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FTMO vs Topstep: Full Comparison
A side-by-side comparison of FTMO and Topstep built from our normalised 31-firm dataset. Every figure was read off the firms’ own pages, and each row carries its source and check date. Where we could not verify something we mark it “not verified” rather than leaving it blank.
Key findings
- Topstep comes out ahead on Max profit split (100% vs 90%).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Profit target (6% vs 10%).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Min trading days (0 days vs 4 days).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Payout cycle (5 days vs 14 days).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Payout processing time (3 days vs 4 days).
- FTMO holds the higher Trustpilot rating (4.8 (49,616) vs 3.6 (14,632)).
Terms compared
| Item | FTMO | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation model | 2-step | 1-step |
| Lowest entry fee The two firms bill in different currencies, so the figures are not directly comparable. | €79 | $49 |
| Max profit split | 90% | 100% Better |
| Profit target | 10% | 6% Better |
| Daily loss limit The two firms calculate drawdown differently, so the percentages are not directly comparable. | 5% | 2% |
| Max drawdown The two firms calculate drawdown differently, so the percentages are not directly comparable. | 10% | 4% |
| Drawdown type | Static | End-of-day trailing |
| Min trading days | 4 days | 0 days Better |
| Payout cycle | 14 days | 5 days Better |
| Payout processing time | 4 days | 3 days Better |
| Max leverage | 1:100 | Not verified |
| Account sizes | $10,000 / $25,000 / $50,000 / $100,000 / $200,000 | $50,000 / $100,000 / $150,000 |
| Asset classes | forex, indices, commodities, stocks, crypto | futures |
| Trustpilot | 4.8 (49,616) Better | 3.6 (14,632) |
| Third-party payout verification | Self-reported only | Self-reported only |
| Recorded rule changes | None recorded | 2 |
How the drawdown works
FTMO uses a static drawdown while Topstep uses a end-of-day trailing one. This is one of the most common reasons an account fails: with a trailing drawdown the limit rises with your open profit, so the same headline percentage leaves less real room.
Third-party payout verification
FTMO
$650M+ — Self-reported only
Marketing figures, not a disclosure: no as-of date, no period, no auditor, no breakdown. FTMO documents crypto withdrawals alongside bank wire, Visa Direct / Mastercard Send and Skrill, but no third party publishes transaction-level records for it and FTMO is not among the firms Payout Junction tracks. The industry’s longest operating record is a reason to weigh the claim; it is not corroboration of it.
FTMO — homepage ("$650M+ Paid in rewards worldwide") · 2026-08-05
Topstep
$1.4B+ — Self-reported only
The largest claim in the set and the least checkable rail: payouts settle by ACH, wire/SWIFT, Wise or prop-to-brokerage transfer, none of which leave a public record, and Topstep does not appear among the firms Payout Junction tracks. It is nonetheless the only firm here that publishes a dated participant-level payout statistic: "From January through December 2025 … (c) 33.3% of all individual participants at the Funded Level received a payout". A cumulative total with no denominator says nothing about a reader’s odds; that disclosure does.
Topstep — homepage ("$1.4B+ Paid out to prop firm traders") and 2025 Trader Performance Statistics · 2026-08-05
Recorded rule changes
FTMO
Our tracker holds no recorded changes for FTMO. An absence of records is not proof that nothing changed.
Topstep
- Observed 2026-08-22 Before: Third-party platforms NinjaTrader, Tradovate and TradingView were offered as the trading platform lineup. → After: TopstepX, Topstep's in-house browser platform, is the standard for all accounts; the one external option is a Quantower connection via TopstepX credentials (Trading Combine and Express Funded Account only). Topstep Help Center — TopstepX™
- Effective 2026-01-12 Before: 100% of the first $10,000 in lifetime profits, then a 90/10 split. → After: 90/10 split from the first dollar. Topstep Help Center — Topstep Payout Policy
Which one fits you
What the data says, priority by priority. The decision is yours; we do not give investment advice.
- Topstep comes out ahead on Max profit split (100% vs 90%).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Profit target (6% vs 10%).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Min trading days (0 days vs 4 days).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Payout cycle (5 days vs 14 days).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Payout processing time (3 days vs 4 days).
- FTMO holds the higher Trustpilot rating (4.8 (49,616) vs 3.6 (14,632)).
Check current terms on the official sites
FAQ
- Which is cheaper to start, FTMO or Topstep?
- FTMO is €79 and Topstep is $49.
- Which one pays the higher profit split?
- FTMO is 90% and Topstep is 100%, so Topstep is the better of the two on Max profit split. This page is an informational comparison, not investment advice. Passing an evaluation is not guaranteed and entry fees may not be refundable.
- Which one has the shorter payout cycle?
- FTMO is 14 days and Topstep is 5 days, so Topstep is the better of the two on Payout cycle. This page is an informational comparison, not investment advice. Passing an evaluation is not guaranteed and entry fees may not be refundable.
- Do they calculate drawdown the same way?
- FTMO uses a static drawdown while Topstep uses a end-of-day trailing one. This is one of the most common reasons an account fails: with a trailing drawdown the limit rises with your open profit, so the same headline percentage leaves less real room.
- What do their Trustpilot ratings look like?
- FTMO: 4.8 (49,616). Topstep: 3.6 (14,632). Profiles were checked on 2026-07-31. Where Trustpilot has withheld a rating for a guideline breach we publish no score.
Sources
- https://ftmo.com/
- https://ftmo.com/en/
- https://ftmo.com/en/trading-objectives/
- https://ftmo.com/en/2-step-challenge/
- https://ftmo.com/en/1-step-challenge/
- https://ftmo.com/en/how-it-works/
- https://ftmo.com/en/faq/how-do-i-withdraw-my-profits/
- https://ftmo.com/en/faq/which-platforms-can-i-use-for-trading/
- https://ftmo.com/en/faq/what-are-the-account-specifications/
- https://ftmo.com/en/faq/does-the-maximum-capital-allocation-apply-across-both-1-step-and-2-step-accounts/
- https://ftmo.com/en/reward-growth-and-scaling-plan/
- https://ftmo.com/en/faq/which-instruments-can-i-trade-and-what-strategies-am-i-allowed-to-use/
- https://www.topstep.com/
- https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284197-trading-combine-parameters
- https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284204-what-is-the-maximum-loss-limit
- https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284207-what-is-the-daily-loss-limit-and-what-happens-if-i-exceed-it
- https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284233-topstep-payout-policy
- https://www.trustpilot.com/review/topstep.com
Data currency
Terms data 2026-06-22 / payout verification 2026-08-05 / rule changes 2026-08-22. Prop firm terms change without notice — always confirm on the official site before you buy.
This page is an informational comparison, not investment advice. Passing an evaluation is not guaranteed and entry fees may not be refundable.