Topstep vs Alpha Futures: the rules, side by side
Rules verified 2026-07-13 · official source
Topstep uses a trailing (end-of-day) drawdown and no daily loss limit; Alpha Futures uses trailing (end-of-day) and no daily loss limit. Same market (futures) — the rule differences below are the real decision.
The differences that fail accounts
Both firms compute the max-loss line the same way (trailing (end-of-day)), so neither gives you an edge on drawdown mechanics — the numbers in the table decide.
Neither firm has a daily loss limit — on both, discipline is self-imposed.
Minimum days: Topstep 2 vs Alpha Futures 3 in the evaluation. Consistency: Topstep 50% (Trading Combine), 40% (Funded Account); Alpha Futures 40% (Evaluation).
| Rule | Topstep | Alpha Futures |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | 50K Trading Combine | 50K Premium |
| Market | futures | futures |
| Profit target | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Max drawdown | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Drawdown type | Trailing (end-of-day) | Trailing (end-of-day) |
| Daily loss limit | None | None |
| Min trading days | 2 | 3 |
| Consistency | 50% (Trading Combine), 40% (Funded Account) | 40% (Evaluation) |
Same rules, tracked either way
Whichever you pick, the failure mode is identical: not knowing your live distance to a line that moves. TradersGuild encodes both firms' exact rules and recomputes them on every trade you log — free for your first account.
FAQ
Topstep or Alpha Futures — which has easier rules?
Neither is universally easier. Topstep is trailing (end-of-day), no daily cap; Alpha Futures is trailing (end-of-day), no daily cap. Pick the drawdown style that fits how you hold trades.
Can I run Topstep and Alpha Futures accounts at the same time?
Yes — many traders run evaluations at several firms in parallel. The hard part is tracking different rule mechanics simultaneously, which is exactly what TradersGuild does.
Stop memorizing rules. Track them.
TradersGuild encodes these exact rules and recomputes every line the moment you log a trade — live meters, and a warning while you still have room. Runs on the trades you log. Free for your first account.