MyFunded Futures vs Topstep: Head-to-Head for Futures Traders

These are the two most talked-about futures prop firms in 2026, and they couldn't be more different in how they approach the same problem.

Topstep invented the funded trader evaluation model in 2012 and has paid out millions across 14 years of operation. MyFundedFutures (MFFU) launched in late 2023 and has already rocketed to a 4.9 Trustpilot rating with over 11,000 reviews and a reported 25% pass rate that makes Topstep's 12-22% look modest.

I've tested both firms, and the honest answer is that neither is universally better. Topstep gives you a safer drawdown model and proven longevity. MFFU gives you lower costs, more platform flexibility, and a payout structure that puts more money in your pocket early. The right choice depends entirely on what kind of trader you are and what you're optimizing for.

How I compare firms: This comparison is built from actual accounts I've evaluated and traded with each firm—not from reading marketing pages or aggregating reviews. I've run evaluations, tested platforms, analyzed rule differences, and tracked real payout data across both firms.

Topstep pioneered futures prop trading and remains the benchmark every other firm gets measured against. For the full breakdown of their account structure, pricing, rules, and what makes them different from newer futures firms, check out my complete Topstep review. It's based on real evaluation experience and honest analysis—including what works, what doesn't, and where newer competitors have caught up. For the absolute latest, check Topstep's website or their Help Center.

Evaluation Structure: Getting Funded

Both firms use a one-step evaluation. Pass the profit target while staying within the drawdown limits, and you're funded. No Phase 2. No verification round. But the details matter.

Topstep offers three account sizes: $50K ($49/month Standard Path), $100K ($99/month), and $150K ($149/month). There's also a No-Fee Path at $109/month for any size, which eliminates the $149 activation fee but costs more per month. The profit target is 6% across all sizes ($3,000 on a 50K, $6,000 on a 100K, $9,000 on a 150K). Minimum trading days: none officially, though you need enough days to satisfy the 50% consistency target.

MFFU completely restructured their accounts in mid-2025, replacing the old Starter/Expert plans with three new tiers: Core ($77/month, 50K only), Scale (tiered pricing by size), and Pro ($227-$477/month). The Rapid add-on for Scale unlocks daily payouts. Profit target is $3,000 across most plans. MFFU requires a minimum of 2 trading days on Core and Scale (you can literally pass in two days), and there's no activation fee on any plan—they eliminated those entirely as of July 2025.

The pass-in-two-days possibility on MFFU is a genuine advantage for experienced traders who know their edge. On Topstep, even if you nail the profit target in two sessions, the 50% consistency rule means you'll need additional days to dilute your best day below 50% of total profits. That consistency requirement effectively extends most evaluations by days or weeks.

My take: MFFU wins on evaluation economics. No activation fee saves $149 upfront, and the free reset on billing date is genuinely trader-friendly. Topstep's pricing only makes sense on the $49/month Standard Path for 50K if you pass in month one—but the consistency rule makes that harder than it sounds.

Drawdown Rules: Where Topstep Still Leads

This is the category where Topstep's 14 years of refinement show. And it's the single most important factor for traders who blow through drawdown limits regularly.

Topstep uses an end-of-day (EOD) trailing drawdown. Your Maximum Loss Limit only updates based on your closing balance at the end of each session—never during live trading. If your account spikes to +$2,000 intraday but you close the day flat, your drawdown floor doesn't move. This means you can take heat during the session, recover, and your account survives situations that would breach an intraday trailing firm.

MFFU uses EOD trailing during evaluation—same as Topstep, which is good. But here's where it gets tricky: the Rapid add-on switches to intraday trailing in the sim-funded stage. That means your drawdown floor follows your equity high in real-time, not just at end of day. For scalpers and aggressive day traders, this is a meaningful downgrade. Your account can be breached during a temporary intraday spike that you would have recovered from by session close.

The standard Core and Scale plans keep EOD trailing in the funded stage, making them more comparable to Topstep. But if you're drawn to Rapid's daily payout feature, understand that you're trading EOD protection for payout speed.

Both firms trail the drawdown until it reaches the starting balance, at which point it becomes static. This is industry standard for well-designed prop firms—it means once you've built enough profit buffer, your floor locks and you have permanent breathing room.

My verdict: Topstep's EOD drawdown is consistently applied across all stages. MFFU's standard plans match it, but Rapid's intraday switch is a trap for traders who don't read the fine print. If drawdown mechanics are your primary concern, Topstep is the safer bet.

Payouts: Where MFFU Pulls Ahead

This is MFFU's strongest category, and it's not close.

Profit split: MFFU's standard plans give you 100% of your first $10,000 in profits, then 90/10 after that. Topstep changed their policy on January 12, 2026: new traders now get 90/10 from the first dollar. Legacy Topstep traders keep the 100% first $10K, but if you're signing up today, MFFU gives you $1,000 more on your first $10K in payouts.

The Rapid add-on uses a different split—90/10 from the start (upgraded from 80/20 in January 2026). Still better than Topstep's flat 90/10 because of the faster payout cadence.

Payout frequency: MFFU Core allows payout requests every 5 winning days. Rapid allows daily requests after each market close. Topstep's Express Funded Account requires 5 winning days of $150+ for XFA Standard, or 3 days with 40% consistency for XFA Consistency.

Payout speed: MFFU processes payouts in approximately one business day—some of the fastest in the industry. Topstep takes 1-3 business days for Wise, 3-10 for ACH. Not slow, but MFFU's speed is a genuine edge for traders who want cash fast.

Payout fees: MFFU charges a flat $15 per fiat withdrawal. Topstep charges $0.39 for Wise (cheapest), $30 for ACH or Wire. If you're doing monthly payouts, Topstep's ACH fee costs $360/year versus MFFU's $180/year. Wise users on Topstep pay almost nothing, so the advantage depends on your preferred method.

The payout reset trap—both firms have it. On Topstep, every withdrawal resets your Maximum Loss Limit relative to your new balance, creating vulnerability. MFFU's Core plan has tiered payout limits that cap how much you can extract early. The Pro plan offers a clearer path to higher withdrawals. Neither firm makes early-stage payouts risk-free.

Platform Flexibility: No Contest

This isn't even a comparison anymore. As of 2026, Topstep requires TopstepX for all new accounts—their proprietary browser-based platform built on ProjectX technology. No NinjaTrader. No Tradovate. No Quantower. No TradingView standalone. Just TopstepX.

MFFU supports Tradovate, TradingView, NinjaTrader, Quantower, Volumetrica, ATAS, and other professional futures platforms. If your strategy depends on NinjaTrader's indicator framework, Sierra Chart's order flow tools, or TradingView's Pine Script custom indicators, MFFU is the only viable option.

This extends to automated trading. TopstepX doesn't support algo execution—no bots, no EAs, no API connections. MFFU doesn't restrict trading strategies, including algorithms and trade copiers, though they don't provide direct support for third-party automation software.

For traders who've built their edge around a specific platform's tools, switching to TopstepX means rebuilding from scratch. That's not a minor inconvenience—it's a fundamental change to how you trade.

The counterargument: TopstepX bundles TradingView charts, commission-free execution, The Tilt™ sentiment tool, and built-in risk management tools at no additional cost. If you don't have platform-specific dependencies, TopstepX is genuinely capable and saves $100+/month versus paying for separate charting and data subscriptions.

Track Record and Trust

Here's where the conversation gets uncomfortable for MFFU fans. Topstep has been paying traders since 2012. They've survived market crashes, regulatory scrutiny, platform migrations, and competitive pressure. When the December 2025 outages hit, they had the financial stability to weather the storm and remediate affected accounts (however imperfectly).

MFFU launched in November 2023. That's less than two and a half years of operational history. Yes, they're backed by the MyFundedFX group, which has forex experience. Yes, their Trustpilot score is outstanding. But no one knows how MFFU handles a real crisis—a liquidity event, a regulatory challenge, a market structure failure that stresses their risk model.

I'm not saying MFFU is going to disappear. I'm saying that when you're trusting a firm with your time, your strategy, and your future payouts, operational history matters. Topstep's track record is worth something even when their pricing isn't the cheapest.

The nuance: MFFU's rapid growth and consistently positive reviews suggest they're building something sustainable. Their 25% pass rate (versus Topstep's 12-22%) indicates either more skilled applicants, easier evaluations, or better-designed rules—or some combination. But "rapidly growing startup" and "proven institution" carry different risk profiles, and traders should factor that in.

The Verdict: Who Should Choose Which

Choose Topstep if you: trade volatile instruments like CL or NQ where intraday drawdown protection matters most. Value a firm with 14 years of proven payouts. Don't mind trading exclusively on TopstepX. Appreciate structured community and coaching resources. Want the safety of trading with the most established name in the business.

Choose MFFU if you: want the lowest total cost to get funded. Need platform flexibility (NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView). Want 100% profit on your first $10K. Prefer faster payout processing. Trade with automated strategies or trade copiers. Don't need hand-holding from coaching or community features.

The hybrid approach: Run accounts at both firms simultaneously. Use Topstep for your primary funded account where drawdown protection matters most. Use MFFU for secondary accounts where you want platform flexibility and faster payouts. The monthly costs are low enough that running parallel accounts is viable for serious traders.

Neither firm is objectively better. They've chosen different tradeoffs, and the right one depends entirely on what matters most to your trading business.

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