Side by side
We compared the closest like-for-like plans: EOD Evaluation, 50K (new accounts, 2026 lineup) and Trading Combine, 50K. Prices are list prices; promotions come and go, and we don't show codes we haven't verified at checkout.
| Rule | Apex Trader Funding | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Plan compared | EOD Evaluation, 50K (new accounts, 2026 lineup) | Trading Combine, 50K |
| Evaluation price (list) | Not published as text: Apex shows prices only in its checkout configurator, which we couldn't load. Apex says fees are one-time, with no monthly rebill. | $49/month (Standard) or $95/month (No Activation Fee) |
| Reset fee | None: Apex's homepage says there are no resets on the new evaluations. | $49 (Standard) or $95 (No Activation Fee) |
| Activation fee | Apex offers a Standard option (with an activation fee) or a No Activation Fee option. The amount isn't published as text. | $149 on Standard; none on No Activation Fee |
| Profit target | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Drawdown type and amount | End-of-day trailing, $2,000 | Maximum Loss Limit $2,000, trailing on end-of-day balance but monitored in real time (unrealized P&L counts). It stops trailing at the starting balance. |
| Daily loss limit | $1,000. Hitting it pauses trading for the day; it doesn't fail the account. | Optional: you can add a Daily Loss Limit at checkout |
| Consistency rule | None in the evaluation. Performance Account (PA) payouts use a 50% consistency rule. | Best day should stay below 55% of the profit target, or the target increases |
| Minimum trading days | None in the evaluation. The PA must be activated within 7 days of passing. | 2 (you can't pass in one day) |
| Max position size | 6 contracts in the evaluation; 4 in the 50K EOD PA | 5 contracts / 50 micros |
| Profit split | 100%: Apex's homepage says there's no split in Sim Funded | 90/10 |
| Payout frequency, minimums and caps | 5 qualifying days ($250+ each on 50K) per payout, $500 minimum, safety net $52,100, per-payout caps of $1,500, $1,500, $2,000, $2,500, $2,500 and $3,000, up to 6 payouts | Express Funded: Standard path needs 5 winning days of $150+; Consistency path needs 3 trading days at 40% consistency. Up to 50% of balance per request, capped at $2,000 (Standard) or $3,000 (Consistency) on 50K. $125 minimum. |
| Platforms | Not published on the pages we checked | TopstepX only |
| News trading | Allowed as part of your normal strategy. 'Chasing' news or bracketing both sides to gamble on the outcome isn't. | Topstep restricts trading for a short period around Tier 1 news events, and prohibits trading your full maximum position size into a scheduled major news event. |
| Bots, EAs and copy trading | Not allowed: Apex's prohibited-activities page says no automation or algorithms. Trade copying with other traders is forbidden. | Automated strategies are possible through the TopstepX API (ProjectX, billed separately). Topstep prohibits software or ultra-high-speed systems that exploit the platform, and scalping algorithms designed to exploit simulated fills. |
Last verified Oct 25, 2026 on each firm's own pages. "Not published" means we couldn't find it stated by the firm. Want the total cost with resets and activation? Use the calculator.
Who each is better for
Apex is the better fit for
Traders who want a one-time fee and no daily subscription clock, and who trade manually. Apex bans automation, and its PA payouts are capped and need 50% consistency.
Topstep is the better fit for
Traders who want a single published price list, an optional daily loss limit and an automation route through the TopstepX API, and who are fine trading on TopstepX only.
Neither is "best" for everyone. The right pick depends on how you trade: your strategy's daily swings, whether you trade news or use automation, and how fast you need payouts.
Red flags and rule changes we track
Apex Trader Funding
- Legacy and new accounts follow different rules. Apex brought legacy accounts back for a limited time in October 2026, so check which product you're buying.
- PA payouts need 50% consistency and are capped per payout, with a maximum of 6 payouts on the 50K EOD PA.
- No automation of any kind, which rules out bots and trade copiers shared with others.
- The price and activation fee are only shown inside the checkout configurator, so confirm the total before paying.
Rule changes we've logged:
- Apex Trader FundingEvaluation
New account lineup; legacy accounts keep their rules
Accounts bought on or after Mar 1, 2026 use Apex's new products: EOD or intraday drawdown options, one-time fees and no evaluation consistency rule. Performance Accounts use a 50% consistency rule for payouts. In October 2026 Apex's homepage advertised legacy evaluations as available again as a limited-time promotion.
Who it affects: Accounts purchased on or after Mar 1, 2026. Apex says legacy accounts aren't affected.
Source: Apex Trader Funding
Full Apex Trader Funding rules explained
Topstep
- The Combine is a monthly subscription, so a slow pass costs more.
- The Maximum Loss Limit is monitored in real time, including open trades, even though it trails on end-of-day balance.
- TopstepX has been the only platform since August 2026. NinjaTrader, Tradovate or direct TradingView setups don't carry over.
- Back2Funded reactivation after a breach costs $599 on a 50K Express Funded Account.
Not an affiliate link. Disclosure
Not an affiliate link. Disclosure
Sources
Pages we used, checked Oct 25, 2026: the firm's official pages first, plus any named third-party source. If anything here disagrees with the firm's current page, the firm's page wins.
- Apex Help: EOD Evaluations
- Apex Help: EOD Payouts
- Apex Help: Prohibited Activities
- Apex Trader Funding homepage
- Topstep Help: Trading Combine Parameters
- Topstep Help: Consistency at Topstep
- Topstep Help: Maximum Loss Limit
- Topstep Help: Pricing
- Topstep Help: Payout Policy
- Topstep Help: Prohibited Trading Strategies
- Topstep Help: Economic Releases
- Topstep Help: TopstepX API Access