Apex Trader Funding Review
- Fast payouts within 24 hours
- Generous profit splits start high
- Multiple account options suit beginners
- Scaling plans boost earning capacity
- Proprietary tools enhance performance levels
Company Overview
Apex Trader Funding is a proprietary trading firm established to provide traders with capital access without the traditionally high barriers to entry. Founded to democratize trading opportunities, Apex Trader offers challenge-based funding programs that evaluate traders’ skills before providing funded accounts. The company stands out for its trader-centric approach, offering competitive account sizes ranging from $25,000 to $250,000 with straightforward evaluation parameters.
What distinguishes Apex Trader is its dual-phase evaluation process—the Challenge and Verification phases—designed to identify disciplined, consistent traders. Their business model centers on profit-sharing arrangements where successful traders can earn up to 90% of generated profits. With realistic trading objectives, no time restrictions on completing challenges, and a diverse selection of tradable markets including futures, forex, and crypto, Apex Trader has positioned itself as a significant player in the prop trading industry.
Key Features at a Glance
Challenge Fees
- Standard Challenge – One-time fee ranging from $97 (for $25K account) to $597 (for $250K account)
- Professional Challenge – One-time fee from $147 (for $25K account) to $847 (for $250K account)
- No Monthly Fees – Unlike some competitors, Apex Trader doesn’t charge recurring payments once funded
- Refundable Options – First payment toward challenge can be refunded upon successful completion
Account Types
- Standard Challenge: Lower profit targets (8% in Challenge, 5% in Verification), more accessible for newer traders
- Professional Challenge: Higher profit targets (10% in Challenge, 5% in Verification) with enhanced profit splits for experienced traders
- Funded Account: After successfully passing both evaluation phases, traders receive a fully funded trading account
- Demo Account: Available for practice before committing to a challenge program
Profit Split Options
- Standard Challenge: 80% trader/20% company – Baseline profit-sharing structure for standard challenge graduates
- Professional Challenge: 90% trader/10% company – Enhanced profit-sharing for traders passing more demanding professional evaluation
- Scaling Program: Increasing profit share based on consistent performance milestones
- Bi-weekly Payouts: Regular profit withdrawals available twice a month for active traders
Account Sizes
- $25,000: Entry-level account with lowest challenge fee, ideal for beginners testing their strategies
- $50,000: Mid-tier account balancing moderate capital access with reasonable challenge costs
- $100,000: Popular choice for experienced traders seeking substantial capital
- $150,000: Advanced account size for traders with proven track records
- $250,000: Maximum account size for professional traders handling significant position sizes
Trading Platforms
- NinjaTrader: Advanced platform with extensive customization features and analytical tools
- TradingView: Popular web-based platform with social features and extensive chart analysis
- MetaTrader 4/5: Industry-standard platforms supporting various trading instruments
- Sierra Chart: Professional-grade trading software with advanced order execution
- Tradovate: Cloud-based futures trading platform with intuitive interface
Financial Markets
- Futures: Wide selection of CME Group futures contracts including E-mini S&P 500, Nasdaq, Crude Oil, and Gold
- Forex: Major and minor currency pairs with competitive spreads
- Micro Futures: Smaller contract sizes ideal for developing strategies with reduced capital risk
- Cryptocurrency Futures: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major cryptocurrency futures contracts
- Indices: Global stock market indices for diversified trading opportunities
Challenge Programs Detail
Standard Challenge
| Feature | Challenge Phase | Verification Phase |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | No time limit | No time limit |
| Profit Target | 8% | 5% |
| Daily Drawdown | 4% | 4% |
| Maximum Drawdown | 8% | 8% |
| Minimum Trading Days | 5 days | 5 days |
Professional Challenge
| Feature | Challenge Phase | Verification Phase |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | No time limit | No time limit |
| Profit Target | 10% | 5% |
| Daily Drawdown | 4% | 4% |
| Maximum Drawdown | 8% | 8% |
| Minimum Trading Days | 5 days | 5 days |
Challenge Specifications
- Max Allocation: Up to $250,000 with potential for scaling to higher account sizes based on performance
- Scaling: Account size can be increased by 25% after every 10% profit milestone, allowing traders to grow their allocation
- Trading Competitions: Regular contests with prize pools and additional account funding for top performers
- Free Trial: Demo access available to test the trading environment before purchasing a challenge
- Profit Targets: 8% for Standard Challenge, 10% for Professional Challenge in phase one; both require 5% in verification phase
- Drawdown Structure:
- Daily: 4% maximum loss from previous day’s closing balance
- Maximum: 8% overall account drawdown from starting balance
- Trailing: Not applicable – Apex Trader uses fixed drawdown limits rather than trailing stops
Trading Rules and Requirements
- No overnight positions allowed on specific instruments with high volatility
- Maximum open position size limited to 5 contracts for futures or standard lots for forex
- No trading during major economic news releases (first 10 minutes after release)
- Minimum 5 trading days required in both challenge and verification phases
- No algorithm trading or EAs that automatically execute trades
- No hedging the same instrument within the same account
- Maximum consecutive loss limit of 5 trades (depending on account size)
- Trading hours restricted to regular market hours for futures contracts
Company Information
- Founded in 2019 by a team of professional traders and financial industry experts
- Headquartered in the United States with a global trader base
- Support available via email, live chat, and phone during business hours
- Active community forum and educational resources for traders
- Regular updates to platform features and challenge parameters based on trader feedback
- Transparent profit-sharing model with clearly defined payment schedules
Payout Methods
- PayPal (1-2 business days)
- Bank Wire Transfer (3-5 business days)
- Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum) (Same day processing)
- Wise/TransferWise (2-3 business days)
- Minimum payout threshold: $100 for all payment methods
- Bi-weekly payout schedule (1st and 15th of each month)
Trading Commissions
- Futures: $4.02 round-turn per contract for standard futures, $0.82 for micro contracts
- Forex: Zero commission structure, compensation through competitive spread markup
- Crypto Futures: 0.04% of trade value per side
- No hidden fees or additional platform charges
- All commissions are industry-standard and similar to retail brokerage rates
IP Rules
- One IP address allowed per trader account (household exceptions available upon request)
- VPN usage prohibited during challenge and verification phases
- Location changes must be pre-approved through support team
- Multiple accounts under single IP address may trigger review
- Trading from public networks (coffee shops, etc.) discouraged but allowed with prior notification
Video Review
Apex Trader Review
Comprehensive review of Apex Trader trading services
Unique Features
No Time Limit
- Complete challenge and verification phases at your own pace without artificial deadlines
- Take time to develop and refine trading strategies without rushing
- Allows for selective trading during ideal market conditions
Scaling Program
- Account size can grow by 25% after achieving 10% profit milestones
- No need to purchase new challenges to access larger accounts
- Long-term growth path for consistent traders
Educational Resources
- Free webinars and strategy sessions for all challenge participants
- Trading psychology workshops focused on discipline and risk management
- Market analysis and trade setup reviews by professional traders
Why Choose Apex Trader?
Apex Trader stands out in the crowded prop firm space by offering trader-centric features that focus on sustainable long-term growth rather than unrealistic challenges. With no time constraints on challenge completion, traders can develop their skills without artificial pressure.
Key advantages include:
- No minimum daily trading requirements – trade only when conditions are favorable
- Generous profit splits (up to 90% for professional traders)
- Account scaling opportunities based on performance
- Realistic drawdown parameters that accommodate normal market fluctuations
- Bi-weekly profit withdrawals for consistent income potential
- Multiple trading platforms supported for flexibility
- No monthly subscription fees after funding
- Transparent rules with focus on realistic trading conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get funded?
The funding timeline depends entirely on your trading performance. Since Apex Trader places no time limits on challenges, you can complete both phases at your own pace. Once you’ve successfully met the profit targets (8% for Standard or 10% for Professional in the Challenge Phase, followed by 5% in the Verification Phase) while respecting drawdown limits and trading rules, you’ll receive your funded account within 24-48 hours after verification completion. Many successful traders complete both phases in 2-4 weeks, but you can take longer if needed.
Can I hold positions over the weekend?
Yes, weekend holdings are permitted for most instruments with some exceptions. Futures positions on volatile instruments (like Crude Oil or Natural Gas) must be closed before the weekend, while most index futures, forex pairs, and crypto positions can be held. Keep in mind that holding positions over the weekend does carry gap risk which counts toward your drawdown limits. It’s recommended to reduce position size when holding through weekends to account for potential market gaps.
What happens if I break a rule?
Rule violations are handled on a case-by-case basis. Minor infractions typically result in warnings, while serious violations like using prohibited trading techniques or attempting to manipulate the challenge system may lead to account termination without refund. If you inadvertently break a rule (such as exceeding position limits momentarily), contact support immediately as proactive communication often results in more lenient outcomes. Apex Trader generally takes an educational approach to first-time minor violations rather than immediate disqualification.
Can I trade news events?
Yes, news trading is allowed with specific limitations. You cannot trade during the first 10 minutes after major economic releases (like NFP, FOMC decisions, etc.). This rule exists to protect traders from extreme volatility that often occurs immediately following significant announcements. After this initial 10-minute period, you’re free to trade based on news developments. For scheduled news events, Apex Trader provides a calendar of restricted trading windows in their trader dashboard to help you plan accordingly.
How often can I withdraw profits?
Funded traders can withdraw profits on a bi-weekly schedule, with payouts processed on the 1st and 15th of each month. The minimum withdrawal amount is $100, and there’s no maximum limit on profit withdrawals. To request a payout, you must submit your withdrawal request at least 3 business days before the scheduled payout date. Profits are calculated based on closed trades only, and withdrawal requests are subject to a trading performance review to ensure all rules were followed during the profit generation period.
