Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep: prop firm rules compared

Apex Trader Funding's Intraday Trailing plan trails the drawdown intraday: the floor follows the highest balance the account reaches during the session, open profit included, and never moves back down — a winning trade given back before it is closed still lifts it. For example, at Apex Trader Funding's Intraday Trailing plan a $50,000 account starts with its floor at $48,000, $2,000 under the start.

On Apex Trader Funding's End-of-Day Trailing plan and Topstep the drawdown trails at end of day: the floor is recalculated once, from the closing balance, so open profit given back during the session does not raise it — but equity touching the floor during the session still counts. For example, at Apex Trader Funding's End-of-Day Trailing plan and Topstep a $50,000 account starts with its floor at $48,000, $2,000 under the start.

On Topstep the trailing floor stops rising once it reaches breakeven and stays there. On Apex Trader Funding it keeps trailing for the whole evaluation.

A soft daily loss limit pauses the day instead of failing the account: reach it and open positions are flattened, trading stops until the next session, and the account stays open. Apex Trader Funding's End-of-Day Trailing plan sets it at $1,000 on $50,000. Apex Trader Funding's Intraday Trailing plan and Topstep have no daily loss limit, so a losing day is bounded only by the max drawdown.

Apex Trader Funding and Topstep start the trading day at the same moment, 6:00 PM ET (5:00 PM CT); a daily loss limit counts from that reset, not from midnight.

A consistency rule caps how much of the total profit one day may carry. Topstep caps any single day at 55% of total profit, so it takes at least 2 profitable days to finish inside the rule. One day may then carry at most $1,650 of a $3,000 target. Apex Trader Funding applies no consistency rule in the evaluation, so one large day can count in full.

Topstep requires at least 2 trading days before a pass; Apex Trader Funding sets no minimum number of days.

Apex Trader Funding's evaluation runs for 30 days; a target not reached by then is not a pass.

On automated trading — a strategy or bot sending the orders — at Apex Trader Funding it is not allowed in the evaluation or on a funded account; at Topstep it is allowed in the evaluation and on a funded account. Written answers: Apex Trader Funding (read Oct 21, 2026), Topstep (read Oct 21, 2026).

Apex Trader Funding and Topstep differ on 5 of the evaluation rules compared here: drawdown model, trailing floor, daily loss limit, consistency rule and minimum trading days. If your trades often run into open profit that you give back before closing them, start with the drawdown: Apex Trader Funding trails intraday or at end of day, depending on the plan, while Topstep trails at end of day. If one or two large days make up most of your profit, the consistency rule sets how fast you can finish: Apex Trader Funding has no consistency rule; Topstep caps one day at 55% of total profit. If you keep trading after a losing morning, look at what the daily loss limit does: Apex Trader Funding pauses the day at its daily loss limit on some plans and has no limit on others; Topstep has no daily loss limit. To finish in as few sessions as possible, compare the minimum days: Apex Trader Funding sets no minimum, Topstep needs at least 2 trading days.

Once funded, the profit split is 100% (PA) at Apex Trader Funding and 90/10 at Topstep. Payout terms — Apex Trader Funding: Up to weekly (max 6 per PA); Topstep: Per cycle: 5 winning days of $150+ (Standard) or 3 days at ≤40% consistency. Apex Trader Funding sells 2 plans: Intraday Trailing and End-of-Day Trailing; Topstep sells one evaluation model. Each plan carries its own version of the rules above, which is why they are listed plan by plan. If a strategy or bot will send your orders, Apex Trader Funding's written answer is not allowed in the evaluation or on a funded account, and Topstep's written answer is allowed in the evaluation and on a funded account.

Read both rule sets against your own average day, then confirm the current terms on Apex Trader Funding's site and Topstep's site. PassTraq tracks challenges at both firms using the same rule presets shown here.