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, with Quantower connectivity for Trading Combine and Express Funded accounts, 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 | 90% trader share; first-$10,000 lifetime-profit exception for traders who joined the new dashboard before Jan 12, 2026 |
| 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 | Not available |
| Scaling Options | No scaling plan on Direct. Alpha Prime invite at $40,000 payable balance or 5 payout cycles. | No |
| Demo Account | Not available | No |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Alpha Futures | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | Rules at a glance - Zero: 6% Rules at a glance - Standard: 6% Rules at a glance - Advanced: 8% Rules at a glance - Direct: Withdrawal target | Trading Combine Parameters - 50,000: 3,000 Trading Combine Parameters - 100,000: 6,000 Trading Combine Parameters - 150,000: 9,000 |
| Maximum Drawdown | Rules at a glance - Zero: 3% to 4% Rules at a glance - Standard: 3% to 4% Rules at a glance - Advanced: 3.5% Rules at a glance - Direct: 3% to 4%, end of day | Trailing MLL: $2,000-$4,500 |
| Minimum Trading Days | Rules at a glance - Zero: 1 Rules at a glance - Standard: 2 Rules at a glance - Advanced: 3 Rules at a glance - Direct: None | Trading Combine can pass in as few as 2 days, subject to 55% consistency; funded payout paths have separate day requirements |
| News Trading | No news restriction on evaluations or Advanced Qualified, subject to prohibited practices. Zero, Standard and Direct Qualified: no order execution within 2 minutes before/after relevant high-impact events; holding allowed. | Yes |
| Daily Loss Limit | Rules at a glance - Zero: Daily Loss Guard Rules at a glance - Standard: None Rules at a glance - Advanced: None Rules at a glance - Direct: Daily Loss Guard | Trading Combine Parameters - 50,000: Optional (1,000) Trading Combine Parameters - 100,000: Optional (2,000) Trading Combine Parameters - 150,000: Optional (3,000) |
| Maximum Contracts | Not available | Trading Combine Parameters - 50,000: 5 (50 micros) Trading Combine Parameters - 100,000: 10 (100 micros) Trading Combine Parameters - 150,000: 15 (150 micros) |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Alpha Futures | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Futures $25K Account | Alpha Futures Zero Evaluation / USD 89 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 6% profit target, 1 minimum trading day, no consistency rule, Daily Loss Guard rather than a hard daily limit. Zero Qualified accounts block entries within 2 minutes of high-impact news. Resets $79 (25K), $119 (50K), $249 (100K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Direct Qualified / USD 349 / One-time List price, one-time. No evaluation. Withdrawal profit target instead of a pass target, 20% consistency rule, hard daily loss limit and end-of-day Maximum Loss Limit, no scaling plan. Payout cap $1,000 (25K), $2,000 (50K), $2,500 (100K), $3,000 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 | Not listed in review pricing source |
| Futures $50K Account | Alpha Futures Zero Evaluation / USD 139 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 6% profit target, 1 minimum trading day, no consistency rule, Daily Loss Guard rather than a hard daily limit. Zero Qualified accounts block entries within 2 minutes of high-impact news. Resets $79 (25K), $119 (50K), $249 (100K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Standard Evaluation / USD 129 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 6% profit target, 2 minimum trading days, 50% consistency rule, no Daily Loss Guard. Resets $109 (50K), $199 (100K), $289 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Advanced Evaluation / USD 209 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 8% profit target, 3 minimum trading days, 40% consistency rule, 3.5% maximum drawdown. No news restriction on the Qualified account. Resets $189 (50K), $319 (100K), $449 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Direct Qualified / USD 519 / One-time List price, one-time. No evaluation. Withdrawal profit target instead of a pass target, 20% consistency rule, hard daily loss limit and end-of-day Maximum Loss Limit, no scaling plan. Payout cap $1,000 (25K), $2,000 (50K), $2,500 (100K), $3,000 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 | Trading Combine / USD 49 / Monthly Standard Trading Combine monthly price. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $100K Account | Alpha Futures Zero Evaluation / USD 279 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 6% profit target, 1 minimum trading day, no consistency rule, Daily Loss Guard rather than a hard daily limit. Zero Qualified accounts block entries within 2 minutes of high-impact news. Resets $79 (25K), $119 (50K), $249 (100K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Standard Evaluation / USD 239 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 6% profit target, 2 minimum trading days, 50% consistency rule, no Daily Loss Guard. Resets $109 (50K), $199 (100K), $289 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Advanced Evaluation / USD 349 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 8% profit target, 3 minimum trading days, 40% consistency rule, 3.5% maximum drawdown. No news restriction on the Qualified account. Resets $189 (50K), $319 (100K), $449 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Direct Qualified / USD 689 / One-time List price, one-time. No evaluation. Withdrawal profit target instead of a pass target, 20% consistency rule, hard daily loss limit and end-of-day Maximum Loss Limit, no scaling plan. Payout cap $1,000 (25K), $2,000 (50K), $2,500 (100K), $3,000 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 | Trading Combine / USD 99 / Monthly Standard Trading Combine monthly price; tier was marked temporarily on hold when verified. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Futures $150K Account | Alpha Futures Standard Evaluation / USD 349 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 6% profit target, 2 minimum trading days, 50% consistency rule, no Daily Loss Guard. Resets $109 (50K), $199 (100K), $289 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Advanced Evaluation / USD 489 / Monthly List price per month, no activation fee. 8% profit target, 3 minimum trading days, 40% consistency rule, 3.5% maximum drawdown. No news restriction on the Qualified account. Resets $189 (50K), $319 (100K), $449 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 Alpha Futures Direct Qualified / USD 859 / One-time List price, one-time. No evaluation. Withdrawal profit target instead of a pass target, 20% consistency rule, hard daily loss limit and end-of-day Maximum Loss Limit, no scaling plan. Payout cap $1,000 (25K), $2,000 (50K), $2,500 (100K), $3,000 (150K). Source Checked 2026-09-17 | Trading Combine / USD 199 / Monthly Standard Trading Combine monthly price. Source Checked 2026-09-27 |
| Refund Policy | No activation fee on Zero, Standard or Advanced. Resets priced separately per plan. A published return policy applies. | Not available |
| Coupons / Discount | Alpha Futures discount | Topstep discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Alpha Futures | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | AlphaTrader, TradingView, WealthCharts, Quantower, DeepChart | TopstepX; Quantower connectivity for Trading Combine and Express Funded accounts |
| Forex | Currency futures only, no spot FX | Currency futures, not spot Forex |
| 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 | Zero/Standard/Advanced: 5 winning days of $200+, up to 4 monthly requests, up to 50% of profit. Qualified Zero/Standard require 40% consistency; Advanced none. Caps: Zero $1,000-$2,500; Standard $3,000-$5,000; Advanced $15,000. Direct: fresh-profit target each cycle, 20% consistency, no winning-day requirement, caps $1,000-$3,000. Trader receives 90% of request. | $125 minimum; eligibility by funded-account path, not a bi-weekly schedule. XFA Standard: 5 winning days of $150+; XFA Consistency: 3 trading days and 40% consistency. Balance limits, account caps and method availability apply. |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Alpha Futures | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Withdrawals do not automatically reset the MLL floor; remaining loss cushion still falls, Advanced Qualified payout cap up to $15,000 per request, 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 evaluation has no consistency rule and a one-day minimum | Trading Combine has no maximum completion deadline while the subscription remains active; automated strategies permitted subject to rules; 90% current trader share; Standard or Consistency Express payout paths. Daily-loss-limit arrangements vary. |
| 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 evaluation requires 50% consistency; Qualified Standard/Zero require 40%, Direct 20%, 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 | Recurring Combine subscription; $149 XFA activation on Standard pricing path; futures-only; end-of-day trailing MLL can be breached intraday on unrealised losses |
| Best For | Futures traders who value EOD trailing drawdown and regular withdrawals, with plan-specific payout conditions | 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 carry a JoinProp Rating out of 10, scored on the same nine weighted factors, led by payout reliability at 20%, then fee structure, drawdown rules and profit split at 15% each. The scores come from our own firm reviews, built from each firm’s current terms rather than its marketing pages and re-checked at least every 90 days. Affiliate relationships have no effect on any rating, and ratings are never sold. The tables above are the evidence behind those scores. Read our full ranking methodology.
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