Topstep vs FundedFast
Topstep has been operating continuously since 2012 -- the earliest major retail futures prop firm. But Topstep is CME futures only: ES, NQ, CL, GC and their micros on TopstepX (new accounts) or NinjaTrader/Rithmic (legacy). FundedFast is multi-asset CFD: forex, crypto, indices, stocks, metals, and oil on MatchTrader. These two firms serve different traders. Here is how they compare on cost, rules, and structure so you can pick the right one.
Updated June 2026 · 7 min read
Ownership disclosure: FundedFast operates this website, and FundedFast challenges appear in the comparisons below. Every firm — including ours — is scored with the same methodology, and we link to each competitor so you can verify our numbers yourself. How we rank and earn is documented in our editorial policy. Read our editorial policy
Quick Comparison
Where FundedFast
Has the Edge
Trade Everything, Not Just Futures
Topstep is locked to CME futures: ES, NQ, CL, GC, and their micros. No forex. No crypto. No stocks. FundedFast covers forex, crypto, indices, stocks, metals, and oil -- all on a single MatchTrader account. If you trade anything outside US futures, only one of these firms can fund you.
Fee Refunded on Your First Payout
Topstep does not refund the Trading Combine entry fee. FundedFast refunds the challenge entry fee on your first funded payout -- so the net cost of getting funded starts at zero. Combined with a $50 minimum payout threshold, the capital hurdle to recoup your entry is low.
Up to $400K Funding vs $150K
Topstep's largest account is $150K. FundedFast goes up to $400K in a single funded account -- nearly three times the ceiling. For traders targeting larger position sizes without juggling multiple accounts, FundedFast's top tier offers more room.
Free Competition -- No Purchase Required
Topstep has no free entry path. FundedFast runs the Open every two weeks: free entry, a $100K virtual MatchTrader account, and $25/$20/$15 cash prizes. You can learn the platform and the rules before committing to a paid challenge -- at zero cost.
Where Topstep
Has the Edge
No comparison is honest without showing where the competition wins. Here’s where Topstep is stronger — and why the FundedFast Open, no time limits, and 90-day affiliate window still tip the balance for many traders.
Operating Continuously Since 2012
Topstep has been funding futures traders since 2012 -- the earliest major retail futures prop firm to reach this scale and still be actively paying traders today. That longevity matters on a YMYL decision: they have navigated CME rule changes, market crises, and platform transitions without closing. FundedFast launched in 2024 and is still building its verifiable history. If track record and stability are your top criteria, Topstep wins this column.
Futures-Native Platform Ecosystem (TopstepX, NinjaTrader, Rithmic)
Topstep's platform stack is built specifically for CME futures: TopstepX for new Trading Combines, plus NinjaTrader and Rithmic for legacy accounts. These are the tools serious futures traders already use, with native DOM trading, futures order routing, and CME data feeds. FundedFast uses MatchTrader -- a web-based CFD platform. For a dedicated futures day-trader, Topstep's native execution environment is the correct fit.
100% First $10K -- Legacy Accounts Only (Pre-2026)
Topstep accounts opened before January 12, 2026 received 100% of the first $10K earned per funded account, then 90% after that. Accounts opened from January 12, 2026 onward receive a straight 90/10 from dollar one -- the same effective rate as FundedFast's 90% upgrade. If you hold a legacy Topstep account, the first-$10K retention is a real edge. For new sign-ups, both firms are now at 90% and this is no longer a differentiator.
What Traders
Actually Say
Real themes from Trustpilot, Investing.com, and trading communities. Not cherry-picked, patterns across dozens of reviews.
- Operating continuously since 2012 -- the earliest major retail futures prop firm, with 12+ years of payout history
- Large, established funded-trader community built over more than a decade of active operations
- 100% of first $10K profit per funded account for legacy (pre-Jan 2026) accounts -- no split until you clear that threshold
- Futures-native platform stack: TopstepX for new accounts, NinjaTrader and Rithmic for legacy -- the tools serious futures traders already use
- Futures only: no forex, crypto, stocks, or indices CFD -- Topstep cannot serve traders outside the CME futures universe, which eliminates most retail multi-asset traders
- Single-step evaluation: the Trading Combine is a single-step process, but it covers futures only -- traders who trade forex, crypto, or stocks must look at a multi-asset firm like FundedFast
- No fee refund: the Trading Combine entry fee is not refunded on passing -- unlike some multi-asset prop firms that credit the fee back on the first funded payout
- Limited account ceiling: the largest Topstep account is $150K; traders targeting higher single-account funding will need to look at alternatives or run multiple accounts
- Multi-asset in one account: forex, crypto, indices, stocks, metals, and oil -- all tradeable on a single MatchTrader account without separate evaluations per asset class
- Fee refunded on first payout: the challenge entry fee comes back on the first funded payout, so the net cost to get trading live can be zero if you pass
- Free bi-weekly competition: the Open runs every two weeks with free entry and real cash prizes -- a genuine zero-cost way to test the platform before committing
- $50 min payout, weekly: weekly payouts with a $50 minimum threshold via PayPal, bank, or crypto -- a low bar for getting money out regularly
- No CME futures: FundedFast does not offer CME futures contracts. If you trade ES, NQ, CL, or GC exclusively, Topstep is purpose-built for you and FundedFast cannot replace it
- Newer firm: founded in 2024 -- a fraction of Topstep's 12-year track record. Fewer reviews and a shorter payout history. For traders who weight longevity above all else, Topstep wins
- No 100% first-tranche split (for new traders): FundedFast starts at 80% profit share (90% upgrade available). Topstep's 100% on the first $10K is available for legacy accounts opened before January 12, 2026; new Topstep accounts receive a straight 90% -- the same as FundedFast's 90% upgrade. For legacy Topstep holders who regularly clear $10K+, the first-tranche bonus remains a real advantage
Something Topstep Doesn’t Offer: Free Trading Competitions
Enter the FundedFast Open every 2 weeks: completely free. $100K virtual account, same rules as a real challenge. Top 3 win cash. No purchase, no card details.
Join the Open: It’s FreeWhich Firm Is Right for You?
Choose Topstep if:
- You trade US futures (ES, NQ, CL, GC, MES, MNQ) and nothing else
- You want a prop firm with 12+ years of payout history and an established funded-trader community
- You already use NinjaTrader, Rithmic, or TopstepX and want a futures-native evaluation
- You hold a legacy Topstep account (opened before Jan 12, 2026) and reliably clear $10K+ in profit per account -- the 100% first-tranche bonus still applies to you
Choose FundedFast if:
- You trade forex, crypto, indices, stocks, metals, or oil -- not just CME futures
- You want your challenge fee refunded on the first funded payout
- You want a funded account up to $400K without running multiple accounts
- You want to test the platform for free before paying -- the Open competition has zero entry cost
- You prefer weekly payouts with a low $50 minimum threshold via PayPal, bank, or crypto
- You want a simple 1- or 2-phase evaluation -- FundedFast offers both paths, while Topstep uses a single-step Trading Combine focused solely on futures
Common Questions
Can I trade futures on FundedFast?
No. FundedFast is multi-asset CFD: forex, crypto, indices, stocks, metals, and oil on MatchTrader. For CME futures trading on TopstepX, NinjaTrader, or Rithmic, Topstep is purpose-built and the correct choice. FundedFast and Topstep serve different traders -- choose the firm that matches the markets you actually trade.
Is Topstep or FundedFast cheaper?
Topstep's smallest Trading Combine starts at $49 for a $50K account. FundedFast also starts at $49 for its 2-phase challenge. The key difference is that FundedFast refunds the entry fee on your first funded payout -- so the net entry cost can reach zero. Topstep does not refund the Combine fee. At the $100K level, Topstep is $99 vs FundedFast's $99 (2-phase) or $199 (1-phase), so pricing is broadly comparable at the entry level.
Does Topstep offer forex or crypto?
No. Topstep is exclusively for CME futures: ES (S&P 500), NQ (Nasdaq-100), CL (crude oil), GC (gold), and micro equivalents. Topstep does not offer forex, crypto, stocks, or any CFD product. Traders who want multi-asset coverage need a firm like FundedFast.
Which has the better profit split -- Topstep or FundedFast?
It depends on when you opened your Topstep account. Accounts opened before January 12, 2026 receive 100% of the first $10K earned per funded account, then 90% after that -- a genuine edge for legacy holders who clear $10K+ regularly. Accounts opened from January 12, 2026 onward receive a straight 90% from dollar one, the same as FundedFast's 90% upgrade. FundedFast starts at 80% with a 90% upgrade at checkout. For new traders at both firms, the effective profit split is the same at 90%; the real difference is FundedFast's fee refund on the first payout.
What platforms does Topstep use vs FundedFast?
New Topstep Trading Combines use TopstepX, Topstep's proprietary platform -- NinjaTrader and Rithmic are retained for legacy accounts opened before the TopstepX transition. All three require installation and, in some cases, separate data-feed subscriptions. FundedFast uses MatchTrader, a web-based platform with TradingView charts built in -- no install, no data-feed setup. If you want to trade from a browser without configuring a futures stack, MatchTrader is simpler.
How does the Topstep Trading Combine compare to FundedFast's evaluation?
Topstep uses a single-step Trading Combine: meet the profit target with the account's drawdown rules, then move to a funded account. FundedFast offers a 1-phase challenge (hit the target once) or a 2-phase challenge (two successive targets at a lower price). Both are straightforward single-evaluation paths -- the key difference is asset coverage: Topstep's Combine is for CME futures only, while FundedFast's evaluation covers multi-asset CFD.
Should I choose Topstep or FundedFast?
It depends entirely on what you trade. If you trade CME futures (ES, NQ, CL, GC) and want the prop firm operating continuously since 2012 with a large established community and futures-native platform stack (TopstepX, NinjaTrader, Rithmic), choose Topstep -- it is purpose-built for you. If you trade forex, crypto, indices, stocks, metals, or oil and want a multi-asset CFD account up to $400K with a fee refund and free bi-weekly competition, choose FundedFast. These firms are not direct substitutes: the right answer is whoever supports the markets you actually trade.
Also Comparing?
Everything Topstep offers — without the trade-offs.
From $49. No time limits. Up to 90% profit share. Fee refunded on passing.