One of the biggest hurdles for serious traders isn’t strategy—it’s capital. You can have the skill, the timing, and the patience, but if you’re undercapitalized, your edge is compromised. Topstep.com solves this problem by offering traders a way to prove their consistency in a simulated environment and earn access to real capital without risking their own money.

Topstep is a prop firm that funds traders who pass their Trading Combine, a structured evaluation that emphasizes discipline over gambling. It’s a clean model: trade their money, not yours.

What is Topstep?

Topstep evaluates futures traders through a two-step process called the Trading Combine. You choose an account size—$50K, $100K, or $150K—and trade under strict rules. These rules include daily loss limits, a trailing drawdown, and a profit target.

Step 1 is about proving you can hit the target without breaking risk. Step 2 is about showing you can do it consistently. Pass both, and you’re offered a funded account. You keep the first $5,000 in profits, and 90% after that.

Topstep doesn’t charge you for losses. You only pay the Combine fee, which is often discounted with a promo code. If you trade well, you’re funded. If you don’t, you try again.

TopstepX: Web-Based Trading Without the Hassle

For traders who want to jump in without installing a third-party platform, Topstep offers TopstepX, their own web-based trading interface. It’s clean, fast, and optimized for both beginners and experienced traders who want a no-clutter execution tool.

TopstepX supports real-time simulated trading during the Combine. It’s fully integrated with Topstep’s rules, so you see daily loss limits, trailing drawdown tracking, and real-time P&L right in the dashboard. That kind of visibility helps traders stay sharp and accountable.

There’s no need to download external software. You can log in from any browser and start trading immediately. This is especially useful for traders who don’t want to deal with NinjaTrader, Tradovate, or third-party data feeds during evaluation.

Once funded, you’re free to switch to other platforms, but TopstepX remains an easy, stable option during the Combine.

Why Topstep Works

Topstep works because it simulates the real pressure of trading capital you can’t afford to lose. You’re not on a demo where anything goes. You’re trading with guardrails that mirror what it takes to survive professionally.

The Combine forces you to respect the rules—just like real capital would. You can’t go on tilt. You can’t double down on a loser. And you can’t get emotional and overtrade. If you do, you reset or fail.

That pressure turns gamblers into traders. If you can operate inside the structure Topstep sets, you’ll likely succeed in a funded account—and in the real world.

Perfect for Nasdaq Futures (NQ) Traders

For traders focused on the Nasdaq (NQ), Topstep is a strong match. The Combine lets you trade NQ with realistic position sizing and risk parameters. The New York session volatility in NQ offers opportunity every day, but only for traders who can control their impulse and stay inside the lines.

The key to success in the Combine is not hitting home runs—it’s stacking clean trades. Read the RSI. Track emotional extension. Let price return to the moving averages. Wait for structure. Then strike.

That’s the mindset Topstep rewards.

Real Capital, Real Profit Split

Topstep’s funded accounts come with a real payout model. Once funded, you keep the first $5,000 in profit with no split. After that, you earn 90% of everything else. It’s one of the best structures in the prop trading space.

No hidden charges, no bait-and-switch funding. You perform, you earn.

Discounts and Promo Codes

Topstep frequently offers deep discounts—up to 50%–70% off Combine fees. These promos rotate, especially around holidays or quarterly events.

Check the Tools & Discounts page for the latest code. This reduces the cost of evaluation and gives you a low-risk entry to the program.

Final Thoughts

Topstep isn’t for hobbyists. It’s for traders who are ready to take themselves seriously. If you have an edge, if you can follow rules, and if you’re done gambling—it’s a real shot at scaling.

The Combine sharpens your discipline. TopstepX gives you fast, browser-based access. And the funded account gives you the one thing most traders don’t have: capital without personal risk.

If you want to get funded, stay accountable, and trade with structure—Topstep is the path.