Topstep Review 2026
The original pioneer of funded futures trading, providing unmatched regulatory transparency and a direct path to the CME markets for serious professionals.
the bottom line.
The original pioneer of funded futures trading, providing unmatched regulatory transparency and a direct path to the CME markets for serious professionals.
Specialists in futures markets (ES, NQ, Gold) who value regulated exchange transparency and institutional risk standards.
Forex or Crypto traders, or those who find trailing drawdown models too psychologically demanding.
Topstep is the original, the pioneer, the firm that essentially invented the funded trader evaluation model in 2012. Based in Chicago — the heartland of futures trading — Topstep has over a decade of proven experience in identifying and funding talented traders who can manage real capital in the live futures markets. With a Trustpilot score of 4.3 stars and thousands of funded traders who have gone through their program, Topstep's track record is simply unrivaled in the futures prop trading space.
Unlike many newcomers who have entered the prop trading industry with innovative marketing and aggressive pricing, Topstep has earned its position through longevity, consistency, and a genuine commitment to developing traders. Their infrastructure, built around the Chicago futures trading ecosystem, provides access to some of the most liquid and transparent markets in the world: CME Group products including ES, NQ, CL, and GC. For traders for whom futures is the primary instrument of choice, Topstep remains the benchmark by which all other firms are measured.
Challenge Structure
Phase 1
Evaluation
Prove your trading skills by hitting the initial profit target while respecting the 4% daily drawdown.
Phase 2
Verification
A secondary test to confirm your consistency. No minimum trading day requirement.
Funded
Live Account
Trade with real capital and keep up to 90% of your profits.
Trading Rules & Parameters
Max Daily Drawdown
Maximum loss allowed in a single day.
4%
Max Total Drawdown
Maximum overall loss allowed on the account.
5%
Minimum Trading Days
Minimum active days required before passing.
0 days
News Trading
Trading during high-impact news events.
Allowed
Weekend Holding
Keeping trades open over the weekend.
Restricted
EA / Algorithmic Trading
Using automated trading robots or scripts.
Allowed
| Rule Name | Value | Trader Impact |
|---|---|---|
Max Daily Drawdown Maximum loss allowed in a single day. | 4% | Standard |
Max Total Drawdown Maximum overall loss allowed on the account. | 5% | Standard |
Minimum Trading Days Minimum active days required before passing. | 0 days | Friendly |
News Trading Trading during high-impact news events. | Allowed | Friendly |
Weekend Holding Keeping trades open over the weekend. | Restricted | Restrictive |
EA / Algorithmic Trading Using automated trading robots or scripts. | Allowed | Friendly |
Payouts & Profit Split
Pros & Cons
The Good
- Pioneer in futures prop trading
- Very affordable entry at $49
- 90% profit split
- Excellent educational resources
- Strong community support
The Bad
- Futures only — no forex/crypto
- Lower max funding than competitors
- Stricter scaling rules
Who Is Topstep Best For?
Frequently Asked Questions
See how Topstep stacks up against the competition.
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