TL;DR
| You want to… | Pick |
|---|---|
| Trade FX, gold, or crypto | FTMO |
| Trade US futures (ES, NQ, CL, GC) | Topstep |
| Try a cheap subscription you can retry monthly | Topstep |
| Pay once and run long-term | FTMO |
| Trade during the US session | Topstep |
| Trade during European or NY hours | FTMO |
1. Different markets entirely
| FTMO | Topstep | |
|---|---|---|
| FX | Yes | No |
| US futures (CME) | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Some plans | No |
| Gold / silver (XAU / XAG) | Yes | Via futures |
| Index CFDs | Yes | Via futures |
In short, decide between FX and futures before you compare firms. The choice between FTMO and Topstep follows from that.
2. Operating record
| FTMO | Topstep | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2012 |
| Base | Prague, Czech Republic | Chicago, USA |
| Years operating | 11 | 14 |
| Regulator footprint | EU / general | CFTC (US) |
Both are top-tier on operating record. Topstep is three years older; FTMO has broader market reach.
3. Fundamentally different pricing models
FTMO — one-time fee
- $89–$1,080 paid upfront.
- Evaluation window is effectively unlimited (plan-dependent).
- Evaluation fee refunded on first successful payout (withdrawal of profit shares), subject to conditions.
Topstep — monthly subscription
- $49–$149 per month.
- Easy to retry next month if you fail.
- Costs accumulate during long unsuccessful periods.
Sample cost comparison (~$50K equivalent account)
| FTMO | Topstep | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | ~$215 | $149 (month 1) |
| 3 months without passing | $215 (no change) | $447 (3 × $149) |
| 6 months without passing | $215 (no change) | $894 |
In practice, Topstep is cheaper for fast performers and FTMO is cheaper for slow grinders.
4. Profit split
FTMO
- 80% standard, scaling to 90% under stated conditions.
- 14-day payout cycle.
Topstep
- 100% on the first $5,000 — reportedly industry-leading.
- 90% beyond that.
- Weekly to monthly payout cadence.
On first sizable payouts, Topstep often nets more cash to your account.
5. Platforms
| FTMO | Topstep | |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 / MT5 | Yes | No |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| DXtrade | Yes | No |
| NinjaTrader | No | Yes |
| Tradovate | No | Yes |
| TradingView integration | Partial | Yes |
Pick the firm that supports the platform you already know.
6. Trading session reality
FTMO (FX-centric)
- Main session: European plus NY hours.
- Workable around regular jobs in most timezones.
Topstep (US futures-centric)
- Main session: US trading hours.
- For non-US traders, that often means late nights or early mornings.
- Overnight sessions exist but with much lower liquidity.
7. Who FTMO fits
- FX, metals, and crypto traders.
- Those who want to pay once and run long-term after passing.
- Traders who need multi-language support (Japanese, etc.).
8. Who Topstep fits
- US futures specialists.
- Traders who can hold US session hours.
- Those who prefer the flexibility of a monthly subscription.
- Existing NinjaTrader or Tradovate users.
9. What they share
- Industry-longest operating records.
- No regulatory enforcement actions on record.
- Public payout histories.
- Above-average customer support.
Bottom line
It’s not really “FTMO vs Topstep” — it’s FX vs futures first.
- FX trader → FTMO, FundedNext, or FinTokei.
- Futures trader → Topstep, Apex Trader Funding, or Earn2Trade.
Both rank as top-trust within the prop firm space.