Topstep Express Funded Account Explained

The Topstep Express Funded Account, or XFA, is the simulated funded account a trader activates after passing the Trading Combine. It starts at a $0 balance with 50K, 100K or 150K of buying power, uses a Maximum Loss Limit that starts below zero and locks at $0, and limits contracts by balance. Payouts are 90% of the amount requested and follow one of two paths: five winning days of $150, or three trading days with no day above 40% of profit.

How the Express Funded Account works

Passing the Trading Combine earns an XFA of the same size. On the Standard Combine path, activation costs $149; on the No Activation Fee path it is free. There is no monthly fee after passing. A trader can hold up to five XFAs at once, in any mix of sizes. At activation the trader chooses the Standard or Consistency payout path, and neither the path nor the size can be changed later. The day trading rules carry over: positions must be flat by 3:10 pm CT, and an XFA with no trades for more than 30 days may be closed.

The loss limit and the $0 balance

The balance starts at $0, and the Maximum Loss Limit starts $2,000, $3,000 or $4,500 below it. As in the Combine, it trails the end of day balance, never moves down and is monitored in real time on open profit and loss. Once the balance reaches the drawdown amount, the limit locks at $0. After the first payout it is set to $0 permanently, whatever its level before. From then on, the balance left after each payout is the only room to trade. A breach closes the account, and an optional daily loss limit, if added at purchase, pauses trading for the session instead.

The scaling plan

The XFA limits how many contracts can be open at once by balance, counting micros at ten to one. The limit changes at the next session, not during the current one.

The two payout paths

On the Standard path, a payout needs five winning days of at least $150 net, which do not have to be consecutive, plus positive net profit since the last payout; the first payout is exempt from that second test. On the Consistency path, a payout needs three trading days with at least one trade each, and the largest winning day must be no more than 40% of total net profit. On both, a day locks at 4:00 pm CT, and the count restarts after each payout. Each request can take up to 50% of the balance, capped per request as follows.

Topstep describes the doubled caps as a limited time offer for new Combines bought with a daily loss limit at checkout.

Worked example

The figures below describe a made up 50K XFA on the Standard path. They illustrate the rules only.

Day 6 is the fifth winning day of $150 or more, so the trader can request 50% of $2,800, which is $1,400, within the $2,000 cap. At 90% the trader receives $1,260, less $30 by ACH or with no Topstep fee by Aeropay. The balance drops to $1,400 with the limit at $0, so the room to trade is now $1,400, and the balance is back below $1,500, which cuts the next session to 2 lots.

On the Consistency path the same trading qualifies a day earlier. After day 5, total net profit is $2,600 and the best day of $1,000 is 38.5% of it, under 40%. After day 4 it was 45.5%, so a request then would not have qualified. The payout calculator and consistency rule calculator run these checks for other figures.

Costs and payout terms

As listed on topstep.com on 1 October 2026, the activation fee is $149 per XFA on the Standard Combine path and nothing on the No Activation Fee path. Commissions and exchange fees come off the balance with each trade: $3.78 a round turn on ES and NQ and $1.22 on MES and MNQ on TopstepX. Level 1 data is included and Level 2 costs $38 a month. Payouts can be requested from Sunday 5 pm CT to Friday 5 pm CT, the minimum is $125, and internal approval can take one to three business days. ACH and wire payouts cost $30; Aeropay and Wise carry no Topstep fee. An XFA lost before its first payout can be reactivated up to twice through Back2Funded within 30 days, for $599, $699 or $829 by size, or $50 less with a daily loss limit. Firms change their terms often, so confirm the current version before buying.

How it compares with Topstep’s other stages

The Live Funded Account is by invitation. Topstep reports that in 2025, 0.71% of individuals trading an XFA were called up to Live. When that happens all XFAs close, and reserve funds are released in 25% steps as the trader reaches $3,000, $6,000 or $9,000 of profit by size. For other futures firms’ funded stages, see Topstep vs Take Profit Trader, Topstep alternatives and the Topstep review.

Common mistakes

• Taking a large first payout too early. The limit moves to $0, so a payout from a small balance leaves little room.
• Trading above the scaling tier. Contract limits follow the balance and update each session.
• Counting small wins. A Standard path winning day needs at least $150 net.
• Chasing one big day on the Consistency path. A day above 40% of profit delays eligibility.
• Losing the XFA after a payout. Back2Funded only applies before the first payout.

Checklist

• Pick the payout path at activation with your trading pattern in mind.
• Check the contract limit for the next session from the balance.
• Track winning days or the consistency ratio on the dashboard.
• Decide how much balance to keep as room before each request.
• Choose a payout method with its fee and timing in mind.
• Keep the account active at least once every 30 days.

For the timing of first payouts across firms, see how long the first prop firm payout takes.