Topstep
The longest-established name here, with low monthly Combine prices, a 90/10 split and clearly documented rules, but TopstepX is the only platform for new accounts.
Account sizes
$50K, $100K, $150K
Price
from $49/mo
Profit split
90/10
Drawdown
End-of-day trailing
Daily loss limit
Optional ($1,000 / $2,000 / $3,000)
Consistency rule
Best day under 55% of target
Minimum days
No stated minimum (can pass in 2 days)
Payouts
XFA Standard: 5 winning days of $150+, up to 50% of balance. XFA Consistency: 3 days, best day ≤40%. $125 minimum.
Platforms
TopstepX (developed by ProjectX)
Data verified on
November 3, 2026
from the firm's official site. Rules change often; confirm before you buy.
Plans and prices
| 50K | 100K | 150K | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combine, Standard path (monthly) | $49 | $99 | $199 |
| Funded account activation, Standard path | $149 | $149 | $149 |
| Combine, No Activation Fee path (monthly) | $95 | $149 | $229 |
| Maximum Loss Limit (EOD trailing) | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Optional daily loss limit | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| Max contracts | 5 (50 micros) | 10 (100 micros) | 15 (150 micros) |
Resets cost the same as the monthly price on each path. Level 1 data is included; Level 2 is $38/month.
Pros
- Lowest entry price of the firms we checked ($49/month for 50K)
- Choice of paying an activation fee or skipping it with a higher monthly price
- 90/10 split and $125 minimum payout
- Detailed, dated help-center rules
Cons
- New accounts can only use TopstepX
- Monthly subscription keeps billing until you pass
- 55% consistency rule in the Combine
Overview
Topstep is one of the longest-running futures prop firms, and its Trading Combine is a monthly-subscription evaluation in 50K, 100K and 150K sizes. You choose one of two payment paths at checkout: a Standard path with a low monthly price and a $149 activation fee once you pass, or a No Activation Fee path with a higher monthly price and nothing to pay at activation. Funded traders keep 90% of profits and can choose between two payout paths. Topstep suits traders who value a long track record, a detailed and dated help center, and the low $49 entry price on the 50K Standard path. The main limits are that new accounts trade only on TopstepX, positions must be flat by 3:10 p.m. CT, and the subscription keeps billing every month until you pass or cancel. Our how we rank page explains how these factors feed into our scores.
Plans and prices
Prices are monthly subscriptions from Topstep's pricing article. Resets cost the same as the monthly price on each path, and a monthly reset credit is included when your subscription rebills. Paths cannot be changed after purchase.
| Account size | Standard path (monthly) | Activation fee (Standard) | No Activation Fee path (monthly) | Profit target | Max loss limit | Daily loss limit (optional) | Max contracts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K | $49 | $149 | $95 | $3,000 | $2,000 EOD trailing | $1,000 | 5 minis / 50 micros |
| $100K | $99 | $149 | $149 | $6,000 | $3,000 EOD trailing | $2,000 | 10 / 100 |
| $150K | $199 | $149 | $229 | $9,000 | $4,500 EOD trailing | $3,000 | 15 / 150 |
If you add the optional daily loss limit at checkout on a No Activation Fee Combine, Topstep's Responsible Trading Discount takes $10, $20 or $30 off each month (so $85, $129 or $199). If you lose an Express Funded Account before your first payout, Back2Funded reactivation costs $599, $699 or $829 within 30 days, with $50 off if you add a daily loss limit.
Level 1 market data is included. Level 2 depth of market costs $38 a month, billed on the 28th and not prorated. Live Funded Account traders pay professional data fees. Commissions are deducted from your balance on each fill. Most fees are non-refundable, and promo codes usually apply only to the first month.
Which path costs less?
The answer depends on how long you take to pass. On a 50K account, the Standard path costs $49 a month plus $149 when you pass. The No Activation Fee path costs $95 a month and nothing at activation. If you pass in your first month, Standard costs $198 in total and No Activation Fee costs $95. After two months the totals are $247 and $190. After three months they are $296 and $285. From the fourth month on, Standard becomes the cheaper option. The 100K account follows the same pattern but crosses over sooner, because the monthly gap is only $50 against the $149 fee. On 150K the gap is $30 a month, so No Activation Fee stays cheaper for roughly the first four months. These totals ignore resets, data add-ons and taxes, which apply to both paths.
Rules explained
Maximum Loss Limit
The Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) trails your end-of-day balance high by $2,000, $3,000 or $4,500. On a 50K Combine it starts at $48,000. It is calculated at the end of each day but monitored in real time, and both realized and unrealized P&L count. So an open loss that touches the line ends the attempt even mid-session. The MLL never moves down, and in the Combine it locks permanently once it reaches the starting balance.
Express Funded Accounts (XFAs) work differently. The balance starts at $0 and the MLL starts at -$2,000, -$3,000 or -$4,500. After your first payout the MLL is set to $0, so the balance can never go below zero again without closing the account. A breached Combine is liquidated for the day and needs a reset. A breached XFA is closed permanently, with Back2Funded as the only way back.
Daily loss limit
The daily loss limit is optional in the Combine and XFA and automatic in a Live Funded Account. If you pick it at checkout, it is fixed and carries into your XFA. Hitting it flattens your positions, cancels orders and stops trading until 5:00 p.m. CT, but it is not a rule violation and does not fail the account. You can also set a personal daily loss limit in risk settings, which you can adjust or remove.
Consistency target
In the Combine your best single day must stay below 55% of the profit target. On a 50K account that means a best day under $1,650. If one day goes over, the target effectively rises: your best day divided by 0.55 becomes the new total you need. For example, a $1,800 best day raises the required total to about $3,273.
Minimum days
There is no stated minimum. Topstep says you can pass in as few as two days, which follows from the 55% consistency target.
Trading hours, overnight and news
The trading day runs from 5:00 p.m. CT to 3:10 p.m. CT. Positions must be closed by 3:10 p.m. CT, and Topstep begins automatically flattening open positions at 3:08 p.m. CT. That rules out holding overnight. If you pass on a Friday, your XFA can trade from 5:00 p.m. CT Sunday. News trading is not banned outright, but Topstep's prohibited trading strategies list includes deliberately trading your full maximum position size into a scheduled major news event.
Scaling
Combine position limits are 5, 10 and 15 minis (or 50, 100 and 150 micros), counted at a 10:1 ratio. Express Funded Accounts follow a Scaling Plan published in Topstep's help center, which caps contracts by your account balance. Check the current tiers there or on your TopstepX Risk Settings page before sizing up.
Payouts
The split is 90/10. Traders who joined the new Topstep dashboard before January 12, 2026 keep 100% of their first $10,000 in lifetime profits. The minimum payout is $125. Requests are made from the Topstep dashboard during CME hours, Sunday to Friday.
| XFA path | Requirement | Max per request (50K / 100K / 150K) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 5 winning days of $150+ net P&L (not consecutive); up to 50% of balance | $2,000 / $3,000 / $5,000 |
| Consistency | 3 trading days; best day 40% or less of total net profit; up to 50% of balance | $3,000 / $4,000 / $6,000 |
Topstep is running a limited-time offer that doubles these caps for new Combines bought with a daily loss limit at checkout. After each payout, the winning-day count restarts and the MLL resets to $0. On a Live Funded Account you need five $150 winning days per cycle and can take up to 50% of the balance with no dollar cap. After 30 winning days in the live account you unlock daily payouts.
Payout methods include Prop-to-Brokerage and Aeropay in the US with no Topstep fee, Wise for China, Canada and the UK, and ACH or international wire at $30 each. Internal approval can take one to three business days.
Platforms and data
Since July 7, 2025, new Trading Combines and XFAs trade only on TopstepX, built by ProjectX. Since August 1, 2025, resets and new purchases must also be on TopstepX. Quantower users can still connect through the ProjectX data feed, and TopstepX includes TradingView-powered charts, but you cannot trade directly through NinjaTrader, Tradovate or TradingView on new accounts. Live Funded Accounts already on other platforms can stay there.
Pros and cons
- Pro: $49 a month for a 50K Combine on the Standard path.
- Pro: Choice of paying an activation fee or skipping it.
- Pro: 90/10 split, $125 minimum and two payout paths.
- Pro: Detailed, dated help-center rules.
- Con: New accounts are limited to TopstepX.
- Con: Monthly billing continues until you pass or cancel.
- Con: Positions must be flat by 3:10 p.m. CT.
- Con: MLL counts unrealized losses in real time.
Who should choose it
Topstep fits disciplined intraday traders who are happy on TopstepX and expect to pass fairly quickly, since a short evaluation keeps subscription costs low. The optional daily loss limit and its discount suit traders who want a built-in stop. If you prefer NinjaTrader or Tradovate, or you hold trades past the afternoon close, look elsewhere. Use our risk-reward calculator to plan trades against a $1,000 daily limit, and see the ES contract guide for how far $2,000 of drawdown goes on the E-mini S&P 500.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Topstep Combine cost?
The Standard path costs $49, $99 or $199 a month for 50K, 100K or 150K, plus a $149 activation fee when you pass. The No Activation Fee path costs $95, $149 or $229 a month.
Is the daily loss limit mandatory?
No. It is optional in the Combine and XFA, and triggering it is not a rule violation. It is automatic in a Live Funded Account.
What is the consistency target?
Your best day in the Combine must stay below 55% of the profit target, for example under $1,650 on a 50K account.
Can I hold trades overnight?
No. Positions must be closed by 3:10 p.m. CT, and Topstep begins flattening them at 3:08 p.m. CT.
Can I use NinjaTrader with Topstep?
Not on new accounts. New Combines and XFAs trade only on TopstepX, though Quantower can connect through ProjectX data.
What is the minimum payout?
$125, with a 90/10 split.
Sources
Risk warning: prop firm evaluations are paid simulated programs and most participants do not pass. This review is for education and is not investment advice. Read our affiliate disclosure and scoring methodology.