Simulated trading accounts: 1-Step, 2-Step and instant funding on MetaTrader 5, MatchTrader and TradeLocker
Checked 8 October 2026
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Top One Trader sells simulated prop trading accounts for trading forex, indices, gold, silver and crypto. Its help-centre comparison table lists five account types: 1-Step FLASH, 1-Step NOVA, 2-Step PRO v2, Instant Funding and Instant Prime. Three are challenges with a profit target; the two instant accounts have no profit target. Accounts run on MetaTrader 5, MatchTrader and TradeLocker.
The firm's pages say challenge performance is simulated. The site footer names Top One Trader Ltd with an address in Anjouan, Union of Comoros. The same brand also runs a separate futures product, Top One Futures, which this review does not cover.
This review uses only Top One Trader's own website and help centre, as saved on 7–9 October 2026. Where its pages disagree, we say so. The rules table in the help centre is the most detailed source, and we use it for programme rules.
Everything in this review comes from Top One Trader's own web pages, saved on 7–9 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the firm's site before you buy.
| Highest profit split | Up to 100% 1 Firm's wording: “Initial at 80%, increasing by 10% per payout, up to 100%” |
|---|---|
| Account types | 1-Step evaluation, 2-Step evaluation, Instant funding (no evaluation) 123 |
| Markets | Forex, Crypto, Indices, Commodities, Metals 1 |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5, Match-Trader, TradeLocker 12 |
| Allowed / offered on at least one account type |
Rules can differ between account types — check the linked page for the account you want. |
| Not allowed, or rules that apply (firm says so) | |
| Restricted countries named | Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Myanmar, North Korea, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Türkiye, Ukraine, Vietnam 1 Countries the firm names. Its list may also refer to sanctions lists or other countries — check the linked page. |
The help-centre comparison table covers five account types:
Other help pages also refer to a 2-Step 'PLUS' challenge. The comparison table does not include it, so we do not describe its rules.
The Nova page says: "Unlock the Nova Challenge for just $7. No activation fee until you pass." After passing, you "pay your one-time activation fee, and receive your funded account." The page lists these fees after passing in pairs of figures (for example $165 and $99), but the text we captured does not reliably tie each figure to an account size, so we do not list them by size.
The Nova page gives two different maximum sizes. One line says "Choose your account size (up to $200K)"; another says "Trade Up to $300k For Just $7".
The home page shows each price as two figures (for example "Get funded $64 $25"). The text we captured does not say which programme or account size each price belongs to, so we do not list them here.
The Terms say: "You pay a one-time fee for an attempt at the Trading Challenge."
The table below is taken from the help-centre comparison of account types. Percentages are of the initial balance.
| Programme | Profit target | Daily drawdown | Maximum drawdown | Minimum trading days | Leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Step FLASH | 10% | 4% | 7%, trailing | 3 profitable days (0.5% profit each) | Up to 1:10 |
| 1-Step NOVA | 5% | None | 6% in the challenge, 5% funded; trailing | None | Up to 1:100 |
| 2-Step PRO v2 | 8% (Phase 1), 5% (Phase 2) | 4% | 9%, static | 3 profitable days (0.5% profit each) | Up to 1:100 |
| Instant Funding | None | 3% | 6%, trailing | None | Up to 1:50 |
| Instant Prime | None | 2.5% | 5%, trailing | None | Up to 1:50 |
The daily drawdown is based on "Balance or equity at 5pm EST (whichever is higher)". For the maximum loss, the drawdown article says your equity, "including both closed and open trades", must not fall below the limit, and that the calculation includes commissions and swaps.
On 2-Step PRO v2 the maximum drawdown is static at 9% of the initial balance. The article's example: a $100,000 account breaches at "Equity below $91,000, regardless of how much your account grows".
On 1-Step FLASH the 7% drawdown trails your profits and locks at your starting balance once you reach a 7% gain. In the article's example, the breach level starts at $93,000; once the account reaches $107,000, it locks at $100,000 and stays there. The comparison table says the trailing drawdowns on NOVA, Instant Funding and Instant Prime also lock at the starting balance after a payout, or after a gain of 6% / 5% on NOVA and of more than 6% (Instant Funding) or 5% (Instant Prime).
The comparison table lists no consistency rule for 1-Step FLASH, 1-Step NOVA or 2-Step PRO v2.
The home page says "you must set a stop loss when you place a trade" and that otherwise "that trade will be shut down". The captured text does not say which accounts this applies to. The Nova page shows leverage figures of both "100:1" and "30:1" without saying, in our captured text, what each applies to; the table above uses the comparison page.
| Programme | News trading | Weekend holding | EAs / bots |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Step FLASH | Allowed in the challenge, not when funded | Allowed | Only during the challenge |
| 1-Step NOVA | Allowed in the challenge, not when funded | Allowed | Allowed in the challenge and when funded (see note) |
| 2-Step PRO v2 | Allowed in the challenge, not when funded | Allowed | Only during the challenge |
| Instant Funding | Not allowed | With weekend holding add-on | Not allowed |
| Instant Prime | With news trading add-on | With weekend holding add-on | Not allowed |
The comparison table says overnight holding is allowed on all five account types.
The prohibited-strategies article says the news rules "apply only to the Funded Phase", and that manually closing trades "within the restricted window" also counts as a violation. It mentions trades opened at least 5 hours before a news event. The text we captured does not give the length of the restricted window.
Note on EAs: the EA help article says "EAs are allowed during challenges only, external API usage and EAs are not allowed on Simulated Funded Accounts". This conflicts with the comparison table's entry for 1-Step NOVA. Check with the firm before running an EA on a funded NOVA account. Where EAs are allowed, each trader must use their own settings; commercially available EAs and hidden or masked EAs are banned.
The prohibited-strategies article says its rules apply across all Top One Trader plans. Banned or restricted practices include:
External API use is disabled on funded accounts. The EA article says this covers trade copiers, journaling and analytics tools, and similar services that connect by API.
The article says breaking these rules in the challenge may lead to a retake being issued, and that violations may result in "payout denial, account termination, or permanent restriction from the platform". The Terms also limit traders to "one active account per challenge level, absent prior written approval".
| Programme | Profit split | Payout timing | Minimum payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Step FLASH | 80% standard, up to 90% with an add-on | First payout 14 days after receiving the funded account; then weekly with the weekly add-on | 2% of initial balance |
| 1-Step NOVA | 90% standard, up to 100% with an add-on | Every 7 days with the weekly add-on (timing without the add-on not stated) | 2% of initial balance |
| 2-Step PRO v2 | 85% standard, up to 100% with an add-on | Weekly with an add-on (timing without the add-on not stated) | 3% of initial balance |
| Instant Funding | Starts at 60%, rises 10% per payout, up to 90% | First payout 30 days after receiving the account (Instant Payout add-on available; eligibility rules apply) | 2% of initial balance |
| Instant Prime | Starts at 80%, rises 10% per payout, up to 100% | First payout 14 days after receiving the account | 2% of initial balance |
The comparison table gives a maximum payout of $25,000 a month for 1-Step FLASH, 1-Step NOVA, Instant Funding and Instant Prime. For 2-Step PRO v2 it shows "Per payout cycle" without a figure.
The home page also states the split as "Up to 90/10, depending on your add-ons". We use the comparison table above.
Payouts go to a linked and verified Rise account, "which pays out by bank transfer or cryptocurrency". A 2% processing fee is charged on all payouts. The payout-methods article says requests undergo a risk review and are "typically processed within 24 to 48 business hours". The home page, by contrast, advertises payout times of "Less than 90 minutes on average". We treat the help-centre figure as the processing time.
The home page says the firm has made "Over $5,000,000 in payouts to our traders." We have not verified this.
The scaling article says that every 3 months, if you make a total gain of 25% over the period with at least 8% in each month, the firm will increase your capital by 25% of your initial account balance. It mentions a figure of $5 million. You do not have to keep your gains in the account to qualify. The article also says: "As long as you achieve a 25% gain over the 3-month period, you will still qualify for scaling." The captured text does not say which programmes the plan covers.
The firm's pages disagree. The home page advertises a "One-time 100% Refundable Fee". The comparison table says the 1-Step FLASH and 1-Step NOVA fees are non-refundable, and the 2-Step PRO v2 fee is "Refunded on 4th payout". The refund article says Instant Funding and Instant PRIME accounts do not include a fee refund, and that the policy changed "Effective February 5". The refund article also says some 1-Step, 2-Step and 2-Step PLUS accounts are eligible for a fee refund, which the comparison table does not show for 1-Step FLASH or NOVA. The Terms say "there are no refunds". Confirm the refund terms for your account with the firm.
Top One Trader lists three platforms: MetaTrader 5, MatchTrader and TradeLocker. The comparison page says the platforms available to you depend on your account size. The Terms say MatchTrader and TradeLocker use TradingView's charting technology. MetaTrader 5 is not available to traders in the United States, Canada, U.S. Outlying Territories or Puerto Rico.
The instruments article lists what you can trade on each platform:
The article says individual stocks cannot be traded on any platform.
The site footer names Top One Trader Ltd, at Hamchako, Mutsamudu, The Autonomous Island of Anjouan, Union of Comoros. The Terms and Conditions open with "Top One Trader, LLC (the “Company”)", so the pages use two forms of the company name. The footer and Terms also show an "International Brokerage and Clearing House License #: L15829/TOT". We have not checked it.
The firm says challenge performance is simulated, and the Terms say: "No live trading is provided directly by the Company."
Other points from the Terms:
A help article lists countries whose citizens or residents are prohibited, citing OFAC lists. They are Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Morocco, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam. Separately, the footer says services through MetaTrader 5 are not available in certain jurisdictions "including, but not limited to, the United States, North Korea, Iran".
Top One Trader may suit forex and index traders who want a choice between one-step, two-step and instant accounts on MetaTrader 5, MatchTrader or TradeLocker. 1-Step NOVA has no daily drawdown, no minimum trading days and a low entry price, with a one-time fee due only after you pass. The instant accounts suit traders who do not want a profit target, but Instant Funding starts at a 60% split, and both need add-ons for weekend holding (and, on Instant Prime, news trading).
It suits automated or very short-term traders less. EAs are limited to the challenge on most programmes, external API tools are disabled on funded accounts, and HFT and tick scalping are banned. Funded traders on most programmes also face a news restriction. Read the refund terms carefully, as the firm's pages do not agree.
MyPropGenius Rating:
The rating measures how openly Top One Trader discloses its rules, pricing, payouts and ownership (our Transparency Index methodology). It does not measure how likely you are to pass or be paid.
Its Terms name Top One Trader, LLC without a state or number, while its footer names Top One Trader Ltd with a Comoros licence number (L15829/TOT) and says challenge performance is simulated. Its refund statements differ: the Terms say 'there are no refunds'; a help article on refunds after passing a challenge says Instant accounts are excluded; an account-comparison article lists 'Non-refundable'; and the homepage labels an account '100% REFUNDABLE'. Its homepage claims 'Over $5,000,000 in payouts' and shows an undated carousel of trader names and amounts. The earliest Internet Archive (Wayback Machine) copy of its homepage is from 22 Jul 2023, and we found no founding year on its pages.
Its Transparency Index score is 51/100 (Mixed). We do not verify payouts or test accounts; this is what the firm’s own pages show.
Check the current rules and prices on the firm's own website before you buy.
We have no commercial relationship with Top One Trader. Links to its website are not affiliate links.
Top One Trader offers five account types, from the $7-entry 1-Step NOVA to instant accounts with no profit target, with programme rules set out in a help-centre comparison table. Splits reach 100% on Instant Prime after several payouts, or with an add-on on NOVA and 2-Step PRO v2, and payouts carry a 2% processing fee. Its pages contradict each other on refunds, payout speed and EAs on funded NOVA accounts, so confirm these with the firm before you buy.
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Yes. Its pages say challenge performance is simulated, and its Terms say no live trading is provided directly by the company.
It depends on the programme. 1-Step FLASH starts at 80%, 1-Step NOVA at 90% and 2-Step PRO v2 at 85%, with higher splits via add-ons. Instant Funding starts at 60% and rises to 90%; Instant Prime starts at 80% and rises to 100%, increasing by 10% per payout.
On 1-Step FLASH, 1-Step NOVA and 2-Step PRO v2, yes. Instant Funding and Instant Prime need a weekend holding add-on.
In the 1-Step and 2-Step challenges, yes. Once funded, news trading is not allowed on those accounts or on Instant Funding. Instant Prime allows it with a news trading add-on.
Through a linked and verified Rise account, which pays by bank transfer or cryptocurrency. A 2% processing fee applies, and the help centre says requests are typically processed within 24 to 48 business hours.
No. The firm says MetaTrader 5 is not available to traders in the United States, Canada, U.S. Outlying Territories or Puerto Rico.