Topstep runs a structured futures-focused evaluation using a monthly subscription model with strict risk limits and consistency rules, while FundingPips offers crypto-friendly one-step and two-step challenges with one-time fees, static drawdown caps, and flexible payout cycles.
The reader outcome is behavioural: turn this guidance into a repeatable decision without relying on urgency, hindsight or one-off results.
The Behaviour to Practise
Use a written due-diligence checklist before you pay for, recommend or rule out a firm.
Why This Behaviour Matters
Comparison pages are useful only when they improve a decision. A fixed checklist reduces brand bias, prevents one attractive headline from dominating the choice, and makes changing fees or rules easier to verify.
- Topstep focuses on futures trading, including crypto futures, rather than spot crypto pairs.
- FundingPips offers crypto-friendly challenges with one-step and two-step evaluation paths.
- Topstep charges recurring monthly subscription fees during evaluation.
- FundingPips uses one-time challenge fees that may be refunded after the first payout.
- FundingPips typically uses 5% daily and 10% overall drawdown caps.
- Topstep emphasizes risk discipline and consistency metrics during its Trading Combine evaluation.
- FundingPips supports multiple payout cycles including weekly and bi-weekly withdrawals.
This article compares Topstep and FundingPips proprietary trading programs in 2025, focusing on evaluation fees, risk rules, and payout structures for traders interested in crypto-related trading opportunities. Topstep primarily funds futures trading through its Trading Combine evaluation, which uses a subscription model and strict risk controls before granting funded accounts. FundingPips offers crypto-friendly challenges with one-time fees, defined profit targets, and static drawdown caps. Once funded, FundingPips provides flexible payout cycles, while Topstep ties withdrawals to performance metrics such as winning trading days. Understanding these differences helps traders choose between a structured futures evaluation model and a flexible crypto challenge program.
Prop Firm A company that allocates trading capital to external traders and shares profits with them.
Evaluation / Challenge A testing phase where traders must meet profit targets and risk limits to qualify for funded trading.
Profit Split The percentage of profits retained by the trader after the firm’s share.
Drawdown Limit (Overall) The maximum cumulative loss allowed before the evaluation fails.
Daily Loss Limit The maximum loss allowed within a single trading day.
Subscription Fee A recurring fee charged to maintain access to an evaluation program.
One-Time Fee A single payment required to enter a trading challenge.
Payout Cycle The schedule that determines when traders can withdraw profits.
Quick Answer
Topstep evaluates traders through a monthly subscription-based Trading Combine, primarily focused on futures markets including crypto futures.
Why it matters
The subscription model encourages traders to develop consistent trading habits and disciplined risk management before accessing funded accounts.
How to do it
- Choose a Topstep Trading Combine account size.
- Subscribe to the monthly evaluation plan.
- Trade within profit targets and risk limits.
- Maintain required trading consistency and minimum trading days.
- Pass the evaluation to receive a funded account.
- Request payouts after meeting winning day requirements.
Common mistakes
- Underestimating subscription costs if evaluations take multiple months
- Ignoring consistency rules or minimum trading day requirements
- Assuming spot crypto trading is available
Example
A trader subscribes to a $99 monthly Topstep Combine, meets profit and risk requirements over several trading days, and then becomes eligible for a funded account and profit withdrawals.
Quick Answer
FundingPips provides one-step and two-step crypto challenges with fixed profit targets and static drawdown limits.
Why it matters
The one-time fee structure makes budgeting easier, and flexible payout cycles allow traders to access profits more frequently.
How to do it
- Choose a FundingPips challenge size (e.g., $5K–$100K).
- Pay the one-time challenge fee.
- Trade to meet the profit target.
- Stay within daily and overall drawdown limits.
- Pass the evaluation and receive funded status.
- Request payouts according to the selected cycle.
Common mistakes
- Misinterpreting drawdown rules
- Ignoring minimum trading day requirements
- Trading too aggressively to reach targets quickly
Example
A trader enters a two-step FundingPips challenge, targeting 8% profit in phase one and 5% in phase two, with 5% daily and 10% overall drawdown caps.
Quick Answer
Topstep uses recurring monthly subscription fees, while FundingPips charges one-time challenge fees that may be refunded after the first payout.
Why it matters
Recurring fees can accumulate if evaluations take longer, whereas one-time fees provide predictable upfront costs.
- Feature — Topstep — FundingPips
- Fee model — Monthly subscription — One-time challenge fee
- Refunds — Not typical — Often refunded on first payout
- Account sizes — Multiple tiers — Multiple tiers
- Reset costs — Possible — Possible
Example
A trader might pay $99 per month for a Topstep Combine, while a $50K FundingPips crypto challenge might cost around $239 once.
Quick Answer
FundingPips typically uses static daily and overall drawdown caps, while Topstep applies end-of-day loss limits and structured risk controls during evaluation.
Why it matters
Different drawdown models affect how traders manage risk and position sizing.
- Risk Rule — Topstep — FundingPips
- Daily loss limit — Yes — Around 5%
- Overall drawdown — Structured limits — Around 10%
- Drawdown type — End-of-day equity model — Static drawdown
- Consistency rules — Often required — Usually minimal
Example
FundingPips may enforce 5% daily and 10% overall drawdown limits, while Topstep uses risk thresholds tied to end-of-day equity levels.
Quick Answer
Topstep payouts depend on meeting winning day requirements, while FundingPips offers multiple payout cycles including weekly and bi-weekly withdrawals.
Why it matters
Payout timing affects when traders can access profits and manage capital.
- Feature — Topstep — FundingPips
- First payout — After qualifying winning days — After meeting funded conditions
- Frequency — Structured schedule — Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly
- Profit split — Up to 100% initially — Up to 100% depending on plan
Example
Topstep may require five profitable trading days before a payout request, while FundingPips might allow bi-weekly payouts after reaching profit thresholds.
Quick Answer
Choose FundingPips if you want crypto-focused challenges with fixed costs, and choose Topstep if you prefer a structured futures evaluation with strong risk discipline.
Why it matters
Your preferred market and evaluation style should guide your choice.
Consider Topstep if you prefer
- Structured evaluation rules
- Futures trading exposure
- Consistency-based performance metrics
Consider FundingPips if you prefer
- Crypto-focused challenges
- One-time challenge fees
- Flexible payout schedules
Example
A crypto trader seeking frequent payouts may prefer FundingPips, while a futures trader seeking structured evaluation discipline may choose Topstep.
- Review official rules for both programs
- Compare subscription vs one-time challenge fees
- Understand profit targets and drawdown limits
- Learn payout eligibility requirements
- Test strategies on demo before entering a challenge
- Budget for multiple attempts if needed
- Confirm supported instruments and trading platforms
- Plan risk management before trading
- Track drawdown levels during trading
- Review payout schedules and withdrawal minimums
Can I trade crypto directly with Topstep?
Topstep primarily funds futures trading, including crypto futures contracts rather than spot crypto markets.
Are FundingPips challenge fees refundable?
FundingPips may refund the challenge fee after the first successful payout, depending on the plan.
Which program has lower upfront cost?
FundingPips typically has lower upfront costs due to one-time fees instead of monthly subscriptions.
Do both allow news trading?
FundingPips usually allows news trading; Topstep rules depend on the specific futures market.
Are overnight or weekend trades allowed?
Crypto trading at FundingPips may allow overnight holding, while Topstep futures trading may require closing positions before market breaks.
Which program pays out faster?
FundingPips may offer faster payout cycles due to weekly or bi-weekly options.
Can Topstep fees accumulate?
Yes. Monthly subscription costs continue until you pass the evaluation.
Does FundingPips offer scaling?
Yes. FundingPips provides scaling plans that increase trading capital after consistent performance.
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Proprietary trading challenges involve risk, including potential loss of evaluation fees and trading capital. Always review official firm documentation and risk disclosures before participating.
Recognise the Trigger
- Trigger: You feel ready to choose a firm after seeing one attractive fee, payout split or promotional claim.
- Automatic response: Buy immediately or compare firms from memory.
- Coached response: Pause, verify the current official terms, score the same decision criteria for every firm, and record the date checked.
- Stop condition: Do not proceed when a decisive rule, restriction, fee or payout condition is unclear.
How to Practise the Behaviour
- Write the non-negotiable rules that fit your strategy and market.
- Verify each material claim on the firm’s current official website or terms.
- Compare total cost, drawdown method, trading restrictions, payout conditions and support.
- Score each option using the same criteria; do not change the weighting midway.
- Wait until the next day, review the evidence again, and then decide.
Worked Example
A trader reviewing topstep vs fundingpips (crypto): fees, drawdown rules, and payouts compared (2025) notices the trigger before acting. Instead of making an immediate decision, the trader follows the written steps, records the evidence and accepts a no-trade or no-purchase outcome when a required condition is missing. The coaching win is following the process; one profitable or unprofitable result does not prove the rule works.
Common Mistakes and Reset
- Changing the rule after seeing the outcome. Reset by returning to the version written before the decision.
- Treating confidence as evidence. Reset by naming the observable condition that is present or absent.
- Increasing risk to recover time or money. Reset by applying the pre-agreed limit or ending the session.
After a mistake, do not try to repair the outcome with another impulsive action. Record the trigger, step away, and resume only when the checklist and risk conditions are valid again.
Self-Coaching Questions
- What exactly triggered the decision?
- Which observable evidence supported the action?
- Did I respect the risk limit and stop condition?
- What is the one behaviour I will repeat or reset next time?
Sources & Further Reading
- FTMO’s official Trading Objectives — Defines the current objectives and loss limits that must be checked before evaluating an FTMO programme.
- Topstep’s official Trading Combine parameters — Explains the current objectives, loss limit, consistency target and account parameters for Topstep evaluations.
- NFA BASIC registration and disciplinary checks — Shows how to verify US derivatives firms and review regulatory or disciplinary history.
- CFTC’s checks before trading leveraged forex — Provides independent guidance on leverage, counterparties, withdrawals and registration.
- FCA guidance on contracts for difference providers — Sets out risk warnings and retail protections relevant when assessing leveraged trading offers.
Now Practise This Behaviour
Immediate exercise: use the next 10 minutes to complete this practice loop.
- Write the trigger for this behaviour in one sentence.
- Write the coached response and the condition that means stop.
- Apply the rule to one recent chart, decision or firm comparison.
- Record whether you followed the process, without scoring the financial outcome.
Open the 60-Day Challenge Ready
Now practise this behaviour.
