The Topstep Trading Combine is a paid, simulated evaluation. You trade a practice account, reach a profit target without breaking the loss rules, and, if you pass, move to an Express Funded Account. Topstep itself describes the Combine as difficult to pass.
This guide puts the official numbers in one table, explains how the loss limits work, and lists the rules that catch people out. The figures come from Topstep’s own help pages, checked on November 7, 2026. Topstep can change fees and rules at any time, so confirm them on its site before you pay for anything.
Educational content only, not financial advice. Trading carries a high risk of loss. Read our full Risk Disclaimer.
Trading Combine figures at a glance
| $50K | $100K | $150K | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price (USD) | $49 | $99 | $199 |
| Profit target | $3,000 | $6,000 | $9,000 |
| Maximum Loss Limit | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Daily Loss Limit (optional) | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| Max contracts (minis / micros) | 5 / 50 | 10 / 100 | 15 / 150 |
| Consistency target | Best day below 55% of profit target | Same | Same |
| Reset fee | $49 | $99 | $199 |
| Express Funded activation fee | $149 | $149 | $149 |
A few notes on reading this table:
- Pass in two days at the earliest. Topstep says you can pass in as few as two days. There is no required minimum beyond that.
- Daily Loss Limit is an add-on. Topstep’s payout policy refers to adding a Daily Loss Limit at checkout, and its pricing page links it to higher payout caps. Confirm the current terms at checkout.
- Prices vary. The pricing page also shows discounts of $10, $20 and $30 and other figures it does not label, so the price you pay at checkout may differ from the monthly price above.
- Micros count at 10 to 1. Ten micro contracts use the same limit as one mini.
How the loss limits work
The Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) is the rule that ends most attempts. Your balance must never hit or go below it. On Topstep’s Express Funded Account page, the limit is set from your highest end-of-day balance, it does not move down if you lose money the next day, and touching it permanently closes the account.
Here is an illustration using the Express Funded $50K account, which starts at a $0 balance with a $2,000 MLL. These are example numbers, not a record of any trader.
| End of day | Balance | Loss limit sits at | Room left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | $0 | -$2,000 | $2,000 |
| Day 1 | +$1,500 | -$500 | $2,000 |
| Day 2 | -$400 | -$500 | $700 |
| Day 3 | +$2,500 | $0 (locked) | $2,500 |
On Day 3, the highest balance of $2,500 would put the limit at $500. Topstep says the limit locks at $0 once it reaches that level, so it stops there and stays there. After that, a balance of $0 or below closes the account.
The Daily Loss Limit works differently. It caps how much you can lose in one trading day. For Live Funded accounts, Topstep says breaching it deactivates the account for that trading day rather than ending it. Check the current Combine rules page for how your platform treats it.
This example uses the funded account’s rules. The Combine uses the same loss amounts, but read Topstep’s Trading Combine Parameters for exactly how the limit moves in the Combine.
Other rules that fail people
The consistency target. In the Combine, your best single day must stay below 55% of your profit target. On a $50K account, with a $3,000 target, that means no single day above $1,650. One big day can leave you with the money but not the pass.
Position size. The limits are 5, 10 and 15 minis for the three sizes, or ten times as many micros. You are never required to trade the maximum.
Prohibited conduct. Topstep’s list includes:
- Coordinated trading with others, and cross-account hedging by one trader
- Exploiting price errors, data delays or platform bugs
- Unfair technology, such as ultra-high-speed or automated systems
- Using a VPN, proxy or TOR to get around location rules
- Trading on behalf of others
- Account stacking: hitting the loss limit repeatedly and moving to a new account to repeat high-risk attempts
- Excessive purchases of Combines or Resets, and bad-faith payment disputes
- Anything Topstep decides, at its discretion, is not responsible trading
What happens if you break them. Topstep may issue a warning, delete the trading day, reset the account, close it permanently, or delay or deny a payout. The response depends on severity and your history.
Fees, resets and payouts
The Combine is a monthly subscription. A reset costs the same as one month, and passing leads to a $149 Express Funded activation fee.
Once funded, the payout rules from Topstep’s payout policy are:
- Profit split: 90% to you and 10% to Topstep. Traders on the new dashboard who joined before January 12, 2026 keep 100% of their first $10,000 in lifetime profits.
- Minimum payout: $125.
- Eligibility, Standard path: five winning days of $150 or more, plus net profit above $0 since your last payout.
- Eligibility, Consistency path: three trading days, with the best day no more than 40% of total net profit.
- After each payout: the Maximum Loss Limit resets to $0 permanently and the day count starts again.
| Account | Standard cap per request | Consistency cap per request |
|---|---|---|
| $50K | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| $100K | $3,000 | $4,000 |
| $150K | $5,000 | $6,000 |
Each request is also limited to 50% of the account balance. Payout fees depend on the method: ACH and wire transfers cost $30, while some methods, such as Prop-to-Brokerage for US traders, carry no Topstep fee.
If an Express Funded account is lost before the first payout, the Back2Funded option can bring it back for $599, $699 or $829 on the $50K, $100K and $150K sizes. It can be used up to twice per account, and it is final and non-refundable.
Mistakes to avoid
- Treating the loss limit as a daily number. It is based on your highest end-of-day balance and moves up as you win, so your cushion can shrink even on a green day.
- Chasing the target in one day. The 55% consistency target punishes a single big day.
- Trading the maximum size. Topstep says you are never required to, and a smaller size gives you more room.
- Breaking a conduct rule by accident. Read the prohibited conduct page before you trade, especially around multiple accounts and tools.
- Paying before reading the current terms. Fees, caps and offers change, and several of the figures above are tied to specific dates.
Sources and disclaimer
Educational content only, not financial advice. Trading carries a high risk of loss. The Trading Combine is a simulated program and is difficult to pass. Results are not typical and are not guaranteed. Read Topstep’s own Risk Disclosures before you buy.