Most prop firms fall into two camps. Forex and CFD firms such as FTMO let you trade currencies, indices, commodities and more on MetaTrader or cTrader. Futures firms such as Topstep give you contracts listed on exchanges like the CME, on futures platforms. Some, such as FundedNext, now offer both.

The main differences

The main differences. Instruments: Forex / CFD prop Currency pairs, index, commodity and crypto CFDs, Futures prop Exchange-listed contracts, e.g. CME index, energy and metal futures; Position sizing: Forex / CFD prop Lots, down to 0.01, Futures prop Whole contracts (micro contracts for small size); Costs: Forex / CFD prop Spread and sometimes commission, Futures prop Exchange and clearing fees per contract; Typical drawdown: Forex / CFD prop Static or trailing, varies by pla
The main differences: the figures from this section at a glance.
Forex / CFD propFutures prop
InstrumentsCurrency pairs, index, commodity and crypto CFDsExchange-listed contracts, e.g. CME index, energy and metal futures
Position sizingLots, down to 0.01Whole contracts (micro contracts for small size)
CostsSpread and sometimes commissionExchange and clearing fees per contract
Typical drawdownStatic or trailing, varies by planTrailing drawdown is common
Example firmFTMO: 2-Step 10% then 5%, 5% daily, 10% staticTopstep: Trading Combine, then funded accounts
SplitFTMO: 80–90%Topstep: keep 90%

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Forex Prop Firms vs Futures Prop Firms, in 3:01

Forex and futures prop firms sound alike, but sizing, costs and drawdown rules differ. Here's what changes before you pick one.

Chapters

What Topstep publishes

Topstep is one of the few firms to publish outcomes. For 2025 it reports that 16.8 per cent of Trading Combines were passed, that 51.8 per cent of individual participants reached the funded level in at least one Combine, that 33.3 per cent of funded participants received a payout, and that 0.71 per cent of Express Funded traders were called up to a Live Funded account. It says more than $1.5 billion has been paid out to its traders, and that Live Funded traders unlock daily payouts after 30 winning days of $150 or more.

The gap between 16.8 per cent of attempts and 51.8 per cent of people shows how many traders need several attempts. The step from funded to paid is the harder one.

Which suits you

  • Forex prop if you trade currency pairs, use MetaTrader expert advisors, or want very small position sizes.
  • Futures prop if you trade US index futures or commodities intraday, want exchange-traded prices, and are comfortable with whole-contract sizing.
  • Either way, read the drawdown rule first. Trailing drawdowns are more common on futures plans and change how you manage winning trades.

Our prop firm rules compared has the forex and futures firms in separate tables.

Futures are leveraged too. A single E-mini contract moves in large increments; use micro contracts while you learn a futures firm’s rules.

Trading hours and holding positions

Forex and CFD markets trade around the clock on weekdays, with a weekend gap. Futures trade on exchange schedules, with a daily maintenance break and session-based rules. Prop rules follow those schedules: some futures firms require positions to be closed before a set time each day, and many forex firms restrict holding over the weekend on standard accounts. FTMO’s Swing account, for example, allows holding and news trading at lower leverage (1:30 instead of 1:100).

Position sizing: lots vs contracts

In forex you size in lots, down to 0.01, so risk can be set almost exactly. In futures you size in whole contracts, and each contract’s value per tick is fixed by the exchange. Micro contracts exist for smaller size, but sizing is less granular. That matters under a fixed dollar loss limit: one contract too many can be a large share of the allowed loss.

Position sizing: lots vs contracts. Smallest size: 0.01 lot: One micro contract; Risk per trade: Set very precisely: Set in steps of one contract; Position cap: Usually leverage-based: Contract limits by account size (Topstep: 5, 10, 15 contracts)
Position sizing: lots vs contracts: the figures from this section at a glance.
Forex / CFDFutures
Smallest size0.01 lotOne micro contract
Risk per tradeSet very preciselySet in steps of one contract
Position capUsually leverage-basedContract limits by account size (Topstep: 5, 10, 15 contracts)

Costs compared

Forex prop accounts charge through spreads and sometimes commissions, set by the firm’s simulation. Futures accounts usually charge exchange and clearing fees per contract, plus the firm’s own fees. The pricing model differs too: Topstep’s Trading Combine is a monthly subscription, while many forex firms charge a one-time fee, refundable at some firms such as on FTMO’s 2-Step.

Which drawdown rules are typical

Static maximum losses are common on forex two-step evaluations, such as FTMO’s 10 per cent static floor on its 2-Step. Futures firms more often use a maximum loss that trails the end-of-day balance and locks once it reaches the starting balance, as at Topstep and FundedNext Futures. A trader who lets winners run and gives some back will find the futures version stricter.

Illustrative example: one trade, two accounts

A trader risks $500 per trade. On a forex account they set 2 lots with a 25-pip stop on EUR/USD. On a futures account the nearest equivalent depends on the contract’s tick value, and the choice may be between a size slightly under or over $500. Over many trades, that rounding adds up against a fixed dollar loss limit.

If you already trade futures, a futures firm keeps your platform and instruments. If you trade forex on MetaTrader, a forex firm avoids learning two things at once.

Switching between the two

Traders who pass at a forex firm sometimes try futures, or the reverse, expecting the skill to transfer directly. The analysis does; the mechanics do not. Expect to relearn position sizing in contracts, the daily session timetable, and how a trailing end-of-day maximum loss responds to your winning trades. A few weeks on a futures demo, under the firm’s exact limits, is a cheap way to find out whether the switch suits you before paying a subscription.

Keep separate written rule sheets for each account if you run both. Mixing a forex firm’s daily limit with a futures firm’s maximum loss rule is an easy way to breach one of them.

Regulation of the markets themselves

One real difference sits outside the firms. Futures trade on regulated exchanges such as the CME, with centrally published prices. Forex and CFD prices on a prop platform come from the firm’s feed. In a simulated prop account neither difference protects your payout, but it does affect how closely the simulation tracks a real market.

For the firms on each side, and the rules that differ most, see these guides.

Cite this guide

FX Recap, "Forex Prop Firms vs Futures Prop Firms", updated 14 October 2026, https://fxrecap.com/prop-trading/forex-prop-vs-futures-prop

Free to quote with a link. Journalists: data and comment in our press room.

Frequently asked

What is the difference between forex and futures prop firms?

Forex prop firms run CFD accounts on platforms like MetaTrader for currencies, indices and commodities. Futures prop firms use exchange-listed contracts such as CME futures, with whole-contract sizing, per-contract fees and often trailing drawdowns.

Is Topstep a forex or futures prop firm?

A futures prop firm. Traders use exchange-listed futures in its Trading Combine and funded accounts, and Topstep says funded traders keep 90 per cent of profits.

What percentage of traders pass Topstep?

Topstep reports that 16.8 per cent of Trading Combines were passed in 2025, that 51.8 per cent of participants reached the funded level in at least one Combine, and that 33.3 per cent of funded participants received a payout.

Can I trade forex at a futures prop firm?

Only as currency futures listed on an exchange, not spot forex pairs. Some firms, such as FundedNext, offer separate CFD and futures programmes.

Can I hold positions overnight at a futures prop firm?

Rules vary. Futures trade on exchange schedules with daily breaks, and some firms require positions to be closed by a set time. Check the plan's rules on holding and closing times.

Is futures sizing harder than forex for prop trading?

It is less granular. Forex can be sized to 0.01 lot, while futures are sized in whole contracts, so matching a precise risk per trade under a dollar loss limit takes more care.

Are futures prop firms cheaper?

Not necessarily. Some charge a monthly subscription, such as Topstep's Combine, while many forex firms charge a one-time fee. Compare the full cost over the time you expect to need.