Topstep
Pioneer in futures prop trading since 2012. Offers Trading Combine evaluation with EOD trailing drawdown. 90/10 profit split (legacy traders: 100% first $10K). TopstepX is the primary platform for new accounts (July 2025+). Automation allowed but no VPS/VPN. $149 activation fee (Standard Path) or $0 (No Activation Fee Path).
TopstepXTradovateNinjaTraderTradingViewQuantowerMax 5 accounts3.4(14K)Chicago, ILFounded 2012Verified 27 days ago· 83% accuracyPolicies verified Jun 12, 2026
Official rules:topstep.com
Starting From
$49/mo
Best Split
90/10
Drawdown
EOD Trailing
Min Days
2 days
Payouts
Daily
Max Accounts
5
ScalperProfile-aware ranking
Best-fit Topstep tiers/paths
This firm-only view ranks specific public tier/path units by profile fit, rule-derived difficulty, economic friction, and blockers.
No model-ready profile recommendations are available for this slice yet.
Ranked In
Time to First Payout
~13 daysEvaluation Phase2 trading days min
Funded Requirements5 profitable days before payout
Payout Processing~3 business days
Calendar estimate based on cheapest eval tier. Trading days x 1.4 to account for weekends.
Phase Journey
2-step path from evaluation to funded trading.
Evaluation
Hit profit target
$3,000 target · $2,000 DD · 2 min days
Funded
Earn sim payouts
90/10 split · No consistency · Daily payouts
Evaluation
Hit profit target
$3,000 target · $2,000 DD · 2 min days
Funded
Earn sim payouts
90/10 split · No consistency · Daily payouts
Watch Out For
MLL resets to $0 after first payout (XFA)
Express Funded Account only: your entire trailing drawdown buffer disappears after your first withdrawal — remaining balance becomes the maximum you can lose. The Live Funded Account instead has a fixed $1,000 positive-balance floor.
No swing trading — strict daily close
All positions must be closed before 3:10 PM CT daily. Risk managers begin flattening at 3:08 PM CT as a courtesy, but it is the trader's responsibility. Products that close before 3:10 PM must be exited before their daily close.
DLL is optional on TopstepX
The Daily Loss Limit is no longer automatically added on TopstepX. Enable it yourself from Risk Settings if you want the protection.
Copy trading disabled during payouts
If an Express Funded Account is engaged in copy trading while a payout request is processing, the copy-trading connection will be automatically disabled. Must manually re-enable after payout completes.
Live winning days don't carry from XFA
As of July 22, 2025, winning days earned in Express Funded Accounts no longer carry over to Live Funded Accounts. Only winning days earned in Live count toward daily payout eligibility and full balance access.
Winning day threshold changed
New dashboard requires $150+ for a winning day (was $200 on legacy). Check which dashboard you are on.
Back2Funded: 2 reactivations per XFA
If you lose an Express Funded Account before first payout, you can reactivate it up to 2 times within 7 calendar days. Pricing: $599 (50K), $699 (100K), $829 (150K). Must be on TopstepX dashboard. Not available after first payout.
Will Topstep Work For Me?
$50$2,000
5 days22 days
Days to Pass
10
$3,000 target
Monthly Gross
$4,500
before split
Eval Cost
$49
/month
Verdict
Good FitBased on cheapest eval tier ($50,000 account). Simplified estimate, does not account for profit splits, caps, or funded requirements.
Assumption-based PropVault Score
Assumption-basedUnavailableComposite rating across 9 dimensions. Score and grade are limited until missing public evidence is available.
Assumption-based grade: raw grade D is not shown as authoritative.
Blocked public fields: activation_fee, automation_allowed, copy_trading_allowed +14
Cost
Profit Split
Drawdown
Flexibility
Payout Terms
Reputation
Payout Record
Data Freshness
Rule Stability
View detailed payout breakdown (11 dimensions)
Payout Accessibility
78/100ExcellentPayout Frequency
Days Between Payouts
Qualifying Day Ease
Payout Cap Flexibility
Consistency Burden
Buffer Requirement
Withdrawal Cap
Min Payout Amount
Closure Trigger
Daily Earning Cap
Trust & Reputation
Best For
Trading styles that match this firm's ruleset, see all styles
Quick Math
Based on $50K Trading Combine
Key numbers inferred from Topstep's rules to help you plan your trading
Min Days to Pass
2 days
50% consistency → need 2+ profitable days
Daily Profit Target (Eval)
$1,500/day
$3,000 target over 2 days
True Cost to Start Funded
$198
$49/mo eval + $149 activation
First Payout Timeline
~10 days
2d eval + 5d winning + 3d processing
Daily Profit Goal (Funded)
$150/day
$125 min payout over 5 winning days · days only qualify at $150+
Risk Budget Per Day
$1,000/day
Max drawdown spread over 2 trading days
Max Single-Day Profit
$1,500
50% consistency cap on profit target
Drawdown Safety Margin
$2,000
$2,000 buffer once locked at initial
Best Profit Split
90%
Highest achievable trader profit share
Break-Even Day
Day 12
At $500/day profit — see full timeline
Monthly Funded Earnings
$4,500/mo
Projected at $500/day after fees, caps, and splits
Pricing & Fees
Account Tiers
4 evaluation paths available
Trading Combine
$50K Trading CombinePopular
Profit Target$3,000 (6%)Min Days2Price$49/moReset Fee$49Activation$149Drawdown$2,000
$100K Trading Combine
Profit Target$6,000 (6%)Min Days2Price$99/moReset Fee$99Activation$149Drawdown$3,000
$150K Trading Combine
Profit Target$9,000 (6%)Min Days2Price$199/moReset Fee$199Activation$149Drawdown$4,500
| Account | Profit Target | Min Days | Price | Activation Fee | Reset Fee | Drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K Trading CombinePopular | $3,000 (6%) | 2 | $49/mo | $149 | $49 | EOD Trailing$2,000 |
| $100K Trading Combine | $6,000 (6%) | 2 | $99/mo | $149 | $99 | EOD Trailing$3,000 |
| $150K Trading Combine | $9,000 (6%) | 2 | $199/mo | $149 | $199 | EOD Trailing$4,500 |
50K No Activation Fee
$50K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee
Profit Target$3,000 (6%)Min Days2Price$95/moReset Fee$95Activation$149Drawdown$2,000
| Account | Profit Target | Min Days | Price | Activation Fee | Reset Fee | Drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee | $3,000 (6%) | 2 | $95/mo | $149 | $95 | EOD Trailing$2,000 |
100K No Activation Fee
$100K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee
Profit Target$6,000 (6%)Min Days2Price$149/moReset Fee$149Activation$149Drawdown$3,000
| Account | Profit Target | Min Days | Price | Activation Fee | Reset Fee | Drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee | $6,000 (6%) | 2 | $149/mo | $149 | $149 | EOD Trailing$3,000 |
150K No Activation Fee
$150K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee
Profit Target$9,000 (6%)Min Days2Price$229/moReset Fee$229Activation$149Drawdown$4,500
| Account | Profit Target | Min Days | Price | Activation Fee | Reset Fee | Drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee | $9,000 (6%) | 2 | $229/mo | $149 | $229 | EOD Trailing$4,500 |
Pass rate: 16.8% (firm-reported)
Standard Path: $49/mo. No Activation Fee Path: $95/mo. No time limit. Level 2 DOM data: $34.25/mo extra.
Standard Path: $99/mo. No Activation Fee Path: $149/mo.
Standard Path: $199/mo. No Activation Fee Path: $229/mo.
No Activation Fee Path: $229/mo and $0 activation. Reset: $229.
Eval vs Funded Rules
| Rule | Evaluation | Funded |
|---|---|---|
| Drawdown | eod trailing $2,000 | eod trailing $2,000 |
| Daily Loss Limit | None | None |
| Consistency | 50% max day | None |
| Max Contracts | 5 max | 5 max |
| Profit Split | N/A | 90% |
| News Trading | Allowed | Allowed |
| Scaling | None | Available |
| Buffer | None | None |
Time to Funded
2 days
Trading Combine
2 trading days
Days with at least 1 trade placed
Funded
Express Funded Account
Evaluation Rules
Drawdown Rules
| Tier | Phase | Type | Calculation | Max Drawdown | Daily Limit | Lock Behavior | Strictness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K XFA | Funded | EOD Trailing | Balance-based | $2,000(4%) Floor: $48,000 | None | Locks at $50,000 after $2,000 profit | Moderate |
| $50K Trading Combine | Evaluation | EOD Trailing | Balance-based | $2,000(4%) Floor: $48,000 | None | Locks at $50,000 after $2,000 profit | Moderate |
| $100K Trading Combine | Evaluation | EOD Trailing | Balance-based | $3,000(3%) Floor: $97,000 | None | Locks at $100,000 after $3,000 profit | Moderate |
| $100K XFA | Funded | EOD Trailing | Balance-based | $3,000(3%) Floor: $97,000 | None | Locks at $100,000 after $3,000 profit | Moderate |
| $150K Trading Combine | Evaluation | EOD Trailing | Balance-based | $4,500(3%) Floor: $145,500 | None | Locks at $150,000 after $4,500 profit | Moderate |
| $150K XFA | Funded | EOD Trailing | Balance-based | $4,500(3%) Floor: $145,500 | None | Locks at $150,000 after $4,500 profit | Moderate |
| $50K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee | Evaluation | EOD Trailing | Balance-based | $2,000 Floor: $48,000 | None | Locks at $50,000 after $2,000 profit | Moderate |
| $100K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee | Evaluation | EOD Trailing | Balance-based | $3,000 Floor: $97,000 | None | Locks at $100,000 after $3,000 profit | Moderate |
| $150K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee | Evaluation | EOD Trailing | Balance-based | $4,500 Floor: $145,500 | None | Locks at $150,000 after $4,500 profit | Moderate |
Trailing drawdown follows your equity highs, which means early profits raise your floor. Once it locks at initial balance or profit target, the floor stops moving, so hitting the lock point early is a key strategy.
Daily loss limit is a soft pause — account freezes until next trading session, not a hard breach.
Drawdown type changes to static (fixed floor) on funded phase. This alters the risk profile compared to the evaluation.
After first payout, drawdown converts to static. This significantly changes the risk profile of the funded account.
TopstepX XFA base path has no DLL. Optional DLL add-on is modeled as tier_rule_variants.drawdown_addon; third-party platform DLL requirements remain platform-specific evidence.
TopstepX Trading Combine base path has no DLL. Optional Responsible Trading DLL add-on is modeled as tier_rule_variants.drawdown_addon.
TopstepX No Activation Fee Trading Combine base path has no DLL. Optional Responsible Trading DLL add-on is modeled as tier_rule_variants.drawdown_addon.
Consistency Rules
No consistency rule: no single-day profit cap. You can pass the entire evaluation in a single trading day if you hit the profit target. This is unusual and gives aggressive traders maximum flexibility.
Trading Restrictions
Moderate
Allowed
Not Allowed
Weekend Holding
Must Be FlatConditional
Allowed
3:10 PM CT
Auto-Liquidation
3:10 PM CT
Hedging
Not AllowedTrading Day Start
5:00 PM CT
Weekend Reopen
Sunday 5:00 PM CT
Cross-account hedging (simultaneous opposite positions across accounts, incl. correlated instruments) is prohibited per CME Rule 534.
50K Combine. Automation OK but no VPS/VPN. No trading within 2% of price limits. News trading at own risk. CBOT pause 7:45-8:30 AM CST (TopstepX only).
Automated strategies allowed with conditions — Topstep won't set up or troubleshoot them and makes no exceptions for malfunctions; automation via the ProjectX API is prohibited in the Live Funded Account.
Copy trading is allowed, you can mirror trades across your own accounts or use signal services.
Funded Account Rules
What applies after you pass the evaluation
Profit Split
90/10
Payout Frequency
Daily
Drawdown
$2,000 Eod trailing
Daily Loss Limit
None
Buffer
None
Min Payout
$125
Consistency
None
Max Contracts
5 / 50
MLL After Payout
static
News Trading
Allowed
Daily Earning Cap
None
Account Closure
None
Activation: $149 · Inactivity: 30 days · Scaling: Available
Funded Account
Payout Structure
$50K XFA
Profit Split90%FrequencyDailyMin Payout$125Max Payout$2,000Win Days5 daysProcessing1-3 business days
$100K XFA
Profit Split90%FrequencyDailyMin Payout$125Max Payout$3,000Win Days5 daysProcessing1-3 business days
$150K XFA
Profit Split90%FrequencyDailyMin Payout$125Max Payout$5,000Win Days5 daysProcessing1-3 business days
| Tier | Profit Split | Frequency | Min Payout | Max Payout | Winning Days | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K XFA | 90% | Daily | $125 | $2,000 | 5 days | 1-3 business days |
| $100K XFA | 90% | Daily | $125 | $3,000 | 5 days | 1-3 business days |
| $150K XFA | 90% | Daily | $125 | $5,000 | 5 days | 1-3 business days |
Payout Methods
Prop Payout to Brokerage(Free)Aeropay(Free)Wise(Free)ACH($30)Wire/SWIFT($30)
Payout Requirements
5 winning days · $0 withdrawal fee · $2,000 max per request · 5 trading days between payouts · $150/day min for qualifying days · Max 50% of profit per payout · Max 50% of account balance per payout
XFA Standard: 5 winning days ($150+), max $5,000 or 50% of balance. Must be positive since last payout (first payout exempt). After first payout MLL=$0. Wire/ACH $30 fee, Wise free. 100% of first $10K then 90/10. Alternative: Consistency Path (3 days, 40% consistency target, up to $6,000).
Same rules. XFA Consistency alternative: 3 days, 40% consistency, max $6,000 or 50%. Alternative: Consistency Path (3 days, 40% consistency target, up to $6,000).
Live: daily payouts after 30 winning days, up to 100% of balance. Call-up typically after 3rd-5th payout. Alternative: Consistency Path (3 days, 40% consistency target, up to $6,000).
Scaling Plan
$50K
| Step | Trigger | New Account Size | Max Contracts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 closed profit | $50,000 | 2 |
| 2 | $1,500 closed profit | $50,000 | 3 |
| 3 | $2,000 closed profit | $50,000 | 5 |
50K XFA: 2→3→5 lots. Based on EOD P&L. Scale-up effective next session.
$100K
| Step | Trigger | New Account Size | Max Contracts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 closed profit | $100,000 | 3 |
| 2 | $1,500 closed profit | $100,000 | 4 |
| 3 | $2,000 closed profit | $100,000 | 5 |
| 4 | $3,000 closed profit | $100,000 | 10 |
100K XFA: 3→4→5→10 lots.
$150K
| Step | Trigger | New Account Size | Max Contracts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 closed profit | $150,000 | 3 |
| 2 | $1,500 closed profit | $150,000 | 4 |
| 3 | $2,000 closed profit | $150,000 | 5 |
| 4 | $3,000 closed profit | $150,000 | 10 |
| 5 | $4,500 closed profit | $150,000 | 15 |
150K XFA: 3→4→5→10→15 lots.
Account Limits
- Max Funded Accounts
- 5
- Inactivity Policy
- 30 days
- Reactivation
- Available ($599)
- Max Reactivations
- 2 (within 7 days)
- Eligibility
- Before first payout only
Account is disabled after 30 days of inactivity. Place at least one trade to keep it active.
Back2Funded: XFA must have been lost on or after 9/3/2025 to a rule violation before any payout, same size only, on TopstepX; window is 7 calendar days from XFA closure (auto-declined after). Max 5 active or pending XFAs (may change per Focused Trader Program participation — program uncaptured).
Contract Limits
$50K Trading Combine
Max Contracts5Max Micro50Initial Limit2Max Mini5
$100K Trading Combine
Max Contracts10Max Micro100Initial Limit3Max Mini10
$150K Trading Combine
Max Contracts15Max Micro150Initial Limit3Max Mini15
$50K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee
Max Contracts5Max Micro50Initial Limit—Max Mini5
$100K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee
Max Contracts10Max Micro100Initial Limit—Max Mini10
$150K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee
Max Contracts15Max Micro150Initial Limit—Max Mini15
| Account | Initial Limit | Max Contracts | Max Mini | Max Micro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K Trading Combine | 2 | 5 | 5 | 50 |
| $100K Trading Combine | 3 | 10 | 10 | 100 |
| $150K Trading Combine | 3 | 15 | 15 | 150 |
| $50K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee | — | 5 | 5 | 50 |
| $100K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee | — | 10 | 10 | 100 |
| $150K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee | — | 15 | 15 | 150 |
50K Combine. On TopstepX: 10 micro = 1 lot. On third-party: 1 micro = 1 lot.
100K Combine.
150K Combine.
Account Lifecycle
| Tier | Max Active Funded | Inactivity | Reactivation | Max Reactivations | Reactivation Window | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K XFA | 5 | 30 days | Yes ($599) | 2 | 7 days | Before first payout only |
| $100K XFA | 5 | 30 days | Yes ($699) | 2 | 7 days | Before first payout only |
| $150K XFA | 5 | 30 days | Yes ($829) | 2 | 7 days | Before first payout only |
Back2Funded: XFA must have been lost on or after 9/3/2025 to a rule violation before any payout, same size only, on TopstepX; window is 7 calendar days from XFA closure (auto-declined after). Max 5 active or pending XFAs (may change per Focused Trader Program participation — program uncaptured).
Path to Live Account
1
Evaluation
2
Sim Funded
5 payouts
3
Live Account
Live Account Rules
- Starting Balance
- 20% of funded balance
- Balance Unlock Increment
- 25%
- Expansion Review
- weekly
- Max Loss Limit
- $1,000
- Benchmark Days
- 30 days
- Benchmark Day Threshold
- $150
- Max Payout Formula
- total payouts ≤ 90% of starting balance + net trading profits
- Performance Bonus
- Yes: Live Performance Bonus ladder — monthly qualifying profit targets, over $250,000 in cumulative cash bonuses
- Profit Split
- 90/10
- Payout Frequency
- On Demand
$50K
- Daily Loss Limit
- $2,000
$100K
- Daily Loss Limit
- $3,000
$150K
- Daily Loss Limit
- $4,500
$50K: Call-up to Live is discretionary — most traders between their 3rd and 5th payout; never guaranteed. One active LFA; all XFAs close at call-up.
$100K: Call-up to Live is discretionary — most traders between their 3rd and 5th payout; never guaranteed. One active LFA; all XFAs close at call-up.
$150K: Call-up to Live is discretionary — most traders between their 3rd and 5th payout; never guaranteed. One active LFA; all XFAs close at call-up.
Community & Reference
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Platforms & Brokers
Data Feeds / Brokers
TopstepX
Platform Features
TopstepXNinjaTraderTradingView
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