Apex Trader Funding vs Elite Trader Funding – Prop Firm Comparison
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Introduction
Apex Trader and Elite Trader Funding are both futures prop firms built around CME Group markets, which makes them direct competitors for traders who want funded access to contracts like ES, NQ, CL and GC. Apex Trader, founded 2021 (Austin, TX) funds $25K to $300K accounts on CME futures, keeps up to 100% (100% of first $25,000, then 90/10), and runs 1-step evaluation, with bi-weekly payouts, processed within 24 hours. Elite Trader Funding, founded 2022 (United States) funds Multiple sizes (six evaluation pathways) accounts on CME futures, keeps up to 100%, and runs six pathways incl. Direct to Funded (instant), with standard processing. Apex Trader is best for active intraday futures traders who want large accounts and aggressive discounts, while Elite Trader Funding suits futures traders who want flexible evaluation pathways and the option to hold over weekends.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Apex Trader Funding | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| 
| |
| Founded | 2021 | 2022-02 |
| Profit Split | 100% Profit Split - With Six Payouts: 100% | Up to 100% SIM (round/lifetime caps); 80% LIVE ELITE |
| Maximum Account Size | Current EOD/Intraday: $150K nominal account size; larger Legacy tiers have separate terms | $250,000 |
| Evaluation Phases | 1 | 1 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.4 | 3.8 |
| Expert Grade | 8.8 | 7.9 |
Program Types
| Program | Apex Trader Funding | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | 1-Step |
| Advanced Program | Yes | Diamond Hands |
| Scaling Options | Yes | No |
| Demo Account | Not available | Yes |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Apex Trader Funding | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | Current EOD/Intraday: 6% ($1,500/$3,000/$6,000/$9,000 by size) | 6 |
| Maximum Drawdown | The Product Line - EOD Trail: End-of-day trailing The Product Line - Intraday Trail: Real-time intraday trailing | Plan-dependent: static, intraday or EOD trail; fixed breach floor remains after safety net |
| Minimum Trading Days | Current EOD/Intraday evaluations can pass in one trading day; payout eligibility requires 5 qualifying profit days | The Product Line - 1 Step Live Trailing: 5 The Product Line - Static: 5 The Product Line - End of Day: 5 The Product Line - Diamond Hands: 5 The Product Line - Fast Track: 3 The Product Line - Direct to Funded: None |
| News Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Loss Limit | The Product Line - EOD Trail: Yes ($1,000 on 50K) The Product Line - Intraday Trail: None | The Product Line - 1 Step Live Trailing: None The Product Line - Static: None The Product Line - End of Day: Yes, from the prior day close The Product Line - Diamond Hands: Yes, from the prior day close The Product Line - Fast Track: None The Product Line - Direct to Funded: None |
| Drawdown Type | Not available | The Product Line - 1 Step Live Trailing: Intraday trailing, follows highest unrealised profit The Product Line - Static: Static, never trails The Product Line - End of Day: End-of-day trailing on the highest closing balance The Product Line - Diamond Hands: End-of-day trailing The Product Line - Fast Track: EOD trailing or static by variant, $500 floor The Product Line - Direct to Funded: EOD trailing on 10K, 25K and 50K, static on 100K |
| Time Limit | Not available | The Product Line - 1 Step Live Trailing: None, renews every 30 days The Product Line - Static: None, renews every 30 days The Product Line - End of Day: None, renews every 30 days The Product Line - Diamond Hands: None, renews every 30 days The Product Line - Fast Track: 10 calendar days The Product Line - Direct to Funded: None, one-time fee |
| Maximum Contracts | Not available | The Product Line - 1 Step Live Trailing: 8 (50K) / 14 (100K) / 24 (250K) minis; no limit published for 150K The Product Line - Static: 1 / 2 / 4 minis The Product Line - End of Day: 8 / 14 / 18 minis The Product Line - Diamond Hands: 2 minis The Product Line - Fast Track: 1 mini The Product Line - Direct to Funded: 2 (10K) / check dashboard (25K) / 5 (50K) / 3 (100K) minis |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Apex Trader Funding | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Futures $10K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | Static Drawdown / USD 147 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Fast Track EOD / USD 57 / One-time Official list price; no monthly renewal; funded activation is initially included, then USD 87 monthly. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Fast Track Static / USD 77 / One-time Official list price; no monthly renewal; funded activation is initially included, then USD 87 monthly. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Direct To Funded / USD 357 / One-time Official one-time list price; no monthly evaluation subscription. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| 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 | Static Drawdown / USD 277 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| 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 | 1 Step / USD 207 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Static Drawdown / USD 497 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 End of Day / USD 347 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Direct To Funded / USD 747 / One-time Official one-time list price; no monthly evaluation subscription. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| 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 | 1 Step / USD 257 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 End of Day / USD 487 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Diamond Hands / USD 397 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 Direct To Funded / USD 997 / One-time Official one-time list price; no monthly evaluation subscription. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| 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 | 1 Step / USD 347 / One-time Official evaluation list price; auto-renews every 30 days. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Refund Policy | Not available | All sales final, no refunds. Narrow 100% satisfaction guarantee on first purchase only |
| Coupons / Discount | Apex Trader Funding discount | Elite Trader Funding discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Apex Trader Funding | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Quantower, and 8 more | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Rithmic, R | Trader, ATAS, and 8 more |
| Forex | Currency futures, not spot Forex | No |
| Stocks | No individual shares; equity-index futures only | No |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | Not available | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| EA/Algo Trading | Manual order entry required; own-account copying and native risk orders permitted only under the User Agreement | No |
Payout
| Feature | Apex Trader Funding | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | SIM Mon/Wed batches after plan-specific ATDs and safety net; minimum $100-$1,000 by plan/date. $25K per SIM round, $150K lifetime across approved re-entries. LIVE ELITE daily business-day processing, $250 minimum; Rise |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Apex Trader Funding | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Six distinct evaluation pathways, Diamond Hands overnight/weekend holding, Direct to Funded bypass, up to 100% profit split, $13M+ distributed |
| 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 | 3.8/5 Trustpilot, futures-only, high ongoing costs, limited platform options |
| Best For | Serious futures day traders seeking scalability and capital protection | Futures traders seeking multi-day holding flexibility and program variety |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Apex Trader Funding if you want a larger funded ceiling at $300K and coverage of forex and stocks that the other does not offer. Choose Elite Trader Funding if a cheaper entry, from USD 147 matters 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 Funding’s programs?
Apex Trader Funding was founded in 2021 and carries a JoinProp Rating of 8.8 out of 10. Our comparison table lists a 1-phase evaluation, a 5-6% profit target and a maximum funded account of $300,000. Trading platforms are listed as Tradovate, Rithmic, WealthCharts. On the same table scaling is offered and an entry level program is available. Confirm the current terms for the exact account you buy before you fund it.
What should I know about Elite Trader Funding’s programs?
Elite Trader Funding distinguishes evaluation, Elite Sim-Funded and LIVE ELITE stages. Its revamped EOD plan requires at least five evaluation trading days. Elite Trader Funding official rules.
How do payouts differ between Apex Trader Funding and Elite Trader Funding?
Apex Trader Funding lists a profit split of 100% first $25,000, then 90/10. Its payout terms are listed as Bi-weekly (min 8 trading days between requests, 5 days with $50+ profit).
The revamped EOD guide describes Elite Sim payouts processed on Mondays and Wednesdays and Live Elite payouts on business days. Sim payout eligibility requires the safety net, active trading days, an active subscription and compliance review. Elite Trader Funding official rules.
Which account rules matter when comparing Apex Trader Funding and Elite Trader Funding?
Apex Trader Funding applies Trailing drawdown (locks at starting balance) as its maximum drawdown. It also lists a 5-6% profit target. On this firm news trading is permitted and EAs and algorithms are permitted.
EOD drawdown trails the highest end-of-day balance, but open-position losses still count against intraday loss limits. Legacy accounts can have different payout and transition rules. Elite Trader Funding official rules.
Is Apex Trader Funding or Elite Trader Funding automatically the better choice?
No, neither firm is the automatic pick, and the honest answer depends on how you actually trade.
Apex Trader Funding Strengths: $378M+ payouts verified and 17. Watch-outs: 4:59 PM ET close requirement and 5:1 max risk-to-reward ratio. Best suited to: Serious futures day traders seeking scalability and capital protection.
Elite Trader Funding Strengths: Six distinct evaluation pathways and Diamond Hands overnight/weekend holding. Watch-outs: 3.8/5 Trustpilot and futures-only. Best suited to: Futures traders seeking multi-day holding flexibility and program variety.
Which one wins for you depends on how each firm measures drawdown, what the account actually costs once resets and add-ons are included, and the evaluation objectives on the exact size you buy, rather than on the headline numbers. Check both sets of current terms before you fund an account.
Are Apex Trader and Elite Trader Funding both futures-only?
Yes. Both fund traders on CME Group futures – index, energy, metals and currency contracts. Neither offers forex or CFD funded accounts, so the choice comes down to rules, platforms and payouts rather than markets.
Which firm pays out faster?
Apex Trader offers bi-weekly payouts, processed within 24 hours, while Elite Trader Funding offers standard processing. Match the payout cadence to how often you plan to withdraw.
Which firm has the better profit split?
Apex Trader keeps up to 100% (100% of first $25,000, then 90/10), and Elite Trader Funding keeps up to 100%. The better deal depends on the account tier and how far you scale.
Does either firm offer instant funding?
Apex Trader requires an evaluation, while Elite Trader Funding offers one (direct to Funded – skip evaluation, sim-funded).
Which firm gives more platform choice?
Apex Trader supports Tradovate, Rithmic, NinjaTrader, WealthCharts, while Elite Trader Funding supports NinjaTrader with Rithmic data feed.
How We Compared Apex Trader and Elite Trader Funding
Both firms carry a JoinProp Rating out of 10, scored on the same nine weighted factors, led by payout reliability at 20%, then fee structure, drawdown rules and profit split at 15% each. The scores come from our own firm reviews, built from each firm’s current terms rather than its marketing pages and re-checked at least every 90 days. Affiliate relationships have no effect on any rating, and ratings are never sold. The tables above are the evidence behind those scores. Read our full ranking methodology.
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