Side-by-side comparison
FTMO vs Topstep
Rules, drawdown model, fees, and trading conditions compared side by side. Data verified from official sources.
FTMO vs Topstep: Full Comparison
| Rule | | |
|---|---|---|
| Drawdown | Varies Varies by program: the 2-Step (Standard) uses a static 10% max loss fixed from the initial balance; the 1-Step uses a daily-recalculated trailing max loss. Full detailVaries by program: the 2-Step (Standard) uses a static 10% max loss fixed from the initial balance; the 1-Step uses a daily-recalculated trailing max loss. Not tick-by-tick on unrealised intraday peaks. | EOD trailing EOD trailing max loss: the limit trails up on the end-of-day closing balance, not on intraday unrealised peaks. CME futures accounts. |
| Consistency rule | Yes Best Day Rule: the best day must not exceed 50% of Positive Days' Profit (closed P/L from profitable days only). Full detailBest Day Rule: the best day must not exceed 50% of Positive Days' Profit (closed P/L from profitable days only). Breaching it is NOT a fail; the trader keeps trading to dilute the ratio. Two caveats: the FAQ says there are 'no additional consistency requirements' while T&C 7.6.9 reserves the right to impose 'temporary or permanent consistency measures' at FTMO's discretion; and FTMO Futures uses a different rule, 40% of TOTAL profit. | Varies |
| Risk per trade cap | No cap Trading objectives list no max lot, max position, or max-risk-per-trade rule; only the 5% daily and 10% max loss constrain sizing. | Capped Scaling Plan caps max contracts by account balance (e.g. $50K = 5 minis / 50 micros); buying power scales with end-of-day balance. |
| News trading | Varies Normal accounts ban trades 2 min before/after restricted news; Swing accounts are exempt. | Yes Allowed in all phases; only bars entering a full max-size position into scheduled major news. |
| Weekend holding | Varies Allowed on Swing accounts; Normal accounts must close before the weekend. | No Futures day-trading only, positions auto-flatten daily (~3:10 PM CT); no overnight or weekend holds. |
| EAs / bots | Varies EAs allowed but bans gap/news bots, arbitrage and opposite-position hedging. Full detailEAs allowed but bans gap/news bots, arbitrage and opposite-position hedging. Hyperactivity clause is conditional: >2,000 server requests/day by an EA that causes server overload. | Varies Automation permitted via the TopstepX/ProjectX API; no firm-published statement that the API is the ONLY route. Full detailAutomation permitted via the TopstepX/ProjectX API; no firm-published statement that the API is the ONLY route. Bans VPS/VPN/remote servers outright (all activity must originate from the trader's own device), plus HFT and SIM-fill-exploit algos. |
| Daily loss limit | 5% | - |
| Overall loss limit | 10% | - |
| Profit split | up to 90% 1-Step: 90%. 2-Step: 80%, rising to 90% via the Scaling Plan. | up to 90% 90/10 on Express Funded Accounts (100% of the first $10K for traders who joined before Jan 12 2026). Full detail90/10 on Express Funded Accounts (100% of the first $10K for traders who joined before Jan 12 2026). Live Funded: up to 100% daily after 30 winning days. Crypto only via CME Micro Bitcoin/Ether futures. |
| Fee refund | Varies 2-Step fee refunded 100% with the first reward; 1-Step fee not refunded. | No Subscription-based pricing, not one-time fee. |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader | TopstepX |
| Assets | FX, Crypto, Indices, Commodities, Stocks | Futures, Indices |
| Account sizes | $10K, $25K, $50K, $100K, $200K | $50K, $100K, $150K |
| Payout methods | Bank wire, Crypto, Skrill, Wise | - |
Last verified: 2026-09-29 (FTMO), 2026-09-29 (Topstep). Always verify current terms on each firm's official site before purchasing.
Also consider·VelotradeMulti-asset prop trading,
one account for all markets.
Multi-asset · Hong Kong · Est. 2016
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