Futures · head to head

Topstep vs FTMO Futures: $49 or $119 a month for 50K?

Updated 2026-10-26

Short answer

Topstep fits traders who want a $49 monthly start and a $125 minimum payout. FTMO Futures fits traders who want no activation fee, no daily loss limit in the Growth evaluation and no consistency rule once sim-funded. FTMO opens payouts after 4 days of $150+ on Growth; Topstep's Standard path needs 5 winning days of $150 or more.

At a glance	Topstep	FTMO Futures
Trader rating	3.7 (14,989)	4.8 (55,057)
Cheapest plan	$49/mo ($50K)	$119/mo ($50K)
Plans we track	10	6
Account sizes	$1.5K, $25K, $50K, $100K, $150K, $250K	$50K, $100K, $150K
Evaluation types	1 Step	1 Step
Max loss types	Static, EOD Trailing	EOD Trailing
Daily loss limit	90% of plans	On every plan
Best standard split	90%	90%
Years operating	14	2
Code right now	None	None

Cheapest plan at each size

The lowest list price each firm charges at that account size, with that plan's rules.

Size	Firm	Plan	Price	Target	Max loss	Daily limit	Split
$50K	Topstep	Topstep - Standard - 1-Step 50K	$49/mo	6%	4% EOD Trailing	$1,000	90%
	FTMO Futures	FTMO Futures - Growth - 1 Step 50K	$119/mo	6%	4% EOD Trailing	$1,000	90%
$100K	Topstep	Topstep - Standard - 1-Step 100K	$99/mo	6%	3% EOD Trailing	$2,000	90%
	FTMO Futures	FTMO Futures - Growth - 1 Step 100K	$169/mo	6%	3.5% EOD Trailing	$2,000	90%
$150K	Topstep	Topstep - Standard - 1-Step 150K	$199/mo	6%	3% EOD Trailing	$3,000	90%
	FTMO Futures	FTMO Futures - Growth - 1 Step 150K	$229/mo	6%	3.3% EOD Trailing	$3,000	90%

Pick Topstep if…

You want the cheaper subscription: $49/month on the Standard path versus $119 for FTMO Growth (50K)
You want small early cash-outs: Topstep's minimum payout is $125
You want an uncapped ceiling: the Live Funded Account has no payout caps and unlocks daily access to 100% of profits after 30 winning days
You want the same end-of-day trailing loss limit, $2,000 on the 50K, in the evaluation and the Express Funded Account

Full Topstep review →

Pick FTMO Futures if…

You want no activation fee: FTMO charges none, while Topstep's Standard path adds $149 when you pass
You want no daily loss limit in the evaluation: Growth has none (Pro uses a hard $1,000)
You want a softer evaluation consistency rule: 40% on Growth versus Topstep's 55% best-day rule
You want a bigger drawdown option: the Pro 50K trails $3,000 versus $2,000 at Topstep

Full FTMO Futures review →

How do payouts compare?

Topstep's Express Funded Account (XFA) pays 90% with a $125 minimum. The Standard path needs 5 winning days of $150 or more and caps requests at 50% of the balance ($2,000 on a 50K). Live Funded payouts are uncapped.

FTMO's sim-funded account also pays 90%. Its objectives page lists payout eligibility as 4 days at $150 or more on Growth (5 days at $200+ on Pro), a 50% minimum new-profit requirement per request, a withdrawable amount of 50% on Growth and 100% on Pro, and payout caps of $2,500 and $5,000 respectively.

Which rules catch traders out?

At Topstep, the 55% best-day rule raises your profit target if one day does too much of the work. In the funded account, the trailing Maximum Loss Limit locks at $0 once the balance reaches $2,000 of profit (50K) or after your first payout, whichever comes first, so the account closes if the balance ever returns to $0.

FTMO applies its consistency rule only in the evaluation: 40% on Growth, 50% on Pro, with no consistency rule once sim-funded. Growth has no daily loss limit in the evaluation and a soft $1,000 limit once funded; Pro carries a hard $1,000 limit in both stages. FTMO's trading day runs from 6:00 PM ET to 4:10 PM ET, and funded contracts scale from 2 up to 5 on a 50K.

How do the funded accounts differ?

Topstep's XFA is simulated, starts at $0, applies a scaling plan, and keeps the end-of-day trailing loss limit from the Combine. The Live Funded Account is a separate stage with a mandatory daily loss limit and uncapped payouts; Topstep's risk team decides call-ups at its discretion.

FTMO's sim-funded account mirrors the evaluation size with an end-of-day trailing drawdown ($2,000 on Growth 50K, $3,000 on Pro), no profit target and no consistency rule. You can hold up to 3 sim-funded accounts and up to $450,000 in simulated capital. FTMO advertises a drawdown trailing lock but no live-stage upgrade on its futures plans.

Test both plans in our pass probability calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper for a 50K account?

Topstep's 50K Combine is $49/month on the Standard path plus a $149 activation fee if you pass ($198 within the first billing month), or $95/month on the No Activation Fee path. FTMO Growth is $119/month and Pro $139/month, with no activation fee; resets cost $109 and $129.

Which evaluation is easier to pass?

FTMO's Growth evaluation uses a 40% consistency rule and no daily loss limit, with a $3,000 target and $2,000 end-of-day trailing drawdown. Topstep sets the same $3,000 target and $2,000 trailing limit but applies a 55% best-day rule.

Who pays out faster?

FTMO opens payout eligibility after 4 days of $150 or more on Growth (5 days at $200+ on Pro). Topstep's Standard path needs 5 winning days of $150 or more, and its minimum payout is $125.

How much can I withdraw from a 50K?

FTMO lets you withdraw 50% per request on Growth and 100% on Pro, with payout caps of $2,500 and $5,000. Topstep's Standard path caps requests at 50% of the balance ($2,000 on a 50K); Live Funded payouts are uncapped.

Prices are list prices from each firm's own site at our last update. Rankings are never paid. Prop trading can cost you every fee you pay.