Apex Trader Funding vs FTMO: Which Prop Firm Wins in 2026?
Side-by-side breakdown of rules, fees, payouts and who should pick which.
Quick Verdict
Apex Trader Funding and FTMO serve different markets — Apex Trader Funding for futures traders, FTMO for forex/CFD traders. Pick based on what you actually trade, not which firm looks better on paper.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | Apex Trader Funding | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 | 2015 |
| HQ | Austin, Texas, USA | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Market | Futures | Forex/CFD |
| Minimum fee | $137 | $89 |
| Account size range | $25,000 – $300,000 | $10,000 – $200,000 |
| Profit split | 100% (first $25K), then 90% thereafter | 80% |
| Payouts | Twice monthly | Monthly (on-demand after first) |
| Challenge model | 1-step Evaluation | 2-step (Challenge + Verification) |
| Platforms | Rithmic, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView | MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade |
Apex Trader Funding Pros
- 100% profit split on first $25K — best in industry
- No daily drawdown limit — only trailing overall DD
- Up to 20 accounts per trader (stack earnings)
- Allows EAs and automated strategies on eval (not funded)
FTMO Pros
- Longest-running major prop firm — proven track record since 2015
- Strong reputation and reliable payouts (TrustPilot 4.8)
- Generous 80% profit split, scalable to 90%
- Allows EAs, scalping and news trading on most accounts
Who Should Pick Which?
Pick Apex Trader Funding if: Experienced futures scalpers/day traders who want to stack multiple accounts.
Pick FTMO if: Serious traders who value reputation and payout reliability over cheap fees.
Test Both Against Your Strategy — Before You Pay
Run your backtest through JPTradingCapital's Prop Firm Checker — we evaluate your trades against Apex Trader Funding's and FTMO's exact rulesets and tell you which one your strategy would actually pass.