By EdgeSizer · Updated May 2025
This is the question every new futures trader asks within the first week of discovering prop firms. Both Apex Trader Funding and Topstep have millions in payouts behind them. Both have armies of loyal traders. And both will end your account fast if you ignore the rules.
So which one is actually better? The honest answer: it depends on what kind of trader you are. This breakdown covers the real differences — not the marketing language.
Apex and Topstep have different philosophies about how a trader should prove themselves.
Apex gives you a wider runway. No daily loss limit. Trailing drawdown only. You can have a bad morning and still recover in the afternoon. The evaluation is about surviving the trailing drawdown while hitting the profit target.
Topstep is more structured. Their Trading Combine has a Max Loss Limit that trails from your starting balance, plus platform-specific rules depending on whether you're using TopstepX or a third-party platform. It feels more like a real funded desk.
Neither approach is wrong. They reward different trading styles.
| Rule | Apex $50K | Topstep $50K |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation type | 1-step | 1-step Trading Combine |
| Profit target | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Trailing drawdown | $2,500 | $2,000 Max Loss Limit |
| Daily loss limit | None | Varies by platform |
| Minimum trading days | None | None |
| Consistency rule | None | None |
| Subscription cost | One-time fee | $49–$149/mo |
| Max accounts | 20 | 5 Express Funded |
This is where the two firms diverge most clearly.
Apex: 100% of the first $25,000 per account, then 90/10 after that. If you have 5 accounts all hitting $25K, that's $125,000 in your pocket before the split kicks in.
Topstep: 90/10 from dollar one for new accounts. The old 100% first $10K deal was grandfathered for accounts opened before January 2026.
Apex pays from day 8 of trading, provided you've had 5 qualifying days with at least $50 profit each. Payouts go through Deel or similar processors.
Topstep offers on-demand payouts with a $6,000 maximum per request ($5,000 for your first payout). Once you're funded, there's no minimum hold period. That on-demand access is genuinely useful.
Apex supports Rithmic, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, and TradingView. That covers most serious futures setups.
Topstep runs their own TopstepX platform (built on Tradovate infrastructure) plus access to third-party platforms. TopstepX has no daily loss limit, which changes the risk profile significantly.
Apex runs promotional discounts constantly — 50% to 90% off evaluation fees, sometimes for days at a time. This makes Apex one of the cheapest places to start, especially if you're willing to watch for deals.
Topstep's subscription model means you're paying monthly regardless of whether you pass. If you take 3 months to pass a $50K combine at $99/month, that's $297 in fees before you see a dollar in payouts.
Most serious traders eventually try both. Apex is the better starting point because the cost of entry is lower (especially during promos) and the no-daily-limit structure gives you more flexibility to learn. Once you're consistently profitable, Topstep's on-demand payouts and structured environment become more attractive.
Whatever you choose, the evaluation rules don't matter if your position sizing is wrong. Know your numbers before you start.