Founded
2021 Austin, USA
The cheapest way into futures funding — one-time fees, heavy discounts and generous account stacking.
Status: Active. Active and high-volume, with over US$720M reported paid. A 2024 payout-verification controversy still shadows its reputation, and 2026 reviews report friction on large or rapidly-stacked withdrawals; metals trading was reportedly suspended in March 2026.
Apex is a legitimate, high-volume futures firm with the cheapest effective entry cost in the space and a large (self-reported US$720M+) payout record. But its 2024 payout-verification episode still shadows it, and 2026 reviews show friction on large or rapidly-stacked withdrawals — reasonable for steady, modest cash-outs, less so for fast six-figure withdrawals.
The score, by criterion
Apex sells a one-step, one-time-fee evaluation on account sizes from $25,000 to $150,000, run on NinjaTrader, Rithmic and Tradovate. Hit a 6% target inside a trailing-loss limit — no minimum days, and you can pass in a single day — then activate a funded account (~$80) and keep 100% of the first $25,000 of profit, then 90%.
The key choice is the drawdown style: the intraday trailing limit follows your live equity in real time (aggressive, no daily loss limit), while the end-of-day version recalculates at the close and adds a daily loss limit. Both stop trailing once you have banked a safety buffer. Confirm the current rules for your product on apextraderfunding.com.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Profit target | 6% ($1.5k–$9k by size) |
| Max drawdown | $1,500–$4,000 — trailing (intraday or end-of-day) |
| Drawdown type | Intraday trails live equity; EOD trails closing balance and adds a daily loss limit |
| Minimum trading days | None to pass; 5 qualifying days to withdraw |
| Consistency rule | No single day > 50% of total profit |
| Account stacking | Up to 20 accounts at once |
| Fees | One-time (often 80–90% off) + ~$80 funded-account activation |
Apex reports over US$720M paid since 2021, with first payouts from five qualifying days and a 50% single-day consistency rule. Most traders are paid, but 2026 reviews report "under review" holds and slower processing on large or rapidly-stacked withdrawals, and payouts are capped over the first six requests before the account closes.
A natural fit for cost-conscious futures traders who withdraw modestly and steadily and want the lowest possible entry cost with account stacking. Traders counting on fast, large cash-outs, or who dislike aggressive trailing drawdown, may prefer a more conservative firm.
Apex is not regulated as a broker — it explicitly describes its programs as simulated evaluations, not a broker or FCM. Accounts are simulated, fees are at risk, and most participants do not pass. Note the historical payout-verification complaints when planning withdrawals.
A proprietary trading firm evaluation is a paid product, not employment or guaranteed income — most participants do not pass, and challenge fees are at risk. Prop firms are generally unregulated and can change rules or cease operating at short notice; details were verified as of August 2026 and may change. This is independent editorial analysis, not financial advice or a recommendation to trade.