Topstep Review: Fees, Rules and Payout Mechanics
The oldest dedicated futures prop firm in operation since 2012. The only major firm offering a genuine pathway from simulated trading to live market execution via Live Funded Accounts. Below: every rule that governs the Topstep evaluation and funded account, with a side-by-side comparison to the firms most often considered alongside it.
| Variant | DD Type | Min Days | Cycle | Speed | Cap %/$ | Consistency | First payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express Funded Account — Standard watchlist | EOD Trailing | 5 | weekly | — | 50% / $5,000 | None on Standard path | Day 5 |
| Express Funded Account — Consistency XFA watchlist | EOD Trailing | 3 | weekly | — | 50% / $6,000 | 40% Consistency Target required | Day 3 |
The oldest dedicated futures prop firm in operation since 2012. The only major firm offering a genuine pathway from simulated trading to live market execution via Live Funded Accounts.
| Size | Eval | Reset |
|---|---|---|
| $50K | $49/mo | $49 |
| $100K | $99/mo | $99 |
| $150K | "49/mo | "49 |
Fee refund: No (subscription model)
14 year track record, live funded account pathway, breakeven drawdown lock
Monthly subscription model, tightest drawdown in industry (2%/3%), slower monthly payouts
90% (100% first "0K legacy)
Maximum achievable split
Compare Topstep against
100% of first $25K, one-time fees, simple one step eval, $700M+ cumulative payouts
No activation fee, 3 day min eval, daily payout option, EOD drawdown locks early
No daily loss limit, ultra fast payouts (~1 min), 100% first "0K, path to live capital
Head-to-head matchups featuring Topstep
Rule-by-rule comparisons against the firms most often considered alongside Topstep.
Pick Apex if you want a one-time fee, larger account sizes and aggressive multi-account scaling. Pick Topstep if you value a fourteen-year track record and the only credible path from simulated to live market execution in the futures prop space. Day-trading scalpers tend to prefer Apex; methodical swing-style futures traders tend to prefer Topstep.
Pick Topstep if track record and the live-funded pathway matter more than monthly cost. Pick Tradeify if you want a one-time fee, a slightly looser rule set and on-demand payouts without waiting for a monthly cycle.
Browse Topstep in context
Quick facts
- MarketsFutures (CME)
- Account sizes$50K, "00K, "50K
- Evaluation1-Step (Combine)
- Min trading days1 winning day ($200+)
- Time limitUnlimited (while subscribed)
- US tradersYes
- Payout methodsDeel
- Trustpilot4.5 / 5
Disclaimer: This is independent editorial research based on public firm documentation and trader reports. We are not affiliated with Topstep. Information was last verified on 28 April 2026 and prop firm rules can change without notice. Always read the firm's current terms before purchasing an evaluation.