Select 2 or more firms to compare evaluation costs, drawdown rules, profit splits, payout structures, and trading restrictions across the CME futures prop firms we track.
Specific tiers and funded paths from the selected firms, ranked with public-rule fit and blockers visible.
Not a like-for-like comparison
| Category | Apex Trader Funding· Intraday Trail Checked Jul 10, 2026 · apextraderfunding.com(76%)· 77 changes pending review since Sep 30, 2026May be out of date | E8 Markets· E8 Signature Checked Jun 21, 2026 · e8markets.com· 76 changes pending review since Apr 6, 2026May be out of date |
|---|---|---|
| Account Size | $25K | $25K |
| Overall Score | ||
| Trader Friendliness | 72/100Good | 50/100Fair |
| Cost Summary | ||
| Eval Cost | $20(Regular price $199; current public one-time price $19.9.)UnknownNot independently verified | $110UnknownNot independently verified |
| Total to Start | $89(eval + activation) | Incomplete: activation fee unknown |
| Monthly Cost (Funded) | — | — |
| Activation Fee | $69 | — |
| Reset Fee | — | — |
| Evaluation Rules | ||
| Profit Target | $1,500 (6%)UnknownNot independently verified | $1,500 (6%)UnknownNot independently verified |
| Min Trading Days | 1 day | 1 day |
| Min Days to Funded | 1 day | 1 day |
| Pass Rate | N/A | 17.7% |
| Drawdown Rules | ||
| Type | Intraday Trailing | EOD Trailing |
| Max Drawdown | $1,000(4%)UnknownNot independently verified | $1,000(4%)UnknownNot independently verified |
| Daily Loss Limit | None | None |
| Daily Loss Limit Breach | Soft | Soft |
| Lock Behavior | Trails indefinitely | Locks at $25,000 after $1,000 profit |
| Strictness | Strict | Moderate |
| Trading Restrictions | ||
| News Trading | News trading is allowed for your normal trading strategy. Using news trading strategies that chase the market or place orders on both sides to gamble the outcome of news is not allowed. Non-directional bracket trading (orders left open on both sides) to catch windfall moves is also prohibited. | E8 One Challenge: no news restrictions. E8 One Performance (funded): 5 min before and 5 min after high-impact news, no new orders, no closing trades, no SL/TP triggers, no pending orders. Profits within 10-min window are stripped (no account violation). Speeches: 5 min before until 5 min after end. Non-targeted instruments unaffected. |
| Automation | Banned | Banned |
| Hedging | Banned | Banned |
| Scalping Rules | None | 50% of profits from trades held 10+ seconds(min 10s) |
| Overnight Holds | ||
| Must Be Flat By | 4:59 PM ET | 3:10 PM CT |
| Inactivity Limit | — | Temporarily unavailable |
| Weekend Holding | Must Flat | Allowed |
| Account Rolling | Stockpiling evaluation accounts prohibited. Purchasing multiple discounted evaluations to cycle through and intentionally blow up accounts in pursuit of windfall profits is not permitted. | No Restriction |
| Min Payout | $500 | $100 |
| Funded Account | ||
| Payout Accessibility | 59/100 | 76/100 |
| Consistency Rule | 50% max/dayFavorable | 35% max/dayModerate |
| Funded Rules | ||
| Funded Consistency | 50% max/day | 35% max/day |
| Funded Daily Loss Limit | $1,250(soft) | $500(soft) |
| Buffer Requirement | $1,100 | $1,000 |
| Activation Fee | $69 | Unknown |
| Min Profitable Days | 5 days | 5 days |
| Profit Split | 100% UnknownNot independently verified | Split temporarily unavailable |
| Payout Frequency | Weekly | On Demand |
| Max Payout | $1,000 | — |
| Winning Days | 5 days($100+) | 5 days |
| Days Between Payouts | 5 trading days | — |
| Qualifying Day Min | $100/day | $75/day |
| Best Day Cap | — | 35% max |
| Min Balance for Payout | $26,600 | — |
| Min Balance After Payout | $26,100 | — |
| Max Payouts | 6 total | — |
| Account Closure | total_payouts: 6 (closes) | — |
| Min Payout | $500 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fee | — | — |
| Processing Time | 5-11 business days | 2-5 business days |
| Payout Methods | ACH direct deposit (US), Plane (international) | Rise |
| Max Contracts | 4 full / 40 micro | 2 full / 20 micro |
| Max Accounts | 20 accounts | 5 accounts |
| Platforms | Rithmic, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, WealthCharts | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView |
| Buffer Required | No buffer | Yes, must clear buffer before payouts |
| Buffer Amount | $1,100 | $1,000 |
| Min Payout | $500 | $100 |
| Max Per Request | $1,000 | — |
| Funded Fee | $0/mo | — |
| Payout Caps | $1,000 → $1,000 → $1,000 → $1,000 → $1,000 → $1,000 | $1,000 → $1,000 → $1,250 → $1,250 → $1,500 |
| Account Lifecycle | ||
| Max Funded Accounts | 20 | — |
| Inactivity Limit | — | Temporarily unavailable |
| Quick Math | ||
| Eval + Activation | $89 $20 eval + $69 activation | — $110 eval + activation fee unknown |
| Daily Profit Target | $1,500/day over 1 day | $1,500/day over 1 day |
| First Payout Timeline | Needs model proof Missing public evidence: Activation Fee, Buffer Clearance Required, Fee Monthly|Fee Onetime, Field Evidence Ledger, Funded Monthly Fee, Max Payout Per Request, Min Trading Days, Payout Processing Time. | Needs model proof Missing public evidence: Selected Economic Product. |
| Best Profit Split | 100% | Split temporarily unavailable |
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