FTMO scores 18.8 higher under TVSM-PF/2.0.2.
Payout split
Max funded
Payout cap
Drawdown model
Min trading days
Challenge fee
Fee refundable
News trading
Platforms
Payout schedule
| Specification | FTMO 80/100 Strong | Topstep 61/100 Adequate |
|---|---|---|
| Payout split | 80% standard (90% after scaling plan) | 90% (flat for new traders as of Jan 12, 2026) |
| Max funded | $200,000 | $150,000 (Express Funded Account) |
| Payout cap | None | $2,000/payout Standard, $3,000/payout Consistency — new $50K accounts from Apr 28, 2026 |
| Drawdown model | Static (max 10% from initial balance) | Trailing EOD MLL — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, never resets down |
| Min trading days | 4 | 5 winning days required before payout request |
| Challenge fee | EUR 155–1,080 | $49–$149/month subscription |
| Fee refundable | Yes — refunded with first payout | No — subscription model, no refund on payout |
| News trading | Restricted — 2-minute window before/after named events on funded account (evaluation: unrestricted) | Allowed — no restrictions on futures news trading |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade | TopstepX (proprietary, mandatory as of 2026) |
| Payout schedule | On demand (min 14 days after first trade) | On demand after 5 winning days — processed 1-3 business days |
| Visit FTMO | Research only |
The verdict
Choose FTMO if you trade forex and want the strongest payout record — 90% split, no payout cap, and a decade of verified consistency. Their static drawdown model is the most forgiving for swing traders. Choose Topstep if you trade CME futures exclusively. Their platform integration, Combine structure, and established futures community still make it the default for futures prop traders — though the April 2026 payout-cap cut to $2,000/payout is a material change worth weighing.
Verify regulator standing
Cross-check both firms against NFA BASIC, FCA Register, CFTC, and the CME Group rulebook for futures drawdown rule context. FTMO operates from the Czech Republic — check its home regulator at the Czech National Bank; Topstep is a US futures firm covered by the NFA and CFTC links above.
Verify the specific rules compared above against each firm’s own primary documents: FTMO Trading Objectives for the drawdown and target rules, and the Topstep Help Center for the payout policy and Combine rules referenced in the spec table.
Dimension by dimension: who wins where
Computed live from the per-variable evidence behind each firm's TVSM-PF score — FTMO takes 6 of 6 dimensions at current scores. Every variable links to a primary source on the firm pages.
FTMO wins. FTMO pays 80% standard (90% after scaling plan); Topstep pays 90% (flat for new traders as of Jan 12, 2026). Per-payout caps — FTMO: None; Topstep: $2,000/payout Standard, $3,000/payout Consistency — new $50K accounts from Apr 28, 2026 — decide who keeps more in a big month.
FTMO wins. Drawdown models differ: FTMO runs Static (max 10% from initial balance); Topstep runs Trailing EOD MLL — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, never resets down. The model decides how much intraday heat you can take before breaching.
FTMO wins. Mid-stream rule changes are penalized here, and every change is tracked in our append-only changelog — so a recent payout or drawdown change shows up in this dimension rather than being quietly absorbed.
FTMO wins. Operating history and scale matter most when a payout goes sideways — the longer-running, better-capitalised firm carries less counterparty risk, and this dimension reflects each firm's track record to date.
FTMO wins. Platforms: FTMO — MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade; Topstep — TopstepX (proprietary, mandatory as of 2026). If your edge depends on a specific platform, this is the deciding line.
FTMO wins. Evaluation cost: FTMO — EUR 155–1,080; Topstep — $49–$149/month subscription. Fee refundable — FTMO: Yes — refunded with first payout; Topstep: No — subscription model, no refund on payout.
Rule by rule, in each firm's own terms
Verbatim from our verified spec database — the conditions are the product, so nothing here is flattened to a yes/no. Where a rule has tiers or conditions, you are reading them.
| Rule | FTMO | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Drawdown model | Static (max 10% from initial balance) | Trailing EOD MLL — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, never resets down |
| Max drawdown | 10% static from initial balance | Trailing EOD MLL — $2,000 buffer on $50K account |
| Daily loss limit | 5% (equity-based, open P&L counts) | Dynamic Daily Loss Limit — scales with account balance |
| Payout split | 80% standard (90% after scaling plan) | 90% (flat for new traders as of Jan 12, 2026) |
| Payout cap | None | $2,000/payout Standard, $3,000/payout Consistency — new $50K accounts from Apr 28, 2026 |
| Payout schedule | On demand (min 14 days after first trade) | On demand after 5 winning days — processed 1-3 business days |
| Min trading days | 4 | 5 winning days required before payout request |
| Consistency rule | No formal consistency rule on standard accounts | Consistency EFA: largest single trading day cannot exceed 40% of total net profit during payout window. Standard EFA: no consistency target. |
| News trading | Restricted — 2-minute window before/after named events on funded account (evaluation: unrestricted) | Allowed — no restrictions on futures news trading |
| Weekend holds | Standard account: must close before weekend. Swing Account: exempt. | Futures markets only — positions must be closed before CME weekend close per exchange rules. |
| Evaluation cost | EUR 155–1,080 | $49–$149/month subscription |
| Fee refundable | Yes — refunded with first payout | No — subscription model, no refund on payout |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade | TopstepX (proprietary, mandatory as of 2026) |
| Max funded | $200,000 | $150,000 (Express Funded Account) |
| Scaling | +25% balance every 4 months. Requires 10% net profit over 4 months + 2 payouts. Max $2,000,000. Split upgrades to 90% on qualification. | Express Funded scales to $150K via successful Combine passes; no automatic scaling within an account |
Verified June 2026 (FTMO) · June 2026 (Topstep). Source extracts for every scored variable are on the firm pages.
The verdict, by trader type
A comparison that ends in “it depends” is not a verdict. Picks below are per trading style — find yours.
Most traders
FTMO
FTMO takes 6 of the 6 scored dimensions at current scores, which makes it the safer default for a trader without a strong style preference. Read the per-dimension breakdown above first — a single dimension you care about can flip the decision.
Cost-conscious
FTMO
Entry cost: FTMO — EUR 155–1,080; Topstep — $49–$149/month subscription. FTMO wins on cost-value once refunds and discounts are weighed.
Rules-sensitive trader
FTMO
If clean, predictable rules matter most, read the drawdown model first: FTMO runs Static (max 10% from initial balance); Topstep runs Trailing EOD MLL — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, never resets down. FTMO scores better on rule fairness and clarity.
High earner
FTMO
Profit splits: FTMO — 80% standard (90% after scaling plan); Topstep — 90% (flat for new traders as of Jan 12, 2026). FTMO has the stronger payout profile once caps are factored in. Always read the per-payout cap in full before a large withdrawal.
FTMO vs Topstep — the questions traders actually search
Is FTMO or Topstep better in 2026?
Under TraderVerdict's independent TVSM methodology, FTMO scores in the Strong band and Topstep in the Adequate band. FTMO wins 6 of the 6 scored dimensions at current scores. The right pick depends on which firm's payout, drawdown, and cost terms fit how you trade.
What is the main difference between FTMO and Topstep?
FTMO and Topstep differ across the TVSM-scored variables that decide whether a funded trader actually gets paid — profit split, drawdown model, payout caps, pricing, and operating stability. The rule-by-rule table on this page shows each one verbatim from our verified specs.
Which is cheaper — FTMO or Topstep?
FTMO: EUR 155–1,080. Topstep: $49–$149/month subscription. Weigh the fee against how long the evaluation takes you — a one-time fee beats a subscription on a slow pass, and the reverse on a fast one.
Which pays out more — FTMO or Topstep?
Profit split: FTMO — 80% standard (90% after scaling plan). Topstep — 90% (flat for new traders as of Jan 12, 2026). Per-payout caps: FTMO — None; Topstep — $2,000/payout Standard, $3,000/payout Consistency — new $50K accounts from Apr 28, 2026. Read both cap rules in full before buying — they bind hardest in your best months.
What is the difference between FTMO and Topstep drawdown rules?
FTMO: Static (max 10% from initial balance). Topstep: Trailing EOD MLL — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, never resets down. The drawdown model is the single most common reason funded accounts fail, so match it to whether you hold through intraday heat.
Do FTMO and Topstep allow news trading?
FTMO: Restricted — 2-minute window before/after named events on funded account (evaluation: unrestricted). Topstep: Allowed — no restrictions on futures news trading.
What account sizes do FTMO and Topstep offer?
FTMO: $200,000. Topstep: $150,000 (Express Funded Account). Scaling: FTMO — +25% balance every 4 months. Requires 10% net profit over 4 months + 2 payouts. Max $2,000,000. Split upgrades to 90% on qualification.; Topstep — Express Funded scales to $150K via successful Combine passes; no automatic scaling within an account.
Are TraderVerdict's prop-firm comparisons independent?
Yes. Every firm is scored against a public, versioned methodology before any commercial relationship, and affiliate links are only added to firms that clear our editorial bar. A firm cannot pay for a higher score or to remove a critical finding.
Full breakdowns with per-variable sources: FTMO review · Topstep review