FTMO, Apex and Topstep must be compared by account product, not only by brand. FTMO now offers Futures Growth and Pro alongside its separate CFD challenges. Apex has EOD and Intraday products plus existing Legacy accounts. Topstep's Trading Combine, Express Funded and Live Funded stages have different payout conditions.
Official rules checked October 5, 2026. The comparison below separates those programs so an old profit split, evaluation deadline or platform list does not become the deciding factor for the wrong account. FuturesHive's verdicts are editorial judgments; the linked official rules establish the product terms.
Quick Verdict
For forex or CFDs, only FTMO applies. For CME futures, Topstep is the cheapest start ($49 a month on a 50K, no deadline), Apex pays 100% of approved payouts and allows up to 20 funded accounts but gives you 30 days to pass, and FTMO Futures (launched September 17, 2026) is the pick if you want NinjaTrader or TradingView.
| If you want | Pick |
|---|---|
| Forex, gold or index CFDs | FTMO CFD 1-Step or 2-Step |
| The lowest entry price for CME futures | Topstep ($49/mo + $149 on passing, or $95/mo) |
| 100% of approved payouts, many funded accounts | Apex (up to 20 Performance Accounts) |
| To withdraw all available profit per request | FTMO Futures Pro (up to $5,000 per request on a 50K) |
| NinjaTrader or TradingView | FTMO Futures |
| No evaluation deadline | Topstep or FTMO Futures |
FTMO vs Topstep vs Apex: 50K Futures Accounts Side by Side
| 50K futures account | FTMO Futures Growth / Pro | Topstep Trading Combine | Apex EOD / Intraday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (list) | $119 / $139 per month | $49/mo + $149 activation, or $95/mo | $590 / $249 one-time, plus $119 / $89 activation |
| Time limit | None | None | 30 calendar days |
| Profit target | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Max drawdown | $2,000 / $3,000, EOD trailing | $2,000, EOD trailing | $2,000, EOD / intraday trailing |
| Daily loss limit (eval) | Growth none; Pro $1,000 hard | Optional $1,000 | EOD $1,000; Intraday none |
| Consistency | Best day ≤ 40% / 50% of profit (eval) | Best day ≤ 55% of target | None in eval; below 50% for payouts |
| Split | 90/10 | 90/10 | 100% of approved payouts |
| First payout needs | 4 days of $150+ / 5 days of $200+ | 5 winning days of $150+ (Standard) or 3 days under a 40% best-day cap (Consistency) | 5 days of $250+ / $200+ and a $52,600 balance |
| Withdrawable per request | 50% / 100% of profit | 50% of balance | Profit above the $52,100 safety net |
| Payout cap per request | $2,500 / $5,000 | $2,000 (Standard) / $3,000 (Consistency) | $1,500 on the first payout, rising later |
| Funded accounts | Up to 3 Sim-Funded | Up to 5 Express Funded | Up to 20 Performance Accounts |
| Platforms | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView | TopstepX | Rithmic, Tradovate or WealthCharts |
| Automated trading | Permitted | Via paid TopstepX API Access | Not allowed |
Sources: FTMO comparison table, FTMO objectives, Topstep pricing, Topstep payout policy, Apex EOD, Apex Intraday, Apex payouts, Apex pricing. Apex ran a 90%-off evaluation coupon until October 13, 2026, and Topstep offers a 15% referral discount on a first Combine.
Every program caps your best day somewhere: FTMO in the evaluation (40% on Growth, 50% on Pro), Topstep in the Combine (55% of the profit target) and Apex at payout time (below 50% of profit). Our prop firm consistency rule guide works through the math for each firm.
FTMO vs Apex vs Topstep: Program Comparison
| Program | Evaluation and market | Risk rules to compare | Reward / payout share |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTMO CFD 2-Step | Two phases; forex and CFDs | 10% then 5% targets; 5% daily loss and 10% static maximum loss; unlimited period | Up to 90% |
| FTMO CFD 1-Step | One phase; separate CFD challenge | 10% target; 3% daily loss; EOD trailing maximum loss and Best Day rule | 90% |
| FTMO Futures Growth / Pro | One phase; simulated CME futures | Both use EOD trailing; Growth and Pro have different daily loss and withdrawal conditions | 90/10 for both plans |
| Apex EOD / Intraday | One phase; current futures evaluations | 30-day evaluation access; EOD versus real-time trailing; PA rules differ from evaluation rules | 100% of approved current-PA payouts, with eligibility and caps |
| Topstep | Trading Combine followed by funded stages | Identify the account stage, contract limit and selected payout path | 90/10; limited grandfathering for eligible earlier traders |
Official sources: FTMO CFD 2-Step, FTMO CFD 1-Step, FTMO Futures Growth/Pro, Apex EOD evaluations and Topstep Express Funded parameters.
FTMO: Futures and CFD Rules Are Separate
FTMO officially launched FTMO Futures on September 17, 2026 (FTMO press release). It offers $50K, $100K and $150K Growth and Pro accounts on a monthly subscription with no activation fee and no time limit. Both have a single-phase evaluation and EOD trailing drawdown. Growth allows requests for up to 50% of available profit; Pro allows up to 100%, subject to the plan's payout caps. Both still have a 90/10 payout ratio.
Growth has no daily loss limit in the evaluation and a soft daily loss limit in the Sim-Funded stage. Pro uses a hard daily loss limit. This is a material account choice: applying the CFD 2-Step's 5% daily loss rule to either futures plan would be incorrect.
The CFD 2-Step product requires a 10% Challenge target followed by 5% Verification, with four minimum trading days in each phase and an unlimited trading period. Its qualifying first reward includes the evaluation-fee refund. CFD 1-Step has different limits and a non-refundable fee. The older 30-day/60-day FTMO phase deadlines are not current.
The CFD 2-Step's 10% maximum loss is static, measured from the starting balance, while all three futures programs trail an end-of-day or intraday peak until the floor locks. Our static vs trailing drawdown comparison runs the same trades under each rule to show how much room each one leaves.
Do not assume that a CFD platform, Swing account permission or scaling plan applies to FTMO Futures. The official futures instrument list includes CME futures and their trading hours. A cash-index CFD and an exchange futures contract can track a similar market while having different contract sizes, fees and trading rules.
Apex: EOD, Intraday and Legacy Accounts
Apex stopped selling its previous account versions on March 1, 2026. Existing Legacy subscriptions and PAs retain their prior rules and cannot be converted into the current EOD or Intraday products. The familiar 100% split on the first $25,000 paid per account, followed by 90%, is a Legacy term. See Apex's Legacy overview and Legacy payouts.
Current EOD and Intraday evaluations have 30 calendar days of access and no minimum trading-day requirement. EOD recalculates the drawdown floor at the close and enforces it during the next session. Intraday follows the account's peak balance including unrealized gains. The Intraday evaluation has no daily loss limit; EOD has a separate daily limit that pauses the session when reached.
Current PAs have a 100% share of approved payouts, five qualifying profit days, a $500 minimum request, a safety net and a best-day profit share below 50%. Each PA is limited to six payouts. The cap changes by size and payout number. These conditions make an unconditional claim of on-demand withdrawals misleading. See EOD payouts and Intraday payouts.
Topstep: Payout Path and Legacy Eligibility Matter
Topstep's current default split is 90/10. Traders who joined its new dashboard before January 12, 2026 retain the stated first-$10,000 lifetime-profit exception. It is not the default offer for a new trader.
Express Funded Standard requires five winning days of at least $150. Express Funded Consistency requires three trading days and a 40% consistency target. Requests are limited by the eligible account balance and applicable cap. Current caps also depend on account size and any qualifying daily-loss-limit offer, so use the official table for your selected account.
Daily payout access is a separate Live Funded milestone after 30 qualifying winning days. Passing a Trading Combine does not immediately create unconditional daily withdrawals. Source: Topstep Payout Policy.
FTMO vs Topstep: Which Is Better?
If you trade forex or CFDs, FTMO, because Topstep only offers CME futures. If you trade futures, the two are now close: both use a one-phase evaluation, an end-of-day trailing drawdown, no time limit and a 90/10 split. Topstep is cheaper to start ($49 a month against $119 for FTMO Growth on a 50K) and allows five funded accounts to FTMO's three. FTMO Futures runs on NinjaTrader, Tradovate and TradingView rather than TopstepX, lets a Growth account request a payout after four $150 days, and lets Pro accounts withdraw up to 100% of profit per request (capped at $5,000 on a 50K) where Topstep allows 50% of the balance.
Check eligibility first: FTMO Futures does not accept residents of a long list of countries, including Australia and China, or of five US states (Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Montana and South Carolina) (FTMO Futures eligibility).
FTMO vs Apex: Which Is Better?
Apex pays 100% of approved payouts against FTMO's 90% and allows 20 funded accounts to FTMO's three. The trade-off is time and access: Apex evaluations expire after 30 days, and a Performance Account only releases profit above its safety net ($52,100 on a 50K) for six payouts before it closes. FTMO Futures has no deadline and no activation fee, and its Pro accounts can withdraw all available profit per request. Apex is cheaper during its coupon windows; FTMO is simpler to plan around and permits automated trading, which Apex prohibits (FTMO, Apex).
Cost to Get Funded: Monthly vs One-Time
FTMO Futures and Topstep bill monthly until you pass; Apex sells a one-time evaluation with 30 days of access, so a failed attempt means buying another. The table compares 50K list prices if you pass during your first, second or third 30-day period without buying resets.
| 50K, list prices | Pass in month 1 | Month 2 | Month 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTMO Futures Growth ($119/mo, no activation fee) | $119 | $238 | $357 |
| FTMO Futures Pro ($139/mo, no activation fee) | $139 | $278 | $417 |
| Topstep Standard ($49/mo + $149 on passing) | $198 | $247 | $296 |
| Topstep No Activation Fee ($95/mo) | $95 | $190 | $285 |
| Apex Intraday ($249 per eval + $89 on passing) | $338 | $587 | $836 |
| Apex EOD ($590 per eval + $119 on passing) | $709 | $1,299 | $1,889 |
Apex's list prices are rarely what traders pay. Its SAVENOW coupon cut evaluations to 10% of list until October 13, 2026, which makes a first-month Apex Intraday pass $113.90 ($24.90 + $89; the activation fee is not discounted). Topstep's 15% referral discount applies to a first Combine. Before you buy any of the three, run the exact account through our prop firm rule checklist, which lists 50K drawdown, daily loss, consistency and payout numbers firm by firm.
We do not rank these programs by pass rate, because only Topstep publishes one: 16.8% of Trading Combines started in 2025 were passed (Topstep 2025 statistics).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: FTMO, Apex, or TopStep?
For CME futures, Topstep is the best starting point for most traders: $49 a month on a 50K, no deadline and one end-of-day drawdown. Apex suits experienced traders who want 100% of approved payouts and up to 20 funded accounts and can pass within 30 days. FTMO Futures suits traders who want NinjaTrader or TradingView. For forex and CFDs, only FTMO applies.
Is FTMO better than Topstep?
For forex and CFDs, yes, because Topstep only offers CME futures. For futures, Topstep is cheaper to start ($49 a month plus $149 on passing, against $119 a month for FTMO Growth on a 50K) and allows five funded accounts to FTMO's three. FTMO Futures offers NinjaTrader and TradingView and lets Pro accounts withdraw up to 100% of profit per request. Both pay 90/10.
Is FTMO or Apex better for futures trading?
Apex pays 100% of approved payouts against FTMO's 90/10, but its evaluations expire after 30 days and its Performance Accounts only release profit above a safety net, for six payouts. FTMO Futures Growth and Pro have no time limit, no activation fee and an end-of-day trailing drawdown. Apex is cheaper during coupon windows; FTMO is simpler to plan around.
Which is cheapest: FTMO, Apex or Topstep?
At 50K list prices, Topstep is cheapest if you pass in the first month: $95 on the No Activation Fee path or $198 on the Standard path. FTMO Futures costs $119 (Growth) or $139 (Pro) a month with no activation fee. Apex lists $249 plus an $89 activation fee for an Intraday evaluation, but its SAVENOW coupon cut evaluations to 10% of list until October 13, 2026.
Which prop firm has the fastest payouts: FTMO, Apex, or TopStep?
Topstep's Consistency path qualifies quickest, after three trading days with a 40% best-day cap. FTMO Futures needs four qualifying days on Growth and five on Pro, Topstep's Standard path five winning days of $150, and Apex five qualifying days plus a balance above its safety net. Topstep daily payouts are a Live Funded milestone after 30 winning days. After approval, Apex says most payouts arrive within 5 to 11 business days.
Can I trade both forex and futures with these prop firms?
FTMO offers separate CFD and Futures products; a CFD account is not a CME futures account. Apex and Topstep focus on futures programs. Currency futures such as 6E also differ from spot forex and forex CFDs, so check the instruments for the exact account before you buy.
Sources
- FTMO Futures: comparison table
- FTMO Futures: trading objectives and rules
- Topstep Help Center: Trading Combine Parameters
- Topstep Help Center: Topstep Payout Policy
- Apex Trader Funding: EOD Evaluations
- Apex Trader Funding: EOD Payouts
- Apex Trader Funding: Prohibited Activities
- FTMO Futures FAQ: Which platforms can I use?
- FTMO Futures: Forbidden trading practices
- FTMO Futures FAQ: Who can join FTMO Futures?
- Topstep Help Center: Pricing and Payment Questions
- Topstep Help Center: TopstepX API Access
- Topstep: 2025 Trader Performance Statistics
Going deeper on two of these? Read Topstep vs Apex, the best Topstep alternatives and EOD vs intraday drawdown.
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Disclaimer: Trading involves substantial risk of loss. Prop firm evaluations have strict rules and most traders do not pass on their first attempt. This comparison is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own due diligence before joining any prop firm.