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Topstep vs FTMO: Trading Combine against the FTMO Challenge

Topstep and FTMO both sell simulated trading evaluations, but not the same product. Topstep's Trading Combine is a futures evaluation billed monthly. FTMO's 2-Step Challenge, 1-Step Challenge and new Instant Account are CFD products sold for a one-time fee, and since 17 September 2026 it also sells FTMO Futures by monthly subscription. This page sets out each firm's published fees and rules as read on 13 October 2026. It is education, not advice: trading involves a substantial risk of loss.

Reviewed against 42 sources. Prices, models, policies and terms change, so check the linked pages before you buy, build, publish or trade.

The short answer

What you trade and how you want to pay settle most of this. Topstep has the lower monthly fee for a futures evaluation and an optional daily loss limit. FTMO has forex, index, stock and crypto CFDs, a one-time fee, a static loss limit on its 2-Step and more platforms. Either fee is spent whether or not the account passes. Trading involves a substantial risk of loss, and no evaluation guarantees funding or profit.

Choose Topstep if

  • You day trade CME futures and want the lower monthly fee: a 50K Trading Combine is $49 a month plus a $149 activation fee on passing, or $95 with none. FTMO Futures Growth is $119.
  • You want a daily loss limit that pauses the session without failing the account. Topstep's is optional and $1,000 on 50K.
  • You want the firm's own results first: Topstep publishes that 16.8% of Trading Combines started in 2025 were completed.

Choose FTMO if

  • You trade forex, indices, gold, stocks or crypto as CFDs. Topstep is futures only.
  • You would rather pay once: a $100,000 2-Step Challenge is a €540 fee with no time limit, refunded with the first reward withdrawal.
  • You hold trades overnight: a 2-Step Swing account allows it at 1:30 leverage, and Topstep requires positions closed by 3:10 PM CT.

The facts, side by side

Each row shows the date it was checked and numbered links to the pages it was read from.

marks the side the facts favour on that row. Rows without one are a draw or a matter of fit.

Swipe the table sideways to see FTMO.

Topstep and FTMO compared, fact by fact
ComparedTopstepFutures trading evaluationsFTMOCFD and futures evaluations
What you buy382333Trading Combine: a simulated futures evaluation in 50K, 100K and 150K sizes. Passing opens an Express Funded Account, also simulated.CFD: 2-Step and 1-Step Challenge ($10,000 to $200,000) or Instant Account ($5,000 to $100,000). Futures: FTMO Futures Growth and Pro, 50K to 150K. All simulated.
Markets122735CME Group futures only: equity index, FX, energy, metals, rates, agricultural and micro crypto. No forex.Challenge and Instant: CFDs on forex, indices, commodities, stocks and crypto. FTMO Futures: 30 contracts, 19 mini and 11 micro.
Profit target72242233$3,000 on 50K, $6,000 on 100K, $9,000 on 150K2-Step: 10% of initial capital, then 5% in Verification. 1-Step: 10%. Instant: none. FTMO Futures: $3,000, $6,000 and $9,000.
Maximum loss limit5242233$2,000, $3,000 or $4,500 by size. Trails the end-of-day balance and locks once it reaches the starting balance.CFD: 10% of initial capital. Static on 2-Step, end-of-day trailing on 1-Step, intraday trailing on Instant. FTMO Futures: end-of-day trailing, $2,000 to $6,000 by plan and size.
Daily loss limit62433Advantage: Optional: $1,000, $2,000 or $3,000 by size. Hitting it ends the session until 5 PM CT and is not a rule violation.5% on 2-Step, 3% on 1-Step and Instant; a breach is a violation. FTMO Futures Pro: a hard limit of $1,000, $1,500 or $2,000. Growth: none in the evaluation.
Consistency rule7222433Best day at or below 55% of the profit target, or the target rises2-Step: none. 1-Step: best day at most 50% of total profit. Instant: 30%. FTMO Futures evaluation: 40% on Growth, 50% on Pro.
Time limit and minimum days432224No time limit. Topstep says a Combine can be passed in as few as 2 days.No time limit. The 2-Step needs at least 4 trading days in each phase.
Profit split9263390/10: the trader keeps 90% of each payout90% on 1-Step, Instant and FTMO Futures. 80% on 2-Step, rising to 90% under the Scaling Plan or Premium Programme.
When you can request a payout982633After 5 winning days of $150 or more, or 3 trading days on the 40% consistency path. Minimum $125. Capped at 50% of the balance and $2,000 to $6,000 a request.CFD: from the 14th day after the first trade on the account. FTMO Futures: every 4 days on Growth and every 5 on Pro, capped at $2,500 to $8,000 a request.
Holding overnight12302938Not allowed. Positions must be closed by 3:10 PM CT each weekday.Advantage: Allowed in the Challenge and Verification. Funded Standard accounts must close before market breaks longer than 2 hours; 2-Step Swing accounts are exempt. FTMO Futures: flat by 4:10 pm ET.
Platforms151617182836TopstepX in a desktop or mobile browser; no mobile app. Quantower connects with TopstepX credentials. API access is $29 a month extra.Advantage: Challenge: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView. FTMO Futures: NinjaTrader, Tradovate and TradingView.
Country limits193139Closed to citizens and residents of a published list that includes Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan and Venezuela. Germany, Hong Kong, Vietnam and others are limited to Express Funded Accounts.CFDs: closed to Iran, Syria, Myanmar and North Korea, and to residents of a list that includes Russia, Belarus, Indonesia, Iraq and Kazakhstan. US and Australian residents use affiliated FTMO sites. FTMO Futures: closed to Australia, China, Vietnam and five US states, among others.

Where each one is stronger

Topstep Futures trading evaluations

  • Lower monthly fee for a futures evaluation

    A 50K Trading Combine is $49 a month on the Standard path or $95 with no activation fee, against $119 for FTMO Futures Growth. At 150K it is $199 or $229 against $229 and $269. The Standard path adds a $149 fee when you pass. 133

  • A daily limit that pauses instead of failing

    The Daily Loss Limit is optional. Hitting it flattens positions and blocks new trades until 5 PM CT, and the account stays eligible. On an FTMO CFD account, breaching the 3% or 5% daily limit is a violation. 624

  • It publishes its own outcome figures

    Topstep's risk disclosure states that in 2025, 16.8% of all Trading Combines initiated were successfully completed and 33.3% of participants at the funded level received a payout. The FTMO pages read here publish no equivalent figure. 20

FTMO CFD and futures evaluations

  • More markets and more platforms

    The Challenge covers CFDs on forex, indices, commodities, stocks and crypto on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader or TradingView. FTMO Futures adds 30 futures contracts on NinjaTrader, Tradovate and TradingView. 27283536

  • One fee and no monthly clock on CFDs

    The 2-Step, 1-Step and Instant products are charged once with an unlimited trading period, and the 2-Step fee is refunded with the first reward withdrawal. A Trading Combine rebills every 30 days until passed or cancelled. 25224

  • A static loss limit on the 2-Step

    The 2-Step maximum loss stays at 90% of initial capital and never trails. Its Swing account type lifts the overnight and news restrictions at 1:30 leverage. Topstep's limit trails the end-of-day balance until it reaches the starting balance. 24295

Which to pick, by job

  • You day trade ES, NQ or other CME futures and want the lowest recurring fee

    Pick Topstep

    A 50K Trading Combine is $49 a month, or $95 with no activation fee, against $119 for FTMO Futures Growth. Profit targets match at $3,000 and both maximum loss limits are $2,000, trailing at end of day. 1533

  • You trade forex pairs, gold or indices as CFDs on MetaTrader or cTrader

    Pick FTMO

    Topstep says it is futures only and points forex traders to CME FX futures such as Euro FX (6E). FTMO's Challenge covers forex, index, commodity, stock and crypto CFDs on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView. 132728

  • You hold positions overnight or through the weekend

    Pick FTMO

    FTMO allows it during the Challenge and Verification, and on a funded account if you chose the 2-Step Swing type at 1:30 leverage. Topstep and FTMO Futures both require every position closed before the daily close. 30291238

  • You want futures on NinjaTrader, Tradovate or TradingView

    Pick FTMO

    FTMO Futures gives one login for all three. Topstep says TopstepX is its only platform; Quantower connects through TopstepX credentials. 361517

  • One bad session has ended your accounts before

    Pick Topstep

    Topstep's optional Daily Loss Limit is $1,000 on a 50K account. Hitting it closes positions until the next session and the account stays eligible. On FTMO's CFD products and FTMO Futures Pro, a daily breach is a violation. 63324

What it costs

Topstep and FTMO Futures prices are US dollars a month, before tax. FTMO Challenge and Instant Account fees are charged once and listed in euros; FTMO's US site lists dollar prices, from $89 for a $10,000 1-Step to $1,249 for a $200,000 2-Step. Every fee is spent whether or not the account passes.

marks the side the facts favour on that row. Rows without one are a draw or a matter of fit.

Swipe the table sideways to see FTMO.

Topstep and FTMO prices
ComparedTopstepFutures trading evaluationsFTMOCFD and futures evaluations
50K futures evaluation, per month1233Advantage: $49 on the Standard path. $95 on the No Activation Fee path, or $85 with a daily loss limit added at checkout.FTMO Futures: $119 Growth, $139 Pro
100K futures evaluation, per month1233Advantage: $99 Standard. $149 No Activation Fee, or $129 with the daily loss limit.FTMO Futures: Growth is a $169-a-month subscription and Pro is $199 a month
150K futures evaluation, per month1233Advantage: $199 Standard. $229 No Activation Fee, or $199 with the daily loss limit.FTMO Futures: $229 Growth, $269 Pro
Fee when you pass13425$149 activation fee for each Express Funded Account on the Standard path. $0 on the No Activation Fee path.Advantage: None. No activation fee on FTMO Futures and no fee beyond the purchase fee on the CFD products.
Reset after a breach11034The price of one month: $49, $99 or $199 on the Standard path. Each monthly rebill also adds one reset credit.FTMO Futures Growth: $109, $159 or $219 by size. CFD Challenge: Not published.
2-Step Challenge fee, charged once2112No CFD product€89 for $10,000, €250 for $25,000, €345 for $50,000, €540 for $100,000 and €1,080 for $200,000
1-Step and Instant fee, charged once2112No CFD product1-Step: €79, €199, €319, €499 and €999 for $10,000 to $200,000. Instant: €169, €339, €749, €1,499 and €2,999 for $5,000 to $100,000.
Refunds1125First-ever Trading Combine: a 14-day guarantee covering up to 1 monthly payment if it has not been passed. Resets and activation fees are not refunded.The 2-Step fee is refunded with the first reward withdrawal. 1-Step and Instant fees are not refundable.
Market data137Level 1 included. Level 2 depth of market is $38 a month.FTMO Futures: Level 1 included; Level 2 cannot be bought on an FTMO login
Commission per futures contract1435$0.50 a side on minis and $0.25 on micros, plus exchange and NFA fees. One E-mini S&P 500 round turn totals $3.78.FTMO Futures: $0.50 a side on minis and $0.20 on micros, plus exchange and NFA fees

What changed recently

  1. FTMO replaced the Best Day Rule with the Consistency rule on new 1-Step orders, measuring the best day against total profit. 42

  2. FTMO introduced the Instant Account, with no evaluation phase, a 3% daily loss limit and a 10% intraday trailing maximum loss. 41

  3. CME raised exchange fees on Micro Crude Oil and Micro Henry Hub Natural Gas by $0.10 a side; Topstep passes them through. 14

  4. FTMO launched FTMO Futures with Growth and Pro plans on Tradovate, NinjaTrader and TradingView. 40

  5. Topstep began doubling the per-request payout cap, for a limited time, when a Daily Loss Limit is added at Combine checkout. 9

  6. Traders who joined Topstep's new dashboard before this date keep 100% of their first $10,000 in lifetime profits; everyone else is 90/10 from the start. 9

Questions people ask

Is Topstep cheaper than FTMO?

For a futures evaluation, yes at list price. A 50K Trading Combine is $49 a month plus a $149 activation fee on passing, or $95 a month with none; FTMO Futures Growth is $119 a month with no activation fee. FTMO's CFD Challenge is one fee from €79 that is not billed again. Monthly fees add up the longer an evaluation runs, so total the months and resets you expect. 13321

Does Topstep or FTMO use a trailing drawdown?

Both do on most products. Topstep's Maximum Loss Limit trails the end-of-day balance and locks once it reaches the starting balance. FTMO's 2-Step limit is static at 10% of initial capital, its 1-Step limit trails at end of day, and its Instant Account limit trails intraday. FTMO Futures trails at end of day and locks at the starting balance. All of them count open positions in real time. 52434

Can I trade forex with Topstep?

No. Topstep says it is a futures-only program and does not offer forex. It suggests CME FX futures instead, such as Euro FX (6E) and Micro EUR/USD (M6E). FTMO offers forex as CFDs in its Challenge and lists FX futures in FTMO Futures. 13122735

How do Topstep and FTMO payouts work?

Both pay a share of simulated profit once their conditions are met. Topstep allows a request after 5 winning days of $150 or more, or 3 trading days on its 40% consistency path, at a 90/10 split. FTMO's CFD accounts allow one from the 14th day after the first trade, at 90% or 80%. FTMO Futures allows one every 4 or 5 days at 90/10. Neither firm guarantees a payout. 92633

What percentage of traders pass the Topstep Trading Combine?

By Topstep's own 2025 figures, 16.8% of all Trading Combines initiated were successfully completed. Its risk disclosure also says 33.3% of participants at the funded level received a payout, 0.71% of Express Funded Account participants were called up to a Live Funded Account, and the evaluations are difficult to pass even for experienced traders. The FTMO pages read here publish no pass rate. 20

Is Topstep or FTMO regulated?

Both evaluation programs are simulated trading services, not brokerage accounts. Topstep says an affiliate, Topstep Brokerage LLC, is registered with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission as an introducing broker and is a National Futures Association member (NFA ID 0567079); a separate company, TopstepTrader, LLC, operates the Trading Combine. FTMO says its companies do not act as a broker and do not accept deposits, and its US site states that none of the services offered is subject to oversight by any financial regulator. 202432

Sources

Each page was read on the date beside it. The links open the current version, which may have changed since.

  1. 1Topstep: pricing and payment questions
  2. 2Topstep: Trading Combine plans
  3. 3Topstep: Trading Combine parameters
  4. 4Topstep: Trading Combine subscriptions
  5. 5Topstep: what is the Maximum Loss Limit
  6. 6Topstep: Daily Loss Limit in the Trading Combine and Express Funded Account
  7. 7Topstep: consistency at Topstep
  8. 8Topstep: Express Funded Account parameters
  9. 9Topstep: payout policy
  10. 10Topstep: what is a Reset
  11. 11Topstep: refund policies
  12. 12Topstep: when and what products can I trade
  13. 13Topstep: can I trade forex with you
  14. 14Topstep: TopstepX commissions and fees
  15. 15Topstep: new to Topstep, start here
  16. 16Topstep: TopstepX
  17. 17Topstep: Quantower connection instructions
  18. 18Topstep: TopstepX API access
  19. 19Topstep: am I eligible to trade with Topstep
  20. 20Topstep: risk disclosure
  21. 21FTMO: Challenge and Instant Account pricing
  22. 22FTMO: CFD comparison table
  23. 23FTMO: how it works
  24. 24FTMO: trading objectives
  25. 25FTMO: what fees do you charge, and are they recurrent
  26. 26FTMO: how do I withdraw my reward
  27. 27FTMO: which instruments can I trade
  28. 28FTMO: which platforms can I use for trading
  29. 29FTMO: what is the Swing account type
  30. 30FTMO: can I hold positions overnight or over the weekend
  31. 31FTMO: who can join FTMO
  32. 32FTMO: US site, operated with OANDA
  33. 33FTMO: Futures comparison table
  34. 34FTMO: Futures trading objectives and rules
  35. 35FTMO: which instruments can I trade with FTMO Futures
  36. 36FTMO: Futures platforms
  37. 37FTMO: Futures market data
  38. 38FTMO: Futures overnight and weekend positions
  39. 39FTMO: who can join FTMO Futures
  40. 40FTMO: press release on the launch of FTMO Futures
  41. 41FTMO: introducing the FTMO Instant Account
  42. 42FTMO: trading update, 8 October 2026

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