Topstep vs Funding Traders – Elite Prop Firms Comparison

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Introduction

Topstep and Funding Traders operate in adjacent corners of the prop industry. Topstep, founded in Chicago in 2012, is the original CME-futures specialist – more than $1 billion paid out to funded traders, single-phase Trading Combine®, mandatory TopstepX platform for new accounts since July 2025. Funding Traders, founded in 2019 with London headquarters and FCA regulation, runs a two-phase challenge model across multi-asset markets – forex, indices, commodities, and crypto – with up to $200,000 in initial funding scaling to $1 million for consistent performers. The two firms differ on instruments (futures-only vs multi-asset), evaluation structure (single-phase vs two-phase), and pricing model (monthly subscription vs one-time challenge fee), so the right pick depends on which trade-offs match your style.

FeatureTopstepFunding Traders - Elite Firm Review
Topstep Funding Traders - Elite Firm Review
Founded20122019
Profit Split100% first $10,000, then 90/1080-90%
Maximum Account Size$150,000$1,000,000
Evaluation Phases12
Trustpilot Rating3.4
Expert Grade98.5
ProgramTopstepFunding Traders - Elite Firm Review
Entry Level ProgramYesYes
Advanced ProgramYes
Scaling OptionsNoYes
Demo AccountNoYes
CriteriaTopstepFunding Traders - Elite Firm Review
Profit Target6%5-12%
Maximum DrawdownTrailing MLL: $2,000-$4,5008-10%
Minimum Trading Days510
News TradingYesYes
OptionTopstepFunding Traders - Elite Firm Review
CFD $10K AccountUSD 119 / Listed challenge / One-time
CFD $25K AccountUSD 229 / Listed challenge / One-time
CFD $50K AccountUSD 339 / Listed challenge / One-time
CFD $100K AccountUSD 599 / Listed challenge / One-time
CFD $200K AccountUSD 999 / Listed challenge / One-time
Futures $50K AccountUSD 49 / Trading Combine / Monthly
Futures $100K AccountUSD 99 / Trading Combine / Monthly
Futures $150K AccountUSD 149 / Trading Combine / Monthly
Coupons / DiscountTopstep discountFunding Traders - Elite Firm Review discount
FeatureTopstepFunding Traders - Elite Firm Review
Trading PlatformsTopstepXDXTrade, TradeLocker, MetaTrader 5
ForexYesYes
StocksNoNo
IndicesYesYes
CommoditiesYesYes
CryptocurrenciesNoYes
BondsYes
EA/Algo TradingYesNo
FeatureTopstepFunding Traders - Elite Firm Review
Payout TermsBi-weekly via ACH, wire, or Rise; $50 minimumBank Wire Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Cryptocurrency, Wise
See all prop firm payouts →
Key ElementTopstepFunding Traders - Elite Firm Review
StrengthsIndustry pioneer, generous first $10K profit split, no time limits, EAs permitted, no daily loss limit, $1B+ paid to tradersreasonable challenge requirements, trader-friendly policies, transparent fee structure, multiple challenge options, scaling program
WeaknessesMonthly subscription fees compound, $149 activation fee, TopstepX platform exclusive, futures-only, trailing MLL can catch intraday profit-takersexcessive fees, strict trading rules, high profit targets, capital loss risk, slow withdrawals
Best ForSerious futures traders seeking established firm with forgiving evaluationnew and experienced traders

FAQ

Do Topstep and Funding Traders offer the same instruments?

No. Topstep is CME Group futures only – index, energy, metals, and currency futures (ES, NQ, CL, GC and similar). Funding Traders covers forex, indices, commodities, metals, and cryptocurrency CFDs across a single multi-asset platform. The two firms barely overlap on tradable products, so the choice mostly depends on what you actually trade.

What is the difference between Funding Traders Pro and Next Gen?

Pro uses an 8% / 5% profit-target structure across a 30-day challenge and 60-day verification, with 5% daily drawdown and 10% maximum drawdown. Next Gen tightens the rules: 12% / 8% targets, 4% daily drawdown, 8% maximum drawdown, and 45 days for each phase with 15 minimum trading days. 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), then every 14 days; daily payouts unlock after 30 consecutive winning days. At Funding Traders, payouts are bi-weekly with multiple rails – bank wire (3–5 days), PayPal (1–2 days), Skrill (24–48 hours), crypto (1–24 hours), or Wise (2–3 days).

Which firm has the more permissive rules?

Topstep. There is no intraday daily loss limit on Topstep funded accounts, EAs are fully permitted, and there is no time limit on the Combine. Funding Traders enforces a 4–5% daily drawdown, requires stop-losses on all positions, caps position size at 5% of account equity, restricts EAs, and imposes per-phase time limits.

Are there scaling options?

Funding Traders offers explicit scaling – accounts grow 25% after every 3 months of consistent profitability, scaling up to $1,000,000. Topstep does not publish a comparable scaling programme beyond its largest Combine size.

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.

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