Futures prop firm
Topstep
We model 2 Topstep plans at 50K, 100K and 150K: Combine + XFA Standard and No-activation Combine + XFA Standard. At 50K, its best fit among our example strategies is the home-run hitter, where the No-activation Combine 50K + XFA Standard ranks 1 of 29 by expected value: $807 per attempt, with a 13% chance of taking home $2,500 in the first three months funded.
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50K accounts
Combine 50K + XFA Standard
Rules
| Evaluation price | $49 per month |
|---|---|
| Activation fee | $149 |
| Profit target | $3,000 |
| Drawdown (evaluation) | $2,000 end-of-day trailing, locks at start |
| Drawdown (funded) | $2,000 end-of-day trailing |
| Daily loss limit | None |
| Consistency | Evaluation: Best day ≤ 55% of profit. Funded: None |
| Profit split | 90% |
| First payout needs | 5 winning days of $150+ · minimum $125 · cap $2,000 · 50% of profit withdrawable |
More rules: minimum days, later payouts, news, contracts and conduct
| Minimum trading days | 2 |
|---|---|
| Later payouts | 5 winning days of $150+ between payouts · cap $2,000 · drawdown floor moves up to its lock level after a payout |
| News trading | Restricted around major releases |
| Max contracts (minis) | 5 |
| News blackout window | 5 min either side |
| Micro-scalping rule | None |
| Copy trading | Own accounts only |
| Max funded accounts | 5 |
| Hedging | Not allowed |
| Max loss per trade | No limit |
| Gambling clause | Yes: the firm can refuse payouts or close accounts for gambling-style trading |
Standard path: $49 a month, then $149 to activate the XFA once you pass. XFA Standard payouts: 5 winning days of $150 or more, up to 50% of the balance, capped at $2,000. No daily loss limit (optional at checkout; see the "with DLL" versions). After each payout the Maximum Loss Limit resets to $0 for good. Tier 1 news (CPI, FOMC, NFP, PPI): no new mini positions from 5 minutes before to 5 minutes after; micros capped.
How it plays by strategy
Ranked against all 29 50K accounts by EV per attempt: what one attempt is worth on average once fees are paid. Higher is better; below zero means the fees outweigh the expected payouts.
| Strategy | Rank | EV per attempt | Chance of $2,500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalper | 9 of 29 | $556 | 11% |
| Momentum day trader | 5 of 29 | $774 | 13% |
| Home-run hitter | 2 of 29 | $792 | 13% |
| Steady grinder | 14 of 29 | $701 | 13% |
| News tradernews restricted | 24 of 29 | $747 | 12% |
Pass and payout rates
| Strategy | Pass | Paid at least once | Average paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalper | 51% | 79% | $1,406 |
| Momentum day trader | 50% | 64% | $1,818 |
| Home-run hitter | 51% | 69% | $1,836 |
| Steady grinder | 55% | 79% | $1,576 |
| News trader | 50% | 68% | $1,773 |
Paid at least once and average paid are per funded account, over its first three months.
These are our example strategies, not your trading: your own numbers can rank firms quite differently. 12,000 simulated attempts per strategy, each funded account traded for three months. How the examples were set · Try your own numbers
No-activation Combine 50K + XFA Standard
Rules
| Evaluation price | $95 per month |
|---|---|
| Activation fee | None |
| Profit target | $3,000 |
| Drawdown (evaluation) | $2,000 end-of-day trailing, locks at start |
| Drawdown (funded) | $2,000 end-of-day trailing |
| Daily loss limit | None |
| Consistency | Evaluation: Best day ≤ 55% of profit. Funded: None |
| Profit split | 90% |
| First payout needs | 5 winning days of $150+ · minimum $125 · cap $2,000 · 50% of profit withdrawable |
More rules: minimum days, later payouts, news, contracts and conduct
| Minimum trading days | 2 |
|---|---|
| Later payouts | 5 winning days of $150+ between payouts · cap $2,000 · drawdown floor moves up to its lock level after a payout |
| News trading | Restricted around major releases |
| Max contracts (minis) | 5 |
| News blackout window | 5 min either side |
| Micro-scalping rule | None |
| Copy trading | Own accounts only |
| Max funded accounts | 5 |
| Hedging | Not allowed |
| Max loss per trade | No limit |
| Gambling clause | Yes: the firm can refuse payouts or close accounts for gambling-style trading |
No Activation Fee path: $95 a month, nothing to pay when you pass. XFA Standard payouts: 5 winning days of $150 or more, up to 50% of the balance, capped at $2,000. No daily loss limit (optional at checkout; see the "with DLL" versions). After each payout the Maximum Loss Limit resets to $0 for good. Tier 1 news (CPI, FOMC, NFP, PPI): no new mini positions from 5 minutes before to 5 minutes after; micros capped.
How it plays by strategy
Ranked against all 29 50K accounts by EV per attempt: what one attempt is worth on average once fees are paid. Higher is better; below zero means the fees outweigh the expected payouts.
| Strategy | Rank | EV per attempt | Chance of $2,500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalper | 10 of 29 | $547 | 11% |
| Momentum day trader | 2 of 29 | $790 | 13% |
| Home-run hitter | 1 of 29 | $807 | 13% |
| Steady grinder | 13 of 29 | $707 | 13% |
| News tradernews restricted | 23 of 29 | $763 | 12% |
Pass and payout rates
| Strategy | Pass | Paid at least once | Average paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalper | 51% | 79% | $1,406 |
| Momentum day trader | 50% | 64% | $1,818 |
| Home-run hitter | 51% | 69% | $1,836 |
| Steady grinder | 55% | 79% | $1,576 |
| News trader | 50% | 68% | $1,773 |
Paid at least once and average paid are per funded account, over its first three months.
These are our example strategies, not your trading: your own numbers can rank firms quite differently. 12,000 simulated attempts per strategy, each funded account traded for three months. How the examples were set · Try your own numbers
100K accounts
Combine 100K + XFA Standard
Rules
| Evaluation price | $99 per month |
|---|---|
| Activation fee | $149 |
| Profit target | $6,000 |
| Drawdown (evaluation) | $3,000 end-of-day trailing, locks at start |
| Drawdown (funded) | $3,000 end-of-day trailing |
| Daily loss limit | None |
| Consistency | Evaluation: Best day ≤ 55% of profit. Funded: None |
| Profit split | 90% |
| First payout needs | 5 winning days of $150+ · minimum $125 · cap $3,000 · 50% of profit withdrawable |
More rules: minimum days, later payouts, news, contracts and conduct
| Minimum trading days | 2 |
|---|---|
| Later payouts | 5 winning days of $150+ between payouts · cap $3,000 · drawdown floor moves up to its lock level after a payout |
| News trading | Restricted around major releases |
| Max contracts (minis) | 10 |
| News blackout window | 5 min either side |
| Micro-scalping rule | None |
| Copy trading | Own accounts only |
| Max funded accounts | 5 |
| Hedging | Not allowed |
| Max loss per trade | No limit |
| Gambling clause | Yes: the firm can refuse payouts or close accounts for gambling-style trading |
Standard path: $99 a month, then $149 to activate the XFA once you pass. XFA Standard payouts: 5 winning days of $150 or more, up to 50% of the balance, capped at $3,000. No daily loss limit (optional at checkout; see the "with DLL" versions). After each payout the Maximum Loss Limit resets to $0 for good. Tier 1 news (CPI, FOMC, NFP, PPI): no new mini positions from 5 minutes before to 5 minutes after; micros capped.
How it plays by strategy
Ranked against all 26 100K accounts by EV per attempt: what one attempt is worth on average once fees are paid. Higher is better; below zero means the fees outweigh the expected payouts.
| Strategy | Rank | EV per attempt | Chance of $5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalper | 10 of 26 | $618 | 6% |
| Momentum day trader | 2 of 26 | $1,013 | 9% |
| Home-run hitter | 1 of 26 | $1,071 | 9% |
| Steady grinder | 9 of 26 | $841 | 8% |
| News tradernews restricted | 20 of 26 | $1,003 | 8% |
Pass and payout rates
| Strategy | Pass | Paid at least once | Average paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalper | 41% | 78% | $2,127 |
| Momentum day trader | 43% | 64% | $2,804 |
| Home-run hitter | 45% | 67% | $2,819 |
| Steady grinder | 46% | 78% | $2,374 |
| News trader | 44% | 67% | $2,727 |
Paid at least once and average paid are per funded account, over its first three months.
These are our example strategies, not your trading: your own numbers can rank firms quite differently. 12,000 simulated attempts per strategy, each funded account traded for three months. How the examples were set · Try your own numbers
No-activation Combine 100K + XFA Standard
Rules
| Evaluation price | $149 per month |
|---|---|
| Activation fee | None |
| Profit target | $6,000 |
| Drawdown (evaluation) | $3,000 end-of-day trailing, locks at start |
| Drawdown (funded) | $3,000 end-of-day trailing |
| Daily loss limit | None |
| Consistency | Evaluation: Best day ≤ 55% of profit. Funded: None |
| Profit split | 90% |
| First payout needs | 5 winning days of $150+ · minimum $125 · cap $3,000 · 50% of profit withdrawable |
More rules: minimum days, later payouts, news, contracts and conduct
| Minimum trading days | 2 |
|---|---|
| Later payouts | 5 winning days of $150+ between payouts · cap $3,000 · drawdown floor moves up to its lock level after a payout |
| News trading | Restricted around major releases |
| Max contracts (minis) | 10 |
| News blackout window | 5 min either side |
| Micro-scalping rule | None |
| Copy trading | Own accounts only |
| Max funded accounts | 5 |
| Hedging | Not allowed |
| Max loss per trade | No limit |
| Gambling clause | Yes: the firm can refuse payouts or close accounts for gambling-style trading |
No Activation Fee path: $149 a month, nothing to pay when you pass. XFA Standard payouts: 5 winning days of $150 or more, up to 50% of the balance, capped at $3,000. No daily loss limit (optional at checkout; see the "with DLL" versions). After each payout the Maximum Loss Limit resets to $0 for good. Tier 1 news (CPI, FOMC, NFP, PPI): no new mini positions from 5 minutes before to 5 minutes after; micros capped.
How it plays by strategy
Ranked against all 26 100K accounts by EV per attempt: what one attempt is worth on average once fees are paid. Higher is better; below zero means the fees outweigh the expected payouts.
| Strategy | Rank | EV per attempt | Chance of $5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalper | 11 of 26 | $580 | 6% |
| Momentum day trader | 3 of 26 | $1,009 | 9% |
| Home-run hitter | 2 of 26 | $1,069 | 9% |
| Steady grinder | 11 of 26 | $819 | 8% |
| News tradernews restricted | 21 of 26 | $1,000 | 8% |
Pass and payout rates
| Strategy | Pass | Paid at least once | Average paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalper | 41% | 78% | $2,127 |
| Momentum day trader | 43% | 64% | $2,804 |
| Home-run hitter | 45% | 67% | $2,819 |
| Steady grinder | 46% | 78% | $2,374 |
| News trader | 44% | 67% | $2,727 |
Paid at least once and average paid are per funded account, over its first three months.
These are our example strategies, not your trading: your own numbers can rank firms quite differently. 12,000 simulated attempts per strategy, each funded account traded for three months. How the examples were set · Try your own numbers
150K accounts
Combine 150K + XFA Standard
Rules
| Evaluation price | $199 per month |
|---|---|
| Activation fee | $149 |
| Profit target | $9,000 |
| Drawdown (evaluation) | $4,500 end-of-day trailing, locks at start |
| Drawdown (funded) | $4,500 end-of-day trailing |
| Daily loss limit | None |
| Consistency | Evaluation: Best day ≤ 55% of profit. Funded: None |
| Profit split | 90% |
| First payout needs | 5 winning days of $150+ · minimum $125 · cap $5,000 · 50% of profit withdrawable |
More rules: minimum days, later payouts, news, contracts and conduct
| Minimum trading days | 2 |
|---|---|
| Later payouts | 5 winning days of $150+ between payouts · cap $5,000 · drawdown floor moves up to its lock level after a payout |
| News trading | Restricted around major releases |
| Max contracts (minis) | 15 |
| News blackout window | 5 min either side |
| Micro-scalping rule | None |
| Copy trading | Own accounts only |
| Max funded accounts | 5 |
| Hedging | Not allowed |
| Max loss per trade | No limit |
| Gambling clause | Yes: the firm can refuse payouts or close accounts for gambling-style trading |
Standard path: $199 a month, then $149 to activate the XFA once you pass. XFA Standard payouts: 5 winning days of $150 or more, up to 50% of the balance, capped at $5,000. No daily loss limit (optional at checkout; see the "with DLL" versions). After each payout the Maximum Loss Limit resets to $0 for good. Tier 1 news (CPI, FOMC, NFP, PPI): no new mini positions from 5 minutes before to 5 minutes after; micros capped.
How it plays by strategy
Ranked against all 23 150K accounts by EV per attempt: what one attempt is worth on average once fees are paid. Higher is better; below zero means the fees outweigh the expected payouts.
| Strategy | Rank | EV per attempt | Chance of $7,500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalper | 13 of 23 | $644 | 5% |
| Momentum day trader | 4 of 23 | $1,449 | 9% |
| Home-run hitter | 4 of 23 | $1,494 | 9% |
| Steady grinder | 14 of 23 | $1,016 | 7% |
| News tradernews restricted | 18 of 23 | $1,352 | 8% |
Pass and payout rates
| Strategy | Pass | Paid at least once | Average paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalper | 38% | 81% | $2,941 |
| Momentum day trader | 45% | 69% | $4,065 |
| Home-run hitter | 46% | 70% | $4,041 |
| Steady grinder | 45% | 82% | $3,307 |
| News trader | 45% | 71% | $3,827 |
Paid at least once and average paid are per funded account, over its first three months.
These are our example strategies, not your trading: your own numbers can rank firms quite differently. 12,000 simulated attempts per strategy, each funded account traded for three months. How the examples were set · Try your own numbers
No-activation Combine 150K + XFA Standard
Rules
| Evaluation price | $229 per month |
|---|---|
| Activation fee | None |
| Profit target | $9,000 |
| Drawdown (evaluation) | $4,500 end-of-day trailing, locks at start |
| Drawdown (funded) | $4,500 end-of-day trailing |
| Daily loss limit | None |
| Consistency | Evaluation: Best day ≤ 55% of profit. Funded: None |
| Profit split | 90% |
| First payout needs | 5 winning days of $150+ · minimum $125 · cap $5,000 · 50% of profit withdrawable |
More rules: minimum days, later payouts, news, contracts and conduct
| Minimum trading days | 2 |
|---|---|
| Later payouts | 5 winning days of $150+ between payouts · cap $5,000 · drawdown floor moves up to its lock level after a payout |
| News trading | Restricted around major releases |
| Max contracts (minis) | 15 |
| News blackout window | 5 min either side |
| Micro-scalping rule | None |
| Copy trading | Own accounts only |
| Max funded accounts | 5 |
| Hedging | Not allowed |
| Max loss per trade | No limit |
| Gambling clause | Yes: the firm can refuse payouts or close accounts for gambling-style trading |
No Activation Fee path: $229 a month, nothing to pay when you pass. XFA Standard payouts: 5 winning days of $150 or more, up to 50% of the balance, capped at $5,000. No daily loss limit (optional at checkout; see the "with DLL" versions). After each payout the Maximum Loss Limit resets to $0 for good. Tier 1 news (CPI, FOMC, NFP, PPI): no new mini positions from 5 minutes before to 5 minutes after; micros capped.
How it plays by strategy
Ranked against all 23 150K accounts by EV per attempt: what one attempt is worth on average once fees are paid. Higher is better; below zero means the fees outweigh the expected payouts.
| Strategy | Rank | EV per attempt | Chance of $7,500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalper | 14 of 23 | $637 | 5% |
| Momentum day trader | 3 of 23 | $1,470 | 9% |
| Home-run hitter | 3 of 23 | $1,517 | 9% |
| Steady grinder | 13 of 23 | $1,024 | 7% |
| News tradernews restricted | 17 of 23 | $1,374 | 8% |
Pass and payout rates
| Strategy | Pass | Paid at least once | Average paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalper | 38% | 81% | $2,941 |
| Momentum day trader | 45% | 69% | $4,065 |
| Home-run hitter | 46% | 70% | $4,041 |
| Steady grinder | 45% | 82% | $3,307 |
| News trader | 45% | 71% | $3,827 |
Paid at least once and average paid are per funded account, over its first three months.
These are our example strategies, not your trading: your own numbers can rank firms quite differently. 12,000 simulated attempts per strategy, each funded account traded for three months. How the examples were set · Try your own numbers
Compare Topstep
Rule changes
No changes recorded since tracking began. See the rule change log.
Sources
- Program overview: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284099-topstep-program-overview
- XFA parameters: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284215-express-funded-account-parameters
- Trading Combine parameters: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284197-trading-combine-parameters
- Trading Combine subscriptions: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284121-trading-combine-subscriptions
- Maximum loss limit: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284204-what-is-the-maximum-loss-limit
- Daily loss limit: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10490293-daily-loss-limit-in-the-trading-combine-and-express-funded-account
- Consistency: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284208-consistency-at-topstep
- XFA activation: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284217-express-funded-account-activation
- Scaling plan: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284223-what-is-the-scaling-plan
- Payout policy: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/8284233-topstep-payout-policy
- Prohibited conduct: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10296582-prohibited-conduct
- Prohibited trading strategies: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/10305426-prohibited-trading-strategies-at-topstep
- Hedging: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/13747047-understanding-hedging
- Pricing: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/14289835-topstep-pricing-and-payment-questions
- Plans and the daily loss limit option: https://www.topstep.com/topstep-prop
- Tier 1 news restrictions: https://help.topstep.com/en/articles/13613539-risk-adjustments-high-risk-high-volatility
- TradeTanto: Futures Prop Firm Comparison, rule by rule
- TradeDupe: Best Futures Prop Firms 2026
Dotted values are estimates still to be verified. Always read Topstep's own rules before buying.