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Head-to-head · Independent comparison
Funded Trading Plus vs Topstep
How Funded Trading Plus 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.
Evidence desk · Independent analysisLast updated
Established track record and flexible payouts, with trailing drawdown and split-scaling as the main caveats.
Mature, well-documented program with strong payout terms; minor friction from consistency rules and monthly subscription cost.
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 betterFunded Trading PlusBest
100%
TopstepBest
100%
Entry price — lowest advertised ($)
Lower is betterFunded Trading Plus
$549
TopstepBest
$49
Max funding — headline ($)
Higher is betterFunded Trading PlusBest
$200K
Topstep
$150K
Our editorial scorecard (0–5)
Who wins each dimension
| Dimension | Funded Trading Plus | Topstep | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing & value | 4.0 | 4.0 | Tie |
| Profit split | 4.0 | 4.0 | Tie |
| Payout speed | 4.0 | 4.0 | Tie |
| Rules flexibility | 4.0 | 4.0 | Tie |
| Transparency | 3.0 | 5.0 | Topstep |
Scores are The Prop Examiner’s editorial assessment, not user reviews. See our methodology.
Advertised vs verified
At a glance
Funded Trading Plus
Topstep
What actually binds you
Key trading rules compared
Funded Trading Plus
| Phase / model | Rule | Published value |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Step Express | Profit target | 10% simulated profit |
| 2-Step | Profit target | 7% (Step 1) + 7% (Step 2) |
| 1-Step Express | Daily loss limit | 4% |
| 1-Step Express | Max overall loss | 6% trailing (default model) |
| 1-Step / Instant | Minimum trading days | None |
| 2-Step Classic | Consistency | Consistency requirement applies (1-Step Express has none) |
| All | Prohibited styles | News & weekend holding reportedly allowed; full list not confirmedverify |
Topstep
| Phase / model | Rule | Published value |
|---|---|---|
| Combine | Profit target | Set per account size (exact dollar figures not surfaced)verify |
| Combine | Max loss | Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) — trailing drawdown; optional Daily Loss Limit |
| Combine | Contract limits | $50K = 5 (50 micros); $100K = 10 (100); $150K = 15 (150) |
| Funded | Winning-days requirement | Express Funded needs 5 winning days of $150+; Consistency Path 3 days |
| Combine | Consistency | Best single day < 50% of Profit Target (40% on payout path) |
| All | Prohibited styles | Prohibited-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
Funded Trading Plus
Strengths
- Long operating history (states 2013), unusually long for the prop space.
- Day-1 / on-demand first payout, then a 7-day cadence, with a low $50-over-start threshold.
- Scaling profit split that can reach 100% based on simulated-profit milestones.
- Multiple program types and platform choice (MT5, Match-Trader).
- Several programs carry no consistency rule and allow news trading.
Cons & open risks
- Default drawdown is trailing — repeatedly cited as the main drawback vs static-drawdown firms.
- HQ/legal entity and exact per-size pricing are not clearly disclosed on the homepage.
- Profit split starts at 80% and only rises after profit milestones, so early payouts are at the lower split.
- Consistency rules and terms differ by program (e.g. 2-Step Classic), which is easy to misread.
- Operates a simulated/evaluation model; 'payouts' are performance rewards, not live-market gains.
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.
Funded Trading Plus is one of the longer-running simulated prop firms, with a flexible day-1 payout option, multiple program types, and a split that scales to 100%. Its trailing drawdown and milestone-gated split are the main trade-offs, and corporate/pricing transparency on the homepage is limited. The Prop Examiner has no affiliate relationship with Funded Trading Plus at this time.
Visit Funded Trading Plus's official siteDirect link to the firm’s official siteDirect link to Funded Trading Plus's official site. We earn no commission and are not affiliated with Funded Trading Plus.
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
Funded Trading Plus vs Topstep FAQ
- Is Funded Trading Plus or Topstep better?
- Our independent ratings: Funded Trading Plus 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, Funded Trading Plus or Topstep?
- Lowest advertised entry price: Funded Trading Plus from $549, Topstep from $49. Topstep has the lower starting price, but compare like-for-like account sizes — cheapest is not always best value.
- Which has the higher profit split, Funded Trading Plus or Topstep?
- Headline ("up to") maximums: Funded Trading Plus 100%, Topstep 100%. Funded Trading Plus advertises the higher ceiling — but top splits are usually gated behind tiers or scaling, not what every trader gets.
- Does Funded Trading Plus or Topstep pay out faster?
- Funded Trading Plus: First payout on-demand / day 1 (balance ≥ $50 over start), then every 7 days. 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.
- 1.Funded Trading Plus — homepage· accessed 2026-06-17
- 2.Funded Trading Plus — consistency rule (Help Center)· accessed 2026-06-17
- 3.Funded Trading Plus — program terms & conditions· accessed 2026-06-17
- 4.Funded Trading Plus — 1-Step Express challenge· accessed 2026-06-17
- 5.Funded Trading Plus — 2-Step challenge· accessed 2026-06-17
- 6.Topstep — Trading Combine parameters (Help Center)· accessed 2026-06-17
- 7.Topstep — payout policy (Help Center)· accessed 2026-06-17
- 8.Topstep — pricing and payment questions (Help Center)· accessed 2026-06-17
- 9.Topstep — Our Program· accessed 2026-06-17
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