Topstep review
United States · Established 2012
- Chief executive
- Michael Patak
- Profit split
- 90%
- help@topstep.com
Overview
Introduction
Topstep is a well-established proprietary trading firm that has been operating in the futures trading space since 2012. Based in Chicago and led by CEO Michael Patak, this prop firm has carved out a significant niche in the funded trading industry by specializing exclusively in futures markets. For traders researching "is Topstep legit" and seeking a comprehensive Topstep review, the firm's long-standing presence and focus on futures trading sets it apart from many competitors that offer forex and stock trading options.
The company operates through its proprietary platform TopstepX and has built a reputation around its Trading Combine evaluation program. Topstep provides access to over 40 futures products spanning equity indices, commodities, energies, metals, and crypto futures, making it a comprehensive destination for futures traders seeking funded trading opportunities.
Challenge Programs
Topstep operates its evaluation system through the Trading Combine program, which serves as the gateway for traders to access funded accounts. The firm offers funded accounts up to $150,000, though specific details about profit targets, drawdown limits, and time constraints are managed through their platform-specific requirements.
One notable aspect of Topstep's approach is their emphasis on risk management throughout the evaluation process. The firm has implemented a consistency rule requiring that a trader's best trading day must represent less than 50% of their total profits, encouraging sustainable trading practices rather than high-risk, high-reward strategies.
Funded Account Terms
Topstep offers an attractive profit-sharing structure for successful traders. The firm provides 100% of profits on the first $10,000 earned, after which traders keep 90% of their profits. This tiered approach provides additional incentive for initial performance while maintaining competitive profit splits for ongoing trading.
Funded traders can request withdrawals every 5 days with a minimum withdrawal amount of $125. The firm has paid out over $10 million to traders and maintains a funded trader base of over 10,000 active accounts, demonstrating substantial market presence in the funded trading sector.
Trading Conditions
All trading at Topstep occurs on their proprietary TopstepX platform, which provides access to futures, commodities, indices, and crypto futures. The platform operates with tick-based spreads and CME-based leverage, reflecting standard futures market conditions.
Commission rates are set at $2.80 per round turn across all asset classes, with minimum trade sizes starting at 1 micro contract for most products. Maximum trade sizes are determined based on account size, ensuring appropriate position sizing relative to account equity. The platform supports trading across multiple asset classes while maintaining consistent fee structures.
Track Record
Topstep reports a success rate of 12.4% for traders completing their evaluation program, which provides realistic expectations for prospective participants. The firm has distributed over $10 million in profits to more than 10,000 funded traders, indicating both scale and longevity in payout fulfillment.
Who Is Topstep Best For?
Topstep is particularly well-suited for traders who want to focus exclusively on futures markets and prefer a specialized platform designed specifically for these instruments. The firm's educational emphasis through coaching and Discord community support makes it attractive for developing traders seeking funded trading opportunities with educational backing.
For experienced futures traders questioning "is Topstep safe", the firm's 12-year operating history, substantial payout track record, and transparent rule structure provide reassurance. The merit-based funding model and real-market executions appeal to serious traders who want authentic trading conditions rather than demo-based evaluations.
Key terms
- Profit split
- 90%
- Challenge fee
- $49
- Leverage
- —
- Min days
- —
- Payout denials
- Medium
- Jurisdiction
- United States
- Established
- 2012
Verification
Every entity in the prop firms database meets all 7 criteria below before it appears. This is what was checked for Topstep.
- Clear & intuitive rules & conditions
- Low payout denials
- Positive trader testimonials
- No hidden fees or charges
- Professional support team
- Legitimate business registration
- Founders must have no prior fraud in the industry
- Criteria
- All 7 metLast checked Jan 2026
Challenges and pricing
| Term | Account$50,000 | Account$100,000 | Account$150,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit target | $3,000 | $6,000 | $9,000 |
| Max loss | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Activation fee | None | None | None |
| Drawdown | EOD | EOD | EOD |
| Max trade size | 5 Contracts | 10 Contracts | 15 Contracts |
| One-time fee | $89 | $139 | $189 |
Fees are the published list price before any discount. A refundable fee is returned with the first payout, which is the firm's own condition, not a guarantee.
Conditions by account
| Asset | Spread from | Max leverage | Commission | Min trade | Max trade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FX | — | — | — | — | — |
| Crypto | Tick-based | CME Based | $2.80 RT | 1 Contract | Based on Account Size |
| Futures | Tick-based | CME Based | $2.80 RT | 1 Micro | Based on Account Size |
| Indices | Tick-based | CME Based | $2.80 RT | 1 Micro | Based on Account Size |
| Commodities | Tick-based | CME Based | $2.80 RT | 1 Micro | Based on Account Size |
Published minimums. Spreads widen outside the main sessions, and a dash means the pairing is not offered on that account.
Funding and payouts
- Scaling plan
- No
- Total paid out
- Over $10 million
- Funded traders
- Over 10,000
- Pass rate
- 12.4%
- Market type
- Futures
Platforms and assets
- Platforms
- TopstepX
- Assets
- Futures, Commodities, Indices, Crypto
Trading rules
- HedgingHedgingNot allowedProhibits simultaneous opposite positionsHedging is holding a buy and a sell position on the same instrument at the same time, so a move in either direction is partly offset. Firms that block it usually do so because it lets a trader sit on a losing position without it counting against a drawdown limit.Prohibits simultaneous opposite positions
- MartingaleMartingaleNot allowedNot allowed at Topstep.Martingale is doubling position size after each loss, on the assumption that one eventual win recovers everything before it. It works until it does not: the sequence needed to blow an account is short, which is why prop firms watch for it even where they permit it.
- Copy tradingCopy tradingAllowedVia built-in Trade Copier, but must comply with rulesCopy trading is mirroring another account's positions automatically. Prop firms restrict it because one trader's strategy passing several evaluations at once shifts the risk from many independent traders to one, which is not what the firm priced its challenge for.Via built-in Trade Copier, but must comply with rules
- Grid tradingGrid tradingNot allowedNot allowed at Topstep.Grid trading is placing a ladder of orders at fixed intervals above and below the current price, profiting from movement in either direction. Like martingale it accumulates exposure while a position runs against you, so restrictions on it are usually about drawdown rather than about the strategy itself.
- News tradingNews tradingNot allowedNews trading is not allowed on TopstepNews trading is opening positions around scheduled economic releases, when spreads widen and price gaps. Restrictions usually take the form of a blackout window rather than an outright ban, because a firm cannot fill orders reliably in those seconds.News trading is not allowed on Topstep
- Weekend holdingWeekend holdingNot allowedPositions must be closed by 3:10 PM CT on Fridays and cannot be held into the weekend close.Weekend holding is keeping a position open through the market close on Friday. The risk is the gap: price can reopen far from where it closed, past any stop loss, which is why a funded account is more likely to be restricted here than a personal one.Positions must be closed by 3:10 PM CT on Fridays and cannot be held into the weekend close.
- Expert advisorsExpert AdvisorsNot allowedNo AI, software, or automated high-speed tradingAn Expert Advisor is an automated program that trades a MetaTrader account without a person present. Where a firm permits them it often still requires approval, because an EA can breach a daily loss limit faster than anyone can intervene.No AI, software, or automated high-speed trading
- Consistency ruleConsistency ruleIn forceBest Day must be less than 50% of total profitsA consistency rule caps how much of your total profit may come from a single day or a single trade, often around 30-40%. It exists to filter out one lucky position, and it is the term most often missed until a payout is refused, because it can be met on paper and failed on distribution.Best Day must be less than 50% of total profits
- Stop loss requiredStop loss requirementNot required but recommended for risk managementA stop loss is an order that closes a position automatically at a set price. Some funded programmes require one on every trade and will void an account without it; others recommend it and leave the choice to you. Check which of the two this is before your first trade, not after.Not required but recommended for risk management
- High-frequency tradingHigh-frequency tradingNot allowedNot allowed at Topstep.High-frequency trading is automated trading that exploits very short-lived price differences, often within milliseconds. Retail firms almost always prohibit it: the profitable version depends on latency the firm's own infrastructure cannot absorb, and it typically works by picking off stale quotes.
Deposits and withdrawals
| Method | Fee | Deposit | Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cards (Credit/Debit) | — | Instant | --- |
| PayPal | — | Instant | --- |
| Wise | — | --- | 1-3 business days |
| ACH | — | --- | 1-3 business days |
| Bank Transfer (Wire/SWIFT) | — | --- | 3-5 business days |
| International Wire/SWIFT | — | --- | 5-10 business days |
Alpha Capital Group
Auraxtail
Darwinex Zero
FTMO
POW Funding