YRM Prop vs Topstep 2026

Choosing between YRM Prop and Topstep comes down to one critical decision: do you value affordability and fast funding (YRM Prop) or established reputation and proven longevity (Topstep)?

YRM Prop launched in June 2025 with aggressive pricing ($37/month for 50K accounts) and claims of 24-hour payout processing. Topstep, founded in 2012, is the industry veteran with 13 years of track record and over 10,000 traders funded in 2024 alone. Both are futures-only firms, both use subscription models, but the differences in rules, pricing, and maturity create distinct value propositions.

This comparison breaks down pricing, account structures, drawdown calculations, payout systems, platform options, and helps you decide which firm aligns with your trading goals and risk tolerance.

Quick Comparison: YRM Prop vs Topstep

Pricing Comparison: YRM Prop is 25-60% Cheaper

The cost difference between YRM Prop and Topstep is substantial, especially for traders planning to run multiple accounts or attempt challenges over several months.

50K Account Pricing

Cost analysis:

• Pass in 3 months: YRM Prop saves you $156-$165 (59-60% cheaper)
• Pass in 6 months: YRM Prop saves you $72-$312 (24-58% cheaper)
• Running 3 accounts: YRM Prop = $111/month vs Topstep = $147-$267/month

For budget-conscious traders or those testing multiple strategies simultaneously, YRM Prop's pricing advantage is massive. However, Topstep's higher fees come with 13 years of proven reliability and infrastructure.

Challenge Rules: Static vs Trailing Drawdown

The most significant trading difference between YRM Prop and Topstep is how they calculate maximum drawdown during the evaluation phase.

YRM Prop: Static Drawdown

YRM Prop uses a static drawdown that never trails your profits during the challenge:

• 50K account: $2,000 max drawdown (4%)
• Breach level: Fixed at $48,000
• As you profit: Breach level NEVER moves
• Example: Account grows to $55,000, breach still at $48,000

Advantage: More room to trade as profits accumulate. If you hit $5,000 in profits, you now have $7,000 of cushion from your breach level.

Topstep: EOD Trailing Drawdown

Topstep calculates drawdown based on end-of-day balance highs:

• 50K account: $2,000 max loss limit
• Starting breach: $48,000
• After profit: If you end a day at $52,000, new breach = $50,000
• Trailing mechanism: Drawdown follows your highest EOD balance

Advantage: Still EOD (not intraday), so you have recovery room during the trading session. But less forgiving than YRM's static model once you've built profits.

Which is better?

• YRM Prop's static drawdown: Better for volatile strategies or traders who occasionally give back profits
• Topstep's EOD trailing: Forces better capital preservation but can be frustrating when a winning month is followed by drawdowns

Daily Loss Limits: None vs $1,000

YRM Prop: NO daily loss limit during Starter Challenge. Only the overall $2,000 max drawdown matters.

Topstep: $1,000 daily loss limit on 50K accounts. If you hit this threshold, trading is disabled for the rest of the day.

Real-world impact:

Imagine you're trading ES and go down $900 by 10 AM due to a bad read on NFP data:

• YRM Prop: Keep trading. Recover if market turns. No lockout.
• Topstep: Hit $1,000 loss = locked out for the day. Can't trade your way back even if setup emerges.

For aggressive traders or those trading volatile instruments, YRM Prop's lack of daily limits is a major advantage. For traders who struggle with discipline, Topstep's daily cap might actually protect you from blowing accounts.

Profit Split & Payout Structure

YRM Prop: 90/10 from Day One

• Profit split: 90/10 on ALL accounts (Challenge-earned and Instant Prime)
• Payout frequency: Every 10 trading days
• Processing time: 24 hours approval, often minutes to Rise account
• Progressive caps: $1,500 → $25,000 per account over 6 payouts

Topstep: 80/20 → 90/10 on Live

• Express Funded: 80/20 profit split
• Live Funded: 90/10 profit split (after 5 payouts)
• Payout frequency: Bi-weekly (every 2 weeks)
• Processing time: 3-5 business days
• Caps: 50% of balance up to $5,000, scaling higher on Live accounts

Earnings comparison (first 6 months):

If you generate $10,000 in profits:

• YRM Prop: You keep $9,000 (90%)
• Topstep Express: You keep $8,000 (80%)
• Difference: $1,000 more with YRM Prop

Over a year of consistent trading, YRM Prop's 90/10 split can mean thousands in additional earnings.

Platforms & Data Feeds

YRM Prop:

• Volumetrica (DeepCharts)
• Quantower
• Data: DxFeed, CQG, Marex

Topstep:

• TopstepX (proprietary, no commissions)
• NinjaTrader
• TradingView
• Sierra Chart
• Data: Multiple providers via platform choice

Platform advantage: Topstep. More options, including zero-commission TopstepX and the popular TradingView integration. YRM Prop's Volumetrica and Quantower are solid but have a steeper learning curve for traders accustomed to mainstream platforms.

Maximum Funded Accounts

YRM Prop: 3 funded accounts simultaneously

• Maximum combined capital: $450,000
• Each account operates independently
• Progressive payout caps per account

Topstep: 2 funded Express accounts (before Live transition)

• Maximum combined capital: $300,000 Express (or one Live up to $150K)
• Pathway to consolidate into single Live account

Scalability winner: YRM Prop. Three accounts vs two, with higher combined capital ceiling.

Track Record & Reputation

YRM Prop:

• Founded: June 2025 (8 months old)
• Trustpilot: 4.8/5 from 100+ reviews
• Traders funded: Not publicly disclosed
• Payouts processed: Claims $500K+ in 7 months

Topstep:

• Founded: 2012 (13 years old)
• Trustpilot: 4.6/5 from 2,000+ reviews
• Traders funded: 10,000+ in 2024 alone
• Payouts processed: Tens of millions documented

Trust factor: Topstep. The longevity and scale aren't even close. Topstep has survived multiple market cycles, regulatory changes, and has a massive verified payout history. YRM Prop shows strong early signals but lacks the proven track record.

Who Should Choose YRM Prop?

Choose YRM Prop if you:

✅ Want the lowest possible monthly costs ($37 vs $49-$89)
✅ Prefer static drawdown with no trailing during evaluation
✅ Trade volatile strategies that benefit from no daily loss limits
✅ Want faster, more frequent payouts (10 days vs bi-weekly)
✅ Value 90/10 split from day one
✅ Can accept risk of newer firm (June 2025 launch)
✅ Want to run 3 funded accounts vs 2

Best for: Budget-conscious traders, aggressive strategies, those prioritizing cost over established reputation.

Who Should Choose Topstep?

Choose Topstep if you:

✅ Value 13-year track record over pricing
✅ Want more platform options (NinjaTrader, TradingView)
✅ Prefer established reputation with documented payout history
✅ Can afford $49-$89/month subscription
✅ Like structured pathway to Live accounts with 90/10 split
✅ Want access to TopstepTV education & coaching
✅ Prioritize long-term stability over short-term cost savings

Best for: Risk-averse traders, those building long-term funded careers, traders who value education/community.

The Verdict: Price vs Proven

If cost is your primary concern: YRM Prop wins decisively. 25-60% cheaper with better profit splits and more frequent payouts.

If track record matters most: Topstep wins. 13 years of operations, 10,000+ funded traders in 2024, and proven stability through market cycles.

The middle ground: Start with YRM Prop's $37/month 50K challenge to test prop trading at minimal cost. If you pass and want to diversify risk, add a Topstep account for the stability and reputation.

Both firms are legitimate, futures-only operations with transparent rules. Your choice depends on whether you prioritize affordability and aggressive scaling (YRM Prop) or proven longevity and comprehensive infrastructure (Topstep).

Compare YRM Prop to other established competitors:

• YRM Prop vs Apex Trader Funding
• YRM Prop vs Take Profit Trader

YRM Prop vs Topstep FAQ

Is YRM Prop cheaper than Topstep?

Yes, YRM Prop is 25-60% cheaper depending on the pathway. YRM's 50K account costs $37/month with $0 activation (promo pricing) vs Topstep's $49/month + $129 activation (Standard path) or $89/month with no activation. Over 6 months, YRM Prop saves $72-$312.

Which has better drawdown rules?

YRM Prop uses static drawdown during challenges (never trails profits), while Topstep uses EOD trailing drawdown. YRM Prop's static model is more forgiving as you build profits, but Topstep's EOD calculation (vs intraday) still allows recovery within the trading day. Both are trader-friendly compared to intraday trailing models.

Does YRM Prop or Topstep pay faster?

YRM Prop pays faster: every 10 trading days with 24-hour approval (often minutes to Rise account). Topstep pays bi-weekly with 3-5 business day processing. For traders wanting frequent access to profits, YRM Prop's 10-day cycle is superior.

Which has a better profit split?

YRM Prop offers 90/10 from day one on all accounts. Topstep offers 80/20 on Express Funded accounts, scaling to 90/10 on Live Funded accounts after 5 payouts. Over the first year, YRM Prop's consistent 90/10 results in significantly higher earnings.

Is Topstep more established than YRM Prop?

Yes, dramatically. Topstep was founded in 2012 (13 years ago) with 10,000+ traders funded in 2024 alone. YRM Prop launched in June 2025 (8 months old). Topstep has a proven track record through multiple market cycles; YRM Prop is still building its history.

Which firm has better platform options?

Topstep wins on platforms: TopstepX (proprietary, zero commissions), NinjaTrader, TradingView, and Sierra Chart. YRM Prop offers Volumetrica and Quantower - solid platforms but fewer options and steeper learning curves for traders used to mainstream tools.

Can I run more funded accounts with YRM Prop?

Yes, YRM Prop allows 3 funded accounts simultaneously (max $450K combined). Topstep allows 2 Express Funded accounts before transitioning to a single Live account. For traders wanting to scale across multiple accounts, YRM Prop provides more flexibility.

Does Topstep have daily loss limits?

Yes, Topstep enforces a $1,000 daily loss limit on 50K accounts (scales with account size). YRM Prop has NO daily loss limits during the Starter Challenge - only the overall maximum drawdown matters. This makes YRM Prop better for volatile trading strategies.

Which is better for beginners?

Topstep may be better for complete beginners due to its educational resources (TopstepTV, coaching), established community, and daily loss limits that prevent catastrophic mistakes. However, YRM Prop's lower cost ($37/month) makes it more accessible for beginners on tight budgets.

Should I use both YRM Prop and Topstep?

Yes, this is a smart risk diversification strategy. Start with YRM Prop's affordable 50K challenge ($37/month) to minimize costs while learning. Once profitable, add a Topstep account for the stability and reputation. Running both lets you benefit from YRM's pricing and Topstep's proven infrastructure.