Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Alpha Capital Group vs Topstep
Alpha Capital Group vs Topstep: the differences
| Compare |  Alpha Capital Group |  Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge price | $27Lower | $49 |
| Profit split | 80% to 90% | 90% |
| Evaluation steps | 1 step | 2 step |
| Account sizes | $5,000 to $200,000 simulated | $50K, $100K, $150K buying power |
| Payout frequency | Bi-weekly or on-demand | Every 2 weeks |
| Maximum drawdown | 4% to 10% | Not confirmed |
| Daily loss limit | 3% to 5% | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | National Futures Association (NFA) registered introducing broker, Topstep Brokerage LLC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) registered FCM / NFA member, Plus500US Financial Services LLC |
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Key differences
- Topstep scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.2.
- Founded is lower at Topstep: 2010 vs 2021.
- Challenge price is lower at Alpha Capital Group: $27 vs $49.
- Support channels: only Topstep offers Phone.
Our verdict on each
Alpha Capital Group
Alpha Capital Group suits traders who want funded status without long evaluation phases, and traders who can work inside a daily loss cap. With a challenge price of $27 and a 1 step format, the drawdown rule deserves a close read.
Topstep
Topstep suits beginners who want a low-cost route into futures prop trading, pairing a challenge price of $49 with a profit split of 90% that is competitive without topping the table. The brokerage account adds an account fee of $0 and payouts Every 2 weeks, so it suits a funded account you plan to grow.
Score breakdown
| Area | Alpha Capital Group | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 10.0HigherEntry charge of $27 is at the low end of tracked challenge prices, with a funded split of 80% to 90%. | 9.4Account fees are $0, the inactivity fee is $0 and the challenge costs $49, against a site median of €56.56. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.7Higher90% paid Every 2 weeks on a 2 step evaluation, with markets limited to futures. |
| Trust | 8.8 | 9.5Higher |
Which one suits you
Pick Alpha Capital Group if cost and challenge price matter most.
Pick Topstep if offer and trust matter most.
Cost in a real example
Pass one challenge, then make 10,000 profit
Alpha Capital Group
$7,973 to $8,973
80% to 90% of 10,000 - 1 × $27
Topstep
$8,951
90% of 10,000 - 1 × $49
Alpha Capital Group comes out $22 ahead.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
How they place
| Ranking | Alpha Capital Group | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Prop trading firms | 11 of 37 | 7 of 37 |
Sources behind this comparison
Alpha Capital Group
- alphacapitalgroup.uk: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Topstep
- topstep.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- nfa.futures.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Alpha Capital Group | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Alpha Capital Group Limited | Topstep LLC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 2021 | 2010Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Brokers
| Fact | Alpha Capital Group | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $49 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0.50 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Markets | Not confirmed | Futures |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Features | Not confirmed | Demo account, Futures |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | 1% processing fee on debit card deposits and withdrawals; wire fee $10 outbound, $0 inbound |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | TopstepX |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Alpha Capital Group | Topstep | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Challenge price | $27lowest quarter | $49below the median | $75 |
| Profit split | 80% to 90%at the median | 90%at the median | 90 |
| Maximum drawdown | 4% to 10%at the median | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Daily loss limit | 3% to 5%at the median | Not confirmed | 3 |
Median across 26 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Alpha Capital Group
Pros
- The funded split of 80% to 90% keeps the larger share of the account's profit with the trader, and payouts are Bi-weekly or on-demand so the money is not stuck on a long wait.
- A 1 step evaluation means a single paid phase sits between you and the funded account, so an unsuccessful attempt stays cheap.
- Account sizes run $5,000 to $200,000 simulated, so a trader can pick the scale of account that matches their own risk appetite.
Cons
- The split of 80% to 90% leaves part of the profit with the firm, where Apex Trader Funding shares 100%.
- The daily loss limit of 3% to 5% can end a session before the total drawdown allowance of 4% to 10% has been used, so sizing to the overall figure alone is a mistake.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, with no phone line among them, which leaves fewer routes when a payout needs chasing.
Topstep
Pros
- Entry is priced at $49 for a 2 step evaluation, with a profit split of 90%.
- The brokerage account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so an account left open does not slowly bleed money.
- Payouts arrive Every 2 weeks, a steadier rhythm than a single monthly cycle.
Cons
- The split of 90% leaves a share of profits with the firm, where Apex Trader Funding shares 100%.
- Markets are futures only, against 80.6% of the brands here that cover stocks.
- Topstep ranks 7 of 21 on challenge price, and Alpha Capital Group lists $27 for its own challenge.
Who each suits
Alpha Capital Group
Who it suits
- Traders who want to reach a funded account quickly and can hold a daily loss cap.
- Traders comparing against Funding Pips, whose challenge prices run $29 to $555, and want the cheaper entry.
- Traders who split profits high and are happy to be paid Bi-weekly or on-demand.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apex Trader Funding, for anyone who wants to keep the whole profit rather than a 80% to 90% share.
- Funding Pips, for traders who want a wider spread of challenge prices at $29 to $555 rather than the single $27 charged here.
Topstep
Who it suits
- Beginners testing futures prop trading, since beginners lists beginners and demo account and futures includes a demo account.
- Traders who want low running costs on a funded account: an account fee of $0, an inactivity fee of $0 and 90% kept of profits.
- Anyone weighing entry price against share, since Funding Pips runs challenge prices of $29 to $555, a different price point to Topstep's $49.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want the whole profit, since Apex Trader Funding shares 100% against the 90% kept here.
- Anyone trading stocks, ETFs or crypto, because the market list is futures.
- Budget-first buyers, since Alpha Capital Group lists $27 for its challenge.
Current offers
Topstep
Current offer
Discount code
Responsible Trading Advantage discounts: Up to $30/month
Add a Daily Loss Limit to unlock exclusive benefits, including larger payout caps and discounts on eligible accounts; listed as -$10 / -$20 / -$30 on the $50K / $100K / $150K accounts
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Topstep Trading Combine monthly discount: -$10 to -$30
One-time activation fee paid after passing the Trading Combine; discount is shown alongside the eligible account price
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Alpha Capital Group
How much does the Alpha Capital Group challenge cost?+
The challenge price is $27. The median challenge price across tracked prop firms is €56.56, so this sits in the lower part of the market. For comparison, challenge prices at Funding Pips run $29 to $555, which reaches much further at the higher end of that range.
What profit split do traders keep with Alpha Capital Group?+
The profit split is 80% to 90%, which keeps the larger share of the account's profit with the trader and the rest with the firm. The median split across tracked firms is 90%. Apex Trader Funding shares 100%, so weigh that if the share matters more to you than the entry cost.
Topstep
How much does the Topstep challenge cost?+
The evaluation fee is $49, and the same figure is listed as the minimum deposit, so that is the outlay before any trading. For context, the median challenge price across the brands here is €56.56. A failed attempt means paying the fee again to try, so treat it as a cost of repeated attempts rather than a single ticket.
What profit do I keep and how quickly are payouts made?+
Once funded, you keep 90% of the profit, and payouts go out Every 2 weeks. The split is a percentage of profit rather than a flat fee, so a thin month does not eat into it. The cadence matters as much as the percentage for cash flow, since a good month reaches your account sooner with a frequent schedule.
Other options to compare
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