Topstep Review 2026: Is This Futures Prop Firm Worth It?
Updated: April 2026
This Topstep review breaks down exactly how this futures prop firm works in 2026, from the 1-step Trading Combine to the new Express Funded Account options and Live Funded Accounts.
Topstep is one of the most established futures prop firms, letting you prove your strategy in a simulated Trading Combine and then trade firm capital with a clear path to real payouts.
On this page, I cover Topstep payout rules, the updated Express Funded Account (XFA) Standard vs Consistency paths, Topstep activation fees and costs, the consistency rule, drawdown rules, and how Back2Funded keeps you from losing everything after one bad day.
I have traded Topstep myself, received payouts, and was featured on TopstepTV, so this Topstep prop firm review is based on real results plus the latest 2026 rule changes from their Help Center and program pages.
If you want to compare Topstep to other firms, check out my main futures prop firm review page once you finish this breakdown.
Topstep Futures Prop Firm at a Glance
- Evaluation: 1-step Topstep Trading Combine in a simulated futures environment, where you hit a profit target while staying above your maximum loss limit.
- Funded paths: Pass the Trading Combine and activate an Express Funded Account (XFA), then work your way into a Live Funded Account with real capital and performance bonuses.
- Payouts: Simple payout policy in XFA with up to 90% profit split and the ability to unlock payouts in as little as 3–5 days depending on your path.
- Drawdown: Clear max loss rules in every phase, with end-of-day and trailing-style risk limits enforced through scaling plans and daily loss controls.
- Max accounts: You can hold up to five Express Funded Accounts at the same time, plus use Back2Funded to reactivate accounts that hit max loss.
- Best for: Futures day traders who want structure, clear rules, and a long-running prop firm with a real education and risk framework.
Topstep Review: Is Topstep a Good Futures Prop Firm?
Topstep is a futures prop firm that lets you prove your strategy in the Trading Combine, then trade the firm’s money in a funded account if you follow their rules and manage risk.
The company has been around for years, focuses only on futures, and backs that up with education, risk tools, and a clear path from simulation to Live capital in 2026.
In my experience and based on public information, Topstep is a legit prop firm that actually pays traders who meet the objectives and follow the Topstep payout rules.
Pros of Topstep
- Long-running futures-only prop firm with a clear three-stage path: Trading Combine, Express Funded Account, and Live Funded Account.
- Simple one-rule funded level: do not hit the maximum loss limit in the Express Funded Account, plus an easy scaling plan to control size.
- Fast payouts in XFA, with up to 90% profit split and the option to choose a faster consistency-based payout path.
- Up to five Express Funded Accounts at once, so you can scale funded capital without opening a new prop firm account somewhere else.
- Back2Funded lets you reactivate a blown account without starting over from scratch in a new Combine.
- TopstepX platform, Training Camp, and TopstepTV content support traders who actually want coaching and structure, not just raw leverage.
Cons of Topstep
- Express Funded Accounts are still simulated, which some traders dislike compared to immediate live capital at other firms.
- Payout caps and specific eligibility windows mean you must plan around the payout policy instead of withdrawing whenever you want.
- Rules around payout schedules, consistency, and drawdown can feel complex compared to ultra-simple challenge models at some competitors.
Topstep Prop Firm Review (Video)
In the video below, I walk through my full Topstep prop firm review, including the Trading Combine, Express Funded Accounts, and real payouts I have received.
Topstep Trading Combine Rules (1-Step Evaluation)
The Topstep Trading Combine is a 1-step evaluation in a simulated futures environment where you hit a profit target without breaking the max loss rules or other basic risk controls.
You choose an account size, trade real market conditions in simulation, and if you reach the target while staying within the daily loss and maximum loss limits, you qualify for a Funded Account path.
Topstep Trading Combine Account Sizes and Targets
Topstep regularly offers several account sizes in the Trading Combine, each with its own profit target, max contracts, and loss limits, and you pay a monthly subscription to participate instead of a one-time challenge fee.
Check Topstep’s current pricing table when you sign up because they occasionally run promos and adjust Combine fees over time.
| Account Size | Profit Target | Max Contracts | Max Loss Limit | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $3,000 | 5 | $2,000 | $49/month |
| $100,000 | $6,000 | 10 | $3,000 | $99/month |
| $150,000 | $9,000 | 15 | $4,500 | $149/month |
👉 These accounts require a $149 one-time Activation Fee after passing the Trading Combine®.
Exact numbers change with Topstep’s promotions, so always verify the current profit targets and monthly fees directly on their site before you join the Combine.
The Topstep Trading Combine is designed to test a trader’s discipline, risk management, and consistency. Traders must control daily risk, protect the maximum loss limit, reach the profit target, and avoid volatile news events to successfully pass the evaluation.
How to Pass the Topstep Combine
To pass the Topstep Trading Combine, you need a strategy that hits the profit target without bumping into the max loss limit or any daily risk parameters.
- Risk small per trade so a few losing trades do not push you near the maximum loss limit.
- Stop trading after you hit your daily goal instead of overtrading profitable days.
- Trade your best setups only and avoid gambling during high-volatility news unless you have a clear edge.
- Follow a simple scaling plan and do not increase size aggressively right before you hit your target.
The traders who pass most consistently treat the Combine like a strict risk training ground, not like a casino challenge.
Topstep Payout Rules Explained
Topstep payout rules revolve around the Express Funded Account, where you trade in a simulated environment but earn real withdrawals based on your performance and the payout policy path you choose.
Once you have passed the Trading Combine and activated your Express Funded Account, you pick either the Standard or Consistency payout path and then work toward your first payout window without hitting the maximum loss limit.
Express Funded Account Standard Payout Rules
Under the Express Funded Account Standard path, your goal is to stack winning days and then request up to 50% of your account balance, up to the current payout cap, while keeping 90% of the profits you withdraw.
- You need at least 5 winning days of roughly 150 USD or more per day to qualify for a payout under the latest dashboard rules.
- You must follow the scaling plan so your contract size matches your account growth, and you cannot hit or exceed the maximum loss limit at any point.
- Once eligible, you can typically request up to half of your available profit balance, subject to the payout cap for your account and policy version.
Express Funded Account Consistency Payout Rules
Starting February 5, 2026, you can choose the Express Funded Account Consistency path, which introduces a consistency calculation but lets you qualify for payouts in as few as 3 trading days.
- You must trade at least 3 days with at least one trade per day and meet a 40% consistency target, which looks at your largest winning day versus total profits.
- The Consistency path has a payout cap of 6,000 USD per qualifying window, and you can request up to that cap once you meet the rules.
- After each payout, the consistency calculation resets and only tracks profit earned after the payout, so you must rebuild consistency for the next withdrawal.
Live Funded Account Payout Rules
When you graduate to a Live Funded Account, you trade real capital with a starting balance that can scale up to 150,000 USD and unlock daily payouts plus performance bonuses once you show consistent profits.
Live Funded traders can unlock full access to their account balance and daily payouts after 30 winning days of 150 USD or more, and they can stack over 250,000 USD in performance bonuses by climbing the levels.
How do Topstep payouts work in practice? You pass the Trading Combine, activate an Express Funded Account, follow the payout policy to hit your eligibility window, then submit a payout request and receive your funds within a few business days if you stayed within the rules.
Topstep Payouts and Back2Funded (Video)
In this video, we dive deep into Topstep’s brand-new Back2Funded program a feature that lets traders instantly reactivate closed Express Funded Accounts (XFA) without starting over in the Trading Combine.
Watch as I request a $4,200 payout from my live Topstep accounts and reactivate four blown XFAs using Back2Funded to get back into funded trading the same day. You’ll see the exact process inside the dashboard, what the reactivation costs look like, and how fast payouts are processed once your accounts are back online.
Whether you’re a new or experienced futures prop trader, this breakdown shows how Topstep continues to evolve its program to make resets and payouts faster than ever.
Topstep Activation Fee and Account Costs
Topstep uses a monthly subscription model for the Trading Combine instead of a one-time challenge fee, and then you activate your Express Funded Account after passing and completing the required steps.
How much is the Topstep activation fee in 2026? Topstep’s activation and funded-level fee structure can change with promotions, so always confirm the current activation cost or any “no activation fee” offers on their site when you sign up or through our latest Topstep pricing notes.
| Stage | What You Pay | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Combine | Monthly subscription based on account size | 1-step evaluation with profit target, daily loss, and max loss rules |
| Express Funded Account | One-time activation or transition fee (varies by promo) | Simulated funded account with real payouts via Standard or Consistency path |
| Back2Funded Reactivation | Back2Funded fee based on your previous XFA size | Reopen a closed Express Funded Account instead of starting a new Combine |
Because Topstep runs frequent promos and tweaks pricing, this section is intentionally general and should be cross-checked with their current pricing and with our most recent Topstep notes on the Topstep review page or in our futures prop firm roundup.
If you want to compare these costs to other firms side by side, check out my breakdown in the main futures prop firms hub and the detailed review in Best Prop Firms for Futures Trading.
Topstep Consistency Rule Explained
The Topstep consistency rule is designed to stop traders from passing the program with one outlier monster day instead of a repeatable edge, and it can show up in different ways depending on the phase you are in.
In 2026, the big new feature is the Express Funded Account Consistency path, which explicitly uses a consistency calculation to determine payout eligibility over a three-day window.
How Topstep Consistency Works in XFA Consistency
In the XFA Consistency account type, consistency is calculated as your largest winning day divided by your current total net profit, and you must keep that ratio at 40% or lower across at least three trading days to qualify for a payout.
For example, if you made $5,000 on Day 1 and nothing on Days 2 and 3, you would have $5,000 total profit and a largest winning day of $5,000, which is 100% consistency, so you would not meet the 40% target.
If instead you made $2,000 on Day 1, $2,000 on Day 2, and $1,000 on Day 3, your total profit would be $5,000 and your largest winning day would be $2,000, so your consistency would be 40%, which meets the target.
Does Topstep have a consistency rule overall? Yes, the new XFA Consistency path is built entirely around consistency, while other phases focus more on profit targets and risk limits but still reward steady performance instead of one-off spikes.
If you want help building a plan around consistency, check out my futures trading guides in the trading guides section, and my combine-focused playbooks under trading strategies.
The Topstep trailing drawdown follows new end-of-day account highs and sets the maximum loss limit for the account. Once the drawdown reaches the starting balance, it stops trailing. If the account equity touches this level, the account is closed.
Topstep Drawdown Rules: End-of-Day vs Trailing
Topstep’s drawdown rules are built around a Maximum Loss Limit for each account size. You must never let your account equity touch or go below that limit, or the account will be closed.
In both the Trading Combine and Express Funded Accounts, Topstep uses an end-of-day trailing drawdown. That means the Maximum Loss Limit only moves up based on your highest end-of-day balance, not on unrealized intraday spikes.
For a $50,000 account, the Maximum Loss Limit starts $2,000 below the starting balance. At the beginning, your floor is $48,000 and your trailing drawdown follows new end-of-day highs until it reaches the original $50,000 starting balance, where it stops.
Here’s how it works in practice:
- If you slowly grow a 50K account to $52,000 over several days and then finish the day with a $52,000 end-of-day balance, your trailing drawdown will have “caught up” and stopped at $50,000. From that point on, your Maximum Loss Limit will not trail any higher, and you cannot let your equity go below $50,000 without violating the account.
- If your account later grows to $55,000, your Maximum Loss Limit still stays fixed at $50,000. In other words, at that point you effectively have $5,000 of risk buffer above the stopped-out trailing drawdown.
- On a brand new 50K account, if you make $5,000 on the very first day and end that day at $55,000, the end-of-day trailing drawdown will move up from $48,000 to $50,000. Since it is an end-of-day trailing rule, it does not keep moving intraday; it locks at the 50K starting balance once your profits have exceeded the original $2,000 drawdown amount.
The key takeaway is that Topstep’s trailing drawdown is end-of-day only and it stops trailing once it reaches the account’s starting balance. After that, your job is to protect the buffer between your current balance and that fixed Maximum Loss Limit.
If you want to compare this to other futures prop firms that still use full intraday trailing drawdown, I break down the differences and show more examples in my main futures prop firm review here: Best Prop Firms for Futures Trading.
Topstep Express Funded Account (XFA) explained: traders pass the Trading Combine evaluation, move into the XFA stage with an end-of-day trailing drawdown, then graduate to a fully live funded account.
Topstep Express Funded Account (XFA) Explained
The Topstep Express Funded Account is the simulated funded-level account you unlock after passing the Trading Combine, and it is where you start taking real payouts while still trading in a simulated environment.
Every Express Funded Account starts with a $0 balance and a Maximum Loss Limit that matches the Combine size you earned it from: $2,000 on the 50K, $3,000 on the 100K, and $4,500 on the 150K. Your balance is allowed to go negative down to that Max Loss Limit before the account is permanently closed.
Express Funded Account Rules at a Glance
- You can have up to five active Express Funded Accounts at one time (Standard or Consistency), unless you are restricted by a special program like the Focused Trader Plan.
- If your account balance ever drops to or below the Maximum Loss Limit (based on your highest end-of-day balance), the Express Funded Account is permanently closed.
- Accounts trading on platforms other than TopstepX also have a Daily Loss Limit: –$1,000 on 50K, –$2,000 on 100K, and –$3,000 on 150K. Hitting the Daily Loss Limit locks trading for the rest of the session but does not automatically close the account.
- You must close all positions by 3:10 PM CT or by the product’s market close, whichever comes first.
I go deeper into how I trade the Express Funded Account, including scaling and daily loss management, in my futures strategy posts inside the trading strategies section.
XFA Standard vs Consistency Payout Paths
In 2026, Topstep lets you choose between two Express Funded Account payout paths: the Standard XFA payout policy and the Consistency XFA policy. Both pay out 90% of your profits, but the way you qualify and the payout caps are different.
- Express Funded Account Standard – The “classic” payout structure.
- Express Funded Account Consistency – A newer option focused on hitting a consistency target over a shorter window.
Express Funded Account Standard (5 Winning Days)
- Complete at least five winning days of $150 or more in net profit.
- Once eligible, you can request up to 50% of your account’s reward balance, capped at $5,000 per payout.
- You keep 90% of each payout, and Topstep keeps 10%.
- After your first payout, there is a Minimum Payout Balance you must hit for follow‑up payouts (you cannot just pull tiny amounts back-to-back).
Express Funded Account Consistency (3-Day Consistency Path)
- Trade at least three days in the account with at least one trade per day.
- Meet the 40% consistency target (your largest winning day must be 40% or less of your total net profit over that period).
- Once eligible, you can request up to 50% of your account’s reward balance, capped at $6,000 per payout.
- You still keep 90% of the payout; Topstep takes 10%.
Each payout in XFA, whether Standard or Consistency, can be up to 50% of your current reward balance (subject to the $5K or $6K cap), and the payout amount is subtracted from your account balance when it is processed.
I compare these two payout paths and show which one I use in which market conditions in my Topstep payout strategy breakdown inside the full Topstep review.
Topstep Live Funded Account Explained
After you prove you can consistently profit in the Express Funded Account, Topstep can “call you up” to a Live Funded Account where you trade real capital with a performance‑based unlock structure instead of everything being available on day one.
The Live Funded Account is built around two key pieces: your Live account size (50K, 100K, or 150K) and your actual starting balance, which is based on the combined total of your eligible Express Funded Accounts up to that Live size.
How Your Live Account Size Is Determined
- Topstep allows just one active Live Funded Account at a time.
- Your Live account size is based on the average size of your active, payout‑eligible Express Funded Accounts.
- That average is rounded up to the next tier: 50K, 100K, or 150K.
- Your maximum starting balance, rules, and risk limits then follow that Live size tier.
Starting Balance and Unlock Structure
Your Live Funded Account has a starting balance, but only 20% of that balance is available to trade on day one. The remaining 80% unlocks in 20% chunks as you hit profit milestones that match the Trading Combine targets.
- At activation, 20% of your combined eligible Express balance is available for trading.
- Each time you hit the profit milestone, another 20% of the balance unlocks.
- Capital expansion is reviewed weekly and typically applied the following week.
- Unlocking more balance does not change payout eligibility rules; those run on their own schedule.
Dynamic Live Risk Expansion
Live traders also have a Daily Loss Limit that scales with the available balance. As your balance grows and you unlock more capital, your Daily Loss Limit increases, giving you more room to trade. If you draw down, the Path to Reduction can tighten your limits until you recover.
If you hit your Daily Loss Limit in Live, your positions are flattened and you are locked from trading until the next session, but that lockout is a safety pause, not an automatic rule violation.
Live Payout Rules and Performance Bonuses
- You need at least five “Benchmark Trading Days” of $150+ net profit in Live since your last payout or since the account went live before you can request a payout.
- Initially, payout requests are limited to 50% of your share of trading profits until you reach 30 Benchmark Trading Days.
- After 30 Benchmark Trading Days, you can request 100% of your share of trading profits and even request one payout per business day if all other rules are followed.
- Topstep monitors payouts to ensure they never exceed 90% of your starting balance plus net trading profits across the life of the account.
On top of regular payouts, Live Funded traders can earn performance bonuses that climb over $250,000 if they keep hitting monthly profit targets, which is Topstep’s way of rewarding long‑term consistency and growth.
In my futures prop firm comparison, I talk more about how this Live progression and bonus ladder stacks up against firms that drop you into full size live capital on day one. You can read that breakdown in Best Prop Firms for Futures Trading.
Topstep Back2Funded Program Explained
The Topstep Back2Funded program gives you a second chance if you lose an Express Funded Account before your first payout, letting you pay a reactivation fee instead of starting a brand new Trading Combine.
Back2Funded is only for XFAs that were originally earned through the Trading Combine, were closed for a rule violation before any payout, and were lost on or after September 3, 2025 on the new Topstep dashboard.
How Back2Funded Works
- Lose your Express Funded Account before your first payout (by hitting the Max Loss Limit or another rule violation).
- Within seven calendar days, log into the new Topstep dashboard and choose the Back2Funded option on that account.
- Pay the reactivation fee for that account size (plus applicable sales tax).
- Your account is set to “pending” and then reactivated for the next trading session with the same size and payout policy.
Each Express Funded Account can be reactivated up to two times through Back2Funded, and Back2Funded XFAs keep the same payout rules as the account you reactivated.
Back2Funded Pricing by XFA Size
| Express Funded Account Size | Back2Funded Reactivation Fee |
|---|---|
| $50K Express Funded Account | $599 + applicable tax |
| $100K Express Funded Account | $699 + applicable tax |
| $150K Express Funded Account | $829 + applicable tax |
How Many Topstep Accounts Can You Have?
You can have a maximum of five active or pending Express Funded Accounts at one time, including Back2Funded accounts. If you are already at the five‑account limit, you cannot activate a new XFA or a Back2Funded reactivation until something closes or completes.
Used correctly, Back2Funded is a powerful way to protect the time and emotional energy you already invested into an Express Funded Account. I cover how I decide when it’s worth paying a Back2Funded fee (and when I just walk away) in my futures prop firm capital management posts linked from the futures prop firms hub.
Topstep FAQ - Trading Combine, Payouts & Back2Funded
Everything futures traders need to know about Topstep in 2026: how the Trading Combine works, how payouts and consistency rules actually function, what account sizes and costs look like, and how the Back2Funded reactivation program saves blown Express Funded Accounts.
Is Topstep a legit prop firm?
Yes, Topstep is a legit futures prop firm with a long track record, clear rules, and a structured path from the Trading Combine to Express Funded and Live Funded Accounts. If you want to see how it compares to other futures firms, check out my breakdown in Best Prop Firms for Futures Trading.
How does the Topstep Trading Combine® work?
The Topstep Trading Combine® is a one-step futures evaluation. You choose a 50K, 100K, or 150K account, reach the profit target, stay within the Daily Loss Limit and Maximum Loss Limit, and meet the consistency target without breaking any rules. Once you hit those objectives, you progress into an Express Funded Account, which is where real payouts begin.
I break down how to pass the Combine (risk per trade, consistency, and news trading) in more detail inside my futures trading guides in the trading guides and trading strategies sections.
What account sizes does Topstep offer?
Topstep currently offers three Trading Combine account sizes:
- 50K Trading Combine – $3,000 profit target, $1,000 Daily Loss Limit on non‑TopstepX platforms, and a $2,000 Maximum Loss Limit.
- 100K Trading Combine – $6,000 profit target, $2,000 Daily Loss Limit on non‑TopstepX platforms, and a $3,000 Maximum Loss Limit.
- 150K Trading Combine – $9,000 profit target, $3,000 Daily Loss Limit on non‑TopstepX platforms, and a $4,500 Maximum Loss Limit.
TopstepX accounts may run without a Daily Loss Limit depending on when you opened or reset, so always confirm your specific parameters in the dashboard. I compare these size/risk combos to other firms inside the futures prop firms hub.
How much does it cost to trade with Topstep?
Topstep has two main pricing paths in 2026: a Standard path with lower monthly Trading Combine fees and a separate activation cost when funded, and a “No Activation Fee” path with higher Combine fees but a $0 Express Funded Account activation fee once you pass.
- Standard path resets – around $49 (50K), $99 (100K), and $149 (150K).
- No Activation Fee path resets – around $109 (50K), $159 (100K), and $209 (150K).
Prices and promos can change, so always double‑check Topstep’s current pricing page before you start, then compare it against other futures prop firms using my breakdown in Best Prop Firms for Futures Trading.
How do payouts work at Topstep?
In the Express Funded Account Standard path, you can request a payout after at least five winning days with $150 or more in net profit each. Those days do not need to be consecutive, but they must be locked in at the end of the session and you must stay within all risk rules.
Each Express payout lets you withdraw up to 50% of your reward balance, capped at $5,000 per payout on the Standard path and $6,000 on the Consistency path, and you keep 90% of whatever you withdraw. In the Live Funded Account, you can also request payouts after five winning days, and after 30 qualifying winning days you can request up to 100% of your share of profits and even one payout per business day if all rules are followed.
For my full take on which payout path to choose and how to time withdrawals, see the payout section in this Topstep review.
Can I trade multiple Topstep accounts at once?
Yes, you can trade multiple Topstep accounts at once, but there are hard limits. Topstep allows up to five Express Funded Accounts (Standard and/or Consistency) active or pending at the same time, as long as you are not inside a restricted program like the Focused Trader Plan. You can only have one Live Funded Account at a time.
Many traders run several Express accounts in parallel to scale their futures funding, then consolidate into a larger Live account later. I talk more about multi‑account futures setups and risk in posts linked from the futures prop firms hub.
What happens after I pass the Trading Combine®?
After you pass the Trading Combine and complete any required steps in your dashboard, Topstep offers you an Express Funded Account. Depending on which pricing path you chose, you either pay a one‑time activation fee for the XFA or use the “No Activation Fee” path and skip that cost.
From there, you trade the Express Funded Account under either the Standard or Consistency payout policy, unlock payouts, and eventually become eligible for a Live Funded Account once you show consistent performance. I show this full journey with real screenshots and payouts in the main Topstep prop firm review.
Does Topstep offer coaching and education?
Yes, Topstep leans heavily into coaching and education. You get access to TopstepTV live sessions, digital coaching tools like Coach T, training content, and an active community of futures traders.
If you want to combine that education with structured combine and funded‑account strategies, I also have step‑by‑step guides inside the trading guides and trading strategies sections on DamnPropFirms.
What is Topstep’s Back2Funded program?
Back2Funded is Topstep’s reactivation program that lets you bring a blown Express Funded Account back to life instead of starting over with a brand new Trading Combine. If you lose your XFA before your first payout, you have seven calendar days to choose Back2Funded in the new dashboard.
Back2Funded is only available for Express Funded Accounts earned through the Trading Combine, lost on or after the switch to the new dashboard, and closed before they ever received a payout. It’s designed to give serious traders a faster path back to funded status when they make a mistake.
How does Back2Funded work and what are the limits?
- You must choose Back2Funded within seven calendar days of your Express Funded Account being closed, using the option in the Topstep dashboard.
- Each Express Funded Account can be reactivated up to two times through Back2Funded.
- Each reactivation must be for the same XFA size as the original account.
- Each Back2Funded purchase is separate, final, and non‑refundable.
Back2Funded accounts keep the same payout rules and policy (Standard or Consistency) that you had on the original Express Funded Account. I talk about when Back2Funded is actually worth the cost in my futures risk‑management posts linked from the futures prop firms page.
What does Back2Funded cost?
Back2Funded pricing in 2026 is based on your original Express Funded Account size (before tax):
- $50K Express Funded Account — $599
- $100K Express Funded Account — $699
- $150K Express Funded Account — $829
Applicable sales tax is added at checkout. These numbers can change, so always confirm the current Back2Funded fees in the Topstep Help Center and then compare them to what other firms charge for “retry” options using my write‑up in Best Prop Firms for Futures Trading.
What is the Back2Funded 7-day reactivation window?
You have seven calendar days from the moment your Express Funded Account is closed to decide whether you want to go Back2Funded. During this seven‑day decision window, you cannot activate a new Express Funded Account on that same Combine‑earned seat.
If you don’t opt in within seven days, the Back2Funded offer expires and is automatically declined, and your only option to get funded again with Topstep is to return to the Trading Combine and pass a new evaluation.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Anything is subject to change at the discretion of Topstep and their rules, payout policies, and prices. Always check Topstep.com before purchasing.
Prop Firm Comparison: Topstep vs Lucid Trading vs Take Profit Trader vs FundedNext
Compare account sizes, funding limits, drawdown rules, and core features across Topstep, Lucid Trading, Take Profit Trader, and FundedNext to find the best futures prop firm for your trading strategy.
| Prop Firm | Max Funding Path | Max Accounts | Drawdown Type | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topstep | Live account sizing up to a 150K tier, plus additional cash performance bonuses for consistently profitable traders. | Up to 5 Express Funded Accounts at once, and 1 Live Funded Account. | End-of-day trailing Maximum Loss Limit that stops at the account’s starting balance. | 1‑step Trading Combine, Express Funded (Standard & Consistency) payout paths, Live Funded Account with capital unlocks and performance bonuses, and strong futures‑only education and coaching. |
| Lucid Trading | Multiple futures account types (including LucidFlex) with evaluation sizes typically up to 150K and the ability to scale funded capital across 5 funded accounts. | Max 5 (can mix and match) | End‑of‑day style max drawdown on popular LucidFlex accounts, with no hard daily loss limit on some plans. | Simple single‑phase futures evaluations, clear drawdown rules, fast payouts, and flexible options like LucidFlex and other account types aimed at active futures traders. |
| Take Profit Trader | Evaluation sizes commonly up to 150K, with a Pro (funded) account structure once you pass the challenge. | Multiple funded accounts can be run at once, with practical caps at 5 funded accounts (unlimited evals). | Mostly intraday trailing drawdown in funded (Pro) accounts, EOD on eval and Pro+. | Two‑phase futures challenges, Pro accounts with immediate payout eligibility once criteria are met, copy‑trading allowed, and clear news‑event restrictions. |
| FundedNext | Futures challenges and funded accounts typically scaling up to roughly the mid six‑figure range per trader. | Ability to stack several funded accounts, up to 5 accounts any size. | End‑of‑day style drawdown. | Futures evaluation with relatively simple rules, regular payout windows, and account structures aimed at traders who prefer time flexibility over strict combine‑style programs. |
