FTMO vs TopStep: Which Prop Firm Wins in 2026?
Side-by-side breakdown of rules, fees, payouts and who should pick which.
Quick Verdict
FTMO and TopStep serve different markets — FTMO for forex/CFD traders, TopStep for futures traders. Pick based on what you actually trade, not which firm looks better on paper.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | FTMO | TopStep |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2012 |
| HQ | Prague, Czech Republic | Chicago, USA |
| Market | Forex/CFD | Futures |
| Minimum fee | $89 | $49 |
| Account size range | $10,000 – $200,000 | $50,000 – $150,000 |
| Profit split | 80% | 90% (first $10K), then 90% thereafter |
| Payouts | Monthly (on-demand after first) | Weekly (after 5 winning days, 30%+ above starting balance) |
| Challenge model | 2-step (Challenge + Verification) | 1-step Trading Combine |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade | TopstepX, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Tradovate |
FTMO Pros
- Longest-running major prop firm — proven track record since 2015
- Strong reputation and reliable payouts (TrustPilot 4.8)
- Generous 80% profit split, scalable to 90%
- Allows EAs, scalping and news trading on most accounts
TopStep Pros
- Oldest and most established futures prop firm (2012)
- Highest profit split in futures space (90%)
- 1-step combine — pass once, get funded
- Regulated (SEC/CFTC adjacent), payouts reliably processed
Who Should Pick Which?
Pick FTMO if: Serious traders who value reputation and payout reliability over cheap fees.
Pick TopStep if: Futures day traders who can pass a 1-step combine manually (no algos).
Test Both Against Your Strategy — Before You Pay
Run your backtest through JPTradingCapital's Prop Firm Checker — we evaluate your trades against FTMO's and TopStep's exact rulesets and tell you which one your strategy would actually pass.