Apex Trader Funding

Apex Trader Funding launched in 2021 and experienced explosive growth, quickly becoming one of the most popular futures prop firms alongside Topstep. The firm was founded by Darrell Martin, who previously ran Apex Investing, an educational platform for futures traders. Based in Austin, Texas, Apex differentiated itself with an extremely simple one-step evaluation process and the notable absence of a daily drawdown limit.

Apex's growth has been fueled by aggressive promotional pricing. The firm regularly offers 50-80% off evaluations, making it one of the cheapest ways to get funded for futures trading. This pricing strategy has attracted a massive user base, though it has also led to scrutiny about sustainability and payout policies.

Apex uses a single-step evaluation with no Phase 2. Reach the profit target while staying within the trailing drawdown, and you receive a funded account. There is no daily loss limit during the evaluation.

$25K account: Profit target $1,500. Trailing drawdown $1,500. Max contracts: 4.

$50K account: Profit target $3,000. Trailing drawdown $2,500. Max contracts: 10.

$75K account: Profit target $4,250. Trailing drawdown $2,750. Max contracts: 12.

$100K account: Profit target $6,000. Trailing drawdown $3,000. Max contracts: 14.

$150K account: Profit target $9,000. Trailing drawdown $5,000. Max contracts: 17.

$250K account: Profit target $15,000. Trailing drawdown $6,500. Max contracts: 27.

$300K account: Profit target $20,000. Trailing drawdown $7,500. Max contracts: 35.

You must trade a minimum of 7 trading days. There is no maximum time limit. Trades must be closed before 4:59 PM ET daily (no overnight holds during evaluation).

Apex uses a monthly subscription model. Full prices before discounts:

• $25K account — $147/month
• $50K account — $167/month
• $75K account — $187/month
• $100K account — $207/month
• $150K account — $297/month
• $250K account — $517/month
• $300K account — $657/month

With the APEX80 code (80% off), the $50K account drops to ~$33/month and the $100K to ~$41/month, making Apex arguably the cheapest funded futures account available. The APEX50SAVE code provides a 50% discount year-round.

• Daily loss limit: None during evaluation. On funded accounts, a daily drawdown of the trailing threshold applies.
• Trailing drawdown: Trails your highest account balance. Once your balance exceeds the starting balance plus the trailing amount, the drawdown locks at your starting balance (becomes static).
• Minimum trading days: 7 days during evaluation. No minimum on funded accounts.
• Trading hours: Must close positions by 4:59 PM ET. No overnight holds.
• News trading: Allowed. No restrictions on trading around economic events.
• Consistency rule: Recent rule changes require that no single day accounts for more than 30% of your total profit on funded accounts.
• Multiple accounts: Traders can run up to 20 evaluation accounts simultaneously, which is unique in the industry.
• Prohibited: No copy trading across accounts, no hedging between accounts, no HFT or latency arbitrage.

Apex supports NinjaTrader, Tradovate (web and mobile), and any Rithmic-compatible platform. This gives traders significant flexibility in choosing their preferred charting and execution tools. Tradovate is particularly popular for mobile traders.

Instruments include all CME Group futures: ES, NQ, RTY, YM (equity indices), CL, NG (energy), GC, SI, HG (metals), 6E, 6B, 6J (currencies), ZB, ZN (treasuries), and all corresponding micro contracts. The full CME product suite is available.

Apex offers a 100% profit split on the first $25,000 earned per funded account, then 90% thereafter. Payouts can be requested twice per month (on the 1st and 15th). The first payout is available after 8 trading days. Payout methods include ACH, wire transfer, and international payment options. Apex has a minimum payout of $500 for the first withdrawal and $250 for subsequent ones.

Apex does not offer a traditional account balance scaling plan. Instead, as you demonstrate profitability and the trailing drawdown locks at your starting balance, you effectively gain more room to trade. Traders who want larger accounts typically purchase additional evaluations (up to 20 concurrent accounts). This multi-account approach is a unique feature that essentially replaces scaling for many Apex traders.

Pros:

• No daily drawdown limit during evaluation — a major differentiator from Topstep
• Extremely cheap with promotional codes (80% off makes accounts under $50/month)
• One-step evaluation with no Phase 2
• 100% profit split on the first $25K earned
• Allows up to 20 simultaneous evaluation accounts
• Full CME product suite with NinjaTrader and Tradovate support
• Strong Trustpilot rating (4.4/5) with a large review base

Cons:

• Recently introduced a 30% consistency rule on funded accounts, which has frustrated many traders
• Trailing drawdown can be aggressive — if you make $2,000 and give back $1,500, you are close to breach
• Payout rules have changed multiple times, creating uncertainty about future policy
• No overnight holds — all positions must be flat before market close
• Monthly subscription model means costs accumulate if you do not pass quickly
• The heavy discounting model raises questions about long-term business sustainability
• Some traders report delays in payout processing during high-volume periods

Apex is ideal for futures day traders who want the cheapest and simplest path to a funded account. If you trade E-mini or micro futures intraday and want to avoid daily drawdown limits during your evaluation, Apex is the strongest option. The ability to run multiple accounts simultaneously appeals to traders who want to diversify their funded account risk.

Swing traders and those who need overnight holds should look elsewhere. Traders who are uncomfortable with frequently changing rules or who want the stability of a longer-established firm (Topstep has 10+ years more history) may also prefer alternatives.

★★★★☆ 4.4 / 5 — based on 18,588 reviews on Trustpilot.

Apex maintains a solid Trustpilot rating. Positive reviews highlight the easy evaluation process, aggressive pricing, and generous profit splits. Common complaints focus on the changing payout rules, the consistency requirement that was added post-launch, and occasional payout delays. The firm's rapid growth has also led to customer support backlogs during peak periods. Overall, the majority of traders rate their experience positively.