Apex Trader Funding vs The5ers – Prop Firm Comparison
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Introduction
The choice between Apex Trader and The5ers usually comes down to one question: do you trade futures or forex? Apex Trader is a CME futures specialist, founded in Austin in 2021, that funds traders on contracts like ES, NQ, CL and GC through platforms such as Tradovate, Rithmic and NinjaTrader. The5ers, running out of Israel since 2016, is a forex and CFD house built on MetaTrader and cTrader, covering currencies, indices and commodities. That split shapes everything else. Apex keeps things intraday only, with no overnight or weekend holding, a single 1-Step evaluation at a 6% target, and a trailing drawdown that carries no daily loss limit but locks at your starting balance once you bank enough profit. The5ers takes the opposite stance on time: positions can be held overnight and over weekends, there is no time limit on the evaluation, and risk is governed by a 4% daily and 5% overall loss cap rather than a trailing threshold. Pricing and structure differ too. Apex runs on a monthly subscription from around $85, with account sizes from $25K up to $250K and a profit split that can reach 100%. The5ers starts lower at about $75 for entry, offers both a 2-Step route and a 1-Step Hyper Growth path, scales accounts through its growth plan, and pays up to an 80% split. A futures scalper who closes flat every night will feel at home with Apex Trader; a swing trader who wants to hold forex positions through the weekend will lean toward The5ers.
When comparing prop trading firms, Apex Trader and The5ers each offer distinct paths to funded trading. Apex Trader is Austin, Texas, USA-based, founded in 2021, and is known for 100% profit split on first $25K earned, $378M+ paid out to traders. It holds a 4.4/5 (17,800+ reviews) Trustpilot rating. The5ers, based in Israel, was founded in 2016 and stands out for Established since 2016 – strongest track record, Scales up to $4M, holding a 4.7/5 (4,500+ reviews) Trustpilot rating. Both firms provide paths to funded accounts, but their evaluation structures, pricing, and trader benefits differ in key ways that may suit different trader profiles.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Apex Trader Funding | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
|  | |
| Founded | 2021 | 2016 |
| Profit Split | 100% Profit Split - With Six Payouts: 100% | The Four Programmes - High Stakes (2-step): 80% The Four Programmes - Pro Growth (1-step): 75% The Four Programmes - Hyper Growth (instant): 50% The Four Programmes - Bootcamp (3-step): 50% |
| Maximum Account Size | Current EOD/Intraday: $150K nominal account size; larger Legacy tiers have separate terms | Up to $4M on applicable Growth/Bootcamp scaling plans; High Stakes has its own lower ceiling |
| Evaluation Phases | 1 | High Stakes: 2 steps; Growth: 1 step; Bootcamp: 3 steps. Separate Futures programs. |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.4 | 4.8 |
| Expert Grade | 8.8 | 9 |
Program Types
| Program | Apex Trader Funding | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Program | Yes | High Stakes (2-Step) |
| Advanced Program | Yes | Hyper Growth (1-Step) |
| Scaling Options | Yes | Bootcamp (3-Step) |
| Demo Account | Not available | Available |
Rules & Assessment
| Criteria | Apex Trader Funding | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | Current EOD/Intraday: 6% ($1,500/$3,000/$6,000/$9,000 by size) | The Four Programmes - High Stakes (2-step): 10% then 5% (New) / 8% then 5% (Classic) The Four Programmes - Pro Growth (1-step): 10% The Four Programmes - Hyper Growth (instant): 10% per milestone The Four Programmes - Bootcamp (3-step): 6% / 6% / 6% |
| Maximum Drawdown | The Product Line - EOD Trail: End-of-day trailing The Product Line - Intraday Trail: Real-time intraday trailing | The Four Programmes - High Stakes (2-step): 10% The Four Programmes - Pro Growth (1-step): 6% The Four Programmes - Hyper Growth (instant): 6% The Four Programmes - Bootcamp (3-step): 5% eval / 4% funded |
| Minimum Trading Days | Current EOD/Intraday evaluations can pass in one trading day; payout eligibility requires 5 qualifying profit days | High Stakes: 3 profitable days per evaluation phase, each meeting the 0.5% threshold; other plans have their own requirements. |
| News Trading | Yes | High Stakes: holding allowed, but order execution prohibited 2 minutes before/after high-impact news. Growth permits news subject to prohibited-strategy rules. Separate Futures rules. |
| Daily Loss Limit | The Product Line - EOD Trail: Yes ($1,000 on 50K) The Product Line - Intraday Trail: None | The Four Programmes - High Stakes (2-step): 5% (breach) The Four Programmes - Pro Growth (1-step): 3% (breach) The Four Programmes - Hyper Growth (instant): 3% - a pause, not a breach The Four Programmes - Bootcamp (3-step): None in evaluation |
Fees & Pricing
| Option | Apex Trader Funding | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| CFD $2.5K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | High Stakes New / USD 19 / One-time Official rendered page default, 2-step High Stakes New. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| CFD $5K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | High Stakes New / USD 35 / One-time Official rendered page default, 2-step High Stakes New. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| CFD $10K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | High Stakes New / USD 69 / One-time Official rendered page default, 2-step High Stakes New. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| CFD $25K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | High Stakes New / USD 176 / One-time Official rendered page default, 2-step High Stakes New. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| CFD $50K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | High Stakes New / USD 278 / One-time Official rendered page default, 2-step High Stakes New. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| CFD $100K Account | Not listed in review pricing source | High Stakes New / USD 491 / One-time Official rendered page default, 2-step High Stakes New. 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 | Day Trade / USD 59 / One-time Official rendered page default; price refunded on 3rd payout. 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 | Day Trade / USD 100 / One-time Official rendered page default; price refunded on 3rd payout. 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 | Day Trade / USD 170 / One-time Official rendered page default; price refunded on 3rd payout. 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 | Day Trade / USD 199 / One-time Official rendered page default; price refunded on 3rd payout. Source Checked 2026-08-10 |
| Refund Policy | Not available | No |
| Coupons / Discount | Apex Trader Funding discount | The5ers discount |
Platforms & Markets
| Feature | Apex Trader Funding | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Quantower, and 8 more | CFDs: MT5, cTrader and TradingView for non-US traders; TradingView only for US traders |
| 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 on applicable CFD programs, including High Stakes; symbol and leverage limits vary. |
| Bonds | Yes | Not available |
| EA/Algo Trading | Manual order entry required; own-account copying and native risk orders permitted only under the User Agreement | Yes |
Payout
| Feature | Apex Trader Funding | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | First withdrawal 14 days after funded activation, then every 2 weeks from the last approved withdrawal; minimum and caps vary by plan. Approved requests typically processed within 3 business days. Rise, crypto and bank transfer: 3.5%; bank fees may also apply. Hub Credits: 0%, non-cash. |
| See all prop firm payouts → | ||
Verdict
| Key Element | Apex Trader Funding | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Multiple evaluation routes; eligible scaling can increase profit share to 100%; no maximum completion deadline on core CFD evaluations, subject to inactivity limits |
| 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 | Plan-specific drawdown, news and profitable-day rules; cash withdrawal fees; US platform choice restricted; fee reimbursement depends on the program and eligibility |
| Best For | Serious futures day traders seeking scalability and capital protection | Structured traders seeking established firm with clear scaling path |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
Choose Apex Trader Funding if you want a shorter evaluation at 1 phase and coverage of stocks and bonds that the other does not offer. Choose The5ers if a larger funded ceiling at $4M and a cheaper entry, from USD 19 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 The5ers’s programs?
The5ers High Stakes is a two-step program with a scaling ladder. Its advertised maximum profit share is reached through scaling rather than being the standard starting share. The5ers official rules; The5ers official program information.
How do payouts differ between Apex Trader and The5ers?
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.
High Stakes starts at 80% and the published ladder reaches 100% at advanced levels. Its payout guide allows funded-stage requests on a biweekly basis and specifies a $150 minimum after the split. The5ers official rules; The5ers official program information.
Which account rules matter when comparing Apex Trader and The5ers?
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.
High Stakes fee benefits are divided into 10% and 20% non-withdrawable Hub credits after the evaluation steps and a conditional 70% refund at the funded stage. Passing alone does not return the whole fee as cash. The5ers official rules; The5ers official program information.
Is Apex Trader or The5ers automatically the better choice?
No. Each firm wins on a different axis. Apex Trader Funding has the shorter evaluation at 1 phase and market access the other lacks, namely stocks and bonds. The5ers has the larger funded ceiling at $4M and the cheaper entry at USD 19. 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 The5ers
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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