The world of prop trading offers enticing opportunities for aspiring traders to access significant capital without risking their own money. Among the numerous proprietary trading firms in the market, TopStep (formerly TopstepTrader) has established itself as one of the most recognizable names. But with increasing competition and evolving market conditions heading into 2025, many traders are asking: is TopStep a legitimate pathway to trading success, or is it a sophisticated scheme designed to profit from aspiring traders’ evaluation fees?
What is TopStep and How Does Their Model Work?
TopStep operates as a funded trader program that evaluates traders through a simulated account before potentially offering them real capital to trade with. Think of it as a trading apprenticeship: you demonstrate your skills in a controlled environment before being entrusted with the firm’s actual resources.
The basic process works like this:
- Traders pay for access to a simulated trading account (the “Trader Evaluation”)
- They must meet specific profit targets while adhering to risk parameters
- Successful traders “graduate” to funded accounts where they trade with TopStep’s capital
- Profits are split, with traders typically keeping 80-90% of their earnings
This model differs fundamentally from traditional prop firms where traders typically work in-house after extensive interviews and training. TopStep’s remote, evaluation-based approach has democratized access to prop trading, but also raised questions about its true nature.
The Legitimacy Question: Examining TopStep’s Business Model
How TopStep Makes Money – Following the Revenue Trail
Understanding how TopStep generates revenue is crucial to assessing its legitimacy. The firm has two primary revenue streams:
- Evaluation fees paid by aspiring traders (ranging from $165 to $375 monthly in 2024-2025)
- A percentage of profits from funded traders (typically 10-20%)
Critics point to the evaluation fees as evidence that TopStep’s business model revolves around selling “trading dreams” rather than actual trading. However, this perspective overlooks a critical aspect: unlike pure scams that collect money and disappear, TopStep has consistently paid successful traders for over a decade.
Like a gym that profits regardless of whether members show up, TopStep can profit from evaluation fees while still maintaining a legitimate funding operation for successful traders. The key question is not whether they profit from evaluations, but whether they deliver on their promises to those who pass.
Verification of Payouts: Do Successful Traders Actually Get Paid?
The most compelling evidence of TopStep’s legitimacy is their verifiable payout history. Numerous traders have documented receiving payments from TopStep after successful trading periods. The firm maintains transparency through:
- Public leaderboards showcasing successful traders
- Regular payout reports and trader success stories
- A substantial online community where funded traders share experiences
- Third-party verification through banking records and trader testimonials
While individual results vary dramatically, the evidence strongly suggests that TopStep does indeed fund and pay successful traders as promised—a fundamental requirement for any legitimate prop trading operation.
The 2025 TopStep Landscape: Recent Changes and Improvements
How Has TopStep Evolved Their Offering for 2025?
In response to increased competition and trader feedback, TopStep has implemented several significant changes to their program for 2025:
- Simplified trading objectives with more attainable profit targets
- Reduced trailing maximum drawdown restrictions
- Expanded instrument offerings beyond futures to include forex and micro futures
- Enhanced educational resources and community support
- More transparent progress tracking and evaluation metrics
These improvements address many of the historical criticisms of the platform, particularly concerns that the rules were designed to be unattainably difficult. The new structure maintains necessary risk controls while creating a more achievable pathway to funding.
Comparative Analysis: TopStep vs. Other Prop Firms in 2025
The proprietary trading landscape has become increasingly competitive, with firms like FTMO, The Funded Trader, and Earn2Trade offering similar evaluation-based models. Compared to competitors in 2025, TopStep offers:
- Higher profit splits (up to 90% versus the industry average of 70-80%)
- No time limits on completing evaluations (unlike many competitors with strict deadlines)
- More lenient trading rules regarding holding positions overnight
- Stronger reputation longevity (operating since 2012, outlasting many competitors)
However, TopStep typically charges higher evaluation fees and offers smaller initial account sizes than some newer competitors. This tradeoff between cost and terms remains an important consideration for prospective traders.
Success Rates and Realistic Expectations
What Percentage of Traders Actually Get Funded?
The hard truth about TopStep—and prop trading generally—is that success rates remain low. Based on available data and industry insights:
- Approximately 10-15% of traders pass the initial evaluation phase
- Of those funded, roughly 30-40% maintain their funded status beyond three months
- Only about 5-7% of all participants ultimately achieve consistent profitability
These figures align with the broader reality of trading, where successful participants represent a small minority. This isn’t evidence of a scam, but rather reflects the genuine difficulty of consistent profitable trading.
Think of it like professional sports: many try out, few make the team, and even fewer become stars. The system can be legitimate even with low success rates, provided the opportunity is genuine for those with sufficient skill.
Tips for Maximizing Your Chances of Success with TopStep in 2025
If you’re considering TopStep in 2025, these strategies can improve your odds:
- Treat the evaluation as real trading, not a game to be “hacked” or rushed
- Focus on consistent small gains rather than aggressive profit targets
- Thoroughly understand all rules and restrictions before starting
- Utilize the free trial to test your strategy within their platform
- Develop and stick to a detailed trading plan with specific risk parameters
- Take advantage of TopStep’s educational resources and community
- Consider starting with a smaller account size to reduce evaluation costs
Remember that success with TopStep requires not just trading skill, but specifically the ability to trade profitably while adhering to their particular risk management framework.
The Verdict: Is TopStep Legit or a Scam in 2025?
Why TopStep Should Be Considered Legitimate
Based on comprehensive analysis, TopStep demonstrates the core characteristics of a legitimate proprietary trading operation:
- Verifiable history of paying successful traders
- Transparent rules and evaluation criteria
- Longevity in the industry (operating since 2012)
- Continuous improvement of their offering based on feedback
- Realistic representation of trading challenges
- Strong regulatory compliance and business infrastructure
The evaluation fee model, while profitable for TopStep, doesn’t automatically constitute a scam if the company delivers on its promises to successful traders—which evidence suggests they do.
Potential Drawbacks and Concerns to Consider
Despite its legitimacy, potential TopStep users should be aware of certain limitations:
- Higher evaluation costs compared to some competitors
- Strict trading rules that may not suit all trading styles
- The statistical reality that most traders will not succeed
- Limited instrument selection compared to self-funded trading
- Profit targets that remain challenging despite recent improvements
These drawbacks represent business model tradeoffs rather than evidence of fraudulent activity. TopStep must balance accessibility with risk management to maintain a sustainable operation.
Conclusion: Making an Informed Decision About TopStep in 2025
After thorough investigation, TopStep emerges as a legitimate proprietary trading opportunity in 2025, offering genuinely funded accounts to traders who can demonstrate consistent profitability within their risk parameters. The firm has adapted to industry changes, improved their offering, and maintained a verifiable track record of paying successful traders.
However, potential users should approach with realistic expectations. The majority of participants will not succeed—not because the system is rigged, but because profitable trading itself is inherently difficult. The evaluation fees represent a lower-risk alternative to trading with personal capital, but still require careful consideration.
For disciplined traders with proven strategies who lack significant personal capital, TopStep offers a legitimate pathway to accessing professional-level funding. For inexperienced traders still developing their skills, the program may serve as expensive but structured education rather than an immediate income source.
The ultimate question isn’t whether TopStep is a scam—the evidence strongly suggests it isn’t—but whether their specific model aligns with your trading abilities, financial situation, and career objectives in the evolving landscape of proprietary trading in 2025.
