The Prop Examiner

Head-to-head · Independent comparison

Fintokei vs Topstep

How Fintokei and Topstep stack up on profit split, pricing, payouts and the rules that bind a funded account — advertised claims separated from what we could verify.

The Prop Examiner · Independent analysisLast updated
4.0/ 5

Established backing and strong platform support; verify per-plan drawdown and payout terms.

Read the Fintokei dossier
4.3/ 5

Mature, well-documented program with strong payout terms; minor friction from consistency rules and monthly subscription cost.

Read the Topstep dossier

On our five-dimension scorecard, Topstep rates marginally higher overall — but the dimension-by-dimension breakdown below matters more than the average.

Advertised maximums

The numbers, head-to-head

Headline figures from the structured plan data for each firm. “Up to” splits and max funding are ceilings reached via tiers or scaling — not the figure every trader gets.

Profit split — headline maximum (%)

Higher is better
Fintokei
100%
Topstep
100%

Entry price — lowest advertised ($)

Lower is better
Fintokei
$44
Topstep
$49

Max funding — headline ($)

Higher is better
Fintokei
$400K
Topstep
$150K

Our editorial scorecard (0–5)

Who wins each dimension

DimensionFintokeiTopstepEdge
Pricing & value4.04.0Tie
Profit split4.04.0Tie
Payout speed4.04.0Tie
Rules flexibility4.04.0Tie
Transparency4.05.0Topstep

Scores are The Prop Examiner’s editorial assessment, not user reviews. See our methodology.

Advertised vs verified

At a glance

Fintokei

Purchasable account sizes
StartTrader $5K–$100K; SwiftTrader $10K–$200K; ProTrader $10K–$400K; Swing $50K–$400Kverified
Profit split
StartTrader 50–100%; SwiftTrader 100%; ProTrader/Swing 80%verified
Payouts
Every two weeks; advertised average payout time '3h 4m'advertised
Starting price
StartTrader from $44verified
Current promo
NEW20 (20% off for new traders); RELOAD50 (50% off next SwiftTrader if unsuccessful)verified
Payout requirement
SwiftTrader minimum +3% per payout; bank transfer cited; full method list not confirmedverified

Topstep

Purchasable account sizes
$50K, $100K, $150K Trading Combine accountsverified
Profit split
90% to trader / 10% to Topstep, up to the payout cap (first $10K at 100% for pre-Jan-2026 joiners)verified
Payouts
Processed during CME hours; same-day via Prop Payout/Aeropay; $125 minimum per requestverified
Entry price (monthly)
Standard Path $49/$99/$199/mo; No Activation Fee Path $95/$149/$229/moverified
Current promo
'Responsible Trading Discount' $10–$30 off when adding a Daily Loss Limit (No Activation Fee Combines)verified
Payout methods
Prop Payout to Brokerage (same-day, US), Aeropay, Wise, ACH ($30), Wire/SWIFT ($30)verified

What actually binds you

Key trading rules compared

Fintokei

Phase / modelRulePublished value
StartTrader (P1/P2/P3)Profit target2% / 3% / 6%
SwiftTraderProfit target10%
ProTrader (P1/P2)Profit target8% / 6%
VariesDaily loss limit-3% to -5% depending on program
VariesMax overall loss-6% to -10% (trailing vs static per plan not confirmed)verify
StartTraderMinimum trading days3 days
SwiftTraderMinimum trading days5 trading days
ProTraderMinimum trading days3 profitable days
AllConsistencyMax risk per trade cited at -3%; SwiftTrader needs +3% per payoutverify
AllProhibited stylesFull list not confirmed; simulated/demo environmentverify

Topstep

Phase / modelRulePublished value
CombineProfit targetSet per account size (exact dollar figures not surfaced)verify
CombineMax lossMaximum Loss Limit (MLL) — trailing drawdown; optional Daily Loss Limit
CombineContract limits$50K = 5 (50 micros); $100K = 10 (100); $150K = 15 (150)
FundedWinning-days requirementExpress Funded needs 5 winning days of $150+; Consistency Path 3 days
CombineConsistencyBest single day < 50% of Profit Target (40% on payout path)
AllProhibited stylesProhibited-practice rules published; specifics not detailed on pages reviewedverify

Rules vary by product. For a plan-by-plan comparison, use the account comparison tool.

Balanced view

Pros & cons

Fintokei

Strengths

  • Backed by an established parent (Purple fintech group), with public payout reporting in the press.
  • Three platform choices including TradingView, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader.
  • Large account ceiling (up to $400K) and varied challenge structures incl. a swing option.
  • Advertises fast average payout time and a performance reward from day one.
  • Time limits are generous or unlimited on SwiftTrader/ProTrader.

Cons & open risks

  • Multiple challenge types with differing splits/targets can be confusing for newcomers.
  • Trailing vs static drawdown is not fully clarified per plan on the homepage.
  • HQ and the precise legal entity are not stated on the homepage.
  • Firm explicitly notes no regulated investment services and a simulated/demo environment.
  • StartTrader carries a 180-day time limit, unlike the unlimited higher tiers.

Topstep

Strengths

  • Long-established firm (since ~2012) with a detailed, publicly documented ruleset and help center.
  • 90% split with a relatively low $125 minimum payout and multiple withdrawal methods.
  • Clear, published contract limits and consistency targets reduce ambiguity about what passes.
  • 'No Activation Fee' path lets traders avoid a separate activation cost after passing.

Cons & open risks

  • Exact profit-target and trailing-drawdown dollar amounts per size were not surfaced on the parameters page.
  • Consistency rules (50% in the Combine, 40% on payout) can slow withdrawals after one large day.
  • It is a monthly subscription during the Combine, so costs accrue until you pass.
  • Payouts process only during CME market hours; some methods carry $30 fees or multi-day delays.

Our take

Which should you choose?

Topstep rates marginally higher on our scorecard, but "better" depends on what you trade and the rules you can live within. Read each verdict, then verify the figures for your exact product before buying.

Fintokei is a relatively well-established, parent-backed prop firm with broad platform support, a high account ceiling, and transparent fast-payout messaging. Buyers should map the differing splits, targets, and drawdown types across StartTrader/SwiftTrader/ProTrader to their own style. The Prop Examiner has no affiliate relationship with Fintokei at this time.

Visit Fintokei's official siteDirect link to the firm’s official siteDirect link to Fintokei's official site. We earn no commission and are not affiliated with Fintokei.

Topstep is one of the most established futures evaluation firms, with a transparent help center and a 90% split backed by a low minimum payout. The trailing Maximum Loss Limit and consistency targets demand disciplined trading, and a few exact figures should be confirmed at checkout. The Prop Examiner has no affiliate relationship with Topstep at this time.

Visit Topstep's official siteDirect link to the firm’s official siteDirect link to Topstep's official site. We earn no commission and are not affiliated with Topstep.

Affiliate disclosure: The Prop Examiner is an independent project and may earn a commission if you sign up through some of our links. We are not affiliated with any firm reviewed. Trading challenges are simulated/educational products; no profits or payouts are guaranteed.

Common questions

Fintokei vs Topstep FAQ

Is Fintokei or Topstep better?
Our independent ratings: Fintokei 4.0/5, Topstep 4.3/5. Topstep edges it on our scorecard, but the right pick depends on your market, budget and the rules you can trade within.
Which is cheaper to start, Fintokei or Topstep?
Lowest advertised entry price: Fintokei from $44, Topstep from $49. Fintokei has the lower starting price, but compare like-for-like account sizes — cheapest is not always best value.
Which has the higher profit split, Fintokei or Topstep?
Headline ("up to") maximums: Fintokei 100%, Topstep 100%. Fintokei advertises the higher ceiling — but top splits are usually gated behind tiers or scaling, not what every trader gets.
Does Fintokei or Topstep pay out faster?
Fintokei: Every two weeks; advertised average payout time '3h 4m'. Topstep: Processed during CME hours; same-day via Prop Payout/Aeropay; $125 minimum per request. Payout speed and eligibility depend on the product and on meeting each firm's rules; no payout is guaranteed.

Cited & dated

Sources

Figures trace to each firm’s own pages, accessed on the dates shown. Re-verify before relying on any number — pricing and promos change.

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