Side-by-side: FTMO 2-Step vs Topstep Trading Combine
| FTMO | Topstep | |
|---|---|---|
| Market | CFDs — forex, indices, commodities, crypto CFDs | Futures only (CME products) |
| Company | FTMO s.r.o., Prague, Czech Republic — since 2015 | Topstep LLC (Delaware); funded accounts via TopstepFunded LLC, Chicago — founding year not stated ("15+ years" claimed) |
| Cost shape | One-time fee per attempt; refunded with the first Reward on the 2-Step | Monthly subscription while you evaluate + $149 activation per funded account (a $95/mo path skips activation) |
| Entry cost | €89 (10K) | $49/month (50K Combine, Standard path) |
| Profit target | 10% then 5%, in two phases | Fixed $ target — $3,000 on the 50K — single phase, no deadline |
| Daily loss limit | 5% of initial capital, equity-based, recalculated nightly | None mandatory (an optional daily limit is sold as an add-on) |
| Maximum loss | 10%, static from the starting balance | $2,000 on the 50K — end-of-day trailing that locks at your starting balance once it climbs there |
| Consistency | None on the 2-Step (50% on 1-Step) | 55% best-day rule in the Combine — exceeding it raises your target instead of failing you; funded paths use 40% (Consistency) or 5 winning days of $150+ (Standard) |
| News trading | Free in evaluation; funded Standard restricts executions within ±2 min of selected releases | Restrictions apply around Tier-1 news in the simulated stages |
| Profit split | 80%, up to 90% via Scaling Plan / Premium | 90/10 (traders who joined before 12 Jan 2026 keep 100% of their first $10,000) |
| Payouts | On request once eligible (day 14); minimum $20 (bank/card) / $50 (crypto); fee refunded with the first withdrawal | Minimum $125; up to 50% of the balance per request; per-request caps of $2,000–$6,000 by account size |
| Multiple accounts | Allocation caps apply under its scaling plan (to $2M) | Up to 5 funded accounts (XFAs) at once |
| Free trial | Yes — 14 days, real rules | None listed on the pages we checked (23 Oct 2026) |
| Nature | Simulated capital; payouts are real-money "Rewards" | Combine and XFA are explicitly simulated; a Live Funded Account stage trades real capital |
| Our deal | No partner code exists — use their own promos and the free trial | No partner code — their own pricing only |
A "50K" futures account and a "50K" CFD account are not the same exposure: futures sizes describe the nominal account the drawdown is measured on, and Topstep's real risk budget on the 50K is its $2,000 loss limit. Compare drawdown dollars, not headline sizes. Full reviews and lists: FTMO review · Best futures prop firms.
The five differences that actually decide it
1. What you trade decides first
FTMO's instruments are CFDs on a broker-style platform (MT4/MT5/cTrader/DXtrade class tools); Topstep is exchange-traded futures with futures commissions, margins and contract sizes. A forex or crypto-CFD strategy cannot move to Topstep at all, and a futures scalping strategy built on exchange depth has no home at FTMO. Market first, firm second.
2. One fee vs a running meter
FTMO's €540 (100K) is paid once per attempt. Topstep's $49/month looks trivial until the months accumulate — six months plus activation is $443, and the account sizes still differ. Our real-cost guide runs the break-even: on Topstep's own two paths the crossover sits near 3.2 months. Fast passers pay least at Topstep; slow, steady learners pay least at FTMO.
3. Two philosophies of drawdown
FTMO's 2-Step floor never moves: 10% below your starting balance, forever, with a daily 5% limit on top. Topstep has no mandatory daily limit at all, and its single Maximum Loss Limit trails your end-of-day closes upward — then locks at your starting balance, so a funded trader who has climbed out can never be trailed back below break-even. Intraday, though, Topstep tests the limit on unrealised P&L in real time: a deep intraday dip can breach even an end-of-day model. Both mechanics are explained in our drawdown guide.
4. Targets: percentages vs dollars, phases vs patience
FTMO asks 10% then 5% across two phases, with 4 minimum days each. Topstep asks one fixed dollar target ($3,000 on the 50K) with no deadline — but its 55% best-day rule means one huge day does not finish the Combine; it raises the target instead. FTMO's structure suits traders who can produce steady percentage gains; Topstep's suits traders who would rather grind without a clock.
5. The split vs the caps
Topstep's 90/10 beats FTMO's 80% (90% only via scaling or Premium). But Topstep caps each payout request at 50% of the balance with per-request ceilings ($2,000–$6,000), and its minimum payout is $125 against FTMO's $20. Big, occasional withdrawals favour Topstep's percentage; small, flexible ones favour FTMO's terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Topstep cheaper than FTMO?
Only if you pass fast. One month of Topstep's 50K Combine plus activation is $198 — but the meter runs: three months is $296 and six is $443, against FTMO's one-time fees (€89–€540 by size). The two firms' account sizes are not equivalent either, so compare drawdown dollars and your realistic timeline, not the sticker.
Can I trade forex at Topstep or futures at FTMO?
No to both. Topstep is futures-only (CME products); FTMO is CFDs, which include index and commodity CFDs that track futures-like underlyings but are not exchange futures. Your market chooses the firm before any other row of the table matters.
Which drawdown is safer, FTMO's or Topstep's?
They protect against different failures. FTMO's static 10% floor never rises, but its 5% daily equity limit can end an account in one bad session. Topstep has no mandatory daily limit and its trailing limit locks at break-even — yet it is tested intraday on unrealised P&L, so a single deep dip can breach it. Read the drawdown guide, then match the model to your trade management.
Which firm is better for a beginner?
For a CFD beginner, FTMO — because of the free trial. For a futures beginner, Topstep is effectively the starting point of its market, and its no-deadline Combine removes time pressure; just budget the subscription honestly, month by month.