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Data refreshed 24 Sep 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan · Alpha Capital Group facts verified by BrokerCatalogue research desk (from the firm's own site) on 2026-09-24 · Topstep facts verified by BrokerCatalogue research desk (from the firm's own site) on 2026-09-24
AI visibility score 3.8 / 100 · AI visibility rank #22 · Founded 2021
Alpha Capital Group is a proprietary trading firm based in Harpenden, United Kingdom, founded in 2021. It offers one-step, two-step, three-step, instant-funding evaluations on forex, indices, commodities, crypto. Funded accounts go up…
Open the Alpha Capital Group profileAI visibility score 31.4 / 100 · AI visibility rank #4 · Founded 2012
Topstep is a proprietary trading firm based in Chicago, United States, founded in 2012. It offers one-step evaluations on futures. Funded accounts go up to $150,000. The profit split is 90% (100%…
Open the Topstep profileAlpha Capital Group (Harpenden, United Kingdom, founded 2021) scores 3.8 / 100 on the Q3 2026 AI Visibility Index (rank #22 of 76 prop firms), named in 6% of AI answers, runs Instant funding, One-step, Three-step, Two-step evaluations, funds accounts up to $200,000, pays a 80% (up to 90% with add-on) profit split and offers cTrader, DXtrade, MT5, TradeLocker. Topstep (Chicago, United States, founded 2012) scores 31.4 / 100 on the Q3 2026 AI Visibility Index (rank #4 of 76 prop firms), named in 39% of AI answers, runs One-step evaluations, funds accounts up to $150,000, pays a 90% (100% of first $10,000) profit split and offers NinjaTrader, TopstepX, TradingView.
Scored on 9 measurable dimensions where both prop firms have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.
| Criteria | Alpha Capital Group | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| AI visibility score | 3.8 / 100 | 31.4 / 100 |
| AI visibility rank | #22 | #4 |
| Named in AI answers | 6% | 39% |
| AI sentiment (0–100) | 5 | 39 |
| Founded | 2021 | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Harpenden, United Kingdom | Chicago, United States |
| Evaluation models | Instant funding, One-step, Three-step, Two-step | One-step |
| Asset classes | Commodities, Crypto, Forex, Indices | Futures |
| Platforms | cTrader, DXtrade, MT5, TradeLocker | NinjaTrader, TopstepX, TradingView |
| Maximum allocation | $200,000 | $150,000 |
| Profit split | 80% (up to 90% with add-on) | 90% (100% of first $10,000) |
| Challenge fee from | $40 ($10K evaluation with code 10KFOR40) | $49/month ($50K Combine) |
| Account sizes | $5k, $10k, $25k, $50k, $100k, $200k | $50k, $100k, $150k |
| Payout frequency | bi-weekly or on demand | on demand (instant payouts after 5 winning days or 3-day consistency path) |
| Daily drawdown limit | Not verified | none (optional Daily Loss Limit $1,000 on $50K) |
| Maximum drawdown | Not verified | trailing $2,000 on $50K (4%, end-of-day) |
| Minimum trading days | Not verified | 2 |
| Time limit | Not verified | none |
| News trading | Not verified | Yes |
| Weekend holding | Not verified | No |
| EAs / algos allowed | Yes | Restricted |
| Broker backing | ACG Markets (group brokerage) | Topstep Brokerage LLC (NFA-registered introducing broker, affiliate) |
| Status | active | active |
Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that prop firm — we never fill gaps with estimates.
| Engine | Alpha Capital Group | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | 0.2 | 56 |
| Perplexity | 5 | 38.6 |
| Gemini | 4 | 33.9 |
| Claude | 3.5 | 17.9 |
| Google AI Mode | 7.8 | 41.6 |
| Google AI Overview | 6.7 | 30.7 |
| Google top-10 | 2 | 0.2 |
Scores 0–100 from the Pipswire AI Visibility Index, Q3 2026. Higher means the engine names the firm more often and more favourably.
Topstep scores higher on the Q3 2026 Pipswire AI Visibility Index (3.8 / 100 vs 31.4 / 100), which measures how often ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude and Google name a firm when traders ask which prop firm to use.
Alpha Capital Group pays 80% (up to 90% with add-on); Topstep pays 90% (100% of first $10,000) (as published on each firm's site when we last checked).
Entry-level challenge fees start at $40 ($10K evaluation with code 10KFOR40) at Alpha Capital Group and $49/month ($50K Combine) at Topstep. Fees change often and discounts are common, so treat these as the floor.
Alpha Capital Group: cTrader, DXtrade, MT5, TradeLocker. Topstep: NinjaTrader, TopstepX, TradingView.
Risk warning: prop firms are not regulated brokers or investment firms. Evaluations are paid, fees are usually non-refundable, most accounts are simulated, and a firm can change its rules or stop paying out. Most participants fail the evaluation. Nothing on this page is financial advice; read the firm's terms before you pay. Full risk disclosure.