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Topstep review

Checked October 16, 2026 against 26 official and public pages. How we check

Topstep has the lowest monthly entry price we track at $49 for 50K, plus a $149 activation fee when you pass, and its drawdown is end-of-day trailing. It suits traders who are happy on TopstepX and want a clear path to a live account; its Trustpilot score (3.7) is lower than most rivals.

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Opens topstep.com

50K price
$49per month
Profit target
$3,000on 50K
Max loss
$2,000end-of-day trailing
Consistency
Eval onlyrule applies to
Profit split
90%to the trader
Payouts
Every 5 winning days
Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5

End-of-day trailing drawdown

Your loss limit moves up only when a trading day closes at a new high balance. Open profits during the day do not drag it up, so a winning trade you give back intraday does not tighten the limit until the close.

Account balance Loss limit
Illustration with a $2,000 limit, not this firm's exact numbers.

No public Topstep code right nowWe did not find a discount published by Topstep when we checked on October 16, 2026. Firms run sales often, usually announced on their own site first.
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Who Topstep fits

Day traders who close every position by 3:10 PM CT and want an established firm with a published route from simulated to live trading. You choose between the Standard path ($49/month, $149 activation) and the No Activation Fee path ($95/month). New traders trade on TopstepX.

What to know first

The Trading Combine has a consistency target: your best day must be at or below 55% of the profit target. Going over does not fail you; it raises the target. Topstep publishes no changelog, and several rules changed during 2026.

Topstep plans compared (50K)

50K accountTrading Combine (Standard path) -> Express Funded Account (XFA)Trading Combine (No Activation Fee path) -> Express Funded Account (XFA)
Steps1-step1-step
Price (50K, list)$49 per month$95 per month
Activation fee$149$0
Reset fee$49$95
Profit target$3,000$3,000
Max loss$2,000$2,000
Drawdown typeEOD trailing (Maximum Loss Limit rises with end-of-day balance, never moves down, monitored in real time including unrealized P&L). Combine: locks once it reaches the starting balance. XFA: locks at $0 once balance reaches $2,000 profit on 50K, and is set to $0 after the first payout.EOD trailing (same as Standard path)
Daily loss limit$1,000$1,000
Consistency ruleCombine: best day must be at or below 55% of the profit target; exceeding it raises the target (best day / 0.55), it does not fail the account. XFA Standard path: none.Combine: 55% of profit target (raises target if exceeded). XFA Consistency path: best day must be 40% or less of total net profit to request a payout.
Minimum trading days22
Max contracts / size55
Profit split90/10 (traders who joined the new dashboard before Jan 12, 2026 keep 100% of their first $10,000 lifetime profit)90/10
PayoutsAfter every 5 winning days of $150+ net P&L (not consecutive)Standard XFA path: every 5 winning days of $150+; Consistency XFA path: after at least 3 trading days with the 40% consistency met
Payout rulesXFA Standard: up to 50% of account balance per request, capped at $2,000 on 50K ($4,000 if a DLL was added at checkout on a new Combine bought from June 2, 2026 - limited-time offer). Minimum payout $125. Must be net profitable since the last payout (first payout exempt). After each payout the MLL resets to $0. Up to 5 active XFAs. Back2Funded: reactivate a lost XFA (before first payout) for $599 on 50K, up to 2 times.XFA Consistency path: up to 50% of balance, capped at $3,000 on 50K ($6,000 with the limited-time DLL offer). Standard path caps as in the Standard program. Minimum payout $125.

Account sizes offered: 50K, 100K, 150K.

Trading rules and fine print

News tradingRestricted: prohibited to purposefully trade your full maximum position size directly into a scheduled major news event
Bots and EAsRestricted: custom automated strategies are allowed through the TopstepX/ProjectX API ($29/month, 50% off with code 'topstep'), but not on Live Funded Accounts; HFT and software that gives an 'unfair advantage' are prohibited; VPS/VPN use is prohibited
Copy tradingRestricted: TopstepX has a built-in Trade Copier between your own Trading Combine and XFA accounts (not Live Funded Accounts); coordinated trading with other people or third-party accounts is prohibited
Overnight and weekendNot allowed: all positions must be closed by 3:10 PM CT each weekday (risk managers start flattening at 3:08 PM CT); no overnight or weekend holding
PlatformsTopstepX, Quantower (via TopstepX, Combine and XFA only)
InstrumentsCME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX futures (equity index, FX futures, energy, metals, grains, Treasuries, livestock, crypto micros); no spot forex
US tradersAccepted
Restricted countriesAbout 35 countries/regions restricted by citizenship and residency, including Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Kosovo, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Morocco, Kenya and Venezuela. US is not restricted. List: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284116-am-i-eligible-to-trade-with-topstep
Payout methodsProp-to-Brokerage (US, no fee), Aeropay (US banks, no Topstep fee), Wise (China, Canada, UK only), ACH (US, $30 fee), Wire/SWIFT (international, $30 fee)
Path to a live accountTopstep's Risk Team calls traders up from the XFA to a Live Funded Account at its discretion; all XFAs close at call-up. The LFA starts with 20% of transferred funds tradable (min $10,000) and 80% in reserve, released in 25% steps at profit milestones ($3K on 50K). LFA payouts: 5 winning days of $150+ per cycle, up to 50% of balance with no cap; daily payouts unlock after 30 winning days in the LFA.
CompanyTopstep LLC (Delaware LLC; programs operated by affiliate TopstepTrader, LLC), Chicago, Illinois, USA. Mailing address in Terms of Use: 130 S Jefferson St, Chicago, IL 60661
Founded2010

Every Topstep rule explained

What works

  • Low entry price: $49/month for the 50K Standard Combine.
  • Choice of Standard (lower monthly price, $149 activation) or No Activation Fee path ($95/month, $0 activation).
  • Optional daily loss limit; hitting it only pauses trading and is not a rule violation.
  • Many payout methods, including same-day Prop-to-Brokerage and Aeropay for US traders; $125 minimum payout.
  • Defined path to a live account with uncapped payouts and daily payouts after 30 winning days.

What to watch

  • Monthly subscription continues until you pass or cancel.
  • XFA per-request payout cap is $2,000 (Standard) or $3,000 (Consistency) on 50K, without the limited-time DLL offer.
  • TopstepX is the only platform listed for new traders; VPS/VPN use is prohibited.
  • Lower Trustpilot score than peers (3.7 from about 15,000 reviews).
  • Frequent 2026 rule and payout changes; Topstep's help articles show relative dates only, with no changelog.

Rule and price changes in 2026

WhenWhat changed
2026-08Wise payouts restored for traders in China, Canada and the UK. source
2026-06-02Limited-time offer: adding a Daily Loss Limit at checkout on a new Trading Combine doubles XFA per-request payout caps. source
2026-06Topstep Labs launched limited 'drops', starting with a $25K Static Drawdown Trading Combine (June) and a $50K Static Drawdown Combine (October 2026). source
2026-04/05Third-party trackers report loss-limit documentation briefly switched to static daily limits (about April 21) and back to EOD trailing (about May 10); not confirmed on Topstep's own pages. source
2026-01-12New traders get a flat 90/10 split; those who joined the new dashboard before this date keep 100% of their first $10,000. source

Topstep promo code and current discount

Sources

Checked October 16, 2026. We link the firm's own pages wherever we can. If something changed, tell us.

  1. topstep.com/topstep-prop — plan cards: prices, targets, MLL, DLL, contracts, reset and activation fees, payout caps
  2. help.topstep.com/en/articles/14289835-topstep-pricing-and-payment-questions — Standard vs No Activation Fee prices, resets, activation fee, Back2Funded fees, payment methods
  3. help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284197-trading-combine-parameters — max position size, 55% consistency, pass in two days
  4. help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284204-what-is-the-maximum-loss-limit — MLL amounts, EOD trailing mechanics, lock levels
  5. help.topstep.com/en/articles/10490293-daily-loss-limit-in-the-trading-combine-and-express-funded-account — optional DLL amounts and behavior
  6. help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284215-express-funded-account-parameters — XFA rules, Standard/Consistency paths, 90/10, 5 XFA limit
  7. help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284233-topstep-payout-policy — payout eligibility, caps, minimum, methods, fees, 2026 dates
  8. help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284208-consistency-at-topstep — 55% Combine and 40% XFA consistency
  9. help.topstep.com/en/articles/10657969-live-funded-account-parameters — LFA call-up, reserve structure, DLL
  10. help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284099-topstep-program-overview — program stages and path to live
  11. help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284116-am-i-eligible-to-trade-with-topstep — restricted countries, eligibility
  12. help.topstep.com/en/articles/10305426-prohibited-trading-strategies-at-topstep — news restriction, prohibited strategies
  13. help.topstep.com/en/articles/10296582-prohibited-conduct — coordinated trading, hedging, unfair technology
  14. help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284206-when-and-what-products-can-i-trade — trading hours, 3:10 PM CT close, products
  15. help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284199-new-to-topstep-start-here — TopstepX is the only available platform
  16. help.topstep.com/en/articles/14434175-topstepx — TopstepX trade copier rules
  17. help.topstep.com/en/articles/11187768-topstepx-api-access — API automation rules, cost, VPS prohibition
  18. help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284179-quantower-connection-instructions — Quantower via TopstepX for Combine/XFA
  19. help.topstep.com/en/articles/15520357-topstep-labs — Labs static drawdown drops and dates
  20. topstep.com/blog/static-vs-trailing-drawdown — Oct 2, 2026 statement that Combines/funded accounts use EOD trailing; static only via Labs
  21. topstep.com/terms-of-use/ — legal entity, Delaware, mailing address, VPN/VPS prohibition
  22. topstep.com/about-us/ — 2010 founding of Patak Trading Partners, entity structure
  23. topstep.com/affiliate-terms-and-conditions — affiliate program terms
  24. trustpilot.com/review/topstep.com — Trustpilot score and count
  25. propfirmmap.com/blog/prop-firm-news-april-16-22-2026-the5ers-topstep-thinkcapital — secondary: April 21, 2026 static-limit report
  26. propfirmmap.com/blog/prop-firm-news-may-10-17-2026-trading-pit-topstep-discount-codes — secondary: May 2026 reversion to EOD trailing report

Questions traders ask

How much is Topstep 50K?

$49 a month on the Standard path with a $149 activation fee when you pass, or $95 a month with no activation fee, as of October 16, 2026.

Does Topstep use trailing drawdown?

Yes, end-of-day trailing. The Maximum Loss Limit rises with your end-of-day balance and never moves down.

What drawdown does Topstep use?

Topstep's main 50K plan uses end-of-day trailing drawdown with a max loss of $2,000, as of October 16, 2026.

How much does a Topstep 50K account cost?

The list price of Topstep's cheapest main 50K plan was $49 per month when we checked on October 16, 2026. Discounts often lower this; see the Topstep promo code page.

Does Topstep accept US traders?

Yes, according to Topstep's own pages as of October 16, 2026.

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