Topstep Review

Company and trust

Topstep was founded in Chicago in 2010, originally as Patak Trading Partners, and is widely regarded as the firm that pioneered funded-account trading for futures markets, years before the forex-focused prop-firm wave. The business today operates through several affiliated entities, including Topstep Brokerage LLC, an introducing broker registered with the CFTC and a member of the NFA (NFA ID 0567079).

That regulatory registration applies specifically to the live funded brokerage side of the business rather than the simulated Trading Combine, but it still gives Topstep a firmer compliance footing than most CFD-style prop firms, which typically have no financial-services registration at all. Trustpilot reviews are more polarized than at some rivals, with a rating in the mid-3s reflecting both strong payout experiences and disputes over account closures.

Challenge rules

Topstep's evaluation, the Trading Combine, uses a one-step format across account sizes commonly including $50,000, $100,000, and $150,000 in buying power. Traders must hit a profit target while respecting a daily loss limit and a trailing maximum drawdown, across a minimum number of trading days, billed as a recurring monthly subscription until passed or canceled.

After passing, traders choose between an Express Funded Account, a lower-cost option with capped payouts, or a Live Funded Account that trades through Topstep's introducing-broker infrastructure with real payouts from client-facing futures brokerage rails.

Profit split and payouts

Topstep's headline profit split is generous early on: traders keep 100% of the first $10,000 in cumulative profit, then 90% of everything after. This structure rewards traders who can pass the Combine and start generating profit quickly.

Topstep reports over 7,000 traders paid on a weekly basis, with payout eligibility governed by consistency rules that vary between the Express and Live Funded Account types. Specific payout caps and minimum thresholds differ by account type and should be checked against current program terms before funding.

Platforms and instruments

Topstep's own TopstepX platform is the primary trading interface, alongside support for NinjaTrader and Tradovate, plus a TradingView charting integration. This gives futures traders a choice of established third-party platforms rather than a single proprietary system.

The instrument set is limited to futures on CME Group markets — index futures like the E-mini S&P 500, plus commodities, interest rate, and currency futures. There is no forex, CFD, or crypto trading, which sets Topstep apart from most other major prop firms.

Trading restrictions

Because Topstep trades listed futures rather than CFDs, its rule set differs from typical forex prop firms: news trading is generally permitted, but overnight and weekend position holding is restricted, reflecting standard futures-market session structures and Topstep's own risk rules on funded accounts.

Automated or algorithmic trading policies vary by account type and platform, and copy-trading between a trader's own accounts is prohibited, consistent with standard prop-firm terms.

Support

Support runs through a help center and live chat, with an active community presence across Discord, X, Reddit, and other social channels. Positive reviews frequently cite responsive support and an active trader community, while negative reviews focus on disputes over account suspensions and billing issues rather than routine service quality.

Who is it for

Topstep is the clearest choice for traders who specifically want to trade CME futures rather than forex or CFDs, and who value a firm with over a decade of operating history and a regulated introducing-broker structure for live funded accounts. The generous 100%-then-90% split rewards traders who pass quickly and start compounding profit early.

Traders who want multi-asset coverage including forex and crypto, or who are put off by a more polarized reputation on independent review sites, may be better served by a forex-focused prop firm.