Introduction
The Topstep Trial, known as the Trading Combine®, offers aspiring futures traders an opportunity to develop and validate their skills in a simulated environment. Rather than risking personal capital, participants engage with real-time market data and execute trades under conditions that mirror live markets. This structured program emphasizes disciplined trading, robust risk management, and consistent performance, ultimately serving as a gateway to accessing a funded trading account. Through a clear set of objectives and a single overarching rule, the Trial fosters habits that are essential for long-term success in futures trading.
What is the Topstep Trial?
The Topstep Trial is an experiential learning and evaluation program specifically designed for futures traders. Participants open a simulated account that replicates market conditions, using virtual capital to trade permitted futures products. As traders progress, their performance is measured against predefined criteria. Successfully navigating these criteria unlocks the potential to earn a funded trading account, although achieving funding is only one of the Trial’s benefits. The primary focus remains on building discipline, refining strategies, and mastering risk controls within a realistic yet consequence-free setting.
Enrollment and Subscription
To enroll, traders visit the Topstep website, create an account, and select an account size—50K, 100K, or 150K in simulated buying power. Each account size has a corresponding monthly subscription fee that renews automatically until the trader meets the objectives or chooses to cancel. Payment methods include standard credit cards, debit cards, or PayPal. Once the objectives are met, the subscription ceases immediately, ensuring no further monthly charges. This model allows traders to focus on performance without hidden or ongoing fees once they qualify for funding.
Trial Parameters and Objectives
The Topstep Trial is governed by one rule and three core objectives. The singular rule mandates that the account’s balance must never fall to or below the Maximum Loss Limit, ensuring traders manage drawdowns effectively. The objectives require participants to reach and sustain a profit target, maintain consistency in profit generation, and avoid breaching a daily loss threshold. For a 50K simulated account, the profit target is $3,000; for 100K, it is $6,000; and for 150K, it is $9,000. Consistency demands that no single trading day’s profit exceeds 50% of the designated profit target—for instance, not more than $1,500 in a 50K Trial. Additionally, a Daily Loss Limit deactivates the account for the remainder of that trading day if exceeded. Together, these parameters cultivate balanced trading practices and mitigate impulsive behavior.
Fee Structure
The cost structure of the Trial is transparent and straightforward. Subscription fees are set at $49 per month for the 50K account, $99 per month for the 100K account, and $149 per month for the 150K account. Traders gain access to Level 1 (Top of Book) real-time data at no extra charge, ensuring they operate with timely market information. Simulated commissions and fees—aligned with those in live trading environments—are automatically deducted from the virtual account balance after each round-turn trade, reflecting realistic net profit and loss outcomes. Upon passing the Trial, a one-time activation fee of $149 is required to establish an Express Funded Account®, payable via credit or debit card.
Performance Monitoring and Evaluation
Throughout the Trial, traders monitor their progress via a real-time dashboard that displays key metrics, including current balance, open positions, and performance relative to targets. If a trader exceeds the Daily Loss Limit, the account automatically deactivates for the rest of the trading day, preventing further risk. Trade reports are generated and updated between 5 PM and 6 PM Central Time each trading day, consolidating all trading activity and confirming whether the objectives have been met. This systematic feedback loop aids traders in identifying patterns, refining strategies, and making data-driven improvements for subsequent sessions.
Transitioning to a Funded Account
Upon meeting all Trial objectives, traders receive a notification across three channels: a confirmation email, a green banner on their dashboard, and an updated trade report. At that point, they initiate the Express Funded Account activation process by paying the one-time fee and agreeing to standard account terms. The transition typically completes within minutes, though accounts passed on weekends become accessible when the simulated market reopens at 5 PM Central Time. Once activated, traders can request payouts up to four times per month, maintaining the disciplined approach established during the Trial.
Permitted Instruments and Trading Tools
The Trial confines trading to futures products listed on major exchanges—CME, COMEX, NYMEX, and CBOT—ensuring a focused environment aligned with professional futures markets. Instruments outside this scope, including stocks, options, forex, cryptocurrency, and contracts for difference, are expressly excluded. This targeted selection allows traders to specialize in futures dynamics and access integrated trading tools designed for efficient order execution, risk management, and market analysis.
Conclusion
The Topstep Trial serves as a comprehensive platform for futures traders to validate their strategies, hone risk controls, and cultivate disciplined habits without risking personal capital. By adhering to a clear rule set and meeting defined profit and consistency objectives, participants not only progress toward funding opportunities but also build a foundation for sustainable trading performance. The transparent fee structure, simulated real-world fees, and structured feedback mechanisms combine to create a professional training ground that bridges the gap between practice and live trading. Whether a novice or an experienced trader seeking to sharpen skills, the Topstep Trial offers a rigorous, outcome-focused pathway to professional futures trading.
