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Futures prop firm · Flexibility grade C · Monthly fee

Topstep Review

Oldest futures prop firm with dual-pricing evaluations and EOD trailing drawdown

Max profit split
90%
Combines from
$49/mo
Largest account
$150K
Payouts
After 3-5 winning days
Drawdown model
EOD Trailing

How Topstep compares

Strengths

  • Challenges start from $49/mo — cheaper than the typical entry among the 13 futures firms we track.

Trade-offs

  • Rated 4.1/5 across public trader reviews, below the 4.5 median among the 13 futures firms we track.

Topstep suits traders who value a lower entry price.

Ratings

Review score
3.7/ 5
Community rating
4.5/ 5
139 reviews
Community following12,876

Ratings aggregated from public trader review scores, verified 2026-10.

About Topstep

US-based futures prop firm founded January 2012 offering two evaluation variants across 6 configurations with a 90% Express Funded split. Standard adds a $149 activation fee with lower monthly cost; No Activation Fee charges higher monthly fees.

Headquarters
United States
Founded
2012
Chief executive
Michael Patak
Max profit split
90%
Starting price
$49/mo
Largest account
$150K
Payout frequency
After 3-5 winning days
First payout
After 5 winning days of $150+ (Standard)
Drawdown model
EOD Trailing

Platforms

TopstepXNinjaTraderQuantowerT4R Trader ProATAS Orderflow TradingMotiveWaveVolFix

Markets

Equity Index FuturesEnergy FuturesMetal FuturesAgricultural FuturesInterest Rate FuturesCurrency Futures

Challenges & pricing

Topstep's cheapest plan is a $50,000 1-step account at $49/month; the largest funded account is $150,000 (from $149/month). In total Topstep lists 6 plan configurations across 2 account models, with profit splits up to 90%.

Topstep's Trading Combine runs from a $50,000 1-step account at $49/month up to $150,000 at $149/month, with a profit target of $3,000, $6,000 or $9,000, a max loss of $2,000, $3,000 or $4,500, a profit split of 90% and a one-time activation fee of $149.

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About the Trading Combine program

Rules that apply to every account size above.

Evaluation
Min trading days2
Funded account
Funded drawdownSame EOD trailing distances; locks at $0
Consistency rule50%
Consistency rule (funded)Standard: none; Consistency path: 40%
Max allocationUp to 5 active Express Funded Accounts (XFAs) at a time (1 for Shoulder Tap holders; Focused Trader Plan excepted)
Scaling planRequired in XFA; contract tier updates the next session
Payouts
Payout frequencyStandard after each 5-winning-day cycle; Consistency after each 3-day cycle; Live daily after 30 winning days
First payoutStandard: 5 days of $150+; Consistency: 3 traded days plus 40% rule
Processing timeInternal approval 1–3 business days; transfer time depends on method
Min days to payout5 Standard / 3 Consistency
Max payoutStandard $2,000/$3,000/$5,000; Consistency $3,000/$4,000/$6,000. Limited-time DLL offer doubles these caps.
Refund policyUntraded purchases within 28 days may be reviewed for refund
Trading rules
HedgingProhibited across accounts
Copy tradingAllowed across XFAs, up to $750,000 buying power
Expert advisorsAllowed with conditions; trader bears malfunction risk
Other restrictionsProhibited · unfair technology, scalping algorithms, rapid SIM trades, tight brackets or auto-breakeven, and full size into major news events
Commission / lot$0.02 NFA/regulatory fee per round turn · Commissions $1.00 minis / $.50 micros round turn
Access
PlatformsTopstepX, NinjaTrader, Quantower, T4, R Trader Pro, ATAS Orderflow Trading, MotiveWave, VolFix
Payout methodsProp-to-Brokerage, Aeropay, Wise, ACH, Wire/SWIFT

Recent changes

Reviewed updates to Topstep's pricing, account configuration, FAQs and trading rules, tracked in Fine Print.

  1. Price

    Topstep adds a 20% first-purchase discount

    Affiliate codes now give 20% off the first purchase on new purchases.

  2. Rules

    Topstep adds contract limits to Revenge of the $3K Slasher Challenge

    The challenge now lists contract limits, including a 1-lot limit for specified products during Tier 1 News Events.

  3. Rules

    Topstep adds XFA news-trading limits

    The $50K XFA is now limited to $20,000 margin and 1 micro during news; equity minis are blocked.

See other changes

Topstep in our coverage

Articles from the Capital Critic blog that cover Topstep in depth.

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Topstep FAQs

Answers sourced from Topstep’s own help center.

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Compare Topstep with other Futures prop firms

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