Alpha Futures vs Topstep – Prop Firm Comparison
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Introduction
Alpha Futures and Topstep are both CME futures firms built around a single-step evaluation, but they could hardly be more different in pedigree. Topstep, founded in Chicago in 2012, is the original creator of the Trading Combine evaluation that most of the industry later copied, and it has grown into one of the largest futures communities anywhere, with 150,000+ traders and a deep educational ecosystem. Alpha Futures arrived in 2024 as the futures arm of Alpha Capital Group, a much newer entrant that competes on flexible account structures rather than heritage. Both fund traders on CME index, energy and metals contracts with no hard time limit, and both pay up to a 90% profit split, but the routes differ. Topstep runs its Trading Combine on $50K to $150K accounts with a trailing drawdown and a strong focus on consistency and education. Alpha Futures funds $25K to $150K accounts across three types, Standard, Zero and Advanced, with the Zero account swapping the usual trailing drawdown for a single static maximum loss. Platforms separate them too: Topstep offers its own TopstepX alongside NinjaTrader and other tools, while Alpha is built around the CQG ecosystem. For pricing, both use monthly evaluation fees. A trader who wants the most established name in futures funding, a proven Combine model and serious educational support will choose Topstep; one who wants a lower entry point, a static-drawdown option and a flat 90% split will prefer Alpha Futures.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Alpha Futures | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| Founded | 2024 (UK company 15655643; Trustpilot profile claimed July 2024) | 2012 |
| Profit Split | 90% on most account types; 80% on Generic Live and 60% plus a salary on Alpha Prime | 100% first $10,000, then 90/10 |
| Maximum Account Size | 150000 per account | $150,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 1, or none on Direct Qualified | 1 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.4 | 3.4 |
| Expert Grade | 8.5 | 9 |
Program Types
| Program | Alpha Futures | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Zero 25K at $89 per month | Yes |
| Advanced Program | Advanced 150K, or Direct Qualified 150K | — |
| Scaling Options | No scaling plan on Direct. Alpha Prime invite at $40,000 payable balance or 5 payout cycles. | No |
| Demo Account | — | No |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Alpha Futures | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | 6% on Zero and Standard; 8% on Advanced; a withdrawal profit target on Direct instead of a pass target | 6% |
| Maximum Drawdown | 3% to 4% on Zero, Standard and Direct; 3.5% on Advanced. End-of-day Maximum Loss Limit on Direct. | Trailing MLL: $2,000-$4,500 |
| Minimum Trading Days | 1 on Zero, 2 on Standard, 3 on Advanced, none on Direct | 5 |
| News Trading | Unrestricted on every evaluation account and on Advanced Qualified. Zero Qualified blocks entries within 2 minutes of high-impact news. | Yes |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Alpha Futures | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| $25K Account | USD 89 / Alpha Futures Zero Evaluation / Monthly | Not offered |
| $50K Account | USD 139 / Alpha Futures Zero Evaluation / Monthly | USD 49 / Trading Combine / Monthly |
| $100K Account | USD 279 / Alpha Futures Zero Evaluation / Monthly | USD 99 / Trading Combine / Monthly |
| $150K Account | USD 349 / Alpha Futures Standard Evaluation / Monthly | USD 149 / Trading Combine / Monthly |
| Coupons / Discount | Alpha Futures discount | Topstep discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Alpha Futures | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | AlphaTrader, TradingView, WealthCharts, Quantower | TopstepX |
| Forex | Currency futures only, no spot FX | Yes |
| Stocks | No | No |
| Indices | Yes, equity and index futures | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes, including metals futures | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | Yes, crypto futures | No |
| Bonds | Not listed | Yes |
| EA/Algo Trading | Not published on the pricing pages | Yes |
Payout
| Feature | Alpha Futures | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | Up to 4 requests per month on Zero, Standard and Advanced, after every 5 winning days of $200 or more. Direct uses a withdrawal profit target and a 20% consistency rule with no winning-day requirement. Up to 50% of profit per request, processed within 48 business hours. Cap up to $15,000 per cycle, lower on Direct. The Maximum Loss Limit does not reset when you withdraw. | Bi-weekly via ACH, wire, or Rise; $50 minimum |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Alpha Futures | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Maximum Loss Limit does not reset when you withdraw, unlike most futures firms, Payout cap up to $15,000 per cycle, Payouts processed within 48 business hours, UK company registered at Companies House rather than an offshore shell, Commission-free execution on the in-house AlphaTrader platform apart from regulatory fees, No news trading restrictions on any evaluation account or on Advanced Qualified, No activation fee and reset prices published next to each plan, Zero account has no consistency rule and a one-day minimum | Industry pioneer, generous first $10K profit split, no time limits, EAs permitted, no daily loss limit, $1B+ paid to traders |
| Weaknesses | The website advertises 4.9 on Trustpilot from 17,000+ reviews while its own profile shows 4.4 from 5,961, Sister brand Alpha Capital Group has its Trustpilot rating unavailable on the Trustpilot official website, Three of four account types bill monthly for as long as you hold the evaluation, Standard carries a strict 50% consistency rule, The 90% split drops to 80% or 60% once you qualify for Alpha Prime, Futures only, with no forex, stocks or CFDs, Direct has no scaling plan and a lower payout cap | Monthly subscription fees compound, $149 activation fee, TopstepX platform exclusive, futures-only, trailing MLL can catch intraday profit-takers |
| Best For | Active futures traders who withdraw regularly and value a drawdown buffer that survives the payout | Serious futures traders seeking established firm with forgiving evaluation |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Alpha Futures if you want coverage of cryptocurrencies that the other does not offer. Choose Topstep if a cheaper entry, from USD 49 and news trading allowed matter more to you. Neither firm is better in the abstract. The right choice depends on your strategy, your budget and the instruments you trade, so read both full reviews before you commit. Verify current rules and pricing on each firm’s own site before purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
What should I know about Alpha Futures’s programs?
Alpha Futures distinguishes Standard, Advanced, Zero and Direct qualified accounts. Direct skips the evaluation but has separate withdrawal targets. Alpha Futures official rules.
What should I know about Topstep’s programs?
Topstep distinguishes Express Funded Account Standard and Consistency paths, followed by a separate Live Funded Account stage. Topstep official rules.
How do payouts differ between Alpha Futures and Topstep?
The policy lists a 90% trader share. Evaluation-to-qualified plans require five winning days of at least $200 between requests and allow up to 50% of account profit, subject to plan caps. Alpha Futures official rules.
The current payout policy lists a 90/10 split and a $125 minimum. Standard requires five winning days of $150 or more; Consistency requires three days and a 40% consistency target. Requests are subject to account-size caps. Topstep official rules.
Which account rules matter when comparing Alpha Futures and Topstep?
Standard and Zero apply a 40% payout consistency rule; Advanced does not. Direct instead has a 20% consistency rule and account-size profit targets, without the same winning-day requirement. Alpha Futures official rules.
Express payouts are generally limited to 50% of account balance up to the applicable cap. Legacy eligibility and optional daily-loss-limit arrangements can change the caps or split treatment. Topstep official rules.
Is Alpha Futures or Topstep automatically the better choice?
No. Each firm wins on a different axis. Alpha Futures has market access the other lacks, namely cryptocurrencies. Topstep has the cheaper entry at USD 49 and unrestricted news trading. Which of those matters more depends on how you actually trade, so compare how each firm measures drawdown, the total fee once add-ons and resets are included and platform availability, rather than the headline numbers. If you fail an evaluation, do not assume either firm offers a fixed reset discount: check the reset terms for the specific account you bought.
How We Compared Alpha Futures and Topstep
Both firms on this page carry a JoinProp Rating out of 10. We produce that rating with the same 9-factor methodology we apply to every firm we review: payout reliability (20%), fee structure (15%), drawdown rules (15%), profit split (15%), evaluation terms (10%), trading rules (10%), support access and responsiveness (5%), scaling plan (5%), and track record and transparency (5%).
The inputs come from our firm reviews, not from this page. For each firm we work from the current terms and conditions rather than marketing pages, track rule and pricing changes over time, and read payout and support reports across Trustpilot, Reddit and Discord, looking for recurring patterns rather than isolated complaints. Every firm is re-checked at least every 90 days, or sooner after a material change. Affiliate relationships have no effect on any rating, and ratings are never sold.
The tables above show the evidence behind those factors. A few rows, including trading platforms, available instruments, maximum account size and demo availability, are there to help you judge fit and do not affect either rating.
Read our full ranking methodology
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