Side-by-side comparison
Topstep vs Goat Funded Trader
Rules, drawdown model, fees, and trading conditions compared side by side. Data verified from official sources.
Topstep vs Goat Funded Trader: Full Comparison
| Rule | | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Static Static. 1-Step: 6% max, 3% daily (4% before Aug 1 2026). 2-Step Standard 10%/5%, 2-Step GOAT 10%/4%. Full detailStatic. 1-Step: 6% max, 3% daily (4% before Aug 1 2026). 2-Step Standard 10%/5%, 2-Step GOAT 10%/4%. Goat Guard triggers at a combined 2% floating loss on funded accounts. |
| Consistency rule | Varies | Varies |
| Risk per trade cap | Capped Scaling Plan caps max contracts by account balance (e.g. $50K = 5 minis / 50 micros); buying power scales with end-of-day balance. | Capped Max 2% risk per trade idea (grouped by instrument + direction) of initial balance; can tighten to 1% for risky patterns. |
| News trading | Yes Allowed in all phases; only bars entering a full max-size position into scheduled major news. | Varies Allowed in both phases, but profit made within 5 min of high-impact news is capped at 1%. |
| Weekend holding | No Futures day-trading only, positions auto-flatten daily (~3:10 PM CT); no overnight or weekend holds. | Yes Allowed in all phases; funded accounts apply a weekend-gap profit adjustment. |
| EAs / bots | 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. | Varies Self-coded EAs allowed; third-party and off-the-shelf EAs banned, with source code demandable as proof. Full detailSelf-coded EAs allowed; third-party and off-the-shelf EAs banned, with source code demandable as proof. CONTRADICTION: the article titled 'Can I use Expert Advisors (EAs)?' answers 'Yes, you can use them' and names only HFT and Gold-arbitrage EAs as exclusions, while the prohibited-practices article bans every third-party EA. Also bans martingale, hedging and latency exploits. |
| Daily loss limit | - | 3% |
| Overall loss limit | - | 6% |
| Profit split | 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. | 80% base, 100% add-on 80% standard, bi-weekly; 100% split is a checkout add-on. Funded daily profit capped at $3,000; first two payouts capped at 6% or $10K. Scales to $2M. |
| Fee refund | No Subscription-based pricing, not one-time fee. | Yes Full detail100% of the evaluation fee refunded with the fourth payout (help centre, Sep 2026). |
| Platforms | TopstepX | MT4, MT5, TradeLocker, cTrader |
| Assets | Futures, Indices | Crypto, FX, Stocks, ETFs, Indices |
| Account sizes | $50K, $100K, $150K | $5K, $10K, $25K, $50K, $100K, $200K, $400K |
| Payout methods | - | - |
Last verified: 2026-09-29 (Topstep), 2026-09-29 (Goat Funded Trader). 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
TopstepKeep 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.