DEVOURED LAST CHECKED 12 Aug 2026
Topstep
The futures gold standard. Subscription model, no consistency rule, brutal clarity.
The oldest credible futures evaluation firm, and it shows: 14 years of operations, a rulebook that says what it means in dollars, and no consistency rule to ambush you at cash-out. The trade-off is a subscription model and a 50% baseline split. If futures are your game and clarity is your requirement, this is the benchmark.
The Verdict
DECENT, WITH CATCHESGenuinely good. Read the catch section before you hand over money.
The safest futures rules in the business. Pay for the subscription, earn the split.
WHAT'S GOOD
- No consistency rule, payout eligibility is simple
- Loss limits in hard dollars, not percentage puzzles
- 14 years operating, the longest track record in futures evaluations
- Weekly payouts on Fridays
- TradingView, NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Rithmic support
- Real support and a strong community
WHAT'S NOT
- Subscription model is a running cost
- 50% baseline profit split
- Trailing drawdown on funded accounts surprises some traders
- Futures only, no forex/CFD
The Catch
read before you payThe subscription never stops
Unlike one-time-fee competitors, Topstep charges monthly while you trade the Combine and the funded account. It's transparent, but it's a running cost, and it's the main reason value scores lower than rule clarity.
Funded accounts have TWO limits
A static Max Loss Limit AND a trailing drawdown that locks in profits. The trailing drawdown on funded accounts is the thing that catches traders who get greedy after a good run. Both numbers are in plain sight, read both.
50% baseline split
The starting split is 50/50, scaling up with consistency and tenure. Competitors advertise 80/20 from day one. You're paying for stability and rules you can trust; that's a real trade-off.
Rules That Matter
verified 12 Aug 2026| Rule | What it is | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation structure | Trading Combine (2-step): 50% target over 5 days | No minimum day requirement for combine |
| Max loss limit | $2,000 on a $50k account (static) | |
| Trailing drawdown | $1,500 on a $50k funded account (trails with profit) GOTCHA | |
| Consistency rule | None | |
| Profit split | 50% baseline, scales with tenure | |
| Payout cadence | Weekly (Fridays), after 5 green days | |
| News trading | Allowed (risk rules apply) | |
| Time limit | None |
Rules change. We checked 12 Aug 2026, always verify against the firm's own terms before buying.
BULL$#!T TAX
friction, not fraudBULL$#!T TAX
Unusually clean rulebook. Friction is minimal, rare in this industry.
- No consistency rule at all
- Loss limits are stated in hard dollar terms
- Subscription pricing is upfront, no surprise fees
Payouts
where the money isWeekly payouts every Friday once you've completed 5 profitable trading days on the funded account. The split scales from 50% with tenure and performance.
Programs & Pricing
structure| Program | Type | Target | Drawdown | Split | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Combine | 2-step | $2,500 on $50k | $2,000 max loss / $1,500 trailing | 50% → scaling | from ~$49/mo Monthly subscription, varies by account size |
| Funded Account | funded | 5 green days to payout | $2,000 max loss / $1,500 trailing | 50% → 80%+ | Monthly subscription continues |
Current Deals
verified onlyNO VERIFIED CODE RIGHT NOW
What Changed?
rule-change logWould We Buy It?
the straight answerYes, if futures are your market. The subscription cost is the honest price of the cleanest rules in the industry. If you're a one-time-fee person, this isn't it; if you're a clarity person, nothing else comes close.