# Does Topstep allow automated trading bots? Checked 2026-10-19. Yes. The [TopstepX API access](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/11187768-topstepx-api-access) page says custom automated strategies and bots are allowed via the TopstepX / ProjectX API, subject to standard platform rules and a prohibition on highfrequency trading (HFT). The same page says the API Gateway is built for the simulated environment and isn't available on Live, and that Live funded accounts are not allowed to trade through the ProjectX API. Checked on 2026-10-19. No business relationship with Topstep. Paper first. Not financial advice. ## What each Topstep account stage says The [Trading Combine parameters](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284197-trading-combine-parameters) page says yes, with conditions, for automated trading strategies on the Trading Combine. The [Express Funded Account parameters](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284215-express-funded-account-parameters) page says yes, with conditions, for automated strategies on the Express Funded Account. The [Live Funded Account parameters](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10657969-live-funded-account-parameters) page says automated strategies are not possible at this time in the Live Funded Account. The [Practice Account](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284134-practice-account) page does not say a bot is allowed. The [TopstepX API access](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/11187768-topstepx-api-access) page says there is no sandbox, and says to test your strategy on a Practice account. Each paragraph below is only what that help page says. A page that does not mention a bot is not quoted as a permission. ### Practice Account The [Practice Account](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284134-practice-account) page, dated July 28, 2026, says the Practice Account is a simulated account for testing strategies and products without touching your primary account. It says you need an active Trading Combine subscription. That page does not say whether a bot is allowed. The [TopstepX API access](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/11187768-topstepx-api-access) page, dated September 17, 2026, says there is no sandbox environment. It says to test your strategy on a Practice account instead, with the same endpoints and real-time hubs, and no risk to an Evaluation account. The [Trading Combine parameters](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284197-trading-combine-parameters) page says to test an automated strategy on your Practice Account first. That page does not show a calendar date. ### Trading Combine The [Trading Combine parameters](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284197-trading-combine-parameters) page says the Trading Combine is a simulated account. Asked whether you can use automated trading strategies, it says yes, with conditions. It says Topstep won't help set up or troubleshoot automated strategies, and no exceptions are made for errant trades or malfunctions. It says to test on your Practice Account first and review Prohibited Conduct and Prohibited Trading Strategies before going live. It says you can also use a trade copier to duplicate trades across multiple accounts. ### Express Funded Account The [Express Funded Account parameters](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284215-express-funded-account-parameters) page, dated August 5, 2026, says the Express Funded Account (XFA) is the simulated funded-level account you earn after passing your Trading Combine. Asked whether you can use automated strategies, it says yes, with conditions. It says Topstep won't help set them up or cover malfunctions. It says to review Prohibited Conduct and Prohibited Trading Strategies first. ### Live Funded Account The [Live Funded Account parameters](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10657969-live-funded-account-parameters) page says the API Gateway is built for the simulated environment and isn't available on Live, so automated strategies are not possible at this time in the Live Funded Account. The [TopstepX API access](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/11187768-topstepx-api-access) page says Live funded accounts are not allowed to trade through the ProjectX API. The Live Funded Account page does not show a calendar date. ## What the API page adds Each sentence in this section is from the [TopstepX API access](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/11187768-topstepx-api-access) page, dated September 17, 2026. It says you remain the owner of your bot and are solely responsible for its design, performance, and behavior, including making sure it operates within all applicable rules. It says you are free to develop your own system without additional restrictions beyond those standard rules. It says all trading activity remains subject to Topstep's Trading Guidelines, and a rule violation is treated the same whether it originates from manual trading or third-party automation. It says orders executed via the API are final, with no review, adjustment, or reversal. It says Topstep does not support or take responsibility for any tool, algo, or system built on API Access. It says your API key grants full trading access to every eligible account under your profile. It says all trading activity must originate from your personal device. It says the use of VPS, VPNs, and remote servers is prohibited by Topstep's Terms of Use. It says running automation on a VPS can result in account suspension or removal from the program. It says you may still use your own private server for supporting work that does not touch order flow. It says the line is order transmission: your server can watch and record, but it cannot trade. ## What Topstep prohibits The [TopstepX API access](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/11187768-topstepx-api-access) page prohibits highfrequency trading (HFT). It says the use of VPS, VPNs, and remote servers is prohibited, and that your server can watch and record, but it cannot trade. The [Prohibited Conduct](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10296582-prohibited-conduct) page says the rules apply at every level, names software, AI, ultra-high speed systems, or mass data entry used for an unfair advantage, and says not to use a VPN. The [Prohibited Trading Strategies](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10305426-prohibited-trading-strategies-at-topstep) page names scalping algorithms designed to exploit unrealistic SIM fills, hundreds of rapid trades for preferential queue position in SIM, and tight brackets or auto-breakeven used to take advantage of favorable SIM fills. The [Prohibited Conduct](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10296582-prohibited-conduct) page says prohibited conduct applies at every level of the Topstep program. It says unfair technology is using software, AI, ultra-high speed systems, or mass data entry to gain an unfair advantage. It says do not use a VPN. It says VPNs, proxy services, TOR, geo-location obfuscation, and other identity-masking services are not permitted at Topstep. It says trading outside the best bid or offer is prohibited. That page does not show a calendar date. The page lists more items than the lines quoted here. The [Prohibited Trading Strategies](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10305426-prohibited-trading-strategies-at-topstep) page, dated June 10, 2026, says using unfair technology means using software, AI, ultra-high speed systems, or mass data entry that manipulates, abuses, or provides an unfair advantage on the platform or in the program. It says placing orders at prices outside the current best bid or offer is not allowed. On the simulator, the examples it names include running scalping algorithms designed to exploit unrealistic SIM fills, making hundreds of rapid trades to take advantage of preferential queue position in SIM, initiating reckless trades in gapped markets to profit from stray fills (it says those stray fills are improbable in live markets), repeatedly exploiting the relative lack of slippage in SIM to achieve impossible stop-loss execution, and using tight brackets or auto-breakeven to take advantage of favorable SIM fills. It says the behaviors above are intentional and systematic, usually hundreds or thousands of trades per day, with average durations measured in seconds, not minutes. ## Check an order before it goes out Paste the order into [Agent Order Check](/check) before it goes out. That page says the check runs in your browser and the order is not sent. The [pricing](/pricing) page says the order check is free. The [kill switch guide](/guides/ai-trading-bot-kill-switch) says a kill switch is a control the agent can read and cannot write. Paper first. Not financial advice. The stage quotes for Topstep on the [firm bot rules](/guides/prop-firm-bot-rules) page come from the API page. This page is the stage-by-stage read. ## Questions people ask ### Does Topstep allow automated trading bots? Checked 2026-10-19. Yes. The [TopstepX API access](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/11187768-topstepx-api-access) page says custom automated strategies and bots are allowed via the TopstepX / ProjectX API, subject to standard platform rules and a prohibition on highfrequency trading (HFT). The same page says the API Gateway is built for the simulated environment and isn't available on Live, and that Live funded accounts are not allowed to trade through the ProjectX API. ### Which Topstep account stage allows an automated strategy? The [Trading Combine parameters](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284197-trading-combine-parameters) page says yes, with conditions, for automated trading strategies on the Trading Combine. The [Express Funded Account parameters](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284215-express-funded-account-parameters) page says yes, with conditions, for automated strategies on the Express Funded Account. The [Live Funded Account parameters](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10657969-live-funded-account-parameters) page says automated strategies are not possible at this time in the Live Funded Account. The [Practice Account](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284134-practice-account) page does not say a bot is allowed. The [TopstepX API access](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/11187768-topstepx-api-access) page says there is no sandbox, and says to test your strategy on a Practice account. ### What does Topstep prohibit for a bot? The [TopstepX API access](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/11187768-topstepx-api-access) page prohibits highfrequency trading (HFT). It says the use of VPS, VPNs, and remote servers is prohibited, and that your server can watch and record, but it cannot trade. The [Prohibited Conduct](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10296582-prohibited-conduct) page says the rules apply at every level, names software, AI, ultra-high speed systems, or mass data entry used for an unfair advantage, and says not to use a VPN. The [Prohibited Trading Strategies](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10305426-prohibited-trading-strategies-at-topstep) page names scalping algorithms designed to exploit unrealistic SIM fills, hundreds of rapid trades for preferential queue position in SIM, and tight brackets or auto-breakeven used to take advantage of favorable SIM fills. ### Where do the order check and the kill switch sit? Paste the order into [Agent Order Check](/check) before it goes out. That page says the check runs in your browser and the order is not sent. The [pricing](/pricing) page says the order check is free. The [kill switch guide](/guides/ai-trading-bot-kill-switch) says a kill switch is a control the agent can read and cannot write. Paper first. Not financial advice. ## Sources checked Checked on 2026-10-19. - [TopstepX API access](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/11187768-topstepx-api-access), dated September 17, 2026 - [Practice Account](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284134-practice-account), dated July 28, 2026 - [Trading Combine parameters](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284197-trading-combine-parameters), no calendar date on the page - [Express Funded Account parameters](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284215-express-funded-account-parameters), dated August 5, 2026 - [Live Funded Account parameters](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10657969-live-funded-account-parameters), no calendar date on the page - [Prohibited Conduct](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10296582-prohibited-conduct), no calendar date on the page - [Prohibited Trading Strategies](https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10305426-prohibited-trading-strategies-at-topstep), dated June 10, 2026 - [Agent Order Check](/check) - [Pricing](/pricing) - [Kill switch](/guides/ai-trading-bot-kill-switch) - [Firm bot rules](/guides/prop-firm-bot-rules) Educational only. Not financial advice. Free check: https://theagentictrader.com/check?utm_source=md&utm_medium=agent&utm_campaign=guides-does-topstep-allow-trading-bots Weekly note on broker and agent changes: https://theagentictrader.com/subscribe?utm_source=md&utm_medium=agent&utm_campaign=guides-does-topstep-allow-trading-bots Desk Kit, $79 one-time. Full refund within 7 days: https://theagentictrader.com/desk-kit?utm_source=md&utm_medium=agent&utm_campaign=guides-does-topstep-allow-trading-bots