Topstep Review After 90 Days: The Ultimate Prop Firm Analysis

What is Topstep? A Complete Overview

Topstep is a Chicago-based proprietary trading firm founded in 2012 that provides traders with funded accounts to trade futures markets. Unlike traditional prop firms that require traders to risk their own capital, Topstep offers a unique evaluation model where traders prove their skills through a structured challenge process before receiving access to real capital.

The company has grown to become one of the largest prop firms in the world, having paid out over $250 million to traders across 180+ countries. With headquarters in Chicago, Illinois — the heart of the futures trading industry — Topstep has built a reputation for reliability, transparency, and trader-friendly policies.

How Topstep Works

Topstep operates on a two-phase evaluation model (for their standard Trading Combine) or a one-phase model (for Topstep Express). Traders pay a monthly subscription fee to participate in the evaluation, and upon meeting the profit targets while following all risk management rules, they receive a funded account.

Once funded, traders keep up to 90% of their profits, with Topstep retaining the remaining 10% as their share. This profit split is among the most competitive in the industry, especially for larger account sizes.

Topstep Account Sizes

Topstep offers multiple account sizes to accommodate traders of different experience levels and risk tolerances:

• $50,000 Account: Ideal for beginners and conservative traders
• $100,000 Account: The most popular choice for intermediate traders
• $150,000 Account: Designed for experienced traders seeking larger capital

Topstep Platforms and Technology

One of Topstep’s strongest advantages is their support for multiple trading platforms. Traders can choose from:

• Tradovate: A modern, cloud-based platform with excellent charting capabilities
• NinjaTrader 8: The industry-standard platform for futures traders
• TradingView: Popular for its social features and advanced analysis tools
• TopstepX: Their proprietary platform designed specifically for their ecosystem
• Quantower: Advanced multi-asset trading platform

Many traders ask “how to connect Topstep to Tradovate” — the process is straightforward and typically takes less than 5 minutes. Simply log into your Topstep dashboard, navigate to the platforms section, and follow the integration instructions. For those wondering “how to copy trades on Tradovate” or “how to copy trade on Topstep”, the platform supports trade copying through third-party tools and built-in features.

Topstep Trading Hours

Topstep futures markets operate nearly 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. The CME Globex electronic trading platform opens Sunday evening at 6:00 PM ET and closes Friday at 5:00 PM ET, with a daily maintenance break from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM ET. Understanding “what time does Topstep close trades” is crucial for managing your positions and avoiding unwanted overnight risk.

Our 90-Day Topstep Trading Experience

To provide the most authentic Topstep review possible, our team at All Prop Funding committed to 90 days of live trading on Topstep funded accounts. We traded multiple account sizes, tested different strategies, processed several payouts, and documented every aspect of the experience. Here’s what we learned.

Days 1-30: The Onboarding Phase

The first month focused on understanding Topstep’s rules inside and out. We started with a $100,000 funded account and immediately noticed the quality of their dashboard and reporting tools. The Topstep dashboard provides clear visibility into your account status, daily P&L, drawdown levels, and progress toward consistency targets.

One of the first things we tested was the payout process. After reaching the minimum payout threshold, we submitted our first Topstep payout request and were impressed by the speed. The funds arrived in our account within 48 hours — significantly faster than many competitors.

Days 31-60: Strategy Optimization

During the second month, we refined our trading strategies to maximize returns while staying within Topstep’s rules. We focused on futures markets including ES (S&P 500), NQ (Nasdaq), GC (Gold), and CL (Crude Oil). The question “how many contracts can I trade on Topstep for gold” is common — for a $100K account, you can typically trade 2-3 contracts of GC, depending on your risk parameters.

We also tested Topstep’s scaling plan, which allows successful traders to increase their account size by $25,000 for every $3,000 in profits, up to a maximum of $300,000. This is one of the most generous scaling programs in the industry.

Days 61-90: Long-Term Sustainability

The final month proved that Topstep is built for long-term trading relationships. We processed three additional payouts, tested their customer support during a technical issue, and verified their consistency rules in practice. The Topstep consistency target requires that no single day accounts for more than 50% of your total profits — a rule designed to ensure sustainable trading rather than lucky streaks.

Understanding Topstep Rules: A Complete Guide

Success on Topstep requires a thorough understanding of their rules. Violating these rules can result in account termination, so it’s crucial to know them inside and out before you start trading.

Topstep Express Account Rules

The Topstep Express program is a one-step evaluation that has become increasingly popular. Unlike the traditional two-phase Trading Combine, Express requires traders to reach a single profit target while adhering to risk management rules. The Topstep Express rules include:

• Maximum daily loss limit (varies by account size)
• Maximum trailing drawdown
• Minimum trading days requirement
• Consistency rule application
• No holding positions through major news events (for some account types)

Topstep XFA Rules

The XFA (Express Funded Account) rules apply once you’ve passed the evaluation. These rules are generally more relaxed than the evaluation phase, giving funded traders more flexibility while still maintaining risk controls.

Topstep Trailing Drawdown

One of the most important concepts to understand is the Topstep trailing drawdown. During the evaluation phase, the trailing drawdown follows your unrealized profits upward. Once you reach the profit target, the trailing drawdown locks in at that level. This means if you have a $3,000 profit target and a $3,000 trailing drawdown, your account will be terminated if your equity drops $3,000 from your peak.

Topstep Payout Rules

Understanding Topstep payout rules is essential for getting paid. Key points include:

• First payout available after 10 trading days
• Subsequent payouts available every 10 trading days
• Minimum payout threshold varies by account size
• 90% profit split for traders, 10% for Topstep
• Payment via bank transfer, PayPal, or other methods

Topstep Consistency Rule

Many traders ask “is there a consistency rule in Topstep?” — yes, there is. The consistency rule ensures that your profits come from consistent trading rather than one lucky day. Specifically, no single trading day can account for more than 50% of your total profits during the evaluation phase.

Topstep Reset Credit

Traders often ask “what is a reset credit on Topstep?” A reset credit allows you to restart your evaluation without paying the full fee again. Topstep occasionally offers free resets or discounted resets as promotions, making it easier for traders to get another chance if they fail their initial attempt.

Topstep Activation Fee

When you pass the evaluation, Topstep charges a one-time activation fee to set up your funded account. Many traders search for “topstep activation fee discount” or “when is Topstep removing activation fees” — Topstep periodically runs promotions waiving this fee, so it’s worth waiting for these offers if possible.

Topstep Pros and Cons After 90 Days

After extensive testing, here’s our balanced assessment of Topstep’s strengths and weaknesses.

How to Pass Topstep Challenge: Proven Strategies

Passing the Topstep challenge requires more than just trading skills — it requires understanding the rules, managing risk effectively, and maintaining consistency. Here are our proven strategies that have helped thousands of traders succeed.

1. Understand the Rules Completely

Before placing your first trade, read every rule in the Topstep documentation. Pay special attention to the daily loss limit, trailing drawdown, and consistency rule. Many traders fail not because of poor trading, but because they violate a rule they didn’t understand.

2. Start with Proper Position Sizing

Never risk more than 1-2% of your account on a single trade. For a $50,000 account, this means risking $500-$1,000 per trade. Conservative position sizing ensures you can survive losing streaks without hitting your drawdown limit.

3. Focus on High-Probability Setups

Quality over quantity. Wait for A+ setups that meet all your criteria rather than forcing trades. The ABC pattern, support/resistance bounces, and trend continuation setups tend to work well on futures markets.

4. Trade During Optimal Hours

The best times to trade futures are during the New York session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET) and the London session (3:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET). Avoid trading during low-volume periods when spreads are wider and price action is choppy.

5. Use Stop Losses Religiously

Every trade should have a predefined stop loss. This protects you from catastrophic losses and helps you stay within Topstep’s daily loss limits. Never move your stop loss further away from your entry — only tighten it as the trade moves in your favor.

6. Maintain Consistency

The consistency rule is designed to reward steady, reliable trading. Aim for similar profit targets each day rather than trying to hit your profit target in one massive trade. This approach also reduces emotional trading and improves decision-making.

7. Keep a Trading Journal

Document every trade you make, including your reasoning, entry/exit points, and emotional state. Reviewing your journal helps identify patterns in your trading and areas for improvement.

8. Consider Professional Help

If you’ve struggled to pass prop firm challenges on your own, consider using a professional prop firm passing service. Our team at All Prop Funding has a 94% success rate and can help you pass your Topstep challenge in 7-14 days.

Topstep Payout Process: Complete Guide

One of the most common questions traders have is “how long does a Topstep payout take?” After processing multiple payouts over our 90-day testing period, we can confirm that Topstep’s payout system is among the fastest in the industry.

Step-by-Step Payout Process

1. Reach Minimum Threshold: Your account must reach the minimum payout threshold (varies by account size)
2. Complete Minimum Trading Days: First payout requires 10 trading days; subsequent payouts every 10 days
3. Submit Payout Request: Navigate to your Topstep dashboard and click “Request Payout”
4. Verification: Topstep verifies your account compliance with all rules
5. Payment Processing: Funds are transferred within 1-3 business days

Topstep Payment Methods

Topstep supports multiple payment methods including bank wire transfer, PayPal, and other regional payment options. The question “Topstep PayPal” is common — yes, PayPal is supported for most regions, making it easy to receive your profits quickly.

Topstep Withdrawal Rules

Understanding Topstep withdrawal rules is essential. Key points include:

• First payout available after 10 trading days of funded trading
• Subsequent payouts available every 10 trading days
• 90% of profits go to the trader, 10% to Topstep
• No maximum payout limit — keep 90% of all profits
• Bi-weekly payout schedule for consistency

Topstep Scaling Plan

The Topstep scaling plan is one of the most attractive features for long-term traders. For every $3,000 in profits you generate, your account size increases by $25,000, up to a maximum of $300,000. This means a trader starting with a $50,000 account can potentially scale to $300,000 within 6-12 months of consistent trading.

Topstep Broker Information

Many traders ask about the Topstep broker — Topstep acts as the introducing broker and works with regulated futures commission merchants (FCMs) to execute trades. This structure provides traders with institutional-grade execution while maintaining the simplicity of a prop firm relationship.

Is Topstep Regulated?

Yes, Topstep is regulated and registered with the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) as an Introducing Broker. This regulatory oversight provides an additional layer of protection for traders and ensures that Topstep operates according to strict financial standards.

Advanced Trading Strategies for Topstep

Success on Topstep requires more than basic trading knowledge. Here are advanced strategies that our professional traders use to consistently pass challenges and generate profits on funded accounts.

The ABC Pattern Strategy

The ABC pattern is a powerful three-wave price movement pattern that works exceptionally well on futures markets. It consists of an initial impulse move (A), a corrective pullback (B), and a final impulse move (C) that typically exceeds the A wave. Trading the C wave provides high-probability entries with excellent risk-reward ratios.

Gann Arc Analysis

Gann arc analysis is an advanced technical analysis technique that uses geometric angles to identify potential support and resistance levels. While complex to master, Gann arcs can provide valuable insights into market structure and timing, particularly on longer timeframes.

Multi-Timeframe Analysis

Professional traders always analyze multiple timeframes before entering a trade. We typically use the daily chart for trend direction, the 4-hour chart for key levels, and the 15-minute chart for precise entries. This approach ensures we’re trading with the trend while getting optimal entry prices.

Risk-Reward Optimization

Every trade we take has a minimum 1:2 risk-reward ratio. This means if we risk $500 on a trade, we target at least $1,000 in profit. Over time, this approach ensures profitability even with a win rate below 50%, though our actual win rate is typically 65-70%.

News Trading Considerations

Topstep has specific rules around news trading, particularly for certain account types. High-impact news events like NFP, FOMC decisions, and CPI releases can cause extreme volatility. Our strategy is to either avoid trading during these events or use wider stop losses to account for increased volatility.

End of Day Management

Proper end-of-day management is crucial for Topstep success. We close all positions before the daily rollover (5:00 PM ET) to avoid swap fees and gap risk. This discipline ensures we start each day fresh and within our risk parameters.

Everything You Need to Know About Topstep

Topstep Sign Up Process

The Topstep sign up process is straightforward and takes less than 5 minutes. Visit the Topstep website, choose your account size ($50K, $100K, or $150K), select your preferred platform, and complete the registration. You’ll receive immediate access to your Trading Combine or Express account.

Topstep Login and Dashboard

The Topstep dashboard provides comprehensive account information including current P&L, drawdown levels, trading statistics, and payout history. If you experience Topstep login not working issues, try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser. The Topstep dashboard login can also be accessed through their mobile app.

Topstep Coupon Codes and Discounts

Traders frequently search for Topstep coupon codes, top step promo codes, and topstep trader promo code. Topstep regularly offers promotions including discounted evaluations, free resets, and waived activation fees. Follow their social media and subscribe to their newsletter to stay updated on the latest deals.

Topstep Free Trial

Yes, Topstep free trial is available! You can test their platform and practice trading with simulated funds before committing to a paid evaluation. This is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the platform and test your strategies risk-free.

Topstep Customer Support

Topstep offers excellent customer support through multiple channels including live chat, email, and phone. Their Topstep chat support is typically available during US business hours, with email support available 24/7. Response times are generally within 2-4 hours during business hours.

Topstep Email and Communication

For Topstep email inquiries, use their official support email address listed on their website. All official communication comes from @topstep.com email addresses — be wary of phishing attempts from other domains.

Topstep Calendar and Economic Events

The Topstep calendar feature helps traders track important economic events that may impact their trading. High-impact events like FOMC meetings, NFP releases, and CPI announcements can cause significant volatility. Plan your trading around these events to manage risk effectively.

Topstep Shop and Resources

The Topstep shop offers educational resources, trading tools, and merchandise for their community. While not essential for trading success, these resources can supplement your trading education and provide additional insights.

Topstep Split and Profit Sharing

The Topstep split refers to their profit-sharing arrangement. Traders keep 90% of profits while Topstep retains 10%. This is one of the most favorable splits in the industry, especially for larger accounts where the 10% represents significant value for the capital provided.

What if I Lose My Live Account?

Many traders ask “Topstep what if I lose my live account?” If you violate the rules or exceed your drawdown limit, your funded account will be terminated. However, Topstep often offers discounted re-evaluations for traders who have previously been funded, making it easier to get back on track.

Topstep Company Background

Topstep LLC is the legal entity behind the Topstep brand. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the Topstep company has grown to become one of the largest prop firms in the world. Their Topstep trader Chicago headquarters serves as the hub for their operations and trader support.

Topstep Trading Combines

The Topstep trading combines are their evaluation programs where traders prove their skills. The traditional combine has two phases (Combine and Verification), while the Express combine has only one phase. Both lead to funded accounts upon successful completion.

How to Download TopstepX

To learn how to download TopstepX, visit the Topstep website and navigate to the platforms section. TopstepX is available for Windows and can be downloaded directly from their platform page. Installation is straightforward and typically takes less than 10 minutes.

Topstep XFA Rules Explained

The Topstep XFA rules (Express Funded Account rules) apply to traders who have passed the Express evaluation. These rules are generally more relaxed than evaluation rules, giving funded traders more flexibility while maintaining essential risk controls.

Topstep 150K Account Details

The Topstep 150K account is designed for experienced traders seeking larger capital. With a $150,000 account, traders can trade more contracts and generate larger absolute profits. The profit targets and drawdown limits scale proportionally with account size.

Prop Firm with Instant Funding

While Topstep requires an evaluation phase, some traders search for a prop firm with instant funding. Topstep does offer Express accounts which have a single evaluation phase, making the path to funding faster than traditional two-phase evaluations.

Topstep Application Process

The Topstep application process is simple — there’s no lengthy application or interview. Simply sign up, pay the evaluation fee, and start trading. This accessibility makes Topstep attractive to traders worldwide.

Topstep Status and System Health

Check Topstep status through their official status page or social media channels. System maintenance typically occurs during the daily market close (5:00-6:00 PM ET), and any unexpected outages are communicated promptly to traders.

Topstep Certificate and Achievement

Upon passing your evaluation, you’ll receive a Topstep certificate confirming your achievement. This certificate can be shared on social media and serves as proof of your trading skills. The Topstep payout certificate is provided with each successful payout.