Lean Topstep if
Best fit
Traders who want the most established structure and can work within payout objectives.
Think twice if
You need the old first-$10K profit split as a new trader, or you dislike payout caps and objective changes.
Topstep vs Bulenox
A source-backed, side-by-side look at how Topstep and Bulenox treat drawdown, payouts, pricing, and the rules that actually decide whether you keep a funded account.
Quick verdict
Lean Bulenox if
Best fit
Traders who want large account-size menu up to $250K and understand Master/Funded transition mechanics.
Think twice if
You dislike monthly subscription pricing or discretionary consolidation into live funded accounts.
Topstep vs Bulenox: rules at a glance
Every value below is pulled from each firm's official sources. Confirm live figures at checkout. New to the terms? See the key terms below.
| Rule | Topstep | Bulenox |
|---|---|---|
| Account sizes | $50K, $100K, $150K | $25K, $50K, $100K, $150K, $250K |
| Evaluation pricing | Standard path: $49/$99/$149 per month. No Activation Fee path: $95/$149/$229 per month. | $145/$175/$215/$325/$535 per month on Option 1 and Option 2 grids captured. |
| Activation fee | $149 on Standard path after passing; $0 on No Activation Fee path. | Not. |
| Profit targets | $3K, $6K, $9K profit target by account size. | $1.5K, $3K, $6K, $9K, $15K. |
| Drawdown | EOD trailing Maximum Loss Limit of $2K/$3K/$4.5K; monitored in real time. | Option 1 uses trailing drawdown; Option 2 uses EOD/Scaling/DLL grid. Drawdown $1.5K/$2.5K/$3K/$4.5K/$5.5K. |
| Daily loss limit | Optional in Trading Combine/XFA; required on Live Funded Accounts. Responsible Trading Discount applies to No Activation Fee path with fixed DLL. | Option 2 DLL: $500/$1.1K/$2.2K/$3.3K/$4.5K. |
| Consistency rule | Trading Combine best day must be at or below 50% of total profit. Optional XFA Consistency path uses 40% and can qualify in 3 trading days. | Master Account payout page includes 40% consistency rule on withdrawal requests. |
| Min trading days | As little as 2 days to pass the Trading Combine if consistency and target are met. | Qualification pass requires profit target and at least 1 trading day. Funded Account reward request after at least 5 trading days. |
| Payout | New traders joining on or after Jan. 12, 2026 receive 90% of approved payouts. XFA Standard requires 5 winning days of $150+; XFA Consistency can qualify with 3 trading days and 40% consistency. | After three successful Master Account payouts, qualified traders may transition to a Funded Account at risk-team discretion; active Master Accounts consolidate. |
| Coupon | Built-in discount — no promo code to enter | No public code (verify at checkout) |
How the rules differ
Drawdown. Topstep: EOD trailing Maximum Loss Limit of $2K/$3K/$4.5K; monitored in real time. Bulenox: Option 1 uses trailing drawdown; Option 2 uses EOD/Scaling/DLL grid. Drawdown $1.5K/$2.5K/$3K/$4.5K/$5.5K.
Payouts. Topstep: New traders joining on or after Jan. 12, 2026 receive 90% of approved payouts. XFA Standard requires 5 winning days of $150+; XFA Consistency can qualify with 3 trading days and 40% consistency. Bulenox: After three successful Master Account payouts, qualified traders may transition to a Funded Account at risk-team discretion; active Master Accounts consolidate.
Cost beyond the sticker. Topstep runs a Monthly subscription with path choice model — New-account payout caps and 90% split materially affect expected value. Bulenox runs a Monthly subscription evaluation model — Master-to-Funded transition and account consolidation can change realized economics after payouts.
Frequently asked
Is Topstep or Bulenox cheaper for a funded futures evaluation?
Topstep: Standard path: $49/$99/$149 per month. No Activation Fee path: $95/$149/$229 per month. Activation: $149 on Standard path after passing; $0 on No Activation Fee path. Bulenox: $145/$175/$215/$325/$535 per month on Option 1 and Option 2 grids captured. Activation: Not. Net cost depends on current sales and activation fees, so confirm the final total at checkout.
What is the difference between Topstep and Bulenox drawdown rules?
Topstep: EOD trailing Maximum Loss Limit of $2K/$3K/$4.5K; monitored in real time. Bulenox: Option 1 uses trailing drawdown; Option 2 uses EOD/Scaling/DLL grid. Drawdown $1.5K/$2.5K/$3K/$4.5K/$5.5K.
Does Topstep or Bulenox have a daily loss limit?
Topstep: Optional in Trading Combine/XFA; required on Live Funded Accounts. Responsible Trading Discount applies to No Activation Fee path with fixed DLL. Bulenox: Option 2 DLL: $500/$1.1K/$2.2K/$3.3K/$4.5K.
What are the payout rules for Topstep vs Bulenox?
Topstep: New traders joining on or after Jan. 12, 2026 receive 90% of approved payouts. XFA Standard requires 5 winning days of $150+; XFA Consistency can qualify with 3 trading days and 40% consistency. Bulenox: After three successful Master Account payouts, qualified traders may transition to a Funded Account at risk-team discretion; active Master Accounts consolidate.
Sources
Official help, pricing, and payout pages used for this comparison.
Compare every rule before you buy an evaluation
Firm rules, payouts, and coupons change often. Read the rule risk first, then pick the firm that fits how you actually trade.
Key terms
- EOD (end-of-day) drawdown
- Your maximum-loss line trails on your balance at the daily close, not your highest intraday equity. Open profit you give back during the day does not pull the line up against you.
- Trailing drawdown
- Your maximum-loss line trails your highest intraday equity, so profit you reach and then give back can move the line up against you.
- Daily loss limit (DLL)
- A cap on how much you can lose in a single trading day — some firms call it a Daily Loss Guard. A few make it optional during the evaluation.
- Consistency rule
- Caps how much of your total profit can come from a single best day, so one outlier session can't carry a pass or a payout.
- Activation fee
- A one-time fee to turn a passed evaluation into a funded account, charged on top of the evaluation price.
- Profit split
- The share of payouts you keep. A 90/10 split means you keep 90% and the firm keeps 10%.
- XFA / PA
- Firm-specific funded-account names: XFA is Topstep's Express Funded Account; PA is Apex's Performance Account.
More funded-firm comparisons
Comparison research, not investment advice. Funded-account rules, pricing, payout schedules, and coupons change without notice — figures here reflect the dataset last reviewed May 22, 2026. Always confirm current terms on the firm's official site before purchasing an evaluation.