Topstep
USA · est. 2012 · reviewed 2026-09-06
No sourced trader-risk flag has been recorded for Topstep. That is the absence of a finding, not a clean bill of health.
Missing info
B or C
FirmFax verdict
Topstep is a strong futures prop firm, established 14+ years, best taken through its Topstep Labs - 3K Challenge (89/100), which uses a static drawdown that never moves with no consistency rule on file for this route either way.
Verified discount
$10-$30 Responsible Trading Discount
Topstep lists $10 off 50K, $20 off 100K, $30 off 150K, and $50 off Back2Funded reactivations when a daily loss limit is added at purchase. It recurs monthly and applies at checkout. Re-checked on the help centre 2026-09-05.
Verified 2026-09-05Offer links may be sponsored. They never change our score or ranking. Disclosure.
Best for
- ✓Budget-conscious traders — accounts start from $49
- ✓Traders who want a static or end-of-day drawdown instead of an intraday trail
- ✓Traders who value a $0 post-pass activation route
- ✓Concentrated strategies — the firm publishes no consistency rule on at least one route
- ✓Futures traders
Check fit if
- •Confirm the consistency rule at checkout — no published figure is on file for this route either way
Topstep
Missing info
B or C
Fig. 01 — Score breakdown
What the FirmFax score is made of
Public rankings use account-specific scores. This firm-level context explains the background signals shared across its plans.
Fig. 02 — Account types
All account types compared
Rankings use each plan's own score.
| Plan | Market | Score | From | Activation | Reset | Drawdown | Daily loss | Consistency | Payout split | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topstep Labs - 3K Challenge Limited-drop two-round fixed-reward challenge 2 sources ↗
| Futures | Missing info B or C | Not recorded | Not recorded | $49 | Static | Not recorded | Not recorded | 100% fixed reward; no 90/10 split | TopstepX |
| Trading Combine - Standard Path Lower monthly subscription with $149 XFA activation fee after passing 2 sources ↗
| Futures | 76B | $49 | $149 | $49 | Trailing (end-of-day) | Not recorded | 50% | 90/10 after XFA activation | TopstepX, Quantower |
| Trading Combine - No Activation Fee Path Higher monthly subscription with $0 XFA activation fee after passing 2 sources ↗
| Futures | 76B | $95 | Not recorded | $95 | Trailing (end-of-day) | Not recorded | 50% | 90/10 after XFA activation | TopstepX, Quantower |
| XFA Standard Payout Path Express Funded Account payout route with winning-day requirement 2 sources ↗
| Futures | 73B | Earned | $149 | $49 | Trailing (end-of-day) | Not recorded | None | 90/10 | TopstepX, Quantower |
| XFA Consistency Payout Path Express Funded Account payout route with 40% consistency target 2 sources ↗
| Futures | 69C | Earned | $149 | $49 | Trailing (end-of-day) | Not recorded | 40% | 90/10 | TopstepX, Quantower |
| Topstep Labs - 250K Freedom Trading Combine Limited-drop one-time-purchase Trading Combine with mandatory DLL, no resets, 90-day expiration, and free XFA activation 3 sources ↗
| Futures | 20F | Not recorded | Not recorded | $49 | Trailing (end-of-day) | $5,000 | 50% | 90/10 after free XFA activation | TopstepX |
| Topstep Labs - 25K Static Trading Combine Limited-drop one-time-purchase Trading Combine with static max loss, mandatory DLL, no resets, 90-day expiration, and free funded activation 2 sources ↗
| Futures | 20F | Not recorded | Not recorded | $49 | Static | $500 | 50% | 90/10 after free XFA activation | TopstepX |
- Activation
- No source we hold publishes an activation fee. A blank is not a $0 — budget for one until checkout proves otherwise.
- Daily loss
- No source we hold states a daily loss limit, or that there is none. A blank row is not the absence of a cap.
- Consistency
- No consistency figure is on file for this route. That is a gap in our record, not evidence the firm has no rule — consistency rules are often added at the funded stage, so confirm it in the firm’s own terms before you rely on it.
Account sizes — max drawdown & profit target
| Account size | Max drawdown | Profit target |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| $100,000 | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| $150,000 | $4,500 | $9,000 |
Fig. 03 — True cost
What does Topstep actually cost?
Route: Trading Combine - Standard Path
Cost on one clean pass
$198
Entry price plus activation on one clean pass, before any current discount. Resets add to this if you breach.
Fig. 04 — Before you buy
Rules to know first
Drawdown model
StaticOn the best route, the drawdown is fixed and never moves, the most forgiving model for scaling in and out.
Source: Topstep Labs current page ↗Daily loss limit
Not recordedNo daily loss figure is on file for this route, and no source states there is none. Check the firm’s own rules before sizing a position.
No source on file for this row
Consistency rule
Not recordedNo consistency figure is on file for this route. That is a gap in our record, not evidence the firm has no rule — consistency rules are often added at the funded stage, so confirm it in the firm’s own terms before you rely on it.
Firm-wide rule — not covered by this plan’s sources
News trading
AllowedTopstep states that trading around high-impact releases is allowed, at the evaluation stage and once funded.
Source: Topstep Labs current page ↗Activation fee
NoneNo activation fee is charged to turn a pass into a funded account on this route.
Source: Topstep Labs current page ↗Reset fee
$49Charged when you restart the evaluation.
Firm-wide rule — not covered by this plan’s sources
Min trading days
2Topstep requires at least 2 trading days on this route before the evaluation can be passed. The wait before a payout can be requested is a separate rule.
Firm-wide rule — not covered by this plan’s sources
Each row above is read from Topstep’s own published pages where one is cited; rows marked “Not recorded” are gaps in our record, not terms the firm has waived. Last reviewed 2026-09-06 — confirm the live terms at checkout.
Fig. 05 — Full terms
Rules & payouts
Last verified 2026-09-06
Rules
- Drawdown
- Trailing (end-of-day)
- Daily loss limit
- Not recorded
- No source we hold states a daily loss limit, or that there is none. A blank row is not the absence of a cap.
- Consistency rule
- 50%
- Min trading days
- 2
- Activation fee
- $149
- Reset fee
- $49
- News trading
- Allowed
- Overnight holding
- Restricted
Automation: Automated strategies are allowed with conditions. Topstep states it will not troubleshoot automation or make exceptions for errant trades; prohibited conduct and prohibited strategy pages still apply.
Payouts
- Profit split
- 90/10; traders who joined the new dashboard before January 12, 2026 receive 100% of first $10k lifetime profits
- Frequency
- XFA Standard requires five $150+ winning days; XFA Consistency requires three days and a 40% consistency target; closed Labs drops can carry separate payout-day thresholds.
- Min days to payout
- 3
- First payout min
- $125
- Methods
- ACH, Bank wire, Wise
- Payout evidence
- 1 dated record, latest 2025-12-31
- Platforms
- TopstepX, Quantower
Payout evidence counts dated payout records Topstep has published itself. The most recent we hold is dated 2025-12-31. Records are evidence a payout ran on that date, not a guarantee of the next one.
Fig. 06 — Rule tape
Recent changes
Fig. 07 — Research & sources
Research notes
Corrected from the earlier draft: Topstep should not be shown as universally $0 activation fee or as a Tradovate/Rithmic/NinjaTrader platform profile. Current official sources show Standard and No Activation Fee pricing paths, TopstepX-first access with Quantower via TopstepX credentials for Trading Combine/XFA, optional DLL in Combine/XFA, separate XFA payout paths, and Topstep Labs limited drops should be scored separately from the standard 50K/100K/150K Trading Combine. The current Labs/help content is now modeled with separate limited-drop rows for $25K Static, $250K Freedom, and the August 2026 $3K Challenge rather than merging Labs into standard account sizes.
FAQ
Topstep questions
Is Topstep legit?
Topstep has operated since 2012 (14+ years) and holds a mixed public reputation. FirmFax scores it 89/100 on its best account and reviews rules from public sources.
How much does Topstep cost?
The best account route (Topstep Labs - 3K Challenge) starts at a price you should check live, with no activation fee on this route. See the cost breakdown above for the total on one clean pass.
What drawdown does Topstep use?
The best route uses a static drawdown — the drawdown is fixed and never moves, the most forgiving model for scaling in and out.
Does Topstep have a consistency rule?
We do not know. No consistency figure is on file for this route. That is a gap in our record, not evidence the firm has no rule — consistency rules are often added at the funded stage, so confirm it in the firm’s own terms before you rely on it.
How does Topstep pay out?
Profit split on record for Topstep: 90/10; traders who joined the new dashboard before January 12, 2026 receive 100% of first $10k lifetime profits. Minimum 3 day(s) before a payout. Payout cadence: XFA Standard requires five $150+ winning days; XFA Consistency requires three days and a 40% consistency target; closed Labs drops can carry separate payout-day thresholds.. FirmFax holds 1 dated payout record published by the firm, the most recent from 2025-12-31.
What platforms does Topstep support?
Topstep lists TopstepX, Quantower. Review platform access for the specific plan you choose.
Is there a Topstep discount code?
$10-$30 Responsible Trading Discount — official source, last verified 2026-09-05. See the full Topstep discount page for details.
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