Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep: Which Futures Prop Firm Wins in 2026?
A data-driven head-to-head on price, drawdown, profit split, payouts and platforms.
If you're comparing Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep, you're weighing two futures prop firms that both trade futures and micros but take different routes to funding. Apex Trader Funding is the discount king — deep 80–90% off coupons, a 100%→90% split and scaling to 20 accounts. Topstep is one of the most established names in the space, funding traders since 2012 with on-demand payouts.
Both are worth a look, but they diverge on price, drawdown style, profit split and track record. Below we break Apex Trader Funding and Topstep down head-to-head so you can pick the one that fits your capital and style.
| Metric | Apex Trader Funding | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Trustpilot | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Founded | 2021 | 2012 |
| Evaluation | 1-Step | 1-Step |
| Drawdown | trailing | trailing |
| Profit split | 100% first $25K then 90% | 100% first $10K then 90% |
| Consistency rule | No single day > 30% of total profit | None on funded (Express) |
| First payout | 8 trading days | 5 winning days |
| Max allocation | $1.5M | $150K |
| Round-turn commission | ~$4.60 per round-turn per contract (E-minis via Rithmic) | Approx $4.00 per round-turn per contract |
| Platforms | 6 supported | 4 supported |
Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep: evaluation model
Apex Trader Funding runs a 1-Step model, and lets you run up to 20 accounts at once. Topstep runs a 1-Step model, and lets you run up to 5 accounts at once. Both are one-step at heart, so you're funded after clearing a single target under the firm's risk rules — the difference is in those rules, which we cover next.
Pricing & commissions
Apex Trader Funding charges ~$4.60 per round-turn per contract (E-minis via Rithmic). Topstep charges Approx $4.00 per round-turn per contract. On per-trade cost, Topstep is the cheaper of the two (~$4.00 vs ~$4.60 per round-turn). Apex Trader Funding is known for frequent 80–90% off coupons. Always check each firm's coupons page for the live discount before you buy.
Drawdown & risk rules
Apex Trader Funding uses a trailing drawdown; Topstep uses a trailing drawdown — broadly similar in feel, so the tie-breaker is the consistency rule. Apex Trader Funding: No single day > 30% of total profit. Topstep: None on funded (Express).
Profit split & payouts
Apex Trader Funding pays 100% first $25K then 90%, with a first payout after 8 trading days. Topstep pays 100% first $10K then 90%, with a first payout after 5 winning days. The two are close on the split. For anyone planning to withdraw serious profit, the split and payout cadence are worth reading in full on each firm's payouts page.
Trading platforms
Apex Trader Funding supports NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Rithmic and more; Topstep supports NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Quantower and more. Apex Trader Funding gives you more charting choice (6 vs 4). Both handle order-flow trading, so platform choice is rarely the deciding factor here.
Who should choose which?
- Frequent 80-90% off coupons
- Generous 100%->90% split
- Wide platform choice
- Long track record (since 2012)
- On-demand payouts
- 100%→90% split
Want the full breakdown? Read our Apex Trader Funding review and Topstep review, or grab the latest Apex Trader Funding coupon codes.
Verdict — Apex Trader Funding wins overall
Apex Trader Funding wins overall (score 8.7 vs 8.2) on wider platform choice. Topstep is still a strong pick if you want lower per-trade commissions.
FAQ
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Related comparisons
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