Comparison Engine

Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep

Detailed futures prop firm comparison: Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep. Intraday trailing drawdown vs End-of-Day trailing, payout thresholds, and contract limits.

Editorial Verdict & Recommendation

Topstep provides a safer End-of-Day (EOD) trailing drawdown and free activation fees on TradingView, while Apex Trader Funding offers higher account allocations (up to 20 accounts) with deep promotional discounts.

Best for Apex Trader Funding:Experienced multi-account copy traders who can manage intraday peak trailing drawdown without letting profits evaporate.
Best for Topstep:Futures traders who need intraday breathing room and refuse to be penalized by unrealized intra-trade pullbacks.
Slot 1 · Apex
Slot 2 · Topstep
Prop Firmdiffers

Apex

Apex Trader Funding

Topstep

Topstep

Accountdiffers

Apex

$100,000 Futures Account

Topstep

$100,000 Futures Combine

Capital

Apex

$100,000

Topstep

$100,000

Pricediffers

Apex

$41.4

Topstep

$79

Fee

Apex

Non-refundable

Topstep

Non-refundable

Target P1

Apex

6%

Topstep

6%

Target P2

Apex

Topstep

Daily lossdiffers

Apex

0%

Topstep

2%

Method

Apex

balance based

Topstep

balance based

Max loss

Apex

3%

Topstep

3%

Drawdowndiffers

Apex

trailing equity

Topstep

end of day

Min daysdiffers

Apex

1

Topstep

2

Split

Apex

90% → 100%

Topstep

90% → 100%

Payoutdiffers

Apex

Twice Monthly

Topstep

Daily On-Demand (after 5 winning days)

News

Apex

Allowed

Topstep

Allowed

Weekend

Apex

No

Topstep

No

EA / Bot

Apex

Allowed

Topstep

Allowed

Inactivity

Apex

30d

Topstep

30d

Leveragediffers

Apex

14 Contracts

Topstep

1:20 Futures margin

Platformsdiffers

Apex

NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Rithmic

Topstep

Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView

Last verifieddiffers

Apex

2026-08-20

Topstep

2026-08-25

Evidence

Apex

10 rules cited

Topstep

10 rules cited

Rankings use verified rule data only. Affiliate relationships, if any, never influence factual comparison and are disclosed separately.

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