Topstep vs Blue Guardian – Elite Prop Firms Comparison
Introduction
Topstep and Blue Guardian target very different traders. 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. Blue Guardian (founded September 2021, headquartered in Dubai Silicon Oasis under Iconic Exchange FZCO, CEO Sean Baiton) is a multi-asset Forex / indices / commodities / crypto / stocks firm with two-phase challenges, account sizes from $10,000 to $200,000, and scaling up to $1,000,000. One important rule difference upfront: Blue Guardian does not permit EAs or automated trading systems, while Topstep does. The two firms barely overlap on instruments, so the choice mostly depends on what (and how) you trade.
Quick Comparison |
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| Feature | Topstep | Blue Guardian |
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| Founded | 2012 (Chicago, IL) | 2021 (Dubai, UAE) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.4/5 (13,872+ reviews, April 2026) | Not specified in current review |
| Account Sizes | $50K – $150K Trading Combine® | $10,000 – $200,000 (scaling to $1,000,000) |
| Profit Split | 100% on first $10K, 90/10 thereafter | 80/20 standard; scales to 90/10 with performance |
| Evaluation Style | Trading Combine® (single-phase) | 1/2-Step or 3-Step/Instant – two-phase challenges |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
Program Types – Which experience fits your goals? |
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|---|---|---|
| Program | Topstep | Blue Guardian |
| Standard Evaluation | Trading Combine® at $50K, $100K or $150K | 1/2-Step Challenge – two phases, 8% / 5% targets |
| Express / Single-Step | Combine is single-phase by default | 3-Step / Instant program – 10% / 6% phase targets |
| Practice/Demo | Not offered | 7-day demo account to test platform and conditions |
| Educational Support | Discord (150K+ traders), live trading rooms, daily sessions | Weekly webinars, 1:1 coaching for funded traders, psychology workshops |
| Account Scaling | Limited beyond largest Combine size | 25% account growth after every 10% profit; up to $1,000,000 |
Assessment Criteria – How can you pass the test? |
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|---|---|---|
| Criteria | Topstep | Blue Guardian |
| Profit Target (Phase 1) | Single profit target per Combine size | 8% (1/2-Step) or 10% (3-Step/Instant) |
| Profit Target (Phase 2) | N/A – single phase | 5% (1/2-Step) or 6% (3-Step/Instant) |
| Maximum Daily Loss | None – no daily loss limit | 5–6% daily drawdown from previous day’s equity close |
| Maximum Trailing Drawdown | Trailing MLL (end-of-day only); stops trailing at starting balance | 10–12% max drawdown; trailing kicks in at 5% profit, locks 50% of gains |
| Minimum Trading Days | 5 trading days | 10 days (1/2-Step) or 8 days (3-Step/Instant) |
| Time Limit | None | No time limit on either challenge |
| Consistency Rule | Best day cannot exceed 50% of total profits at payout | Max 5% account risk per trade; no hedging within same instrument |
Fees and Pricing – How much will you pay? |
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Topstep | Blue Guardian |
| Entry Level | $50K Combine: monthly subscription | $10,000 – $99 |
| Mid Tier | $100K Combine: higher monthly subscription | $25,000 / $50,000 – $199 / $299 |
| Premium | $150K Combine: highest monthly subscription | $100,000 / $200,000 – $499 / $799 |
| Reset Fee | Continued monthly subscription pays the reset | Not specified in current review |
| Refundable? | $149 activation fee path or No-Activation-Fee path | One-time fee model; refunded on first payout per industry norm |
| Coupons | See discounts | See discounts |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
Platforms/Tools – What can you use? |
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|---|---|---|
| Platform | Topstep | Blue Guardian |
| Trading Platforms | TopstepX only (new accounts since July 2025) | MatchTrader, MetaTrader 5, TradeLocker, cTrader |
| Data Feed | Included with TopstepX | Bundled via platform providers |
| Mobile Trading | Mobile-browser support | Native mobile apps via MT5 / cTrader / TradeLocker |
| Custom Indicators | TradingView charting + Tilt™ indicator | MT5 / cTrader indicator libraries |
| Automated Trading | EAs permitted | EAs and automated trading systems not allowed |
| News Feed | Integrated within TopstepX | Available via platform providers |
Available Markets/Products |
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|---|---|---|
| Market | Topstep | Blue Guardian |
| Forex | Not offered | Currency pairs with competitive spreads |
| Index Futures / Indices | ES, NQ and full CME index suite | US30, S&P500, NASDAQ and international indices (CFD) |
| Energy / Commodities | CL and full CME energy complex | Oil, natural gas, agricultural products |
| Metals | GC and CME metals | Gold and silver |
| Crypto | Not offered on standard accounts | BTC, ETH and altcoins (CFD) |
| Stocks | Not offered | Select equities from major global exchanges |
| Total Coverage | Full CME futures suite | Multi-asset Forex / indices / commodities / crypto / stocks |
Technical Capabilities/Performance |
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|---|---|---|
| Feature | Topstep | Blue Guardian |
| Execution Speed | Direct via TopstepX infrastructure | Standard for industry-grade Forex/CFD platforms |
| Automated Trading | EAs permitted | Not permitted – manual execution only |
| Order Types | Standard futures order set (Market, Limit, Stop, OCO) | Full Forex/CFD order set across MT5 and cTrader |
| Platform Reliability | Established since 2012, $1B+ payouts processed | Founded 2021; 15,000+ active traders worldwide |
| Data Feed Quality | TopstepX-bundled data feed | Provider-bundled retail-grade Forex/CFD feeds |
| Trading Hours | Standard CME futures sessions | 24/5 across most CFD instruments; weekend holding allowed at trader’s risk |
Support and Community |
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|---|---|---|
| Support Feature | Topstep | Blue Guardian |
| Customer Support Hours | Live chat, email, phone, SMS, WhatsApp | 24/5 client support |
| Response Time | Same-day during business hours | Standard SLAs (not specified) |
| Live Coaching | Daily live trading sessions, webinars | Weekly webinars; 1:1 coaching for funded traders |
| Trading Community | 150,000+ Discord members | 15,000+ traders worldwide |
| Educational Resources | Multiple tracks, courses, podcasts | Trading psychology workshops, strategy development resources |
| Success Stories | $1B+ in cumulative payouts | Multiple payout rails: bank wire, PayPal, crypto |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation |
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|---|---|---|
| Key Element | Topstep | Blue Guardian |
| Strengths | Longest live track record in futures, deep education ecosystem, no daily loss limit, EAs permitted, $1B+ payouts | Multi-asset coverage (FX/indices/commodities/crypto/stocks), no time limit, 1:1 coaching, automated scaling to $1M, proprietary analytics |
| Weaknesses | Monthly subscription compounds; TopstepX-only platform; CME futures only | No EAs or automation; 5% account-risk-per-trade cap; not directly regulated |
| Best For | Futures traders who want pedigree and the best US-futures evaluation experience | Discretionary multi-asset traders seeking coaching, analytics, and a clear scaling path |
| Final Grade | 4.4/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Discount Codes | Learn More | Learn More |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
FAQ
Do Topstep and Blue Guardian offer the same instruments?
No. Topstep is CME Group futures only (ES, NQ, CL, GC and similar). Blue Guardian offers Forex, indices CFDs, commodities, metals, crypto, and select equities. The two firms barely overlap on instruments; pick based on what you actually trade.
Can I run an EA on each firm?
Only on Topstep. Topstep permits EAs with no specific restriction. Blue Guardian prohibits expert advisors and automated trading systems – all trading must be discretionary. This is the biggest rule-based difference between the two firms.
Which firm has the more permissive risk envelope?
Topstep – there is no intraday daily loss limit on funded accounts. Blue Guardian uses a 5–6% daily drawdown from the previous day’s equity close on top of a 10–12% maximum drawdown.
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. Blue Guardian pays via bank wire (2–5 days), PayPal (24–48 hrs), or crypto (24–48 hrs).
What’s the scaling like on each firm?
Topstep doesn’t publish a formal scaling ladder beyond the largest Combine size. Blue Guardian increases the account by 25% after every 10% profit, with a maximum ceiling of $1,000,000.
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.
