Topstep Prop Firm Overview
| Founder | Michael Patak |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, United States |
| Evaluation Models | Trading Combine (Single Step) |
| Max Allocation | $150,000 (Account Size), full payout access after 30 winning days |
| Assets | CME, CBOT, COMEX, NYMEX Futures (via TopstepX) |
Not sure where to begin with futures trading and looking for a platform that stands out? Maybe you’ve heard of Topstep but aren’t quite sure if it’s the right fit for you? No worries! You’re in the right place! This Topstep review has everything you need to know. Let’s get started and figure it out together!
- Topstep is a futures prop trading firm founded in 2012, and based in Chicago, offering evaluation through its Trading Combine challenge.
- There are three account sizes in the Trading Combine ($50K, $100K, $150K), each with different profit targets, position limits, and max drawdown.
- The Consistency Rule requires that no single trading day accounts for more than 50% of total profits during the challenge.
- Once the Combine is passed, traders pay a $149 activation fee to access an Express Funded Account, which is simulated but allows real payouts.
- To get a Live Funded Account, traders must earn five successful payouts from the Express Funded Account.
- Starting July 7, 2025, all new Trading Combines must be traded on TopstepX, Topstep’s proprietary platform and older platforms are no longer supported for new accounts.
- After 30 winning days in a Live Funded Account, traders unlock daily payouts and full access to 100% of their balance.
- Topstep allows news trading and copy trading (except into live accounts), but automated/bot trading is not permitted, and overnight positions are not allowed in the Trading Combine.
What Is Topstep Prop Firm?
Topstep, originally launched in 2012 as Patak Trading Partners (later known as TopstepTrader), is now one of the most well-known and long-standing prop firms out there. In 2020, they rebranded again to just Topstep and is currently based in Chicago.
Topstep’s main goal is to help traders grow, turning people who trade into better, more disciplined traders by encouraging healthy habits and a hands-on learning approach.
ُTo become a Topstep trader, you need to pass their challenges through something called the Trading Combine, which I’ll break down for you in the next part of this Topstep review. So stick around, this is where it starts getting good!
Trading Combine Challenges
As I mentioned earlier, you’ll need to pass Topstep’s Trading Combine to officially become a Topstep trader. To really get a feel for how the challenges work, let’s discover the key trading parameters.
Topstep offers three account sizes: $50K, $100K, and $150K. Each comes with its own set of targets and rules:
- Monthly Profit Target: $3,000 for the $50K account, $6,000 for $100K, and $9,000 for the $150K account.
- Maximum Position Size: You can trade up to 5 contracts, 10 contracts, or 15 contracts, depending on your account size.
- Maximum Loss Limit: You’ll be stopped out if your losses hit $2,000, $3,000, or $4,500.
- Price: The monthly cost is $49 for the $50K plan, $99 for the $100K, and $149 for the $150K.
- Minimum Trading Days: Just 2 days.
- Maximum Trading Days: No limit! Take your time.
- Consistency Rule: To pass, your best trading day can’t exceed more than 50% of your total profit. In other words, Topstep wants to see steady gains, not just one lucky home run. Read more about this rule in our article: What Is the Consistency Rule in Prop Firms?
One more thing: once you pass the Trading Combine, there’s a one-time $149 Activation Fee to get started with your Express Funded Account (XFA). This fee is the same no matter which account size you choose.
The Express Funded Account is a simulated environment where you can actually request a payout. Yep, you can get paid even while trading in a simulated account!
| Account Size | Profit Target | Maximum Position Size (Contract) | Maximum Loss Limit | Minimum Trading Days | Maximum Trading Days | Consistency Rule | Price | Activation Fee for EFA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50K | $3,000 | 5 | $2,000 | 2 | Unlimited | %50 | $49 | $149 |
| 100K | $6,000 | 10 | $3,000 | 2 | Unlimited | %50 | $99 | $149 |
| 150K | $9,000 | 15 | $4,500 | 2 | Unlimited | %50 | $149 | $149 |
Live Funded Accounts
Once you’ve passed the Trading Combine challenges and paid for the activation fee on Express Funded Accounts, you can also go for a live trading account with a daily request for payout. Here’s how traders move up at Topstep:
1. Pass the Trading Combine Challenge
2. Earn five payouts in your Express Funded Account
3. Get called up to a Live Funded Account
Topstep Trading Assets
As we’ve already mentioned on Traders Fund Hub about the best futures prop firms, Topstep is designed specifically for futures trading. They don’t allow trading in stocks, Forex, CFDs, cryptocurrencies (outside of micro futures), or options. So if you’re into that kind of stuff, you’ll need to look elsewhere. But if futures are your thing, here’s what you can trade with Topstep:
- CME – Chicago Mercantile Exchange: You can trade popular permitted products from CME exchanges like ES, MES, NQ, MNQ, RTY, M2K, NKD, 6A, 6B, 6C, 6E, 6J, 6S, E7, HE, LE, GE.
- NYMEX – New York Mercantile Exchange: Topstep offers NYMEX futures such as CL, QM, NG, and QG.
- COMEX – Commodity Exchange, Inc.: You’re able to trade GC, SI, and HG futures contracts.
- CBOT – Chicago Board of Trade: Futures like ZC, ZW, ZS, ZM, ZL, YM, MYM, ZT, ZF, ZN, ZB, UB, TN.
Topstep Exchange Fees Review
Now, to make this Topstep review even better, and maybe the best one out there, I want to share a few more important details that can really help you understand how things work behind the scenes.
To trade live with Topstep, you’ll need a subscription to Professional Data from the Exchanges.
Now for some good news! From July 22, 2025, they have started covering the monthly data fee for one exchange for all Live Funded traders. By default, that’s the CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange). This means you’ll no longer have to pay for CME data. If you’d like access to additional exchanges like NYMEX, COMEX, or CBOT, those fees will still apply separately.
Here at this Topstep review, you can take a quick look at the cost of each exchange per month, depending on the trading platform:
| Exchange | Available Product | Subscription Fee |
|---|---|---|
| CME | ES, MES, NQ, MNQ, RTY, M2K, NKD, 6A, 6B, 6C, 6E, 6J, 6S, E7, HE, LE, GE | $133 per month |
| NYMEX | CL, QM, NG, QG | $133 per month |
| COMEX | GC, SI, HG | $133 per month |
| CBOT | ZC, ZW, ZS, ZM, ZL, YM, MYM, ZT, ZF, ZN, ZB, UB, TN | $133 per month |
Top Step Trading Platform (TopstepX)
Starting July 7th, you’ll only be able to trade the assets mentioned earlier in this Topstep review on TopstepX, a platform that’s exclusive to Topstep.
In the past, Topstep supported other platforms like Tradeovate, NinjaTrader, Quantower, TradingView, and a few others. But moving forward, all new Trading Combines will be available only on the TopstepX platform.
If you selected a different platform before July 7th, don’t worry! You can keep trading your active account there. You’ll still be able to reset that account, but resets will happen on TopstepX. Just keep in mind, after this date, you won’t be able to switch platforms or buy a new Trading Combine on anything other than TopstepX.
And here’s the important part: by August 1, 2025, all resets and account updates have to be done on TopstepX. So if you’re planning to stay with Topstep, now’s a good time to get familiar with their new setup.
Topstep Payout Policy
As mentioned earlier in this Topstep review, once you pass the Trading Combine plans, there’s a $149 activation fee to move into the Express Funded Account. This account still uses simulated trading, but it allows you to start taking payouts.
We also talked about leveling up from Expert Funded Accounts to use Live Funded Accounts, where your trades are executed using real market data. By and large, both account types let you request payouts, but the rules are a bit different for each.
Let’s break down how payouts work on each account:
Express Funded Account Payout Policy
If you’re trading in an Express Funded Account and want to withdraw money (called a payout), there are two main things you need to keep in mind:
1. Payout Limit: You can request up to $5,000 or 50% of your account balance, whichever is less.
- For example, if your balance is $8,500, you can request $4,250 (that’s 50%).
- In contrast, if your balance is $12,000, you can request $5,000 since that’s under 50%.
So yeah, you can’t just cash out the whole thing, but you can still take home a nice part of your profits.
2. Performance Requirement: To qualify for each payout model, you need to have at least five “winning trading days” since your last payout. A winning day means your net P&L is $150 or more. So, achieve five solid days and you’re good to go for your next payout.
Live Account Payout Policy
If you’re trading with a Live Funded Account, here are the payout rules you need to follow:
1. Payout Limit: You can request up to 50% of your account balance, but only after completing five winning trading days (each with at least $150 in net profit). The minimum payout amount is $125. So keep that in mind before making a request.
2. Bonus Benefits After 30 Winning Days: Once you complete 30 winning trading days (again, with at least $150 net profit each), you unlock two big perks:
- Daily Payouts: No more waiting between requests! You can take payouts every day.
- Full Balance Access: You can withdraw 100% of your account balance, not just half. More freedom, more cash in your hands!
Heads up: Topstep’s rules can change from time to time. So while this Topstep review gives you a solid overview, it’s a good idea to double-check their official website before choosing a plan or starting an account.
| Payout Model | Requirement | Payout Limit (Per Payout Request) | Daily Payouts | Full Balance Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express Funded Account | 5 non-consecutive days of Net PNL $150 or more | $5,000 or 50% of the account balance (Which one is lower) | No | No |
| Live Funded Account | 5 non-consecutive days of Net PNL $150 or more | 50% of the account balance | Yes (After 30 winning days) | Yes (After 30 winning days) |
Topstep Payout Methods
Well, I totally covered everything in the previous section of this Topstep review for payout requests. Based on my search on the Topstep Official website, you can request a payout with methods as below:
- Wise: 1-3 business days
- ACH: 1-3 business days
- Wire/SWIFT: 3-5 business days
- International Wire/SWIFT: up to 5-10 business days
Topstep Promo Codes
When signing up for Topstep’s Trading Combine or other funding products, you can use Topstep promo codes to get a discount and make your plan more affordable than the regular price.
You’ll probably see lots of Topstep discount codes on various websites, but here’s the catch: many of them don’t actually work at checkout, or they turn out to be not free.
The good news? You can find free, working, and up-to-date Topstep promo codes on the Traders Fund Hub Telegram channel.
Along with Topstep promo codes, the channel shares:
- Major platform updates
- Exclusive promotions
- Helpful resources (like this detailed Topstep review!)
So if you’re serious about saving money and staying in the loop, it’s a legit place to check before getting started with Topstep.
Topstep Trading Rules
Whether you’re going with Topstep or another prop firm like FTMO, E8 Markets, or Funding Pips, it’s always a smart move to check the rules and policies before jumping in. Besides the account types and parameters I’ve already covered in this Topstep review, here are some important things you need to follow when trading on the TopstepX platform:
News Trading: Unlike many prop firms that ban trading during major news events, Topstep lets you trade during economic news releases. There’s no need to close your positions, so you can keep trading through the action.
Copy Trading: Topstep also allows copy trading, with no restrictions. You can copy trades between your personal accounts or across Trading Combines. However, copy trading into Live Funded Accounts isn’t allowed.
Bot Trading: Topstep doesn’t currently support automated or bot trading. So if you’re thinking of using EAs or algorithmic systems, that stuff won’t work on TopstepX, at least for now.
Trading Hours: If you’re joining a Trading Combine, keep in mind it’s built for day trading only. That means you can’t hold positions overnight or through the weekend.
Here’s the schedule to follow:
- Close all positions by 3:10 PM CT (Monday to Friday)
- Trading resumes at 5:00 PM CT each evening
- After the weekend, trading opens on Sunday at 5:00 PM CT
Topstep Reviews and Feedback by Users
At Traders Fund Hub’s blog, you’ll find plenty of reviews on different trading platforms. Since I always value user feedback and comments, I wanted to share a quick Topstep review based on what people are saying on sites like Trustpilot. You know, people out there share their honest opinions, and it’s always a good idea to listen. Some of the insights are pretty eye-opening!
Topstep has a solid rating of 4.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot as of the time I’m writing this Topstep review. Like I mentioned earlier, they’ve been around since 2012 and have achieved close to 10,000 reviews on the platform.
Here’s what people generally like about Topstep:
- They’ve built a good reputation, with over 10,000 funded accounts and millions paid out to traders.
- Their evaluation process (called the Trading Combine) is straightforward, with clear rules, profit targets, drawdown limits, and daily loss caps.
- There’s a strong sense of community, with plenty of support through live streams, daily coaching sessions, Discord access, and useful tools.
- The profit split is appealing; traders keep the first $10,000 in profits, then earn around 90% after that.
- Payouts are processed weekly, although it might take up to 10 business days for the money to actually hit your account.
But not everything is perfect. Here are a few things people have raised concerns about:
- Some users mentioned slow customer support responses, especially over the weekend.
- They no longer offer phone support, so you’ll need to use live chat or Discord to get help.
- The risk rules can feel a bit strict: things like a 2–4% max drawdown, daily loss limits, and no holding trades overnight.
- A few traders have reported platform glitches, especially right after updates, which can be a bit of a pain.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Straightforward and achievable evaluations | ❌ Slow customer support |
| ✅ Strong sense of community | ❌ Strict rules |
| ✅ Appealing profit split | ❌ Some platform issues |
Topstep Free Coaching Feature
Aside from the trading challenges, funded accounts, and rules I’ve already covered in this Topstep review, there are a few extra features on the Topstep platform that are definitely worth checking out:
TopstepTV
TopstepTV gives you free access to expert insights into futures trading. You can watch experienced futures traders and Topstep performance coaches break down the markets in real time, share trading strategies, and offer practical tips you can apply right away. It streams from Sunday through Friday, starting at 1:30 AM CT. It’s a great way to learn from some of the top minds in the futures trading space.
Group Coaching
With Topstep’s group coaching sessions, you can learn directly from their team of experts and ask questions live. Their Performance Coaches are there to help you work toward becoming a funded trader. These free coaching sessions go live on TopstepTV, Monday through Thursday from 12–1 PM CT. It’s a good opportunity to connect with the community and get some solid tips.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve read this Topstep review, you should have a clear picture of what Topstep is all about, how the Trading Combine works, what the rules are, and what to expect as a trader. Just a heads-up: some other reviews out there might be outdated, so it’s always a good idea to double-check the latest rules on Topstep’s official site or ask for help through the Traders Fund Hub.
I hope this review really helps you decide whether Topstep is the right fit for you. If you have any questions or requests, feel free to ask in the comments below!
FAQ
What Is Topstep?
Topstep is a prop firm only for futures trading, and it was created in 2012. With Topstep’s Trading Combine plans, you can pass different evaluations and get Express or Live funded accounts.
Is Topstep better than Apex?
It really depends on your trading preferences and rules. In terms of pricing, Apex includes market data fees in its plans, while Topstep requires traders to pay for data subscriptions separately.
Does Topstep teach you?
Yes, with Topstep’s coaching plan, you can really level up your trading game and get a better feel for the markets, all with guidance from the pros.
Can I pass Topstep in 2 days?
Yes. But remember that the minimum trading days for Topstep evaluation plans is 2 days, and there is no limit for maximum trading days.
Do I need to be a United States citizen to participate?
Yes. People from all over the world can use Topstep. However, if someone is a citizen or resident of a country listed on the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Sanctioned Countries list, they cannot open an account or trade with Topstep.
Does Topstep actually pay out?
Yes, on Topstep, based on your account type, you can request a payout and receive your money.
