TX3 Funding vs Topstep: Which Firm Has Better Rules?

TX3 Funding and Topstep share the same drawdown philosophy—EOD trailing—but TX3 strips away several rules that make Topstep's evaluation more restrictive. TX3 offers a one-step evaluation with no minimum trading days, 100% profit on the first $10K, funded-in-10-minutes speed after passing, and the backing of TopTier Trader's established infrastructure. Topstep counters with 14 years of operational history, built-in coaching via TopstepTV, commission-free execution, and the most recognized brand in futures prop trading. Having tested both, the rules comparison favors TX3 on paper—but rules only matter if the firm behind them is still paying traders when you're ready to withdraw.

How I compare firms: This comparison is built from actual accounts I've evaluated and traded with each firm—not from reading marketing pages or aggregating reviews. I've run evaluations, tested platforms, analyzed rule differences, and tracked real payout data across both firms.

Topstep pioneered futures prop trading and remains the benchmark every other firm gets measured against. For the full breakdown of their account structure, pricing, rules, and what makes them different from newer futures firms, check out my complete Topstep review. It's based on real evaluation experience and honest analysis—including what works, what doesn't, and where newer competitors have caught up. For the absolute latest, check Topstep's website or their Help Center.

Rule-by-Rule Breakdown

Where TX3 Rules Win

No consistency rule during evaluation. TX3's evaluation has no consistency requirement—if you hit the target in two monster days, you pass. Topstep's 50% rule means your best day can't exceed half your total profit, which punishes exceptional performance and extends evaluations.

100% profit on first $10K. New Topstep traders get 90/10 from dollar one. TX3 lets you keep everything on your first $10,000 in payouts. That's $1,000 more in your pocket on early payouts.

Faster payout processing. TX3 targets 24-48 hours for payouts. Topstep's range spans from same-day (Wise) to 10 business days (ACH). For traders who need quick cash flow, TX3 has the edge.

No activation fee (Starter). TX3's Starter account at $70/month has no separate activation fee. Topstep charges $149 on top of the monthly subscription.

Where Topstep Rules Win

Self-imposed risk controls via TopstepX. While TX3 has a fixed daily loss cap, TopstepX lets you customize your own daily loss limits, profit targets, and trade count restrictions. This self-imposed discipline is more flexible and creates better trading habits.

Commission-free execution. Topstep's TopstepX platform eliminates trading commissions entirely. TX3 charges standard per-contract commissions through its platforms, which adds up for high-frequency traders.

Coaching and education. TopstepTV daily sessions, Training Camp, Discord community with 72K+ members, Consistency Target Calculator—Topstep's educational infrastructure is unmatched. TX3 offers a Discord community through TopTier Trader but nothing approaching Topstep's depth.

Track record. Topstep: 14 years, Chicago-based, 11,500+ Trustpilot reviews. TX3: backed by TopTier Trader (forex-origin), significantly newer to futures. TopTier's reputation is strong, but the futures-specific track record is limited.

The Verdict

TX3 has objectively better rules for most traders: no eval consistency requirement, 100% on first $10K, faster payouts, no activation fee. On paper, it's the more trader-friendly firm.

Topstep has objectively better infrastructure: proven payouts over 14 years, commission-free trading, superior coaching, and self-imposed risk management tools that develop discipline.

Choose TX3 if rules and economics are your priority. Choose Topstep if track record and educational support matter more. For experienced traders who don't need hand-holding, TX3's rules are genuinely better. For traders still developing their edge, Topstep's structure and coaching justify the premium.