Topstep Review 2027 Supported Platforms and Tools

Before online prop firms were an industry, there was Topstep. Founded on the edge of Chicago's trading pits in 2012, it invented the model of charging a subscription for an evaluation and funding those who pass. More than a decade later it remains the reference point for futures traders. This Topstep review for 2027 covers the Trading Combine, the rules, the costs and the changes the firm has made recently.

Background

Topstep was founded in 2012 by Michael Patak, a former floor trader at the Chicago exchanges, originally under the name TopstepTrader. Its premise was that talented traders without capital could prove themselves in a structured test. The company is based in Chicago, has funded many thousands of traders, and reports payouts in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Its long history sets it apart in a sector where firms come and go. Topstep focuses exclusively on exchange-traded futures on CME Group markets; it does not offer forex or CFDs.

How the Trading Combine works

The Trading Combine is a one-step evaluation on a simulated account, available in three sizes.

To pass, a trader must reach the profit target without hitting the maximum loss limit and while satisfying a consistency rule, under which the best single day cannot account for more than half of the total profit. There is no time limit. Figures are reviewed periodically, so check the current rule sheet.

The maximum loss limit is a trailing drawdown calculated at the end of each trading day. It follows the account's highest end-of-day balance upward and stops rising once it reaches the starting balance. Because it is calculated on closing balances, intraday swings in open profit do not drag it up, which is considerably more forgiving than the intraday trailing drawdown used by some competitors.

From Combine to funded account

Passing the Combine leads to an Express Funded Account. This is still a simulated account, but profits are real: Topstep pays them out according to its rules. Traders who perform consistently can be moved to a Live Funded Account trading the firm's capital in the live market.

Payouts become available after a set number of winning days of a minimum size, and there are limits on how much can be withdrawn at a time in the early stages. In the live account, traders can qualify for daily payouts. The profit split is 90% to the trader.

Topstep review of costs

• Monthly subscription: from $49 for the smallest account, rising for larger sizes. It is charged every month until you pass or cancel.
• Activation fee: a one-time charge on moving to the Express Funded Account, with an alternative pricing path that removes the activation fee in exchange for a higher monthly price.
• Resets: if you break a rule in the Combine, you can pay to reset the account or wait for your next billing date.
• Data: market data is included for standard users.

The subscription model has a different psychology from a one-time challenge fee. There is no deadline, but each additional month costs money, so slow trading has a price. A trader who passes in the first month pays very little; one who takes six months and several resets pays considerably more.

TopstepX and platform changes

Topstep has moved its traders onto its own platform, TopstepX, which integrates charting from TradingView, order entry, risk controls and account statistics in one web-based application. The firm previously supported a range of third-party platforms and has consolidated around its own technology. Traders who depend on a specific external platform should confirm current compatibility before signing up, since this was a significant change for long-time users.

Trading rules in 2027

• Products: CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX futures, including equity index, energy, metals, currency, interest rate and agricultural contracts, plus micro contracts.
• Position limits: a maximum number of contracts per account size, with scaling limits in funded accounts based on profit.
• Daily loss limit: optional or automatically enforced depending on account settings; breaching it pauses trading for the day without failing the account.
• Trading hours: positions must be closed before the daily session end; holding through the close and over weekends is not permitted.
• News: trading around economic releases is allowed.
• Automation: fully automated strategies face restrictions; check the current policy.

Coaching and community

Topstep has always stressed trader development. Subscribers get access to daily live broadcasts with experienced traders, group coaching sessions, a library of educational content and performance analytics. For newer futures traders this support has real value beyond the funding itself.

Support

Customer support is available by live chat and email during US market hours, and the help centre documents each rule with worked examples, which makes it easier to understand how the maximum loss limit moves before you place a trade.

Pros and cons

Who is Topstep best for?

Topstep is the natural starting point for intraday futures traders who value a firm with a long history, fair drawdown rules and structured coaching. Swing traders who hold overnight, forex traders and those who require a particular third-party platform will need to look elsewhere.

Frequently asked questions

Risk warning: futures trading involves substantial risk, and most Trading Combine participants do not reach a payout. This Topstep review is not investment advice.