Topstep vs Sabio Trade – Elite Prop Firms Comparison
Introduction
Topstep and Sabio Trade approach prop trading from very different angles. 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. Sabio Trade, founded in 2021 and based in Dublin, Ireland (operated by CODEVIL IT ENGINEERING LIMITED), is a multi-asset Forex/CFD firm that runs its own SabioTraderoom platform – no MetaTrader at all – with access to 250-plus instruments. Sabio runs a single 1-Step evaluation with a 10% profit target, refunds the challenge fee on your first payout, and pays weekly. The instrument set, evaluation model, and platform all diverge significantly between the two firms, so the right pick depends on what you trade.
Quick Comparison |
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| Feature | Topstep | Sabio Trade |
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| Founded | 2012 (Chicago, IL) | 2021 (Dublin, Ireland) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.4/5 (13,872+ reviews, April 2026) | Not specified in current review |
| Account Sizes | $50K – $150K Trading Combine® | $20K – $650K (Essential, Plus, Advanced, Ultimate) |
| Profit Split | 100% on first $10K, 90/10 thereafter | 80–90% depending on account tier |
| Evaluation Style | Trading Combine® (single-phase) | 1-Step Challenge – 10% profit target |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
Program Types – Which experience fits your goals? |
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|---|---|---|
| Program | Topstep | Sabio Trade |
| Standard Evaluation | Trading Combine® at $50K, $100K or $150K | 1-Step Challenge – only evaluation path |
| Express / Single-Step | Combine is single-phase by default | 1-Step is the firm’s only model |
| Instant Funding | Not offered | Not offered |
| Free Trial | Not offered | Free 7-day trial with full SabioTraderoom access |
| Account Scaling | Limited beyond largest Combine size | Four tiers from $20K Essential to $650K Ultimate |
Assessment Criteria – How can you pass the test? |
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|---|---|---|
| Criteria | Topstep | Sabio Trade |
| Profit Target (Phase 1) | Single profit target per Combine size | 10% profit target on the 1-Step Challenge |
| Profit Target (Phase 2) | N/A – single phase | N/A – no second phase |
| Maximum Daily Loss | None – no daily loss limit | 5% of previous day’s end-of-day balance |
| Maximum Trailing Drawdown | Trailing MLL (end-of-day only); stops trailing at starting balance | 6% trailing max drawdown (includes unrealised P&L) |
| Minimum Trading Days | 5 trading days | No minimum trading days |
| Time Limit | None | None; must place at least 1 trade every 30 days |
| Consistency Rule | Best day cannot exceed 50% of total profits at payout | No single trade above 40% of total profits at payout |
Fees and Pricing – How much will you pay? |
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Topstep | Sabio Trade |
| Entry Level | $50K Combine: monthly subscription | Essential $20K – one-time fee |
| Mid Tier | $100K Combine: higher monthly subscription | Plus $50K / Advanced $100K |
| Premium | $150K Combine: highest monthly subscription | Ultimate up to $650K |
| Reset Fee | Continued monthly subscription pays the reset | Reset pricing published on the firm’s site |
| Refundable? | $149 activation fee path or No-Activation-Fee path | Challenge fee fully refunded on first profit withdrawal |
| Coupons | Learn More | Coupon Code |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
Platforms/Tools – What can you use? |
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|---|---|---|
| Platform | Topstep | Sabio Trade |
| Trading Platforms | TopstepX only (new accounts since July 2025) | SabioTraderoom only – proprietary, no MT4/MT5 |
| Data Feed | Included with TopstepX | Included via SabioTraderoom |
| Mobile Trading | Mobile-browser support | SabioTraderoom available on web and mobile |
| Custom Indicators | TradingView charting + Tilt™ indicator | Built-in SabioTraderoom indicator set |
| Automated Trading | EAs permitted | No third-party platforms – limited EA support |
| News Feed | Integrated within TopstepX | Integrated within SabioTraderoom |
Available Markets/Products |
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|---|---|---|
| Market | Topstep | Sabio Trade |
| Forex | Not offered | Major, minor, and exotic currency pairs |
| Index Futures / Indices | ES, NQ and full CME index suite | Major global stock indices (CFDs) |
| Energy / Commodities | CL and full CME energy complex | Oil and other commodity CFDs |
| Metals | GC and CME metals | Gold, silver and other metals |
| Crypto | Not offered on standard accounts | Cryptocurrency CFDs included |
| Stocks | Not offered | Stock CFDs available via SabioTraderoom |
| Total Coverage | Full CME futures suite | 250+ tradeable instruments across 5 asset classes |
Technical Capabilities/Performance |
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|---|---|---|
| Feature | Topstep | Sabio Trade |
| Execution Speed | Direct via TopstepX infrastructure | Direct via SabioTraderoom platform |
| Automated Trading | EAs permitted | Proprietary platform; verify EA capability with Sabio |
| Order Types | Standard futures order set (Market, Limit, Stop, OCO) | Full Forex/CFD order set in SabioTraderoom |
| Platform Reliability | Established since 2012, $1B+ payouts processed | Founded 2021; proprietary platform built for prop model |
| Data Feed Quality | TopstepX-bundled data feed | Provider-bundled retail-grade feeds |
| Trading Hours | Standard CME futures sessions | 24/5 across most CFD instruments; weekend holding allowed |
Support and Community |
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|---|---|---|
| Support Feature | Topstep | Sabio Trade |
| 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; Dublin-headquartered Irish operations |
| Educational Resources | Multiple tracks, courses, podcasts | Free 7-day trial allows hands-on platform learning |
| Success Stories | $1B+ in cumulative payouts | Weekly payout cycle; no minimum withdrawal amount |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation |
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|---|---|---|
| Key Element | Topstep | Sabio Trade |
| Strengths | Longest live track record in futures, deep education ecosystem, no daily loss limit, EAs permitted | Refundable challenge fee, 250+ instruments, weekly payouts with no minimum, free 7-day trial, scaling to $650K |
| Weaknesses | Monthly subscription compounds; TopstepX-only platform; CME futures only | Proprietary-only platform (no MT4/MT5); 40% single-trade rule; 30-day inactivity deactivation |
| Best For | Futures traders who want pedigree and the best US-futures evaluation experience | Multi-asset Forex/CFD traders who want a simple 1-Step model with refundable fees |
| Final Grade | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Discount Codes | – | Coupon Code |
| Review | Read full review | Read full review |
FAQ
Are Topstep and Sabio Trade offering the same instruments?
No. Topstep is CME Group futures only (ES, NQ, CL, GC and similar). Sabio Trade offers Forex, indices CFDs, commodities, metals, crypto, and stock CFDs – 250+ instruments across five asset classes via SabioTraderoom. If you want multi-asset access, Sabio is the choice; if you want US futures, it’s Topstep.
Which firm has the more refund-friendly evaluation?
Sabio Trade refunds the entire challenge fee on your first profit withdrawal. Topstep offers two paths: a $149 activation fee on funding (Standard path) or no activation fee with a higher monthly subscription (No-Activation-Fee path).
Does either firm offer a free trial?
Yes – Sabio Trade offers a free 7-day trial with full SabioTraderoom platform access, so you can test the environment before committing. Topstep does not advertise a comparable free trial.
Can I use EAs or automated strategies?
Topstep permits EAs with no specific restriction. Sabio Trade runs only on its proprietary SabioTraderoom platform, with no MT4/MT5 integration – verify EA capability directly with Sabio if automation is essential to your strategy.
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. Sabio Trade runs a weekly payout cycle – one of the most frequent in the industry – with no minimum withdrawal amount.
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.
