Topstep vs Maven Trading – Elite Prop Firms Comparison
Introduction
Topstep and Maven Trading target very different traders. Topstep, founded in Chicago in 2012, is the original CME-futures prop firm – it works exclusively in US futures, runs entirely on its own TopstepX platform, and has paid out more than a billion dollars to funded traders. Maven Trading, founded in Canada in 2022 by Jon Alexander, is a budget-friendly Forex/CFD multi-asset firm with one of the lowest entry prices in the industry: its Mini account starts at just $13. Maven supports cTrader, Match Trader, and MetaTrader 5, scales accounts to $1,000,000, and offers swap-free accounts for Islamic-finance-compliant traders. If you trade futures, the answer is Topstep. If you trade Forex, indices CFDs, or want the cheapest possible way to test a prop model, Maven Trading is the better fit.
Quick Comparison |
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| Feature | Topstep | Maven Trading |
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| Founded | 2012 (Chicago, IL) | 2022 (Canada) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.4/5 (13,872+ reviews, April 2026) | 5,106 reviews; rating suspended (May 2026) |
| Account Sizes | $50K – $150K Trading Combine® | $2,000 – $100,000 (scaling to $1,000,000) |
| Profit Split | 100% on first $10K, 90/10 thereafter | Up to 90% – varies by account type |
| Evaluation Style | Trading Combine® (single-phase) | 1-Step, 2-Step, 3-Step, Instant, Mini |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
Program Types – Which experience fits your goals? |
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|---|---|---|
| Program | Topstep | Maven Trading |
| Standard Evaluation | Trading Combine® at $50K, $100K or $150K | 1-Step, 2-Step, or 3-Step Standard programs |
| Express / Single-Step | Combine is single-phase by default | 1-Step Standard with single profit target |
| Instant Funding | Not offered | Instant program – live from day one with stricter rules |
| Mini / Entry Account | Not offered – minimum $50K Combine | Mini account from $13 entry – lowest in industry |
| Account Scaling | Limited beyond largest Combine size | Scaling plan to $1,000,000; Buyback feature for breached accounts |
Assessment Criteria – How can you pass the test? |
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|---|---|---|
| Criteria | Topstep | Maven Trading |
| Profit Target (Phase 1) | Single profit target per Combine size | Varies by program; Mini and Instant have lower targets |
| Profit Target (Phase 2) | N/A – single phase | 2-Step Phase 2 requires 3 qualifying days with at least 0.5% profit each |
| Maximum Daily Loss | None – no daily loss limit | Per-program daily loss rules apply |
| Maximum Trailing Drawdown | Trailing MLL (end-of-day only); stops trailing at starting balance | End-of-day drawdown from peak equity on Standard accounts |
| Minimum Trading Days | 5 trading days | No minimum or maximum trading days |
| Time Limit | None | None |
| Consistency Rule | Best day cannot exceed 50% of total profits at payout | Not specified as a fixed percentage in current review |
Fees and Pricing – How much will you pay? |
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Topstep | Maven Trading |
| Entry Level | $50K Combine: monthly subscription | Mini account from $13 – lowest entry in the prop industry |
| Mid Tier | $100K Combine: higher monthly subscription | 1-Step / 2-Step / 3-Step pricing scales with account size |
| Premium | $150K Combine: highest monthly subscription | Up to $100K accounts with scaling to $1M |
| Reset Fee | Continued monthly subscription pays the reset | Buyback feature available for breached funded accounts |
| Refundable? | $149 activation fee path or No-Activation-Fee path | Failed challenges forfeited; Buyback for funded breaches |
| Coupons | See discounts | See discounts |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
Platforms/Tools – What can you use? |
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|---|---|---|
| Platform | Topstep | Maven Trading |
| Trading Platforms | TopstepX only (new accounts since July 2025) | cTrader (flagship), Match Trader, MetaTrader 5 |
| Data Feed | Included with TopstepX | Included via platform providers |
| Mobile Trading | Mobile-browser support | cTrader and MT5 mobile apps; Match Trader mobile-first UI |
| Custom Indicators | TradingView charting + Tilt™ indicator | cTrader and MT5 native indicator libraries |
| Automated Trading | EAs permitted | EAs strictly prohibited on all platforms – manual only |
| News Feed | Integrated within TopstepX | Available via cTrader / MT5 |
Available Markets/Products |
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|---|---|---|
| Market | Topstep | Maven Trading |
| Forex | Not offered | Major, minor, and exotic currency pairs – core offering |
| Index Futures / Indices | ES, NQ and full CME index suite | Index CFDs across major global benchmarks |
| Energy / Commodities | CL and full CME energy complex | Energies and select commodities CFDs |
| Metals | GC and CME metals | Gold, silver, platinum (XAU, XAG) |
| Crypto | Not offered on standard accounts | Digital ETFs available; selected crypto exposure |
| Total Instruments | Full CME suite | 60–75 tradeable instruments across asset classes |
| Leverage | Standard futures margin | Per platform – typical multi-asset Forex leverage |
Technical Capabilities/Performance |
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|---|---|---|
| Feature | Topstep | Maven Trading |
| Execution Speed | Direct via TopstepX infrastructure | Standard for cTrader / MT5 / Match Trader |
| Automated Trading | EAs permitted | EAs prohibited across all platforms |
| Order Types | Standard futures order set (Market, Limit, Stop, OCO) | Full Forex/CFD order set across cTrader and MT5 |
| Platform Reliability | Established since 2012, $1B+ payouts processed | Founded 2022; cTrader/MT5 backbone for execution |
| Data Feed Quality | TopstepX-bundled data feed | cTrader Level II pricing on flagship accounts |
| Trading Hours | Standard CME futures sessions | 24/5 across most CFD instruments |
Support and Community |
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|---|---|---|
| Support Feature | Topstep | Maven Trading |
| Customer Support Hours | Live chat, email, phone, SMS, WhatsApp | Standard support channels via the firm’s contact desk |
| Response Time | Same-day during business hours | Standard SLAs (not specified) |
| Live Coaching | Daily live trading sessions, webinars | Not formally offered |
| Trading Community | 150,000+ Discord members | Active community; 5,106 Trustpilot reviews logged |
| Educational Resources | Multiple tracks, courses, podcasts | Limited; community-driven |
| Success Stories | $1B+ in cumulative payouts | Payouts every 10 business days; cap of $10K per two cycles |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation |
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|---|---|---|
| Key Element | Topstep | Maven Trading |
| Strengths | Longest live track record, deep education ecosystem, no daily loss limit, EAs permitted | $13 entry on Mini account, scaling to $1M, Buyback feature, swap-free Islamic accounts, three platform options |
| Weaknesses | Monthly subscription compounds; TopstepX-only platform; CME futures only | EAs strictly prohibited; news trading restrictions on Standard accounts; Trustpilot rating suspended |
| Best For | Futures traders who value pedigree and want to use EAs | Forex/multi-asset traders seeking the cheapest possible entry into prop trading |
| Final Grade | 4.4/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Discount Codes | Learn More | Learn More |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
FAQ
Are Topstep and Maven Trading offering the same markets?
No. Topstep is exclusively CME Group futures (ES, NQ, CL, GC and similar). Maven Trading offers Forex, indices CFDs, metals, energies, commodities, and digital ETFs – 60–75 instruments in total. The two firms barely overlap in instrument coverage; pick based on what you want to trade.
Which firm has the lower entry cost?
Maven Trading wins by a large margin. Its Mini account starts at $13, which is one of the lowest entry points in the prop industry. Topstep’s smallest Combine ($50K) is a recurring monthly subscription that costs significantly more before you even pass the evaluation.
Can I use EAs or automated strategies?
Topstep permits EAs with no specific restriction. Maven Trading prohibits all EAs across every account type and platform – manual trading only. If you rely on automation, you should pick Topstep here.
Does Maven Trading offer Islamic / swap-free accounts?
Yes. Maven Trading offers swap-free accounts across all program types, eliminating overnight interest charges to remain compatible with Islamic-finance principles. Topstep does not advertise a comparable feature for futures traders.
How quickly can I get a payout?
Topstep funded accounts can request bi-weekly payouts after a minimum holding period, with daily payouts unlocking after 30 consecutive winning days. Maven Trading runs a 10-business-day payout cycle and caps payouts at $10,000 per two cycles (scaling proportionally with account 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.
