Topstep vs The 5%ers – Elite Prop Firms Comparison
Introduction
Topstep and The 5%ers are both veteran prop firms with very different specialties. Topstep, founded in Chicago in 2012, is the original CME-futures prop firm – exclusively futures, exclusively TopstepX, with more than a billion dollars paid out to funded traders. The 5%ers, founded in Israel in 2016 by CEO Saul Lokier, is one of the oldest Forex-focused prop firms still operating, with 30,000-plus verified payouts and a 4.8/5 Trustpilot score from 21,000+ reviews. The two firms barely overlap on instruments – Topstep is futures-only, The 5%ers covers Forex, indices CFDs, and commodities – so the choice mostly comes down to what you trade. The 5%ers is also unavailable to US traders, which is a hard gate to consider upfront.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Topstep | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Founded | 2012 | 2016 |
| Profit Split | 100% first $10,000, then 90/10 | 80-100% |
| Maximum Account Size | $150,000 | $4,000,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 1 | 3 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.4 | 4.8 |
| Expert Grade | 9 | 9 |
Program Types
| Program | Topstep | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | High Stakes (2-Step) |
| Advanced Program | — | Hyper Growth (1-Step) |
| Scaling Options | No | Bootcamp (3-Step) |
| Demo Account | No | Available |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Topstep | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | 6% | 5-10% |
| Maximum Drawdown | Trailing MLL: $2,000-$4,500 | 10% |
| Minimum Trading Days | 5 | 3 |
| News Trading | Yes | Yes |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Topstep | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| $10K Account | — | $39 |
| $25K Account | — | $176 |
| $50K Account | $49 | $278 |
| $100K Account | $99 | $545 |
| $200K Account | — | Not available |
| Refund Policy | — | No |
| Coupons / Discount | Topstep discount | The5ers discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Topstep | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | TopstepX | MetaTrader 5, cTrader |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Stocks | No | No |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | No | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Not available |
| EA/Algo Trading | Yes | Yes |
Payout
| Feature | Topstep | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | Bi-weekly via ACH, wire, or Rise; $50 minimum | Bi-weekly; minimum $150 threshold; bank 3%, Wise/crypto 2%, Hub Credits 0% |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Topstep | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Industry pioneer, generous first $10K profit split, no time limits, EAs permitted, no daily loss limit, $1B+ paid to traders | Established 2016, 30,000+ verified payouts, Profit scales to 100%, No time limits, Multiple program options |
| Weaknesses | Monthly subscription fees compound, $149 activation fee, TopstepX platform exclusive, futures-only, trailing MLL can catch intraday profit-takers | Non-refundable fees, Strict drawdown rules, US traders restricted, Withdrawal fees (2-3%), News trading prohibited on High Stakes |
| Best For | Serious futures traders seeking established firm with forgiving evaluation | Structured traders seeking established firm with clear scaling path |
FAQ
Are Topstep and The 5%ers offering the same instruments?
No. Topstep is exclusively CME Group futures (ES, NQ, CL, GC and similar). The 5%ers offers Forex, indices CFDs, and commodities – no crypto futures or single-name stocks. The two firms barely overlap on instruments; pick based on what you actually trade.
Is The 5%ers available to US traders?
No. The 5%ers’ restricted-country list includes the United States, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Russia, North Korea, and several others. US-based traders cannot fund evaluations there. Topstep, by contrast, is built for the US futures market.
Which firm has the higher scaling ceiling?
The 5%ers’ scaling program goes up to $4,000,000 in allocated capital through performance milestones. Topstep’s funded accounts top out at the largest Combine size ($150K) with no formal scaling ladder beyond that.
Can I use EAs or automated strategies?
Both firms permit EAs. Topstep allows them with no specific restriction. The 5%ers permits EAs but explicitly bans latency arbitrage, tick scalping, and reverse arbitrage – strategies designed to exploit feed delays or pricing inconsistencies.
How are payouts processed?
Topstep funded accounts can request bi-weekly payouts after a minimum holding period; daily payouts unlock after 30 consecutive winning days. The 5%ers pays bi-weekly with a $150 minimum, and offers four routes: bank wire (3% commission), Wise (2%), crypto (2%), and Hub Credits (0%, redeemable for new challenges).
How was this 2 companies Comparison Created?
1. We Collect
We pull each firm’s public-facing rules, fees, drawdown parameters, profit splits, platforms, and supported markets from their official documentation and our own JoinProp reviews.
2. We Examine
Each criterion is normalised so the two firms are compared on the same axis – for example, “drawdown” is broken down into trailing vs static, intraday vs end-of-day, and any reset conditions.
3. We Score
Where one firm offers a meaningfully better term – lower fees, broader markets, more permissive rules – we identify it and explain the trade-off.
4. You Choose
The conclusion is written so you can match a firm to your trading style: instrument coverage, evaluation tolerance, and payout cadence are the three filters most traders should care about.