Quick Answer — The 5%ers vs Topstep: Quick Verdict
- • Topstep funds futures traders only; The 5%ers funds futures AND Forex/Indices/Metals/Crypto (CFD)
- • Topstep profit split: 100% on first $10K cumulative, then 90/10. The 5%ers Futures: 80/20 scaling to higher splits
- • Topstep uses Tradovate, NinjaTrader, and TopstepX. The 5%ers Futures uses Black Arrow platform
- • Both firms have been live for 10+ years and have paid out millions to funded traders
- • If you trade only futures, both work. If you trade multiple asset classes, The 5%ers is the only option
I've personally traded The 5%ers Futures plus most of the firms compared here (FundedNext, Apex, Topstep). The 5%ers' multi-asset coverage (CFDs + Futures under one structure) is the structural argument; futures-only competitors win on per-account economics if futures are your only market. Full 5%ers picture in the complete review. Sign up at The 5%ers with code 7QHKBHSAQV.
The 5%ers and Topstep are two of the most established names in funded trading, but they are fundamentally different businesses. Topstep is a futures-only firm with a monthly subscription model and 12+ years of track record. The 5%ers is a multi-asset firm: four CFD programs covering Forex, Metals, Indices, and Crypto, plus a Futures track on Black Arrow that launched in beta in February 2026.
I've pulled real money from both. Topstep is one of the first futures prop firms I ever tested. Over the years I've cleared roughly $17,000 in payouts running their Trading Combine, and I was an early adopter of TopstepX when it launched as their proprietary platform. The 5%ers Futures side is more recent: I got in during the beta rollout in early 2026 and have pulled $9,000 across multiple bi-weekly withdrawals over the last three months. These are not opinions. They are funded accounts with real withdrawal history.
The honest comparison here is not "which firm is better." It's: what do you trade, and which firm actually supports it?
The 5%ers vs Topstep at a glance
As of May 2026, here is the full head-to-head across the categories that matter most for a trader deciding between these two firms.
| Category | The 5%ers | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Asset classes | Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto (CFD) + Futures (Black Arrow) | Futures only (CME-listed contracts) |
| Eval model | 1-step (Hyper Growth, Pro Growth), 2-step (High Stakes, Futures), 3-step (Bootcamp) | Trading Combine (monthly sub) or Express Funded (one-time) |
| Profit split | 80/20 Futures (scales); CFD 50/50 → 100% at scale tiers | 100% on first $10K cumulative, then 90/10 |
| First payout minimum | $150 (after split) | $5,000 cap (Standard $50K account) |
| Payout frequency | Bi-weekly | Bi-weekly |
| Max funding | $4M (Hyper Growth/Bootcamp), $500K (Futures/High Stakes) | Up to $150K funded (Combine path) |
| Drawdown type | EOD (Futures: 3% EOD); CFD: varies per program | Intraday trailing (Combine); static at funded |
| Platforms | MT5 Hedge, cTrader, Black Arrow (Futures) | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TopstepX |
| Trustpilot | 4.9/5 (~22,000–25,000+ reviews) | ~4.5/5 (third-party estimate, 2026) |
| US availability | Yes (since Sep 18, 2025 via cTrader); Futures open | Yes (US-based firm, Chicago) |
| Fee model | One-time program fee (no monthly sub) | Monthly subscription (Combine) or one-time (Express) |
| Founded | 2016 (Israel) | 2012 (Chicago, US) |
| HQ | Raanana, Israel | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
The table makes the structural difference obvious. For futures traders specifically, both firms have viable paths. For anyone trading Forex, Indices, or Crypto, Topstep is not relevant: it simply does not offer those markets.
Futures-to-futures: Topstep Trading Combine vs The 5%ers Futures Basecamp
The cleanest apples-to-apples comparison is Topstep's futures evaluation against The 5%ers Futures Basecamp. As of May 2026, both run 2-phase evaluations (achieve a profit target, then pass a funded phase), both support CME-listed futures contracts, and both have 80%+ payouts to the trader.
Topstep Trading Combine (futures side): As of 2026, Topstep's standard path is a monthly subscription that gives traders access to a simulated Combine account. The Combine requires hitting a profit target while staying within a trailing drawdown. The intraday trailing drawdown follows the highest daily account balance, meaning a strong winning session actually raises the drawdown floor. This can be both protective and punishing for volatile trading styles. Once the Combine is passed, traders graduate to a funded account where the profit split is 100% on the first $10,000 cumulative earned, then 90/10 after that. Topstep's $50K Standard account has a notable $5,000 first-payout cap. The funded account balance must exceed $5,000 in accumulated profit before the first withdrawal request is approved.
The 5%ers Futures Basecamp/Rebate (futures side): The 5%ers Futures runs a 2-phase evaluation: Evaluation Phase (6% profit target, 3% EOD max loss) followed by Funded Stage (4% profit target, 3% EOD max loss). Account sizes are $25K and $50K. The activation fee is $50 for the evaluation phase and $70 upon passing to funded. This is a one-time structure with no monthly recurring charges. The key structural difference is the EOD drawdown. The 3% max loss at The 5%ers is measured at the end of the trading day against the initial account balance. Intraday drawdowns that recover before market close do not terminate the account. For swing traders or traders who accept wider intraday volatility in futures positions, this is a meaningful structural advantage over Topstep's trailing model.
Contract limits on The 5%ers Futures are 2 Mini contracts and 20 Micro contracts per position in both the evaluation and funded phases. Overnight holding is allowed up to 1 mini or 10 micro contracts. Weekend positions are not permitted. The Rebate variant of the program returns up to 100% of daily commissions to high-volume traders, which adds a real economic benefit for traders who churn significant contract volume.
The payout-cap gap is significant. Topstep's $5,000 first-payout cap on a $50K account means a trader who generates $8,000 in their first funded month can only withdraw $5,000 until the cap clears. The 5%ers Futures has a $150 minimum withdrawal with no stated cap (non-crypto methods). For traders who want fast access to earned capital, that delta matters.
The 5%ers Futures launched in beta in February 2026 and is a newer program with a shorter track record than Topstep's decade-plus history. That is a legitimate caveat. Topstep's Combine model is proven across thousands of funded traders and multi-year payout histories. I have cleared payouts from both firms with real capital and had no payout friction with either, but Topstep's track record depth is a real factor.
What The 5%ers offers that Topstep does not
Beyond the futures comparison, The 5%ers has four fully operational CFD programs that Topstep cannot match in any form.
As of May 2026, The 5%ers CFD programs cover:
| Program | Structure | Asset Classes | Max Funding | Starting Split |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyper Growth | 1-step | Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto | $4,000,000 | 50/50 → 100% |
| Pro Growth | 1-step | Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto | $500,000 | 75/25 → 100% |
| High Stakes | 2-step | Forex, Metals, Indices, Oil, Crypto | $500,000 | 80/20 → 100% |
| Bootcamp | 3-step | Forex, Metals, Indices | $4,000,000 | 50/50 → 100% |
For a funded Forex trader, there is no Topstep equivalent. Topstep has never operated a CFD program and shows no indication of changing that. A Forex trader evaluating Topstep is simply in the wrong conversation.
For a trader who runs both futures and Forex (a common profile for systematic or macro traders), The 5%ers is genuinely the more versatile funded platform. The US cTrader access (live since September 18, 2025) extended this to American traders who were previously blocked from MT5-based platforms under MetaQuotes restrictions.
The $4M scaling ceiling on Hyper Growth and Bootcamp is also worth noting. Topstep's maximum funded account is roughly $150K. For traders with disciplined scaling ambitions, The 5%ers' ceiling is significantly higher. The scaling steps require hitting 10% profit milestones at each tier, which is not a trivial bar.
Eval structure: subscription vs one-time fee
The cost model difference between these two firms is a real decision factor, not just a format detail.
Topstep Trading Combine: Monthly subscription. The trader pays a recurring fee each month until the Combine is passed. For traders who take longer to pass (slow markets, deliberate pacing, multiple failed attempts), monthly costs accumulate. The flip side is that a subscription bundles in a reset: you keep trading within the monthly cycle without paying a separate reset fee each time you breach a limit.
The 5%ers: One-time fee per program purchase. No monthly charge. If you fail the evaluation, you buy another program or reset. This structure favors traders who either pass quickly or who want cost certainty upfront. There is no ongoing billing. For high-confidence traders who expect to pass in under 30 days, one-time fee structures are typically cheaper. For traders who need 60–90 days of evaluation runway, the monthly sub model can be more economical.
The 5%ers also offers an inactivity rule: 30 consecutive days without trading closes the account. This keeps traders active rather than paying for dormant accounts.
A relevant cost note: The 5%ers' High Stakes program returns 70% of the initial program fee as equity at the first payout, which functionally reduces the total cost of evaluation for funded traders.
Rules compared: drawdown philosophy, payout structure, consistency requirements
Getting the rules right is what separates traders who last at a prop firm from traders who blow up cheap accounts repeatedly. Here is how the core rules compare.
Drawdown: Topstep Trading Combine uses an intraday trailing drawdown. The trailing stop follows the highest balance the account has ever hit, including during the trading day. If you run up $2,000 in unrealized gains intraday and then give them all back, your drawdown floor has moved up even though you ended the day flat. This is the rule that catches the most experienced futures traders off-guard.
The 5%ers Futures uses an EOD 3% max loss based on the initial account balance. Intraday swings do not update the floor until the session closes. For position traders or traders who hold through intraday volatility, this EOD structure is meaningfully more forgiving.
The 5%ers CFD programs vary: Hyper Growth has a 3% daily loss that pauses the account (not terminates) until the server reset, which is a uniquely forgiving structure. Pro Growth's 3% daily loss terminates the account. High Stakes has a 5% daily loss that terminates. Bootcamp has no daily pause/loss rule but requires a mandatory stop-loss on every position.
Payout structure: Topstep's funded split is 100% on the first $10,000 cumulative profit, then 90/10. The $5,000 first-payout cap on the $50K account is a meaningful constraint. Topstep's payout mechanics are well-established and the firm has a long track record of paying out.
The 5%ers Futures pays 80/20 as a starting split, with scaling upward as the account grows. Bi-weekly payout cadence with a $150 minimum. Payout methods include Rise (Riseworks), crypto (USDT TRC20, USDC ERC20, ETH, LTC), bank transfer, and Hub Credits (non-withdrawable store credit). A 3.5% fee applies to Rise/Crypto/Bank transfers; Hub Credits are fee-free.
Consistency rules: The 5%ers Futures has a 30%-per-position consistency rule: no single position can generate more than 30% of total profits. This is a standard and predictable rule that prevents lucky one-trade funded accounts. Topstep does not have an equivalent consistency requirement in the traditional Combine model.
Pro Growth at The 5%ers requires 3 minimum profitable days (each showing 0.5%+ profit on closed positions). This is a different consistency mechanic: useful for disciplined traders who trade multiple days per week, limiting for traders who prefer concentrated-session styles.
Platform comparison: TopstepX vs Black Arrow vs the rest
Platform experience is where this comparison gets personal for me.
Topstep's platforms: Tradovate, NinjaTrader, and TopstepX. TopstepX is Topstep's proprietary platform, and I want to be direct: I liked it. After ProjectX was shut down in 2026, TopstepX became my default Topstep platform. It is clean, fast, and purpose-built for the Combine workflow. Topstep acquired The Futures Desk on April 1, 2026, and integrated TFD technology into TopstepX, which has added depth to the platform. NinjaTrader and Tradovate are industry-standard futures platforms that nearly any experienced futures trader will already know.
The breadth of Topstep's platform options is genuine. NinjaTrader alone supports more technical analysis tools, custom indicators, automated strategy testing, and third-party integrations than most futures platforms on the market. For traders with existing platform setups, Topstep's multi-platform support reduces switching cost.
The 5%ers' platforms: MT5 Hedge (CFD primary), cTrader (added September 2025, enables US access), and Black Arrow (Futures-specific, beta since February 2026).
I run the Futures program on Black Arrow. It is a newer platform, launched in beta alongside The 5%ers Futures program itself, and does not have the ecosystem depth of NinjaTrader or Tradovate at this point. Additional platforms are listed as planned for the Futures program, but as of May 2026 Black Arrow is the only supported option for The 5%ers Futures. Traders who run complex automated systems or need deep NinjaTrader integrations will find Black Arrow limited by comparison.
For The 5%ers CFD programs, MT5 Hedge is a mature, well-supported platform used across dozens of prop firms globally. cTrader is strong for Forex traders, particularly those coming from a retail FX background. The platform coverage for CFD is solid. The Futures platform coverage is early-stage.
This is the area where I would want The 5%ers to develop further. Topstep's TopstepX is what I'd want the Futures side of The 5%ers to match. They are not there yet.
Trust and track record: a decade-plus vs a newer futures entrant
Both firms have legitimate operating histories, but the gap is real.
Topstep: Founded in 2012. Over 12 years of funded trading operations, payouts to thousands of traders, a US-based company with publicly known leadership. Topstep was acquired by Trading.com in 2023 and has continued operating under its own brand with consistent rule sets. The TFD acquisition in April 2026 shows continued investment in platform infrastructure. Topstep's long track record is one of its strongest arguments.
The 5%ers: Founded in 2016 by Gil Ben Hur. CEO Saul Lokier has been publicly quoted in firm announcements. Registered as Five Percent Online Ltd., company number 515864007, in Israel. 149 employees across 23 countries. Trustpilot rating of 4.9/5 across an estimated 22,000–25,000+ reviews, placing it among the highest in the funded trading industry by review count and score. Over 262,000 funded traders. Third-party aggregators (Payout Junction) credit $43M+ in verified payouts, though this is a marketing-floor figure rather than an audited number.
The 5%ers' CFD programs have a 10-year operating history. The Futures program is six months old as of May 2026. The trust question is different for each track: the CFD business is established, the Futures business is very new. My own experience on the Futures side has been clean (multiple evaluations, multiple bi-weekly payouts, no friction), but six months and $9K of personal payout history is not the same as Topstep's 12-year institutional record.
A note on The 5%ers' known negative patterns: the firm has discretionary interview requirements. If The 5%ers requests a video verification interview and the trader does not schedule within 5 business days, the payout can be denied and the account terminated. This rule is cited in a meaningful number of negative Trustpilot and ForexPeaceArmy reviews. It exists in writing in The 5%ers' terms; it is not hidden. Traders should be aware of it going in.
Topstep has had its own periods of rule-change controversy. The intraday trailing drawdown model has been a source of trader frustration historically. But Topstep's payout reliability has been consistently strong across its track record.
Who should pick Topstep, who should pick The 5%ers
Pick Topstep if:
- You trade futures exclusively and have no interest in Forex, Indices, or Crypto CFD accounts
- You want a firm with 12+ years of documented payout history and a US-based legal structure
- You prefer NinjaTrader or Tradovate as your primary trading platform and want the full ecosystem available
- You are comfortable with a monthly subscription cost model
- You want TopstepX as a proprietary platform and can work within the Combine's intraday trailing drawdown structure
Pick The 5%ers if:
- You trade Forex, Indices, Metals, or Crypto alongside futures and want a single funded firm covering all of it
- You want an EOD drawdown structure on futures that does not trail intraday
- You want access to scaling targets up to $4M (on CFD programs)
- You prefer a one-time fee model over monthly subscriptions
- You are a US trader who wants Forex CFD funding since September 2025 via cTrader
Run both if: Both firms allow traders to hold accounts at multiple prop firms simultaneously. There is no exclusivity requirement. Running Topstep for your futures Combine while simultaneously running a The5ers Hyper Growth or High Stakes account for Forex exposure is a viable multi-prop strategy. Several experienced funded traders do exactly this. The two firms have essentially zero overlap in their product sets, which means holding both is complementary rather than redundant.
The bottom line
The 5%ers is the right choice for any funded trader whose market coverage extends beyond futures. The multi-asset CFD lineup (Forex, Metals, Indices, Crypto) combined with the new Futures track on Black Arrow makes The 5%ers the more versatile funded platform in this comparison. Paul has tested both with real capital over multiple years, and the $17K from Topstep sits alongside $9K from The 5%ers Futures as proof that both firms pay reliably.
Topstep is the right choice for traders who want the deepest possible futures-only track record, the broadest platform support (NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TopstepX), and the backing of a 12-year institutional history. The $5,000 first-payout cap and the intraday trailing drawdown are the two rules to understand clearly before committing. For futures-only traders who are willing to work within those constraints, Topstep remains one of the most dependable firms in the industry.
The 5%ers Futures program on Black Arrow is newer and the platform is earlier-stage than Topstep's offerings. If that is a concern, the CFD programs have a decade of history behind them and a 4.9 Trustpilot rating across tens of thousands of reviews. The Futures side will mature. For traders getting in now, beta-period timing on a firm with strong fundamentals is an opportunity, not just a risk.
Use code 7QHKBHSAQV at The 5%ers to get a discount on your first program. Topstep has no PTV affiliate. Link direct at topstep.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The 5%ers better than Topstep?
Neither firm is universally better. Topstep has a longer track record (founded 2012) and a well-established monthly subscription model for the Trading Combine. The 5%ers offers more asset class diversity: Forex, Indices, Metals, and Crypto via CFD programs, plus a Futures track on Black Arrow launched in beta in February 2026. For futures-only traders, Topstep's structure is proven and Paul has pulled $17K from Topstep accounts over his testing history. For traders who want to run Forex or Indices alongside futures under one funded umbrella, The 5%ers has no equivalent competition from Topstep.
Does The 5%ers have a futures program like Topstep?
Yes. The 5%ers launched its Futures program in beta in February 2026, available in two tracks: Futures Basecamp (standard commission) and Futures Rebate (up to 100% daily commission rebate for high-volume traders). Both tracks are 2-phase evaluations on $25K or $50K account sizes, running on the Black Arrow platform. The 5%ers Futures EOD max loss is 3% per phase, profit target is 6% in evaluation and 4% in funded stage. This is separate from their CFD programs.
What is Topstep's Trading Combine model?
Topstep's Trading Combine is a monthly subscription evaluation. Traders pay a recurring monthly fee to access a simulated account and must hit a profit target while staying within drawdown limits. Once passed, traders get a funded account. As of 2026, Topstep also offers an Express Funded path. The profit split on the funded account is 100% on the first $10,000 cumulative profit, then 90/10 (trader keeps 90%) after that.
What platforms does Topstep support vs The 5%ers?
Topstep supports NinjaTrader, Tradovate, and TopstepX (Topstep's proprietary platform). ProjectX, which was previously integrated with Topstep, was shut down in 2026. The 5%ers supports MT5 Hedge and cTrader for all CFD programs, and Black Arrow for the Futures track. The 5%ers added cTrader in September 2025, which also opened US trader access.
Does Topstep allow trading Forex, indices, or crypto?
No. Topstep is a futures-only prop firm. Traders on Topstep can trade CME futures contracts: equity index futures (ES, NQ, YM), energy (CL), metals (GC, SI), and similar exchange-listed products. Topstep does not offer Forex CFD, index CFD, crypto CFD, or any MT5-based account. If you want to trade Forex or Indices under a funded model, The 5%ers is the relevant comparison.
How much has Paul made from Topstep?
Paul has pulled approximately $17,000 in cumulative payouts from Topstep over multiple years of testing, running the Trading Combine across different size accounts. He was also an early user of TopstepX, Topstep's proprietary platform, which became his default Topstep platform after ProjectX was shut down in 2026.
How much has Paul made from The 5%ers?
Paul has pulled $9,000 in payouts from The 5%ers over the last three months (February through May 2026), trading the Futures program on Black Arrow. He joined during the beta rollout period (The 5%ers Futures launched in February 2026), making him an early funded Futures trader at the firm. He has passed multiple evaluations and collected bi-weekly withdrawals.
What is the drawdown rule at Topstep vs The 5%ers Futures?
Topstep uses an intraday trailing drawdown on the Trading Combine. The trailing max loss follows the highest account balance upward, then locks when the trader reaches the funded stage. The 5%ers Futures uses an EOD (end-of-day) max loss of 3% based on the initial account balance and does not trail intraday. The EOD structure at The 5%ers is generally considered more forgiving during the trading session, because intraday swings that recover before the session closes do not threaten the account.
Does Topstep have a first-payout cap?
Yes. Topstep's $50K Standard account has a $5,000 first-payout cap, which is among the highest first-payout caps in the futures prop firm industry. The 5%ers Futures has a minimum withdrawal of $150 (after profit split), with no stated maximum per cycle for non-crypto methods. Crypto payouts at The 5%ers are capped at $1,500 per cycle.
Which firm is better for US traders in 2026?
Both firms accept US traders. Topstep is a US-based firm (Chicago) and has always been available to US traders. The 5%ers opened US access on September 18, 2025, via the cTrader platform, following MetaQuotes' restrictions on US broker access. The 5%ers Futures track on Black Arrow is also available to US traders. For US traders who want futures-only, Topstep has a longer domestic track record. For US traders who want multi-asset (Forex, Indices, Crypto), The 5%ers is now a viable option since the cTrader launch.
Does The 5%ers allow overnight and weekend holding?
For CFD programs: overnight holding is allowed across Hyper Growth, Pro Growth, High Stakes, and Bootcamp (though indices carry high swap over weekends). For the Futures program on Black Arrow: overnight holding is allowed up to 1 mini or 10 micro contracts. Weekend holding on the Futures program is NOT permitted and all positions must be closed before the weekend. Topstep's funded account rules generally require positions closed before major market events but allow overnight holding in the Combine and funded stages.
What is the maximum funding at Topstep vs The 5%ers?
The 5%ers offers scaling to $4,000,000 on the Hyper Growth and Bootcamp programs (via 10% profit-milestone scale steps), and $500,000 on Futures, High Stakes, and Pro Growth. Topstep's maximum funded account size on traditional Combine paths is approximately $150,000. For pure scaling potential, The 5%ers CFD programs top out at $4M. Topstep's ceiling is significantly lower.
What is the Topstep first-payout structure after the $10K threshold?
On Topstep funded accounts, the profit split is 100% on the first $10,000 cumulative profit earned by the trader. After the $10,000 threshold is crossed, the split shifts to 90/10: the trader keeps 90% and Topstep keeps 10%. This front-loaded 100% structure is attractive for traders who earn in concentrated bursts, since the first $10K in funded profits goes entirely to the trader.