Apex Trader Funding vs Funding Traders: Elite Prop Firms Comparison
Published: · Last updated:
By JoinProp
Introduction
Apex Trader and Funding traders represent two prominent options in the prop trading firm landscape, each offering traders the opportunity to access funded accounts. Apex Trader stands out with its straightforward evaluation process and competitive profit splits, making it attractive for traders seeking simplicity and strong earning potential. Meanwhile, Funding traders has earned recognition for its flexible trading conditions and comprehensive educational resources that support traders at various experience levels. On Trustpilot, Apex Trader maintains a solid 4.3/5 rating based on 19,525 reviews (June 2026), while Funding traders holds a 4.4/5 rating from 280+ customer reviews.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Apex Trader Funding | Funding Traders |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| Founded | 2021 | 2019 |
| Profit Split | 100% Profit Split - With Six Payouts: 100% | The Product Line - 1-Step PRO: 90% The Product Line - 2-Step PRO6: 80% The Product Line - 2-Step PRO10: 80% The Product Line - Instant Funded: 90% Payouts: 80% (2-Step) or 90% (1-Step, Instant); 100% as a paid add-on |
| Maximum Account Size | Current EOD/Intraday: $150K nominal account size; larger Legacy tiers have separate terms | $400,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 1 | 1-Step PRO: 1; 2-Step PRO6/PRO10: 2; Instant: none |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.4 | Not available |
| Expert Grade | 8.8 | 8.5 |
Program Types
| Program | Apex Trader Funding | Funding Traders |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | 1-Step PRO / 2-Step PRO6 / PRO10 |
| Advanced Program | Yes | Instant Funding |
| Scaling Options | Yes | Published funded allocation caps: PRO $300k; Instant $400k. Legacy Next-Gen $500k is separate. |
| Demo Account | Not available | Yes |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Apex Trader Funding | Funding Traders |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | Current EOD/Intraday: 6% ($1,500/$3,000/$6,000/$9,000 by size) | The Product Line - 1-Step PRO: 10% The Product Line - 2-Step PRO6: 6% then 6% The Product Line - 2-Step PRO10: 10% then 5% The Product Line - Instant Funded: None |
| Maximum Drawdown | The Product Line - EOD Trail: End-of-day trailing The Product Line - Intraday Trail: Real-time intraday trailing | The Product Line - 1-Step PRO: 10% The Product Line - 2-Step PRO6: 6% The Product Line - 2-Step PRO10: 10% The Product Line - Instant Funded: 6% |
| Minimum Trading Days | Current EOD/Intraday evaluations can pass in one trading day; payout eligibility requires 5 qualifying profit days | 2-Step: 4 per phase + 2 funded; 1-Step: 2 evaluation + 2 funded; Instant: 5 profitable 0.25% days per 30-day period |
| News Trading | Yes | PRO evaluation allowed; funded 30% news-profit cap. Instant restricted; help/terms conflict on window and holding add-on. |
| Daily Loss Limit | The Product Line - EOD Trail: Yes ($1,000 on 50K) The Product Line - Intraday Trail: None | The Product Line - 1-Step PRO: 3% The Product Line - 2-Step PRO6: 3% The Product Line - 2-Step PRO10: 5% The Product Line - Instant Funded: 3% |
| Drawdown Type | Not available | The Product Line - 1-Step PRO: Trailing - never locks The Product Line - 2-Step PRO6: Static The Product Line - 2-Step PRO10: Static The Product Line - Instant Funded: Trailing until +3%, then locks |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Apex Trader Funding | Funding Traders |
|---|---|---|
| CFD $10K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | Listed challenge / USD 119 / One-time |
| CFD $25K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | Listed challenge / USD 229 / One-time |
| CFD $50K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | Listed challenge / USD 339 / One-time |
| CFD $100K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | Listed challenge / USD 599 / One-time |
| CFD $200K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | Listed challenge / USD 999 / One-time |
| Futures $25K Account | Intraday Trail / USD 167 / One-time Official Standard one-pack list price. Activation fee after passing: USD 69. Source Checked 2026-08-10 EOD Trail / USD 390 / One-time Official Standard one-pack list price. Activation fee after passing: USD 99. Source Checked 2026-08-10 | Not listed in review pricing source |
| Futures $50K Account | Intraday Trail / USD 249 / One-time Official Standard one-pack list price. Activation fee after passing: USD 79. Source Checked 2026-08-10 EOD Trail / USD 490 / One-time Official Standard one-pack list price. Activation fee after passing: USD 129. Source Checked 2026-08-10 | Not listed in review pricing source |
| Futures $100K Account | Intraday Trail / USD 399 / One-time Official Standard one-pack list price. Activation fee after passing: USD 99. Source Checked 2026-08-10 EOD Trail / USD 790 / One-time Official Standard one-pack list price. Activation fee after passing: USD 139. Source Checked 2026-08-10 | Not listed in review pricing source |
| Futures $150K Account | Intraday Trail / USD 599 / One-time Official Standard one-pack list price. Activation fee after passing: USD 129. Source Checked 2026-08-10 EOD Trail / USD 1490 / One-time Official Standard one-pack list price. Activation fee after passing: USD 159. Source Checked 2026-08-10 | Not listed in review pricing source |
| Refund Policy | Not available | Eligible evaluation fee bonus: first payout before 8 May 2026 purchases, second from that date; Instant excluded |
| Coupons / Discount | Apex Trader Funding discount | Funding Traders discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Apex Trader Funding | Funding Traders |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Quantower, and 8 more | TradeLocker, MetaTrader 5 |
| Forex | Currency futures, not spot Forex | Yes |
| Stocks | No individual shares; equity-index futures only | No |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | Not available | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Not available |
| EA/Algo Trading | Manual order entry required; own-account copying and native risk orders permitted only under the User Agreement | Risk-management tools allowed; personally developed EAs conditional in help, Risk Team exception required by terms |
Payout
| Feature | Apex Trader Funding | Funding Traders |
|---|---|---|
| Payout Terms | Current EOD/Intraday PAs: $500 minimum, 5 qualifying profit days, below-50% best-day consistency, lifetime safety net and size/type-specific caps; maximum 6 payouts. Legacy rules differ. | PRO 21 days (14-day add-on); Instant help 7 days versus terms 14, confirm. Rise $200; USDT ERC20 $50 if Rise unavailable; 24-48 hours excluding weekends. Instant additional cushion/profit/consistency gates. |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Apex Trader Funding | Funding Traders |
|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Choice of EOD or Intraday evaluation; up to 20 PAs subject to household limits; 100% of approved current simulated-PA payouts. EOD has a daily loss limit; Intraday evaluation does not. | Static 2-Step drawdown; no evaluation deadline; MT5/TradeLocker; published Discipline tracking |
| Weaknesses | 30-day current evaluations with no resets; funded scaling tiers; 50% PA consistency threshold; lifetime payout safety net; six-payout PA limit; no holding through market close | Conflicting help/terms; Instant 15% and 1-Step 50% consistency; risk-tier split reductions; Instant profitable-day and cushion requirements |
| Best For | Serious futures day traders seeking scalability and capital protection | Traders who can follow aggregated risk limits and product-specific payout gates |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Apex Trader Funding if you want a shorter evaluation at 1 phase and coverage of stocks that the other does not offer. Choose Funding Traders – Elite Firm Review if a larger funded ceiling at $1M and a cheaper entry, from USD 119 matter more to you. Neither firm is better in the abstract. The right choice depends on your strategy, your budget and the instruments you trade, so read both full reviews before you commit. Verify current rules and pricing on each firm’s own site before purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
What should I know about Apex Trader’s programs?
Apex separates EOD Performance Accounts from other and legacy account types. Its current EOD payout policy should not be applied indiscriminately to older accounts. Apex Trader official rules.
What should I know about Funding Traders’s programs?
FundingTraders has separate Pro and Instant programs. Its 2-Step Pro account has two evaluation phases and program-specific payout terms. Funding Traders official rules; Funding Traders official program information.
How do payouts differ between Apex Trader and Funding Traders?
Current EOD approved requests have a 100% split and a $500 minimum. Eligibility requires five qualifying profitable days, account-size balance thresholds and the consistency condition. Apex Trader official rules.
The 2-Step Pro guide lists an 80% default share with optional 90% or 100% upgrades. The first payout is normally available 21 days after the first funded trade; the 14-day add-on changes that schedule. Funding Traders official rules; Funding Traders official program information.
Which account rules matter when comparing Apex Trader and Funding Traders?
No single winning day may represent 50% or more of cycle profit. Only profit above the safety net can be requested, per-request caps apply, and the Performance Account closes after six payouts. Apex Trader official rules.
For 2-Step Pro purchases on or after May 8, 2026, the evaluation-fee refund is tied to the second qualifying payout, rather than simply passing the evaluation. Risk-management violations can also affect rewards. Funding Traders official rules; Funding Traders official program information.
Is Apex Trader or Funding Traders automatically the better choice?
No. The two firms lead on different things: Apex Trader Funding has the shorter evaluation at 1 phase and market access the other lacks, namely stocks, while Funding Traders – Elite Firm Review has the larger funded ceiling at $1M and the cheaper entry at USD 119. Which of those matters more depends on how you actually trade, so compare how each firm measures drawdown, the total fee once add-ons and resets are included and the evaluation objectives for the exact program you buy, rather than the headline numbers. If you fail an evaluation, do not assume either firm offers a fixed reset discount: check the reset terms for the specific account you bought.
How We Compared Apex Trader and Funding Traders
Both firms on this page carry a JoinProp Rating out of 10. We produce that rating with the same 9-factor methodology we apply to every firm we review: payout reliability (20%), fee structure (15%), drawdown rules (15%), profit split (15%), evaluation terms (10%), trading rules (10%), support access and responsiveness (5%), scaling plan (5%), and track record and transparency (5%).
The inputs come from our firm reviews, not from this page. For each firm we work from the current terms and conditions rather than marketing pages, track rule and pricing changes over time, and read payout and support reports across Trustpilot, Reddit and Discord, looking for recurring patterns rather than isolated complaints. Every firm is re-checked at least every 90 days, or sooner after a material change. Affiliate relationships have no effect on any rating, and ratings are never sold.
The tables above show the evidence behind those factors. A few rows, including trading platforms, available instruments, maximum account size and demo availability, are there to help you judge fit and do not affect either rating.
Read our full ranking methodology
View More Elite Prop Firms Compared: FTMO vs The Trade Pool
