Which is cheaper: The 5%ers or Topstep?

The 5%ers is cheaper to enter. The smallest evaluation account at The 5%ers starts at $3K, while Topstep's entry tier begins at $50K. Challenge fees scale with account size, so the smaller starting tier translates directly to a lower up-front cost. Both firms also publish discount codes from time to time — currently 10% at The 5%ers and no active promo at Topstep.

Does The 5%ers have a better profit split than Topstep?

No, Topstep's top profit split (90%) is higher than The 5%ers's (50% — 80%). On a $10,000 funded month with a $1,000 profit, that's $900 vs $800 — about $100 more per month at Topstep at the same risk profile. Both firms typically gate the top tier behind scaling milestones, so read the funded-phase rules carefully.

Which firm pays out faster: The 5%ers or Topstep?

Both The 5%ers and Topstep settle on a comparable cadence (N/A vs Payouts are distributed on a regular basis once an Express Funded account is active.), so the deciding factor is your withdrawal method — crypto and Skrill clear in hours, bank wires add 1–3 business days at either firm.

The 5%ers vs Topstep

Editorial intro

Comparing The 5%ers and Topstep comes down to profit split mechanics: The 5%ers offers 50% — 80% profit splits and $597.5K max capital with regular payouts, while Topstep counters with 90% splits and $750K max capital on a regular payout cadence. We've ranked The 5%ers at 4.8/5 and Topstep at 3.4/5 based on verified Trustpilot data drawn from 1,159 and 114 reviews respectively. Both firms operate in the retail prop trading space and have published payout records that we've cross-checked against trader-reported withdrawals. Below is the full side-by-side breakdown across 14 decision-relevant attributes, our editor's verdict on which trader profile each firm fits best, and the most-searched questions about this specific match-up.

Attribute	The 5%ers	Topstep
Profit Split	50% — 80%	90%
Max Funded Capital	$597.5K	$750K
Years in Operation	10	14
Headquartered	United Kingdom	United States
Rating (Trustpilot)	4.8/5 (1,159)	3.4/5 (114)
Payout Frequency	N/A	Payouts are distributed on a regular basis once an Express Funded account is active.
Active Discount	10%	—
Platforms	cTrader, MT5	TopstepX
Drawdown Type	—	—
Consistency Rule	Yes	Yes
Asset Coverage	Metals, Indices, Crypto, Other Commodities, Energy, FX	Futures
Min Account Size	$3K	$50K
Profit Target	8% / 5%	$3,000
Trading Days Min	—	2 days

View The 5%ers →View Topstep →

Our Verdict: The 5%ers vs Topstep

The 5%ers is better for:

▸Traders prioritising verified reputation (4.8 vs 3.4 Trustpilot)
▸Active current discount (10%)
▸Broader instrument coverage (6 asset classes vs 1)

Topstep is better for:

▸Maximising profit retention (90% vs 50% — 80%)
▸Scaling to larger accounts ($750K vs $597.5K)
▸Track record (14+ years vs 10 years)

Editor's note

For most traders, Topstep wins on profit split (90% vs 50% — 80%), but The 5%ers is the better pick if you want the active discount (10%) on entry. Our overall editorial pick: Topstep.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The 5%ers vs Topstep: Frequently Asked Questions

Not for most trader profiles. Topstep wins this match-up on profit split (90% vs 50% — 80%), posting a higher composite editorial score than The 5%ers. The 5%ers is still the right call if want the active discount (10%) on entry — but on a head-to-head ranking Topstep comes out ahead.

Yes — The 5%ers and Topstep are independent firms and neither imposes exclusivity. You can hold a funded account at both simultaneously, provided you respect each firm's rule set on your respective accounts. Many traders deliberately spread evaluations across firms to diversify counterparty risk; just remember that each firm tracks its own rule violations independently, so a breach at one has no effect on the other.

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