Quick Answer — Topstep Account Sizes — Quick Facts
- • $50K Combine: $49/mo + $149 activation, $3K profit target, 5 minis max
- • $100K Combine: $99/mo + $149 activation, $6K profit target, 10 minis max
- • $150K Combine: $149/mo + $149 activation, $9K profit target, 15 minis max
- • All sizes: 90/10 profit split from $1 (new sign-ups post Jan 12, 2026)
- • All sizes: same $149 activation fee, trailing intraday Max Loss Limit
- • First-payout cap on $50K Standard path: $5,000
Direct experience: 3+ years on Topstep's $50K Trading Combine, ~$17,000 paid via Wise. The account journey: Combine ($49/$99/$149/mo + $149 activation) → XFA dual-path since Feb 5, 2026 (Standard 5d/$5K vs Consistency 3d/$6K) → Live Funded for the 0.71% who advance. Account-by-account breakdown in Topstep accounts overview, full assessment in the Topstep review. Current pricing on Topstep.
Topstep runs three Trading Combine sizes: $50K, $100K, and $150K. They share the same evaluation structure — one-step Combine, then Express Funded Account, then (for a rare few) Live Funded Account — but differ on monthly cost, profit target, drawdown limits, and contract caps. Choosing the wrong size doesn't just affect your fees; it determines whether your normal trading style fits within the rules or constantly runs into walls.
For a full breakdown of how each account stage works, read the Topstep accounts overview.
The master spec table
As of April 2026, here are all three sizes side by side across every axis that matters:
| Spec | $50K Combine | $100K Combine | $150K Combine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $49 | $99 | $149 |
| Activation fee | $149 | $149 | $149 |
| First-month total | $198 | $248 | $298 |
| Profit target | $3,000 | $6,000 | $9,000 |
| Max Loss Limit (trailing intraday) | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Daily Loss Limit | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| Max contracts (standard minis) | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| Max contracts (micros) | 50 | 100 | 150 |
| First-payout cap (Standard path) | $5,000 | [UNKNOWN] | [UNKNOWN] |
| Max payout per withdrawal | $6,000 | $6,000 | $6,000 |
| Profit split (post Jan 12, 2026) | 90/10 | 90/10 | 90/10 |
Sources: topstep.com/topstep-prop, help center articles 8284197 and 10490293, verified April 2026.
The activation fee is identical across all three sizes. The only lever that changes between sizes is the monthly subscription and the risk/reward profile built into the rules.
What actually scales with account size
Four things change as you move up:
Profit target scales linearly. $50K = $3K target. $100K = $6K target. $150K = $9K target. Exactly 6% of account value in each case. A larger account does not give you an easier percentage target — it gives you the same percentage but in bigger dollar terms.
Max Loss Limit scales but not linearly. The MLL is $2,000 on $50K (4% of account), $3,000 on $100K (3%), and $4,500 on $150K (3%). The $100K and $150K have a slightly more forgiving MLL-to-account ratio. That said, the trailing intraday mechanic is identical — it tracks live equity in real time regardless of size. See how Topstep drawdown works for the full mechanic.
Contract limits scale proportionally. 5 minis at $50K, 10 at $100K, 15 at $150K. If your strategy requires scaling into 8 ES contracts, the $50K simply won't fit. The maximum contracts article covers the micro-to-mini conversion in detail.
Daily Loss Limit scales proportionally. $1K/$2K/$3K. The DLL resets each day at 5 PM CT and triggers auto-liquidation if breached — but this does not count as a rule violation. See Topstep's payout rules and the consistency rule for how daily results feed into your overall Combine standing.
12-month cost projection per size
These numbers assume one active Combine subscription running continuously for 12 months, including the one-time activation fee:
| Size | Month 1 | Months 2–12 (each) | 12-month total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50K | $198 | $49 | $737 |
| $100K | $248 | $99 | $1,337 |
| $150K | $298 | $149 | $1,937 |
A $50K subscriber who passes and gets funded in month 3 has spent $296 total before their first payout. A $150K subscriber in the same scenario has spent $596. The gap compounds the longer you stay in evaluation.
Reset costs are additional. Every active monthly subscription adds one Reset Credit to your Reset Bank — so long-running subscribers accumulate credits rather than paying per-reset. See refund and reset policy for how Reset Credits work.
For the full pricing breakdown including activation fee details and occasional Topstep public promotions, read Topstep pricing breakdown.
Decision framework: which size for which trader
$50K — lowest commitment, Paul's tested size
I've stuck with the $50K Combine for 3 years across multiple Combines. The first-month outlay is under $200, the $3K profit target is achievable without swinging for the fences, and the 5-mini contract cap fits most systematic futures strategies. When I'm testing something new, I default to $50K so I'm not burning larger subscription fees while dialing in an edge.
The $50K is the right call if:
- You're new to prop trading or new to Topstep specifically
- Your strategy uses 1–4 ES/NQ minis per position
- You want to minimize evaluation cost while learning the rules
- You plan to pass, get funded, and scale via payouts rather than starting with maximum buying power
The first-payout cap on the $50K Standard path is $5,000. After that, withdrawals are up to $6,000 per request. This is consistent with the payout rules.
$100K — middle ground, more room to breathe
The $100K Combine documents a $6K profit target and a $3K MLL. The monthly cost is exactly double the $50K. The contract limit doubles to 10 minis.
Traders who consider the $100K typically:
- Already have a track record at a smaller prop firm or in personal accounts
- Trade 6–10 mini contracts as part of their normal sizing
- Prefer a $3K MLL buffer (vs the $50K's $2K) because their strategy can drawdown more before recovering
- Don't want to hit the 5-mini ceiling mid-trade at a critical inflection point
The ratio math on the $100K is slightly more forgiving on MLL (3% of account vs 4% on $50K). If you're regularly using 6+ minis, the $100K is the more honest fit.
$150K, maximum buying power, highest targets
The $150K Combine carries a $9K profit target and a $4,500 MLL, the most forgiving MLL-to-account ratio of the three. The 15-mini contract cap opens strategies unavailable at lower sizes.
The $150K makes sense if:
- You trade 10+ minis regularly and need the contract headroom
- Your strategy generates large daily swings and needs the $3K DLL (vs $1K at $50K)
- You're willing to pay $1,937 over 12 months in exchange for maximum sim allocation
- You're experienced enough that the $9K profit target is realistic within your normal trade cadence
The catch: a $9K profit target while respecting the consistency rule (best day under 50% of cycle profit) requires sustained performance over multiple sessions. Traders who rely on one big day to carry the Combine will hit the consistency ceiling before the profit target.
Why the $50K is the right starting point for most traders
Three reasons:
1. Cost of failure is low. If you breach the MLL or fail the Combine, you've lost $198 (month 1) or $49 (subsequent months). At the $150K, a failed month costs $149. The difference sounds small but it compounds over multiple attempts.
2. The rules are identical. Every rule, consistency, DLL, MLL, contract limits, winning-day threshold, operates on the same percentage basis. Passing the $50K proves you can trade within Topstep's framework. That proof transfers when you move up.
3. You can stack accounts after passing. Nothing stops a funded $50K trader from opening a second $50K Combine while in the XFA stage. Two $50K accounts give you 10 mini contracts total with a lower blended cost than one $100K.
For more on Topstep's full account progression (Combine → XFA → Live), see the accounts overview and the Trading Combine rules deep-dive.
How size interacts with the consistency rule
The 50% consistency rule says your best single winning day cannot exceed 50% of your total cycle profit. This rule scales with account size in effect if not in math, a $50K trader hitting a $1,500 day needs $3,000 total cycle profit to stay compliant. A $150K trader hitting a $4,500 day needs $9,000 total cycle profit.
Bigger accounts don't make the consistency rule easier. They make it more expensive to fail. A trader who hits a $6,000 day at the $100K level and then stalls has a consistency problem that costs more to resolve than the same relative move at $50K.
Read the full consistency rule breakdown before choosing your account size if this rule concerns you.
Size and contract limits at the XFA stage
The contract limits carry through from the Combine to the Express Funded Account. A $50K XFA holder is still capped at 5 minis. The limits also appear in the maximum contracts article alongside the micro-contract equivalents for traders who use micro-sized instruments to scale in.
The Live Funded Account stage (reached by roughly 0.71% of XFA traders) starts with 20% of the allocated balance tradable. Additional capital unlocks per $6,000 profit milestone. Account size at Combine translates to Live allocation ceiling, a $150K Combine path can lead to a $150K Live allocation, subject to Topstep's selection process. See Topstep Live Funded Account for the full progression.
The bottom line
$50K is the right first choice for almost every trader starting on Topstep. The $198 first-month cost is the lowest barrier in the lineup, the $3K profit target is achievable without taking outsized risk, and the 5-mini contract limit covers the majority of systematic futures strategies.
Move to $100K when your normal position sizing exceeds 5 minis and you need the headroom, not because you want a bigger number on the dashboard. Move to $150K when 10+ mini contracts is genuinely how you trade and the extra $50/mo is justified by the contract ceiling.
Topstep does not have a PTV affiliate discount code, so there is no cost advantage from signing up through a specific link. Go to topstep.com directly. For how Topstep compares against firms with more aggressive pricing, see Tradeify vs Topstep and Apex vs Topstep.
Frequently Asked Questions
What account sizes does Topstep offer?
Topstep offers three Trading Combine sizes as of April 2026: $50,000, $100,000, and $150,000. Each size has a different monthly subscription fee ($49, $99, or $149), profit target, Max Loss Limit, Daily Loss Limit, and maximum contract allowance. All three sizes require the same $149 one-time activation fee.
How much does it cost to start a Topstep $50K Combine?
The $50K Combine costs $49 per month plus a $149 one-time activation fee. Your first-month out-of-pocket is $198. Each subsequent month is $49 as long as your subscription stays active. Monthly renewals also add one Reset Credit to your account's Reset Bank.
What is the profit target for each Topstep account size?
The profit targets are $3,000 for the $50K, $6,000 for the $100K, and $9,000 for the $150K. These are the amounts you must accumulate in your Trading Combine sim account to qualify for the Express Funded Account stage, subject to the consistency rule.
What is the Max Loss Limit for each Topstep account size?
The trailing intraday Max Loss Limit is $2,000 for the $50K, $3,000 for the $100K, and $4,500 for the $150K. This limit trails your live equity high-water mark in real time and can trigger at any point during the trading day.
What is the Daily Loss Limit for each Topstep account size?
The Daily Loss Limit resets at 5 PM CT each day. It is $1,000 for the $50K, $2,000 for the $100K, and $3,000 for the $150K. Hitting the DLL auto-liquidates open positions for the day but does not close your account, you can resume the next session.
How many contracts can I trade at each Topstep account size?
The $50K allows up to 5 standard mini contracts (or 50 micro contracts). The $100K allows up to 10 minis (100 micros). The $150K allows up to 15 minis (150 micros). These limits apply during both the Trading Combine and the Express Funded Account stage.
Is the profit split the same across all account sizes?
Yes. All three sizes carry the same 90% trader / 10% Topstep split from the first dollar, for accounts opened after January 12, 2026. Accounts grandfathered before that date receive 100% on the first $10,000 cumulative, then 90/10 thereafter.
What is the first-payout cap on the $50K account?
The first payout from a $50K Standard path Express Funded Account is capped at $5,000. Subsequent payouts can be up to $6,000 per withdrawal request. The $100K and $150K first-payout caps are not separately listed in the verified help center data, [UNKNOWN] until confirmed.
Which Topstep account size is best for beginners?
The $50K Combine is the recommended starting point for most beginners. The $198 first-month commitment is the lowest available, the $3K profit target is achievable without oversizing, and the 5-mini contract cap keeps position limits disciplined. Most experienced traders also default to $50K when stress-testing a new strategy.
Does Topstep have a 12-month cost projection I should know about?
Yes. Over 12 months the $50K total subscription cost is $737. The $100K is $1,337. The $150K is $1,937. These are subscription-only costs; resets cost additional Reset Credits, which accrue monthly but may not cover all reset scenarios.
Can I upgrade from $50K to $100K mid-Combine?
Topstep does not offer mid-subscription upgrades to a larger account size within an active Combine. You would need to open a new subscription at the larger size. Check the Topstep Help Center for current account management options.
Does account size affect which trading platforms I can use?
No. All three account sizes have access to the same three supported platforms as of April 2026: TopstepX (recommended), NinjaTrader, and Tradovate. Platform availability is not gated by account size. See the full platform breakdown at Topstep trading platforms.