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ILFounded 2012Checked Jun 16, 2026 · topstep.com· 83% accuracy· 47 changes pending review since Jun 14, 2026May be out of date
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Time to First Payout
~13 days
Evaluation 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
No consistency · Daily payouts
Evaluation
Hit profit target
$3,000 target · $2,000 DD · 2 min days
Funded
Watch Out For
Max loss limit 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.
Daily loss limit 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.
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 Fit
Based on cheapest eval tier ($50,000 account). Simplified estimate, does not account for profit splits, caps, or funded requirements.
30Partial
Partial PropVault Score
PartialUnavailable
Composite rating across 9 dimensions. Score and grade are limited until missing public evidence is available.
Partial grade: raw grade D is not shown as authoritative.
Blocked public fields: activation_fee, automation_allowed, buffer_clearance_required +14
Recovery policy: Unavailable from ordinary public material; recovery assumptions stay blocked.
Why it fits
Trader fit unavailable from public-rule evidence
Some fit inputs are unavailable from ordinary public material: activation_fee, buffer_clearance_required, capital_efficiency_drag, daily_loss_limit.
Profit target is high relative to public drawdown room. activation_fee is unavailable from ordinary public evidence.
50K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee
$50K
Unavailable
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
Not stated
Max Contracts
5 max
5 max
Profit Split
N/A
N/A
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
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
UnknownNot independently verified
None
Locks at $50,000 after $2,000 profit
Moderate
$50K Trading Combine
Evaluation
EOD Trailing
Balance-based
$2,000(4%)
Floor: $48,000
UnknownNot independently verified
None
Locks at $50,000 after $2,000 profit
Moderate
$100K Trading Combine
Evaluation
EOD Trailing
Balance-based
$3,000(3%)
Floor: $97,000
UnknownNot independently verified
None
Locks at $100,000 after $3,000 profit
Moderate
$100K XFA
Funded
EOD Trailing
Balance-based
$3,000(3%)
Floor: $97,000
UnknownNot independently verified
None
Locks at $100,000 after $3,000 profit
Moderate
$150K Trading Combine
Evaluation
EOD Trailing
Balance-based
$4,500(3%)
Floor: $145,500
UnknownNot independently verified
None
Locks at $150,000 after $4,500 profit
Moderate
$150K XFA
Funded
EOD Trailing
Balance-based
$4,500(3%)
Floor: $145,500
UnknownNot independently verified
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
UnknownNot independently verified
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
UnknownNot independently verified
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
UnknownNot independently verified
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 with the floor at the starting balance. This significantly changes the risk profile of the funded account.
TopstepX XFA base path has no daily loss limit. Optional daily loss limit add-on is modeled as plan rule variants; third-party platform daily loss limit requirements remain platform-specific evidence.
Consistency Rules
$50K Trading Combine evaluation: 50% max single day
$100K Trading Combine evaluation: 50% max single day
$150K Trading Combine evaluation: 50% max single day
$50K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee evaluation: 50% max single day
$100K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee evaluation: 50% max single day
$150K Trading Combine — No Activation Fee evaluation: 50% max single day
The consistency rule applies while you pass the evaluation; the funded account has no single-day profit cap.
Profit SplitHeld for reviewFrequencyDailyMin Payout$125Max Payout$2,000Max per Request$2,000Win Days5 daysProcessing1-3 business days
$100K XFA
Profit SplitHeld for reviewFrequencyDailyMin Payout$125Max Payout$3,000Max per Request$3,000Win Days5 daysProcessing1-3 business days
$150K XFA
Profit SplitHeld for reviewFrequencyDailyMin Payout$125Max Payout$5,000Max per Request$5,000Win Days5 daysProcessing1-3 business days
Tier
Profit Split
Frequency
Min Payout
Max Payout
Max per Request
Winning Days
Processing
$50K XFA
Held for review
Daily
$125
$2,000
$2,000
5 days
1-3 business days
$100K XFA
Held for review
Daily
$125
$3,000
$3,000
5 days
1-3 business days
$150K XFA
Held for review
Daily
$125
$5,000
$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 · Free 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
No verified payouts on record for Topstep — yet
Got paid by Topstep? Verify it in about a minute with the browser extension. Early submissions earn the Early Verifier badge, and every verified payout makes these grades harder to argue with.
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
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.
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 Micro50
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).
Live account transition details not available for this firm.
Live Account Rules
Shared rules
Applies to: 50K XFA, 100K XFA, 150K XFA
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
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.
35
Consistency Burden
100
Buffer Requirement
100
Withdrawal Cap
100
Min Payout Amount
70
Closure Trigger
100
Daily Earning Cap
100
Max Single-Day Profit
$1,500
50% consistency cap on profit target
Drawdown Safety Margin
$2,000
$2,000 buffer once locked at initial
Break-Even Day
Day 12
At $500/day profit — see full timeline
Monthly Funded Earnings
$5,000/mo
Projected at $500/day after fees, caps, and splits
Recovery policy: Unavailable from ordinary public material; recovery assumptions stay blocked.
Why it fits
Trader fit unavailable from public-rule evidence
Some fit inputs are unavailable from ordinary public material: activation_fee, buffer_clearance_required, capital_efficiency_drag, capital_efficiency_score.
activation_fee is unavailable from ordinary public evidence. buffer_clearance_required is unavailable from ordinary public evidence.
Recovery policy: Unavailable from ordinary public material; recovery assumptions stay blocked.
Why it fits
Trader fit unavailable from public-rule evidence
Some fit inputs are unavailable from ordinary public material: activation_fee, buffer_clearance_required, capital_efficiency_drag, capital_efficiency_score.
Payout cap basis is unknown for a capped payout rule. activation_fee is unavailable from ordinary public evidence.
Recovery policy: Unavailable from ordinary public material; recovery assumptions stay blocked.
Why it fits
Trader fit unavailable from public-rule evidence
Some fit inputs are unavailable from ordinary public material: activation_fee, buffer_clearance_required, capital_efficiency_drag, capital_efficiency_score.
activation_fee is unavailable from ordinary public evidence. buffer_clearance_required is unavailable from ordinary public evidence.
Recovery policy: Unavailable from ordinary public material; recovery assumptions stay blocked.
Why it fits
Trader fit unavailable from public-rule evidence
Some fit inputs are unavailable from ordinary public material: activation_fee, buffer_clearance_required, capital_efficiency_drag, capital_efficiency_score.
Payout cap basis is unknown for a capped payout rule. activation_fee is unavailable from ordinary public evidence.
TopstepX Trading Combine base path has no daily loss limit. Optional Responsible Trading daily loss limit add-on is modeled as plan rule variants.
TopstepX No Activation Fee Trading Combine base path has no daily loss limit. Optional Responsible Trading daily loss limit add-on is modeled as plan rule variants.
Not Allowed
Trading 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. Which accounts and copiers it covers is set by the firm's own rules.
News Trading
Allowed
Daily Earning Cap
None
Account Closure
None
Activation: $149 · Inactivity: 30 days · Scaling: Available
$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.
Initial 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.
Daily Loss Limit
$2,000
100K XFA
Daily Loss Limit
$3,000
150K XFA
Daily Loss Limit
$4,500
50K XFA: 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 XFA: 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 XFA: 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.
