Earn2Trade vs TopStep for Beginners

Earn2Trade is more beginner-friendly. There is no consistency rule, so you will not be penalized for having one great trading day. The 1-step evaluation means fewer hurdles to clear. Updated March 2026.

Verdict for Beginners

Recommendation: Earn2Trade is the better choice for beginners.

Earn2Trade is more beginner-friendly. There is no consistency rule, so you will not be penalized for having one great trading day. The 1-step evaluation means fewer hurdles to clear.

	Earn2Trade	TopStep
Evaluation Type	1-step	1-step
Drawdown Type	Trailing EOD (floor moves up at end of day)	Trailing EOD (floor moves up at end of day)
Consistency Rule	None	No single day > 50% of total profit
Min Trading Days	15	None
Daily Loss Limit	2.2%	2%
News Trading	allowed	allowed
Cheapest Entry	$150	$49

Beginner Analysis

As a beginner, the most important factor is how forgiving the rules are. Earn2Trade uses trailing eod (floor moves up at end of day), which is harder to manage. The floor moves up with your profits, so a winning streak followed by losses can still breach you. TopStep uses trailing eod (floor moves up at end of day).

Rule complexity matters when you are learning. Earn2Trade has no consistency rule, keeping things simple. TopStep has a consistency rule (No single day > 50% of total profit). Earn2Trade requires 15 minimum trading days. Fewer rules means fewer ways to accidentally fail.

Start with the smallest, cheapest account to limit the cost of learning. Earn2Trade's entry point is $150 for $25,000. TopStep starts at $49 for $50,000. Treat the first 1-2 attempts as tuition. Once you understand how the drawdown rules actually feel in practice, you can size up.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Earn2Trade or TopStep easier for beginners?

For beginners, both firms use trailing drawdown, which requires more experience. Earn2Trade has no consistency rule, making it simpler.

Should beginners choose 1-step or 2-step evaluations?

A 1-step evaluation has fewer phases to pass, which means less time and fewer opportunities to fail. Earn2Trade uses 1-step, while TopStep uses 1-step. For a first-time prop trader, fewer steps means a simpler path to funding.

What is the cheapest way to start as a beginner with Earn2Trade or TopStep?

Start with the smallest account size to minimize risk. Earn2Trade's cheapest option is $25,000 for $150. TopStep's cheapest is $50,000 for $49. A smaller account means smaller losses during the learning phase.

Other Comparisons: Earn2Trade vs TopStep