Topstep vs Breakout – Elite Prop Firms Comparison
Introduction
Topstep and Breakout target completely different traders. Topstep, founded in 2012 in Chicago, invented the modern prop-firm evaluation model and has paid out more than $1 billion to funded CME futures traders – single-phase Trading Combine®, monthly subscription, mandatory TopstepX platform for new accounts since July 2025. Breakout, founded 2023 in Tampa by Alex Miningham and Dylan Loomer, was acquired by Kraken on September 1, 2025 – making it the first major crypto exchange to own a prop firm. Breakout is crypto-only with 50+ perpetual pairs, runs on its proprietary Breakout Terminal, offers 1-Step or 2-Step evaluations across $5K–$200K accounts, and pays funded traders in USDC on demand 24/7. The two firms barely overlap on instruments or business model, so the choice depends on whether you trade US futures or crypto perpetuals.
Quick Comparison |
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|---|---|---|
| Feature | Topstep | Breakout |
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| Founded | 2012 (Chicago, IL) | 2023 (Tampa, FL); acquired by Kraken in September 2025 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.4/5 (13,872+ reviews, April 2026) | Not specified |
| Account Sizes | $50K / $100K / $150K Trading Combine® | $5K / $10K / $25K / $50K / $100K / $200K |
| Profit Split | 100% on first $10K, 90/10 thereafter | 80% standard, up to 90% with upgrade |
| Evaluation Style | Single-phase Trading Combine® | 1-Step or 2-Step challenge |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
Program Types – Which experience fits your goals? |
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|---|---|---|
| Program | Topstep | Breakout |
| Standard Evaluation | Trading Combine® at $50K, $100K or $150K | 2-Step challenge – 5% phase 1, 10% phase 2, 8% trailing drawdown |
| Express / Single-Step | Combine is single-phase by default | 1-Step challenge – 10% target, 6% trailing drawdown |
| Practice / Demo | Not offered separately | Not offered; free trading course included with every account |
| Educational Support | Discord (150,000+ traders), live trading rooms, daily sessions | Structured free trading course included with all accounts |
| Account Scaling | Limited beyond the largest Combine size | $5K–$200K range across one-time purchases; no published scaling plan beyond $200K |
Assessment Criteria – How can you pass the test? |
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|---|---|---|
| Criteria | Topstep | Breakout |
| Profit Target (Phase 1) | 6% – $3,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 (Small / Medium / Large) | 10% (1-Step) or 5% (2-Step phase 1) |
| Profit Target (Phase 2) | N/A – single phase | 10% (2-Step phase 2 only) |
| Maximum Daily Loss | None – no daily loss limit | Not specified – published rules only cite maximum drawdown |
| Maximum Trailing Drawdown | End-of-day trailing MLL: $2,000 / $3,000 / $4,500; stops trailing at starting balance | 6% trailing (1-Step) or 8% trailing (2-Step both phases) |
| Minimum Trading Days | 5 trading days | None – pass in as few as one trade |
| Time Limit | None – trade at your own pace | None – no time limit on challenges |
| Consistency Rule | Best day cannot exceed 50% of total profits at payout | Not specified – published rules emphasise drawdown and target only |
Fees and Pricing – How much will you pay? |
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Topstep | Breakout |
| Entry Level | $50K Combine: $49/month + $149 activation, or $109/month no-activation | $5,000 account – one-time evaluation fee (see breakoutprop.com) |
| Mid Tier | $100K Combine: $99/month + $149 activation, or $159/month no-activation | $25,000 / $50,000 accounts – one-time evaluation fees |
| Premium | $150K Combine: $149/month + $149 activation, or $209/month no-activation | $100,000 / $200,000 accounts – one-time evaluation fees |
| Reset Fee | One free reset credit earned per monthly renewal | Reset available; evaluation fees are non-refundable once trading begins |
| Refundable? | Activation-fee path or no-activation path; subscription is non-refundable | Non-refundable once trading begins |
| Coupons | Learn More | Learn More |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
Platforms/Tools – What can you use? |
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|---|---|---|
| Platform | Topstep | Breakout |
| Trading Platforms | TopstepX only (mandatory for new accounts since July 2025) | Proprietary Breakout Terminal – web, iOS, Android; no MT4/MT5 support |
| Data Feed | Bundled with TopstepX | Kraken institutional liquidity feed |
| Mobile Trading | Mobile-browser support | Native iOS and Android apps |
| Custom Indicators | Integrated TradingView charting plus the proprietary Tilt™ risk indicator | Built-in advanced charts inside the Breakout Terminal |
| Automated Trading | EAs fully permitted, no restrictions | Not specified – no EA documentation published |
| News Feed | Integrated within TopstepX | Not specified – no news feed feature documented |
Available Markets/Products |
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|---|---|---|
| Market | Topstep | Breakout |
| Forex | Not offered | Not offered |
| Index Futures / Indices | ES, NQ and the full CME index suite | Not offered |
| Energy / Commodities | CL and full CME energy and commodity complex | Not offered |
| Metals | GC and CME metals | Not offered |
| Crypto | Not offered | 50+ crypto perpetuals: BTC, ETH, SOL, ADA, AVAX, DOGE, XRP, LINK, and more |
| Stocks | Not offered | Not offered |
| Total Coverage | CME Group futures only | Crypto-only – up to 5x leverage on BTC/ETH, up to 2x on altcoins |
Technical Capabilities/Performance |
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|---|---|---|
| Feature | Topstep | Breakout |
| Execution Speed | Direct via TopstepX infrastructure | Powered by Kraken institutional matching engine |
| Automated Trading | EAs permitted with no specific restrictions | Not specified |
| Order Types | Standard futures order set (Market, Limit, Stop, OCO) | Standard crypto perpetual order types via the Breakout Terminal |
| Platform Reliability | Established since 2012; $1B+ in cumulative payouts | Established 2023; backed by Kraken (acquired September 2025) |
| Data Feed Quality | TopstepX-bundled CME data | Kraken liquidity for tight spreads and deep order books |
| Trading Hours | Standard CME futures sessions | 24/7 (crypto markets never close) |
Support and Community |
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|---|---|---|
| Support Feature | Topstep | Breakout |
| Customer Support Hours | Live chat, email, phone, SMS, WhatsApp | Standard support channels (specific hours not published) |
| Response Time | Same-day during business hours | Not specified |
| Live Coaching | Daily live trading sessions and webinars | Not offered as a live programme; structured course supplied instead |
| Trading Community | 150,000+ Discord members | Not specified – community details not published on the firm site |
| Educational Resources | Multiple tracks, courses, podcasts | Free structured trading course covering crypto fundamentals and analysis |
| Success Stories | $1B+ in cumulative payouts | Backed by Kraken following its September 2025 acquisition of the firm |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation |
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|---|---|---|
| Key Element | Topstep | Breakout |
| Strengths | Longest live track record in futures, no daily loss limit, EAs permitted, $1B+ payouts, deep education ecosystem | Kraken-backed exchange-grade liquidity, on-demand 24/7 USDC payouts, no minimum trading days, 1-Step and 2-Step options, up to 90% profit split |
| Weaknesses | Monthly subscription compounds; TopstepX-only platform; CME futures only | Crypto-only – no forex, indices, or stocks; USDC-only payouts (no bank wire or PayPal); proprietary platform with no MT4/MT5 support |
| Best For | Futures traders who want pedigree and the most established US-futures evaluation experience | Crypto-focused traders who want exchange-grade liquidity, fast USDC payouts, and the freedom to pass without minimum trading days |
| Final Grade | 4.4/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Discount Codes | – | – |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
FAQ
Do Topstep and Breakout offer the same instruments?
No. Topstep is CME Group futures only – index, energy, metals, and currency futures (ES, NQ, CL, GC and similar). Breakout is crypto-only with 50+ perpetual contracts covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a wide range of altcoins. The two firms cover non-overlapping asset classes.
What is the difference between Breakout’s 1-Step and 2-Step?
The 1-Step requires a 10% profit target with a 6% trailing drawdown – pass it and you are funded. The 2-Step uses a softer 5% phase 1 target and 10% phase 2 target, both with an 8% trailing drawdown. Neither has minimum trading days or time limits. Topstep, in contrast, uses a single-phase Trading Combine® with a 6% target and a trailing maximum loss limit.
How fast are payouts at each firm?
At Topstep, the first payout is available after a minimum holding period in the funded account (around 8–10 trading days), with subsequent payouts every 14 days; daily payouts unlock after 30 consecutive winning days. At Breakout, payouts are on-demand 24/7, processed within 24 hours, with no minimum and no waiting calendar – paid in USDC (ERC-20) only.
Which firm has the larger profit split?
Both can reach 90%, but the structure differs. Topstep pays 100% of the first $10,000 in cumulative profits, then 90/10 thereafter. Breakout pays 80% by default, with an upgrade to 90%.
Who backs each firm?
Topstep is a Chicago-headquartered prop firm founded in 2012 by Michael Patak, independently operated. Breakout is owned by Kraken following the September 2025 acquisition – making it the first major crypto exchange to own a prop trading firm, with integration into Kraken’s institutional liquidity stack.
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.
