Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep
Two futures prop firms, row by row. A dot marks the side ahead where a row has a clear direction. Both checked on or after 25 October 2026.
Apex Trader Funding
United States
Ahead on 5 of 10 rows
Visit Apex Trader Funding(opens the firm’s website in a new tab)
Topstep
United States
Ahead on 5 of 10 rows
Visit Topstep(opens the firm’s website in a new tab)Head to head
| Feature | Apex Trader Funding | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| PropScout score | 5.9 | 7.0 (ahead) |
| Trustpilot | 4.2 (21,427) (ahead) | 3.7 (14,989) |
| Years operating | 5 | 14 (ahead) |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Cheapest $100K account | $590 | $99/mo (ahead) |
| Profit split, up to | 100% (ahead) | 90% |
| Max funding | $3M (ahead) | $750K |
| Programs | 1-step | 1-step |
| Platforms | Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts, NinjaTrader, TradingView (ahead) | In-house platform, ProjectX, Quantower |
| News trading | Allowed (ahead) | Allowed with limits |
| Expert advisors | Not allowed | Allowed (ahead) |
| Copy trading | Allowed with limits | Allowed with limits |
| Overnight holding | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Weekend holding | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Payouts | A payout can be requested after every 5 qualifying trading days, which allows up to weekly payouts. | Express Funded Standard: after every 5 winning days of $150 or more. Express Funded Consistency: after 3 traded days with the best day at or below 40% of net profit. Live: every 5 winning days, and daily after 30 winning days. |
| Payout methods | ACH, Plane | Broker account transfer, ACH, Wise, Bank wire (ahead) |
| US traders | Accepted | Accepted |
Pick Apex Trader Funding if
you care most about trustpilot, profit split, up to and max funding. It is ahead on those rows in the table above.
Pick Topstep if
you care most about propScout score, years operating and cheapest $100K account. It is ahead on those rows in the table above.
Challenges side by side
Every account from both firms. The table opens at $100K, the size both sell nearest $100K.
| Program | Target | Daily loss | Max loss | Details | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topstep | Trading Combine (Standard)1-step | $50K | 6% | None | 4% | 1.50 | 90% | $49/mo | Details |
| Topstep | Trading Combine (No Activation Fee)1-step | $50K | 6% | None | 4% | 1.50 | 90% | $95/mo | Details |
| Topstep | Trading Combine (Standard)1-step | $100K | 6% | None | 3% | 2.00 | 90% | $99/mo | Details |
| Topstep | Trading Combine (No Activation Fee)1-step | $100K | 6% | None | 3% | 2.00 | 90% | $149/mo | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | Intraday Trail1-step | $25K | 6% | None | 4% | 1.50 | 100% | $167 | Details |
| Topstep | Trading Combine (Standard)1-step | $150K | 6% | None | 3% | 2.00 | 90% | $199/mo | Details |
| Topstep | Trading Combine (No Activation Fee)1-step | $150K | 6% | None | 3% | 2.00 | 90% | $229/mo | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | Intraday Trail1-step | $50K | 6% | None | 4% | 1.50 | 100% | $249 | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | EOD Trail1-step | $25K | 6% | 2% | 4% | 1.50 | 100% | $490 | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | Intraday Trail (No Activation Fee)1-step | $50K | 6% | None | 4% | 1.50 | 100% | $490 | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | EOD Trail1-step | $50K | 6% | 2% | 4% | 1.50 | 100% | $590 | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | Intraday Trail (No Activation Fee)1-step | $100K | 6% | None | 3% | 2.00 | 100% | $590 | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | Intraday Trail (No Activation Fee)1-step | $25K | 6% | None | 4% | 1.50 | 100% | $690 | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | Intraday Trail1-step | $100K | 6% | None | 3% | 2.00 | 100% | $790 | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | EOD Trail (No Activation Fee)1-step | $25K | 6% | 2% | 4% | 1.50 | 100% | $1,090 | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | EOD Trail1-step | $100K | 6% | 1.5% | 3% | 2.00 | 100% | $1,190 | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | EOD Trail (No Activation Fee)1-step | $50K | 6% | 2% | 4% | 1.50 | 100% | $1,190 | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | Intraday Trail1-step | $150K | 6% | None | 2.67% | 2.25 | 100% | $1,190 | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | EOD Trail (No Activation Fee)1-step | $100K | 6% | 1.5% | 3% | 2.00 | 100% | $1,590 | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | Intraday Trail (No Activation Fee)1-step | $150K | 6% | None | 2.67% | 2.25 | 100% | $1,890 | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | EOD Trail1-step | $150K | 6% | 1.33% | 2.67% | 2.25 | 100% | $2,190 | Details |
| Apex Trader Funding | EOD Trail (No Activation Fee)1-step | $150K | 6% | 1.33% | 2.67% | 2.25 | 100% | $2,490 | Details |
No challenges match these filters. Pick another size or clear a filter.
What could each one pay you?
An illustration, not a forecast: a steady monthly return on the funded account, at each firm's starting split, against the fee for its cheapest account at that size. Most traders do not pass, and returns are rarely steady.
Apex Trader Funding
- Your share over the period
- Fee
- Split
Topstep
- Your share over the period
- Fee
- Split
More comparisons
Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep questions
Which is cheaper, Apex Trader Funding or Topstep?
At $100K, Apex Trader Funding's cheapest account is $590 (Intraday Trail (No Activation Fee)) and Topstep's is $99 (Trading Combine (Standard)), at list price before discounts. Price alone does not decide which is easier to pass: compare the targets and loss limits in the table above.
Which pays a higher profit split?
Apex Trader Funding advertises the higher maximum split: 100% against 90%. The starting split is often lower and rises with payouts or an add-on.
Which firm has been operating longer?
Topstep was founded first, in 2012. Apex Trader Funding started in 2021.
Can traders in the United States use Apex Trader Funding or Topstep?
Apex Trader Funding: yes. Topstep: yes. Both firms publish a list of restricted countries, linked from their profile pages here.
Do Apex Trader Funding and Topstep allow news trading?
Apex Trader Funding: allowed (A normal strategy may be traded through news, but two-sided or bracket orders placed to gamble on a release are prohibited). Topstep: allowed with limits (News can be traded, but deliberately trading the full maximum position size into a scheduled major news event is prohibited).