Topstep vs Bulenox: the rules compared
Topstep and Bulenox differ most in drawdown type, daily loss limit and evaluation fee. Topstep offers end-of-day and static drawdowns, while Bulenox offers intraday and end-of-day drawdowns. Topstep sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 7 evaluations ($500 to $5,000), while Bulenox sets a daily loss limit on 8 of 16 evaluations ($500 to $3,300).
The verdicts at 50K
Cheaper to start
Bulenox$143 against $198 to reach a funded account, and nothing more if it takes longer than a month.
Runs your bot
Both allow automated trading, with conditions.
Each firm’s 50K plan whose rules treat a trader with no edge best, or its least expensive when none is simulated.
9 rules differ
- Price$49 a month$143 once
- Activation$149$0
- Reset$49Not stated by the firm
- Maximum loss$2,000, end of day$2,250, intraday
- Time limitNo time limit30 calendar days
- Best day, evaluation55%No consistency rule
- Minimum days2 trading daysNo minimum
- Contracts5 contracts7 contracts
- Largest payout$2,000$1,500 (first payout)
Plans on record
Topstep sells 7 plans from 25K to 250K, while Bulenox sells 24 plans from 25K to 150K.
Evaluation fee
Topstep charges $49 to $199 a month and $75 to $499 once, while Bulenox charges $94 to $788 once.
Billing
Topstep sells both monthly and one-time plans, while Bulenox charges its evaluations once.
Activation fee
Topstep charges a $0 to $149 activation fee, while Bulenox charges a $0 to $498 activation fee.
Drawdown type
Topstep offers end-of-day and static drawdowns, while Bulenox offers intraday and end-of-day drawdowns.
Daily loss limit
Topstep sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 7 evaluations ($500 to $5,000), while Bulenox sets a daily loss limit on 8 of 16 evaluations ($500 to $3,300).
Consistency
Topstep caps the evaluation's best day at 55% of the profit on 6 of 7 plans, while Bulenox has no consistency rule in its evaluations.
Minimum trading days
Topstep asks for at least 2 trading days, while Bulenox has no minimum number of trading days.
First payout
Topstep pays a first payout after 5 winning days of $150 or more, while Bulenox pays a first payout after 0 to 10 trading days, depending on the size.
What they share
- Profit split: 90%
- Funded accounts at once: Up to 5
- Automated trading: Allowed with conditions
Topstep: Allowed with conditions
Topstep allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Bots and automated strategies may trade through the TopstepX / ProjectX API, under the platform rules, with high-frequency trading banned, orders sent from the trader's own device, and not on Live Funded Accounts.
Checked 21 Oct 2026 · Source: help.topstep.com
Bulenox: Allowed with conditions
Bulenox allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Bots, algorithms and trade copiers are permitted only as user-built tools for the account owner's own use; commercial, shared, rented or publicly distributed automation is banned, and a third-party API or composite software link to Rithmic costs $100 a month.
Checked 21 Oct 2026 · Source: bulenox.com
Topstep and Bulenox, topic by topic across each firm’s plans on saleShowHide
| Topic | Topstep | Bulenox |
|---|---|---|
| Plans on record | 7 plans, 25K to 250K | 24 plans, 25K to 150K |
| Evaluation fee | $49 to $199 a month and $75 to $499 once | $94 to $788 once |
| Billing | Monthly and one-time plans | Paid once |
| Activation fee | $0 to $149 | $0 to $498 |
| Drawdown type | End of day and static | Intraday and end of day |
| Daily loss limit | $500 to $5,000 on 3 of 7 evaluations | $500 to $3,300 on 8 of 16 evaluations |
| Consistency | Best day at most 55% (1 with none) | None in the evaluation |
| Minimum trading days | 2 trading days | No minimum |
| First payout | After 5 winning days of $150 or more | After 0 to 10 trading days, depending on the size |
| Profit split | 90% | 90% |
| Funded accounts at once | Up to 5 | Up to 5 |
| Automated trading | Allowed with conditions | Allowed with conditions |
25K
- Topstep Labs 25K Static$75 once, $1,000, static
- Bulenox Qualification Option 1 25K$145 once, $1,500, intraday
- Bulenox Qualification Option 2 25K$145 once, $1,500, end of day
- Bulenox Fast Track Option 1 25K$338 once, $1,000, intraday
- Bulenox Fast Track Option 2 25K$338 once, $1,000, end of day
- Bulenox Momentum Option 1 25K$94 once, $1,000, intraday
- Bulenox Momentum Option 2 25K$94 once, $1,000, end of day
50K
- Topstep 50K Combine$49 a month, $2,000, end of day
- Topstep Labs 50K Static$149 once, $2,000, static
- Bulenox Qualification Option 1 50K$175 once, $2,500, intraday
- Bulenox Qualification Option 2 50K$175 once, $2,500, end of day
- Bulenox Fast Track Option 1 50K$488 once, $2,250, intraday
- Bulenox Fast Track Option 2 50K$488 once, $2,250, end of day
- Bulenox Momentum Option 1 50K$143 once, $2,250, intraday
- Bulenox Momentum Option 2 50K$143 once, $2,250, end of day
100K
- Topstep 100K Combine$99 a month, $3,000, end of day
- Bulenox Qualification Option 1 100K$215 once, $3,000, intraday
- Bulenox Qualification Option 2 100K$215 once, $3,000, end of day
- Bulenox Fast Track Option 1 100K$648 once, $4,000, intraday
- Bulenox Fast Track Option 2 100K$648 once, $4,000, end of day
- Bulenox Momentum Option 1 100K$248 once, $4,000, intraday
- Bulenox Momentum Option 2 100K$248 once, $4,000, end of day
150K
- Topstep 150K Combine$199 a month, $4,500, end of day
- Bulenox Qualification Option 1 150K$325 once, $4,500, intraday
- Bulenox Qualification Option 2 150K$325 once, $4,500, end of day
- Bulenox Fast Track Option 1 150K$788 once, $5,500, intraday
- Bulenox Fast Track Option 2 150K$788 once, $5,500, end of day
- Bulenox Momentum Option 1 150K$358 once, $5,500, intraday
- Bulenox Momentum Option 2 150K$358 once, $5,500, end of day
Only Topstep sells 250K.
Topstep or Bulenox?
At 50K, the Topstep Labs 50K Static costs $149 to fund on a first attempt and the Bulenox Momentum Option 1 50K $143 (not stated by the firm).
Topstep offers end-of-day and static drawdowns, while Bulenox offers intraday and end-of-day drawdowns. Topstep sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 7 evaluations ($500 to $5,000), while Bulenox sets a daily loss limit on 8 of 16 evaluations ($500 to $3,300). Topstep charges $49 to $199 a month and $75 to $499 once, while Bulenox charges $94 to $788 once. Topstep sells both monthly and one-time plans, while Bulenox charges its evaluations once. Topstep caps the evaluation's best day at 55% of the profit on 6 of 7 plans, while Bulenox has no consistency rule in its evaluations. Topstep pays a first payout after 5 winning days of $150 or more, while Bulenox pays a first payout after 0 to 10 trading days, depending on the size. Topstep charges a $0 to $149 activation fee, while Bulenox charges a $0 to $498 activation fee. Topstep asks for at least 2 trading days, while Bulenox has no minimum number of trading days.
On a first attempt with no reset, the Bulenox Momentum Option 1 50K costs $143 ($143 evaluation) against $149 for the Topstep Labs 50K Static ($149 evaluation). Resets and extra months can change the order.
Topstep allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Bots and automated strategies may trade through the TopstepX / ProjectX API, under the platform rules, with high-frequency trading banned, orders sent from the trader's own device, and not on Live Funded Accounts. Bulenox allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Bots, algorithms and trade copiers are permitted only as user-built tools for the account owner's own use; commercial, shared, rented or publicly distributed automation is banned, and a third-party API or composite software link to Rithmic costs $100 a month.
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Replay of trade 1210 from an AlgoLift engine backtest of a research strategy on NQ, 13 February 2025: real bars, the trade still open.
Simulated results. They have inherent limitations. Read the full statementHide the statement
These results are based on simulated or hypothetical performance results that have certain inherent limitations. Unlike the results shown in an actual performance record, these results do not represent actual trading. Also, because these trades have not actually been executed, these results may have under-or over-compensated for the impact, if any, of certain market factors, such as lack of liquidity. Simulated or hypothetical trading programs in general are also subject to the fact that they are designed with the benefit of hindsight. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to these being shown.
Test yours
Run your strategy through both rulebooks at once.
One backtest, both accounts, every rule, before you pay either fee.
- 1Describe it to Algo, or build it yourself
- 2Backtest it on years of real futures data
- 3Replay every trade under your firm's rules
Rules checked against the firms’ own pages, most recently on 21 October 2026. This is a summary of each firm’s published rules, not financial advice and not a recommendation of any firm. Firms change their rules and prices; read the firm’s own page before you buy. Facts are paraphrased and linked to their source. Firm names are used only to say which firm a rule belongs to; they belong to their owners, and AlgoLift is not affiliated with or endorsed by any firm.