Topstep review: the established name in futures funding
Topstep is one of the oldest and most recognized futures prop firms, operating since 2012 with a US base and a strong payout reputation. It uses a trailing drawdown and is futures-focused — a different category from most of our ranked forex firms.
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- Operator Topstep LLC (USA)
- Founded 2012
- Category Futures
- Challenge types Trading Combine
- Max funding $150,000 (per account)
- Profit split 100% first $10k, then 90%
- Daily drawdown Trailing (per plan)
- Max drawdown Trailing
- Platforms NinjaTrader / TradingView / others
- Payouts On-demand (4+ payouts then flexible)
- Min trading days 2 winning days
- US traders Yes (US-based firm)
- News trading Permitted
What Topstep is
Topstep is a US-based proprietary trading firm operating since 2012, making it one of the longest-running names in the funded-trader space — and specifically a leader in futures trading rather than forex. Its Trading Combine evaluation and funded-account structure are well established, and it has a strong reputation for paying.
We list Topstep under Other Firms because it is futures-focused and uses a trailing drawdown, which makes a direct comparison to our forex-oriented ranked ten less clean. It is a genuinely strong firm in its category; we simply have not scored it on the same scorecard. As a US-based firm, it naturally accepts US traders.
Who Topstep is best for
US-based futures traders who want an established, reputable firm with a long track record and a strong payout history. If you trade futures (not forex) and value longevity, Topstep is one of the category's benchmark firms.
Who should avoid it
Forex/CFD traders (Topstep is futures-focused), and traders who specifically want a static drawdown — Topstep uses a trailing structure. If you are comparing against our forex ranked ten, note you are comparing different categories.
The rules that actually matter
Trailing drawdown — understand it. Topstep uses a trailing drawdown that follows your account's high-water mark during the evaluation. This is a stricter structure than the static floors our top forex firms use — a winning run raises your floor, so plan accordingly. See static vs trailing drawdown.
Futures, not forex. Topstep funds futures traders on platforms like NinjaTrader and TradingView. This is a fundamentally different market from the forex/CFD firms in our ranked ten.
Winning-days requirement. The Trading Combine requires a set number of winning days to pass. Confirm the current requirement and the consistency rules on Topstep's own site.
Payout timeline
Topstep offers on-demand payouts once you have met its payout criteria (a set number of winning days and threshold). Its payout reputation is one of the strongest in the futures category. We have not independently tested it, so confirm the current payout criteria on the firm's own site.
Platform availability
Topstep supports futures-focused platforms including NinjaTrader and TradingView, among others. This is a different platform ecosystem from the MT4/MT5/cTrader world of forex firms — appropriate for its futures focus.
US trader access
Topstep is a US-based firm and accepts US traders. If you trade futures from the US, it is one of the category's most established options. Our ranked US trader guide covers forex firms specifically.
Drawdown example
Topstep's trailing drawdown behaves differently from our top forex firms' static floors. As your account hits new highs during the Combine, the drawdown threshold trails upward beneath you — locking in a portion of gains and making a pullback more likely to breach than under a static structure. This is standard for the futures category but worth internalizing before you trade.
Consistency rule & risks
Topstep applies consistency and winning-days requirements typical of futures evaluations. Combined with the trailing drawdown, the main risk is treating it like a static-floor forex firm. Read the futures-specific rules on Topstep's own site before trading.
Pricing & value
Topstep's Trading Combine is a monthly subscription model rather than a one-off fee — a different structure from most forex firms. For an established futures firm with a strong payout record, many traders consider it good value. Confirm current pricing on the firm's own site.
How Topstep compares
Topstep vs TraderScale
Topstep and TraderScale serve different markets — Topstep is futures, TraderScale is forex/CFD — so this is a category comparison rather than head-to-head. If you trade forex, TraderScale is our verified #1; if you trade futures, Topstep is a category benchmark. See the TraderScale review.
Topstep vs FTMO
Like the TraderScale comparison, this is futures (Topstep) vs forex (FTMO). Both are well-established; choose based on which market you trade. See the FTMO review.
Get started with Topstep
Check current pricing and rules on the firm's own site, then compare against our #1 ranked pick before you buy.
Topstep holds a strong Trustpilot rating in the mid-4s across more than ten thousand reviews, with a reputation as one of the most established and reliable firms in the futures category. We have not independently tested it on our scorecard.
Recurring Positives
- Long track record since 2012
- Strong, reliable payouts
- Good educational resources
- US-based and US-accessible
Recurring Critiques
- Futures only
- Trailing drawdown structure
- Subscription cost model
- Winning-days requirement
Pros and cons
Pros
- One of the longest track records in futures (since 2012)
- Strong payout reputation
- US-based, accepts US traders
- Modern futures platforms (NinjaTrader, TradingView)
- 100% of first $10k in profits
Cons
- Futures only — not forex/CFD
- Trailing drawdown, not static
- Subscription pricing model
- Winning-days requirement to pass
- Not scored on our forex scorecard
Want to try Topstep?
Check current pricing and rules on the firm's own site, then compare against our #1 ranked pick before you buy.
Sources checked
- Official terms / rulebookNEEDS_VERIFICATION
- Pricing pageNEEDS_VERIFICATION
- Trustpilot profileNEEDS_VERIFICATION
Specs reflect this firm's published terms as reviewed on 2026-01-15. This is supplementary coverage not run through our full scorecard — verify changeable figures against the linked sources before relying on them. Source links marked NEEDS_VERIFICATION must be populated with live URLs before publishing.
Data sourcing & footnotes
- Trustpilot score (4.4) and review count (10,600) captured 2026-01-15; both change continuously.
- Max funding, profit split, drawdown, platform support, US availability and payout cadence reflect published terms as of 2026-01-15 — verify on the firm's own site before purchasing.
- This firm is supplementary coverage and has not been run through our full four-pillar scorecard. Evidence level: Trader feedback only — Assessment draws on documented terms plus third-party trader feedback; not independently tested by us.
Still deciding?
Check current pricing and rules on the firm's own site, then compare against our #1 ranked pick before you buy.
Questions traders ask
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Does Topstep use trailing drawdown?
Why isn't Topstep in your top 10?
Our #1 ranked firm for 2026 is TraderScale
Topstep is supplementary coverage outside our ranked ten. See the firm that topped our full scorecard on rule transparency and US accessibility.
Read the TraderScale review See the ranked top 10