Apex Trader Funding vs The Funded Trader: 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 The Funded Trader serve different markets: Apex Trader Funding for futures traders, The Funded Trader 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	The Funded Trader
Founded	2021	2022
HQ	Austin, Texas, USA	Delaware, USA
Market	Futures	Forex/CFD
Minimum fee	$137	$39
Account size range	$25,000 – $300,000	$5,000 – $400,000
Profit split	100% (first $25K), then 90% thereafter	80% (up to 90%)
Payouts	Twice monthly	Bi-weekly
Challenge model	1-step Evaluation	Standard 2-step, Rapid 1-step, Royal, Knight (3-step)
Platforms	Rithmic, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView	MT4, MT5, DXtrade, Match-Trader

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)

The Funded Trader Pros

4 challenge variants to match trading style
Low entry fee ($39) for $5K account: cheapest way to test
No consistency rule on most programs
Community-driven with active Discord support

Who Should Pick Which?

Pick Apex Trader Funding if: Experienced futures scalpers/day traders who want to stack multiple accounts.

Pick The Funded Trader if: Traders wanting a cheap entry point or multiple challenge formats to test.

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 The Funded Trader's exact rulesets and tell you which one your strategy would actually pass.

Open the Prop Firm Checker →

If the decision is really about who runs the evaluation rather than which firm, our prop firm challenge passing service trades it for you on either firm. The account is bought in your name and we take no share of your payouts.

Full Apex Trader Funding and The Funded Trader Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Apex Trader Funding or The Funded Trader?

The Funded Trader is cheaper to start, with a minimum challenge fee of $39. Apex Trader Funding starts at $137 and The Funded Trader starts at $39. Cheaper entry doesn't always mean better value. Check the profit split, account ceiling, and payout reliability before deciding.

Which has the better profit split, Apex Trader Funding or The Funded Trader?

Apex Trader Funding offers 100% (first $25K), then 90% thereafter and The Funded Trader offers 80% (up to 90%). Note: most prop firms scale the split with consecutive payouts, so the headline number is just the starting point.

Can I run the same EA on both Apex Trader Funding and The Funded Trader?

It depends on which platform your EA targets. Apex Trader Funding supports Rithmic, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView and The Funded Trader supports MT4, MT5, DXtrade, Match-Trader. There's no platform overlap, so you'd need to recompile or rewrite the EA.

Which is more reputable, Apex Trader Funding or The Funded Trader?

Apex Trader Funding (founded 2021) has the longer track record. The Funded Trader was founded in 2022 and is still building its payout reputation. For larger account sizes the older firm is usually the safer pick.

Which is better for swing traders, Apex Trader Funding or The Funded Trader?

Swing traders need to check two things: (1) whether the firm allows weekend holds, and (2) whether the daily drawdown is static or trailing. Trailing DD is brutal for swing positions because intraday peak equity becomes the new floor. See the Pros/Cons section above for each firm's specifics.

Can I use both Apex Trader Funding and The Funded Trader simultaneously?

Yes, most prop firms allow you to hold multiple accounts at different firms (their rules apply only to their own accounts). Some traders deliberately diversify across 2-3 firms to reduce single-firm risk and stack payouts.