Topstep is the grandfather of futures prop trading, operating since 2012. Unlike newer firms, they include professional coaching and education with every account - making them ideal for developing traders.
Topstep wrote the rulebook for futures prop trading back in 2012, and while newer firms have copied and iterated, Topstep remains a gold standard for reliability and trader development.
Why Topstep Still Matters in 2025 In an industry flooded with new entrants, Topstep's 12+ year track record provides something invaluable: trust. They've funded over 35,000 traders and paid out tens of millions. When newer firms occasionally go under, Topstep's longevity becomes a serious advantage.
The Trading Combine (Evaluation):
Step 1 - Trading Combine:
Step 2 - Funded Account:
Account Sizes and Pricing:
Note: Topstep uses a monthly subscription model rather than one-time fees. Some traders prefer this as it reduces upfront commitment.
The Education Advantage Unlike commodity prop firms, Topstep includes:
For newer futures traders, this education alone could be worth more than the subscription cost.
End-of-Day Drawdown Explained Topstep calculates drawdown at the end of each trading day, not in real-time. This means intraday swings don't count against you - only your end-of-day balance matters. This is significantly more forgiving than real-time trailing drawdown.
Key Rules:
The Verdict: Topstep is best for traders who value education and reliability over aggressive profit splits. If you're developing your skills and want mentorship alongside funding, Topstep justifies its reputation. For experienced traders purely focused on profit extraction, newer firms may offer better splits.
Had no issues with Topstep purchased 50k no activation - got my first payout & was paid in a matter of days. The lady on support chat (Natalie) was very helpful with helping with international wir
They used to be good, now many glitches, higher prices, bad fills, support that takes days, trading limits that come and go or even sometimes just get banned from trading metals without being notified
I have emailed no less than 8+ times over the last month for support, no real response. Froze accounts, only response I get is we need another 24-48hrs. Have been getting same reply for a month now...
First class customer support by Joshua today! He helped me with my reset mistake and reinstating my balance no problem at all. Glad to see TopStep are back on top form with their customer support ag
I have emailed no less than 8+ times over the last month for support, no real response. Froze accounts, only response I get is we need another 24-48hrs. Have been getting same reply for a month now. M
Trading one Apex account is a waste of your edge. The real power is 'Account Stacking' — copying trades across 20 accounts. We break down the math, the tech, and the exact risk management you need.
Topstep is famous for the 'Combine'. Earn2Trade is famous for the 'Career Path'. Do you want daily payouts or a structured scaling plan?
Only two major firms offer the safe 'End-of-Day' drawdown. Topstep is the original. MFFU is the challenger. Which one saves you more money?
Test your strategy with Topstep's exact rules right now. No credit card required.
This simulation applies Topstep's specific profit target (6%) and drawdown (3%) rules.