Topstep vs For Traders – Elite Prop Firms Comparison
Introduction
Topstep and For Traders take very different shapes. 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. For Traders (founded 2023 under BLN Tech Club DMCC, Dubai and FT Trading Ltd, Saint Lucia) is a multi-asset Forex / Crypto / Futures (and new “Predictions”) evaluation platform offering six program flavours – Fast, Fast Static, Classic, Strike, Instant, and Instant Pro – across simulated/virtual accounts. For Traders explicitly describes itself as a SaaS trading simulation and evaluation company; trading remains in a virtual environment per its public disclaimer. The two firms barely overlap on instruments, so the choice mostly depends on what you trade.
Quick Comparison |
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| Feature | Topstep | For Traders |
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| Founded | 2012 (Chicago, IL) | 2023 (Dubai DMCC; Saint Lucia) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.4/5 (13,872+ reviews, April 2026) | Currently unavailable (flagged for guidelines breach, April 2026) |
| Account Sizes | $50K – $150K Trading Combine® | Up to $100,000 (per fortraders.com homepage) |
| Profit Split | 100% on first $10K, 90/10 thereafter | 80/20 standard; 90/10 after consistency milestones |
| Evaluation Style | Trading Combine® (single-phase) | Six flavours: Fast / Fast Static / Classic / Strike / Instant / Instant Pro |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
Program Types – Which experience fits your goals? |
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|---|---|---|
| Program | Topstep | For Traders |
| Standard Evaluation | Trading Combine® at $50K, $100K or $150K | Classic (2-Step) – 12% / 8% phase targets |
| Express / Single-Step | Combine is single-phase by default | Fast and Fast Static (1-Step), Strike (3-Step), and Instant Pro single-rule |
| Instant Funding | Not offered | Instant – skips the challenge entirely |
| Educational Support | Discord (150K+ traders), live trading rooms, daily sessions | Weekly live trading, Discord, 1:1 mentoring for funded traders |
| Account Scaling | Limited beyond largest Combine size | Up to 25% size increase after 3 consecutive profitable months |
Assessment Criteria – How can you pass the test? |
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|---|---|---|
| Criteria | Topstep | For Traders |
| Profit Target (Phase 1) | Single profit target per Combine size | 8% (Fast) or 12% (Classic) |
| Profit Target (Phase 2) | N/A – single phase | 5% (Fast verification) or 8% (Classic verification) |
| Maximum Daily Loss | None – no daily loss limit | 5–6% daily drawdown from previous day’s close |
| Maximum Trailing Drawdown | Trailing MLL (end-of-day only); stops trailing at starting balance | 10–12% maximum drawdown (fixed, no trailing) |
| Minimum Trading Days | 5 trading days | 10 days (Fast) or 8 days (Classic) |
| Time Limit | None | No public time-limit table on the firm site |
| Consistency Rule | Best day cannot exceed 50% of total profits at payout | Max 5% account equity per single trade; consistent trading hours required |
Fees and Pricing – How much will you pay? |
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Topstep | For Traders |
| Entry Level | $50K Combine: monthly subscription | $10,000 – see fortraders.com for current pricing |
| Mid Tier | $100K Combine: higher monthly subscription | $25,000 / $50,000 – see fortraders.com |
| Premium | $150K Combine: highest monthly subscription | $100,000 – see fortraders.com |
| Reset Fee | Continued monthly subscription pays the reset | Reset option available at reduced cost for failed challenges |
| Refundable? | $149 activation fee path or No-Activation-Fee path | One-time fee model; refunded on first payout per industry norm |
| Coupons | Learn More | Learn More |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
Platforms/Tools – What can you use? |
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|---|---|---|
| Platform | Topstep | For Traders |
| Trading Platforms | TopstepX only (new accounts since July 2025) | For Traders’ in-house dashboard and web-based simulator (no MT4/MT5/cTrader) |
| Data Feed | Included with TopstepX | Bundled within the For Traders simulator |
| Mobile Trading | Mobile-browser support | Via the For Traders web interface |
| Custom Indicators | TradingView charting + Tilt™ indicator | Built into For Traders’ proprietary dashboard |
| Automated Trading | EAs permitted | No copy trading; martingale/grid not allowed |
| News Feed | Integrated within TopstepX | Built into the For Traders simulator |
Available Markets/Products |
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|---|---|---|
| Market | Topstep | For Traders |
| Forex | Not offered | Major, minor, and exotic currency pairs |
| Index Futures / Indices | ES, NQ and full CME index suite | Indices available via futures contracts |
| Energy / Commodities | CL and full CME energy complex | Commodities available via futures |
| Metals | GC and CME metals | Metals available via futures |
| Crypto | Not offered on standard accounts | Cryptocurrency pairs included as a core asset class |
| Stocks | Not offered | Not offered – no individual stock CFDs advertised |
| Total Coverage | Full CME futures suite | Forex / Crypto / Futures (and “Predictions” feature) |
Technical Capabilities/Performance |
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|---|---|---|
| Feature | Topstep | For Traders |
| Execution Speed | Direct via TopstepX infrastructure | Run through For Traders’ proprietary simulator |
| Automated Trading | EAs permitted | Copy trading and martingale/grid prohibited |
| Order Types | Standard futures order set (Market, Limit, Stop, OCO) | Standard order set across the in-house dashboard |
| Platform Reliability | Established since 2012, $1B+ payouts processed | Founded 2023; operates in 130+ countries |
| Data Feed Quality | TopstepX-bundled data feed | Bundled within the For Traders environment |
| Trading Hours | Standard CME futures sessions | News blackout 3 minutes before and after major releases; no overnight crypto holds |
Support and Community |
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|---|---|---|
| Support Feature | Topstep | For Traders |
| Customer Support Hours | Live chat, email, phone, SMS, WhatsApp | Standard support channels (specific hours not on public homepage) |
| Response Time | Same-day during business hours | Standard SLAs (not specified) |
| Live Coaching | Daily live trading sessions, webinars | Weekly live trading sessions with professional analysts |
| Trading Community | 150,000+ Discord members | Active Discord server and trader forums |
| Educational Resources | Multiple tracks, courses, podcasts | Knowledge base, strategy guides, market analysis |
| Success Stories | $1B+ in cumulative payouts | Bi-weekly profit withdrawals available to funded traders |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation |
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|---|---|---|
| Key Element | Topstep | For Traders |
| Strengths | Longest live track record in futures, deep education ecosystem, no daily loss limit, EAs permitted, $1B+ payouts | Six program flavours, fast verification, AI trading coach, 1:1 mentoring, fast withdrawal rails (PayPal/Skrill/crypto) |
| Weaknesses | Monthly subscription compounds; TopstepX-only platform; CME futures only | Proprietary platform only (no MT4/MT5); no copy trading or martingale; Trustpilot currently flagged |
| Best For | Futures traders who want pedigree and the best US-futures evaluation experience | Multi-asset discretionary traders who want flexible program choice on a SaaS evaluation platform |
| Final Grade | 4.4/5 | 3.8/5 |
| Discount Codes | – | – |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
FAQ
Do Topstep and For Traders offer the same instruments?
No. Topstep is CME Group futures only (ES, NQ, CL, GC and similar). For Traders covers Forex, Crypto, and Futures, plus a new “Predictions” feature. No individual stock CFDs on For Traders. 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. For Traders prohibits copy trading and martingale/grid strategies; it operates on its proprietary in-house dashboard rather than MT4/MT5 or cTrader.
Which firm has the more permissive risk envelope?
Topstep. There is no intraday daily loss limit on funded accounts. For Traders enforces a 5–6% daily drawdown from the previous day’s close in addition to a 10–12% fixed maximum drawdown.
Can I trade news events?
Less so on For Traders. The firm blocks trades 3 minutes before and after major economic news releases. Topstep does not impose a comparable news blackout window for funded accounts.
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. For Traders advertises bi-weekly withdrawals, processed via bank wire (3–5 days), PayPal (24–48 hrs), Skrill (24–48 hrs), crypto (1–24 hrs), or Wise (2–3 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.
