Topstep

Verdict: Topstep is one of the longest-running futures evaluation firms, with roots going back to 2010 in Chicago. Its Trading Combine is cheap to start, uses an end-of-day trailing loss limit and has no forced daily loss limit. The trade-offs are a monthly subscription, a single in-house platform and payout caps on the Express Funded Account. It suits disciplined day traders who are happy to flatten by the afternoon close and work inside TopstepX.

Plans and prices

Topstep sells one evaluation, the Trading Combine, in three sizes: 50K, 100K and 150K. Every Combine is a monthly subscription that rebills every 30 days until you pass or cancel. You then choose between two payment paths.

Standard Path

• 50K: $49 per month
• 100K: $99 per month
• 150K: $199 per month
• Activation fee: $149 one-time for each Express Funded Account you earn

No Activation Fee Path

• 50K: $95 per month
• 100K: $149 per month
• 150K: $229 per month
• Activation fee: $0

Adding a Daily Loss Limit at checkout gives a Responsible Trading discount on the No Activation Fee Path: $10, $20 or $30 off per month by size. That discount recurs each month.

The maths matters here. On the 50K, the Standard Path costs $49 a month plus $149 once you pass. The No Activation Fee Path costs $95 a month with nothing at the end. Pass in month one and Standard totals $198, against $95 on No Activation Fee. Take four months and Standard totals $345, against $380. Fast passers save with No Activation Fee; slower passers save with Standard.

Resets

You can buy a reset from the dashboard or inside TopstepX after a breach. Reset prices match the monthly price of your path: $49/$99/$199 on Standard and $95/$149/$229 on No Activation Fee. Topstep states that most fees are non-refundable. Optional Level 2 data costs extra each month.

Prices and terms come from Topstep's pricing and payment help article. See our prop firm comparison to weigh these costs against one-time-fee firms.

Evaluation rules

The Combine is a single step. You hit the profit target without breaching the Maximum Loss Limit, then move to an Express Funded Account (XFA).

• Profit target: $3,000 (50K), $6,000 (100K), $9,000 (150K). That is 6% on every size.
• Maximum Loss Limit: $2,000 (50K), $3,000 (100K), $4,500 (150K).
• Drawdown type: end-of-day trailing. The limit updates at the end of each trading day but is monitored in real time, including open P&L.
• Where it locks: in the Combine it locks permanently at your starting balance. A 50K starts with the floor at $48,000 and stops trailing at $50,000.
• Daily Loss Limit: optional. If chosen, it is $1,000, $2,000 or $3,000 by size. Hitting it is not a rule violation; positions are flattened and trading pauses until the next session.
• Consistency target: your best day must stay at or below 55% of the profit target. Go over and the target rises, so you need more profit to pass.
• Minimum days: no formal minimum, but Topstep says you can pass in as few as two days.
• Contract limits: 5 contracts or 50 micros (50K), 10 or 100 (100K), 15 or 150 (150K).
• Trading hours: the trading day runs from 5:00 PM CT to 3:10 PM CT. No overnight or weekend holding.

The 55% consistency target works differently from a hard fail rule. Topstep's example: a $1,800 best day on a 50K raises the target to about $3,273. Our consistency calculator shows how a big day moves your goal.

A breach in the Combine liquidates the account for the day and makes it ineligible until you reset. Read the full Maximum Loss Limit article before you start, and model your floor with our drawdown calculator.

Funded account and payouts

Passing earns an Express Funded Account, which is simulated. From there Topstep can move traders to a Live Funded Account (LFA) with real capital.

Express Funded Account basics

• The XFA starts at a $0 balance with the loss limit at -$2,000 on a 50K.
• The limit locks at $0 once your balance reaches $2,000, and is set to $0 after your first payout.
• An XFA breach closes the account permanently, though a paid Back2Funded option may be available.

Split and eligibility

• Split: 90/10 in your favour. Traders who joined the new dashboard before 12 January 2026 keep 100% of their first $10,000 in lifetime profits.
• Standard path: 5 winning days of $150 or more, not necessarily consecutive.
• Consistency path: 3 trading days, with your largest day at or below 40% of total net profit.
• Minimum payout: $125.

Caps and fees

• Each XFA request is limited to 50% of your balance, up to a cap.
• Standard path caps: $2,000 (50K), $3,000 (100K), $5,000 (150K).
• Consistency path caps: $3,000, $4,000 and $6,000.
• Live Funded Accounts are uncapped.
• ACH and wire payouts cost $30 each. Aeropay, Wise and prop-to-brokerage carry no Topstep fee.

In a Live Funded Account, daily payouts unlock after 30 non-consecutive days of $150+ net P&L. Full details sit in the Topstep payout policy.

Platforms

Topstep's help center states that TopstepX is the only available trading platform. It is Topstep's own web platform, with built-in risk settings and performance tracking. There is no NinjaTrader, Tradovate or TradingView route listed for new traders.

That keeps the setup simple, and risk settings such as a Personal Daily Loss Limit live inside the platform. But if your charting, order flow tools or automation depend on another platform, this is a real constraint. Test TopstepX before you pay for a month.

Markets are CME Group futures across CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX. That covers equity indexes, energy, metals, rates, FX futures and agricultural contracts. There is no spot forex.

Who it suits / who should skip

Good fit if you

• Day trade index or commodity futures and flatten before 3:10 PM CT anyway.
• Want an end-of-day drawdown that locks at your starting balance.
• Prefer a low first-month cost, starting at $49 for the 50K.
• Value a long track record and a detailed help center.
• Like the idea of a defined path from simulated to live funding.

Skip it if you

• Hold positions overnight or over the weekend.
• Need NinjaTrader, Tradovate or TradingView execution.
• Want a one-time fee with no rebilling. Firms like Tradeify and My Funded Futures use one-time pricing.
• Plan to take large payouts early. XFA caps per request limit how fast you can withdraw.
• Tend to make most of your profit in one big day. The 55% target will push your goal higher.

Discount

We have no verified Topstep promo code listed right now. The only built-in saving we confirmed is Topstep's Responsible Trading discount. It applies when you add a Daily Loss Limit on the No Activation Fee Path. Check our prop firm discounts page for any new Topstep deal once we verify it.

FAQ

Is Topstep a monthly subscription?

Yes. The Trading Combine rebills every 30 days until you pass or cancel. Prices start at $49 per month for the 50K Standard Path.

Does Topstep use an end-of-day or intraday drawdown?

End-of-day trailing. The Maximum Loss Limit updates at each day's close but is enforced in real time. In the Combine it locks at your starting balance.

Does Topstep have a daily loss limit?

Only if you choose one. The Daily Loss Limit is optional in the Combine and XFA, and automatic in a Live Funded Account. Hitting it pauses trading for the day without failing you.

Can I use TradingView or NinjaTrader with Topstep?

Topstep's help center says TopstepX is the only available trading platform. Plan to use TopstepX for execution.

Prices, rules and payout terms change often. Confirm current Topstep terms on topstep.com and its help center before you buy. This review is educational, not financial advice. Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss.