Apex Trader Funding vs Take Profit Trader
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 | Take Profit Trader | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drawdown type | Trailing | Trailing | — |
| Daily loss limit | None | None | — |
| Payout split | 100% (no revenue share). After $25K cumulative: 90/10. | PRO: 80/20. PRO+: 90/10. Early withdrawal (<60 days): 50%. | Apex Trader Funding |
| Min trading days | 0 | 5 | Apex Trader Funding |
| Consistency rule | 50% on PA payouts only. No single day > 50% of total profit since last payout. | Test: 50%. PRO/PRO+ funded: NONE. | — |
| News trading | Yes | No | Apex Trader Funding |
| Weekend holding | No | No | — |
| Copy trading | Yes | Yes | — |
| Platforms | Rithmic, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, WealthCharts, Quantower, Sierra Chart, ATAS, Bookmap, MotiveWave | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Rithmic, Quantower, MotiveWave | — |
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.
Clean rules with no DLL and no funded consistency. But the PRO drawdown switch to intraday, 80/20 split, expensive PRO resets, and 60-day early withdrawal penalty are significant hidden costs. PRO+ is the goal but requires invitation.
CRITICAL: Drawdown switches from EOD (Test) to INTRADAY (PRO). This is the #1 reason funded traders blow accounts. PRO+ goes back to EOD but requires invitation after ~$5K in PRO profits.
Buffer system means your first $2K-$4.5K of profit is locked. 80/20 on PRO is below standard. Early withdrawal penalty: only 50% payout if account terminates within 60 trading days. PRO resets are EXPENSIVE ($399-$1,299).
PRO drawdown switches to INTRADAY trailing (biggest trap). 80/20 split on PRO. Early withdrawal penalty (50% if <60 days). PRO resets cost $399-$1,299. News restricted on funded (1 min buffer FOMC/NFP). Automated trading prohibited.
Related head-to-heads
Other comparisons worth your time.