Top One Futures vs The5ers - Prop Firm Comparison
Introduction
Top One Futures and The5ers reward almost opposite trading rhythms. Top One Futures is built for fast, intraday futures trading: founded in Cheyenne in 2023, it pays on demand in under an hour, hands you 100% of your first $20,000 in profit, offers instant-funded accounts, and asks you to close everything by Friday afternoon. The5ers, an Israeli firm running since 2016, sits at the patient end of the spectrum, a forex and CFD firm that lets you hold positions overnight and over weekends, starts from a low $5,000 entry, and scales funded accounts as high as $4 million.
The markets settle most of the decision. Top One trades CME futures (ES, NQ, gold, crude) on NinjaTrader, Tradovate and Rithmic, with a soft 2.5% daily-loss pause and a one-step Elite Challenge or instant routes. The5ers trades forex, indices and commodity CFDs on MT4, MT5 and cTrader, using a two-step evaluation, or its one-step Hyper Growth path, with a 4% daily and 5% overall loss limit. Both allow EAs.
So the choice rarely comes down to which is better in the abstract. Pick Top One Futures if you trade futures intraday and want the fastest payouts and the biggest 100% window, accepting a 2023 track record and no weekend holding. Pick The5ers if you trade forex, want to swing positions through the weekend, value a near-decade of history at 4.7/5, and like a $5K starting point, though its split tops out around 80% versus Top One’s 100% on early profits. The ratings sit nearly level (4.8 versus 4.7), so this is less about quality and more about whether you trade futures fast or forex patiently.
Quick Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Feature | Top One Futures | The5ers |
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| Founded | 2023 (Cheyenne, WY) | 2016 (Israel) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.8/5 (4,017 reviews, June 2026) | 4.7/5 (4,500+ reviews, June 2026) |
| Account Sizes | $25K to $300K | $5K / $25K / $100K / $150K |
| Profit Split | 100% of first $20,000, then 90/10 | Up to 80% |
| Evaluation Style | 1-step Elite Challenge plus instant-funded options | 2-Step plus 1-Step Hyper Growth |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
Key Differences Between Top One Futures and The5ers
- Markets: Top One Futures is CME futures only; The5ers is forex and CFDs. Your instrument is the first filter.
- Holding style: The5ers permits overnight and weekend holding (built for swing trading); Top One is intraday-only, closing by 4:00 PM ET Friday.
- Payout speed: Top One pays on demand, averaging under an hour via Riseworks; The5ers pays monthly, processed in roughly 1-3 days.
- Profit split: Top One keeps 100% of your first $20,000 then 90/10; The5ers tops out around 80%.
- Entry and scaling: The5ers starts from a low $5K and scales to $4M; Top One offers $25K-$300K standard and scales to $2.5M+ across accounts.
- Funding route: Top One offers instant-funded accounts that skip the challenge; The5ers uses a 2-step evaluation, or its 1-step Hyper Growth.
- Track record: The5ers has run since 2016 (4.7/5); Top One launched in 2023 (4.8/5).
- Shared ground: Both permit EAs and set low or no minimum trading days.
Program Types – Which experience fits your goals? | ||
|---|---|---|
| Program | Top One Futures | The5ers |
| Standard Evaluation | Elite Challenge – 1-step, 6% profit target | 2-Step evaluation (Phase 1 6-8%, Phase 2 5%) |
| Instant / Skip-Evaluation | Instant Sim Funded, S2F Sim PRO and Ignite (no evaluation) | Hyper Growth 1-step (no instant funding) |
| Drawdown Structure | 4% EOD trailing; locks at starting balance | 4% daily loss / 5% overall loss |
| Educational Support | Onboarding resources and 24/7 support | Education, mentoring and webinars |
| Account Scaling | Scale to $2.5M+ across multiple accounts | Scales up to $4M |
Assessment Criteria – How can you pass the test? | ||
|---|---|---|
| Criteria | Top One Futures | The5ers |
| Profit Target | 6% | Phase 1 6-8% / Phase 2 5% |
| Maximum Daily Loss | 2.5% soft pause (resumes next day, no termination) | 4% |
| Maximum Drawdown | 4% EOD trailing; locks at starting balance | 5% overall loss |
| Minimum Trading Days | None – can pass in a single day | None |
| Time Limit | None | None |
| Consistency Rule | 25% on funded accounts | No fixed consistency rule |
| Minimum Trade Duration | 10 seconds | Not specified |
Fees and Pricing – How much will you pay? | ||
|---|---|---|
| Option | Top One Futures | The5ers |
| Pricing Model | Monthly (Elite Challenge) or one-time (instant accounts) | One-time fee per program |
| Entry Level | $105/mo + $149 activation (Elite Challenge) | One-time challenge fee (click for ~10% discount) |
| Instant Funding | Instant Sim ~$679, S2F PRO ~$421, Ignite ~$398 (one-time) | Not offered |
| Activation Fee | $149 after passing the Elite Challenge | No separate activation fee |
| Payout Speed | On-demand, average under 1 hour (Riseworks) | Monthly payouts, 1-3 days |
| Coupons | Coupon Code | Coupon Code |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
Platforms/Tools – What can you use? | ||
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Top One Futures | The5ers |
| Trading Platforms | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, ProjectX, Rithmic | MT4, MT5, cTrader |
| Data Feed | Rithmic data feed supported | Broker-provided market data |
| Mobile Trading | Tradovate and NinjaTrader mobile apps | MT4/MT5/cTrader mobile apps |
| Automated Trading | Expert Advisors permitted on all account types | EAs allowed |
| News Trading | Fully permitted, no news restrictions | Permitted within rules |
| Execution | Third-party platform execution | Broker execution; leverage 1:30 |
Available Markets/Products | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market | Top One Futures | The5ers |
| Index Futures | ES, NQ, YM | Index CFDs |
| Energy Futures | CL, NG | Commodity CFDs |
| Metals Futures | GC, SI | Metals CFDs |
| Agricultural Futures | Not specified | Not offered |
| FX / Currency Futures | 6E, 6B, 6J | Forex majors, minors and exotics (CFD) |
| Weekend Holding | Not permitted – close by 4:00 PM ET Friday | Overnight and weekend holding permitted |
Technical Capabilities/Performance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Feature | Top One Futures | The5ers |
| Execution Speed | Third-party platform execution | MT4/MT5/cTrader broker execution |
| Automated Trading | EAs permitted on all account types | EAs allowed |
| Platform Reliability | Established third-party platforms (NinjaTrader, Tradovate) | Established since 2016 |
| Payout Processor | Riseworks (bank transfer and crypto) | Monthly payout processing |
| Payout Record | $21M+ paid out since 2023 | Scales up to $4M |
| Trading Hours | CME hours; no weekend holding | Forex/CFD hours; overnight and weekend holding allowed |
Support and Community | ||
|---|---|---|
| Support Feature | Top One Futures | The5ers |
| Customer Support | 24/7 live chat and email | Email and live chat |
| Live Coaching | Onboarding resources | Mentoring and webinars |
| Trading Community | Part of the wider TopOne brand | Established forex community |
| Educational Resources | Onboarding and support resources | Education programs and webinars |
| Track Record | $21M+ paid out; Trustpilot 4.8/5 | Trustpilot 4.7/5; founded 2016 |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Key Element | Top One Futures | The5ers |
| Strengths | 100% of first $20,000 (highest first-profit threshold), on-demand payouts under 1 hour, instant-funding routes, soft daily-loss pause, 4.8/5 Trustpilot | Overnight and weekend holding, low-cost entry from $5K, EA-friendly, scales to $4M, monthly payouts, 4.7/5 Trustpilot |
| Weaknesses | Short track record (2023), no weekend holding, 25% consistency rule and tiered payout thresholds | Forex/CFD only (no exchange futures), 80% split ceiling, 2-step on standard programs |
| Best For | Traders who want the fastest payouts and the highest first-profit threshold | Forex swing traders who want to hold positions overnight and over weekends |
| Final Grade How we rank firms ↗ | 8.6 | 9 |
| Discount Codes | Coupon Code | Coupon Code |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
FAQ
Do Top One Futures and The5ers trade the same markets?
No. Top One Futures funds traders on CME futures, while The5ers is a forex and CFD firm. Choose based on whether you trade exchange-listed futures or forex and CFDs.
Which firm is better for holding trades over the weekend?
The5ers permits overnight and weekend holding, which suits swing traders. Top One Futures requires positions to be closed by 4:00 PM ET on Friday, with no weekend holding.
Which firm pays out faster?
Top One Futures offers on-demand payouts averaging under an hour through Riseworks. The5ers pays monthly, with withdrawals processed in roughly one to three days.
Does either offer instant funding?
Top One Futures does, through Instant Sim Funded, S2F Sim PRO and Ignite. The5ers uses 2-step and 1-step Hyper Growth evaluations rather than instant funding.
Can I use EAs, and how does scaling compare?
The5ers allows EAs and scales up to $4 million. Top One Futures also permits EAs on all account types and scales to $2.5M+ across multiple accounts.
Which firm is cheaper to start with?
The5ers has the lower entry point, with accounts starting from $5,000 on a one-time fee that is often discounted. Top One Futures starts its Elite Challenge at $105/mo plus a $149 activation fee, or one-time instant-funded accounts from around $398. For a low first outlay on forex, The5ers wins; Top One keeps futures access affordable through its monthly route.
Which firm has the longer track record?
The5ers, comfortably. It has operated since 2016 and holds a 4.7/5 Trustpilot score across 4,500+ reviews. Top One Futures launched in 2023 and, while highly rated at 4.8/5, has a much shorter history and $21 million-plus in payouts so far.
How was this 2 companies Comparison Created?
This comparison was compiled using the published review data on JoinProp for each firm. All figures – account sizes, profit splits, drawdown rules, platforms and payout structures – are taken from each firm’s review page. Where a detail is not publicly disclosed, the cell reads “Not specified.” Verify current terms directly with Top One Futures and The5ers before purchasing a challenge.
Related comparison: Topstep vs Top One Futures – Prop Firm Comparison


