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Data refreshed 24 Sep 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan · The5ers 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 37.9 / 100 · AI visibility rank #3 · Founded 2016
The5ers is a proprietary trading firm based in London, United Kingdom, founded in 2016. It offers one-step, two-step, three-step, instant-funding evaluations on forex, indices, commodities, crypto, futures. Funded accounts go up to…
Open the The5ers 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 profileThe5ers (London, United Kingdom, founded 2016) scores 37.9 / 100 on the Q3 2026 AI Visibility Index (rank #3 of 76 prop firms), named in 49% of AI answers, runs Instant funding, One-step, Three-step, Two-step evaluations, funds accounts up to $100,000 (scaling to $4,000,000), pays a 80% (up to 100%) profit split and offers MT5. 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 | The5ers | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| AI visibility score | 37.9 / 100 | 31.4 / 100 |
| AI visibility rank | #3 | #4 |
| Named in AI answers | 49% | 39% |
| AI sentiment (0–100) | 44 | 39 |
| Founded | 2016 | 2012 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Chicago, United States |
| Evaluation models | Instant funding, One-step, Three-step, Two-step | One-step |
| Asset classes | Commodities, Crypto, Forex, Futures, Indices | Futures |
| Platforms | MT5 | NinjaTrader, TopstepX, TradingView |
| Maximum allocation | $100,000 (scaling to $4,000,000) | $150,000 |
| Profit split | 80% (up to 100%) | 90% (100% of first $10,000) |
| Challenge fee from | $19 (High Stakes $2.5k) | $49/month ($50K Combine) |
| Account sizes | $2.5k, $5k, $10k, $25k, $50k, $100k | $50k, $100k, $150k |
| Payout frequency | monthly (on request; scaling at each 10% target) | on demand (instant payouts after 5 winning days or 3-day consistency path) |
| Daily drawdown limit | 5% (High Stakes); 3% (Hyper Growth) | none (optional Daily Loss Limit $1,000 on $50K) |
| Maximum drawdown | 10% (High Stakes); 6% (Hyper Growth) | trailing $2,000 on $50K (4%, end-of-day) |
| Minimum trading days | 3 profitable days | 2 |
| Time limit | none (account expires after 30 days without activity) | none |
| News trading | Restricted | Yes |
| Weekend holding | Yes | No |
| EAs / algos allowed | Not verified | Restricted |
| Broker backing | Not verified | 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 | The5ers | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | 53.2 | 56 |
| Perplexity | 49.1 | 38.6 |
| Gemini | 44.4 | 33.9 |
| Claude | 28.5 | 17.9 |
| Google AI Mode | 50.1 | 41.6 |
| Google AI Overview | 57.8 | 30.7 |
| Google top-10 | 0 | 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.
The5ers scores higher on the Q3 2026 Pipswire AI Visibility Index (37.9 / 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.
The5ers pays 80% (up to 100%); 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 $19 (High Stakes $2.5k) at The5ers and $49/month ($50K Combine) at Topstep. Fees change often and discounts are common, so treat these as the floor.
The5ers: MT5. Topstep: NinjaTrader, TopstepX, TradingView.
The5ers: maximum drawdown 10% (High Stakes); 6% (Hyper Growth), daily 5% (High Stakes); 3% (Hyper Growth). Topstep: maximum drawdown trailing $2,000 on $50K (4%, end-of-day), daily none (optional Daily Loss Limit $1,000 on $50K).
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.