The5ers vs Topstep
An empirical, rule-by-rule comparison of drawdown mechanics, profit splits, latency benchmarks, news restrictions, and payout reliability to help you select the ideal funded account.
The5ers
Topstep
Side-by-Side Specifications Matrix
Every parameter below is cross-verified directly against the official 2026 rulebooks and contract specifications.
| Evaluation Parameter | The5ers | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Asset Class / Market | CFD | FUTURES |
| Drawdown Calculation Type | Static Balance-Based | End-of-Day (EOD) Trailing |
| Max Daily Loss | 5.0% | 2.0% |
| Max Overall Loss | 10.0% | 4.0% |
| Profit Split | 80% - 100% | 90% - 100% |
| Minimum Trading Days | 0 Days | 2 Days |
| News Trading Policy | ✓ News trading fully permitted on all evaluation stages and funded accounts | ✓ Trading economic news releases allowed during trading hours |
| Weekend & Overnight Holding | ✓ Permitted (Overnight and weekend holding allowed with no restrictions) | ✗ Flat by Close (Intraday futures only; all open orders and positions flat by 4:10 PM CT) |
| Supported Platforms | MT5 | Tradovate, TradingView, NinjaTrader, Quantower, TS Trader |
| Payout Schedule | Bi-weekly or on-demand after 14 days | Daily payouts after 5 winning days (+$200/day) |
| First Payout Eligibility | 14 days from funding | 5 winning days |
| Consistency Rule | No restrictive lot-size or profit consistency rule | 50% consistency target during Trading Combine |
| Islamic / Swap-Free Option | ✓ Native Swap-Free Option Native Swap-Free account option selectable upon registration with zero administration fee markups |
✓ Inherently Swap-Free (CME Futures) Inherently Swap-Free (All futures positions close before daily CME market close 4:10 PM CT; zero overnight interest/riba) |
| US Residents Accepted | ✗ Restricted | ✓ Accepted |
| Maximum Capital Allocation | $4,000,000 | $450,000 |
Drawdown Architecture: The5ers vs Topstep
The fundamental differentiator between The5ers and Topstep lies in how risk and liquidation thresholds are tracked:
The5ers: Static Balance-Based
The5ers applies a Static Balance-Based approach. Under this structure, your stop loss floor is anchored to balance intervals. This ensures that temporary floating open profits do not pull your stop loss floor higher in real-time.
Topstep: End-of-Day (EOD) Trailing
Topstep implements a End-of-Day (EOD) Trailing model. This provides traders with full intraday flexibility without the fear of open spikes ratcheting up their liquidation point.
The Trader's Verdict: Which Firm Should You Choose?
Depending on your trading style, asset preference, and capital requirements, here is how our research team segments the two providers:
Choose The5ers if you:
- Want Static Balance-Based risk management.
- Trade primarily CFD instruments with MT5.
- Value Traders looking for instant funding programs, low entry fee Bootcamps, and hyper-growth scaling up to $4,000,000.
- Want the ability to hold swing positions over weekends and economic news releases.
- Seek up to $4,000,000 in maximum scaling capital.
Choose Topstep if you:
- Prefer End-of-Day (EOD) Trailing execution terms.
- Trade FUTURES via Tradovate, TradingView, NinjaTrader.
- Value Disciplined futures day traders who prioritize End-of-Day drawdown protection and rapid daily payout availability.
- Require strict intraday liquidity and same-day/daily payout options.
- Want access to starting entry fees at $49.