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FTMO vs Topstep
The Ultimate Head-to-Head Showdown
⚡ Quick Comparison Verdict
When choosing between FTMO and Topstep in 2026, the decision comes down to what matters most to you as a trader. FTMO holds a TrustPilot rating of 4.8/5 across 51,151 reviews, while Topstep sits at 4.5/5 with 3,892 reviews. Both firms are legitimate and pay traders, but they serve fundamentally different trader profiles.
FUTURES
FTMO
4.8
- Надёжность с 2015 года
- Приобретение OANDA
- Instant, 1-Step & 2-Step
Topstep
4.5
- Трейлинг-просадка EOD фиксируется на начальном балансе (линия прибыли $0)
- Сплит прибыли 90/10 с первого дня (минимальный вывод $125)
- Два пути выплат: Стандартный (5 дней по $150+) или Согласованный (3 дня <=40%)
FUTURES
At a Glance
4.8 / 5.0
Trader Satisfaction
4.5 / 5.0
90%
Profit Split
9010%
$2.0M
Max Allocation
$0.1M
$89
Challenge Fee (Starting)
$49
Earnings Calculator
Monthly return (%)8%
FUTURES
Estimated Monthly Earnings
$6,400
Based on 100K account • 80% payout
Estimated Monthly Earnings
$3,600
Based on 50K account • 90/10 payout
Head-to-head Breakdown
FUTURES
FTMO
Topstep
Challenge Fee
€540
$95Best
Account Size
100,000
50,000
Profit Split
80%
90/10Best
Profit Target
10% | 5%
6% Best
Daily Loss
5%
None
Max Loss
10%Best
4%
Drawdown Type
static
EOD
Payout Frequency
14 days from first trade
Standard (5 days $150+) / Consistency (3 days <=40%)
Fine-Print Verification Matrix
Hidden Rules & Contract Clauses
Comparing unadvertised contract terms, trailing mechanics, news buffers, and payout hurdles extracted from official Terms of Service.
Fine-Print Term
Core Trading Clauses
FUTURES
FTMO
15 Verified Rules
Topstep
12 Verified Rules
News Trading Policy & Execution Buffers
Buffer windows before and after red-folder economic events, straddle restrictions, and execution slippage policies.
FUTURES
Allowed (Swing + Evaluation). Restricted 2m before/after high-impact (Standard Funded).
Allowed without restrictions.
Weekend & Overnight Holding
Whether swing positions may be held across Friday market close, or if automated liquidations apply.
FUTURES
Allowed (Swing). Prohibited for Standard Funded accounts.
Prohibited. Close by 3:10 PM CT.
Drawdown Trailing & Loss Mechanics
Static balance-based vs End-of-Day (EOD) vs high-risk intraday open-equity trailing traps.
FUTURES
10%.
EOD trailing. MLL resets to $0 after payout.
Inactivity Rules & Account Expiry
Maximum allowable dormancy duration before account breach or administrative archiving.
FUTURES
30 days (or freeze account 7 days to 6 months).
30 days (Express Funded).
Consistency Clauses & Profit Caps
Single-day profit caps (e.g. 30%-50% rule), lot-size variation brackets, and contract ladders.
FUTURES
1-Step: Best day ≤50% of total profit. 2-Step: None.
50% (Combine only).
Payout Hurdles & Safety Buffers
Minimum qualifying profitable days, profit floor requirements, and mandatory buffer reserves.
FUTURES
1–2 рабочих дня (в среднем 8 часов после подтверждения инвойса)
1–3 рабочих дня через Wise, ACH или прямой банковский перевод
Verified Fine-Print Disclosures from Official Documentation
Exact contract stipulations, drawdown formulas, and account closure triggers.
FUTURES
FTMO Instant: Day-One Rewards & No Evaluation Phase
🔵 InformationalThe FTMO Instant Account bypasses Phase 1 and Phase 2 evaluation challenges entirely. Every trade closed within the risk parameters accumulates towards withdrawable rewards from Day 1 on a 90% reward ratio.
Source: FTMO Instant Account Terms
FTMO Instant: 30% Windfall / Consistency Rule
🟠 High RiskOn the Instant Account, your single highest profitable trading day cannot represent more than 30% of your total closed accumulated profit at the time of payout request. Exceeding 30% is not a rule breach, but payouts are withheld until subsequent trading days dilute the best day to 30% or less.
Source: FTMO Instant Account Specifications
FTMO Instant: Strict 3% Daily Loss Limit
🔴 Critical RuleWhile standard 2-step FTMO challenges allow a 5% daily loss, FTMO Instant enforces a tighter 3% maximum daily loss limit based on 00:00 CE(S)T start-of-day equity. Breaching this intraday equity threshold immediately terminates the account.
Source: FTMO Instant Account Specifications
50% Consistency Rule
🟠 High RiskYour single best trading day cannot exceed 50% of your total profit target during the Trading Combine. Under the Consistency Payout Path, your best day cannot exceed 40% of net profits.
Source: Topstep Trading Combine Rules
End-of-Day (EOD) Trailing Drawdown & Starting Balance Freeze
🟠 High RiskThe Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) recalculates strictly at 4:00 PM CT based on settled account balance, completely eliminating intraday unrealized profit trailing traps. Once your balance reaches Starting Balance + MLL, the trailing floor permanently freezes at the initial starting balance ($0 profit line) and stops trailing forever.
Source: Topstep Risk Policy 2026
MLL Resets and Locks to $0 Floor After First Payout
🔴 Critical RuleIn the Express Funded Account (XFA), the instant your first payout is processed, your Maximum Loss Limit immediately resets and locks permanently at $0 (initial starting balance). Prior profit cushion above $0 cannot be used to absorb losses below starting capital.
Source: Topstep Payout Policy
Looking for granular policy breakdowns? Explore the official rule dossiers:
Key Differences
1
Trust Score: FTMO leads with a 4.8/5 TrustPilot rating (51,151 reviews) vs Topstep's 4.5/5 (3,892 reviews).
2
Entry Cost: Topstep starts at $95 — 45% cheaper than FTMO's €79.
3
Profit Split: Topstep offers up to 90/10%, keeping more money in your pocket compared to FTMO's До 90%%.
4
Drawdown Mechanics: FTMO uses static equity-based (10%) while Topstep uses EOD (4%). Static/balance-based drawdowns are generally considered safer.
5
Evaluation Path: FTMO uses a 1-Step, 2-Step, Instant evaluation model, while Topstep offers a 2-Step path. Fewer steps generally means faster access to funded capital.
6
Daily Loss Limit: FTMO allows a 5% daily loss vs Topstep's 0% — more room for volatile trading sessions.
7
Trading Platforms: FTMO uniquely offers cTrader, DXtrade, MT4, MT5. Topstep uniquely offers TopstepX, NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Quantower.
8
Maximum Capital: FTMO scales up to $2,000,000, 13x more than Topstep's $150,000.
Deep Dive: Rules & Policies
News Trading: FTMO: Allowed (Swing + Evaluation). Restricted 2m before/after high-impact (Standard Funded).. Topstep: Allowed without restrictions.. Both firms have nuanced news trading policies — always check the specific rules for your account type before placing trades around major announcements.
Weekend & Overnight Holding: Swing traders take note — FTMO allows weekend holding, meaning you can carry positions through Friday close into Monday open. Topstep requires positions to be closed before the weekend. This is a dealbreaker for multi-day position traders and macro-driven strategies.
Algorithmic Trading (EAs): Topstep allows EAs, making it the better choice for algo traders. FTMO has tighter restrictions: Own EAs only. Third-party EAs strictly prohibited.. Make sure your trading bot complies before purchasing.
Commission Structure: FTMO charges FX: $5/lot. Metals: 0.0014%/vol. Indices/Energy: $0. Crypto: 0.065%/vol. Stocks: 0.004%/vol.. Topstep charges См. intercom.help/topstep-llc/.../commissions. Lower commissions compound into significant savings over hundreds of trades — especially for high-frequency scalpers.
Consistency Rule: Both firms enforce consistency rules but with different thresholds. FTMO: 1-Step: Best day ≤50% of total profit. 2-Step: None.. Topstep: 50% (Combine only).. Understand these limits before you trade — exceeding them can invalidate your evaluation.
Tradable Instruments: FTMO uniquely offers CFD, Forex, Metals, Indices, Energy, Crypto, Stocks trading. Topstep uniquely offers Futures trading. If you trade specific asset classes, make sure your firm supports them before purchasing.
Payout Processing: FTMO processes payouts in 1–2 рабочих дня (в среднем 8 часов после подтверждения инвойса), while Topstep takes 1–3 рабочих дня через Wise, ACH или прямой банковский перевод. Faster payouts mean quicker access to your hard-earned profits — an important factor for full-time traders who depend on this income.
Scaling Potential: FTMO scales up to $2,000,000 (requiring 10% чистой прибыли за 4 месяца (как минимум 2 из 4 месяцев прибыльные) profit per tier), while Topstep caps at $150,000 на счет (до $750,000 на 5 счетах) (requiring Динамический план масштабирования, привязанный к балансу закрытия дня (EOD) счета Express Funded per tier). If your long-term goal is managing large capital, the firm with the higher ceiling offers more growth runway.
Inactivity Policy: FTMO: 30 days (or freeze account 7 days to 6 months).. Topstep: 30 days (Express Funded).. Be mindful of these policies — an inactive account can be terminated, and you would forfeit your challenge fee and any unrealized progress.
Active Discount Codes: FTMO: Use code "CIRCLE" for Best Deals. Topstep: Use code "" for a discount. These codes can significantly reduce your upfront investment — always check for active promotions before purchasing.
Who Should Choose Which?
Budget-Conscious Traders
→ Topstep
Starting at just $95, Topstep offers the lowest barrier to entry — ideal if you want to test the waters without risking a large upfront fee.
Visit TopstepSwing & Position Traders
→ FTMO
FTMO allows weekend holding and has a static equity-based drawdown — both essential for multi-day strategies that need room to breathe.
Visit FTMOSafety-First Traders
→ FTMO
With a 4.8/5 TrustPilot rating and 51,151 verified reviews, FTMO offers the strongest track record and payout reliability.
Visit FTMOHigh-Frequency Scalpers
→ FTMO
FTMO offers zero-commission trading on select instruments, saving scalpers significant costs over hundreds of daily trades.
Visit FTMOProfit Maximizers
→ Topstep
Topstep's 90/10% profit split means you keep more of every dollar you earn — the difference compounds significantly over time.
Visit TopstepAlgorithmic Traders
→ Topstep
Topstep has more permissive EA/bot policies, making it the better fit if you run automated trading systems.
Visit TopstepCapital Scaling Traders
→ FTMO
FTMO scales up to $2,000,000 — giving you the highest possible ceiling for growing your funded capital over time.
Visit FTMOThe Final Verdict
Our expert conclusion based on the data
When choosing between FTMO and Topstep in 2026, the decision comes down to what matters most to you as a trader. FTMO holds a TrustPilot rating of 4.8/5 across 51,151 reviews, while Topstep sits at 4.5/5 with 3,892 reviews. Both firms are legitimate and pay traders, but they serve fundamentally different trader profiles.
On pricing, Topstep offers a significantly lower barrier to entry at $95 compared to FTMO's €79 — that's roughly 45% cheaper. However, cheaper doesn't always mean better value. You need to weigh this against the profit split, drawdown rules, and payout reliability.
A critical difference lies in their drawdown mechanics. FTMO uses a static equity-based drawdown at 10%, while Topstep uses a EOD drawdown at 4%. FTMO's static drawdown means your loss limit is locked to your initial balance and never trails upward — this is mathematically safer and easier to manage, especially for swing traders who hold positions overnight.
Our Recommendation: If your priority is trust and track record, go with FTMO. If your priority is affordability, Topstep is the better entry point. For maximum earnings per trade, Topstep wins with a 90/10% profit split.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FTMO better than Topstep in 2026?+
It depends on your priorities. FTMO has a stronger reputation with a 4.8/5 TrustPilot score. However, Topstep is more affordable at $95. For most traders, FTMO is the safer choice, but Topstep offers better value for those on a tight budget.
Which is cheaper, FTMO or Topstep?+
Topstep is the more affordable option, with challenges starting at $95 compared to FTMO's €79.
What is the profit split at FTMO vs Topstep?+
FTMO offers up to До 90%% profit split, while Topstep offers up to 90/10%. Topstep lets you keep more of your earnings.
What type of drawdown do FTMO and Topstep use?+
FTMO uses a static equity-based drawdown (10%), while Topstep uses a EOD drawdown (4%). Static and balance-based drawdowns are generally considered easier to manage than trailing drawdowns because they don't chase your equity high watermark.
How many evaluation steps does FTMO require vs Topstep?+
FTMO uses a 1-Step, 2-Step, Instant evaluation model, while Topstep uses a 2-Step model. Fewer steps generally means faster access to live funded capital.
Can I use Expert Advisors (EAs) with FTMO and Topstep?+
FTMO: Own EAs only. Third-party EAs strictly prohibited.. Topstep: Allowed (API access, no manipulative tools).. Always verify your specific EA is compliant before purchasing a challenge.
What trading platforms do FTMO and Topstep support?+
FTMO supports cTrader, DXtrade, MT4, MT5. Topstep supports TopstepX, NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Quantower. Both offer professional-grade execution suitable for serious traders.
Which firm has better payout speeds, FTMO or Topstep?+
Both firms process payouts reliably. FTMO pays via Bank Transfer, Crypto, Mastercard, Skrill, Visa Direct. Topstep pays via ACH, Bank Transfer, Wise. Check each firm's payout schedule for the most up-to-date processing times.
Comprehensive Firm Dossiers
FTMO In-Depth Hub
Complete analysis of scaling milestones, verified payout proofs, and fine-print rules.
Topstep In-Depth Hub
Complete analysis of scaling milestones, verified payout proofs, and fine-print rules.