Topstep

Topstep Review 2026: Complete Account Types, Rules and Payout Guide

This Topstep review explains every currently listed futures account type, including profit targets, maximum drawdown, daily loss limits, consistency rules, minimum trading days, funded-stage conditions and payout requirements. The goal is to help traders compare the complete rule set before paying for an evaluation or instant account.

Last rules review: August 26, 2026. Rules, prices and program names can change. The official checkout, dashboard and signed trader agreement control if they differ from this page.

Topstep Account Types Compared

Complete Topstep Account-Type Rules

Trading Combine — Standard Rules

• Account sizes: $50K / $100K / $150K
• Profit target: 6%
• Maximum drawdown: $2K / $3K / $4.5K EOD trailing
• Daily loss rule: Optional $1K / $2K / $3K soft DLL
• Consistency rule: 50% objective
• Minimum trading days: 2 days
• Funded and payout route: Pass to XFA; $149 activation

Trading Combine — No Activation Fee Rules

• Account sizes: $50K / $100K / $150K
• Profit target: 6%
• Maximum drawdown: $2K / $3K / $4.5K EOD trailing
• Daily loss rule: Optional soft DLL
• Consistency rule: 50% objective
• Minimum trading days: 2 days
• Funded and payout route: Pass to XFA with $0 activation

XFA Standard Rules

• Account sizes: $50K / $100K / $150K
• Profit target: None
• Maximum drawdown: Trails to $0; first payout locks at $0
• Daily loss rule: Optional soft DLL
• Consistency rule: None
• Minimum trading days: 5 × $150 winning days
• Funded and payout route: 90% split; 50% of balance, capped $2K / $3K / $5K

XFA Consistency Rules

• Account sizes: $50K / $100K / $150K
• Profit target: None
• Maximum drawdown: Trails to $0; first payout locks at $0
• Daily loss rule: Optional soft DLL
• Consistency rule: 40%
• Minimum trading days: 3 trading days
• Funded and payout route: 90% split; capped $3K / $4K / $6K

Live Funded Account Rules

• Account sizes: One live account; tier up to $150K
• Profit target: None
• Maximum drawdown: Live tier risk and reserve rules
• Daily loss rule: $2K / $3K / $4.5K soft DLL
• Consistency rule: No percentage rule
• Minimum trading days: 5 winning days until 30-day milestone
• Funded and payout route: Daily and up to 100% unlocked balance after 30 winning days

Topstep Profit Target, Drawdown and Daily Loss Explained

• Profit target: 6% ($3,000 on 50K, $6,000 on 100K, $9,000 on 150K)
• Maximum loss: $2,000 (4%) on 50K; $3,000 (3%) on 100K; $4,500 (3%) on 150K
• Drawdown calculation: eod_trailing
• Daily loss: Optional fixed DLL in Combine/XFA; mandatory soft DLL in Live
• Minimum days: 2 in Trading Combine
• Consistency: Traders must use the evaluation or payout percentage attached to the exact account type; exceeding an objective normally extends qualification unless the agreement calls it a breach.

A trader should calculate the real risk allowance from the maximum-loss amount, not the advertised nominal account balance. End-of-day trailing drawdown moves from closed daily highs, intraday trailing can move with open equity, and static drawdown stays fixed. These models produce very different trade-sizing requirements.

Topstep Payout Eligibility Checklist

Before requesting a payout, confirm all of the following:

• The account is above its required buffer or safety-net balance.
• The minimum trading or profitable-day count is complete.
• The largest winning day is within the account's payout consistency percentage.
• New profit since the previous payout meets the minimum.
• The request is within the account-size minimum and maximum cap.
• All positions and pending orders are closed.
• KYC, account ownership and payout-provider checks are complete.
• No prohibited strategy, cross-account hedge, account sharing or market-data exploitation occurred.

Topstep SEO Review Summary

This page targets traders searching for Topstep rules, Topstep account types, Topstep payout rules, Topstep drawdown, Topstep consistency rule, Topstep profit target and Topstep review 2026. Information is organized by search intent while keeping the explanation readable and useful rather than repeating keywords unnaturally.

Detailed Topstep Verdict

Topstep is one of the longest-running futures prop firms, operating from Chicago since 2012. Its standard path is a Trading Combine, followed by a simulated Express Funded Account (XFA) and possible Risk Team promotion to a Live Funded Account (LFA). The program is transparent but not simple: traders must understand the 50% Combine consistency objective, EOD Maximum Loss Limit, XFA payout path, scaling plan, payout caps and Live reserve system.

Rules checked against Topstep's official website and Help Center on August 20, 2026.

Detailed Rules Snapshot

Pricing and Fees

The two Combine payment paths have identical trading rules. Standard has a lower monthly fee and a $149 XFA activation fee. No Activation Fee costs more per month and activates the XFA for $0.

Taxes can apply. Regular subscriptions rebill every 30 days until passed or canceled. Standard resets cost $49, $99 or $199; No Activation Fee resets use the higher monthly price. Eligible pre-first-payout XFAs can use Back2Funded up to two times within 30 days, with current reactivation prices of $599, $699 and $829.

Additional Account-Type Rules

Trading Combine

• Reach the 6% target and maintain 50% best-day consistency.
• Minimum two trading days; no maximum evaluation time while the subscription remains active.
• Do not hit or exceed the EOD trailing Maximum Loss Limit.
• Profits do not transfer from the Combine to the XFA.
• Optional fixed DLL can be added at purchase: $1,000 on 50K, $2,000 on 100K or $3,000 on 150K.
• Triggering the optional DLL is a soft session pause, not an account failure.
• The selected Standard or No Activation payment path cannot be changed on the existing purchase.

XFA Standard

• No profit target and no monthly subscription.
• Five non-consecutive winning days of at least $150 net P&L.
• Positive net profit since the prior payout.
• Follow the funded Scaling Plan.
• Optional fixed DLL if selected at purchase.
• 90% trader split.
• Request up to 50% of balance, subject to the account-size cap.

XFA Consistency

• No profit target and no monthly subscription.
• At least three trading days with one trade per day.
• Best day must be 40% or less of total net profit.
• Consistency and day count reset after every payout.
• Follow the funded Scaling Plan.
• Optional fixed DLL.
• 90% trader split.
• Request up to 50% of balance, subject to a higher account-size cap.

Live Funded Account

• Promotion is discretionary; there is no guaranteed payout count or timetable.
• Only one LFA may be active.
• All XFAs close when Live is created.
• Mandatory soft DLL: $2,000, $3,000 or $4,500 by tier.
• Starting maximum position: 5, 10 or 15 minis.
• Real CME execution and professional market-data treatment.
• Five $150 winning days per payout cycle until 30 Live winning days.
• After 30 winning days, daily payouts and up to 100% of unlocked balance become available.
• Withdrawing the full Live balance closes the account.

Drawdown and Breach Rules

The regular Combine MLL trails from the highest end-of-day balance, never moves down and locks at the original starting balance. It is still monitored intraday using realized and unrealized P&L. Touching or moving below the threshold fails the Combine.

An XFA starts at a displayed $0 balance with an MLL of -$2,000, -$3,000 or -$4,500. The floor trails upward and locks at $0. The first payout immediately moves the floor to $0 if it has not already locked. Touching the MLL closes the XFA.

A purchase-set DLL in the Combine/XFA and the mandatory Live DLL are soft pauses: positions are flattened and trading is blocked until the next session. The account remains active if the MLL was not breached.

Consistency Rules

• Combine: largest winning day ÷ total net profit must be 50% or lower at the time of passing.
• XFA Standard: no consistency percentage; uses five $150 winning days.
• XFA Consistency: largest day ÷ total net profit must be 40% or lower across at least three trading days.
• Live: no percentage consistency rule; five $150 winning days are required until the 30-day milestone.

Exceeding a consistency percentage does not fail the account. The trader must build enough additional net profit to bring the ratio back under the threshold.

Payout Rules

Minimum payout request is $125.

Limited responsible-trading offers can temporarily raise XFA caps for qualifying accounts purchased with a fixed DLL. The checkout and dashboard control whether that offer applies.

Current accounts use a 90/10 split. New traders should not assume the old “first $10,000 at 100%” policy; that treatment is grandfathered only for qualifying traders who joined the newer dashboard before January 12, 2026.

Internal approval normally takes one to three business days. Delivery after approval depends on method: same-day brokerage transfer or Aeropay where supported, one to three business days for Wise/ACH and longer for international wire. Method fees apply to ACH and wire.

XFA Scaling and Account Limits

XFA contract limits rise from the current balance and update for the next session.

One mini normally equals ten micros, with special weighting on selected crypto and metals micros. Up to five active XFAs are allowed, including mixed sizes, for a maximum of $750K simulated buying power. A passed sixth Combine waits until a slot opens.

Trading Conditions

• Permitted CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX futures only.
• The session runs from 5:00 PM CT to 3:10 PM CT the next day.
• A trade can remain open overnight within that session.
• Every position and pending order must be flat by 3:10 PM CT or the product's earlier close.
• Weekend holding is prohibited.
• News trading is allowed, but traders accept slippage and loss risk.
• Purposefully trading full maximum size into a major scheduled release is prohibited.
• Temporary CPI or extreme-volatility product limits can apply.
• Trade copiers may copy a trader's own Topstep accounts while respecting each account's risk and scaling limits.
• Automated strategies and the TopstepX API are allowed in Combine/XFA within the technology policy.
• Cross-account hedging, account sharing, coordinated trading with other people, latency exploitation, simulated-fill abuse and third-party account management are prohibited.

Platforms, Markets and Live Costs

TopstepX is the standard platform for new accounts and includes integrated TradingView charts, reporting and risk controls. Level 1 CME Group data is included in Combine/XFA; Level 2 and API access are optional paid services.

Live traders pay professional market-data, commissions and applicable platform costs. Topstep covers one professional exchange feed, CME by default. Trading all four exchanges can create substantial monthly data expense.

Live Reserve and Capital Progression

The LFA tier is determined from eligible XFA history. Twenty percent of transferred capital is initially tradable, subject to a $10,000 minimum, while 80% sits in Reserve. Reserve unlocks in four 25% stages after new profit milestones of $3,000, $6,000 or $9,000 by Live tier.

Dynamic Live Risk Expansion can adjust size and DLL as performance grows. Low unlocked balances can reduce risk limits. Falling below the Live closure threshold can cause liquidation, account closure and forfeiture of Reserve.

Country Restrictions, Compliance and Refunds

Eligibility depends on both citizenship and residency, age 18+, OFAC status, partner restrictions, KYC and payout-provider availability. Some countries may use the Combine/XFA but not Live and are subject to a $200,000 total XFA payout ceiling. The current XFA-only list includes countries such as Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Kuwait, Vietnam and several others shown on Topstep's eligibility page.

Most fees are non-refundable. First-time traders may qualify for the 14-day satisfaction guarantee on one monthly Combine payment if the evaluation has not been passed. Certain accidental unused rebills can qualify within 28 days. Resets, activation, Back2Funded, data and used services are non-refundable.

Who Topstep Is Best For

Topstep is best for disciplined intraday futures traders who value a long track record, published payout rules and a genuine route to firm capital. XFA Standard suits traders who prefer winning-day objectives; XFA Consistency suits traders who can maintain a balanced three-day profit profile.

It is not ideal for swing traders, traders who want to hold through the daily close, or traders who dislike monthly evaluation billing, payout caps and professional Live data costs.

Final Review

Topstep remains a strong benchmark because the core risk rule is clear and the path from Combine to XFA to Live is documented. Its trade-offs are the 50% evaluation objective, XFA scaling and caps, a first-payout MLL lock to $0 and a discretionary Live call-up. Traders should choose the payment path and XFA payout route by their likely funded behavior, not only the lowest monthly fee.