Side-by-side comparison
DNA Funded vs Topstep
Rules, drawdown model, fees, and trading conditions compared side by side. Data verified from official sources.
DNA Funded vs Topstep: Full Comparison
| Rule | | |
|---|---|---|
| Drawdown | Varies Varies by product: challenge accounts use a static max loss fixed from the initial balance (1-Step 6%, 2-Step 8%, Rapid 5%); the Instant Funding product… Full detailVaries by product: challenge accounts use a static max loss fixed from the initial balance (1-Step 6%, 2-Step 8%, Rapid 5%); the Instant Funding product uses a 4% trailing drawdown. | EOD trailing EOD trailing max loss: the limit trails up on the end-of-day closing balance, not on intraday unrealised peaks. CME futures accounts. |
| Consistency rule | Yes Firm calls it the Profit Distribution Rule. Full detailFirm calls it the Profit Distribution Rule. Funded Stage only: a single day may contribute at most 30% of the REQUESTED PAYOUT (40% for accounts bought before 3 February). Excess is deducted, not a breach. | Varies |
| Risk per trade cap | Not published Full detailReferences a per-symbol exposure concept but publishes no numeric per-trade risk %, lot, or exposure cap; unverified. | Capped Scaling Plan caps max contracts by account balance (e.g. $50K = 5 minis / 50 micros); buying power scales with end-of-day balance. |
| News trading | Varies Funded accounts can't trade within 5 min of high-impact news (10 min on pre-Feb-2026 accounts); no news scalping. | Yes Allowed in all phases; only bars entering a full max-size position into scheduled major news. |
| Weekend holding | Varies Allowed on 1 Phase and 2 Phase; not on Rapid, Instant Funding or the 24-hour Challenge. | No Futures day-trading only, positions auto-flatten daily (~3:10 PM CT); no overnight or weekend holds. |
| EAs / bots | Varies Allowed on 1 Phase, 2 Phase and Rapid (the firm has dropped the Helix naming); prohibited on Instant Funding. Full detailAllowed on 1 Phase, 2 Phase and Rapid (the firm has dropped the Helix naming); prohibited on Instant Funding. Bans HFT, arbitrage, grid, martingale, tick/sub-30s scalping and gap trading. | Varies Automation permitted via the TopstepX/ProjectX API; no firm-published statement that the API is the ONLY route. Full detailAutomation permitted via the TopstepX/ProjectX API; no firm-published statement that the API is the ONLY route. Bans VPS/VPN/remote servers outright (all activity must originate from the trader's own device), plus HFT and SIM-fill-exploit algos. |
| Daily loss limit | 5% | - |
| Overall loss limit | 8% | - |
| Profit split | 80% base, 90% add-on 80% default on 1 Phase, 2 Phase, Rapid and Instant Funding; 90% is a +20% checkout add-on. First three payouts capped at 5% of account size. Full detail80% default on 1 Phase, 2 Phase, Rapid and Instant Funding; 90% is a +20% checkout add-on. First three payouts capped at 5% of account size. The 24-hour challenge pays fee x multiplier (2x/5x/10x). | up to 90% 90/10 on Express Funded Accounts (100% of the first $10K for traders who joined before Jan 12 2026). Full detail90/10 on Express Funded Accounts (100% of the first $10K for traders who joined before Jan 12 2026). Live Funded: up to 100% daily after 30 winning days. Crypto only via CME Micro Bitcoin/Ether futures. |
| Fee refund | No No challenge fee refund in the Rules & Conditions (v2.1, Aug 31 2026). | No Subscription-based pricing, not one-time fee. |
| Platforms | TradeLocker | TopstepX |
| Assets | Crypto, FX, Indices, Commodities, Stocks | Futures, Indices |
| Account sizes | $5K, $10K, $25K, $50K, $100K, $200K | $50K, $100K, $150K |
| Payout methods | - | - |
Last verified: 2026-09-28 (DNA Funded), 2026-09-29 (Topstep). Always verify current terms on each firm's official site before purchasing.
Also consider·VelotradeMulti-asset prop trading,
one account for all markets.
Multi-asset · Hong Kong · Est. 2016
Continue reading
Keep comparing
DNA FundedKeep learning
Keep comparing.
Best crypto prop firms
Our ranked list of crypto prop firms with the rules compared.
Top prop firms compared
How the leading prop firms stack up across markets and styles.
How to evaluate a prop firm
The checks worth doing before you pay for a challenge.
Prop firm red flags
What to watch for before you pay a challenge fee.