Head to head · 50K futures
vs
Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep
Topstep is the better value per attempt for 4 of our 5 example strategies, across 6 simulated accounts.
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Winner by trading strategy
| Strategy | Apex Trader Funding | Topstep | Better value per attempt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalper | Intraday 50K (with activation fee): $186 EV, 4% chance of $2,500 | Combine 50K + XFA Standard: $556 EV, 11% chance of $2,500 | Topstep Combine 50K + XFA Standard |
| Momentum day trader | Intraday 50K (with activation fee): $462 EV, 9% chance of $2,500 | No-activation Combine 50K + XFA Standard: $790 EV, 13% chance of $2,500 | Topstep No-activation Combine 50K + XFA Standard |
| Home-run hitter | EOD 50K (with activation fee): $442 EV, 9% chance of $2,500 | No-activation Combine 50K + XFA Standard: $807 EV, 13% chance of $2,500 | Topstep No-activation Combine 50K + XFA Standard |
| Steady grinder | Intraday 50K (with activation fee): $335 EV, 6% chance of $2,500 | No-activation Combine 50K + XFA Standard: $707 EV, 13% chance of $2,500 | Topstep No-activation Combine 50K + XFA Standard |
| News trader | Intraday 50K (with activation fee): $487 EV, 9% chance of $2,500 | No-activation Combine 50K + XFA Standard: news restricted | Apex Trader Funding Intraday 50K (with activation fee) |
Chance of $2,500 = chance of passing × chance of then taking home at least $2,500, after the split, in three months of funded trading. EV = expected value per evaluation purchase over the same three months, after fees, counting every payout. 12,000 simulated attempts per account and strategy. How the model works.
Rules side by side
| Apex Trader Funding EOD 50K (no activation fee) | Apex Trader Funding Intraday 50K (no activation fee) | Apex Trader Funding EOD 50K (with activation fee) | Apex Trader Funding Intraday 50K (with activation fee) | Topstep Combine 50K + XFA Standard | Topstep No-activation Combine 50K + XFA Standard | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $119 | $80 | $59 | $25 | $49/mo | $95/mo |
| Activation | None | None | $129 | $79 | $149 | None |
| Profit target | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Drawdown (eval) | $2,000 end-of-day trailing | $2,000 intraday trailing | $2,000 end-of-day trailing | $2,000 intraday trailing | $2,000 end-of-day trailing | $2,000 end-of-day trailing |
| Drawdown (funded) | $2,000 end-of-day trailing | $2,000 intraday trailing | $2,000 end-of-day trailing | $2,000 intraday trailing | $2,000 end-of-day trailing | $2,000 end-of-day trailing |
| Daily loss limit | $1,000 (pauses the day) | $1,000 (pauses the day) | $1,000 (pauses the day) | $1,000 (pauses the day) | None | None |
| Consistency (eval) | None | None | None | None | Best day ≤ 55% of profit | Best day ≤ 55% of profit |
| Consistency (funded) | Best day ≤ 50% of profit | Best day ≤ 50% of profit | Best day ≤ 50% of profit | Best day ≤ 50% of profit | None | None |
| Split | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 90% | 90% |
| First payout | 5 winning days of $250+ · $2,100 buffer kept in the account · minimum $500 · cap $1,500 | 5 winning days of $200+ · $2,100 buffer kept in the account · minimum $500 · cap $1,500 | 5 winning days of $250+ · $2,100 buffer kept in the account · minimum $500 · cap $1,500 | 5 winning days of $200+ · $2,100 buffer kept in the account · minimum $500 · cap $1,500 | 5 winning days of $150+ · minimum $125 · cap $2,000 · 50% of profit withdrawable | 5 winning days of $150+ · minimum $125 · cap $2,000 · 50% of profit withdrawable |
| Later payouts | 5 winning days of $250+ between payouts · caps $1,500, $2,000, $2,500, $2,500, $3,000 (last repeats) · 6 payouts, then the account closes or moves to live | 5 winning days of $200+ between payouts · caps $2,000, $2,500, $2,500, $3,000, $3,000 (last repeats) · 6 payouts, then the account closes or moves to live | 5 winning days of $250+ between payouts · caps $1,500, $2,000, $2,500, $2,500, $3,000 (last repeats) · 6 payouts, then the account closes or moves to live | 5 winning days of $200+ between payouts · caps $2,000, $2,500, $2,500, $3,000, $3,000 (last repeats) · 6 payouts, then the account closes or moves to live | 5 winning days of $150+ between payouts · cap $2,000 · drawdown floor moves up to its lock level after a payout | 5 winning days of $150+ between payouts · cap $2,000 · drawdown floor moves up to its lock level after a payout |
| News trading | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed | Restricted | Restricted |
| Micro-scalping rule | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Copy trading | Own accounts only | Own accounts only | Own accounts only | Own accounts only | Own accounts only | Own accounts only |
| Max funded accounts | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 5 | 5 |
| Max loss per trade | No limit | No limit | No limit | No limit | No limit | No limit |
| Gambling clause | Yes: the firm can refuse payouts or close accounts for gambling-style trading | Yes: the firm can refuse payouts or close accounts for gambling-style trading | Yes: the firm can refuse payouts or close accounts for gambling-style trading | Yes: the firm can refuse payouts or close accounts for gambling-style trading | Yes: the firm can refuse payouts or close accounts for gambling-style trading | Yes: the firm can refuse payouts or close accounts for gambling-style trading |
Full detail and sources: Apex Trader Funding · Topstep. Dotted values are estimates still to be verified.