Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | Equity Edge | The Trading Pit |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 80% (90% on Instant and VIP) | 80% |
| First Payout | 30 | 14 |
| Payout Frequency | Bi-weekly (on-demand at VIP) | Bi-weekly (CFDs), Weekly (Futures) |
| Max Account Size | $200,000 | $200,000 |
Winner: The Trading Pit
In this independent head-to-head comparison of Equity Edge vs The Trading Pit, we break down challenge rules, pricing, profit splits, and payout conditions to help you decide which prop firm is the better fit for your trading style.
Equity Edge: 5 Challenge Types from $14. Instant Pro Edge at 90% Split. Scales to $2M.
The Trading Pit: Multi-program prop trading across CFDs, Futures, and Stocks from Liechtenstein.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, The Trading Pit scores 8.6/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: Equity Edge scores 7.8/10 vs The Trading Pit at 8.6/10.
Minimum Fee: Equity Edge starts from $14; The Trading Pit starts from $49. Equity Edge is cheaper at entry level.
Profit Split: Equity Edge offers 80% (90% on Instant and VIP); The Trading Pit offers 80%. Equity Edge has the higher split.
Platforms: Equity Edge supports MT5, Match-Trader; The Trading Pit is on MT4, MT5, cTrader (CFDs); ATAS, Quantower, Tradovate (Futures).
Tradeable Markets: Equity Edge covers Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities; The Trading Pit offers Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities, US Stocks.
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how Equity Edge and The Trading Pit compare on pricing.
Equity Edge challenge fees start from $14. The firm has operated since 2025. They have funded over 250,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $4,500,000+.
The Trading Pit challenge fees start from $49. The firm has operated since 2021. They have funded over 10,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $16,000,000+.
On entry-level pricing, Equity Edge offers a lower starting fee — an important factor if you are testing with a smaller account first.
Equity Edge profit split: 80% (90% on Instant and VIP). The Trading Pit profit split: 80%. Equity Edge delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: Equity Edge pays Bi-weekly (on-demand at VIP); The Trading Pit pays Bi-weekly (CFDs), Weekly (Futures). Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.
Here is our full independent review of Equity Edge:
Equity Edge is operated by Equity Edge Ltd (company number 2025-00306), registered in Saint Lucia. CEO Berkay Gurlek leads the firm, which claims 250,000+ traders across 180+ countries and $4.5M+ in 2024 payouts. Five challenge types are available from a $2,500 starting account, with a scaling path to $2,000,000 in simulated capital at VIP status. Trustpilot rating: approximately 4.0/5 from nearly 4,000 reviews.
Trust note: With nearly 4,000 Trustpilot reviews, the sample size is meaningful. A recurring pattern in negative reviews describes payout denials and account closures occurring specifically after significant profits are reached, with traders reporting rule enforcement that felt disproportionate or inconsistently applied. BestProp does not draw conclusions from review patterns alone, but the volume of similar complaints warrants mention. Verify the payout process with a smaller account before scaling capital.
Two rule tiers (Legacy and Swift) apply to both the 1-Step and 2-Step tracks. Legacy accounts have wider drawdown but higher profit targets; Swift accounts have tighter drawdown and lower targets:
1-Step Legacy: 10% profit target. Daily drawdown: 4%. Max drawdown: 6% trailing. 80% profit split.
Fees: $2.5K: $22 | $5K: $27 | $10K: $50 | $25K: $119 | $50K: $259 | $100K: $489
1-Step Swift: 8% profit target. Daily drawdown: 3%. Max drawdown: 5% trailing. 80% profit split.
Fees: $2.5K: $14 | $5K: $18 | $10K: $39 | $25K: $109 | $50K: $239 | $100K: $379
2-Step Legacy: Phase 1: 10%, Phase 2: 5%. Daily drawdown: 4%. Max drawdown: 6% trailing. 80% split.
Fees: $2.5K: $23 | $5K: $29 | $10K: $54 | $25K: $139 | $50K: $269 | $100K: $499
2-Step Swift: Phase 1: 10%, Phase 2: 5%. Daily drawdown: 3%. Max drawdown: 5% trailing. 80% split.
Fees: $2.5K: $16 | $5K: $20 | $10K: $42 | $25K: $129 | $50K: $249 | $100K: $429
Instant Pro Edge (no evaluation): No profit target. Daily drawdown: varies. Max drawdown: trailing. 90% profit split (higher than challenge track).
Fees: $2.5K: $22 | $5K: $45 | $10K: $68 | $25K: $138 | $50K: $159 | $100K: $277 | $200K: $550
Note on drawdown: All accounts use trailing max drawdown – the minimum equity threshold rises as account balance grows. Traders who build profit early reduce their usable drawdown buffer over time.
Five tiers from Level 1 (20% capital increase per milestone) through VIP status. VIP unlocks 90% profit split, on-demand payouts processed within 48 hours, and up to $2,000,000 in simulated capital. Confirm current VIP criteria directly with support before targeting this path.
Platforms: MT5, Match-Trader. Instruments: Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto, Commodities. Payout frequency: bi-weekly (on-demand at VIP). Methods: Crypto, Bank Wire, PayPal. Payment accepted via Credit/Debit Card, PayPal, Bank Wire.
Restricted countries (23 total): USA, Canada, Russia, Belarus, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela, Yemen, North Korea, Afghanistan, and others – check at checkout for the current full list.
Equity Edge earns a 6.5 BestProp score. The fee structure is genuinely competitive – $14 for a $2,500 Swift 1-Step is among the lowest entry points in the industry. Five program types give traders meaningful choice between risk/reward structures, and the Instant Pro Edge 90% split with no profit target is accessible. The $2M VIP scaling ceiling is ambitious.
The Trustpilot pattern of complaints specifically tied to payout denials post-profit is the primary concern, and it is significant at nearly 4,000 total reviews. Saint Lucia registration provides limited regulatory protection. All drawdown is trailing (tightens as profits build), which requires active position management. Start with a Swift 1-Step at the $2,500 size to test the payout experience before committing larger capital.
Here is our full independent review of The Trading Pit:
The Trading Pit was founded in 2021 and is registered in Liechtenstein (FL-0002.693.417-1), making it one of the few prop firms headquartered in an EU-adjacent jurisdiction. Under CEO Daniela Egli, the firm has scaled to over 10,000 active monthly accounts, recorded 450,000+ monthly trades, and paid out more than $16 million to funded traders.
The Trading Pit offers four tracks: CFD 1-Phase, CFD 2-Phase, Futures, and Stocks. CFD programs use MT4, MT5, and cTrader and cover forex, metals, indices, crypto, and US equities. The Futures program runs on Tradovate with access to CME, EUREX, CBOT, COMEX, and NYMEX markets. The Stocks program provides direct access to equity markets with $25K and $50K account sizes.
CFD programs use a static balance-based drawdown (calculated from initial balance). The Futures program uses a trailing drawdown model. Notably, Futures accounts feature a daily pause mechanism rather than a hard daily cut — when the daily drawdown limit is hit, the account is suspended for the remainder of that trading day rather than being terminated.
News trading is prohibited on CFD and Stocks programs with a 2-minute blackout window around major economic releases. The Futures program allows news trading. Expert Advisors are permitted but scalping under 1 minute, arbitrage, and signal copying across accounts are all prohibited. Overnight holding is allowed; cross-account hedging is not. Martingale strategies are banned.
CFD commissions are $5 per lot for forex, metals, and energies; 20% for crypto; 0% for US equities; and 20% for EU/UK equities.
CFD payouts are bi-weekly; Futures payouts are weekly. Payment methods include credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, crypto, and BinancePay. Payouts are made via bank wire, crypto, Binance, or Perfect Money. Maximum account allocation is $400,000 across all accounts.
Overall, our independent scoring gives The Trading Pit the edge in this 2026 comparison. However, both firms have their merits. If Equity Edge better matches your specific trading style, instruments, or preferred platform, it may still be the right choice for you.
Use our comparison table above and review the challenge fees at both firms before making your final decision. Both offer risk-free evaluation programs — the challenge fee is the only money at risk.
Based on our independent scoring, The Trading Pit scores higher overall (8.6/10). The best choice depends on your trading style, preferred instruments, and account size.
Equity Edge offers a lower entry-level challenge fee. However, always compare the full account sizes you plan to trade before deciding purely on price.
Equity Edge offers the higher profit split. Equity Edge: 80% (90% on Instant and VIP). The Trading Pit: 80%.
EA policies: Equity Edge — check the review. The Trading Pit — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: Equity Edge — check the review. The Trading Pit — check the review.
Read the full Equity Edge review → · Read the full The Trading Pit review →
Based on our scoring methodology, The Trading Pit edges ahead in this comparison. However, the best choice depends on your trading style, preferred platform and account size. Read the full breakdown above for a detailed verdict.
Equity Edge offers 80% (90% on Instant and VIP) profit split, while The Trading Pit offers 80% profit split. Check each firm's current terms as these can change.
Check our offers page for the latest verified deals on both firms.
Equity Edge processes first payouts in 30 day(s), while The Trading Pit takes approximately 14 day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither Equity Edge nor The Trading Pit are regulated in the traditional financial sense — prop firms operate as private companies providing traders access to simulated or real capital. Always read the terms and conditions carefully before participating in any prop challenge.
