The5%ers vs TopStep: Which Prop Firm Wins in 2026?

Side-by-side breakdown of rules, fees, payouts and who should pick which.

Quick Verdict

The5%ers and TopStep serve different markets: The5%ers 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

MetricThe5%ersTopStep
Founded20162012
HQTel Aviv, IsraelChicago, USA
MarketForex/CFDFutures
Minimum fee$39$49
Account size range$6,000 – $100,000$50,000 – $150,000
Profit split50% → 75% with scaling90% (first $10K), then 90% thereafter
PayoutsMonthlyWeekly (after 5 winning days, 30%+ above starting balance)
Challenge modelBootcamp (1-step) OR High-Stakes Challenge (2-step)1-step Trading Combine
PlatformsMT4, MT5TopstepX, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Tradovate

The5%ers Pros

  • 10-year track record (since 2016): one of the oldest prop firms
  • Instant funding option (no challenge) on Bootcamp accounts
  • No daily drawdown limit on most plans
  • Strong educator-style approach, good for newer traders

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 The5%ers if: New-to-prop traders who want a slower-paced, education-focused experience.

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 The5%ers's and TopStep's exact rulesets and tell you which one your strategy would actually pass.

Open the Prop Firm Checker →

If the decision is really about who runs the evaluation rather than which firm, our prop firm challenge passing service trades it for you on either firm. The account is bought in your name and we take no share of your payouts.

Full The5%ers and TopStep Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, The5%ers or TopStep?
The5%ers is cheaper to start, with a minimum challenge fee of $39. The5%ers starts at $39 and TopStep starts at $49. Cheaper entry doesn't always mean better value. Check the profit split, account ceiling, and payout reliability before deciding.
Which has the better profit split, The5%ers or TopStep?
The5%ers offers 50% → 75% with scaling and TopStep offers 90% (first $10K), then 90% thereafter. Note: most prop firms scale the split with consecutive payouts, so the headline number is just the starting point.
Can I run the same EA on both The5%ers and TopStep?
It depends on which platform your EA targets. The5%ers supports MT4, MT5 and TopStep supports TopstepX, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Tradovate. There's no platform overlap, so you'd need to recompile or rewrite the EA.
Which is more reputable, The5%ers or TopStep?
The5%ers (founded 2016) has the longer track record. The5%ers was founded in 2016 and is still building its payout reputation. For larger account sizes the older firm is usually the safer pick.
Which is better for swing traders, The5%ers or TopStep?
Swing traders need to check two things: (1) whether the firm allows weekend holds, and (2) whether the daily drawdown is static or trailing. Trailing DD is brutal for swing positions because intraday peak equity becomes the new floor. See the Pros/Cons section above for each firm's specifics.
Can I use both The5%ers and TopStep simultaneously?
Yes, most prop firms allow you to hold multiple accounts at different firms (their rules apply only to their own accounts). Some traders deliberately diversify across 2-3 firms to reduce single-firm risk and stack payouts.