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Apex Trader Funding vs Imperial Trader Funding: Head-to-Head Comparison (2026)

Apex Trader Funding

7.7 B+
United States Futures
VS
Key Differences
Safety B+ vs C Split 100% vs 90% Price $167 vs $122

Verdict: Who Wins?

Apex Trader Funding 6 wins Decisive Win
6 - 2
Imperial Trader Funding 2 wins
Overall Rating 7.7 vs 4.9 Decisive
TrustPilot 4.2 vs 3.3 Decisive
Starting Price $122 vs $167 Decisive
Profit Split 100% vs 90% (Elite), 80% (Foundation and Instant) Decisive
Safety Grade B+ vs C Decisive
Trust Score 65/100 vs 42/100 Decisive
Challenge Variety 14 vs 4 options Decisive
Platform Choice 3 vs 1 platforms Narrow

Best For:

Budget-conscious traders Imperial Trader Funding
Maximum profit potential Apex Trader Funding
Trust & reputation Apex Trader Funding

Visual Comparison

Apex Trader Funding Imperial Trader Funding

Save 90% on Apex Trader Funding today

from $167
Save 90% Now Code listed by the firm 9 Sep 2026

Head-to-Head Comparison

Apex Trader Funding Metric Imperial Trader Funding
7.7/10 PFM Score 4.9/10
4.2/5 (20,931) TrustPilot 3.3/5 (49)
B+ Safety Grade C
65 B Trust Score 42 D
100% Profit Split 90% (Elite), 80% (Foundation and Instant)
Trailing drawdown only; no fixed daily loss limit. Two account types: Intraday Trail (drawdown trails the intraday high of each day) or EOD Trail (adjusts at end of day). 25K max drawdown $1,000; 50K $1,500; 100K $2,500; 150K $3,000. Daily Drawdown Elite: none, the plan card states Daily Loss Limit N/A. Foundation and Instant: 50% of the account's max drawdown. Drawdown is EOD trailing on Elite and Instant, Static on Foundation.
Every 5 trading days Payout Frequency Every 3 valid trading days (Sim-Funded)
$167 Starting Price $122
Proprietary Technology Proprietary
Tradovate, Rithmic, WealthCharts Platforms Rithmic
No Direct Path to Funded No
United States Country United States
- Established -
4 options Challenge Options 14 options

Price Comparison by Account Size

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

Account Size Apex Trader Funding Imperial Trader Funding Savings
$25K $167 $122 Save $45
$50K $249 $230 Save $19
$100K $399 $382 Save $17

Apex Trader Funding vs Imperial Trader Funding: Detailed Analysis

Apex Trader Funding and Imperial Trader Funding are both Futures firms.

Pricing

In terms of pricing, Imperial Trader Funding is more affordable with challenges starting at $122, which is $45 less than Apex Trader Funding's starting price of $167. Apex Trader Funding offers 4 challenge options, while Imperial Trader Funding offers 14.

Account Sizes

On account sizing, Apex Trader Funding offers account sizes from $25 to $150 across 4 funding tiers, while Imperial Trader Funding offers account sizes from $1 to $500 across 8 funding tiers. Picking the right tier matters because both the entry cost and the maximum capital you can scale to are tied to the account size you start with.

Trading Platforms

For trading platforms, Apex Trader Funding supports Tradovate, Rithmic and WealthCharts, while Imperial Trader Funding runs on Rithmic. If you already trade on a specific platform, this can be the deciding factor between the two.

Profit Split & Payouts

Apex Trader Funding offers 100% profit split, while Imperial Trader Funding offers 90% (Elite), 80% (Foundation and Instant). Apex Trader Funding pays out Every 5 trading days, and Imperial Trader Funding pays out Every 3 valid trading days (Sim-Funded).

Risk & Drawdown Rules

Risk rules are a key difference for funded traders: Apex Trader Funding lists its daily drawdown as "Trailing drawdown only; no fixed daily loss limit. Two account types: Intraday Trail (drawdown trails the intraday high of each day) or EOD Trail (adjusts at end of day). 25K max drawdown $1,000; 50K $1,500; 100K $2,500; 150K $3,000.", while Imperial Trader Funding lists "Elite: none, the plan card states Daily Loss Limit N/A. Foundation and Instant: 50% of the account's max drawdown. Drawdown is EOD trailing on Elite and Instant, Static on Foundation.". Always confirm the drawdown type before buying, since a trailing rule behaves very differently from a static end-of-day one.

Payout Methods

Imperial Trader Funding supports withdrawals via Rise and Wire Transfer.

Trust & Safety

For trust and reputation, Apex Trader Funding has a 4.2/5 TrustPilot rating with 20,931 reviews, while Imperial Trader Funding has 3.3/5 with 49 reviews. Safety grades: Apex Trader Funding B+, Imperial Trader Funding C.

Who Should Choose Which

So who should pick which? Apex Trader Funding is the stronger choice for maximum profit potential and trust & reputation, while Imperial Trader Funding is the better fit for budget-conscious traders.

Overall, Apex Trader Funding edges ahead winning 6 out of 8 categories we compared. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs - both firms have their strengths.

Pros & Cons

Apex Trader Funding
Pros
100% requested rewards in Sim Funded mode; no payout denials; no MAE rule; no 5/1 risk-reward rule; built-in scaling for Performance Accounts; trade up to 20 accounts simultaneously; 5-day payout cycle; pass evaluation in as little as one day; one-time fees with no recurring billing
Cons
Accounts are Sim Funded (simulated), not live funded; 50% consistency rule applies on Performance Accounts; extensive list of restricted countries
Imperial Trader Funding
Pros
Equities, options and CME futures in one unified account with a single drawdown. Level 4 options access covering multi-leg strategies. Overnight and weekend holding permitted, positions may be held up to 45 days, so swing trading is supported. One-time evaluation fee with no monthly subscription, refunded on the first valid payout. No time limit on standard evaluations. News trading allowed. Elite plans carry no daily loss limit. Foundation drawdown is static and never trails up.
Cons
Not regulated by any financial authority; its own terms say it is not a broker or registered adviser and acts solely as an education firm. The binding Terms of Service state NO REFUNDS, contradicting the help centre 14-day refund window. The homepage advertises scaling to 20 accounts while the help centre caps a trader at 5 evaluations, 3 sim-funded and 1 live. Support is 8:30am-6pm EST weekdays, not the 24/5 claimed. TrustPilot is 3.1 from 50 reviews.

Active Deals & Promo Codes

Apex Trader Funding
90% OFF 90% off evaluations (auto-applied on-page price, confirmed $167->$16.70 25K, $197->$19.70 50K, $297->$29.70 100K, $497->$49.70 150K, $597->$59.70 250K, $697->$69.70 300K - all 90% ratio); no coupon code string ever observed printed on any page
Imperial Trader Funding
10% OFF Code IMPERIAL10: 10 percent off all account types (Elite, Foundation and Instant). Confirmed at the firm checkout validator on 2026-09-03.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Apex Trader Funding or Imperial Trader Funding?

Apex Trader Funding scores higher overall, winning 6 out of 8 comparison categories including Overall Rating, TrustPilot, Profit Split. However, the best choice depends on your trading goals and priorities.

Which is cheaper, Apex Trader Funding or Imperial Trader Funding?

Imperial Trader Funding has the lower starting price at $122. Apex Trader Funding offers 4 challenge options starting from $167, while Imperial Trader Funding offers 14 options starting from $122.

Which has better reviews, Apex Trader Funding or Imperial Trader Funding?

Apex Trader Funding has a higher TrustPilot rating of 4.2/5. Apex Trader Funding has 20,931 reviews while Imperial Trader Funding has 49.

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

Apex Trader Funding offers a higher maximum profit split. Apex Trader Funding offers 100% while Imperial Trader Funding offers 90% (Elite), 80% (Foundation and Instant).

How fast do Apex Trader Funding and Imperial Trader Funding pay out?

Apex Trader Funding has Every 5 trading days payouts while Imperial Trader Funding offers Every 3 valid trading days (Sim-Funded) payouts. Payout speed can be an important factor when choosing a prop firm.

Are Apex Trader Funding and Imperial Trader Funding legit?

Both firms have been independently verified by PropFirmMap. Apex Trader Funding holds a B+ safety grade and a 4.2/5 TrustPilot rating. Imperial Trader Funding holds a C safety grade and a 3.3/5 TrustPilot rating. Safety grades are based on payout history, community trust signals, and regulatory transparency.

Which is better for beginners, Apex Trader Funding or Imperial Trader Funding?

Imperial Trader Funding may be more accessible for beginners due to its lower entry price. When starting out, consider challenge cost, drawdown rules, and profit split. Use the comparison table above to find which firm fits your experience level and risk tolerance.

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