TopStep Review 2026
The futures-specific industry leader: manual traders only.
Quick Facts
- Company information
- Directory lists 2012, Chicago, USA; check the current legal counterparty and terms. Age and location do not certify payout safety.
- Market
- Futures
- Platforms
- TopstepX, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Tradovate in the directory snapshot; confirm current program access and permission.
- Account sizes
- $50,000 to $150,000 in the directory snapshot; verify the current product.
- Program cost
- Listed directory fee: $49; verify the current product, options and full cost with the firm.
- Profit split
- 90% (first $10K), then 90% thereafter
- Payouts
- Weekly (after 5 winning days, 30%+ above starting balance)
- Challenge model
- 1-step Trading Combine
Challenge Rules Breakdown
The following are software preset values, not a certification of this firm's current contractual rules. Verify the exact product before using a preset.
| Preset | Profit Target | Max DD | Daily DD | Min Days | Time Limit | DD Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TopStep 50K Combine | 6% | 4% | 2% | 2 | Unlimited | trailing |
| TopStep 150K Combine | 6% | 3% | 2% | 2 | Unlimited | trailing |
Pros
- Oldest and most established futures prop firm (2012)
- Highest profit split in futures space (90%)
- 1-step combine: pass once, get funded
- Regulated (SEC/CFTC adjacent), payouts reliably processed
Cons
- Trailing drawdown is stricter than forex firms: loss limit moves up as you profit
- Futures only: no forex, crypto, or stocks
- No EA/automated trading on funded accounts (live audit required)
- Daily loss limit resets EOD: cannot hold losing positions overnight
TopStep Program Fit to Check
Futures day traders who can pass a 1-step combine manually (no algos)
Review TopStep Preset Checks
EA Hub illustrates selected preset checks on the supplied backtest. Compare the preset, data and current account rules yourself. A software result does not certify intraday compliance, evaluation completion or payout eligibility.
Read the service description and terms separately. A customer-owned account does not establish permission for third-party trading, hosted execution or copying. Confirm any proposed arrangement with the firm before connecting it.
Compare TopStep Side-by-Side
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the TopStep program cost?
Listed directory fee: $49; verify the current product, options and full cost with the firm. Evaluation fees are not trading capital. A pass does not automatically create payout eligibility.
Does TopStep allow Expert Advisors (EAs)?
Check the exact TopStep product, platform and stage. Technical compatibility does not establish EA, copy-trading or third-party-access permission. No general approval of a JPTC file is provided here.
What is TopStep's payout share?
90% (first $10K), then 90% thereafter Weekly (after 5 winning days, 30%+ above starting balance) Check the current purchased program's conditions; a headline split is not a payout guarantee.
What platforms does TopStep support?
TopstepX, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Tradovate in the directory snapshot; confirm current program access and permission. A file that runs technically can still be restricted by the account rules.
How should I verify TopStep before purchasing?
Directory lists 2012, Chicago, USA; check the current legal counterparty and terms. Age and location do not certify payout safety. Read the actual agreement, legal counterparty, fees, restrictions and payout-review conditions. Provider statements or trader reviews are not an independent audit or a guarantee.
Can I test a strategy against a preset before paying?
EA Hub can illustrate selected preset checks using the supplied backtest results. The current checker reconstructs daily results from closed trades; it does not prove that every intraday equity, timing, prohibited-practice or payout rule was met. Compare the exact preset and inputs with current firm terms. A displayed software PASS is not a firm approval or a forecast.