Topstep Review 2027 Fees, Features and Safety

This Topstep review for 2027 looks at the Chicago, United States-based prop firm, founded in 2012, and covers the profit split of up to 90%, funding of up to $750,000, evaluation rules and payouts, so you can decide whether it fits the way you trade.

What is Topstep? (2027)

Topstep is the original funded-trader firm for futures. Michael Patak, a former floor trader, founded it in Chicago in 2012 under the name TopstepTrader, years before the current wave of prop firms appeared. The company has evaluated hundreds of thousands of traders and has paid out substantial sums to those who passed. It focuses exclusively on futures contracts listed on the CME Group exchanges.

The Trading Combine

Topstep's evaluation is called the Trading Combine. It is a single-step test available in three sizes: $50,000, $100,000 and $150,000 of buying power. To pass, you must reach a profit target, $3,000, $6,000 or $9,000 respectively, without breaking the rules.

The key rules are:

• Maximum loss limit: a trailing limit that follows your end-of-day balance upward until it reaches the starting balance, then stops. It is $2,000, $3,000 or $4,500 depending on account size.
• Consistency target: your best single day cannot account for 50% or more of your total profit when you pass, which prevents passing on one lucky session.
• Position limits: a maximum number of contracts that scales with your balance.

There is no minimum number of days beyond what the consistency rule implies and no time limit. Positions must be closed before the end of the trading session each day.

Subscription pricing

Unlike forex prop firms that charge a one-off fee, Topstep uses a monthly subscription. The Combine costs roughly $49, $99 or $149 a month according to size, and you can reset an account that has broken a rule for a fee or simply wait for the next billing date. Once you pass, a one-time activation fee is charged to open the funded account. Traders who pass quickly pay little. Those who take several months pay considerably more.

Express Funded and Live Funded accounts

After passing, you receive an Express Funded Account. This is still a simulated account, but profits are real and withdrawable. Traders who perform consistently can be moved to a Live Funded Account, where trades are placed in the real market with the firm's capital.

Under the terms that apply to accounts opened since January 2026, traders keep 90% of profits and Topstep keeps 10%. Earlier accounts were on a legacy arrangement that paid 100% of the first $10,000. Payouts become available after a trader accumulates a set number of winning days, and limits apply to the amount that can be withdrawn at each request in the early stages.

Traders can run up to five Express Funded Accounts at once, giving a combined $750,000 of buying power.

Platform: TopstepX

Topstep moved its traders onto TopstepX, its own platform, during 2025. It is a web-based application with TradingView charts, depth of market, one-click trading and built-in risk controls such as personal daily loss limits. Data fees are included. Traders who relied on third-party platforms such as NinjaTrader or Tradovate through Topstep should check current connectivity, since the firm has made its own platform the standard.

Markets

Traders can trade a defined list of CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX futures. These include equity index contracts such as the E-mini and Micro E-mini S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100, crude oil, gold, treasury futures, agricultural products and currency futures. Micro contracts allow fine control over position size.

Coaching and education

Topstep has always emphasised trader development. It broadcasts daily live programming, offers group coaching sessions, and provides performance tools that analyse your trading. Its content on psychology and risk management is among the best in the industry and is available to all subscribers.

What to keep in mind

The trailing maximum loss limit is the rule that ends most Combines. Because it rises with your end-of-day balance, giving back profits can leave you with very little room. The consistency target also means you cannot pass with a single outsized day. Topstep's rules are clearly explained, but they demand steady, controlled trading.

Who is Topstep best for?

Topstep is the natural choice for futures day traders who want the longest-established name in the field, a clear single-step evaluation and strong educational support. It suits disciplined traders who can pass within a month or two.

It is not for forex or CFD traders, for anyone who wants to hold positions overnight, or for traders who prefer a one-time fee.

Pros and cons

• Pros: operating since 2012, single-step evaluation, no time limit, 90% profit share, path to live-market funding, excellent coaching and content, own platform with data included, up to five funded accounts.
• Cons: monthly subscription can add up, trailing loss limit, activation fee after passing, futures only, no overnight positions, platform choice now centred on TopstepX.

Topstep review: verdict for 2027

Topstep pioneered funded futures trading and remains one of its most reputable providers. Its rules reward consistency over bravado, and its support for traders is real. For committed futures day traders, it is the standard to beat.

Compare this Topstep review with all 35 prop firms in our 2027 list, and confirm the latest terms on the official Topstep website before you open an account.