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
Firm Overview
Apex Trader Funding (apextraderfunding.com) was founded in 2021 by Darrell Martin in Austin, Texas. It is a futures-only prop firm offering a 1-step evaluation. The key differentiator is no daily loss limit — only a trailing drawdown that locks at your starting balance once reached. This makes Apex more forgiving than firms with strict daily limits. Account sizes: $25K, $50K, $75K, $100K, $150K, $250K, $300K. Profit target: 6% of account size. Minimum 7 trading days to pass evaluation.
Profit Split & Payouts
100% of the first $25,000 in profits per funded account, then 90/10 (trader keeps 90%). Payouts are bi-weekly. Payout requirements: minimum 8 trading days between requests, with at least 5 days showing $50+ profit. No single day can account for more than 30% of total profits at payout time. Monthly funded account fee applies ($85-$105/mo depending on platform choice).
Platforms
Three platform paths: Tradovate (web/desktop, beginner-friendly), Rithmic (NinjaTrader, R|Trader Pro, ATAS, Quantower — more technical, slightly cheaper monthly fee), WealthCharts (proprietary Apex platform with 22 exclusive scanners and indicators). TradingView can be connected via Tradovate integration.
Key Rules
- No daily drawdown limit
- Trailing drawdown locks at starting balance
- Close all positions by 4:59 PM ET (no weekend holds)
- Max 5:1 risk-to-reward ratio per trade
- 30% consistency rule at payout request
- Up to 20 accounts allowed simultaneously
- News trading: permitted
- EAs/copy trading: permitted (copy across your own accounts)
Company Information
- Founded: 2021 | CEO: Darrell Martin | Location: Austin, Texas
- Accounts: $25K-$300K | Futures only
- Profit split: 100% first $25K, then 90/10
- Payouts: Bi-weekly | Monthly PA fee: $85-$105/mo
- Trustpilot: 4.4/5 from 17,800+ reviews | $378M+ paid out
Key Features at a Glance
Industry-Leading Scale
Apex Trader Funding has paid out over $378 million to funded traders and accumulated over 17,800 Trustpilot reviews with a 4.4/5 rating — making it one of the largest and most reviewed prop firms in the world. This scale of payouts and community feedback provides a level of independent verification that very few competitors can match.
100% on First $25K
Apex’s profit split structure is among the most generous available: traders keep 100% of the first $25,000 in profits on each funded Performance Account. This means an active trader generating $5,000 per month retains every dollar for the first five months before the 90/10 split kicks in. For traders managing multiple accounts simultaneously (up to 20), this benefit multiplies accordingly.
Trailing Drawdown Locks at Breakeven
Once the funded account balance rises by an amount equal to the initial trailing drawdown, the drawdown floor locks at the starting balance and no longer trails upward. This is a meaningful structural protection — once a trader is sufficiently in profit, they can never lose their initial account capital to the trailing drawdown mechanism.
Account Sizes
Apex Trader Funding offers futures-funded accounts from $25,000 to $300,000, with monthly evaluation fees that are highly competitive given the firm’s scale:
| Account Size | Monthly Fee | Profit Target | Trailing Drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | ~$47/month | $1,500 (6%) | $1,500 |
| $50,000 | ~$67/month | $3,000 (6%) | $2,500 |
| $75,000 | ~$79/month | $4,500 (6%) | $2,750 |
| $100,000 | ~$97/month | $6,000 (6%) | $3,000 |
| $150,000 | ~$101/month | $7,500 (5%) | $5,000 |
| $250,000 | ~$103/month | $12,500 (5%) | $6,500 |
| $300,000 | ~$105/month | $15,000 (5%) | $7,500 |
Traders may hold up to 20 accounts simultaneously, allowing for concurrent evaluations or funded accounts across multiple size tiers. The monthly PA (Performance Account) fee applies only to funded accounts, not the evaluation.
Trading Platforms
Apex Trader Funding supports three distinct platform paths, giving traders flexibility over the trading environment they use:
Tradovate
A web and desktop platform well-suited to beginners and intermediate futures traders. Tradovate provides clean charting, order management, and a straightforward interface without requiring a separate data feed subscription. Its web-based nature means no installation is required, and it works on Mac and Linux as well as Windows.
Rithmic
The professional data feed and order routing infrastructure connecting to NinjaTrader, R|Trader Pro, ATAS, Quantower, and other advanced platforms. The Rithmic path carries a slightly lower monthly fee than Tradovate and is favoured by experienced traders using order flow tools or automated systems.
WealthCharts
Apex’s proprietary platform, featuring 22 exclusive market scanners not available on other platforms. WealthCharts is designed for discretionary traders who want integrated market screening alongside their trading charts, without switching between multiple applications.
Financial Markets
Apex Trader Funding is exclusively focused on US futures markets across CME Group, CBOT, and NYMEX exchanges:
- Equity index futures — ES (E-mini S&P 500), NQ (E-mini NASDAQ 100), YM (E-mini Dow Jones), RTY (E-mini Russell 2000); Micro equivalents (MES, MNQ, MYM, M2K)
- Energy futures — CL (Crude Oil WTI), NG (Natural Gas), QM (E-mini Crude Oil)
- Metals futures — GC (Gold), SI (Silver), HG (Copper)
- Currency futures — 6E (Euro), 6B (British Pound), 6J (Japanese Yen) and other major CME FX contracts
- Agricultural futures — ZC (Corn), ZS (Soybeans), ZW (Wheat)
- Interest rate futures — ZB (30-Year T-Bond), ZN (10-Year Note), ZF (5-Year Note)
Evaluation Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Evaluation Type | 1-Step (Simulated Account) |
| Account Sizes | $25K – $300K |
| Profit Target | 5%–6% depending on account size |
| Trailing Drawdown | Locks at starting balance once breakeven is reached |
| Daily Loss Limit | None |
| Close Requirement | All positions closed by 4:59 PM ET daily (no overnight/weekend holds) |
| Minimum Trading Days | None specified |
| Time Limit | None |
| 30% Consistency Rule | At payout request: no single day can exceed 30% of total profits |
| Max R:R per Trade | 5:1 maximum risk-to-reward ratio per trade |
| Simultaneous Accounts | Up to 20 accounts |
| EAs/Automation | Permitted |
| Copy Trading | Permitted across own accounts |
| News Trading | Permitted |
Payout Methods
Apex processes bi-weekly payouts with a minimum 8 trading days between requests. At least 5 of those days must show $50 or more in profit:
- ACH bank transfer — standard US domestic transfer for US-based traders
- Wire transfer — international bank transfer for non-US traders
- Cryptocurrency — select crypto options available for eligible funded traders
- PayPal — available in supported regions
- Bi-weekly payout schedule — minimum 8 trading days between consecutive requests
- Minimum qualifying days: at least 5 trading days with $50+ profit within the payout window
- 100% of first $25,000 in profits per account — 90/10 split thereafter
Trading Commissions
Commission structure varies by platform choice:
- Tradovate — platform subscription includes market data; per-contract commissions apply in addition to CME exchange fees
- Rithmic — slightly lower monthly platform fee; per-contract charges via NinjaTrader or other connected platforms; CME/CBOT exchange fees apply
- WealthCharts — bundled with Apex subscription; commissions are assessed per contract standard
- No daily loss limit means no intraday forced exits — cost management is fully at the trader’s discretion
- NFA regulatory fee — charged per contract as required for all US futures trading
IP Rules
- No daily drawdown limit — only the trailing drawdown applies
- Close all positions by 4:59 PM ET daily — no overnight or weekend holds permitted
- Max 5:1 risk-to-reward ratio per trade — enforced on entry
- 30% consistency rule at payout: no single trading day may account for more than 30% of total profits in the payout period
- EAs and automated trading are permitted across Apex accounts
- Copy trading is permitted across your own Apex accounts
- Up to 20 simultaneous accounts allowed under a single trader registration
- Strategies exploiting data feed arbitrage, platform latency, or pricing errors are prohibited
Unique Features
20 Simultaneous Accounts
Apex allows traders to hold up to 20 funded Performance Accounts simultaneously. For traders running systematic or multiple-strategy approaches, this means the 100% profit retention on the first $25K applies per account — a trader managing 5 funded accounts concurrently is eligible for $125,000 in fee-free profits before the 90/10 split engages on any individual account.
WealthCharts Scanners
The 22 exclusive market scanners available through WealthCharts give Apex traders a proprietary edge in identifying futures setups across multiple instruments simultaneously. These scanners are not available on any other platform and represent a meaningful value-add for discretionary traders who rely on market scanning as part of their workflow.
Trailing Drawdown Breakeven Lock
Once the account’s profit exceeds the initial trailing drawdown amount, the floor permanently locks at the starting balance. This structural protection means that traders who achieve early profitability effectively eliminate the risk of a trailing drawdown event reaching below their starting capital — a feature that provides significant psychological comfort for long-term funded trading.
Why Choose Apex Trader Funding?
Apex is the natural choice for serious futures traders who want the most credentialed and heavily capitalized prop firm in the market. Its $378M+ in verified payouts, 17,800+ Trustpilot reviews, 100% profit on first $25K per account, and 20-account concurrency make it the most scalable funded futures environment available.
- $378M+ paid out — the largest verified payout track record in futures prop trading
- 17,800+ Trustpilot reviews at 4.4/5 — unmatched independent validation
- 100% profit on first $25K per account — multiply across up to 20 simultaneous accounts
- No daily loss limit — full intraday session flexibility
- Trailing drawdown locks at breakeven — structural capital protection
- Three platform options — Tradovate, Rithmic, WealthCharts — maximum flexibility
- EAs and copy trading permitted across own accounts
The main constraints are the 4:59 PM ET close requirement (no overnight/weekend holds), the 5:1 max R:R cap, and the 30% consistency rule at payout. Traders who rely on swing trading or high R:R entries should evaluate whether these rules align with their strategy before committing.
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