Updated September 30, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
MC Prime vs Topstep
What sets them apart
| Compare |  MC Prime |  Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $0.50 |
| Markets | Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals | Futures |
| Regulators | CySEC, Financial Services Commission (Mauritius), Financial Services Authority (Seychelles) | National Futures Association (NFA) registered introducing broker, Topstep Brokerage LLC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) registered FCM / NFA member, Plus500US Financial Services LLC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $49 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| 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 |
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Key differences
- Topstep scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.4.
- Regulators: only MC Prime offers CySEC, Financial Services Commission (Mauritius), Financial Services Authority (Seychelles).
- Regulators: only Topstep offers National Futures Association (NFA) registered introducing broker, Topstep Brokerage LLC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) registered FCM / NFA member, Plus500US Financial Services LLC.
- Stock trade fee is lower at MC Prime: $0 vs $0.50.
- Markets: only MC Prime offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Topstep offers Futures.
- Features: only MC Prime offers Crypto, Mobile app.
- Features: only Topstep offers Demo account, Futures.
- Pricing model: only MC Prime offers Commission free.
- Audience: only MC Prime offers Experienced.
Our verdict on each
MC Prime
MC Prime is a CySEC-regulated, commission-free broker for beginners and experienced traders, with a stock trade fee of $0 and client money protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000. It suits retail clients who want a low-cost CFD and crypto account, though the offshore Mauritius and Seychelles entities deserve a check first.
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 | MC Prime | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4A stock trade fee of $0 on a commission free and low fees model, with a cost score of 9.4. | 9.4Account fees are $0, the inactivity fee is $0 and the challenge costs $49, against a site median of €56.56. |
| Offer | 8.9Markets of forex, CFDs and crypto and crypto and mobile app, and 1 of 190 on stock trade fees. | 9.7Higher90% paid Every 2 weeks on a 2 step evaluation, with markets limited to futures. |
| Trust | 9.7HigherRegulated by CySEC, Financial Services Commission (Mauritius) and Financial Services Authority (Seychelles), with EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 and a trust score of 9.7. | 9.5 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | MC Prime | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Brokers for beginners | 4 of 88 | 17 of 88 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | MC Prime | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | CySEC 299/16 | Not confirmed |
| Mauritius | Financial Services Commission (Mauritius) GB23201764 | Not confirmed |
| Seychelles | Not confirmed |
What each covers
| Markets | MC Prime | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Metals | Yes | No |
Sources behind this comparison
MC Prime
- mc-prime.com: 8 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Topstep
- topstep.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- topstepbrokerage.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- nfa.futures.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.topstepbrokerage.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | MC Prime | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Mobile app | Demo account, Futures |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners, ExperiencedCovers more | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Magic Compass Group | Topstep LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2010 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, Community |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | MC Prime | Topstep | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $49above the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0.50highest quarter | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
MC Prime
Pros
- The stock trade fee is $0 and the pricing model is commission free and low fees.
- Regulated by CySEC, Financial Services Commission (Mauritius) and Financial Services Authority (Seychelles), so each account sits with a named supervisor.
- Client money protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 for EU clients.
Cons
- Protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 and covers EU clients, so an account booked with the Mauritius or Seychelles entity sits outside it.
- The market list runs to forex, CFDs and crypto, which is narrower than ActivTrades at stocks, ETFs and forex.
- Retail money losses are high across the compared brokers at 71.22%, and this account trades leveraged CFDs and crypto.
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
MC Prime
Who it suits
- Traders who want forex, CFDs, crypto and metals together without a per-trade commission.
- EU clients who prefer a CySEC-regulated entity and EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Beginners and experienced traders, since the stated audience covers beginners and experienced.
Who should look elsewhere
- Share and ETF investors, since ActivTrades covers stocks, ETFs and forex.
- Traders who prefer a per-trade charge, such as eToro at $1 to $2.
- Anyone uncomfortable holding an account with the Mauritius or Seychelles entity, since protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 applies to EU clients.
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
MC Prime
What does it cost to trade at MC Prime?+
The stock trade fee is $0 and the pricing model is commission free and low fees, so the fee sheet carries no per-trade commission. XTB also lists a stock trade fee of €0, while eToro's runs $1 to $2. On the site, MC Prime's cost score is 9.4 against an overall 9.4.
Who regulates MC Prime?+
Regulation sits with CySEC, Financial Services Commission (Mauritius) and Financial Services Authority (Seychelles). The Cyprus operation is licensed by the CySEC under 299/16, the Mauritius operation by the Financial Services Commission (Mauritius) under GB23201764, and the Seychelles operation by the Financial Services Authority (Seychelles) under SD184. Check which of them your account is booked with before you deposit.
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.
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