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Topstep review: rules, prices and payouts

United States (Chicago, IL)·Founded 2012·★ 3.7 (14,989)Updated October 24, 2026 at 12:59 AM UTC
90% profit split1-step evaluationUp to 5 funded accountsTrailing EOD drawdown55% best-day ruleNews limits on CPI / FOMCFlat by 3:10 PM CTNo VPNs
From
​$49/ month

$50K Topstep · + ​$149 activation when you pass

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Cheapest start​$49/mo$50K Combine
Profit split90%You keep $90 of every $100
Max loss · 50K​$2,000Trails end-of-day high
First payout5 daysWinning days of $150+
Flat by3:10 PMCT daily · no overnight

Trust score

Trustpilot
3.714,989 reviews · 19% one-star
5★70%
4★6%
3★3%
2★2%
1★19%
1★2★3★4★5★4.071.683.142.032.772.874.394.354.384.034.23Nov 2025Dec 2025Jan 2026Feb 2026Mar 2026Apr 2026May 2026Jun 2026Jul 2026Aug 2026Sep 2026Oct 2026
Average stars per month (Trustpilot). Red points are months under 3.5. Source ↗
Our verdict

Topstep, the long-running Chicago futures firm, scores 3.7 on Trustpilot from 14,989 reviews, praised for TopstepX and frictionless payouts but pulled down by 1-star reports of hedging bans after moving to Live, platform outages and subscription billing disputes.

What traders likeMany traders say payouts arrive quickly and without friction, including first payouts and near-instant transfers via Aeropay.Reviewers often credit support staff, sometimes by name, and the Windy AI assistant with resolving questions within about an hour.Traders describe Topstep as a legitimate, transparent firm they trust more than other prop firms they have tried.Several reviews say the TopstepX platform now runs smoothly and is pleasant to trade on.Some traders say the Combine's rules built discipline that finally made them consistently profitable and funded.
What traders complain aboutA frequent complaint is accounts being closed or banned, for reasons like alleged hedging or copytrading or ID-check glitches, without a clear explanation.Unhappy reviewers describe slow or chatbot-only support that takes days to reach a human.Some traders report platform freezes, connection errors, and orders or stops not executing as expected.Billing complaints include unexpected or duplicate charges and subscription renewals or cancellations without a refund.A smaller group reports payout trouble, such as weeks-long waits, misrouted transfers, or caps and rule changes after becoming profitable.
True cost to get funded
Months to pass2 months
16
Standard
​$247
​$49 × 2 + ​$149 activation
No activation feeCheaper
​$190
​$95 × 2, no activation

On the ​$50K, No Activation is cheaper if you pass within 3 months. Standard is cheaper after that.

Get the ​$50K No Activation account →

Topstep true cost calculator

Summary

Topstep is a Chicago-based futures prop firm whose Trading Combine launched in 2012. Traders pay a monthly subscription for a 50K, 100K or 150K evaluation, or buy one-time Topstep Labs accounts, and trade CME Group futures on the TopstepX platform. Passing requires hitting a profit target without touching an end-of-day trailing Maximum Loss Limit, while keeping the best day under 55% of the target. Funded traders keep 90% of profits, can request payouts after five $150 winning days or a 40% consistency path, and may later be called up to a Live Funded Account. All positions must be flat by 3:10 PM CT, and VPNs are banned. Several countries are ineligible.

Firm overview

Which trading platforms can you use?TopstepX (TradingView charts, CME real-time data)
How can a trader pay?VisaMastercardAmerican ExpressDiscoverGoogle WalletApple PayPayPal is explicitly not supported.
How are payouts sent?Aeropay (US banks only) · Wise · ACH · Wire/SWIFT
CEOMichael Patak
Clearing broker for prop programPlus500, TopstepX Own Data Feed
Where is the firm based?United States (Chicago, IL)
Founded2012
Years operating14

Instruments and assets

What instrument type does the firm offer?Futures (CME Group exchanges only)
Which asset groups are available?Equity indexEnergyMetalsFX futuresInterest rates / TreasuriesAgriculturalCrypto futures (Micro Bitcoin, Micro Ether)
Example symbolsESMESNQMNQRTYYMNKDCLMCLNGGCMGCSIHG6E6J
Holding rulesNo spot Forex and no overnight/swing holding; flat by 3:10 PM CT daily, reopen 5:00 PM CT.

Leverage

​$50,000 · Max position size; micros at 10:1 to minis. In XFA the Scaling Plan sets limits by balance; temporary tighter limits pos…5 minis / 50 micros
​$100,000 · Max position size; micros at 10:1 to minis. In XFA the Scaling Plan sets limits by balance; temporary tighter limits pos…10 minis / 100 micros
​$150,000 · Max position size; micros at 10:1 to minis. In XFA the Scaling Plan sets limits by balance; temporary tighter limits pos…15 minis / 150 micros
​$25,000 · Topstep Labs $25K Static Trading Combine.2 minis / 20 micros
​$50,000 · Topstep Labs $50K Static only. The standard Trading Combine $50K max is 5 minis / 50 micros.4 minis / 40 micros
​$250,000 · Topstep Labs $250K Freedom Trading Combine.25 minis / 250 micros
Topstep Labs Return of the $3K Undead Challenge (drop #008). Same cap in the Challenge Round and Payout Round; no scalin…5 minis / 50 micros
Topstep Labs Revenge of the $3K Slasher Challenge (drop #009). Same cap in the Challenge Round and Payout Round; no scal…2 minis / 20 micros

Express Funded Account only: max contracts grow with account balance (starting from $0), never mid-session; 10:1 micro/mini ratio (SIL 5:1; MBT/MET capped at mini-equivalent). Live Funded Account uses Dynamic Live Risk Expansion instead.

Commissions

Round-turn cost = exchange fee + $0.02 NFA fee + Topstep commission ($1.00 RT minis, $0.50 RT micros), deducted automatically per trade. CME raised MCL and MNG exchange fees by $0.10/side from the Oct 1, 2026 trading day.

ES ​$3.78MES ​$1.22NQ ​$3.78MNQ ​$1.22RTY ​$3.78M2K ​$1.22YM ​$3.78MYM ​$1.22CL ​$4.02MCL ​$1.72GC ​$4.32MGC ​$1.926E ​$4.22ZN ​$2.62ZC ​$5.28MBT ​$2.82MET ​$0.72

Consistency

Evaluation (Combine)Trading Combine: best single day must be at or below 55% of the profit target ($1,650 / $3,300 / $4,950 on 50K/100K/150K); exceeding it raises the target to best day / 0.55.
Funded (XFA)XFA Standard path: no consistency target. XFA Consistency path: largest winning day / total net profit must be 40% or less over at least 3 trading days; resets after each payout.

Firm rules

Minimum trading daysTrading Combine can be passed in as few as 2 days; XFA payouts need 5 winning days ($150+) on Standard or 3 trading days on Consistency.
News tradingAllowed, but during Tier 1 events (CPI, FOMC, NFP, PPI) no new mini opening positions in equity index and metals for 5 min before/after, micro opens capped; deliberately trading full max size into major news is prohibited.
Copy tradingTrade copier allowed across own XFAs up to $750K buying power; coordinated trading with others and cross-account hedging prohibited.
Automated strategiesAllowed with conditions; Topstep does not help set them up or cover malfunctions. Unfair technology (AI/ultra-high-speed/SIM exploitation) prohibited.
InactivityExpress Funded Accounts with no trading activity for over 30 days may be closed.
VPNNot permitted (VPNs, proxies, TOR and geo-location obfuscation banned).
ResetsTrading Combine only, up to 2 Resets per account per day; each Rebill adds 1 Reset Credit; Reset price equals monthly price; XFAs use Back2Funded reactivation ($599/$699/$829) instead.
Prohibited strategiesAccount stacking, Intentionally depleting a Live Funded Account, Unfair technology / SIM-fill exploitation, Trading outside the best bid or offer, Trading max position size into major news, Cross-account and coordinated hedging, Price/data-feed exploitation, spoofing, Holding within 2% of a price lock limit, Trading on behalf of others
Other ruleAll positions flat by 3:10 PM CT each weekday; no overnight holding
Other ruleUp to 5 active XFAs at a time
Other ruleOptional Daily Loss Limit ($1,000/$2,000/$3,000) — mandatory in Live Funded Account
Other ruleLevel 2 data $38/month; Level 1 included
Other ruleMinimum age 18; one trader profile

Challenges

ProgramAccountPriceActivationTargetMax lossDrawdownDaily lossTrue cost (1 mo) ↓
Topstep · Challenge - Powered Up - 1-Step 1.5K​$1,500​$99 once$0 (Free)​$1,500​$500StaticNone​$99Get
Topstep · Freedom Trading Combine - 1-Step 250K​$250K​$499 once$0 (Free)​$15,000​$10,000EOD trailing​$5,000​$499Get
Topstep · No Activation Fee - 1-Step 100K​$100K​$149/mo$0 (Free)​$6,000​$3,000EOD trailing​$2,000​$149Get
Topstep · No Activation Fee - 1-Step 150K​$150K​$229/mo$0 (Free)​$9,000​$4,500EOD trailing​$3,000​$229Get
Topstep · No Activation Fee - 1-Step 50K​$50K​$95/mo$0 (Free)​$3,000​$2,000EOD trailing​$1,000​$95Get
Topstep · Standard - 1-Step 100K​$100K​$99/mo​$149​$6,000​$3,000EOD trailing​$2,000​$248Get
Topstep · Standard - 1-Step 150K​$150K​$199/mo​$149​$9,000​$4,500EOD trailing​$3,000​$348Get
Topstep · Standard - 1-Step 50K​$50K​$49/mo​$149​$3,000​$2,000EOD trailing​$1,000​$198Get
Topstep · Static Drawdown Trading Combine - 1-Step 50K​$50K​$149 once$0 (Free)​$4,000​$2,000Static​$1,000​$149Get
Topstep · Static Trading Combine - 1-Step 25K​$25K​$75 once$0 (Free)​$2,000​$1,000Static​$500​$75Get

Payouts

Profit split90% on the standard plan · up to 100% on some plans or with scaling (details in the FAQ)
FrequencyXFA: after every 5 winning days ($150+) on Standard or 3 trading days within 40% consistency; Live Funded Account: daily after 30 winning days.
Minimum payout​$125
PathsXFA Standard: 5 non-consecutive winning days of $150+ net P&L and profit since last payout · XFA Consistency: 3 trading days, largest day ≤40% of net profit · Live Funded Account: 5 winning days per cycle, up to 50% of balance, no dollar cap; daily payouts after 30 winning days · Traders who joined the new dashboard before January 12, 2026 keep 100% of their first $10,000 in lifetime profits; the 90/10 split applies after that. Legacy-dashboard payouts do not count toward the $10,000.
Live Funded AccountCalled up by Topstep's Risk Team; starting balance derived from XFA balances with part held in reserve and released via Capital Expansion; mandatory Daily Loss Limit; no payout caps.
Caps · ​50KStandard ​$2,000 · Consistency ​$3,000 · with DLL at checkout ​$4,000 / ​$6,000
Caps · ​100KStandard ​$3,000 · Consistency ​$4,000 · with DLL at checkout ​$6,000 / ​$8,000
Caps · ​150KStandard ​$5,000 · Consistency ​$6,000 · with DLL at checkout ​$10,000 / ​$12,000

Per request: up to 50% of balance; DLL doubling is a limited-time offer for new Combine purchases since June 2, 2026

Restricted countries

Fully restricted (35):

AfghanistanAlgeriaAngolaBelarusBurkina FasoBurundiChinese Military CompaniesCote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)CubaDarfurDemocratic Republic of the Congo (Congo Free State)Haiti+23 more

Announcements

October 1, 2026 · CME exchange fee increase for MCL and MNGExchange fees on Micro Crude and Micro Henry Hub rose $0.10 per side, passed through automatically.
October 2026 · Topstep Labs $3K Undead ($199) and $3K Slasher ($65) Challenges (drops #008/#009)Limited one-time, two-round challenges paying a fixed $3,000; Undead allows 5 minis with a $1,000 static floor, Slasher 2 minis with a $500 floor.
October 2026 · $50K Static Drawdown Trading Combine (Labs drop #006)One-time $149 evaluation with a $4,000 target and a fixed $2,000 loss floor; Labs Static, Freedom and Powered Up accounts now purchasable any time.
September 17, 2026 · Consistency rule article updateCombine best day must stay at or below 55% of the profit target, with the target recalculated if exceeded.
August 2026 · Wise payouts restored for select regionsWise is available again for traders in China, Canada and the UK only.
July 2026 · Topstep Octagon monthly leaderboardMonthly competition for Live Funded traders with a $250,000 bonus pool ($200K P&L leaderboard, $50K winning-streak leaderboard); October edition running.

FAQ

How much does a Topstep Trading Combine cost?$49/$99/$199 per month for 50K/100K/150K on the Standard path plus $149 at activation, or $95/$149/$229 per month with no activation fee.
What drawdown does the Combine use?An end-of-day trailing Maximum Loss Limit of $2,000/$3,000/$4,500; Labs static accounts use a fixed floor instead.
Is there a consistency rule?Yes: in the Combine your best day must be at or below 55% of the target; the XFA Consistency path uses a 40% limit.
What profit split and minimum payout apply?Traders keep 90% and the smallest withdrawal is $125.
Can I hold trades overnight or trade spot Forex?No. Close everything by 3:10 PM CT; only CME futures (including FX futures) are allowed.
Can I trade during CPI or FOMC releases?Yes, but new mini positions in index and metal futures are blocked for 5 minutes either side and micro sizes are capped.
Are VPNs allowed?No; VPNs, proxies and TOR are prohibited.
How many funded accounts can I run?Up to five active Express Funded Accounts, copyable with a trade copier up to $750K buying power.

Reddit corner

Public Reddit threads about this firm — titles and short paraphrased themes, not full posts.

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Is Topstep legit?

Topstep publishes separate payout paths for Express and Live Funded Accounts. Its Trustpilot page shows 3.7 from 14,989 reviews as of October 2026, with no warning banner observed. The published minimum payout is $125, but eligibility also depends on the account path. The payout policy should matter more to your choice than the review score alone.

Founded
The founding date is not confirmed by the official payout source cited here.
Trustpilot
3.7 from 14,989 reviews (October 2026). No warning banner was observed during our check.
Payouts
Minimum payout: $125, with a 90/10 split. Express Standard requires 5 non-consecutive winning days of $150 or more. Express Consistency requires 3 trading days and a 40% consistency target. Live accounts can gain daily payout eligibility after 30 qualifying winning days in Live.
Watch out for
After an Express payout, the Maximum Loss Limit resets permanently to $0. Requesting money changes the loss cushion left in the account.
Our take
We would compare the two Express payout paths and the post-withdrawal loss cushion before choosing an account.

Updated 2026-10-26

Topstep price history and rule changes

From our weekly snapshots of the firm's own site.

Cheapest $1.5K plan, list price

$992026-10-25$992026-11-01

No plan changes since we started tracking.

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