A detailed breakdown of how these two firms compare across costs, drawdown rules, payout structure, and trading restrictions.
Topstep is $82 cheaper to get started. Funded Futures Network charges $160/mo (monthly subscription) plus a $120 activation fee. Topstep charges $49/mo (monthly subscription) plus a $149 activation fee.
5 min trading days required
5d eval + 2d exhibition
50% consistency โ need 2+ profitable days
2d eval + 5d winning + 3d processing
Funded Futures Network gets you funded faster, with an estimated ~7 days to first payout (5d eval + 2d exhibition). Consistency rules also affect pacing: Funded Futures Network caps your best day at 40% of total profit, while Topstep caps at 50% โ a tighter rule means you may need more trading days in practice.
Funded Futures Network offers up to 90% profit split(Daily payouts, $500 min), while Topstep offers up to 100%(Daily payouts, $125 min). The 10 percentage point difference in profit split can add up significantly over time โ on a $10,000 profit, that's $1,000 more in your pocket.
When comparing withdrawal frequency, the gap between payouts matters. Funded Futures Network has no minimum profitable days requirement between withdrawals. Topstep requires 5 profitable trading days between each withdrawal โ at 20 trading days per month, that works out to roughly 4 payouts per month.
Funded Futures Network requires clearing a buffer zone before your first payout โ you must earn above your starting balance plus the drawdown amount before any withdrawal is allowed. has no buffer requirement, meaning payouts are available from day one.
Overnight holding allowed ยท EOD trailing (not intraday)
Automation & bots allowed ยท News trading OK
News trading allowed ยท Only 2 min trading days
Funded Futures Network is a stronger fit for swing traders (overnight holding allowed). Topstep is a stronger fit for scalpers and day traders (automation & bots allowed). Explore all trading styles to see which firms match your approach.
Based on $500/day profit, 20 trading days/month, 55% win rate
At $500/day profit, Funded Futures Network reaches break-even on day 12 while Topstep reaches it on day 12. Topstep costs $82 less to get started. Funded Futures Network projects $3,120/mo more in funded earnings.
Choose Funded Futures Network if you want:
Choose Topstep if you want:
Topstep requires 5 trading days between payout requests. Funded Futures Network has no minimum trading day gap between payouts.
Topstep requires a minimum of $150 daily profit for a day to count toward payout eligibility. Funded Futures Network has no qualifying day minimum.
Topstep limits each payout to 50% of accumulated profit, keeping the remainder as an account buffer. Funded Futures Network has no percentage-of-profit cap on payouts.
Maximum per withdrawal request: Funded Futures Network caps at $10,000, while Topstep caps at $5,000.
Funded Futures Network is more flexible overall. Automation: Topstep allows bots and algo trading while Funded Futures Network prohibits it โ a critical difference for systematic traders. Overnight holding: Funded Futures Network allows it while Topstep does not โ important for swing traders. Copy trading: allowed at Funded Futures Network but restricted at Topstep. Both require flat-by deadlines: Funded Futures Network at 4:50 PM EST, Topstep at 3:10 PM CT.
Overall, Topstep scores higher (72 vs 65) on our trader-friendliness index. Key advantages: lower starting cost, better profit split, more lenient consistency rules. That said, Funded Futures Network wins on faster path to funded, fewer trading restrictions. See the full glossary to understand any unfamiliar terms, or explore trading styles to find the best firm for your approach.