Topstep vs The Trading Pit: prop firm rules compared
At the $50,000 account size, Topstep's evaluation allows a $2,000 max drawdown (end-of-day trailing, locks at breakeven) against The Trading Pit's $2,000 (end-of-day trailing, locks at breakeven), with the same $3,000 profit target. Both allow the same dollar drawdown at that size. Both apply a consistency rule (Topstep: max 55% of total profit from one day; The Trading Pit: max 40% of total profit from one day). Payouts are per cycle: 5 winning days of $150+ (standard) or 3 days at ≤40% consistency at Topstep and every 7 days (after 5 profitable days of $150+) at The Trading Pit.
| Rule (evaluation phase) | TSTopstep | TTThe Trading PitFutures Prime model |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 account | ||
| Profit target | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Daily loss limit | None | $1,000 (soft pause) |
| Max drawdown | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| $100,000 account | ||
| Profit target | $6,000 | $6,000 |
| Daily loss limit | None | $2,000 (soft pause) |
| Max drawdown | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| $150,000 account | ||
| Profit target | $9,000 | $9,000 |
| Daily loss limit | None | $3,000 (soft pause) |
| Max drawdown | $4,500 | $4,500 |
| Firm-wide | ||
| Drawdown model | End-of-day trailing, locks at breakeven | End-of-day trailing, locks at breakeven |
| Consistency rule | Max 55% of total profit from one day | Max 40% of total profit from one day |
| Minimum trading days | 2 trading days | 3 trading days |
| Profit split | 90/10 | 80/20 |
| Payout frequency | Per cycle: 5 winning days of $150+ (Standard) or 3 days at ≤40% consistency | Every 7 days (after 5 profitable days of $150+) |
| Account sizes offered | $50,000 · $100,000 · $150,000 | $50,000 · $100,000 · $150,000 |
| Rules confidence | Rules verified | Rules verified |
Rules last checked against each firm's own documentation on . Firms change their rules often, so confirm the current terms on Topstep's site and The Trading Pit's site. Spotted a rule that changed? Tell us.
Where Topstep and The Trading Pit differ
- Daily loss limit
- Topstep: None
- The Trading Pit: Soft pause, $1,000 at $50K
- Consistency rule
- Topstep: Max 55% of total profit from one day
- The Trading Pit: Max 40% of total profit from one day
- Minimum trading days
- Topstep: 2 trading days
- The Trading Pit: 3 trading days
- Plans sold
- Topstep: One evaluation model
- The Trading Pit: One plan: Futures Prime
- Trading day resets
- Topstep: 6:00 PM ET (5:00 PM CT)
- The Trading Pit: 5:00 PM ET (4:00 PM CT)
- Profit split
- Topstep: 90/10
- The Trading Pit: 80/20
- Payouts
- Topstep: Per cycle: 5 winning days of $150+ (Standard) or 3 days at ≤40% consistency
- The Trading Pit: Every 7 days (after 5 profitable days of $150+)
Topstep and The Trading Pit in brief
Topstep
One evaluation, the Trading Combine, traded on TopstepX. Its Maximum Loss Limit trails at end of day and locks at the starting balance. A 55% best-day consistency rule raises the target but never fails the account. The optional daily loss limit pauses trading and is not a violation.
The Trading Pit
Futures Prime trails at end of day and locks at the starting balance, with a soft Daily Pause. A 40% consistency rule raises the target but never fails the account. Minimum 3 trading days and a 30-day time limit.
How these rules play out
On Topstep and The Trading Pit the drawdown trails at end of day: the floor is recalculated once, from the closing balance, so open profit given back during the session does not raise it — but equity touching the floor during the session still counts. For example, at Topstep and The Trading Pit a $50,000 account starts with its floor at $48,000, $2,000 under the start.
On Topstep and The Trading Pit the trailing floor stops rising once it reaches breakeven and stays there.
A soft daily loss limit pauses the day instead of failing the account: reach it and open positions are flattened, trading stops until the next session, and the account stays open. The Trading Pit sets it at $1,000 on $50,000. Topstep has no daily loss limit, so a losing day is bounded only by the max drawdown.
Topstep starts the trading day at 6:00 PM ET (5:00 PM CT) and The Trading Pit starts the trading day at 5:00 PM ET (4:00 PM CT); a daily loss limit counts from that reset, not from midnight.
A consistency rule caps how much of the total profit one day may carry. Topstep caps any single day at 55% of total profit, so it takes at least 2 profitable days to finish inside the rule. One day may then carry at most $1,650 of a $3,000 target. The Trading Pit caps any single day at 40% of total profit, so it takes at least 3 profitable days to finish inside the rule. One day may then carry at most $1,200 of a $3,000 target.
Topstep requires at least 2 trading days before a pass; The Trading Pit requires at least 3 trading days before a pass.
The Trading Pit's evaluation runs for 30 days; a target not reached by then is not a pass.
On automated trading — a strategy or bot sending the orders — at Topstep it is allowed in the evaluation and on a funded account; at The Trading Pit it is allowed in the evaluation and on a funded account. Written answers: Topstep (read ), The Trading Pit (read ).
Choosing between Topstep and The Trading Pit
Topstep and The Trading Pit differ on 3 of the evaluation rules compared here: daily loss limit, consistency rule and minimum trading days. If one or two large days make up most of your profit, the consistency rule sets how fast you can finish: Topstep caps one day at 55% of total profit; The Trading Pit caps one day at 40% of total profit. If you keep trading after a losing morning, look at what the daily loss limit does: Topstep has no daily loss limit; The Trading Pit pauses the day at its daily loss limit. To finish in as few sessions as possible, compare the minimum days: Topstep needs at least 2 trading days, The Trading Pit needs at least 3 trading days.
Once funded, the profit split is 90/10 at Topstep and 80/20 at The Trading Pit. Payout terms — Topstep: Per cycle: 5 winning days of $150+ (Standard) or 3 days at ≤40% consistency; The Trading Pit: Every 7 days (after 5 profitable days of $150+). Topstep sells one evaluation model; The Trading Pit sells one plan: Futures Prime. Each plan carries its own version of the rules above, which is why they are listed plan by plan.
Read both rule sets against your own average day, then confirm the current terms on Topstep's site and The Trading Pit's site. PassTraq tracks challenges at both firms using the same rule presets shown here.
Topstep vs The Trading Pit: quick answers
Which has the larger drawdown at $50K, Topstep or The Trading Pit?
Neither: both allow $2,000 on a $50,000 evaluation (Topstep: end-of-day trailing; The Trading Pit: end-of-day trailing).
Does Topstep or The Trading Pit have a consistency rule?
Topstep: max 55% of total profit from one day. The Trading Pit: max 40% of total profit from one day.
Which has a daily loss limit, Topstep or The Trading Pit?
Topstep: no daily loss limit. The Trading Pit: a soft limit that pauses the day ($1,000 at $50K).
Can you trade with a bot or strategy at Topstep or The Trading Pit?
Topstep: allowed in the evaluation and on a funded account. The Trading Pit: allowed in the evaluation and on a funded account.
More comparisons
Rules are sourced from each firm's official help centre and can change without notice — always confirm on the firm's site before buying an evaluation. Where a link is a partner link, it is marked as such.