Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep
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 | Topstep | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drawdown type | Trailing | Trailing | — |
| Daily loss limit | None | Optional add-on since April 14, 2026 ($1K/$2K/$3K by size). Always mandatory on Live Funded. | Apex Trader Funding |
| Payout split | 100% (no revenue share). After $25K cumulative: 90/10. | Post-Jan 2026: 90/10 from day one. Pre-Jan 2026: 100% first $10K then 90/10. | — |
| Min trading days | 0 | 0 | — |
| Consistency rule | 50% on PA payouts only. No single day > 50% of total profit since last payout. | Combine: 50% (best day < 50% of total). Funded Standard: none. Funded Consistency tier: 40%. | — |
| News trading | Yes | Yes | — |
| Weekend holding | No | No | — |
| Copy trading | Yes | Yes | — |
| Platforms | Rithmic, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, WealthCharts, Quantower, Sierra Chart, ATAS, Bookmap, MotiveWave | TopstepX (all new accounts), Quantower (exception) | — |
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.
Most established firm. Free resets are huge. Automated trading allowed on TopstepX. But: all new accounts forced to TopstepX (no NinjaTrader/Tradovate choice). Post-payout MLL reset is dangerous. Scaling starts at only 2-3 contracts on funded.
EOD trailing is fair - intraday swings don't move the floor. Locks once profit exceeds drawdown amount. CRITICAL: After a payout, your MLL resets to $0 - one bad day right after withdrawing can blow the account instantly.
90/10 from day one for new traders. Post-payout MLL reset to $0 is the biggest hidden risk. Free resets are genuinely valuable. Back2Funded ($599-829) lets you revive a blown funded account.
After payout, MLL resets to $0 - extremely vulnerable. New accounts TopstepX only (no NinjaTrader/Tradovate). Funded starts at 2-3 contracts (must scale up). VPS/VPN usage PROHIBITED. Positions must close by 3:10 PM CT. $30 ACH payout fee.
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