Topstep Pricing and Evaluation Guide

Topstep offers evaluation accounts ranging from $49 to $209 per month depending on account size and pricing path¹. The firm provides two distinct pricing structures: a Standard Path with lower monthly fees plus a $149 activation fee, and a No Activation Fee Path with higher monthly fees but zero cost to open a funded account¹.

This guide breaks down every cost associated with Topstep, compares both pricing paths, and helps you determine the most cost-effective approach for your trading goals.

Evaluation Pricing Tiers

Topstep offers three account sizes across two pricing paths¹:

Standard Path Pricing

• $50,000 Account: $49/month + $149 activation fee¹
• $100,000 Account: $99/month + $149 activation fee¹
• $150,000 Account: $149/month + $149 activation fee¹

No Activation Fee Path Pricing

• $50,000 Account: $109/month + $0 activation fee¹
• $100,000 Account: $159/month + $0 activation fee¹
• $150,000 Account: $209/month + $0 activation fee¹

The monthly subscription continues until you pass the evaluation, cancel, or reset your account¹. Both paths provide identical evaluation rules, funded account terms, and profit split structures¹.

Evaluation Rules

The Trading Combine evaluation requires hitting a profit target while staying within loss limits²:

• $50,000 Account: $3,000 profit target, $2,000 maximum loss limit, $1,000 daily loss limit, up to 5 contracts²³⁴
• $100,000 Account: $6,000 profit target, $3,000 maximum loss limit, $2,000 daily loss limit, up to 10 contracts²³⁴
• $150,000 Account: $9,000 profit target, $4,500 maximum loss limit, $3,000 daily loss limit, up to 15 contracts²³⁴

Your best trading day must be less than 50% of total profits (consistency target)². The evaluation can be completed in as few as 2 trading days². TopstepX accounts created or reset after August 25, 2024 have no daily loss limit⁴.

What Each Plan Includes

Every Topstep evaluation account includes⁵:

• Access to CME futures markets (indices, commodities, currencies, rates, micro contracts)⁵
• Real-time market data feed included
• TopstepX platform access with TradingView charting integration
• NinjaTrader and Tradovate platform support
• No time limit on passing the evaluation²

Data feeds and platform access are included in the monthly subscription. Unlike some competitors, Topstep does not charge separate data fees for the evaluation period.

Which Path Should You Choose

The decision between Standard and No Activation Fee depends on how quickly you expect to pass¹:

Choose Standard Path if: You expect the evaluation to take several months. The lower monthly fee ($49 vs $109 for $50K) saves money over time, and the $149 activation fee is a one-time cost only paid after passing¹. Total cost for a 1-month pass on $50K: $49 + $149 = $198.

Choose No Activation Fee Path if: You expect to pass within 1-2 months. The higher monthly fee eliminates the $149 activation cost¹. Total cost for a 1-month pass on $50K: $109 + $0 = $109.

For most traders who pass quickly, the No Activation Fee Path offers better value since $109 is less than $198. The Standard Path becomes more economical after roughly 3 months of subscription, when the cumulative monthly savings offset the $149 activation fee.

Fee Comparison with Competitors

Topstep's pricing compared to other major futures prop firms (at the $50K account tier):

Topstep $50K: $49/month (Standard) or $109/month (No Activation Fee), plus $149 or $0 activation fee¹

Apex Trader Funding $50K: $207/month (Rithmic), one-time activation fee after passing, 100% of first $25K then 90/10 split (frequent 70-90% promotional discounts)

Topstep's Standard Path at $49/month is among the lowest monthly evaluation costs in the industry. The No Activation Fee Path at $109/month is also competitive, especially considering it eliminates the activation fee entirely.

Reset Fees and Retry Costs

If you fail the evaluation, resets are available¹:

• Standard Path resets: Cost matches the monthly subscription fee ($49-$149 depending on account size)¹
• No Activation Fee Path resets: $109-$209 depending on account size¹

Resets restart your evaluation with a fresh account at the same tier. For traders who expect multiple attempts, the cumulative cost of resets should factor into your path selection. Multiple Standard Path resets at $49 are significantly cheaper than No Activation Fee Path resets at $109.

Activation Fees

The activation fee is charged once when transitioning from the evaluation to a funded Express Funded Account⁶:

• Standard Path: $149 one-time activation fee (same across all account sizes)¹
• No Activation Fee Path: $0¹

Activation takes minutes after paying the fee (Standard Path) or is immediate (No Activation Fee Path)⁶.

Funded Account Payout Structure

Once funded, the profit split depends on when you joined⁷:

• Joined on or after January 12, 2026: 90/10 profit split from the start⁷
• Joined before January 12, 2026: 100% of the first $10,000 in payouts, then 90/10⁷

The minimum payout request is $125⁷. Processing takes 1-3 business days via Wise or ACH⁷. The Express Funded Account offers two paths to payout eligibility: XFA Standard (5 winning days of $150+ profit, max $5,000 payout) or XFA Consistency (3 days traded with 40% consistency target, max $6,000 payout)⁸.

Costs to Watch For

• Auto-renewal: Monthly subscriptions renew automatically¹. Cancel before the billing date if you need a break
• Exchange fees: CME exchange fees apply to all trades (standard industry cost)
• Third-party platform costs: TopstepX is free, but NinjaTrader may require a separate license for advanced features
• Position closure: All positions must be closed by 3:10 PM CT daily⁵. Failing to close positions may trigger automatic flattening by risk managers at 3:08 PM CT⁵

Value Analysis

Total cost scenarios for a $50,000 account:

• Best case (Standard, 1-month pass): $49 + $149 = $198¹
• Best case (No Activation Fee, 1-month pass): $109 + $0 = $109¹
• Average case (2-3 months + 1 reset): $147-$245 (Standard + activation) or $218-$327 (No Activation Fee)
• Multiple resets (4-5 attempts): $345-$494 (Standard + activation) or $436-$545 (No Activation Fee)

With the 2-day minimum pass time² and a 90/10 profit split on a $50,000 funded account⁷, the cost-to-reward ratio is favorable for traders with proven strategies.

Current Promotions

Topstep occasionally offers promotional pricing on evaluation accounts. Check the Topstep website and email newsletter for current offers. Signing up during a promotional period can reduce your initial evaluation cost.

Conclusion

Topstep's dual pricing structure gives traders flexibility in managing their evaluation costs¹. The No Activation Fee Path offers the lowest total cost for traders who pass quickly, while the Standard Path provides lower monthly costs for those who need more time or expect multiple resets.

The Standard Path at $49/month for a $50K account is among the most affordable evaluation fees in the prop trading industry¹. Combined with the 2-day minimum pass time², skilled traders can minimize their total investment.

Verify current pricing and any available promotions directly on the Topstep website before purchasing an evaluation, as fees and promotional offers may change.

References

¹ Topstep Help Center - Pricing
² Topstep Help Center - Consistency Target
³ Topstep Help Center - Maximum Loss Limit
⁴ Topstep Help Center - Daily Loss Limit
⁵ Topstep Help Center - Trading Hours and Products
⁶ Topstep Help Center - Express Funded Account Activation
⁷ Topstep Help Center - Payout Policy
⁸ Topstep Help Center - Express Funded Account Parameters