Head to head
Phidias vs Topstep
This matchup has a shortcut. One question decides it before you look at price or split: do you need to hold a position overnight or over the weekend? If yes, Phidias is your firm and Topstep is out, because Topstep flattens you by the close. If no, Topstep's cheaper, simpler package usually wins. Everything else is detail.
I have funded accounts with both. They are aimed at different traders, so this is less a head-to-head and more a fork in the road.
| Phidias | Topstep | |
|---|---|---|
| 50K eval | ~$116 one-time | $49/mo (+$149 activation) |
| Model | 1-step, one-time | 1-step Combine |
| Drawdown | Static or EOD trailing (by tier) | Trailing (EOD-based) |
| 50K max loss | $2,500 | $2,000 |
| Profit split | 80/20 (Premium scales to 100%) | 90/10 |
| News | Allowed | Restricted |
| Overnight | Premium only | No |
| Try it | Visit Phidias | Visit Topstep |
The overnight question
Phidias allows overnight and weekend holds on its Premium swing accounts, which makes a multi-day strategy possible. Topstep does not allow overnight holding at all, full stop. So if your method needs to carry a trade past the close, this is not really a comparison, it is Phidias by default, and you have to be on the Premium tier to get the permission.
If you are flat by the close every day, the overnight feature is irrelevant to you, and Phidias loses its main advantage. At that point Topstep's lower entry and gentler, more uniform drawdown make it the easier choice.
Price, drawdown and split for the intraday trader
For a day trader who does not need overnight, Topstep is $49 a month plus a $149 activation, with a drawdown that locks at your starting balance, which is one of the most forgiving around. Phidias prices one-time near $116 with stacked codes that reach roughly 90 percent off, but its drawdown is static or end-of-day depending on the tier, so you have to read which account you are buying.
Phidias splits 80/20 on standard accounts and scales toward 100 percent on Premium, against Topstep's flat 90/10. Topstep also has its consistency rule on payout, which Phidias does not share. For the pure intraday trader, the two are closer, and Topstep's familiarity and lock-at-start drawdown usually tip it.
The call
If you need to hold overnight or over the weekend, pick Phidias on a Premium swing account. It is one of the only firms that allows it, which makes Topstep a non-starter for that strategy no matter how good its other rules are.
If you trade intraday and are flat by the close, Topstep is the simpler, cheaper, more forgiving pick, as long as you plan for the activation fee and the consistency rule. Answer the overnight question first; it decides this matchup more than any number does. Both carry a substantial risk of loss, and holding overnight adds gap risk.
Go deeper
- Full reviews: Phidias and Topstep
- Coupons: Phidias Topstep
- More matchups: Apex Trader Funding vs PhidiasPhidias vs TakeProfitTraderMyFundedFutures vs PhidiasPhidias vs Tradeify
FAQ
Should I pick Phidias or Topstep?
It hinges on overnight holding. If you need to hold positions overnight or over the weekend, pick Phidias on a Premium account, since Topstep does not allow it. If you trade intraday only, Topstep is cheaper, simpler and more forgiving.
Can you hold overnight on Topstep?
No. Topstep flattens all positions by the close and does not allow overnight holding. If your strategy needs to carry a trade past the close, Phidias on a Premium swing account is the firm that permits it.
Which has the better profit split, Phidias or Topstep?
Phidias scales toward 100 percent on Premium but is 80/20 on standard accounts, while Topstep is a flat 90/10. For most standard accounts Topstep's 90/10 is higher, but Phidias Premium can exceed it.