Topstep and NinjaTrader automation.

Sovren is independent software. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Topstep, and Topstep is a trademark of its owner. Prop firm rules change often; this page summarizes Topstep’s public help pages as of October 29, 2026. Always check the firm’s current rules before you enable any automated strategy on an evaluation or funded account.

Topstep rules that matter for an automated strategy

• Automation. Topstep answers “Yes, with conditions” for automated strategies in the Trading Combine. It won’t help set them up and makes no exceptions for errant trades or malfunctions.
• How bots connect. Topstep’s API page says custom bots run through the TopstepX / ProjectX API, a separate paid subscription. All order activity must come from your personal device: VPS, VPN and remote servers are not allowed for placing orders. High-frequency trading is banned.
• Live Funded Accounts. Topstep says Live Funded Accounts cannot trade through the API.
• Platform. Topstep’s help center documents TopstepX as its trading platform and does not document a NinjaTrader connection. Third-party guides report that NinjaTrader and Rithmic are no longer offered for new accounts; older accounts set up before the switch may differ, so ask Topstep about yours.
• Drawdown. The Maximum Loss Limit is a trailing limit that moves up with your end-of-day balance and locks at the starting balance, but it is monitored in real time, including open P&L. It is $2,000, $3,000 and $4,500 on 50K, 100K and 150K accounts.
• Size. Maximum position size is 5, 10 and 15 minis (50, 100 and 150 micros) on 50K, 100K and 150K Trading Combines.
• Consistency. In the Trading Combine, your best day should stay under 55% of the profit target, or the target goes up.
• Coordinated trading. Topstep prohibits trading in concert with others, including running the same strategy at the same time across unconnected accounts.

How Sovren trades, in prop-firm terms

• One session. Sovren measures the 9:30–9:35 AM ET opening range on 1-minute NQ or MNQ bars and only takes signals from 9:35 to 11:00 AM ET. Many days it does not trade at all.
• Fixed stop. Every trade is closed at market if price moves a set distance against it.
• Fixed target. Every trade has a fixed profit target that is much smaller than the stop. Most trades are meant to close at the target, but one full stop costs far more than one win makes, so a single losing day can give back many winning days.
• Daily limits. 2 trades per session by default (adjustable from 1 to 3), and one losing trade ends the day. In normal conditions the most Sovren can lose in a day is about one full stop.
• News days. Sovren sits out scheduled high-impact news sessions by default.

The stop is managed by the strategy, so NinjaTrader must stay running and connected while a trade is open, and in a fast market the exit can fill worse than the set stop distance. Prop firms measure their loss limits on open (unrealized) P&L in real time, so leave room for slippage. Full details are on how Sovren trades the open.

How Sovren would fit Topstep’s drawdown

Because Sovren runs inside NinjaTrader 8, it can’t place orders on a TopstepX account, so there is no supported setup to describe. If you hold an older Topstep account that still connects to NinjaTrader, the drawdown considerations are the same as on any end-of-day trailing account. Confirm with Topstep that your account can still trade through NinjaTrader and that automation is allowed on it before you try.

Looking for a firm that does connect to NinjaTrader 8 and allows automation? See MyFundedFutures, FundedNext Futures and Lucid Trading.

Frequently asked questions

Does Topstep allow automated trading?

Yes, with conditions. Topstep allows automated strategies in the Trading Combine and Express Funded Account through the TopstepX / ProjectX API, a separate paid subscription. Orders must come from your personal device (no VPS or VPN), high-frequency trading is banned, and the API is not available on Live Funded Accounts.

Can I run Sovren on Topstep?

Not on a new Topstep account today. Sovren is a NinjaTrader 8 strategy, and Topstep documents TopstepX as its only trading platform, with bots connecting through the TopstepX / ProjectX API rather than NinjaTrader.

What drawdown does Topstep use?

The Maximum Loss Limit trails your end-of-day balance and locks at the starting balance, but it is checked in real time, including open P&L. It is $2,000 on 50K, $3,000 on 100K and $4,500 on 150K accounts.

Is Sovren affiliated with Topstep?

No. Sovren is independent software and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Topstep.

How much does Sovren cost?

$79.99 per month or $699 per year.

Risk disclosure

Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. Prop firm evaluations and funded accounts are simulated and have their own fees and rules; you can lose the fee you pay. The live results on the results page are from 2 NQ contracts, and results on a prop firm account, at a different size or with different fills and fees, will differ. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Nothing on this page is investment advice or a recommendation to trade any contract size. Sovren is software, not investment advice. Read the full disclosures.