My Experience With Topstep

I bought a 150K on the No Activation Fee plan and traded it on TopstepX. Credentials came through instantly. The plan costs $229 a month against $199 on Standard, but Standard adds a $149 activation fee once you pass. If you expect to pass within a couple of months, paying more each month and skipping the activation fee works out cheaper. Topstep describes Standard as built for traders still learning and No Activation Fee for disciplined traders, which is a fair way to put it.

I left the Responsible Trading Advantage off. Turning it on adds a $3,000 daily loss limit on a 150K, doubles your per request payout caps and takes $30 a month off the price. I would rather trade without a daily cap, and the only rule I wanted to manage was the max loss limit.

On a 150K, the evaluation asks for $9,000 profit inside a $4,500 max loss limit, with up to 15 minis or 150 micros. The 55% consistency target means your best day cannot be more than 55% of your total profit, so spreading the target across several days is what gets you through. Current pricing and codes are on the Topstep discount codes page, and the full lineup is on the challenges page.

My Payout Experience

I have taken $120,000 in lifetime payouts from Topstep. Payouts have been fast, and I have never had a problem with support along the way. My newest 150K account is still working towards its first request, but the record across my earlier accounts is what this review rests on.

For context on what qualifies, an Express Funded account has two payout paths: five winning days of $150 or more, or three trading days with your best day at or below 40% of your profit, which comes with higher caps. Each request is capped at 50% of your balance, up to $5,000 on a 150K on the standard path. That is Topstep's published policy. My own record is the $120,000 above, and it is my experience, not a promise of what anyone else will see.

Which Account Would I Choose?

Kane's Pick: 150K, No Activation Fee, Responsible Trading Advantage off

This is the setup I bought and would buy again. No activation fee once you pass, 15 minis to work with, and only one rule to manage. If you are comfortable with a daily loss limit, switching the Responsible Trading Advantage on is worth considering: double payout caps and $30 a month off the price. I would rather not have the limit.

Standard makes more sense if you are still learning and expect to fail an evaluation or two, since the monthly cost is lower. Compare sizes on the challenges page.

Who I Would Recommend Topstep To

Choose Topstep if you want simple evaluation rules, quick setup and a clear route to a Live Funded account with no payout cap. It suits patient traders who pass steadily rather than in one session.

If you want a one time fee instead of a monthly subscription, compare Lucid Trading or My Funded Futures. My main reason for recommending Topstep so far is how simple the rules are to trade under.