Topstep is the largest and most established futures prop firm, operating since 2012 with over 21,000 Trustpilot reviews. It offers a straightforward 1-Step Trading Combine evaluation on CME futures through Rithmic and CQG data feeds. With up to 90% profit split, payouts every 5 trading days, and a $150K maximum allocation, Topstep is the benchmark against which all other futures prop firms are measured.
Evaluation
1-Step
Broker / Data
Rithmic / CQG
Profit Split
Up to 90%
Drawdown
Trailing
Max Allocation
$150K
Instruments
Futures & micros
Platforms
NinjaTrader, TradingView, Quantower
Payout Methods
ACH, Wire, PayPal
Topstep Challenges & Pricing
All Topstep evaluation account sizes, prices, profit targets and drawdowns.
Account
Price/mo
Profit Target
Drawdown
Contracts
$50,000
$165$49
$3,000
$2,000
5 / 50 micros
$100,000
$325$99
$6,000
$3,000
10 / 100 micros
$150,000
$375$149
$9,000
$4,500
15 / 150 micros
Programs & Account Types
Account and program variants offered by Topstep.
Program
Drawdown
Consistency
Payout
Notes
Trading Combine
Trailing
None
Every 5 days
Standard 1-Step. Hit target within trailing drawdown to get funded.
Challenge Cost Calculator
Estimate true cost to first payout, after coupon.
Account Size
$50,000
1st Month
$49
Profit Target
$3,000
Target / Cost
61x
Topstep Rules & Requirements
Every rule that applies during evaluation and after funding.
▸ Evaluation & Profit Target
Topstep uses a 1-Step Trading Combine. Hit the profit target ($3,000 for 50K, $6,000 for 100K, $9,000 for 150K) while staying within the trailing drawdown. No time limit — take as long as you need. Once you pass, you receive a funded account with the same parameters.
▸ Drawdown / Max Loss
Topstep uses a trailing drawdown that follows your highest realized equity. For the $50K account, the max trailing drawdown is $2,000. If your equity peaks at $53,000, your new floor is $51,000. The drawdown trails up but never trails back down — your floor only rises.
▸ Consistency Rule
Topstep does not enforce a formal consistency rule during evaluation. You can make your entire profit target in a single trade if you want. After funding, no single-day cap applies either — unlike many competitors.
▸ Trading Hours & News
All positions must be closed by 3:10 PM CT daily (no overnight holds). Trading is allowed during high-impact news releases — Topstep does not restrict news trading. CME market hours apply.
▸ Prohibited Strategies
No copy-trading between Topstep accounts, no hedging across accounts, no exploiting platform errors or latency, no insider trading. Automated trading (bots) is allowed on the funded account but not during the Combine.
▸ Account Access & Sharing
Only the registered account holder may trade. Sharing login credentials or letting someone else trade on your behalf is a violation and results in immediate account termination.
Topstep Payouts & Profit Split
How and when Topstep pays traders.
Profit Split
90%
First Payout After
5 trading days
Min Withdrawal
$250
Frequency
Every 5 days
Methods
ACH, Wire, PayPal
Scaling
Up to $150K
Topstep starts at a 90/10 split from day one — no scaling required. First payout is available after 5 trading days in the funded account. Withdrawals process within 1-3 business days via ACH (US) or wire transfer (international). Topstep has one of the fastest and most transparent payout records in the industry, with thousands of verified payouts on Trustpilot.
Topstep Reviews & Ratings
Aggregated from Trustpilot and trading communities, weighted by payout reliability.
4.6
out of 5
21,000+ reviews
5★
15,100
4★
2,940
3★
1,050
2★
630
1★
1,280
Pros
✓ 12-year track record — the longest in futures prop
✓ 21,000+ Trustpilot reviews at 4.6
✓ 90% profit split from day one
✓ No consistency rule
✓ Payouts every 5 days via ACH/wire
Cons
✗ Trailing drawdown (harder than static)
✗ No overnight holds allowed
✗ Futures only — no forex or crypto
9.2
Verdict
The benchmark futures prop firm. Topstep's 12-year track record, 90% split, and transparent payout history make it the safest choice for CME futures traders. The trailing drawdown is tougher than EOD/static alternatives — but if you can handle it, no firm pays faster or more reliably.
Affiliate disclosure: ArbiScreen may earn a commission when you sign up through links on this page — at no extra cost to you. This never affects our rankings or scores. Risk warning: Trading futures, forex and other derivatives involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. Prop firm evaluations require a fee and do not guarantee funding. Nothing on this site is financial advice.
