TopstepX™ API Access lets advanced Traders and developers build automated strategies, connect third-party tools, and execute trades directly through TopstepX. It's powered by ProjectX and billed separately from your Topstep subscription.
What You Can Do With API Access
Build and run automated trading strategies
Connect third-party tools and platforms
Create custom risk management rules
Pull live and historical market data
Execute trades directly through your TopstepX account
Who It's For
Traders and developers comfortable coding in Python, Java, .NET, JavaScript, or similar languages who want to work with REST and WebSocket APIs. If you use third-party tools built by others, no coding required — just plug in your credentials.
Getting Started
Getting Started
Setup has four parts. Complete them in order — Part 4 will fail if you skip Part 3.
Part | Where | What you'll do |
1 | ProjectX Dashboard | Create your ProjectX account |
2 | ProjectX Dashboard | Subscribe to API Access |
3 | TopstepX | Link your subscription to your TopstepX profile |
4 | TopstepX | Generate your API key |
Part 1: Create your ProjectX account
Start here, in the ProjectX Dashboard. You don't need to do anything in TopstepX yet.
Already have a ProjectX Dashboard account? Log in and skip to Part 2.
Go to dashboard.projectx.com and click Register
Enter your email address, then create your username and password
Click Create Account
Part 2: Subscribe to API Access
Log into your ProjectX Dashboard.
In your ProjectX Dashboard, go to Subscriptions → ProjectX API Access
Enter your payment details
Enter promo code topstep to apply the 50% Topstep Trader discount
Confirm your subscription
See Cost and Billing for pricing details.
Part 3: Link your subscription to your TopstepX profile
Subscribing is not the same as linking. This part connects the subscription you just bought to your TopstepX profile — without it, Part 4 will fail with the error User lacks subscription.
In TopstepX, click the Settings icon ⚙️
Open the API tab
Under ProjectX Linking, click Add Link
In the confirmation pop-up, confirm that you want to link your TopstepX profile to the ProjectX Dashboard
Open your ProjectX Dashboard and confirm your account now appears there
If the account doesn't appear, try turning off the browser pop-up blockers or use an Incognito Chrome window. Refresh the Dashboard before retrying. Still missing? See Troubleshooting.
Part 4: Generate your API key
In TopstepX, go to Settings ⚙️ → API tab
Click Add API Key
Copy your key and store it somewhere secure — treat it like a password
⚠️ Your API key grants full trading access to every eligible account under your profile. Never share it, never commit it to a public repository, and never paste it into a tool you don't trust. If you think it's been exposed, generate a new key immediately and update your tools
Cost and Billing
API Access is $29/month. Topstep Traders get 50% off with code topstep — that's $14.50/month, valid every month with no end date.
🧾 Please note: Billing appears as Sim2Funded Solutions on your bank statement. Billing is managed separately from your Topstep subscription.
VPNs, VPS, and Remote Servers
All trading activity must originate from your personal device. The use of VPS, VPNs, and remote servers is prohibited by Topstep's Terms of Use. Running automation on a VPS can result in account suspension or removal from the program.
You may still use your own private server for supporting work that doesn't touch order flow:
Allowed on a private server | Not allowed on a private server |
Historical data storage | Placing, modifying, or cancelling orders |
Research and backtesting | Any automated trigger that can reach the order endpoints |
Logging and analytics | Routing or relaying orders on your behalf |
A read-only dashboard |
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Receiving copies of your own fills, positions, and P&L |
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The line is order transmission: your server can watch and record, but it cannot trade.
Important Disclaimers
Orders executed via the API are final — no review, adjustment, or reversal.
Topstep does not support or take responsibility for any tool, algo, or system built on API Access, including implementation, coding, and troubleshooting.
Some traders connect third-party applications to the ProjectX API. If you do, it's at your own risk — Topstep and ProjectX don't affiliate with, endorse, or support any external vendor or platform offering API integrations.
Your API access remains governed by the ProjectX Terms of Use, including fair-use limits.
All trading activity remains subject to Topstep's Trading Guidelines regardless of which platform executes the trades. A rule violation is treated the same whether it originates from manual trading or third-party automation.
Ensure your systems are tested, stable, and compliant before connecting.
API access can affect the potential for hedging — more here.
👥 Getting Help
Topstep does not provide technical support for coding or API implementation.
What you need | Where to go |
Endpoints, authentication, code samples | |
Full endpoint reference | |
Community help and troubleshooting | #api-trading in the Topstep Discord |
Linking, subscription, billing, cancellation |
FAQ
Is there a sandbox environment for testing?
Is there a sandbox environment for testing?
No. There is currently no sandbox environment available.To test your strategy, use a Practice account instead — same endpoints and real-time hubs, no risk to an Evaluation account.
Can I use 1 subscription across multiple accounts?
Can I use 1 subscription across multiple accounts?
Yes. One subscription and one API key cover every eligible account under your ProjectX Dashboard profile. A single authenticated session can manage all of them; you specify the target account Id on each order.
What programming languages are supported?
What programming languages are supported?
The REST API works with most modern languages including Python, Java, .NET, and JavaScript — anything that supports REST or WebSocket connections.
Do I need to know how to code?
Do I need to know how to code?
Only if you're building your own tools. If you're using third-party tools, just plug in your credentials.
Do I need a Topstep Account in order to use the API service?
Do I need a Topstep Account in order to use the API service?
Yes, you need an active Topstep account in order to use the service.
Can I build and use my own custom trading bot with the TopstepX / ProjectX API?
Can I build and use my own custom trading bot with the TopstepX / ProjectX API?
Yes. Custom automated strategies and bots are allowed via the TopstepX / ProjectX API, subject to standard platform rules and our prohibition on highfrequency trading (HFT). You're free to develop your own system without additional restrictions beyond those standard rules. 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.
Troubleshooting
Error creating key: User lacks subscription
Error creating key: User lacks subscription
Your subscription isn't linked to your TopstepX profile. Go back and complete Part 3, then try generating your key again. If your subscription is active and linked and you still see this, email dashboardapi@topstep.com.
My account doesn't appear in the ProjectX Dashboard after linking
My account doesn't appear in the ProjectX Dashboard after linking
Refresh the Dashboard and confirm you completed the linking pop-up in Part 3. If it's still missing, email dashboardapi@topstep.com.
Where do I find my API Key
Where do I find my API Key
Generate a new one from Settings ⚙️ → API tab → Add API Key, then update every tool using the old key.
My requests are being rejected after they worked earlier
My requests are being rejected after they worked earlier
Session tokens expire. Confirm your client refreshes its token rather than reusing an old one. If you're being rate limited, back off and retry.