Topstep rules and CrossTrade

Topstep rules and payout rules

Topstep's Trading Combine, Express Funded Account and payout rules in one place. Topstep's help center names TopstepX as its only trading platform, and CrossTrade doesn't connect to TopstepX, so this page also covers what that means for copying and automation.

Start a 7-Day Copier Test → Common Questions

Current rules

Topstep payout rules and trading rules

Last updated Oct 25, 2026 Rules checked against Topstep's own site Oct 29, 2026

On sale now on Topstep's site

The No Activation Fee path is shown discounted: $85 against $95, up to $30 a month.

Sales tracked since Oct 24.

Trading platforms: ProjectXTopstepX, built on ProjectX.
Automated trading: With conditionsAllowed, but Topstep won't help set it up and doesn't excuse errant trades.
Copying between your own accounts: AllowedThrough TopstepX's built-in copier, up to $750K buying power.
Trading through news: With conditionsTrading your full maximum position into a scheduled major release is prohibited.
Max funded accounts: 5
Payout processing: Up to 3 business daysApproval takes 1 to 3 business days; delivery depends on the method.

Express Funded: Consistency

Simulated funded, $50K–$150K. Base caps shown. This is a separate payout path from XFA Standard.

To qualify: 3 trading daysAt least one trade each, plus consistency
Consistency: ≤ 40%Resets with the day count after each payout
Payout size: $125 min50% of balance; base caps $3K / $4K / $6K
Profit split: 90%Pre-January 12, 2026 exception may apply

All payout rules for Express Funded: Consistency

To qualify: 3 trading days with at least one trade each, plus the consistency target.
Consistency: Largest day must be at or below 40% of total net profit. The calculation and day count reset after each payout.
Payout size: Minimum $125. Up to 50% of the XFA balance, capped at $3,000 / $4,000 / $6,000 for $50K / $100K / $150K accounts.
Profit split: 90% trader / 10% firm, subject to the pre-January 12, 2026 first-$10,000 exception.
Buffer and retained balance: After a payout, the Maximum Loss Limit is permanently $0. The prior balance does not replace the new cycle's consistency requirement.
Timing and resets: Requalify with 3 trading days each cycle. The request day is excluded from the next cycle. Approval can take 1–3 business days; delivery varies by method.
Account conditions: Eligible optional-DLL caps are $6,000 / $8,000 / $12,000. Verify the offer and exact account. These are XFA rules, not Live Funded rules.

Source: Topstep Payout Policy

Express Funded: Standard

Simulated funded, $50K–$150K. Base caps shown. Eligible optional-DLL accounts have a separate promotional cap table.

To qualify: 5 winning days$150+ net daily; later cycles need $0.01 new net
Consistency: NoneWinning-day path, not the Consistency path
Payout size: $125 min50% of balance; base caps $2K / $3K / $5K
Profit split: 90%Pre-January 12, 2026 exception may apply

All payout rules for Express Funded: Standard

To qualify: 5 winning days of at least $150 net P&L. After the first payout, at least $0.01 of net profit since the previous payout is also required.
Consistency: No percentage test in this payout path; the winning-day requirement applies.
Payout size: Minimum $125. Up to 50% of the XFA balance, capped at $2,000 / $3,000 / $5,000 for $50K / $100K / $150K accounts.
Profit split: 90% trader / 10% firm. Traders who joined the new dashboard before January 12, 2026 retain the first-$10,000 lifetime-profit exception described in the policy.
Buffer and retained balance: After a payout, the Maximum Loss Limit is permanently $0. Remaining account balance is the room above that floor.
Timing and resets: The 5-day count restarts after each payout. The payout-request trading day does not count toward the next cycle. Approval can take 1–3 business days; delivery varies by method.
Account conditions: The source advertises double caps for eligible accounts with a voluntary DLL: $4,000 / $6,000 / $10,000. Confirm checkout eligibility. Live Funded Accounts use different rules.

Source: Topstep Payout Policy

Compare payout rules with other firms

The Safe Answer

CrossTrade does not make every Topstep account compatible automatically

Compatibility depends on the platform and connection Topstep provides for the specific account. Before setup:

Confirm the Topstep account type.
Confirm its current trading platform and connection.
Confirm that NinjaTrader 8 is available for that account if you plan to use the CrossTrade NT8 Add-On. Topstep's help center currently lists TopstepX as the only available platform.
Read the current Topstep automation, prohibited conduct, and copier rules.
Test the exact workflow in simulation before using an evaluation or funded account.

What CrossTrade Adds

What CrossTrade can add to a supported NinjaTrader workflow

TradingView alerts to NinjaTrader 8

CrossTrade webhook automation can receive a valid TradingView alert and route a supported command to a connected NinjaTrader account through the CrossTrade XT Add-On.

NinjaTrader 8 and the add-on must remain running and connected. This is not a no-desktop TopstepX claim.

Copying across mapped NinjaTrader accounts

The CrossTrade Trade Copier can copy supported source activity to configured follower accounts. Choose order or execution mode, set quantity rules, and verify the full order lifecycle before enabling a non-simulation account.

Topstep's current rules, account ownership requirements, and platform policies control whether a particular copying arrangement is permitted. CrossTrade does not override those rules.

Account inspection and risk controls

Use CrossTrade account tools to inspect positions, orders, account summary, and watermarks. Account managers and monitors can support an operating process, but they do not guarantee that a Topstep limit will never be breached.

Read-only AI and MCP workflows

A supported AI client can connect through CrossTrade MCP. Begin with read-only scopes to review account state, orders, positions, recent activity, and watermarks. Grant trade permissions only when the current Topstep program permits the intended automation and a human approval step remains appropriate.

Topstep Accounts

Topstep Trading Combine accounts

From Topstep's own site, checked Oct 29, 2026. Prices are list prices; any sale running now is shown in the rules above.

Express Funded: Consistency or Standard

$50K

Profit target$3,000

Max loss$2,000 (end-of-day trailing)

Daily loss limitNone, or $1,000 with a daily loss limit

Consistency55%

Minimum days2

Max contracts5

Price$49 a month (standard pricing path)

Activation fee$149 (standard pricing path)

Express Funded: Consistency or Standard

$100K

Profit target$6,000

Max loss$3,000 (end-of-day trailing)

Daily loss limitNone, or $2,000 with a daily loss limit

Consistency55%

Minimum days2

Max contracts10

Price$99 a month (standard pricing path)

Activation fee$149 (standard pricing path)

Express Funded: Consistency or Standard

$150K

Profit target$9,000

Max loss$4,500 (end-of-day trailing)

Daily loss limitNone, or $3,000 with a daily loss limit

Consistency55%

Minimum days2

Max contracts15

Price$199 a month (standard pricing path)

Activation fee$149 (standard pricing path)

Rule Compliance

Topstep rules to verify before setup

Do not copy static dollar thresholds from this page into an alert, strategy, or AI prompt. Read the official pages on the day you configure the workflow.

Verify:

Maximum Loss Limit
Profit target
Consistency target
Maximum position size
Daily Loss Limit when applicable
Permitted products and trading hours
Current automated-strategy policy
Current copier and account-ownership policy
Prohibited conduct and prohibited trading strategies
VPS and VPN policy (Topstep's Terms of Use prohibit both)
Differences between Trading Combine, Express Funded Account, and Live Funded Account

Official sources:

Test First

Build the smallest testable workflow

1. Confirm the route

Confirm that the intended account appears in NinjaTrader 8 and that CrossTrade's add-on reports a connected state.

2. Start with one simulation source and follower

Use one-to-one sizing. Disable inversion and unnecessary instrument mappings.

3. Test the complete lifecycle

Test entry, stop, target, change, cancel, flatten, and reconnect behavior. A successful entry alone is not enough.

4. Compare account state

Confirm source and follower positions, working orders, and quantities match the configured rules after each test.

5. Add one variable at a time

Add another follower, a sizing ratio, or an instrument rule only after the prior test passes.

Use the pre-live Trade Copier checklist and the TradingView-to-NinjaTrader copier tutorial.

Honest Limits

What CrossTrade does not promise

CrossTrade does not promise that Topstep approves every automation or copier configuration.
CrossTrade does not guarantee evaluation passage, payouts, or trading results.
A copier cannot guarantee identical fills across accounts.
A monitoring rule cannot replace the trader's responsibility to understand Topstep's current limits.
A cloud dashboard does not remove the need to keep NinjaTrader 8 connected for an NT8 workflow.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Does Topstep allow automated strategies?

Yes, with conditions. Topstep's Trading Combine parameters page says Topstep won't help set up or troubleshoot automated strategies, and no exceptions are made for errant trades or malfunctions. Topstep's API page says custom bots are allowed through the TopstepX (ProjectX) API, with no high-frequency trading, and its Live Funded Account page says automated strategies are not possible in the Live Funded Account. Topstep also prohibits using software or AI to gain an unfair advantage. Read those pages directly before enabling automation.

Can CrossTrade copy trades between Topstep accounts?

Not today. Topstep's help center says TopstepX is the only available trading platform, and CrossTrade does not connect to TopstepX. TopstepX has its own built-in Trade Copier for Trading Combine and Express Funded Accounts (Live Funded Accounts cannot use it). Topstep prohibits coordinated trading with other people and cross-account hedging, and it holds you responsible for anything a copier or third-party tool does in your accounts.

Does CrossTrade connect directly to TopstepX?

No. CrossTrade connects through NinjaTrader 8 and linked Tradovate accounts. It does not connect to TopstepX or the TopstepX API, and Topstep's help center currently says TopstepX is the only available trading platform.

Can I run the workflow without a VPS?

Do not use a VPS or VPN with a Topstep account. Topstep's Terms of Use prohibit using any VPN or VPS on Topstep accounts. Any NT8 workflow needs NinjaTrader 8 and the CrossTrade NT8 add-on running on a machine that stays online. A browser-based configuration does not make NT8 cloud-native.

Should an AI agent trade the account autonomously?

Start read-only. If current rules and your operating procedure permit trade actions, use scoped access and a confirmation step. CrossTrade does not recommend treating a funded-futures account as an unsupervised AI experiment.

Test before you decide

Use a simulation account to verify the CrossTrade workflow. Keep the real Topstep account excluded until the platform route, current rules, and complete order lifecycle have been checked.

Start a 7-Day Copier Test → Read the Topstep AI workflow guide

Disclosure

CrossTrade is not affiliated with or endorsed by Topstep. Topstep and related marks belong to their respective owners. This page is operational guidance, not legal, compliance, or trading advice.

Topstep® is a registered trademark of Topstep, LLC. NinjaTrader® is a registered trademark of NinjaTrader Group, LLC. TradingView® is a registered trademark of TradingView, Inc. CrossTrade is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of these organizations.