Apex Trader Funding

Apex Trader Funding is one of the largest and most widely used futures prop firms in the industry. Founded in 2021, Apex has funded tens of thousands of traders and built a recognizable brand around the promise of 100% (Sim Funded) profit retention — a headline figure that remains a primary draw for experienced traders comparing firms.

What distinguishes Apex is the combination of choice (both trailing intraday and EOD drawdown models are offered across different plans), scale (account sizes range from $25K to $300K), and scaling (a structured progression from Sim Funded to Live through the PA — Performance Account — pathway). The headline 100% (Sim Funded) split applies during the Sim Funded phase; live-account terms evolve under the PA structure.

Apex supports Rithmic and Tradovate connectivity with NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Quantower, and other front-ends. The firm permits automated trading, algo strategies, and news trading on most plans — flexibility that matters for systematic traders. For a head-to-head look at how Apex compares with its biggest competitor, see Apex vs Topstep.

Apex offers evaluations across $25K, $50K, $75K, $100K, $150K, $250K, and $300K account sizes. Entry pricing starts at $118 for the $25K account when current discount codes are applied — Apex promo cycles are aggressive and can cut evaluation costs by 50-90% during peak periods. Larger accounts scale up to $347 for $150K.

Selecting the right size is less about cost and more about drawdown ratio. On the $50K account, the drawdown buffer is $2,500 against a $3,000 profit target. Larger accounts provide proportionally more buffer, which matters if you take heat on winning positions before they resolve.

A $79 activation fee applies after passing, on top of the evaluation price. This is an important line item because Apex's activation is unusual: it's charged per funded account, not per trader. Traders who run multiple funded accounts multiply this cost. Reset fees are N/A (buy new eval) per attempt. For current Apex promotions, see our discount codes hub.

Apex uses Trailing or EOD drawdown — the most important number to understand before purchasing. On traditional Apex plans, the floor follows your highest unrealized equity in real time (intraday trailing). The floor locks once you've reached your starting balance + profit target — meaning once you've earned your profit target plus buffer, the floor stops trailing and becomes static.

The trailing-until-lock mechanism is stricter than EOD alternatives because any intraday equity peak permanently tightens your floor. A $1,500 unrealized gain that you give back before close doesn't just vanish — it raises the bar you now have to stay above for the rest of the evaluation. Traders accustomed to EOD models (Bulenox Option 2, TradeDay EOD, Top One Futures) often find the Apex drawdown unforgiving during their first few days.

Apex plans with Static drawdown are available in select packages — these eliminate the trailing behavior entirely for a tighter profit target. If your strategy holds winners through normal pullbacks, Static is usually the better fit even at a tighter target. For a plain-English walkthrough of drawdown types, see trailing vs EOD drawdown explained simply.

A 50% consistency rule applies on funded accounts: no single day's profit can exceed 50% of your total trading balance at payout request. Larger accounts dilute this percentage, making the rule progressively easier as you scale.

Apex's payout cadence is Every 5 trading days once you clear the Sim Funded minimum hold period. The first payout requires 1 trading day minimum in Apex's most aggressive plans — among the fastest first-payout windows in the industry on paper. Subsequent payouts follow the same cadence.

The profit split is 100% (Sim Funded). The PA (Performance Account) progression converts consistent Sim performance into a Live Funded account, at which point the split structure and payout cadence can change. Apex's documentation explicitly notes that profit retention rules differ between Sim Funded and Live Funded — traders focused on long-term cash flow should plan for both phases, not just the Sim phase advertised in marketing.

Payment methods include US wire, ACH, and international options. There is a minimum per-payout amount that scales with account size. Because Apex's trailing drawdown is strict during Sim, many traders take conservative first payouts specifically to protect the drawdown buffer before attempting larger withdrawals. For a broader look at how Apex's payout speed ranks, see fastest payout firms.

Apex permits a wide range of styles: algo trading, automated systems, news trading, and scalping are all allowed on most plans (always confirm against the specific plan you purchase). This flexibility is one reason Apex remains popular with systematic traders who need firms that don't restrict EAs or bots.

Contract scaling is enforced on larger accounts — certain tiers limit max open contracts until you've hit intermediate profit milestones. This matters if your strategy uses fixed-size positions: you may need to size down on the early part of a funded account's life until scaling caps lift.

Data subscription costs are a frequent line item traders overlook. Apex funded traders typically carry a platform data-fee relationship separately from the firm itself — factor this into your monthly cash-flow model before assuming the 100% (Sim Funded) split is a net 100% of gross profits. A practical estimate for NQ/ES CME data access is around $100-$150/month depending on platform choice.

Prohibited practices include exploiting sim fill behavior, coordinated multi-account trading, and gaming the scaling plan. Apex has a published list of prohibited practices and enforces them on funded accounts. For the fuller list of rule-related traps across all firms, see hidden rules that fail prop firm traders.

Apex is best suited for experienced traders who want scale, leverage, and high profit retention. The $100K-$300K account tiers are where Apex's model truly shines — the drawdown buffer becomes more forgiving, the scaling plan unlocks faster, and the 100% (Sim Funded) split translates into meaningful income on larger position sizes. For disciplined scalpers and day traders who've already proven consistency at smaller firms, Apex is a natural next step.

Algo traders and systematic traders benefit from Apex's permissive policy on automation, EAs, and news trading. Few firms are this flexible — most competitors restrict at least one of these categories. If your edge depends on automation or event-driven trading, Apex is among the most accommodating options.

Apex is less ideal as a first prop firm for beginners. The trailing drawdown model is unforgiving for traders still learning to manage intraday pullbacks — a single bad pullback can breach the floor even on a green day. Beginners often have better first-pass outcomes at EOD-drawdown firms like Bulenox (EOD plan), TradeDay, or Top One Futures. For the fuller beginner analysis, see best prop firm for beginners vs experienced.

Compare Apex with similar firms on the full comparison table, or drill into a specific matchup: Apex vs Bulenox, Apex vs TradeDay, or Apex vs Topstep.