Verified rules
Drawdown · what kills you
The Maximum Loss Limit trails end-of-day ($2,000–$4,500 by size), is monitored in real time including unrealized P&L, and locks once it reaches your starting balance; in the XFA every payout re-arms the floor at $0.
Daily loss
Soft daily limit of $1,000–$3,000 by size, optional in the Combine and XFA (automatic only in the Live account), which pauses the session without disqualifying the account.
Consistency
In the Combine your best day can't exceed 50% of the profit target (exceeding it raises the target); on the XFA Consistency path no day may exceed 40% of total profit to be payout-eligible.
Targets & min days
50K: $3,000 profit target, no minimum days (can pass in 2), with a consistency rule (best day < 50% of target). Single phase.
Payouts & split
Payouts from $125 after 5 winning days of $150+ Net P&L (or 3 days on the 40% Consistency path). The split is a dated cutoff, not a conflict: accounts opened before Jan 12, 2026 keep 100% of the first $10,000 in lifetime profits then 90/10; accounts opened on or after that date are a flat 90/10.
What it costs you: Not Topstep against itself: a third party asserting a change the firm site does not reflect. Shown unresolved and excluded from the self-contradiction count.
Pricing
50K Combine: $49/month (Standard, plus a one-time $149 activation when funded) or $95/month (No Activation). Reset costs the same as the monthly sub. Frequent first-month promos.
News trading
Topstep does not restrict trading around economic releases: you are not required to flatten positions before news in either SIM/evaluation or Funded accounts, and there is no time window. The one hard limit is a conduct rule - deliberately putting your full maximum position size into a scheduled major news event is a prohibited strategy.
Change history
Payout-cap cut on new $50K accounts
New 50K No-Activation-Fee accounts get cut to $2,000/payout (Standard) and $3,000 (Consistency), from $5,000/$6,000; existing accounts are grandfathered — flagged by trackers as the year's most trader-hostile change.
SourceTopstep acquires The Futures Desk
Acquisition of The Futures Desk (TFD); its tech is being folded into TopstepX, with no immediate rule changes.
SourceLive Funded Account restructured: only 20% of balance tradable, 80% held in reserve
On the LFA only 20% of the funded balance is tradable at activation; 80% sits in Reserve, unlocked in four 25% milestones tied to net-profit thresholds; $10,000 minimum start; pre-2026-02-10 accounts grandfathered.
SourceXFA split into Standard vs Consistency payout paths
The choice locks at XFA activation: Standard path (5 winning days of $150+) or Consistency path (3 days + 40% cap + higher profit floor).
SourceNew sign-ups lose the '100% of first $10,000': flat 90/10 from the first dollar
From 2026-01-12 new sign-ups get flat 90/10; pre-existing traders keep 100% of the first $10K lifetime (the grandfather attaches to the trader, not the account). Site copy still advertises otherwise — conflict logged.
SourceTwo-rule payout structure: staying profitable required for repeat payouts
The first payout needs winning days only; repeat payouts also require 'remaining profitable since the last payout'.
Source'No Activation Fee' path launched with a higher monthly
Dual pricing: Standard path (low monthly + $149 XFA activation) vs No-Activation-Fee path (higher monthly, $0 activation); still live on the pricing page.
SourceTopstepX becomes the required platform for new Combines
The proprietary TopstepX platform becomes required for new Trading Combine sign-ups; NinjaTrader/Tradovate/Quantower honored for existing accounts (secondary claim, pending primary confirmation).
SourceVerifondeo verdict
A score computed from four verified inputs — not an opinion. Weights are shown and it recomputes when the data changes.
Head to head
This firm against every same-market rival, rule by rule, with each one's true cost.