What you are signing up for
An evaluation is a test in a simulated environment where you must prove you can trade profitably while following strict risk rules. If you pass, the company grants you access to a funded account to share the profits you generate.
- To start at Top One Trader, you can buy a $5,000 "2-Step PRO v2" account for $39.
- At Wall Street Funded, a similar $5,000 "Ultra" account costs $49.
- Top One Trader also offers a "NOVA" plan for just $7, though you must pay a $165 to $1,210 activation fee only after you pass the test.
How hard each one is
The difficulty depends on the profit target, which is the specific amount of gain you must reach to pass, and the drawdown, which is the maximum loss allowed before your account is closed.
- Top One Trader (2-Step PRO v2): You need an 8% gain in the first phase and 5% in the second. It uses a "static drawdown" of 9%, meaning your loss limit is always calculated based on your starting balance and does not move.
- Wall Street Funded (Ultra): You need a 10% gain in the first phase and 5% in the second. It offers a 10% static drawdown, giving you a slightly larger safety cushion than its competitor.
How long it takes
Both companies allow "unlimited trading days," which means you can take as much time as you need to reach your goals without feeling rushed.
- At Top One Trader, you must trade for at least 3 days to pass the evaluation.
- At Wall Street Funded, you must trade for at least 4 days.
- Neither firm offers a free trial, so your first attempt requires a real payment.
Where beginners fail
Beginners often lose their accounts due to the "trailing drawdown." This is a loss limit that "trails" or follows your highest profit point. If you earn money, the limit moves up, but if you then lose that money, the limit stays high, leaving you less room for error.
- Top One Trader uses trailing drawdown in its 1-Step and Instant plans (between 5% and 7%). A very strict rule here is the mandatory Stop Loss: every trade must have a price limit to close automatically in case of loss, or the trade is closed immediately by the system.
- Wall Street Funded also uses trailing drawdown for its Instant accounts. Their main trap for beginners is the news trading rule: you cannot open or close trades 4 minutes before or after major economic announcements.
What happens if you make it
Once you become a funded trader, you receive a "profit split," which is the percentage of the gains that you keep for yourself.
- Top One Trader: You keep 80% to 90% of profits. You can request your money every 14 days. You can trade on MetaTrader 5, cTrader, DXTrade, MatchTrader, and TradingView.
- Wall Street Funded: You keep 80% of profits. For 2-step accounts, the first payout is after 15 days, but for 1-step accounts, you must wait 30 days. They offer MetaTrader 5, cTrader, MatchTrader, and DXTrade.
If it is your first time
If this is your first attempt, Top One Trader is the better choice. Their $39 entry price for a $5,000 account is more affordable for a student. While their 5-minute minimum trade duration is longer than the 60 seconds required by Wall Street Funded, the mandatory Stop Loss rule in Top One Trader actually helps beginners develop the essential habit of protecting their capital.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a $5,000 evaluation, Top One Trader or Wall Street Funded?
Top One Trader is cheaper for a standard start, offering its 2-Step PRO v2 account for $39, while the Wall Street Funded Ultra account costs $49. However, Top One Trader has a unique NOVA plan with a $7 entry fee, though it requires a much higher activation fee after passing the challenge.
Which company has easier profit targets to pass, Top One Trader or Wall Street Funded?
Top One Trader is slightly easier in its two-step version, requiring an 8% profit in the first phase, compared to the 10% required by Wall Street Funded in its Ultra and Rapid plans. Both firms require a 5% profit target for the second phase of their evaluations.
Who pays out faster to successful traders, Top One Trader or Wall Street Funded?
Top One Trader offers more frequent payouts, allowing withdrawals every 14 days for all its funded programs. In contrast, Wall Street Funded requires a 30-day wait for the first payout on its One Step accounts, though it reduces this to 15 days for Two Step and Instant programs.
What are the differences in Stop Loss rules between Top One Trader and Wall Street Funded?
Top One Trader is much stricter, requiring an active Stop Loss at the exact moment you open a trade; if you forget, the system closes it immediately as a soft breach. Wall Street Funded is more lenient, giving you a maximum window of two minutes after opening the position to set your Stop Loss.
