Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep
Compare pricing, evaluation rules, funded rules, payouts and platforms side by side. Change the firm, account type or size in each card and the whole table updates instantly.
🇺🇸 United States · est. 2021
🇺🇸 United States · est. 2012
Apex Trader FundingTopstep
NinjaTrader
Rithmic
Tradovate
TradingView
WealthCharts
- TradingView
- NinjaTrader
- Tradovate
Plane
Plaid
Wise- Plane
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Key Differences
Apex Trader Funding and Topstep take noticeably different approaches to funding traders. Apex Trader Funding is the cheapest way in — entry-level evaluations start at $19.90 with code TICKSHIFT (-90%), versus $49 at Topstep.
On experience, Topstep has been operating since 2012, giving it the longest public payout track record here, while Apex Trader Funding (est. 2021) competes with every 5 trading days payouts and a maximum allocation of $3M. Profit splits reach 90% at Apex Trader Funding and 90% at Topstep.
Rule structure is where most traders should focus: compare each firm's drawdown style, consistency rule and daily loss limit in the table above — switching the account type and size dropdowns updates every row so you can compare the exact accounts you'd actually buy.
Trading Rules: Side-by-Side
Which Firm Is Right for You?
Budget-Conscious Beginners
Our pick
Apex Trader Funding
- Evaluations from $19.90 with code TICKSHIFT
- Intraday Trail · Standard uses a intraday trailing drawdown
- Payouts: Every 5 trading days
Experienced Traders
Our pick
Topstep
- Scale up to $450K in total allocation
- Profit split up to 90%
- Standard · RTA Off for advanced rule flexibility
Frequently Asked Questions
With current discounts, entry-level evaluations start at $19.90 at Apex Trader Funding (code TICKSHIFT), $49 at Topstep. Use the dropdowns above to compare the exact account type and size you plan to buy — pricing gaps change significantly across sizes, and the “Cost per $1K” row normalizes them.