Topstep
🏷️ Topstep discount code — is there one? No: standard prices and both billing paths explained.
Topstep At a Glance
- Operator: Topstep LLC, Chicago (Trading Combine and Express Funded Account run by TopstepTrader, LLC; Live Funded Account by TopstepFunded LLC)
- Founder and CEO: Michael Patak
- Founded: 2012 (Topstep Trader launch; the company began as Patak Trading Partners in 2010 and rebranded as Topstep in 2020)
- Program: Trading Combine (one evaluation, monthly subscription) → Express Funded Account (simulated, real payouts) → Live Funded Account (firm capital)
- Account sizes: $50K, $100K and $150K buying power
- Price: Standard path $49 / $99 / $199 a month plus a $149 activation fee when you pass; No Activation Fee path $95 / $149 / $229 a month ($85 / $129 / $199 with a Daily Loss Limit)
- Markets: CME Group futures only: equity indices, energy, metals, currencies, agriculture, Treasuries, micro Bitcoin and Ether
- Platform: TopstepX (Topstep’s own platform with TradingView charts); Quantower connects through TopstepX
- Profit split: 90/10 on every payout
- Drawdown: Maximum Loss Limit trailing on the highest end-of-day balance: $2,000 / $3,000 / $4,500
- Trading hours: day trading only: flat by 3:10 PM CT, markets reopen at 5 PM CT; no weekend positions
- Paid out: $1.4B+ to traders, 99.26% payout approval rate, 16.8% of 2025 Combines passed (Topstep’s published figures)
- Trustpilot: 3.7/5 across 15,044 reviews
- Propfirmito rating: 81.1/100 · A−
- Discount code: none — Propfirmito has no code or affiliate link; see the Topstep discount code page for standard prices
Who Is Topstep?
Topstep is the original futures prop firm. Michael Patak founded Patak Trading Partners in 2010 with an office on the Chicago Board of Trade floor, launched the Topstep Trader evaluation in 2012 and rebranded the group as Topstep in 2020. Today Topstep LLC runs a prop firm (the Trading Combine, Express Funded Account and Live Funded Account), its own trading platform TopstepX, the TopstepTV media channel and, since 2026, Topstep Brokerage, an introducing broker registered with the CFTC and a member of the NFA (ID 0567079).
Topstep publishes figures few prop firms do: $1.4B+ paid to traders, a 99.26% payout approval rate and audited-style 2025 statistics: 16.8% of Trading Combines started were passed, 51.8% of participants passed at least one, 33.3% of funded participants received a payout and 0.71% of Express Funded traders were called up to a Live Funded Account. The simulated stages are operated by TopstepTrader, LLC; live funded trading by TopstepFunded LLC, an Illinois company. Trustpilot rates the firm 3.7/5 from 15,044 reviews, with 70% five-star and 19% one-star reviews.
Program Stages: Side-by-Side Comparison
Topstep sells one product, the Trading Combine, in three sizes and two billing paths. Passing it unlocks the Express Funded Account; consistent Express Funded performance can earn a call-up to the Live Funded Account.
| Feature | Trading Combine | Express Funded Account | Live Funded Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage | Evaluation, 1 phase (monthly subscription) | Simulated funded account (real payouts) | Live account on firm capital |
| How you get it | Buy it: Standard $49 / $99 / $199 a month or No Activation Fee $95 / $149 / $229 a month | Pass the Combine ($149 activation on the Standard path, $0 on No Activation Fee) | Call-up by the Risk Team after consistent Express Funded performance (0.71% of XFA traders in 2025) |
| Starting balance | $50K / $100K / $150K buying power | $0 balance, same buying power; profits build the balance | 20% of your transferred balance available at once (minimum $10,000); the rest unlocks in 25% steps |
| Profit target | $3,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 (6%) | None | None (each Combine-size target unlocks a reserve step) |
| Maximum Loss Limit | $2,000 / $3,000 / $4,500, trailing on the end-of-day high | $2,000 / $3,000 / $4,500; the balance may go negative; resets to $0 after each payout | Balance must stay above $1,000 |
| Daily loss limit | Optional: $1,000 / $2,000 / $3,000 | Optional (fixed if added at the Combine checkout) | Automatic: $2,000 / $3,000 / $4,500, scales with your balance |
| Consistency | Best day ≤ 55% of the profit target (hard rule) | Standard path: none; Consistency path: best day ≤ 40% of profit | None |
| Min days / time limit | None stated (2 in practice) / none | 5 winning days of $150+ (Standard) or 3 days (Consistency) per payout | 5 winning days of $150+ per payout; daily payouts after 30 winning days |
| Payout cap per request | — | 50% of balance up to $2,000 / $3,000 / $5,000 (Standard) or $3,000 / $4,000 / $6,000 (Consistency); doubled with a Daily Loss Limit added at checkout | 50% of balance, no dollar cap; 100% after 30 winning days |
| Max contracts | 5 / 10 / 15 minis (micros 10:1) | Scaling Plan by balance | By live account size; expands with performance |
| Reset / second chance | Reset at the monthly price; one free Reset Credit per rebill | Back2Funded: reactivate up to twice for $599 / $699 / $829 if lost before the first payout | Shoulder Tap: moved back to a simulated account during drawdowns |
Topstep’s Express Funded rules page gives a 7-day window to use Back2Funded; its pricing FAQ says 30 days. Check the window shown in your dashboard.
Pricing Matrix — Both Billing Paths
Standard prices in US dollars as of 30 October 2026, as listed on topstep.com. Propfirmito has no Topstep code or affiliate link, so these are the prices you pay; Topstep’s own promotions, when any, appear at checkout. Taxes are added where applicable.
| Path | Size | Monthly price | Activation fee when you pass | Reset | Profit target | Max loss (EOD trailing) | Optional daily loss limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $50K | $49/mo | $149 | $49 | $3,000 | $2,000 | $1,000 |
| $100K | $99/mo | $149 | $99 | $6,000 | $3,000 | $2,000 | |
| $150K | $199/mo | $149 | $199 | $9,000 | $4,500 | $3,000 | |
| No Activation Fee | $50K | $95/mo ($85/mo with a Daily Loss Limit) | $0 | $95 | $3,000 | $2,000 | $1,000 |
| $100K | $149/mo ($129/mo with a Daily Loss Limit) | $0 | $149 | $6,000 | $3,000 | $2,000 | |
| $150K | $229/mo ($199/mo with a Daily Loss Limit) | $0 | $229 | $9,000 | $4,500 | $3,000 |
The two paths are the same Combine with the same rules. Standard: lower monthly price, $149 charged once per Express Funded Account you earn. No Activation Fee: higher monthly price, nothing when you pass; adding a Daily Loss Limit at checkout cuts $10 / $20 / $30 a month and doubles your Express Funded payout caps. Paths cannot be changed after purchase. The subscription rebills every 30 days until you pass or cancel, and each rebill adds one free Reset Credit.
Trading Rules Matrix
| Rule | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Drawdown type | ✓ EOD trailing Maximum Loss Limit | Highest end-of-day balance minus the limit; it never goes down after a losing day. In the Express Funded Account it resets to $0 after each payout |
| Overnight holding | ✗ Not allowed | All positions must be closed by 3:10 PM CT (3:08 PM for safety); open trades are flattened |
| Weekend holding | ✗ Not allowed | Markets reopen Sunday at 5 PM CT |
| News trading | ✓ Allowed | Trading your full Maximum Position Size directly into a scheduled major news event is a prohibited strategy |
| Automated strategies | ✓ Allowed with conditions | Combine and Express Funded Account only (API access in the simulated environment); no support or exceptions for malfunctions; unfair technology and SIM-fill exploitation are prohibited; not available on Live |
| Trade copier | ✓ Own accounts only | TopstepX Trade Copier across your Combine and Express Funded accounts (up to $750K buying power); coordinated trading with other people is prohibited |
| Hedging | ✗ Not between accounts | Cross-account hedging of the same or correlated products is prohibited and enforced in real time (warning, then liquidation) |
| Consistency target | 55% (Combine) | Your best day must stay at or below 55% of the profit target; exceeding it raises the target (best day ÷ 0.55) |
| Minimum trading days | None stated | The 55% rule means at least two profitable days to pass |
| Micro contracts | 10:1 | Micros count 10 to 1 against the mini limit in the Combine and Express Funded Account (not on Live) |
| Inactivity | 30 days | Express Funded and Live accounts with no trades for more than 30 days may be closed |
| VPN / proxy | ✗ Not allowed | Identity-masking services are prohibited conduct |
Platforms & Data
| Platform | Notes |
|---|---|
| TopstepX | Topstep’s own platform: TradingView charts, DOM, built-in risk settings (personal daily loss limit, profit target, trade limits, lockout), Trade Copier, API access; web and mobile browser, no native app |
| Quantower | Connects with your TopstepX credentials (ProjectX feed); Combine and Express Funded only; premium feature bundle included |
Level 1 (top of book) CME data is included; Level 2 depth of market costs $38 a month. Live Funded Accounts pay professional data fees.
Markets & Instruments
Topstep is futures-only: CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX products, minis and micros. No forex, stocks or options. CBOT grains and CME livestock have their own shorter sessions, and some high-volatility products carry extra restrictions.
| Symbols | Instruments |
|---|---|
| ES / NQ / RTY / YM / NKD | E-mini S&P 500, NASDAQ-100, Russell 2000, Dow, Nikkei |
| MES / MNQ / M2K / MYM | Micro equity index futures |
| MBT / MET | Micro Bitcoin, Micro Ether |
| CL / QM / MCL / NG / QG / MNG / RB / HO / PL | Crude oil, natural gas, gasoline, heating oil, platinum (NYMEX) |
| GC / SI / HG / MGC / SIL / MHG | Gold, silver, copper and their micros (COMEX) |
| 6A / 6B / 6C / 6E / 6J / 6S / 6N / 6M / E7 / M6E / M6A / M6B | Currency futures and micros |
| ZC / ZW / ZS / ZM / ZL | Corn, wheat, soybeans, soybean meal, soybean oil (CBOT) |
| HE / LE | Lean hogs, live cattle |
| ZT / ZF / ZN / TN / ZB / UB | US Treasury futures |
Profit Split & Scaling
| Stage | Trader share | Scaling |
|---|---|---|
| Express Funded Account | 90% | Scaling Plan: contract limit grows with the account balance; up to 5 accounts ($750K buying power) |
| Live Funded Account | 90% | Starts with 20% of the transferred balance; reserve unlocks in 25% steps at each profit target; daily loss limit and position size expand with performance; one live account at a time |
The split is 90/10 at every stage and does not change. Live traders also compete in the Topstep Octagon for a share of $250,000 in monthly performance bonuses.
Payouts & Requirements
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Profit split | 90/10; minimum payout $125 |
| Express Funded, Standard path | After 5 winning days of $150+ (not consecutive) and positive net profit since the last payout; 50% of the balance up to $2,000 / $3,000 / $5,000 per request |
| Express Funded, Consistency path | After 3 trading days with your best day at or below 40% of total profit; 50% of the balance up to $3,000 / $4,000 / $6,000 per request |
| Double caps | $4,000 / $6,000 / $10,000 (Standard) or $6,000 / $8,000 / $12,000 (Consistency) if you added a Daily Loss Limit when you bought the Combine |
| Live Funded Account | 5 winning days of $150+ per payout, 50% of the balance with no cap; after 30 winning days, up to 100% of the unlocked balance once a day |
| Methods | Prop-to-brokerage transfer (US, same day, free); Aeropay (US banks, instant after approval, free); Wise (China, Canada, UK, 1–3 days, free); ACH (US, 1–3 days, $30); wire/SWIFT (international, 5–10 days, $30) |
| Speed | Approved Aeropay payouts average under 9 seconds; internal approval 1–3 business days |
After each Express Funded payout the Maximum Loss Limit resets to $0 permanently and the day count restarts. Topstep reports $1.4B+ paid to traders and a 99.26% payout approval rate.
Account Limits
| Item | Limit |
|---|---|
| Trading Combines | No limit on the number you can run at once |
| Express Funded Accounts | 5 active or pending at once, any mix of sizes and payout paths; up to $750K buying power with the Trade Copier |
| Live Funded Account | One at a time; all Express Funded Accounts close when you are called up |
| Profiles | One Topstep profile per person; identity verification applies |
| Live-restricted countries | 25 countries can hold Express Funded Accounts (payouts capped at $200,000 in total) but not a Live Funded Account |
Refund & Billing Policy
| Scenario | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Trading Combine subscription | ✗ Non-refundable once purchased; rebills every 30 days until you pass or cancel |
| First-ever purchase | 14-day satisfaction guarantee: up to one monthly payment refunded if you have not passed |
| Forgotten rebill | Refundable within 28 days if the account was not traded and the Reset Credit was not used |
| Passing right after a rebill | No refund or proration |
| Resets, activation fee, Back2Funded, Level 2 data | ✗ Non-refundable |
| Chargebacks | Treated as prohibited conduct; contact support first |
Time Limits & Inactivity
| Account | Rule |
|---|---|
| Trading Combine | No time limit; the subscription runs until you pass or cancel. An unactivated Combine is suspended after 30 days |
| Express Funded Account | May be closed after 30 days without a trade; cannot be paused |
| Live Funded Account | May be closed after 30 days without a trade |
| Trading day | 5:00 PM CT to 3:10 PM CT the next day; Friday close 3:10 PM CT, Sunday reopen 5:00 PM CT; CME holiday hours apply |
Restricted Countries (32 Total)
Topstep does not accept citizens or residents of the 32 countries and regions below (source: Topstep’s eligibility article). Both citizenship and permanent residency count, and trading while physically in one of them can trigger a review. US traders are accepted; Canadians trade on a US-based sub-account.
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Belarus
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Haiti
- Iran
- Iraq
- Kenya
- Kosovo
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mali
- Morocco
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Pakistan
- Russia
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan (incl. Darfur)
- Syria
- Turkey
- Ukraine (incl. Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia)
- Venezuela
- Yemen
Express Funded only (no Live Funded Account, payouts capped at $200,000 in total): Albania, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, British Virgin Islands, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, Iceland, Kuwait, Laos, Liberia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Nepal, North Macedonia, Papua New Guinea, Serbia, Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.
Legal Entity
| Parent | Topstep LLC, 130 S Jefferson St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States |
| Simulated program | TopstepTrader, LLC operates the Trading Combine, Express Funded Account and Topstep Labs |
| Live funded trading | TopstepFunded LLC (Illinois) |
| Brokerage | Topstep Brokerage LLC, registered introducing broker, NFA ID 0567079 (separate retail business) |
| Platform | TopstepX is developed and owned by ProjectX Trading LLC |
| Governing law | Delaware; disputes by JAMS arbitration in Wilmington |
| Contact | Trader Support chat, (888) 407-1611 |
Community & Support
| Discord | Topstep Discord |
| YouTube | Topstep and the TopstepTV live channel |
| X | @Topstep |
| Topstep | |
| Trustpilot | 3.7/5 · 15,044 reviews |
| Support | Trader Support chat and phone, help center, daily coaching on TopstepTV |
Frequently Asked Questions About Topstep
What is Topstep?
Topstep is a Chicago futures prop firm founded by Michael Patak; its evaluation, the Trading Combine, launched in 2012. Traders pay a monthly subscription for a simulated $50K, $100K or $150K account, pass a 6% profit target without breaching a trailing Maximum Loss Limit, then earn an Express Funded Account that pays real money on simulated profits, and can be called up to a Live Funded Account on Topstep’s capital.
Is there a Topstep discount code?
Propfirmito does not have one, and we have no Topstep affiliate link. Topstep issues 15% referral codes to its traders and 20% codes to selected affiliates for a first purchase; outside those, the standard prices apply. Topstep’s own standing saving is the Responsible Trading Advantage: $10 to $30 a month off the No Activation Fee Combine when you add a Daily Loss Limit at checkout.
How much does Topstep cost?
On the Standard path the Trading Combine costs $49, $99 or $199 a month for $50K, $100K or $150K, plus a one-time $149 activation fee for each Express Funded Account you earn. On the No Activation Fee path it costs $95, $149 or $229 a month ($85, $129 or $199 with a Daily Loss Limit) and nothing when you pass. The subscription renews every 30 days until you pass or cancel.
What are the Trading Combine rules?
One rule and two objectives: never let the balance hit the Maximum Loss Limit ($2,000, $3,000 or $4,500, trailing on your highest end-of-day balance); reach the profit target of $3,000, $6,000 or $9,000; and keep your best day at or below 55% of that target. There is no minimum number of days and no time limit. All positions must be flat by 3:10 PM CT.
What is the Topstep profit split?
90/10 at every stage: Express Funded and Live Funded payouts both pay 90% to the trader. The split does not change.
How do Topstep payouts work?
In the Express Funded Account you choose a payout path when you activate it. Standard: after 5 winning days of $150 or more, request 50% of your balance up to $2,000, $3,000 or $5,000. Consistency: after 3 trading days with your best day at or below 40% of total profit, up to $3,000, $4,000 or $6,000. Caps double if you added a Daily Loss Limit when you bought the Combine. The minimum payout is $125; US traders can be paid instantly through Aeropay. Live Funded Accounts have no cap and allow daily payouts after 30 winning days.
What drawdown does Topstep use?
A Maximum Loss Limit that trails your highest end-of-day balance: $2,000 on the $50K, $3,000 on the $100K and $4,500 on the $150K. It never moves down after a losing day. In the Express Funded Account it resets to $0 after each payout, and on Live the balance must simply stay above $1,000. A Daily Loss Limit of $1,000, $2,000 or $3,000 is optional in the Combine and automatic on Live.
Can I trade news, use automated strategies or hold overnight at Topstep?
News trading is allowed; only trading your full position size straight into a scheduled major release is prohibited. Automated strategies are allowed with conditions in the Combine and Express Funded Account (no support, no exceptions for malfunctions, no unfair technology) and are not available on Live. Overnight and weekend holding is not allowed: everything must be closed by 3:10 PM CT.
Is copy trading allowed at Topstep?
Between your own accounts, yes: TopstepX includes a Trade Copier that mirrors a lead account to your other Combine or Express Funded accounts, up to $750K of buying power. Coordinated trading with other people and cross-account hedging are prohibited.
Which platform does Topstep use?
TopstepX, Topstep’s own platform with TradingView charts, a DOM, built-in risk settings and API access, in the browser on desktop and mobile. Quantower connects with your TopstepX credentials. Level 1 data is included; Level 2 depth of market costs $38 a month.
Can US traders join Topstep, and which countries are restricted?
Yes. Topstep is a US company and US traders are accepted; Canadians trade on a US-based sub-account. Citizens or residents of 32 countries and regions, including Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Pakistan, Nigeria, Morocco and Kenya, cannot join. Another 25 countries, Germany among them, can hold Express Funded Accounts but not a Live Funded Account.
Does Topstep offer refunds?
Not on the subscription once you have traded or passed. New traders get a 14-day satisfaction guarantee on their first-ever purchase (up to one monthly payment back if they have not passed), and an untouched accidental rebill can be refunded within 28 days. Resets, the $149 activation fee and Back2Funded reactivations are non-refundable.
Propfirmito’s Verdict on Topstep
Propfirmito rating: 81.1/100 · A−. Topstep is the most established futures prop firm: one evaluation with no time limit, a 90/10 split, a registered brokerage in the group and published performance statistics. It loses points on cost and reviews: the Combine is a monthly subscription with no refund on passing, Express Funded payouts are capped per request, and the 3.7/5 Trustpilot rating carries 19% one-star reviews.
Six-pillar breakdown (0–100): Trust & Legitimacy 77.8 · Cost 63.5 · Conditions 75.4 · Passability 95.7 · Payouts 100 · Access 70.9 — see the full score report. The score is based on the Trading Combine, Topstep’s only evaluation.
- Payout Reliability : $1.4B+ paid, 99.26% approval rate, instant Aeropay payouts for US traders and a published policy with caps, methods and fees.
- Challenge Cost-Effectiveness : $49 a month opens a $50K Combine, but the subscription keeps billing until you pass and the Standard path adds $149 per funded account; no discount code.
- Rules & Flexibility : no time limit, automated strategies and a trade copier allowed, news trading allowed; but day trading only, a 55% consistency target and cross-account hedging bans enforced in real time.
- Support Quality : chat and phone support, a detailed help center, TopstepTV coaching and a large Discord.
Best For
- Futures day traders who want the longest track record in the space
- Traders who prefer one evaluation with no time limit
- US traders who want instant payouts
- Traders who run automated strategies or a trade copier across several accounts
- Traders aiming for a live account on firm capital
Not Ideal For
- Traders looking for a discount code
- Swing traders who hold overnight or over the weekend
- Traders who dislike monthly subscriptions
- Traders who need payouts above the Express Funded caps right away
- Residents of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Pakistan, Nigeria and the other restricted countries
For how we rate prop firms, see our methodology. For standard prices and both billing paths, see the Topstep discount code page or our Topstep offer page. To compare Topstep with other futures prop firms, see our best offers page.
Found this useful? Add Propfirmito as a preferred source and see it more often in your Google results.
Add as Preferred Source