
ETF vs Topstep side by side: flagship account prices today, drawdown type, daily loss limit, profit split, payout rules, activation fees and discount codes — from verified October 2026 data.
The short version
- Cost to get funded: ETF is cheaper all-in on the flagship $50K account: ETF 1 Step (Live Trailing) $20.70/mo + $177 activation = $197.7, vs Topstep Trading Combine — Standard $49/mo + $149 activation = $198.
- Drawdown: ETF 1 Step (Live Trailing) runs Intraday Trailing drawdown in the evaluation and Intraday Trailing once funded; Topstep Trading Combine — Standard runs EOD Trailing drawdown in the evaluation and EOD Trailing once funded. Only Topstep keeps end-of-day drawdown in both phases — the more forgiving setup.
- Daily loss limit: ETF has no daily loss limit on its flagship $50K; Topstep has no daily loss limit.
- Profit split: ETF: Up to 100% sim (to $25K), then 80/20 live. Topstep: 90/10.
- Payouts: ETF: Per cycle after 8 Active Trade Days (10 later); $100 min. Topstep: 5 winning days of $150+; up to 50% of balance per request; $125 min.
- Activation fee: ETF: $177. Topstep: $149.
- Consistency rule: ETF: None eval; 23% ATD rule at payout. Topstep: 55% eval (best day vs target); none funded on Standard payouts (40% on the Consistency path).
- Account types: ETF sells 6 account types (1 Step (Live Trailing), End of Day (EOD), Static (fixed floor), Diamond Hands (overnight/weekend), Fast Track (10K, one-time), Direct to Funded (no eval)); Topstep sells 2 (Trading Combine — Standard, Trading Combine — No Activation Fee).
Side by side
| Elite Trader Funding | Topstep | |
|---|---|---|
| Flagship account | 1 Step (Live Trailing) $50K | Trading Combine — Standard $50K |
| Price today | $20.70/mo | $49/mo |
| Activation | $177 | $149 |
| Profit target | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Max drawdown | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Drawdown (eval / funded) | Intraday Trailing / Intraday Trailing | EOD Trailing / EOD Trailing |
| Daily loss limit | None | None |
| Consistency | None eval; 23% ATD rule at payout | 55% eval (best day vs target); none funded on Standard payouts (40% on the Consistency path) |
| Profit split | Up to 100% sim (to $25K), then 80/20 live | 90/10 |
| Payouts | Per cycle after 8 Active Trade Days (10 later); $100 min | 5 winning days of $150+; up to 50% of balance per request; $125 min |
| Discount code | PICK | — |
Current Elite Trader Funding plans and prices
Verified against Elite Trader Funding's own site on 2026-09-24. Prices are today's promo price at the representative account size.
| Account | Size | Price | Target | Max drawdown | Drawdown type | Daily loss limit | Split | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Step (Live Trailing) | $50K | $20.70/mo (list $207) | $3,000 | $2,000 | Intraday Trailing / Intraday Trailing | None | Up to 100% sim (to $25K), then 80/20 live | $177 |
| End of Day (EOD) | $50K | $34.70/mo (list $347) | $3,000 | $2,000 | EOD Trailing / EOD Trailing | $1,100 | Up to 100% sim (to $25K), then 80/20 live | $177 |
| Static (fixed floor) | $50K | $49.70/mo (list $497) | $4,000 | $2,000 | Static / Static | None | Up to 100% sim (to $25K), then 80/20 live | $177 |
| Diamond Hands (overnight/weekend) | $100K | $39.70/mo (list $397) | $5,000 | $3,500 | EOD Trailing / EOD Trailing | $1,500 | Up to 100% sim (to $25K), then 80/20 live | $307 |
| Fast Track (10K, one-time) | $10K | $57 | $2,000 | $500 | EOD Trailing (or Static) / EOD Trailing (or Static) | None | Up to 100% sim (to $25K), then 80/20 live | None |
| Direct to Funded (no eval) | $50K | $747 | $5,100 | $5,000 | n/a (instant) / EOD Trailing (100K: Static) | None | Up to 100% sim (to $25K), then 80/20 live | None |
Current Topstep plans and prices
Verified against Topstep's own site on 2026-09-26. Prices are today's promo price at the representative account size.
| Account | Size | Price | Target | Max drawdown | Drawdown type | Daily loss limit | Split | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Combine — Standard | $50K | $49/mo | $3,000 | $2,000 | EOD Trailing / EOD Trailing | None | 90/10 | $149 |
| Trading Combine — No Activation Fee | $50K | $95/mo | $3,000 | $2,000 | EOD Trailing / EOD Trailing | None | 90/10 | None |
FAQ
Which is cheaper, ETF or Topstep?
ETF is cheaper all-in on the flagship $50K account: ETF 1 Step (Live Trailing) $20.70/mo + $177 activation = $197.7, vs Topstep Trading Combine — Standard $49/mo + $149 activation = $198.
Which has better drawdown rules, ETF or Topstep?
ETF 1 Step (Live Trailing) runs Intraday Trailing drawdown in the evaluation and Intraday Trailing once funded; Topstep Trading Combine — Standard runs EOD Trailing drawdown in the evaluation and EOD Trailing once funded. Only Topstep keeps end-of-day drawdown in both phases — the more forgiving setup. End-of-day drawdown only moves on closed balances, so an intraday swing can't trip it; intraday trailing follows your open-profit peak.
How do payouts compare between ETF and Topstep?
ETF: Per cycle after 8 Active Trade Days (10 later); $100 min. Topstep: 5 winning days of $150+; up to 50% of balance per request; $125 min. Splits — ETF: Up to 100% sim (to $25K), then 80/20 live. Topstep: 90/10.
Is there a discount code for ETF or Topstep?
ETF: code PICK (90% off). Topstep: no code we can verify right now.
Do ETF and Topstep charge an activation fee?
ETF: $177. Topstep: $149.