Rules compared
| Rule | Topstep | Bulenox |
|---|---|---|
| Market | Futures | Futures |
| Phases | One-phase | One-phase |
| Eval cost (mid tier) | $165 | $105 |
| Profit target | 6% | 6% |
| Max drawdown | Trailing (EOD) · 4% | Trailing (EOD) · 5% |
| Daily loss limit | 2% (optional) — ends the day, not the account | None |
| Consistency rule | None | 30% |
| Min trading days | 2 | 1 |
| Max days | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Profit split | 90% | 90% |
| Payout buffer | 1% | 5% |
| Trailing on funded | Yes | No |
| Payout frequency | Every 4 days | Every 14 days |
Simulated outcomes, same trader
Identical balanced archetype (50% win rate, 1.2R average winner, 3 trades a day), thousands of simulated evaluations against each firm's exact ruleset.
| Metric | Topstep | Bulenox |
|---|---|---|
| Pass rate | 58.5% | 58.6% |
| Payout rate (if passed) | 46.6% | 32.0% |
| Joint withdrawal probability | 27.3% | 18.7% |
| Expected P&L over 50 challenges | $8.9k | $40k |
| Failures from drawdown breach | 58% | 53% |
| Failures from daily loss | 0% | 0% |
Which should you pick?
Topstep: Topstep is the industry veteran with a clean funded structure and a 90% Express Funded split. The daily loss limit is optional and hitting it only ends that day's session — it is not a violation — so the trailing end-of-day max loss, on both the Combine and the funded account, is the rule that actually ends accounts. Payouts need 5 winning days of $150+ or the 40% consistency path.
Bulenox: Bulenox runs Apex-like rules at aggressive promo prices — the reason many high-volume traders test strategies here first. Trailing drawdown is the killer; passing is one thing, but stacking payouts on the funded side is where most traders leak edge.
On the numbers above, Topstep is the better expected-value choice for a balanced profile — but archetypes are not you. A scalper and a swing trader can flip this ranking entirely, because drawdown type punishes lumpy P&L far more than frequent small P&L. Run your own drawdown numbers first, then simulate your real stats.
Frequently asked
Is Topstep or Bulenox easier to pass?+
In our simulation of a balanced 50%-win-rate trader, Topstep passes 58.5% of the time and Bulenox passes 58.6% — so Bulenox is the easier evaluation for that profile. The gap is driven mostly by drawdown type (Trailing (EOD) vs Trailing (EOD)) and the number of phases.
Which is cheaper, Topstep or Bulenox?+
The mid-tier evaluation costs $165 at Topstep and $105 at Bulenox. Sticker price is the wrong comparison though: over 50 attempted challenges our simulation nets $8.9k at Topstep versus $40k at Bulenox, because a cheaper eval you fail more often is not cheaper.
Which pays out more reliably, Topstep or Bulenox?+
Conditional on passing, our model gives Topstep a 46.6% chance of reaching a first payout versus 32.0% at Bulenox. End to end — pass and withdraw — that is 27.3% vs 18.7%. Profit splits are 90% and 90%.
What is the biggest rule difference between Topstep and Bulenox?+
Topstep uses a trailing (eod) drawdown of 4% with a 2% daily loss limit (ends the day only, not the account); Bulenox uses a trailing (eod) drawdown of 5% with no daily loss limit. Topstep is the stricter ruleset for most trading styles.
Compare both firms using YOUR trading stats
Log your trades in the journal, push your real win rate and R-multiple into the simulator, and see which of these two rulesets you actually clear.
Run my simulationMore Topstep comparisons
Based on publicly listed rules as of 2026-09-28. Independent — not affiliated with Topstep or Bulenox. Rules change; verify before paying. Simulations are estimates, not guarantees.