Topstep vs Alpha Futures: prop firm rules compared

On Topstep and Alpha Futures the drawdown trails at end of day: the floor is recalculated once, from the closing balance, so open profit given back during the session does not raise it — but equity touching the floor during the session still counts. For example, at Topstep and Alpha Futures a $50,000 account starts with its floor at $48,000, $2,000 under the start.

On Topstep and Alpha Futures the trailing floor stops rising once it reaches breakeven and stays there.

A soft daily loss limit pauses the day instead of failing the account: reach it and open positions are flattened, trading stops until the next session, and the account stays open. Alpha Futures' Zero plan sets it at $1,000 on $50,000. Topstep and Alpha Futures' Standard and Advanced plans have no daily loss limit, so a losing day is bounded only by the max drawdown.

Topstep and Alpha Futures start the trading day at the same moment, 6:00 PM ET (5:00 PM CT); a daily loss limit counts from that reset, not from midnight.

A consistency rule caps how much of the total profit one day may carry. Topstep caps any single day at 55% of total profit, so it takes at least 2 profitable days to finish inside the rule. One day may then carry at most $1,650 of a $3,000 target. Alpha Futures' Standard plan caps any single day at 50% of total profit, so it takes at least 2 profitable days to finish inside the rule. One day may then carry at most $1,500 of a $3,000 target. Alpha Futures' Advanced plan caps any single day at 40% of total profit, so it takes at least 3 profitable days to finish inside the rule. One day may then carry at most $1,600 of a $4,000 target. Alpha Futures' Zero plan applies no consistency rule in the evaluation, so one large day can count in full.

Topstep requires at least 2 trading days before a pass; Alpha Futures requires at least 1 trading day on Zero, 2 on Standard and 3 on Advanced before a pass.

On automated trading — a strategy or bot sending the orders — at Topstep it is allowed in the evaluation and on a funded account; Alpha Futures has no written answer on record. Written answers: Topstep (read Oct 21, 2026).

Topstep and Alpha Futures differ on 3 of the evaluation rules compared here: daily loss limit, consistency rule and minimum trading days. If one or two large days make up most of your profit, the consistency rule sets how fast you can finish: Topstep caps one day at 55% of total profit; Alpha Futures caps one day at 40–50% of total profit on some plans and has no cap on others. If you keep trading after a losing morning, look at what the daily loss limit does: Topstep has no daily loss limit; Alpha Futures pauses the day at its daily loss limit on some plans and has no limit on others. To finish in as few sessions as possible, compare the minimum days: Topstep needs at least 2 trading days, Alpha Futures needs 1 to 3 trading days, depending on the plan.

Payout terms once funded — Topstep: Per cycle: 5 winning days of $150+ (Standard) or 3 days at ≤40% consistency; Alpha Futures: Up to 4 requests/month after 5 winning days of $200+. Topstep sells one evaluation model; Alpha Futures sells 3 plans: Zero, Standard and Advanced. Each plan carries its own version of the rules above, which is why they are listed plan by plan. If a strategy or bot will send your orders, Topstep's written answer is allowed in the evaluation and on a funded account, and Alpha Futures has no written answer on record.

Read both rule sets against your own average day, then confirm the current terms on Topstep's site and Alpha Futures' site. PassTraq tracks challenges at both firms using the same rule presets shown here.