Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep
Apex and Topstep are two of the most traded futures prop firms. The biggest differences are how the drawdown trails, whether a consistency rule applies to the evaluation, and when you must be flat. Rules read from each firm's own pages, last checked 2 November 2026.
| Rule | Apex Trader Funding | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Drawdown | End of day, Intraday | End of day |
| Daily loss limit | Yes, pauses the day | Yes, pauses the day |
| Consistency | None | 55% |
| News window | No window | No window |
| Flat by | 4:59 PM ET | 4:10 PM ET |
| Sizes | 25K · 50K · 100K · 150K | 50K · 100K · 150K |
| Plans | 4 | 4 |
Which one fits how you trade
Choose Apex Trader Funding if
- You want to choose between end-of-day and intraday trailing drawdown.
- You want no consistency rule and no minimum days on the evaluation.
- You plan to run many funded accounts (up to 20 Performance Accounts).
Choose Topstep if
- You want one evaluation with an optional daily loss limit that only flattens you for the day.
- You are fine being flat by 3:10 PM CT every day.
- You would rather a big day raise the profit target than count against you.
- Both trail the drawdown up from your best end-of-day balance on their end-of-day plans.
- Both prohibit hedging across accounts.
Every 50K plan, side by side
The most common account size. Other sizes and the full rules for each plan are on each firm's review.
| Plan | Drawdown | Target | Max drawdown | Daily loss limit | Contracts | Consistency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EOD EvaluationEvaluation | End of day | $3,000 | $2,000 | $1,000 (pauses) | 6 | None |
| Intraday EvaluationEvaluation | Intraday | $3,000 | $2,000 | None | 6 | None |
| EOD Performance AccountFunded | End of day | — | $2,000 | By profit tier | 2–4 by tier | None |
| Intraday Performance AccountFunded | Intraday | — | $2,000 | By profit tier | 2–4 by tier | None |
| Plan | Drawdown | Target | Max drawdown | Daily loss limit | Contracts | Consistency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trading CombineEvaluation | End of day | $3,000 | $2,000 | None | 5 | 55% to pass |
| Trading Combine with Daily Loss LimitEvaluation | End of day | $3,000 | $2,000 | $1,000 (pauses) | 5 | 55% to pass |
| Express Funded AccountFunded | End of day | — | $2,000 | None | — | None |
| Express Funded Account with Daily Loss LimitFunded | End of day | — | $2,000 | $1,000 (pauses) | — | None |
Sources: Apex Trader Funding review (2 November 2026) and Topstep review (2 November 2026), each with links to the firm's own pages. Contracts are in minis (10 micros = 1 mini). Rules change: check each firm's site before you buy. No firm pays to be compared here.
Whichever you pick, track the rules on every trade
In Afterfill you choose your firm and plan on each account. You see your room to the drawdown floor and today's loss limit, a quiet mark on any trade that broke a rule, and the account turns red if a rule ends it. Read how trailing drawdown works, or add up what evaluations have cost you with the prop firm cost calculator.
More comparisons
Tradeify vs Apex Trader Funding
Tradeify uses an end-of-day trailing drawdown on every account; Apex lets you pick end of day or intraday.
Topstep vs Take Profit Trader
Topstep and Take Profit Trader both run a single evaluation with a consistency rule that raises your target instead of failing you.
Lucid Trading vs Apex Trader Funding
Lucid Trading and Apex both offer several plan styles.
All 12 firms
Every futures firm we cover, rules side by side.
Pass the evaluation by knowing which rule you broke.
7 days free, no card needed. Then $19/month or $190/year. Cancel any time.