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HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON · 2026

Topstep vs FTMO

Side-by-side comparison of trust scores, profit splits, payout speed, and real trader reviews. Independent data — no sponsored rankings.

Topstep
TOPS
Topstep
✓ VERIFIEDEST. 2012
FTMO
FTMO
FTMO
✓ VERIFIEDEST. 2015
TOPSTEP
METRIC
FTMO
66/100BETTER
TRUST SCORE
—61/100
4/5TIE
RATING
TIE4/5
90%TIE
PROFIT SPLIT
TIE90%
$150,000—
MAX FUNDING
BETTER$400,000
$49BETTER
MIN COST
—$155
7dBETTER
PAYOUT DAYS
—14d
28%BETTER
PASS RATE
—22%
1TIE
REVIEW COUNT
TIE1

TOPSTEP DETAILS

STEPS
1-phase
DRAWDOWN
Trailing EOD
MARKETS
Futures
PLATFORMS
MT4, MT5
TYPES
futures, beginner

FTMO DETAILS

STEPS
2-phase
DRAWDOWN
Fixed
MARKETS
Forex, Indices, Crypto, Commodities, Metals
PLATFORMS
MT4, MT5, cTrader
TYPES
forex, large-cap, multi-asset, Beginner Friendly, Pro Traders, Fast Payout, Large Cap, crypto

Topstep PROS

  • +Profit split of 90% is well above the industry average of 84.7%, offering traders a superior earnings share.
  • +Min challenge cost of $49 is well below the industry average of $186.7, making entry highly accessible.
  • +Single-step funding is better than the industry average of 1.6 steps, streamlining the path to funded status.
  • +Founded in 2012, Topstep is one of the most established prop firms, providing strong credibility and track record.

Topstep CONS

  • −Max funding of $150,000 is far below the industry average of $839,272.7, significantly limiting earning potential.
  • −Overall drawdown of 10% with trailing EOD type means drawdown limits tighten as profits grow, increasing risk.
  • −Days to first payout at 7 is slightly above the industry average of 6.5, a minor but notable delay.

FTMO PROS

  • +Profit split of 90% exceeds the industry average of 84.6%.
  • +Fee refund is available
  • +Founded in 2015, giving it one of the longest operational track records in the industry.
  • +Weekend and overnight holding is allowed during evaluation phases.
  • +A recently introduced competitive one-step program.

FTMO CONS

  • −Days to first payout of 14 is more than double the industry average of 6.5.
  • −Profit target of 10% is above the industry average of 8.0%, raising the qualification bar.
  • −News trading is not allowed at funded, restricting strategy options around major economic events.

PROPDNA VERDICT

Topstep
Higher trust score (66/100). Faster payouts at 7d. 90% profit split.
FTMO
Lower trust score (61/100). Slower payouts at 14d. 90% profit split.

RELATED LINKS

Topstep Full Review →FTMO Full Review →All Comparisons →
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