Topstep Cost, 2026
Roughly what a 3-month run at the 100K Combine costs before you earn a single funded dollar. Topstep’s price is not one number, it is a meter.
Here are the two pricing paths, the activation fee, the payout fee, and the firm that charges a one-time fee with no meter at all.
Prefer a one-time fee over a monthly meter? Here is Phidias Express to Live. First, what Topstep costs.
Our verdict (William G.)
Topstep’s price looks small per month, and if you pass on the first try it genuinely is cheap. The honest catch is that it is a meter: a $149 activation, a $30 payout fee, and a subscription that keeps charging until you clear the Combine. If you would rather pay once and know your cost up front, Phidias Express to Live is a one-time fee with no meter and real capital on payout one.
How much does Topstep cost?
Topstep charges a monthly subscription for the Combine, not a one-time fee. On the Standard path it is $49, $99, or $199 per month (50K, 100K, 150K) plus a one-time $149 activation when you pass. Because it is a subscription, the total grows every month you take to pass, so your real cost depends on how fast you clear it.
Topstep pricing paths
| Account | Standard path (per month) | No Activation path (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| 50K | $49 + $149 activation | $95, no activation |
| 100K | $99 + $149 activation | $149, no activation |
| 150K | $199 + $149 activation | $229, no activation |
Which pricing path is cheaper?
It depends entirely on how fast you pass. The Standard path has the lower monthly fee but adds the $149 activation when you pass. The No Activation path costs more each month but skips that fee.
If you pass quickly, the No Activation path usually wins. If you take several months, the lower monthly Standard fee adds up more slowly even with activation. Either way, the meter is running.
30-second quiz
Monthly meter or one-time fee: which pricing fits you?
The hidden cost: the meter
The sticker price looks small, but the real cost is time. Three months on the 100K Standard path is roughly $99 x 3 plus $149, about $446 before you have earned a funded dollar. Take longer, and it keeps climbing.
There is also a $30 processing fee on ACH and wire payouts later (Aeropay, Wise, and prop-to-brokerage can be free), and resets carry their own cost. None of it is outrageous on its own; the friction is the subscription model itself, which charges you while you learn.
The alternative: a one-time fee, no meter
Phidias Express to Live is priced the opposite way: a one-time fee, with no monthly subscription, no activation fee, and no separate charge to get funded.
You pay once, and there is no clock running while you trade the evaluation. Your first payout converts the account to a real LIVE account with Dorman Trading, and the full cycle can complete in under 24 hours.
A real receipt, not a promise
One Phidias trader, Varun M., ran five 150K Express to Live accounts and took $22,500 in payouts to his Phidias Wallet plus $10,000 in live funded capital with Dorman Trading, his fastest account going from purchase to payout in 6 hours and 18 minutes. A specific, verified result, not a typical or guaranteed outcome.
Be fair to Topstep: its monthly price is low per month, and a subscription can be cheaper if you pass on the first try. The risk is the open-ended meter if you do not, versus a single, known one-time cost with Phidias.
Topstep cost: frequently asked questions
How much does Topstep cost per month?
On the Standard path, the Combine is $49, $99, or $199 per month for the 50K, 100K, and 150K, plus a one-time $149 activation when you pass. The No Activation path costs $95, $149, or $229 per month with no activation fee.
Does Topstep have an activation fee?
Yes, on the Standard path: a one-time $149 activation when you pass the Combine. The No Activation pricing path removes it in exchange for a higher monthly fee.
Is there a fee to withdraw from Topstep?
Yes, on ACH and wire withdrawals: each carries a $30 processing fee (Aeropay, Wise, and prop-to-brokerage can be free). Combined with the monthly subscription, the total cost of getting and staying funded depends heavily on how long the journey takes.
Which prop firm has a one-time fee instead of a subscription?
Phidias Express to Live charges a one-time fee with no monthly subscription and no activation fee, and converts to a real LIVE account on your first payout.
Sources and official references
• Topstep Trading Combine pricing (official): the Standard and No Activation monthly pricing and the $149 activation fee.
• Topstep Payout Policy (help center): payout methods and the $30 processing fee on ACH and wire.
• Topstep Trading Combine Parameters: what the Combine subscription buys.
• Dorman Trading: the NFA-registered broker behind Phidias LIVE accounts.
• Phidias accounts: Express to Live one-time pricing.
The bottom line
Topstep’s cost is deceptively simple. The monthly fee is small, but it is a meter: a $149 activation, a $30 payout fee, and a subscription that keeps charging until you pass, which can turn a cheap-looking Combine into several hundred dollars.
If you would rather pay once and know your cost up front, Phidias Express to Live is a one-time fee with no meter, and it puts you on real capital from your first payout.
Related Topstep guides
Topstep Review: the full firm breakdown, every stage and rule.
How to Pass the Topstep Combine: pass faster to keep the meter low.
Topstep Payout Rules: the $30 fee and the payout caps in full.
About the author
William G. is a futures prop-trading analyst at Phidias. He tests prop firms hands-on, reads the fine print in every help center and rulebook, and translates payout, drawdown and funding mechanics into plain English for traders deciding where to put their capital.
Last reviewed 2026.
Risk disclosure: Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Individual results such as the trader payout cited are specific, verified outcomes and are not typical or guaranteed. Topstep pricing, activation, and payout fees reflect publicly available information as of July 2026 and are subject to change. Verify current pricing on topstep.com before committing capital.
