Topstep vs Traders Launch
Topstep and Traders Launch side by side: where their rules differ, what happens on a bad day, and what each costs to get funded, from their own terms. No winner.
TopstepReviewed Sep 26, 2026
Where they differ 11
Trading Combine: No Activation Fee vs Futures Evaluation · 80% split at 100K. Only the rules that differ are shown here; 2 match below.
| Rule | Topstep | Traders Launch |
|---|---|---|
| Price (list) | $149/mo | $159 |
| Billing | Monthly until you pass | One-time fee |
| Profit target | $6,000 | $2,000 |
| Max drawdown | $3,000 | $1,000 |
| Daily loss limit | $2,000 (pauses the day) | — |
| Consistency in evaluation | 55% | — |
| Consistency once funded | 40% | None |
| Reset | $149 | — |
| Profit split | 90% | 80% |
| Max contracts | 10 minis / 100 micros | — |
| Max funded accounts | — | 5 |
What’s the same 2
| Rule | Topstep | Traders Launch |
|---|---|---|
| Drawdown type | End-of-day trailing | End-of-day trailing |
| Activation fee | None | None |
What happens if…
Worked out from each firm’s published rules for one account on day one, from the starting balance. Simplified; the firms’ full terms decide.
You lose $2,000 on your first day.
Topstep
The $2,000 daily loss limit is hit: trading stops for the day. You keep the account with $1,000 of drawdown left.
Traders Launch
That reaches the max drawdown: the account fails.
You’re up $500 by lunch, then close the day flat.
Topstep
End-of-day trailing: nothing moves until the close, so closing flat leaves the full $3,000.
Traders Launch
End-of-day trailing: nothing moves until the close, so closing flat leaves the full $1,000.
You fail once and try again.
Topstep
Monthly billing: a second try usually means another month or a reset. Two months cost $298 at list price.
Traders Launch
Second attempt cost not captured yet.
Cost and codes
Topstep
$149/mo
$49.67/mo per $1,000 of drawdown
No code listedTraders Launch
$159
$159 per $1,000 of drawdown
No code listedSide by side, in A–Z order. Nothing here is scored and there’s no winner: different rules suit different traders. Every value comes from each firm’s own pages; a dash means we haven’t captured it yet. Read both firms’ current terms before you buy.
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