Build your comparison
The5ers vs Topstepwhich prop firm deserves your challenge fee?
Quick verdict
Safer counterparty
The5ers
Faster payouts
The5ers
Better for smaller budgets
The5ers
Rule stability
Too close to call
Feature comparison
| Feature |  The5ers |  Topstep | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $19 | $49 | The5ers |
| Challenge model | 2-step, 3-step, instant | 1-step | Tie |
| Max funding | $4M | $750K | The5ers |
| Max profit split | 100% | 90% | The5ers |
| Payouts | Bi-weekly | Weekly at best | Tie |
| Track record | Established 2016 | Established 2012 | Topstep |
| Trader rating | New — no ratings yet | New — no ratings yet | Tie |
| Headquarters | 🇮🇱 Israel | 🇺🇸 United States | Tie |
| Overall score | 84 | 66 | The5ers |
Both firms are scored from our ongoing research — the score dials above update as new data and trader input land. Read the full breakdowns on the The5ers review and the Topstep review.
The5ers — strengths & weaknesses
Pros
- Operating since 2016 — a decade of bi-weekly payouts with a ~16-day average payout time
- True instant funding on live accounts, doubling at each milestone up to $4M
- High Stakes two-step from just $19; 70% of the fee refunded with the first payout
- CME futures added in 2025 and US access restored via cTrader
Cons
- Low leverage (1:30) and mandatory stop-losses on Hyper Growth and Bootcamp programs
- Budget programs start at a 50/50 split until scaling milestones are hit
- Risk-department reviews at payout time have produced denial complaints from flagged accounts
Topstep — strengths & weaknesses
Pros
- Longest track record in futures funding (2012), FIA member, published pass-rate and payout statistics
- Genuine live progression backed by an FCM — not sim-only payouts
- TopstepX discipline tools (personal loss limits, trade limits) and next-business-day payout processing
- $49/month entry with a reset credit included in each renewal
Cons
- 2026 changes cut the deal: flat 90/10 split, lower per-payout caps, and reserve-locked live accounts
- Combine Maximum Loss Limit trails intraday on open equity — unrealized wicks can breach you
- Monthly subscription costs stack during long evaluations
- Trustpilot fell to 3.4 amid the payout-policy backlash
84
VS66
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