Topstep review
Details checked 27 Sept 2026. Always confirm current terms on the firm's site.
Our verdict
Topstep is a Chicago-based futures evaluation firm operating since 2012, where gold is traded as CME GC or MGC futures rather than spot XAUUSD. It has a long payout history, but its trailing drawdown is strict and its Trustpilot score is middling.
Topstep is one of the original futures prop firms, based in Chicago and operating since 2012. Traders pay a monthly subscription for a Trading Combine: $49 a month for a $50K account, according to a 2026 review. They must reach a $3,000 profit target without letting the balance touch the Maximum Loss Limit, which for $50K is $2,000 and trails the end-of-day high. The best single day must stay below half of the target, and the Combine cannot be passed in one day. Passing leads to an Express Funded Account after a one-off activation fee. Topstep offers futures only, so gold exposure comes through CME gold futures (GC) or micro gold futures (MGC), not spot XAUUSD. Size is set by contract limits rather than leverage, for example five minis or 50 micros on a $50K account. Payouts become available after five winning days of at least $200, with each request capped at half the balance. Automated trading is allowed, and the proprietary TopstepX platform is now standard for new accounts. Indian residents are eligible according to the official help centre. Trustpilot shows a 3.6 rating from about 14,900 reviews, with complaints often centred on platform outages.
Pros
- Longest-running futures evaluation firm (since 2012), US-based
- Regulated exchange product (CME gold futures) with transparent pricing
- Low monthly entry price for $50K
- Automation allowed
- 100% of first $10,000 in profit (per third-party review)
Cons
- Only futures: no spot XAUUSD, gold traded via GC/MGC contracts
- End-of-day trailing drawdown is unforgiving
- Monthly fee accumulates if passing takes time; separate activation fee
- Trustpilot 3.6 with frequent platform-outage complaints
- Payout requests capped at 50% of balance
Key facts
| Founded | 2012 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Evaluation types | Trading Combine (1-step futures evaluation), Express Funded Account, Live Funded Account |
| Popular account | $50K Trading Combine |
| Fee | 49 per month (plus $149 activation fee on passing) |
| Profit target | $3,000 (6%) |
| Max daily loss | No fixed daily loss limit verified for the Combine (low confidence) |
| Max total loss | $2,000 end-of-day trailing (Maximum Loss Limit) |
| Minimum trading days | 2 (cannot pass in one day); best day must stay below 50% of profit target |
| Time limit | None (monthly subscription until passed) |
| Profit split | 100% of first $10,000, then 90% (third-party) (up to 90% after first $10,000) |
| Payouts | After 5 winning days of $200+ (roughly weekly) |
| First payout | After 5 winning days; capped at 50% of balance up to $5,000 per request |
| Platforms | TopstepX, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Tradovate, Quantower |
| Broker / liquidity | CME futures via Topstep's clearing/data arrangements (not detailed) |
| Gold (XAUUSD) allowed | Yes |
| Gold leverage | Futures contracts, not leverage: up to 5 minis / 50 micros on $50K (GC or MGC) |
| Gold restrictions | CME gold futures (GC/MGC) only; no spot XAUUSD. News rules for specific events not verified |
| EAs allowed | Yes (automated trading permitted, no Topstep support) |
| News trading | Generally permitted (specific-event restrictions not verified) |
| Accepts traders from India | Yes (India not on ineligible list, official help centre) |
| Payment methods | Card |
| Trustpilot | 3.6 from 14,861 reviews (checked 2026-09-27) |
Member reviews
Sources used for this review
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