Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep

Apex Trader Funding is $94 cheaper to get started. Apex Trader Funding charges $25 one-time plus a $79 activation fee. Topstep charges $49/mo (monthly subscription) plus a $149 activation fee. Apex Trader Funding currently has an active promotion which may further reduce cost.

Apex Trader Funding uses Intraday Trailing drawdown at 4%, while Topstep uses EOD Trailing at 4% ($2,000 buffer once locked at initial). Apex Trader Funding uses intraday trailing, the strictest type — your floor moves in real time with every tick of profit. Topstep's EOD trailing only adjusts at market close, giving intraday profits a safer cushion. Lock behavior differs: Apex Trader Funding — trails indefinitely, while Topstep — locks at $50,000 after $2,000 profit. Topstep's daily loss limit is a soft mechanism (pause until next day), while Apex Trader Funding has no such soft protection.

No timing winner is declared until both selected paths have formula-ready public evidence. Apex Trader Funding: Missing public evidence: Activation Fee, Buffer Clearance Required, Fee Monthly|Fee Onetime, Funded Monthly Fee, Min Trading Days, Payout Processing Time, Selected Economic Product. Topstep: Missing public evidence: Selected Economic Product. Apex Trader Funding has no consistency rule, meaning you could pass the evaluation in a single profitable day. Topstep requires your best day to be no more than 50% of total profit.

Apex Trader Funding offers up to 100% profit split(Weekly payouts, $500 min), while Topstep offers up to 90%(Daily payouts, $125 min). The 10 percentage point difference in profit split can add up significantly over time — on a $10,000 profit, that's $1,000 more in your pocket.

When comparing withdrawal frequency, the gap between payouts matters. Apex Trader Funding requires 5 profitable trading days between each withdrawal, while Topstep requires 5 profitable trading days. At 20 trading days per month, that means Apex Trader Funding can request roughly 4 payouts per month versus Topstep's 4.

Between payouts, Apex Trader Funding requires 5 trading days before your next request, while Topstep requires 5 trading days.

To count as a qualifying day toward payouts, Apex Trader Funding requires at least $200 in daily profit, while Topstep requires $150. The lower bar at Topstep is easier to meet on choppy trading days.

Topstep limits each payout to 50% of accumulated profit, keeping the remainder as an account buffer. Apex Trader Funding has no percentage-of-profit cap on payouts.

Apex Trader Funding requires a minimum account balance of $52,600 before you can request a payout. Topstep has no minimum balance requirement.

Apex Trader Funding requires at least $52,100 to remain in the account after each withdrawal, limiting how much you can take out at once. Topstep has no post-withdrawal balance floor.

Apex Trader Funding caps funded accounts at 6 payouts before requiring a transition to a live account. Topstep has no maximum payout count.

Apex Trader Funding requires a $2,100 safety net buffer before your first payout — you must earn above starting balance plus this amount. Topstep has no safety net requirement.

Maximum per withdrawal request: Apex Trader Funding caps at $3,000, while Topstep caps at $2,000.

Apex Trader Funding has an account closure trigger: total_payouts: 6. Topstep has no configured closure trigger.

Topstep is more flexible overall. Automation: Topstep allows bots and algo trading while Apex Trader Funding prohibits it — a critical difference for systematic traders. Copy trading: allowed at Topstep but restricted at Apex Trader Funding. Both require flat-by deadlines: Apex Trader Funding at 4:59 PM ET, Topstep at 3:10 PM CT.

Both firms work well for day traders. Apex Trader Funding is a stronger fit for budget traders (starting at $19.9). Topstep is a stronger fit for scalpers (news trading ok). Explore all trading styles to see which firms match your approach.

Based on $500/day profit, 20 trading days/month, 55% win rate

At $500/day profit, Apex Trader Funding reaches break-even on day 11 while Topstep reaches it on day 12. Apex Trader Funding costs $94 less to get started. Topstep projects $3,583/mo more in funded earnings.

Overall, Topstep scores higher (75 vs 68) on our trader-friendliness index. Key advantages: more forgiving drawdown rules, fewer trading restrictions, no account closure limit. That said, Apex Trader Funding wins on lower starting cost, better profit split. See the full glossary to understand any unfamiliar terms, or explore trading styles to find the best firm for your approach.