FTMO Futures vs Topstep: which prop firm is better?
By Modestas R. · Updated
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The short answer
Both are long-established firms with monthly evaluations, end-of-day drawdowns and a 90% split, so the choice comes down to details. FTMO Futures suits traders who want no activation fee, NinjaTrader or Tradovate and no consistency rule once funded. Topstep is cheaper, allows five funded accounts instead of three and has the longer futures track record.
Choose FTMO Futures if
- ✓You want NinjaTrader, Tradovate or TradingView
- ✓You want no consistency rule once funded
- ✓You want to withdraw up to 100% of profit per payout (Pro)
- ✓You already know FTMO from its forex challenges
Choose Topstep if
- ✓You want the lower price: $49 a month, or $95 with no activation fee
- ✓You want up to 5 funded accounts instead of 3
- ✓You want a looser evaluation consistency rule (55% instead of 40%)
- ✓You want a firm running futures evaluations since 2012
FTMO Futures vs Topstep side by side
| Feature | FTMO Futures | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 4.8 / 5 | 4.9 / 5 |
| Founded | 2015, Prague, Czech Republic | 2012, Chicago, Illinois |
| Evaluation price from | $119/mo | $49/mo |
| 50K evaluation price | $119 / month | $49 / month |
| Activation fee | None | $149 |
| 50K profit target | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| 50K max drawdown | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| 50K daily loss limit | None (soft $1,000 once funded) | Optional, chosen at checkout |
| 50K max contracts | 5 minis | 5 minis |
| Evaluation drawdown | EOD | EOD |
| Funded drawdown | EOD | EOD |
| Consistency rule | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum trading days | 3 on Growth (40% rule), 2 on Pro | 2 |
| Profit split | 90% | 90% |
| Payouts | Every 4 qualifying days (Growth) or 5 (Pro); daily in Live | After 5 winning days (Standard) or 3 days (Consistency); daily in Live |
| Max funded accounts | 3 | 5 |
| Platforms | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView | TopstepX, Quantower |
| News trading | Allowed | Allowed |
| Overnight positions | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Public promo code | None | None |
50K accounts at list price. FTMO Futures: Growth Evaluation (Pro costs $139 a month with a $3,000 drawdown and a $1,000 daily loss limit). Topstep: Standard path. FTMO's forex and CFD challenges are a separate product. Data from each firm's official website and help center, checked October 25, 2026.
How they score
Our methodologyCost 25%
Rules 25%
Payouts 20%
Trust 20%
Platforms 10%
FTMO Futures or the FTMO Challenge?
Many people searching "FTMO vs Topstep" know FTMO from its forex and CFD FTMO Challenge. That is a different product. Topstep is futures only, so this page compares it with FTMO Futures, FTMO's separate futures program with its own monthly Evaluation, rules and platforms.
Cost: FTMO vs Topstep
Both firms bill the evaluation as a monthly subscription with no time limit, and both let you avoid an activation fee. FTMO Futures never charges one. Topstep charges $149 on its Standard path, or nothing on its more expensive No Activation Fee path. Neither firm publishes a sitewide discount code of its own; codes from Topstep's affiliate creators take 20% off the first month.
| 50K account | FTMO Futures Growth | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation, list price | $119 per month | $49 per month (Standard) or $95 per month (No Activation Fee) |
| Activation fee | None | $149 on Standard, none on No Activation Fee |
| Pass in one month | $119 | $95 (No Activation Fee) |
| Pass in two months | $238 | $190 (No Activation Fee) or $247 (Standard) |
| Pass in three months | $357 | $285 (No Activation Fee) or $296 (Standard) |
| Reset | $109 | $49 (Standard) or $95 (No Activation Fee) |
Topstep is cheaper however long you take. Its No Activation Fee path costs less per month than FTMO's Growth Evaluation, and both charge nothing after you pass. FTMO's Pro Evaluation costs $139 a month for a wider $3,000 drawdown and a hard daily loss limit.
Rules and drawdown
| 50K evaluation | FTMO Futures Growth | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Profit target | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Maximum drawdown | $2,000, end-of-day trailing | $2,000, end-of-day trailing |
| Daily loss limit | None (soft $1,000 once funded) | Optional ($1,000–$3,000, chosen at checkout) |
| Max contracts | 5 minis | 5 minis |
| Consistency rule | Best day at most 40% of profit | Best day below 55% of the target |
| Fastest pass | 3 days | 2 days |
On paper the evaluations are almost identical: the same target, drawdown and contract limit, and an end-of-day trailing drawdown that keeps applying once you are funded. FTMO's drawdown locks permanently at your starting balance.
The main difference is the consistency rule. FTMO Growth's 40% limit means at least three days and can raise the profit you need; Topstep's 55% limit is looser. Once funded, it flips: FTMO has no consistency rule on the Sim-Funded Account, while Topstep has one (40%) only if you choose its Consistency payout path.
Both firms start funded accounts with fewer contracts: FTMO's 50K Sim-Funded Account starts at 2 and reaches 5 at $3,000 of profit, and Topstep's 50K Express Funded Account starts at 2 lots and reaches 5 at $2,000.
Payouts: FTMO vs Topstep
| 50K funded account | FTMO Growth | FTMO Pro | Topstep Express Funded Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit split | 90% | 90% | 90% |
| When you can withdraw | 4 qualifying days of $150+ | 5 qualifying days of $200+ | 5 winning days of $150+ (Standard) or 3 days (Consistency) |
| Share you can withdraw | 50% of profit | 100% of profit | Up to 50% of balance |
| Cap per payout | $2,500 | $5,000 | $2,000 (Standard) or $3,000 (Consistency) |
| Max funded accounts | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Both pay 90%. FTMO allows larger payouts, especially on Pro, where you can withdraw all of your profit up to $5,000 per request. Topstep allows more funded accounts: five against FTMO's three.
Both firms invite their best traders to live capital. FTMO's Live Funded Account allows daily payouts with no cap after a one-time buffer; Topstep's Live Funded Account has no dollar cap and daily payouts after 30 winning days.
Platforms and trading rules
FTMO Futures supports NinjaTrader, Tradovate and TradingView. Topstep runs on TopstepX, with Quantower as the only alternative. If you trade on NinjaTrader or TradingView, FTMO is the only option of the two. FTMO includes Level 1 data, but Depth of Market cannot be purchased on FTMO logins.
- Automation: both allow automated strategies; FTMO bans high-frequency and latency-arbitrage strategies.
- News: both allow news trading. Topstep bans trading your full maximum size into major scheduled news.
- Overnight positions: neither allows them. Close by 4:10 PM ET at FTMO and 3:10 PM CT at Topstep.
- Copying: FTMO forbids trading on other people's signals or decisions; Topstep allows trade copiers across your own accounts.
Trust and track record
FTMO has offered trader evaluations since 2015 from Prague, says it has paid more than $650 million in rewards and serves US clients through JV Prop Corporation, a Delaware company. Topstep has run its Trading Combine since 2012 in Chicago, says it has paid more than $1.5 billion to traders and owns Topstep Brokerage, a separate introducing broker and NFA member.
Both firms publish their rules in detail, which we used for this comparison.
Bottom line
Pick FTMO Futures if you want NinjaTrader, Tradovate or TradingView, no consistency rule once funded and larger payouts, and three funded accounts are enough. Pick Topstep if you want the lower price, up to five funded accounts and a looser evaluation consistency rule, and you are happy on TopstepX. For every rule in detail, read our full FTMO Futures review and Topstep review.
FTMO Futures vs Topstep FAQ
Is FTMO or Topstep better for futures?+
They are nearly tied in our rating (Topstep 4.9, FTMO Futures 4.8). Topstep is cheaper and allows five funded accounts. FTMO Futures charges no activation fee, supports NinjaTrader, Tradovate and TradingView, and drops the consistency rule once you are funded.
Which is cheaper, FTMO or Topstep?+
Topstep. Its 50K Combine costs $49 a month plus a $149 activation fee, or $95 a month on the No Activation Fee path. FTMO Futures' 50K Growth Evaluation costs $119 a month with no activation fee. Neither firm publishes its own discount code; Topstep's creator codes take 20% off the first month.
Does FTMO Futures have a consistency rule?+
Only in the Evaluation: your best day may be at most 40% (Growth) or 50% (Pro) of total profit. Topstep's Combine uses 55%. Once funded, FTMO has no consistency rule, while Topstep has one only on its Consistency payout path.
Which pays out more, FTMO or Topstep?+
Both pay 90%. On 50K, FTMO Growth lets you withdraw 50% of profit up to $2,500 every 4 qualifying days, and Pro up to 100% and $5,000 every 5 days. Topstep caps payouts at $2,000 (Standard) or $3,000 (Consistency) and 50% of the balance. Both firms invite top traders to live accounts with uncapped payouts.
Is FTMO Futures the same as the FTMO Challenge?+
No. The FTMO Challenge is FTMO's forex and CFD product. FTMO Futures is a separate program with its own monthly Evaluation, rules and platforms (NinjaTrader, Tradovate and TradingView), and it is the one comparable to Topstep.
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Trading futures involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. This comparison is for information only and is not financial advice. Firms change their rules often, so confirm the current terms before you buy.