Topstep FAQ & Complete Guide

Topstep is a proprietary trading firm that provides funded accounts to traders who pass an evaluation. You pay an evaluation fee, reach a profit target without breaking the drawdown rules, and move to a funded account where you keep a share of the profits. The Key facts table above lists Topstep's current plans and payout terms.

Always verify independently before purchasing. Check the firm's official documentation. Read the funded trader agreement carefully before paying any evaluation fee. Prop firm rules, fees, and payout policies change frequently.

Retail prop firm accounts, including those at Topstep, typically run on simulated infrastructure that mirrors real market data. Payouts are funded from the firm's evaluation revenue rather than from live market profits. The Key facts table above shows how Topstep's funded accounts are structured.

Prop firms generally operate as technology or contractor companies rather than regulated broker-dealers or FCMs, so they are typically not registered with the SEC, CFTC, FINRA, or FCA. The relationship is governed by the trader agreement, not by securities regulation. Read {name}'s agreement for its exact legal terms before paying.

Topstep offers evaluation programs in which you reach a profit target while staying inside drawdown limits. Each model differs in account size, target, and drawdown type. The Key facts table above shows which models Topstep offers right now.

The evaluation is the test phase where you must hit a profit target without breaching drawdown rules. The funded account is the phase you graduate into after passing, where you can request payouts based on your trading performance. Rules, drawdown types, and payout mechanics often differ between the two phases.

Some prop firms sell instant funding alongside standard evaluations: you skip the profit-target phase, usually pay more, and often get stricter drawdown or payout terms. Whether Topstep offers it is covered in the Key facts table above.

Running several funded accounts at once is common, often with a per-person cap. Firms usually restrict hedging between accounts and copying trades across them in ways that look like one position split up. The Key facts table above shows the account limit for Topstep.

Prop firms sell evaluations in several account sizes, from small starter accounts to large ones, and the fee rises with size. Promotional discounts can change the price a lot. See the Key facts table above for Topstep's sizes and fees and the date they were checked. Current range:$50K - $150K.

Evaluation pricing follows one of two models: a recurring monthly subscription until you pass, or a one-time fee per attempt. The model affects total cost if you need several attempts. The Key facts table above states which one Topstep uses.

Prop firms often run recurring promotions around holidays and product launches, usually through promo codes or newsletters. Codes change quickly, so a code from an aggregator may already be expired. Compare Topstep's discounted price with the standard fee in the Key facts table above.

The profit target is the amount you must earn in an evaluation to pass, set as a percentage of the starting balance (commonly 6-10%). A bigger account means a bigger dollar target. Topstep's targets per plan are in the Key facts table above. Typical target:$3K - $9K.

Many prop firms drop the profit target once you are funded and focus on drawdown limits and payout eligibility, such as minimum profit and number of winning days. So the goal shifts from hitting a target to staying consistent. Topstep's funded-phase terms are summarised above.

Profit targets are usually measured on closed (realized) P&L, not floating equity, so you must close positions for gains to count toward the target. An open winning trade alone will not pass the evaluation. Confirm Topstep's measurement basis in the Key facts table above.

A drawdown limit caps how much you can lose. The main types are trailing drawdown (the floor rises with your profits), static maximum drawdown (a fixed floor from the starting balance), and a daily loss limit. See the Key facts table above for Topstep's type and amounts.

Drawdown is measured either on equity (including open positions) or on balance (closed trades only). Intraday trailing drawdowns follow unrealized P&L tick by tick, while end-of-day drawdowns update only at session close. Which basis Topstep uses is shown in the Key facts table above.

Breaching the drawdown limit normally liquidates open positions and closes the account. In an evaluation you must buy a new one or pay for a reset, if the firm offers resets. The Key facts table above notes Topstep's breach consequences.

A daily loss limit (DLL) caps your loss within one trading day. Breaching it usually suspends trading until the next session instead of closing the account, though some firms treat it as a full breach. Topstep's DLL amounts are in the Key facts table above.

Typically, violating the consistency rule blocks a payout request rather than failing the account. You would need to trade additional smaller-profit days to bring your best-day percentage back under the threshold before requesting a payout. Confirm Topstep's exact policy.

The consistency clock usually resets after each approved payout, so the next payout cycle starts from zero and earlier big days no longer count against you. Whether this applies to Topstep is stated in the Key facts table above.

Many prop firms require a minimum number of qualifying trading days before a payout. A qualifying day usually means you traded and made at least a set minimum profit that day. The exact count and threshold for Topstep are in the Key facts table above.

Overnight rules differ by firm and account type. Futures-focused firms often require all positions flat before the daily close, while others allow swing trades held overnight or over weekends. Check the Key facts table above for Topstep's policy.

Prop firms offer different markets depending on focus: forex pairs, futures, indices, commodities, or a mix. Futures firms trade CME products like ES and NQ, while forex firms use MT4/MT5 symbols. Topstep's tradable instruments are in the Key facts table above. Supported platforms:TopstepX, Rithmic, Tradovate.

Prop firms cap position size to manage risk, usually as a maximum number of contracts (futures) or lots (forex), scaled to account size. Exceeding it can trigger a rule breach. See the Key facts table above for Topstep's limits per account size.

Algorithmic trading and Expert Advisors (EAs) are allowed at many prop firms, but strategies like HFT, latency arbitrage, and tick scalping are commonly restricted. The permitted scope is set in the trader agreement. Topstep's automation stance is summarised in the Key facts table above.

PickMyTrade bridges TradingView alerts to your broker account connected to Topstep. When your TradingView strategy triggers, PickMyTrade receives the webhook and executes the trade on your broker within ~200ms — no coding required. Set up takes about 5 minutes. Try it free at app.pickmytrade.io.

PickMyTrade's Trading Time Settings let you define sessions that automatically close all open positions and cancel orders when the session ends — keeping you flat before broker cutoffs. You can define multiple trading sessions, apply settings per account, and combine with news-aware controls. Full guide: docs.pickmytrade.trade.

Topstep supports one or more trading platforms depending on the asset class. Common platforms include Tradovate, Rithmic/NinjaTrader (futures), MetaTrader 4/5, cTrader, DXTrade, and TradeLocker (forex/CFD). Check their official site for the current list of supported platforms. Currently listed:TopstepX, Rithmic, Tradovate.

Mac compatibility depends on which platforms Topstep supports. Web-based platforms work on any OS. Native applications like NinjaTrader are Windows-only (Mac users typically use Parallels). Check whether Topstep's supported platforms offer Mac-native clients or web alternatives.

Mobile availability depends on Topstep's supported platforms. Many platforms (Tradovate, MetaTrader) have iOS and Android apps. Mobile is generally suitable for monitoring and emergency exits but most traders use desktop for active trading.

Setup takes about 5 minutes: (1) Create a PickMyTrade account at app.pickmytrade.io. (2) Connect your broker account (the one linked to your Topstep evaluation or funded account). (3) Configure your strategy settings — instrument, order size, direction. (4) Click "Generate Alert" to get the JSON payload and webhook URL. (5) Paste both into your TradingView alert. Done — your TradingView signals will now fire trades on your Topstep account within ~200ms.

$50/month per broker connection. PickMyTrade supports unlimited accounts under the same broker login with a single subscription. If you have accounts under different broker logins, each login requires its own subscription. There is a 7-day free trial, no card required — start at pickmytrade.io.

TradingView's webhook feature requires a paid plan — Essential ($12.95/month) or higher. The free TradingView plan does not support webhooks. Once you have a paid TradingView plan, webhooks are unlimited.

No coding required. PickMyTrade auto-generates the alert JSON for you. You paste the generated JSON and webhook URL into TradingView — no programming knowledge needed. PickMyTrade also supports custom JSON for advanced users who want fine-grained control.

PickMyTrade processes webhooks and submits orders to your broker in approximately 200 milliseconds from when TradingView fires the alert. This is suitable for most strategy types. High-frequency or pure tick-scalping strategies should evaluate whether webhook latency is acceptable for their edge.

The profit split is the percentage of funded-account profit you keep. Splits typically range from 70% to 100% and can rise with scaling tiers or payout count. Topstep's split is shown in the Key facts table above. Current split:Up to 90%.

Payout frequency depends on the firm: some allow on-demand withdrawals once you are eligible, others pay weekly, biweekly, or monthly, usually after a minimum profit threshold. See the Key facts table above for Topstep's payout cadence and minimums.

Prop firms pay out through bank wire, ACH, PayPal, or platforms such as Deel, Rise, or Tipalti, and availability depends on your country. Processing times range from hours to several business days. Topstep's supported methods are listed in the Key facts table above.

Yes — prop firm payouts are generally taxable income in most jurisdictions. In the US, payouts are typically self-employment income reported on Schedule C, subject to income tax and self-employment tax. Consult a licensed tax professional familiar with trading income for guidance specific to your situation.

Scaling programs raise your funded balance after you show consistent profit, typically by hitting profit milestones within set drawdown rules. They can also change your profit split. The Key facts table above notes whether Topstep offers scaling.

Usually yes, if it was your first warning. Topstep says opposing positions across accounts are prohibited even when the overlap is brief or unintentional, but a first violation is treated as a warning with a short window to un-hedge, and warnings alone do not affect payouts. Repeats get harsher: after you sign the hedging acknowledgement, later hedges are liquidated immediately, excessive attempts bring a temporary violation, and an account closed for hedging is not eligible for payouts. Topstep's definition covers the same or correlated instruments across accounts, such as MES/ES and MNQ/NQ, in the Trading Combine, Express Funded and Live accounts.

Yes. In the Topstep Trading Combine your best day must stay at or below 55% of your Profit Target, and Topstep says there is no buffer: 55% is a hard line. If one day goes over, your Profit Target rises to your best day divided by 0.55, and the extra profit has to come on a later trading day, because more profit the same day raises your best day too. The Express Funded Account Consistency path is separate: your largest day must be 40% or less of total net profit before you can request a payout.

Topstep's Maximum Loss Limit trails your end-of-day balance upward, never moves down, and locks once it reaches your starting balance, but it is monitored in real time on realized and unrealized P&L, so an intraday dip through it liquidates the account. It is $2,000, $3,000 or $4,500 for 50K, 100K and 150K accounts. In the Trading Combine and Express Funded Account the Daily Loss Limit is optional ($1,000, $2,000 or $3,000), and hitting it is a forced break for the session, not a rule violation. In the Live Funded Account the Daily Loss Limit is automatic.

On the Standard path you need 5 winning days of $150 or more net P&L (not necessarily consecutive) plus profit since your last payout. On the Consistency path you need 3 trading days with your largest day at or below 40% of net profit. Each request can be up to 50% of the balance, capped by account size, for example $2,000 Standard or $3,000 Consistency on a 50K, per Topstep's payout policy. The minimum is $125 and the split is 90/10. Topstep recommends waiting until your Maximum Loss Limit reaches $0 before taking payouts. Live Funded payouts have no dollar cap.

There is no fixed number. Topstep says its Risk Team reviews each trader case by case, looking at consistency, risk management, position sizing, products traded, use of stops, payout history and overall behavior, and its FAQ answers the 5-payout question with a plain No. Your Live starting balance is 20% of your cumulative Express Funded Account balance, capped at your account size, with a $10,000 minimum; the other 80% is held in Reserve. Topstep can also move a Live trader back to a single Shoulder Tap Express Funded Account without warning.

Express Funded, yes; Live Funded, no. Topstep's TopstepX API Access page says custom bots are allowed through the TopstepX/ProjectX API, subject to platform rules and its ban on high-frequency trading, but Live Funded accounts cannot trade through the API. API Access is billed separately at $29 a month, or $14.50 with Topstep's 50% code. Orders must still originate from your own device, not a VPS. Topstep treats a rule violation the same whether it comes from manual trading or automation, and third-party tools on the API are used at your own risk.

No. Topstep's API page says all trading activity must originate from your personal device and that VPS, VPNs and remote servers are prohibited by its Terms of Use; running automation on a VPS can lead to suspension or removal. Its Prohibited Conduct page also bans VPNs, proxies, TOR and other identity-masking services. A private server is allowed only for work that never touches order flow, such as storing historical data, backtesting, logging or a read-only dashboard. In Topstep's words, your server can watch and record, but it cannot trade.

FOMC and most releases, yes; CPI has a blackout window. Topstep does not require you to flatten for economic releases, but around CPI it blocks new opening trades in ES, RTY, YM, NQ, NKD, GC, SI, HG and PL minis from 5 minutes before to 5 minutes after the release. Micros are capped during that window, for example 3 contracts on a 50K account, and pending orders will not fill. Separately, Topstep prohibits purposely trading your full maximum position size into a major scheduled news event, and it does not adjust accounts for slippage losses.

Yes, on Trading Combine and Express Funded accounts. TopstepX has a built-in Trade Copier that mirrors a Lead account to Follower accounts, and the Lead must have the lowest maximum position size in the group. Live Funded accounts cannot use the Trade Copier. Followers are unlinked when you request a payout, and if the Lead hits its Daily Loss Limit or is liquidated, the followers are flattened with it. Topstep's hedging page adds that you stay responsible for any opposite positions created by copy trading software or third-party tools.

Reach Live and make $10,000 there. Topstep says there is no set timeline: you must be called up to a Live Funded Account and grow that account's balance by $10,000 in profit earned in Live, not in a Trading Combine or Express Funded Account. While you are in the program, new Trading Combines and Express Funded Accounts get a Daily Loss Limit ($1,000, $2,000 or $3,000 by size), passed Combines go to the 40% Consistency path, and you can still request payouts of up to $6,000 every 3 trading days if you meet the consistency requirements.