Topstep vs Alpha Capital – Elite Prop Firms Comparison
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Introduction
Topstep and Alpha Capital come from opposite sides of the prop world. Topstep, founded in Chicago in 2012, is the original CME-futures prop firm – futures-only, runs on its proprietary TopstepX platform, with more than a billion dollars paid out to funded traders. Alpha Capital Group (Companies House #13719951, founded November 2021 in London) is a UK-based multi-asset Forex/CFD firm offering 1-Step, 2-Step, and 3-Step evaluation paths, $0-commission marketing across Forex / indices / commodities / crypto, account sizes from $5,000 to $200,000, and scaling up to $2,000,000. The two firms barely overlap on instruments and target different traders, so the right pick depends mostly on what you trade.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Topstep | Alpha Capital |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| Founded | 2012 | 2021 |
| Profit Split | 100% first $10,000, then 90/10 | 80 |
| Maximum Account Size | $150,000 | $200,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 1 | Alpha One: 1; Alpha Pro: 2; Alpha Swing: 2; Alpha Three: 3 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.4 | 4.7 |
| Expert Grade | 9 | 8.9 |
Program Types
| Program | Topstep | Alpha Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | Alpha One |
| Advanced Program | — | Alpha Prime |
| Scaling Options | No | Yes |
| Demo Account | No | Yes |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Topstep | Alpha Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | 6% | Alpha One: 10%; Alpha Pro 6%: 6% / 6%; Alpha Pro 8%: 8% / 5%; Alpha Pro 10%: 10% / 5%; Alpha Swing: 10% / 5%; Alpha Three: 8% / 4% / 4% |
| Maximum Drawdown | Trailing MLL: $2,000-$4,500 | Alpha One: 6%; Alpha Pro 6%: 6%; Alpha Pro 8%: 8%; Alpha Pro 10%: 10%; Alpha Swing: 10%; Alpha Three: 6% |
| Minimum Trading Days | 5 | — |
| News Trading | Yes | Yes |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Topstep | Alpha Capital |
|---|---|---|
| CFD $10K Account | Not offered | USD 97 / Listed challenge / One-time |
| CFD $25K Account | Not offered | USD 197 / Listed challenge / One-time |
| CFD $50K Account | Not offered | USD 257 / Listed challenge / One-time |
| CFD $100K Account | Not offered | USD 457 / Listed challenge / One-time |
| CFD $200K Account | Not offered | USD 897 / Listed challenge / One-time |
| Futures $50K Account | USD 49 / Trading Combine / Monthly | Not offered |
| Futures $100K Account | USD 99 / Trading Combine / Monthly | Not offered |
| Futures $150K Account | USD 149 / Trading Combine / Monthly | Not offered |
| Coupons / Discount | Topstep discount | Alpha Capital discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Topstep | Alpha Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | TopstepX | MetaTrader 5, cTrader, DX Trade, TradeLocker |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Stocks | No | — |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | — |
| Cryptocurrencies | No | — |
| Bonds | Yes | — |
| EA/Algo Trading | Yes | Risk-management EAs only; MT5; pre-approved |
Payout
| Feature | Topstep | Alpha Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | Bi-weekly via ACH, wire, or Rise; $50 minimum | minimum: $100 gross; bi_weekly: every 14 days (Pro and Three only); on_demand: 2% profit required; 40% best-day rule applies; processing_time: 2 business days |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Topstep | Alpha Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Industry pioneer, generous first $10K profit split, no time limits, EAs permitted, no daily loss limit, $1B+ paid to traders | Static drawdown on most plans, Hedging and stacking permitted, Overnight and weekend holds allowed in evaluation, Four platforms available, No time limit or account expiry, On-demand payouts from 2% profit |
| Weaknesses | Monthly subscription fees compound, $149 activation fee, TopstepX platform exclusive, futures-only, trailing MLL can catch intraday profit-takers | Non-refundable fee, Flat 80% split; no 90% tier, 2-minute average trade duration rule, Risk Management Group discretionary restrictions, Weekend holding restricted on funded Alpha Pro, Account deactivates after 30 days inactivity |
| Best For | Serious futures traders seeking established firm with forgiving evaluation | Swing and position traders seeking static drawdowns and permissive evaluation rules |
FAQ
Are Topstep and Alpha Capital offering the same instruments?
No. Topstep is CME Group futures only (ES, NQ, CL, GC and similar). Alpha Capital offers Forex, indices CFDs, commodities, metals, and crypto. The two firms barely overlap on instruments; pick based on what you actually trade.
Which firm has the better profit split on early payouts?
Topstep edges Alpha Capital on the first $10,000 of cumulative profits – the trader keeps 100% on Topstep versus 80% on Alpha. Past $10K, Topstep moves to 90/10, while Alpha stays at 80% across all programs.
Can I hold positions over the weekend?
Topstep’s standard rules don’t impose a weekend-holding restriction for funded accounts. Alpha Capital explicitly allows weekend holdings without restrictions, making it suitable for swing strategies.
Can I use EAs or automated strategies?
Both firms permit EAs. Topstep allows them with no specific restriction. Alpha Capital permits EAs but prohibits copy trading, hedging across multiple accounts, and arbitrage strategies.
How quickly can I get a payout?
Topstep funded accounts can request bi-weekly payouts after a minimum holding period; daily payouts unlock after 30 consecutive winning days. Alpha Capital runs a bi-weekly cycle with multiple withdrawal methods including crypto (1–2 days), PayPal, and bank wire (3–5 days).
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.