Plan card · Topstep
Topstep $1.5K Challenge (Powered Up) Review (2026): $99, Rules & Payout
By Steve H — reads every firm’s official rulebook, checks prices and codes daily, and maintains the Enigma Score · Methodology · Editorial policy · Last updated October 21, 2026
In short: Topstep Labs' $1.5K Challenge (Powered Up) costs $99, paid once: make $1,500 before you lose $500 in the Challenge Round, do it again in the Payout Round, and receive a fixed $1,500 payout with no profit split. It allows 2 minis or 20 micros, with no daily limit, no consistency rule and 90 days per round.
make $1,500 twice, keep $1,500
Topstep $1.5K Challenge key facts
| Fact | Topstep $1.5K Challenge |
|---|---|
| Price | $99 one-time |
| Rounds | Challenge Round, then a free Payout Round with the same rules |
| Profit target | $1,500 in each round |
| Maximum Loss Limit | $500 static (non-trailing), from a $0 start |
| Daily Loss Limit · consistency · minimum days | None · none · none |
| Contracts | 2 minis / 20 micros (MCL/MGC up to 12) |
| Payout | Fixed $1,500, paid once, no profit split; the account then closes |
| Lifespan · inactivity · resets | 90 days · 30 days · none |
| Purchase limit | 5 per trader; up to 5 in the Payout Round at once |
| Path to Live | None |
Last verified 2026-10-21 (October 21, 2026) against Topstep’s own pages.
Sources
- Help center: Topstep Labs (every drop's parameters)
- Topstep Labs page
- Help center: Express Funded Account parameters
- Help center: Topstep Payout Policy
- topstep.com — topstep prop
- help.topstep.com — trading combine parameters
- help.topstep.com — what is the maximum loss limit
- help.topstep.com — daily loss limit in the trading combine and express funded account
- help.topstep.com — am i eligible to trade with topstep
How much does Topstep $1.5K Challenge cost?
From $99 (Labs $1.5K Challenge (Powered Up), 1.5K), as listed by Topstep. Prices are updated daily; activation fees, where a plan has one, are charged only after passing and are shown as total cost.
| Variant | Size | Price | Target | Max loss | Daily loss | Reset | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Powered Up) | 1.5K | $99 | $1,500 | $500 (Static) | None | — | $99 |
Who is Topstep $1.5K Challenge for?
- You want a fixed target: $1,500, twice, for $1,500
- You trade with no daily limit and no consistency rule
- You'd rather risk $99 than a monthly bill
What is Topstep $1.5K Challenge?
It is Topstep Labs drop #007 (October 2026), the Powered Up version of the $1.5K Challenge with ten times the buying power of the original. It is not a funded account: you earn one fixed payout and the account closes.
What are the Topstep $1.5K Challenge rules?
Make $1,500 from a $0 start without losing $500 (a static limit). There is no daily loss limit, no consistency target, no minimum trading days and no scaling plan; each round lasts up to 90 days and closes after 30 days without a trade.
Trading closes at 3:10 PM CT and reopens at 5:00 PM CT, so nothing is held overnight. News trading is allowed at your own risk. Bots and trade copiers are allowed with conditions; hedging across accounts and running more than one Topstep profile are not. You trade on TopstepX, futures only.
How much does Topstep $1.5K Challenge cost?
$99, paid once (the original was $39 with 2 micros). There are no rebills and no resets, the Payout Round is free to activate, and Topstep's standard refund policies apply.
How do Topstep $1.5K Challenge payouts work?
Once: hit the $1,500 target again in the Payout Round and request the fixed $1,500 from your dashboard. There is no profit split and no remaining balance.
What happens after you pass Topstep $1.5K Challenge?
Passing the Challenge Round unlocks the Payout Round, a new account with the same rules; up to 5 can sit in the Payout Round at once, separate from the 5 Express Funded Account limit. Challenges never lead to a Live call-up.
How does Topstep $1.5K Challenge compare to Phidias Express to Live 25K?
Phidias' Express to Live 25K scores 7.9/10 against the $1.5K Challenge's 6.6: the same $1,500 target and $500 static limit, twice, but a $1,000 bonus payout at 80/20 after which the account converts to live, for $69.25 on our site.
Every Topstep plan is compared side by side on the Topstep page, and any two firms on the comparison hub.
Is Topstep $1.5K Challenge worth it?
It rates 6.6/10 (Fair): $99 for a fixed $1,500 payout with no daily limit or consistency rule, but only $500 of loss room, two rounds to earn one payout, and no road to Live.
Scores follow the Enigma Rating method: value, risk cushion, payout reach, pass ease and trader sentiment.
What does the funded Topstep $1.5K Challenge account look like (1.5K)?
- Drawdown
- Static · $500
- Consistency
- None
- Payouts
- Once: hit $1,500 again, request the fixed $1,500
- Buffer
- $0
- Position limit
- 2 Minis / 20 Micros
- Profit split
- Fixed $1,500 payout
Labs drop #007 (October 2026). Challenge Round: make $1,500 before losing $500 (static) -> free Payout Round with the same rules -> fixed $1,500 payout, no profit split, account closes. No DLL, no consistency, no minimum days, no scaling, no resets; 90-day lifespan, closes after 30 days without trades; 5 per trader; up to 5 in the Payout Round at once; no path to Live.
Topstep $1.5K Challenge — frequently asked questions
- How much does the Topstep $1.5K Challenge cost?
- $99 for the Powered Up version, paid once. No rebills and no resets.
- How does the Topstep $1.5K Challenge pay out?
- Hit $1,500 in the Challenge Round, activate the free Payout Round, hit $1,500 again, and request a fixed $1,500 payout. The account then closes.
- Is there a profit split on the $1.5K Challenge?
- No. The payout is a fixed $1,500, paid one time.
- What changed in the $1.5K Challenge Powered Up?
- Ten times the buying power: up to 2 minis or 20 micros instead of 2 micros, for $99 instead of $39. The $1,500 target and payout are the same.
- Can the $1.5K Challenge get me a Live account?
- No. Challenges cannot lead to a Live call-up, and performance in them does not count toward one.
- How many $1.5K Challenges can I have?
- 5 per trader, with up to 5 in the Payout Round at once.
1 variants · 1.5K · plan rules written up on 2026-10-21; facts last verified against Topstep on 2026-10-21.