Topstep vs Bulenox
Rule-by-rule comparison from each firm's own website, last verified . The marked figure is the stronger one on that line.
Quick take
- Cheaper entry: Topstep ($49 vs $145).
- Faster payout cycle: Bulenox (Daily / on demand).
- Higher Trustpilot rating: Bulenox (4.7).
- Overall PA Score: Topstep 6.4 vs Bulenox 7.9.
Topstep stronger on 3Bulenox stronger on 3of 8 lines where both publish a comparable figure
| Topstep6.4 PA Score | Bulenox7.9 PA Score | |
|---|---|---|
| PA Score | 6.4 | 7.9 (stronger figure) |
| Trustpilot | 3.714,989 | 4.71,826 (stronger figure) |
| Founded | 2012 (stronger figure) | Not published |
| HQ | Chicago, IL | Wilmington, DE |
| Markets | Futures | Futures, Indices, Commodities, Forex, Crypto (stronger figure) |
| Challenge types | 1-step | 1-step |
| Entry fee from | $49 (stronger figure) | $145 |
| Cost per $1K allocation | $0.98 (stronger figure) | $2.15 |
| Largest account | $150K | $150K |
| Profit target | 6% | 6% |
| Daily loss limit | optional (automatic in Live Funded) | none (Trailing) / $500-$3,300 (EOD) |
| Max drawdown | $2,000-$4,500 | $1,500-$4,500 |
| Drawdown type | EOD trailing (locks at starting balance) | intraday trailing or EOD trailing |
| Profit split | 90% | up to 90% |
| Leverage | Not published | Not published |
| Platforms | TopstepX | R | Trader Pro, NinjaTrader, Rithmic (20+ platforms) |
| Payout frequency | after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path) | daily (Fast Track & Momentum) |
| First payout (days) | 3 | Not published |
| Min trading days | 2 | 0 |
| Consistency rule | 55% best-day rule in Combine; 40% on XFA Consistency path | Not published |
| News trading | Not published | Allowed |
| Weekend holding | Not published | Not published |
| Discount code | Not published | Applies best available discount to Qualification, Fast Track & Momentum accounts |
| Visit site (opens Topstep in a new tab) | Visit site (opens Bulenox in a new tab) |
Not published means we could not find the figure on the firm's own site. Sources are listed on each firm page.
Which should you choose?
Bulenox scores 7.9/10 and Topstep 6.4/10, a wide gap. Both are futures prop firms, so the rule differences below are like for like. Which one is better depends on how you trade, so here is who each firm suits, based only on what they publish.
Pick Topstep if
- you want the cheaper way in ($49 vs $145 for the smallest account)
- you care about cost per $1K of account ($0.98 vs $2.15)
- you want the longer track record (operating since 2012)
- you weigh firm-reported payouts ($1.5B+ paid out to prop firm traders)
Pick Bulenox if
- you want a faster payout cycle (daily / on demand)
- you trade high-impact news
- you need R | Trader Pro, NinjaTrader and Rithmic
Price at each account size
Cheapest program each firm sells at the sizes both offer.
| Account | Topstep | Bulenox |
|---|---|---|
| $50K | $49 | $175 |
| $100K | $99 | $215 |
| $150K | $199 | $325 |
Payouts
Topstep: after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path). First payout after 3 days. Methods: Prop-to-brokerage (US), Aeropay (US), Wise (China, Canada, UK), ACH (US, $30 fee), Wire/SWIFT ($30 fee). The firm reports "$1.5B+ paid out to prop firm traders" (homepage, checked 31 Oct 2026).
Bulenox: daily (Fast Track & Momentum). Methods: ACH, wire transfer, PayPal.
Firm-reported payout totals are the firms' own figures. We have not audited them.
Rule changes
| Date | Firm | Field | Was | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulenox | Discount codeOffers | BULENOX (always-on coupon (amount not stated)) | BULENOX (Applies best available discount to Qualification, Fast Track & Momentum accounts) |
Legit check
Track record, review volume, payout terms and restrictions for each firm, on one page each: Is Topstep legit? · Is Bulenox legit?
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Topstep or Bulenox?
Smallest published entry fee: Topstep $49, Bulenox $145. Cheapest per $1K of account: Topstep $0.98, Bulenox $2.15.
Which pays out faster, Topstep or Bulenox?
Topstep: after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path). Bulenox: daily (Fast Track & Momentum).
Which has the higher profit split?
Topstep: 90%; Bulenox: up to 90%. Headline splits often need scaling or an add-on.
Which is better for beginners, Topstep or Bulenox?
On our six-point beginner checklist Topstep meets 1 and Bulenox meets 1. The checklist is explained on the best prop firms for beginners page.
Are Topstep and Bulenox legit?
Both publish their rules and are listed with sources. See the evidence pages: propanalyse.com/firms/topstep/legit/ and propanalyse.com/firms/bulenox/legit/.