Topstep vs Bulenox: Prices, Rules and Payouts Compared

Topstep and Bulenox take very different approaches. Topstep is a long-running firm with a monthly Combine and a detailed, dated help center. Bulenox sells one-time qualification accounts and lets you choose your drawdown style, but the official pages we could read did not publish its profit split or payout rules. This comparison uses each firm's official site and help center as checked on November 3, 2026.

Quick verdict

• Choose Topstep if you want every payout rule published up front, a 90/10 split, an optional daily loss limit, and you are happy trading on TopstepX.
• Choose Bulenox if you want a one-time price with no subscription, no minimum trading days, a choice between real-time trailing and end-of-day drawdown, and a Rithmic connection, and you are willing to confirm payout terms with Bulenox in writing before you buy.

Side by side

50K account	Topstep	Bulenox
Pricing model	Monthly subscription	One-time fee (30 days of access)
Price (50K, regular)	$49/month + $149 at activation, or $95/month with no activation fee	$175
Activation fee	$149 (Standard path) or $0 (No Activation Fee path)	Not published on the pages we checked
Account sizes	$50K, $100K, $150K	$25K to $150K
Profit split	90/10	Not published on the pages we checked
Drawdown type	End-of-day trailing, monitored in real time	Your choice: Option 1 real-time trailing or Option 2 end-of-day
Daily loss limit	Optional ($1,000 on 50K); not a rule violation	Option 1: none. Option 2: yes, pauses trading (Qualification amounts not published)
Consistency rule	Best day under 55% of target (Combine)	Not published on the pages we checked
Minimum days	No stated minimum (can pass in 2 days)	None
Payouts	Standard: 5 winning days of $150+, up to 50% of balance. Consistency path: 3 days. $125 minimum	Not published on the pages we checked
Platforms	TopstepX only for new accounts	Rithmic-connected, "20+" platforms (not named)
FuturesPro score	7.6 / 10	6.4 / 10

Cost

A Topstep 50K Combine costs $49 a month on the Standard path plus $149 when you pass, or $95 a month on the No Activation Fee path. If you pass in your first month, that is $198 or $95. The bill rises each month you keep trying.

A Bulenox 50K Qualification account costs $175 once, with 30 days of access. Non-professional data is free. If you need more than 30 days, you buy again, so two attempts cost $350. Bulenox also sells Fast Track accounts that skip qualification ($488 for 50K). Its activation fee for Master accounts after passing was not published on the pages we checked, which makes the full cost harder to pin down than Topstep's.

Rules

Drawdown

Topstep uses a $2,000 end-of-day trailing Maximum Loss Limit on 50K, monitored in real time and locked at the starting balance in the Combine. Bulenox lets you choose at purchase. Option 1 is a real-time trailing drawdown that follows your open profit and never falls back, with full contract size and no daily limit. Option 2 is an end-of-day drawdown with a daily loss limit and a contract limit that scales with your balance. The 50K Qualification drawdown is up to $2,500. If you are weighing Option 1, our trailing drawdown calculator shows how quickly open-profit swings can move the floor.

Daily loss limit

Topstep's daily loss limit is optional ($1,000 on 50K) and hitting it is not a rule violation. Bulenox Option 1 has none. Option 2 has one that pauses trading for the day, but Bulenox does not publish the Qualification amounts. On Fast Track Option 2, it is $1,200 on 50K.

Consistency and minimum days

Topstep's best Combine day must stay under 55% of the target, with no stated minimum days. Bulenox has no minimum trading days. Its help center has a consistency heading for funded payouts, but the content was not readable on the pages we checked, so we cannot state a figure.

Trading hours

Topstep positions must be flat by 3:10 p.m. CT. Bulenox's Fast Track page says positions must be closed before 15:59 CT, and its overnight rule for Qualification accounts was not published on the pages we checked.

Payouts

Topstep pays 90/10 with a $125 minimum. On the Standard XFA path you need five winning days of $150 or more and can take up to 50% of the balance, capped at $2,000 on 50K. The Consistency path needs three days with a best day of 40% or less, capped at $3,000.

For Bulenox, we could not verify the profit split, payout frequency, minimum, cap or buffer. Its help center lists those headings, but the text did not load on the official pages we accessed. This is the main gap between the two firms. If you are considering Bulenox, ask support to confirm the payout rules in writing first.

Platforms

New Topstep accounts trade only on TopstepX, with Quantower able to connect through the ProjectX data feed. Bulenox runs on Rithmic and advertises "20+ platforms" but does not name them on its pricing page. Confirm your platform works with a Bulenox Rithmic login before buying.

Who each firm suits

Topstep

Topstep suits traders who want clear, documented rules, expect to pass fairly quickly to keep subscription costs low, and are comfortable on TopstepX. It scores 7.6 out of 10.

Bulenox

Bulenox suits cost-conscious traders who want a one-off price, like choosing their drawdown model and prefer a Rithmic-based platform. Option 1 suits fast scalpers; Option 2 suits traders who hold through intraday swings and accept a daily stop. It scores 6.4 out of 10, mainly because its payout terms are not published.

Read our full Topstep review and Bulenox review, compare them in our comparison tool, or see every firm on our futures prop firms rankings.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bulenox a monthly subscription like Topstep?

No. Bulenox Qualification and Fast Track accounts are one-time purchases. Qualification access lasts 30 days. Topstep's Combine is billed monthly.

What is the Bulenox profit split?

We could not verify it from Bulenox's official pages. Topstep's split is 90/10.

Which firm lets me choose my drawdown type?

Bulenox. You pick Option 1 (real-time trailing) or Option 2 (end-of-day) at purchase. Topstep uses an end-of-day trailing limit on every account.

Is there a minimum number of trading days?

Not on Bulenox Qualification accounts. Topstep has no stated minimum and says you can pass in two days.

Which platforms can I use?

Topstep uses TopstepX for new accounts. Bulenox uses Rithmic and advertises 20+ platforms without naming them, so check yours first.