TL;DR
| You want to… | Pick |
|---|---|
| Trade FX, gold, crypto | FTMO |
| Trade US futures (ES, NQ, CL, GC) | Topstep |
| Try cheap subscription, retry next month | Topstep |
| Pay once, run long-term | FTMO |
| Trade during US session | Topstep |
| Trade during European/NY hours | FTMO |
1. They cover different markets
| FTMO | Topstep | |
|---|---|---|
| FX | ✓ | ✗ |
| US futures (CME) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Crypto | ✓ (some plans) | ✗ |
| Gold / silver (XAU/XAG) | ✓ | △ (via futures) |
| Index CFDs | ✓ | △ (via futures) |
Decide FX vs futures before choosing a firm.
2. Operating record
| FTMO | Topstep | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2012 |
| Base | Prague, Czech Republic | Chicago, USA |
| Years operating | 11 | 14 |
| Regulator footprint | EU / general | CFTC (US) |
Both top-tier in operating record. Topstep is 3 years older; FTMO has broader market reach.
3. Fundamentally different pricing
FTMO — one-time fee
- $89–$1,080 paid upfront
- Effectively unlimited evaluation window (plan-dependent)
- Evaluation fee refunded on first successful payout
Topstep — monthly subscription
- $49–$149 / month
- Easy to retry next month if you fail
- Costs accumulate during long unsuccessful periods
Sample cost comparison (~$50K equivalent account)
| FTMO | Topstep | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | ~$215 | $149 (month 1) |
| 3 months without passing | $215 (no change) | $447 (3 × $149) |
| 6 months without passing | $215 (no change) | $894 |
Topstep cheaper for fast performers; FTMO cheaper for slow-grinders.
4. Profit split
FTMO
- 80% standard, up to 90% with conditions
- 14-day payout cycle
Topstep
- 100% on first $5,000 (industry-leading)
- 90% beyond that
- Weekly to monthly payouts
On first large payouts, Topstep often nets more.
5. Platforms
| FTMO | Topstep | |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 / MT5 | ✓ | ✗ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✗ |
| DXtrade | ✓ | ✗ |
| NinjaTrader | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tradovate | ✗ | ✓ |
| TradingView integration | △ | ✓ |
Pick the firm that supports the platform you already know.
6. Trading session reality
FTMO (FX-centric)
- Main session: European + NY hours
- Workable around regular jobs in any timezone
Topstep (US futures-centric)
- Main session: US trading hours
- For non-US traders, often means late nights
- Overnight sessions exist but with lower liquidity
7. Who FTMO fits
- FX / metals / crypto traders
- Want to pay once and run long-term after passing
- Need multi-language support (JP, etc.)
7. Who Topstep fits
- US futures specialists
- Can trade US session hours
- Prefer monthly subscription flexibility
- Already use NinjaTrader / Tradovate
8. What they share
- Industry-longest operating records
- No regulatory enforcement actions
- Public payout records
- Above-average customer support
Bottom line
It’s not “FTMO vs Topstep” — it’s FX vs futures first.
- FX trader → FTMO (or FundedNext, FinTokei)
- Futures trader → Topstep (or Apex Trader Funding, Earn2Trade)
Both rank as top-trust within prop firm space.