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The5%ers vs Topstep: Full Comparison
A side-by-side comparison of The5%ers 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
- The5%ers comes out ahead on Lowest entry fee ($19 vs $49).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Profit target (6% vs 10%).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Min trading days (0 days vs 3 days).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Payout cycle (5 days vs 14 days).
- The5%ers holds the higher Trustpilot rating (4.7 (35,564) vs 3.6 (14,632)).
Terms compared
| Item | The5%ers | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation model | Multiple models | 1-step |
| Lowest entry fee | $19 Better | $49 |
| Max profit split | 100% | 100% |
| 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 | 3 days | 0 days Better |
| Payout cycle | 14 days | 5 days Better |
| Payout processing time | Not verified | 3 days |
| Max leverage | 1:100 | Not verified |
| Account sizes | $2,500 / $5,000 / $10,000 / $25,000 / $50,000 / $100,000 | $50,000 / $100,000 / $150,000 |
| Asset classes | forex, indices, crypto, commodities | futures |
| Trustpilot | 4.7 (35,564) Better | 3.6 (14,632) |
| Third-party payout verification | Third-party verified | Self-reported only |
| Recorded rule changes | 2 | 2 |
How the drawdown works
The5%ers 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
The5%ers
Third-party verified
On-chain settlement was continuing on the check date. The firm’s own payout documentation is not reachable: help.the5ers.com returns HTTP 404, so the terms governing these payouts cannot be read at source. Payout delays reported by third parties in March 2026 could not be confirmed against any first-party statement we could locate.
The5%ers — homepage (no cumulative payout figure published) · 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
The5%ers
- Observed 2026-08-05 Before: Homepage: "Get qualified by a private equity fund and manage up to $4,000,000". → After: High Stakes program page: "Scaling up to $500,000". The5%ers — High Stakes page (states scaling to $500,000)
- Observed 2026-07-31 Before: An Instant Funding product page was published and sold. → After: the5ers.com/instant-funding/ returns HTTP 404. Separately, the entire help centre at help.the5ers.com returns HTTP 404. The5%ers — Instant Funding page (HTTP 404 on the check date)
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.
- The5%ers comes out ahead on Lowest entry fee ($19 vs $49).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Profit target (6% vs 10%).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Min trading days (0 days vs 3 days).
- Topstep comes out ahead on Payout cycle (5 days vs 14 days).
- The5%ers holds the higher Trustpilot rating (4.7 (35,564) vs 3.6 (14,632)).
Check current terms on the official sites
紹介コード「HZZS4」(2026年8月19日時点で割引は0%)
FAQ
- Which is cheaper to start, The5%ers or Topstep?
- The5%ers is $19 and Topstep is $49, so The5%ers is the better of the two on Lowest entry fee. This page is an informational comparison, not investment advice. Passing an evaluation is not guaranteed and entry fees may not be refundable.
- Which one pays the higher profit split?
- The5%ers is 100% and Topstep is 100%.
- Which one has the shorter payout cycle?
- The5%ers 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?
- The5%ers 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?
- The5%ers: 4.7 (35,564). 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://the5ers.com/high-stakes/
- https://the5ers.com/hyper-growth/
- https://the5ers.com/bootcamp/
- https://the5ers.com/faqs/payout-policy-and-hub-credit-in-the-high-stakes-program/
- https://the5ers.com/faqs/what-is-the-leverage-in-the-high-stakes-program/
- https://the5ers.com/faqs/which-trading-platform-do-you-use/
- https://the5ers.com/faqs/are-there-any-hidden-fees-or-recurring-fees/
- https://the5ers.com/faqs/how-does-scaling-monthly-fixed-payout-work/
- https://the5ers.com/faqs/what-is-hub-credits/
- https://www.trustpilot.com/review/the5ers.com
- 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.