2 Topstep Alternatives for Daily Payouts & More
TLDR – What’s the best Topstep alternative?
Tradeify ranks as the strongest Topstep alternative because they sell accounts with daily payouts and EOD drawdowns. They also offer Straight-to-Sim-Funded accounts that let you trade a funded account on day one without passing an evaluation. Tradeify offers a 100% profit split on your first $15,000 in profits, no monthly fee, and no secondary funding fee, which makdes it similar but superior to Topstep. Check out Tradeify here.
Table of Contents
Topstep is the oldest online prop firm for futures traders. They offer a useful service to traders who want to earn a funded futures trading account, but there are better alternatives. In this guide I rank and review the best Topstep alternatives.
Best Alternatives to Topstep
| Feature | Topstep | BluSky | Tradeify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment Model | Monthly subscription rebills until pass or cancel | Monthly (Launch/Propel) or one-time (Orbit) | One-time payment |
| Programs Available | 1 (Trading Combine) | 4 (Launch, Propel, Orbit, Instant Funding) | 3 (Growth, Select, Lightning) |
| Fastest Evaluation | No time minimum | 1 day (Orbit) | 1 day (Growth) |
| Activation Fee | $149 after passing (Standard) or higher monthly to skip it (No Activation Fee variant) | Launch fee on Launch program only; none on Orbit | None |
| Consistency Rule (Eval) | 50% | 34–50% (varies by program); N/A on Orbit | None (Growth), 40% (Select) |
| Payout Requirement | 5 winning days of $150+ (Standard) or 40% consistency mode | Balance above buffer (Launch/Propel) or 40% consistency (Orbit) | Program-dependent, no “winning days” rule |
| Payout Frequency | Standard withdrawal process | Daily (M–F) above buffer | Daily (Select) or 5-day (Growth/Lightning) |
| Time from Pass to Funded | Same day (automated) | Near-instant, even mid-trading-day | Near-instant, even mid-trading-day |
| Reset Fee | $49–$229 (scales with account) | Included with monthly rebill | $60–$229 flat |
| Profit Split | Up to 90% | 90% | Program-dependent (80–90% typical) |
| Link | Visit Topstep’s Site | Visit Tradeify’s Site | Visit BluSky’s Site |
1. Tradeify
The Best Instant-Funded Futures Prop. Great target/drawdown ratios and more
Price: Starts at $99 before discounts
Tradeify stands out quite differently from Topstep, but it deserves a mention here because of the impressive benefits.
Tradeify sells Straight-to-Sim-Funded accounts, a.k.a, instant-funded accounts. So, you sign up and pay, and they give you a funded account you can get paid on. They give you a 100% profit split for your first $15,000 in profits.
Yes, you have to follow some rules and hit your profit target to get paid, you don’t have to pass an eval.
There’s no monthly fee and no secondary funding fee.
They also have evaluations, and they don’t charge activation fees when you pass those.
After several payouts, at their discretion, they’ll seek to move you to a live account which has a 90% split.
What’s Better Than Topstep:
- Trade a funded account starting day 1. No evaluations or tests unless you want to.
- Daily Payouts in Select program accounts
- EOD drawdowns give you more room to trade!
What’s Worse Than Topstep:
- Trading commissions are slightly higher.
Get it if you’re ready to trade a funded account without jumping through any hoops.
I recommend you start with the $100K Funded for $660 one-time. Or if you prefer to pay less and pass an eval, do the $50K Select for $165.
Tradeify
40% Off All Accounts (Up to 5 uses)
- After 1st 5 at 40% Off, it's 30% Off
- Including Lightning Accounts (Str8 2 Funded)!
- Payout Frequency now Just 5 Days!
EPICCDon’t forget to get the best deal using the tradeify coupon.
2. BluSky Trading Company
Better Payout Policy – No Setup Fees on Funded Accounts, & More
Price: Starts at $136 (less with coupon)
Launched in 2022, BluSky has grown to be a favored alternative to Topstep for many traders. They don’t charge a setup fee for funded accounts, and they offer anytime payouts.
I recommend you start with the $50k plan and be sure to check out their trading contests for the chance to win cash and funded accounts.
What’s Better Than Topstep:
- Request payout anytime, most requests are processed same-day.
- No setup fee on funded accounts, but like Topstep, when you get upgraded to a live brokerage account you’ll have CME data fees.
What’s Worse Than Topstep:
- If you’re a fan of Toptep’s “Topstep+” platform, you won’t get that here.
I recommend you start with the $50k plan and be sure to check out their trading contests for the chance to win cash and funded accounts.
To see the best deal, check out BluSky discount code. To learn more, read the BluSky Trading review.
Some Quick Highlights That Make These Options Better Than Topstep
- Tradeify Growth is the standout value pick at every size – cheaper than one month of Topstep’s subscription in most cases, with equal or larger drawdowns.
- BluSky Orbit is the best “one-time challenge” analog to Topstep for traders who want a fixed cost with no monthly rebill, and it’s the only alternative offering exact contract parity with Topstep at every size.
- Topstep’s monthly model is a cost trap – if you don’t pass in the first month, Topstep’s billing keeps going while the one-time alternatives don’t.
Some Quick Highlights That Make These Options Better Than Topstep:
Topstep vs Tradeify & BluSky – Drawdown per Dollar Spent
This is my true value cheat sheet for comparing the value offered by these three firms. As you can see, the Topstep alternatives win here, too.
| Rank | Product | Drawdown | Effective Cost* | Drawdown per $1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tradeify Growth 50K | $2,000 | $87 | $22.99 |
| 2 | Tradeify Growth 100K | $3,500 | $153 | $22.88 |
| 3 | Tradeify Growth 150K | $5,000 | $221 | $22.62 |
| 4 | Tradeify Select 150K | $4,500 | $221 | $20.36 |
| 5 | Tradeify Select 50K | $2,000 | $99 | $20.20 |
| 6 | Tradeify Select 100K | $3,000 | $159 | $18.87 |
| 7 | BluSky Launch 50K | $2,000 | $158 | $12.66 |
| 8 | Topstep 150K (Standard) | $4,500 | $348 | $12.93 |
| 9 | Topstep 100K (Standard) | $3,000 | $248 | $12.10 |
| 10 | BluSky Launch 100K | $2,500 | $218 | $11.47 |
| 11 | BluSky Orbit 150K | $4,500 | $419 | $10.74 |
| 12 | Topstep 50K (Standard) | $2,000 | $198 | $10.10 |
| 13 | BluSky Orbit 50K | $2,000 | $199 | $10.05 |
| 14 | BluSky Orbit 100K | $3,000 | $299 | $10.03 |
Let’s Compare Alternatives to Topstep by Account Size – Tables
| Product | Entry Price | Payment Type | Profit Target | Max Drawdown | Contracts | Consistency (Eval) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topstep 50K (Standard) | $49/mo + $149 after pass | Monthly rebill + activation fee | $3,000 | $2,000 | 5 mini / 50 micro | 50% |
| BluSky Launch 50K (2-day) | $59/30 days + $99 at launch | Monthly + one-time launch fee | $3,000 | $2,000 (trailing EOD) | 5 mini / 50 micro | 50% (eval), 34% (buffer) |
| BluSky Orbit 50K (1-day) | $199 | One-time payment | $3,000 | $2,000 (trailing EOD) | 5 mini / 50 micro | N/A (eval); 40% (funded) |
| Tradeify Growth 50K (1-day) | $87 (from $145) | One-time payment (40% off) | $3,000 | $2,000 (trailing EOD) | 4 mini / 40 micro | None |
| Tradeify Select 50K (3-day) | $99 (from $165) | One-time payment (40% off) | $3,000 | $2,000 (trailing EOD) | 4 mini / 40 micro | 40% |
| Product | Entry Price | Payment Type | Profit Target | Max Drawdown | Contracts | Consistency (Eval) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topstep 100K (Standard) | $99/mo + $149 after pass | Monthly rebill + activation fee | $6,000 | $3,000 | 10 mini / 100 micro | 50% |
| BluSky Launch 100K (2-day) | $69/30 days + $149 at launch | Monthly + one-time launch fee | $6,000 | $2,500 (trailing EOD) | 10 mini / 100 micro | 50% (eval), 34% (buffer) |
| BluSky Orbit 100K (1-day) | $299 | One-time payment | $6,000 | $3,000 (trailing EOD) | 10 mini / 100 micro | N/A (eval); 40% (funded) |
| Tradeify Growth 100K (1-day) | $153 (from $255) | One-time payment (40% off) | $6,000 | $3,500 (trailing EOD) | 8 mini / 80 micro | None |
| Tradeify Select 100K (3-day) | $159 (from $265) | One-time payment (40% off) | $6,000 | $3,000 (trailing EOD) | 8 mini / 80 micro | 40% |
| Product | Entry Price | Payment Type | Profit Target | Max Drawdown | Contracts | Consistency (Eval) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topstep 150K (Standard) | $199/mo + $149 after pass | Monthly rebill + activation fee | $9,000 | $4,500 | 15 mini / 150 micro | 50% |
| BluSky Orbit 150K (1-day) | $419 | One-time payment | $9,000 | $4,500 (trailing EOD) | 15 mini / 150 micro | N/A (eval); 40% (funded) |
| Tradeify Growth 150K (1-day) | $221 (from $369) | One-time payment (40% off) | $9,000 | $5,000 (trailing EOD) | 12 mini / 120 micro | None |
| Tradeify Select 150K (3-day) | $221 (from $369) | One-time payment (40% off) | $9,000 | $4,500 (trailing EOD) | 12 mini / 120 micro | 40% |
The Bottom Line
How does an instant-funded account differ from a Topstep evaluation?
An instant-funded account from Tradeify gives you a funded trading account immediately after you sign up and pay, with no evaluation or test required. A Topstep evaluation, by contrast, requires you to hit a profit target and follow drawdown rules across a trading combine before Topstep grants funding. Both still require hitting a profit target to withdraw earnings.
Which Topstep alternative offers daily payouts?
Tradeify offers daily payouts in select program accounts, and its payout frequency currently runs on a 5-day cycle. BluSky Trading Company offers anytime payout requests, with most requests processed the same day. Both firms provide faster access to profits than a standard Topstep withdrawal schedule, which matters when you want consistent cash flow from a funded account.
Does BluSky Trading charge a setup fee on funded accounts?
BluSky Trading Company charges no setup fee on funded accounts, which is one reason traders choose BluSky over Topstep. Note that once BluSky upgrades you to a live brokerage account, you will pay CME market data fees, the same as you would with Topstep after a live upgrade. BluSky launched in 2022.
What does an end-of-day drawdown mean for a funded trader?
An end-of-day drawdown, offered on Tradeify accounts, calculates your account’s loss limit based on your balance at the close of each trading session rather than tracking your peak balance intraday. This EOD structure gives a funded trader more room to hold positions through drawdowns during the session compared to a trailing intraday drawdown model.