Topstep review
Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Topstep suits beginners who want a low-cost route into futures prop trading, pairing a challenge price of $49 with a profit split of 90% that is competitive without topping the table. The brokerage account adds an account fee of $0 and payouts Every 2 weeks, so it suits a funded account you plan to grow.
Key facts
- Best for
- Beginners buying a low-cost futures evaluation with a competitive profit split.
- Challenge price
- $49 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Profit split
- 90% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Evaluation steps
- 2 step (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Account sizes
- $50K, $100K, $150K buying power (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Payout frequency
- Every 2 weeks (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Regulators
- National Futures Association (NFA) - registered introducing broker, Topstep Brokerage LLC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) registered FCM / NFA member, Plus500US Financial Services LLC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Topstep LLC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2010 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Chat, Phone, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Official website
- topstep.com
Brokers
- Minimum deposit
- $49 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Stock trade fee
- $0.50 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Account fee
- $0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Inactivity fee
- $0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Markets
- Futures (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Regulators
- National Futures Association (NFA) - registered introducing broker, Topstep Brokerage LLC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) registered FCM / NFA member, Plus500US Financial Services LLC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Investor protection
- SIPC up to USD 500,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Deposit and withdrawal fees
- 1% processing fee on debit card deposits and withdrawals; wire fee $10 outbound, $0 inbound (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- TopstepX (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Topstep LLC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2010 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Chat, Phone, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- Demo account, Futures
- Pricing model
- Low fees
- Audience
- Beginners
Pros and cons
Pros
- Entry is priced at $49 for a 2 step evaluation, with a profit split of 90%.
- The brokerage account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so an account left open does not slowly bleed money.
- Payouts arrive Every 2 weeks, a steadier rhythm than a single monthly cycle.
- Support runs on email, chat and phone, so phone and chat sit alongside email and a help centre.
- A demo account is listed in demo account and futures, so the platform can be tried before the evaluation.
Cons
- The split of 90% leaves a share of profits with the firm, where Apex Trader Funding shares 100%.
- Markets are futures only, against 80.6% of the brands here that cover stocks.
- Topstep ranks 7 of 21 on challenge price, and Alpha Capital Group lists $27 for its own challenge.
- The deposit and withdrawal fees add a processing fee on debit card deposits and withdrawals, plus a flat fee on outbound wires, so moving money in and out costs extra.
Who it suits
- Beginners testing futures prop trading, since beginners lists beginners and demo account and futures includes a demo account.
- Traders who want low running costs on a funded account: an account fee of $0, an inactivity fee of $0 and 90% kept of profits.
- Anyone weighing entry price against share, since Funding Pips runs challenge prices of $29 to $555, a different price point to Topstep's $49.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want the whole profit, since Apex Trader Funding shares 100% against the 90% kept here.
- Anyone trading stocks, ETFs or crypto, because the market list is futures.
- Budget-first buyers, since Alpha Capital Group lists $27 for its challenge.
Profit split and payouts
Once you clear the evaluation, the split is the figure that shapes every payout. Topstep pays 90% of the profit on a funded account, and the money arrives Every 2 weeks. The split is a percentage of profit rather than a flat charge, so a weak stretch costs you nothing to carry. The cadence decides how quickly a good month turns into cash in your own account, which matters if you are living off the payout. Read the pair together: a solid share paid on a set rhythm is easier to plan around than either number on its own.
Challenge price and rules
Entry costs $49 and the evaluation runs as 2 step. Buying power is offered at $50K, $100K, $150K buying power, so the fee does not lock you into a single account size. Taking the smaller buying power option keeps the amount at risk contained, and a staged format means there is a hurdle to clear before the funded account opens. Read the price as the cost of a process rather than a one-off ticket, and budget for a repeat attempt if a stage does not go your way.
Where it sits among rivals
On the two measures that drive most decisions, Topstep sits mid-field on price and further up on the split. The brand ranks 7 of 21 on challenge price, and 5 of 13 on profit split. Read those together rather than apart. A mid-table entry fee paired with a stronger share is a different proposition from a cheap price with a thin split, and the ranking tells you which side of the table you stand on. If your budget is tight, the price ranking matters more; if you plan to trade for a while, the split ranking does.
How Topstep compares
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Topstep vs eToro9.5 vs 9.2
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Frequently asked questions
How much does the Topstep challenge cost?+
The evaluation fee is $49, and the same figure is listed as the minimum deposit, so that is the outlay before any trading. For context, the median challenge price across the brands here is €56.56. A failed attempt means paying the fee again to try, so treat it as a cost of repeated attempts rather than a single ticket.
What profit do I keep and how quickly are payouts made?+
Once funded, you keep 90% of the profit, and payouts go out Every 2 weeks. The split is a percentage of profit rather than a flat fee, so a thin month does not eat into it. The cadence matters as much as the percentage for cash flow, since a good month reaches your account sooner with a frequent schedule.
Is the money held safely?+
The brokerage operation is registered as National Futures Association (NFA) registered introducing broker, Topstep Brokerage LLC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) registered FCM / NFA member, Plus500US Financial Services LLC, and the entity behind the terms is Topstep LLC in the United States. Investor protection is listed as SIPC up to USD 500,000. That figure is the scheme's stated limit, so read the scheme's own terms for what it covers and what it leaves out before you rely on it.
What does it cost to run a brokerage account?+
The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so there is no monthly charge for holding an account open. Per-trade costs are listed at $0.50 for stocks, and the firm describes its pricing model as low fees. The account is futures focused, so that stock figure matters mainly if you trade outside the prop account.
What do deposits and withdrawals cost?+
Debit card deposits and withdrawals each carry a processing fee, and outbound wires carry a flat fee under the same deposit and withdrawal fees, while inbound wires are free. The minimum deposit is $49, so a small sum is enough to get going. Card funding is the pricier route, so wires suit larger balances.
Which markets and platform do I trade?+
Markets are limited to futures, and the platform is TopstepX, which is the firm's own software. A demo account is part of the offering, since demo account and futures includes one alongside futures trading. Trading other asset classes means looking elsewhere, because this is a single market setup.
What account sizes are there and how many stages?+
Buying power comes in $50K, $100K, $150K buying power, and the evaluation is 2 step. The fee buys access to those sizes rather than a fixed account, so the capital at risk is the size you select. With a staged evaluation, budget for several attempts, since the price is charged again for a retry.
How do I get help when something goes wrong?+
Support runs on email, chat and phone, which covers live chat, phone and email as well as a help centre and a community. Phone and chat suit urgent account questions, while the help centre carries rules and platform detail. The community is a place to compare experiences with other traders before you commit.
Is Topstep a good fit for beginners?+
Topstep lists beginners as its audience, and a demo account is available, so you can learn the platform before committing to the evaluation. The site median for retail accounts that lose money is 70.15%, so a demo period is worth taking whatever the fee. Entry at $49 keeps the cost of trying low.
Sources
- help.topstepbrokerage.com/en/articles/15033686-are-there-... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Inactivity fee
“In addition to commission fees, the following fees may apply: NFA Regulatory Fee $0.01 per side, Exchange Fee, Wire Fee outbound $10 / inbound $0, Auto-Liquidation Fee $10 per contract”
- topstep.com/about-us checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“2010 - Founding of Patak Trading Partners - The beginning of what became Topstep”
- topstep.com/contact-support checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Chat with Windy ... [(866) 448-1642] (U.S. only) ... [(888) 407-1611] ... help@topstep.com ... Help center ... Discord community”
- topstep.com/our-program checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Payout frequency, Evaluation steps
“Funded traders can request payouts in as little as 3 days.”
- topstep.com/terms-of-use checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity
“These Terms of Use govern access to and the use of the Sites or Services of Topstep LLC, a Delaware limited liability company”
- topstep.com/topstep-prop checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Account sizes, Audience, Challenge price, Features, Markets, Minimum deposit, Profit split
“$50K Buying Power ... $100K Buying Power ... $150K Buying Power”
- nfa.futures.org/BasicNet/basic-search-landing.aspx checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Investor protection, Regulators
- topstepbrokerage.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Deposit and withdrawal fees, Pricing model, Platforms
“Debit card funding (including Apple Pay and Google Pay) is subject to a 1% processing fee for deposits and withdrawals.”
- topstepbrokerage.com/commissions-and-fees checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Account fee, Stock trade fee
“Topstep Brokerage does not charge additional platform or routing fees.”
Compiled from 9 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Maximum drawdown.
Topstep
Beginners buying a low-cost futures evaluation with a competitive profit split.