Apex wins on price and simplicity — cheapest evaluations, one-step process, pass in as few as 7 days (1 day during sales). Topstep wins on drawdown and reputation — EOD drawdown is more forgiving, and they've been around since 2012. Choose Apex if you're on a budget. Choose Topstep if you prefer safer drawdown mechanics.
How each firm stacks up across 8 key categories. Longer bar = higher score out of 10.
Green = Apex Trader Funding · Blue = Topstep · Scores out of 10
The pricing gap is significant. A 50K Apex evaluation during a 80% off sale costs just $39.40 — that's 66% cheaper than Topstep's $49. The reset fee difference is even larger: $80 (Rithmic) at Apex vs $49–$149 at Topstep (matching the eval price). Over multiple attempts, this adds up substantially.
Don't just compare eval fees. Factor in reset costs, activation fees, and how many months you might need. Use our Challenge Cost Calculator to see the real total for your scenario.
| Rule | 🟢 Apex | 🔵 Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation Steps | 1 Step | 2 Steps (Trading Combine + Express Funded) |
| Min Trading Days | 7 Days* | ~5+ Days (across 2 steps) |
| Drawdown Type | Trailing (from unrealized high) | EOD (end-of-day balance) |
| Daily Loss Limit (Eval) | None | Varies by step |
| Consistency Rule | 30% rule on PA payouts | Consistency factor applies |
| News Trading | Allowed | Allowed |
| Overnight Holds (Eval) | Close before settlement | Close before settlement |
| Max Accounts | Up to 20 | Up to 5 |
The biggest difference here is drawdown type. Apex's trailing drawdown follows your unrealized equity peak — if you're up $1,000 intraday and the market reverses, you've permanently lost $1,000 of drawdown cushion. Topstep's EOD drawdown only counts your end-of-day closing balance, making it far more forgiving for intraday volatility.
However, Apex wins on simplicity: one step vs. two, and you can technically pass in a single day. Topstep requires completing two separate phases, which takes longer but arguably produces more disciplined traders.
| Payout Feature | 🟢 Apex | 🔵 Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Initial 100% Retention | First $25,000 | $0 (90/10 from start)* |
| After Retention Cap | 90/10 split | 90/10 split |
| Payout Frequency | 2× per month | Weekly (after qualifying) |
| First Payout Timing | 8 business days | After Step 2 completion |
| Payout Methods | Bank, PayPal, crypto | Bank, PayPal |
Both firms offer a 90/10 profit split after an initial 100% retention period. The key difference: Apex lets you keep 100% of the first $25,000 in profits. As of January 2026, new Topstep traders get a 90/10 split from the start (legacy traders still get 100% of the first $10K). Topstep counters with more frequent weekly payouts once you qualify, compared to Apex's twice-monthly schedule.
| Platform Feature | 🟢 Apex | 🔵 Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Data Feeds | Rithmic / Tradovate | TopstepX / Rithmic |
| NinjaTrader | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| TradingView | Via Tradovate | Via TopstepX |
| Proprietary Platform | No | TopstepX (free) |
| Quantower / ATAS | ✓ Yes (Rithmic) | Limited |
| Mobile Trading | Via Tradovate | Via TopstepX |
Apex offers more third-party platform flexibility through Rithmic (NinjaTrader, Quantower, ATAS, Jigsaw) and Tradovate. Topstep has invested heavily in their proprietary TopstepX platform, which is free and includes TradingView integration. If you want order flow tools, Apex's Rithmic option is better. If you want a simple, free all-in-one, TopstepX is compelling.
| Stacking Feature | 🟢 Apex | 🔵 Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Max Funded Accounts | 20 PA accounts | 5 Express Funded (XFA) |
| Max Live Accounts | All 20 can be active | 1 Live Funded Account |
| Max Eval Accounts | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Max Buying Power | $6,000,000 (20×$300K) | $750,000 (5×$150K) |
| Per-Household Limit | 20 accounts total | 5 XFA + 1 Live |
| Copy Trading Allowed | Yes (across own accounts) | Yes (across own accounts) |
| Other Firms Allowed | Yes — no restrictions | Yes — no restrictions |
| Monthly PA/XFA Fee | $85/account/month | $0 (no XFA subscription) |
| Hedging Across Accounts | Prohibited | Prohibited |
This is one of the biggest differences between the two firms. Apex allows 20 funded accounts per household — the highest in the industry. Topstep caps you at 5 Express Funded Accounts, and only 1 Live Funded Account at a time (which replaces your XFAs when offered).
For traders using a stacking strategy, this is a game-changer. With 20 Apex accounts, you can withdraw up to $2,000 per account every 8 trading days — potentially $40,000 every 16 days. With 5 Topstep XFAs, you're limited to much lower combined withdrawals, especially given the $5,000 per payout cap on XFAs.
Multi-firm trading: Both firms allow you to trade with other prop firms simultaneously. Many traders run Apex, Topstep, Tradeify, MFFU, and TPT accounts in parallel using copy trading tools like Replikanto, TraderSyncer, or Apex Copy Trader. This is universally accepted and carries no restrictions from either firm.
| Feature | 🟢 Apex | 🔵 Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 | 2012 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Cheapest Eval (50K) | $39.40 (w/ sale) | $49 |
| Eval Steps | 1 Step | 2 Steps |
| Min Days to Pass | 7 Days* | 5+ Days |
| Drawdown | Trailing | EOD |
| Max Drawdown (50K) | $2,500 | $2,000 |
| Profit Target (50K) | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Profit Split | 100% → 90/10 | 100% → 90/10 |
| 100% Retention Cap | $25,000 | $0 (new Jan 2026)* |
| Activation Fee | $75–$95 | $149 |
| Reset Fee | $80 | $49–$149 |
| Max Funded Accounts | 20 | 5 XFA + 1 Live |
| Max Buying Power | $6,000,000 | $750,000 |
| Other Firms Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Sizes | $25K–$300K (7) | $50K–$150K (3) |
| News Trading | Allowed | Allowed |
| Payout Frequency | 2×/month | Weekly |
Prioritize low cost and fast funding:
Prioritize safety and structure:
Apex Trader Funding takes the overall win with a score of 8.4 vs Topstep's 7.9. The combination of the lowest eval prices in the industry, a simple one-step process, and the best profit split (100% up to $25K) makes it the better value for most traders.
However, Topstep is the better choice for scalpers and aggressive day traders who need the safety net of EOD drawdown. The trailing drawdown at Apex can catch aggressive traders off guard. Topstep's longer track record (since 2012) also gives it an edge in trustworthiness.
Can't decide? Try both. At $39.40 for Apex and $49 for Topstep, the total investment to test each is under $70.