What are the main Topstep rules?

Topstep's rule framework rests on six core mechanisms: (1) Trailing Maximum Loss Limit, intraday-trailing in the Trading Combine, EOD-trailing in the Express Funded Account, locking at $0 once reached. (2) Daily Loss Limit, $1K/$2K/$3K by account size, resets 5 PM CT. (3) 50% consistency rule, best winning day must be under 50% of cycle profit. (4) $150 winning-day threshold, winning days are days closing at least $150 net profit. (5) Maximum contracts per account size, 5/10/15 minis or 50/100/150 micros. (6) VPN prohibited and copy trading allowed only through TopstepX with automatic disable during payout windows. Rules change between Combine, XFA, and Live Funded stages.

What is the Topstep Maximum Loss Limit?

The Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) is Topstep's trailing drawdown. In the Trading Combine, the MLL trails intraday, tracking live equity high-water marks tick by tick, and a breach can occur at any moment, including on unrealized profit pulls. In the Express Funded Account, the MLL switches to EOD-trailing, it moves only at session close, and once the MLL reaches the account starting balance, it locks permanently at $0 net P&L. The Live Funded Account inherits the locked-at-$0 floor mechanic. The intraday-trailing Combine drawdown is the biggest reason traders breach Topstep before earning a payout.

How does the Topstep Daily Loss Limit work?

The Daily Loss Limit (DLL) caps how much you can lose in a single trading day. Limits are $1,000 on the $50K Combine, $2,000 on the $100K, and $3,000 on the $150K. The DLL resets at 5 PM CT, the start of the new CME trading day. Hitting the DLL triggers automatic liquidation of open positions and locks the account for the rest of that session, but it is NOT a rule violation: the account stays open and you can resume trading the next day. The MLL is the account-ending rule; the DLL is the session-ending rule.

What is Topstep's profit split in 2026?

For sign-ups on or after January 12, 2026, Topstep pays 90% to the trader and 10% to Topstep, flat from $1 of profits. There is no per-account dollar tier. Traders who signed up before January 12, 2026 are grandfathered into the legacy structure: 100% of the first $10,000 in cumulative profits, then 90/10 thereafter. The widely-cited 'Topstep is 50/50 on first $5K then 90/10' claim is wrong and outdated. When in doubt, the dashboard reflects which split your account is on.

What is the $150 winning day threshold at Topstep?

A winning day at Topstep is any trading day that closes at least $150 net profit. This threshold matters in two places: the Trading Combine's minimum-winning-days requirement to advance, and the Live Funded Account's progression toward 100% balance unlock (30 winning Live days of $150+). Days with profit under $150 don't count. The number is $150, not the $200 figure that has circulated in older reviews. Trading days that close green but under $150 are simply 'no progress' days.

Does Topstep have a consistency rule?

Yes. Topstep enforces a 50% consistency rule across both the Trading Combine and the Express Funded Account: your best winning day's profit must be less than 50% of total cumulative profits in the cycle. Example: if you have $4,000 cumulative profit and your best single day is $2,200 (55%), you're above the limit and progression is blocked until additional days dilute the ratio. The rule exists to filter traders whose 'edge' is one or two lucky news days. It does not apply to the Live Funded Account.

Can I use a VPN with Topstep?

No. Topstep's Help Center is unambiguous: 'No, you cannot use a VPN while trading with Topstep.' The TopstepX API rules go further: 'All activity must be performed from your own device, without using VPS, VPNs, or remote access tools.' A VPN connection commonly triggers an Error 403 Forbidden response. Topstep also requires you to disable VPN during KYC and identity verification. This is one of the strictest VPN policies in the futures prop space, there is no monitored grey zone, no exception for travel, and no whitelisting workflow.

Is copy trading allowed at Topstep?

Yes, copy trading is allowed when set up through TopstepX → Settings → Copy Trading. The TopstepX API also supports cross-account copy. Two important constraints: (1) all trading activity must originate from your personal device, no remote VPS-based copying. (2) During XFA payout request processing, the copy-trading connection automatically disables until the payout clears. Cross-account hedging (long ES on one account + short ES on another) is prohibited as a separate rule. See the [copy trading rules guide](/blog/topstep-copy-trading-rules) for the full breakdown.

What platforms can I use with Topstep?

As of April 2026, Topstep supports three platforms: TopstepX (the proprietary platform with built-in TradingView, DOM, hotkeys, and 60+ futures), NinjaTrader (legacy, still supported), and Tradovate. ProjectX, which Topstep used heavily during 2024-2025, was shut down in 2026. Topstep acquired The Futures Desk on April 1, 2026, and TFD's technology is being integrated into TopstepX, specifics on which features land first are TBA. Older PTV references to Sierra Chart, ATAS, Quantower, and Jigsaw are unverified for 2026.

What is the maximum payout from Topstep?

The maximum payout request at Topstep is $6,000 per withdrawal. On the $50K Trading Combine Standard path, the first payout is capped at $5,000. Withdrawals are typically processed within one business day, the Help Center frames it as 'as soon as the next trading day.' Payout methods available in 2026: Wise (fastest), Wire / SWIFT, ACH, and Aeropay. PayPal is no longer listed and should be considered unavailable. See the [payout rules article](/blog/topstep-payout-rules) for the full cadence breakdown.

Is Topstep a 1-step or 2-step evaluation?

Topstep is a 1-step evaluation. The path is Trading Combine (sim-funded eval) → Express Funded Account (sim-funded with EOD-trailing MLL) → Live Funded Account (real-money allocation, 0.71% of XFA traders advance). There is no 2-step evaluation, no instant funding, and no 'choose your own path' multi-stage product on the prop side. Topstep Brokerage is a separate retail trade-your-own-money product and not part of the prop evaluation pipeline.

What countries are restricted at Topstep?

Topstep maintains a restricted-countries list aligned with US OFAC sanctions and US sanctions law. The Help Center references the list, which begins with countries like Afghanistan and includes other comprehensively sanctioned jurisdictions. The full current list is not publicly extracted in this article, Topstep maintains the canonical version in the Help Center and updates it as US sanctions policy changes. Always verify your country's status before purchasing a Combine. See the [restricted countries article](/blog/topstep-restricted-countries) for context.

What happens if I breach a Topstep rule?

Consequences depend on the rule. Hard breach: hitting the Maximum Loss Limit (intraday in Combine, EOD in XFA) ends the account permanently, you'd need a new Combine to continue. Soft breach: hitting the Daily Loss Limit auto-flattens positions and locks the account for that session only; trading resumes the next day with no penalty. VPN detection or prohibited-strategy detection (such as cross-account hedging) can result in account suspension and payout forfeiture. Consistency-rule violations don't end the account, they delay payout or stage advancement until the ratio dilutes.

Topstep Rules 2026: Drawdown, $150 Winning Day, Consistency

Quick Answer, Topstep Rule Framework, 2026

• Combine: intraday-trailing MLL, $1K/$2K/$3K Daily Loss Limits, 50% consistency, $150 winning day
• XFA: EOD-trailing MLL locks at $0; Standard path 5d/$5K min, Consistency path 3d/$6K min (since Feb 5, 2026)
• Live Funded: real money, 20% tradable / 80% reserve, $15K unlocks per $6K profit milestone
• Profit split: 90/10 from $1 for current sign-ups (100%-first-$10K grandfathered pre-Jan-12-2026)
• VPN PROHIBITED, Help Center: 'No, you cannot use a VPN while trading with Topstep'
• Platforms: TopstepX + NinjaTrader + Tradovate (ProjectX shut down 2026; TFD tech integrating Apr 1, 2026)

Tested firsthand: 3+ years on Topstep's $50K Trading Combine, ~$17,000 paid via Wise. The big rules to know: Combine uses intraday-trailing MLL while XFA uses EOD-trailing locking at $0, the 50% consistency rule caps your best winning day, DLL is $1K/$2K/$3K resetting at 5 PM CT, and VPN triggers an instant 403. Full breakdown in my Topstep rules guide and main review. Verify current wording via the Help Center.

Rule	What it does	Combine	XFA	Live Funded
Maximum Loss Limit (MLL)	Hard account floor; breach ends account	Intraday-trailing	EOD-trailing, locks at $0	Locked floor at $0
Daily Loss Limit (DLL)	Day-locks at preset loss	$1K/$2K/$3K, resets 5 PM CT	Same structure	Same structure
Consistency rule	Best day under 50% of cycle profit	Applies	Applies	Does not apply
Winning day threshold	$150 net profit defines a winning day	Applies	Applies	Applies (30-day unlock)
Maximum contracts	Caps simultaneous size per account	5/10/15 minis (50/100/150 micros)	Same	Same
Minimum winning days	Required before advance/payout	Applies	Path-dependent (5 or 3)	30 to unlock 100% balance
VPN	All VPN/VPS/remote tools	Prohibited	Prohibited	Prohibited
Copy trading	Cross-account copy	Allowed via TopstepX	Allowed; auto-disables in payout window	Allowed
News trading	High-impact event handling	No explicit blackout window	No explicit blackout window	No explicit blackout window
Profit split	Trader take of net profits	n/a (sim)	n/a (sim)	90/10 from $1 (post Jan-12-2026 sign-ups)
Cross-account hedging	Long X account A + short X account B	Prohibited	Prohibited	Prohibited

Account	Daily Loss Limit
$50K Combine	$1,000
$100K Combine	$2,000
$150K Combine	$3,000

Account	Max Minis	Max Micros
$50K	5	50
$100K	10	100
$150K	15	150

Path	Minimum Winning Days	Minimum Cumulative Profit
Standard	5	$5,000
Consistency	3	$6,000

Platform	Status	Key features
TopstepX	Proprietary, primary	Built-in TradingView, DOM, hotkeys, 60+ futures, "The Tilt", Trade Copier, Training Camp
NinjaTrader	Legacy, still supported	Mature charting, large user base from pre-TopstepX era
Tradovate	Supported	Web-based, broad device support

Written and tested by Paul 4+ years funded trading · $200K+ verified payouts across 12 firms

Hands-on tested

More on Topstep

★

Topstep Review (4.6/5)

Full review — rules, payouts, pricing, and our experience

→

Topstep Pricing 2026: All Costs Explained (Monthly, Activation, Reset Credits)

Accounts

Topstep Trading Platforms 2026: TopstepX Is the Only One (And What That Means)

Platforms

Lucid Trading vs Apex vs Topstep (2026): Which Futures Firm Wins for You?

Comparisons

Topstep FAQ 2026: 60+ Questions Answered (Verified)

FAQ

View all 14 Topstep articles

Topstep Rules Overview: Every Rule Explained (2026 Complete Guide)

More on Topstep

Exclusive Topstep code VIBES