Futures prop firms · Review · Checked Sep 26, 2026
Is Topstep worth it?
The oldest name in futures funding, with rules you can actually read. Worth it if you already trade a plan and can pass in a month or two. Not a shortcut to income.
01 — The short version
Five lines before you pay
- Topstep sells a Trading Combine: a paid test on a simulated futures account.
- Pass the profit target without breaking the drawdown and you trade their capital.
- You keep 90% of profits under the 2026 rules. Payouts start at $125 and land in 1-3 business days.
- The monthly fee keeps running until you pass. Most people who start a Combine do not pass it.
- Choose it for the track record and clear rules, not for the cheapest sticker price.
02 — Fact sheet
The numbers
- Founded
- 2012, Chicago
- Account sizes
- $50k / $100k / $150k
- Profit targets
- $3,000 / $6,000 / $9,000
- Max drawdown
- $2,000 to $4,500
- Consistency rule
- Best day under 50% of target
- Profit split
- 90 / 10
- Min payout
- $125, 1-3 business days
03 — What it costs
Price, plan by plan
| Plan | Price | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| $50k Standard | $49 | monthly |
| $150k Standard | $149 | monthly |
| $50k No-Activation-Fee | $109 | monthly |
| $150k No-Activation-Fee | $209 | monthly |
04 — Scorecard
How it scores
05 — Upside
What's good
- Fourteen years in business, which is rare in prop trading
- Two fee paths, so you can pay less monthly or less up front
- Plain-language rules page with every limit listed
- 90/10 split and fast payouts once funded
- Own platform (TopstepX) plus common third-party platforms
06 — Downside
What to watch
- The subscription renews every month until you pass
- Consistency rule catches traders who make the target in one big day
- Trailing drawdown punishes giving back open profit
- Most Combine buyers never reach a payout
Join if
- You trade futures with a written plan and a stop on every trade
- You want a firm that will still exist next year
- You can pass within one or two billing cycles
Skip if
- You are learning to trade for the first time
- You plan to swing for the target in one day
- The monthly fee would hurt if you lost it
08 — Questions
Topstep FAQ
How much does Topstep cost?
Standard Combines run $49 to $149 a month plus a $149 activation fee when you pass. The No-Activation-Fee path runs $109 to $209 a month with nothing to pay on activation.
What profit split does Topstep pay?
Traders who joined on or after January 12, 2026 keep 90% of profits. Minimum payout is $125.
Is Topstep legit?
Yes. Topstep has operated since 2012 from Chicago and pays funded traders. That does not make passing easy. Most buyers fail the Combine.
Which Topstep path should I choose?
If you expect to take more than two months to pass, Standard usually costs less in total. If you expect to pass fast, No-Activation-Fee avoids the $149 charge.
Our call: worth it, for a disciplined trader
If you already trade futures with rules, Topstep is the most established place to test for funding. If you are still learning, keep your money and paper trade first.
How we checked: public pricing, the product's own page, public member reviews and third-party sources, read on 2026-09-26. We have not been paid by Topstep for this review. Method.
Sources: topstep.com · propfirmaudit.com · tradecovex.com
Futures trading carries substantial risk of loss. A Combine is a paid evaluation, not an investment.
Also in Futures prop firms