Topstep vs Funded Trading Plus – Elite Prop Firms Comparison

Introduction

Topstep and Funded Trading Plus take very different shapes. Topstep, founded in Chicago in 2012, 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. Funded Trading Plus (FT+) was founded in 2021 as an extension of Trade Room Plus (established 2013), operated by FTP London Ltd from Saint Lucia, with over 60,000 traders across 180 countries and $19.5M+ in real payouts to date. In early 2026, FT+ 2.0 simplified the lineup to three multi-asset programs – Instant Funding, 1-Step Express, and 2-Step Classic – all swap-free, with profit splits scaling from 80% up to 100% and capital scaling to $2.5 million. The two firms differ on instruments (futures vs multi-asset CFDs) and pricing model (monthly subscription vs one-time challenge fee), so the right pick depends on which trade-offs match your style.

Quick Comparison
Feature	Topstep	Funded Trading Plus
Founded	2012 (Chicago, IL)	2021 (Saint Lucia / FTP London Ltd); built on Trade Room Plus (2013)
Trustpilot Rating	3.4/5 (13,872+ reviews, April 2026)	4.4/5 (2,646 reviews, April 2026)
Account Sizes	$50K / $100K / $150K Trading Combine®	$5,000 – $200,000 initial; scales to $2.5 million
Profit Split	100% on first $10K, 90/10 thereafter	80% standard, scaling up to 100% at higher milestones
Evaluation Style	Single-phase Trading Combine®	Instant Funding, 1-Step Express, or 2-Step Classic (FT+ 2.0)
Review	Read full review	Read full review

FAQ

Do Topstep and Funded Trading Plus offer the same instruments?

No. Topstep is CME Group futures only – index, energy, metals, and currency futures (ES, NQ, CL, GC and similar). Funded Trading Plus is a multi-asset CFD firm covering forex, indices, commodities, metals, shares, and crypto across MetaTrader 5, cTrader, DXtrade, and Match-Trader.

What programs does Funded Trading Plus offer in 2026?

After the FT+ 2.0 launch in early 2026, three programs replaced the older Prestige / Premium / Advanced / Master range: Instant Funding (no evaluation, 6% trailing drawdown, payouts from Day 1), 1-Step Express (10% target, 6% trailing drawdown, weekend holds), and 2-Step Classic (7% per phase, 8% static drawdown, 1:50 leverage, consistency rule). Topstep, by contrast, uses a single-phase Trading Combine® with a 6% target and trailing MLL.

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), then every 14 days; daily payouts unlock after 30 consecutive winning days. At Funded Trading Plus, payouts are weekly on Instant Funding and 1-Step Express and every 10 days on 2-Step Classic. Rails include bank transfer (1–3 days), crypto (same day), and credit/debit card. Minimum withdrawal is $50.

Can I use Expert Advisors (EAs)?

At Topstep, EAs are fully permitted with no specific restrictions. At Funded Trading Plus, EAs are permitted only on cTrader – they are not supported on MT5, DXtrade, or Match-Trader. Hedging, copy trading, grid, and arbitrage are prohibited across all FT+ programs.

Are accounts swap-free?

Yes at Funded Trading Plus – FT+ 2.0 eliminated all swap fees across every program.

Is Topstep still the bigger name for US-futures traders?

Yes. Topstep remains the benchmark prop firm for CME futures traders with over $1 billion in cumulative payouts, a deep education ecosystem, and 150,000+ Discord members. Funded Trading Plus is the strictly better fit for multi-asset CFD traders who want choice of evaluation route, swap-free accounts, and the ability to scale to $2.5 million.