Overall Rating
T&Cs Apply
Topstep evaluates traders in a simulated Trading Combine where you must reach a profit target while staying within risk rules like the Maximum Loss Limit. Passing the Trading Combine advances you to an Express Funded Account, and continued performance can lead to a Live Funded Account with expanded payout access over time.
Strengths
- Clear profit targets by account size, plus a Consistency Target that limits your best day to under 50% of total profits.
- Published Maximum Loss Limits by account size, using a trailing methodology based on your end-of-day balance high.
- Futures-only market access across major CME Group products, including equity index, energy, metals, rates, agriculture, and currency futures.
- Trader-friendly profit split offering 100% of the first $10,000 in payouts and 90% thereafter.
- Milestone-based payout access, with Express Funded eligibility after five winning days and daily payouts once Live Funded after 30 winning days.
- Platform direction focused on TopstepX for new Trading Combines, featuring built-in tools such as The Tilt, copy trading, and customizable risk controls.
Trade-offs
- No swing trading is permitted, as all positions must be closed before 3:10 p.m. Central Time on weekdays.
- Maximum position size limits apply in the Trading Combine: 5 contracts for $50K accounts, 10 for $100K, and 15 for $150K.
- The Maximum Loss Limit functions as a hard stop, and reaching it results in account closure under your account’s rules.
- The Consistency Target may require additional trading if one strong day represents too large a share of total profits.
- New Trading Combine purchases and future resets are transitioning to TopstepX based on published cutoff dates.
- Eligibility restrictions apply, including OFAC-sanctioned countries and other partner-related limitations.
Trading Combine evaluation
You trade a simulated account and work toward a published profit target while following the objectives and the Maximum Loss Limit rule. To pass, your best day must remain below 50 percent of total profits made, which Topstep calls the Consistency Target.
Topstep requires day trading behavior with a flat requirement before the daily cutoff and no holding positions into the next session or the weekend.
Express Funded Account
After you pass, your Express Funded Account starts with a 0 balance and uses a Max Loss Limit based on your Trading Combine size. Position size is managed through a Scaling Plan that is evaluated when trade reports update.
Topstep also removed the Daily Loss Limit on new or reset TopstepX accounts for Trading Combines and Express Funded Accounts starting August 25, 2024, while other platforms still use a Daily Loss Limit objective.
 
Live Funded Account
Live Funded Accounts include a Daily Loss Limit behavior that can trigger a soft breach lockout until the next trading day, while the Maximum Loss Limit is set at 0 and your account must stay positive. Payout access expands as you accumulate Benchmark Trading Days.
Top One Futures Details
| Platforms | TopstepX, Tradovate, TradingView, NinjaTrader, Quantower, T4, R Trader Pro, MotiveWave, VolFix, ATAS |
|---|---|
| Funding Program Type | Evaluation, Express Funded, Live Funded |
| Payout Frequency | 5 Benchmark Days, 50% Cap, Daily (after 30 Winning Days) |
| Activation Fee Policy | Subscription, Activation Fee, No Activation Fee Option |
| Country Restrictions | OFAC-Sanctioned Countries, Live Funding Restrictions Apply |
| Region / Regulator | USA |
| Supported Languages | English, Spanish |
| Currencies | USD |
| Tradable Assets | CME Futures, Equity Indices, FX, Energy, Metals, Agriculture, Rates |