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Topstep

6.6 B+
United States Futures
VS

Apex Trader Funding

7.6 A+
United States Futures
Key Differences
Safety B+ vs A+ Split 90% vs 100% Price $95 vs $118

Verdict: Who Wins?

Topstep 1 wins
1 6
Apex Trader Funding 6 wins Our Pick
Overall Rating 7.6 vs 6.6
TrustPilot 4.4 vs 3.4
Starting Price $95 vs $118
Profit Split 100% until $25,000 withdrawn, then 90% vs 90%
Safety Grade A+ vs B+
Challenge Variety 8 vs 3 options
Platform Choice 13 vs 1 platforms

Best For:

Budget-conscious traders Topstep
Maximum profit potential Apex Trader Funding
Trust & reputation Apex Trader Funding
Fast payouts Topstep

Visual Comparison

Topstep Apex Trader Funding

Head-to-Head Comparison

Topstep Metric Apex Trader Funding
6.6/10 PFM Score 7.6/10
3.4/5 (13,955) TrustPilot 4.4/5 (18,690)
B+ Safety Grade A+
90% Profit Split 100% until $25,000 withdrawn, then 90%
$2,000 max loss limit ($50K) / $3,000 ($100K) / $4,500 ($150K) — trailing EOD Daily Drawdown None (Intraday) / $500-$2,000 EOD (varies by account)
Daily Payout Frequency 2 Per month
$95 Starting Price $118
Proprietary Technology Proprietary
Topstep X Platforms R | Trader Pro, Trading View, NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Quantower, Atas, MotiveWave, Bookmap, Investor/RT, Jigsaw, MultiCharts, Sierra Chart, Trade Navigator
Yes Direct Path to Funded No
United States Country United States
Jan 2010 Established Jan 2021
3 options Challenge Options 8 options

Price Comparison by Account Size

Cheapest challenge price at each account size (where both firms offer the same size)

Account Size Topstep Apex Trader Funding Savings
$50K $95 $132 Save $37
$100K $149 $198 Save $49
$150K $229 $265 Save $36

Topstep vs Apex Trader Funding: Detailed Analysis

Topstep and Apex Trader Funding are both Futures firms. Topstep has been in business longer, established in 2010, while Apex Trader Funding was founded in 2021.

In terms of pricing, Topstep is more affordable with challenges starting at $95, which is $23 less than Apex Trader Funding's starting price of $118. Topstep offers 3 challenge options, while Apex Trader Funding offers 8.

Topstep offers 90% profit split, while Apex Trader Funding offers 100% until $25,000 withdrawn, then 90%. Topstep pays out Daily, and Apex Trader Funding pays out 2 Per month.

For trust and reputation, Topstep has a 3.4/5 TrustPilot rating with 13,955 reviews, while Apex Trader Funding has 4.4/5 with 18,690 reviews. Safety grades: Topstep B+, Apex Trader Funding A+.

Overall, Apex Trader Funding edges ahead winning 6 out of 7 categories we compared. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs — both firms have their strengths.

Pros & Cons

Topstep
Pros
90% profit split, instant payouts, no activation fee, pass in as little as 2 days, Chicago-based since 2010
Cons
Trailing max loss limit (not static daily DD), lower TrustPilot rating (3.4★), monthly subscription billing
Apex Trader Funding
Pros
20 Accounts available
Cons
No clear path to Live Funding, hard payout rules

Active Deals & Promo Codes

Topstep
$20 off No Activation Fee Trading Combine (any size). Up to 5 uses per trader.
Apex Trader Funding
90% OFF 90% off evaluation — limited time

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Topstep or Apex Trader Funding?

Apex Trader Funding scores higher overall, winning 6 out of 7 comparison categories including Overall Rating, TrustPilot, Profit Split. However, the best choice depends on your trading goals and priorities.

Which is cheaper, Topstep or Apex Trader Funding?

Topstep has the lower starting price at $95. Topstep offers 3 challenge options starting from $95, while Apex Trader Funding offers 8 options starting from $118.

Which has better reviews, Topstep or Apex Trader Funding?

Apex Trader Funding has a higher TrustPilot rating of 4.4/5. Topstep has 13,955 reviews while Apex Trader Funding has 18,690.

Which offers a higher profit split, Topstep or Apex Trader Funding?

Apex Trader Funding offers a higher maximum profit split. Topstep offers 90% while Apex Trader Funding offers 100% until $25,000 withdrawn, then 90%.

How fast do Topstep and Apex Trader Funding pay out?

Topstep has Daily payouts while Apex Trader Funding offers 2 Per month payouts. Payout speed can be an important factor when choosing a prop firm.