Apex Trader Funding vs Phidias PropFirm
Every rule that actually affects your account — drawdown, daily loss, consistency, payout split, news, platforms — with a clear winner per category.
Rule by rule
Green = winner on that row. Ties show as "—".
| Rule | Apex Trader Funding | Phidias PropFirm | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drawdown type | Trailing | Trailing | Phidias PropFirm |
| Daily loss limit | None | None | — |
| Payout split | 100% (no revenue share). After $25K cumulative: 90/10. | 80/20 | — |
| Min trading days | 0 | 10 | Apex Trader Funding |
| Consistency rule | 50% on PA payouts only. No single day > 50% of total profit since last payout. | Eval: NONE. Funded: 30% (no single day > 30%). 25K Static: NONE at any stage. | — |
| News trading | Yes | Yes | — |
| Weekend holding | No | No | — |
| Copy trading | Yes | Yes | — |
| Platforms | Rithmic, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, WealthCharts, Quantower, Sierra Chart, ATAS, Bookmap, MotiveWave | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, Rithmic, Sierra Chart, MotiveWave, Quantower | — |
Real talk
What traders actually experience beyond the marketing copy.
Most popular futures prop firm. 100% payout split is unmatched. Constant 90% off sales make evals dirt cheap (~$30). But: automated trading PROHIBITED, PA has monthly fees ($85-105), max 6 payouts then PA closes forever. The 30-day eval window is new under 4.0.
EOD trailing is genuinely forgiving - intraday swings don't count until close. Intraday trailing is much harsher (tracks unrealized P&L tick-by-tick). Most experienced traders pick EOD. Safety net locks drawdown once you hit starting balance + drawdown + $100.
100% payout split is best in industry. BUT: PA closes forever after 6 payouts. $85-105/mo PA fee eats into profits. Payout ladder caps early withdrawals ($1K-$2.5K on first payout). After 6 payouts, buy a new eval to get a new PA.
Automated trading/bots PROHIBITED. PA has $85-105/mo fee. Max 6 payouts then PA closes permanently. No resets under 4.0. 30-day eval window (fail or expire = buy new). Inactivity rule: 2 days with $50+ profit per 30 days or PA closes.
Potentially best pure value in the industry. $144.60 for 100K, 5% drawdown, $0 activation, no DLL, automation allowed. The 80/20 split is the main downside. Young firm - verify longevity.
5% EOD trailing is the most generous drawdown PERCENTAGE in the industry. $5,000 on $100K vs $3,000-$4,000 everywhere else. Locks at starting + $100.
80/20 split is below the 90/10 standard. But with prices this low and drawdown this generous, total ROI may still be better. Transition to live after 3 payouts or $75K cumulative.
80/20 split is below standard. Young firm. Consistency rule details unclear. 10 min trading days. $25K Static has only $500 drawdown.
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