Apex Trader Funding is the most-searched futures prop firm in the world, and for good reason: a single evaluation phase, no time limit on legacy accounts, frequent 80-90% discounts, and a track record of paying out hundreds of millions in profit splits. But the firm has changed its rules significantly in 2025-2026 — new Intraday Trailing Drawdown (ITD) and End-of-Day (EOD) evaluation structures, a new billing model, and stricter payout rules — which means a lot of the advice floating around on Reddit and YouTube is now out of date.
This FAQ is built from the questions traders actually ask — and from the real search queries that land people on prop-firm content every day. We answer 45+ questions across seven categories: getting started, evaluations, fees, rules, payouts, resets, and the 2026 changes. Where a rule varies by account type, we say so, and we flag anything that changes frequently so you always check the official help center before buying.
Getting Started with Apex Trader Funding
Q: Is Apex Trader Funding legit?
A: Yes. Apex is one of the largest and most established futures prop firms, operating since 2021, regulated-adjacent via its broker partners, and famous for actually paying traders. It has paid out well over $300 million in profit splits to traders and is routinely reviewed as one of the most reliable firms in the industry.
Q: What is Apex Trader Funding?
A: Apex is a futures prop firm that lets you trade a simulated evaluation account; pass it and you receive a funded Performance Account with real profit splits on simulated capital. It focuses exclusively on futures (ES, NQ, CL, GC, etc.) and supports the major futures platforms.
Q: Do I need a broker to use Apex?
A: No. Apex works through its partner platforms — Tradovate, Rithmic, and NinjaTrader — and you get access through your Apex account. You do not need your own futures broker account to take an evaluation.
Q: Is Apex available in my country?
A: Apex accepts traders from most countries, but there are exclusions (historically including some restricted jurisdictions). Check the current list in the help center or at checkout; your payment method must also be supported.
Q: Do I need futures experience to start?
A: No, but it helps enormously. The evaluation rules (trailing drawdowns, daily limits, no overnight positions on many accounts) are futures-specific. If you are brand new, take a free trial account or a cheap discounted eval first instead of a large account.
Apex Evaluations: How They Work in 2026
Q: How does the Apex evaluation work?
A: You buy an evaluation account, trade it to a profit target while respecting drawdown rules, and pass. In 2026 Apex offers two main structures: Intraday Trailing Drawdown (ITD) accounts and End-of-Day (EOD) trailing drawdown accounts, alongside legacy evaluation accounts. Each has slightly different rules.
Q: What is an ITD (Intraday Trailing Drawdown) evaluation?
A: The ITD structure tracks your drawdown intraday: your equity trail updates during the session, and if you drop through the trailing limit at any point, the evaluation is terminated for the day. There is no minimum number of trading days — you can pass as soon as you hit the profit target, provided you respect every rule.
Q: What is an EOD evaluation?
A: The EOD structure is a 30-day evaluation that measures your drawdown at the end of each trading day rather than intraday. This gives you more room to maneuver within a session (a big intraday swing won't kill you if you close back inside the limit), but you still must hit the profit target within the 30-day window. No minimum trading days; you may pass in a single day if the target is reached.
Q: What is the profit target on Apex evaluations?
A: Targets vary by account size and structure and have ranged from 5% to 8% of account size depending on the plan and promo. On a 50K account a 5% target means $2,500; an 8% target means $4,000. The exact target is displayed at checkout.
Q: How many trading days do I need to pass?
A: ITD and EOD evaluations have no minimum trading days. Legacy evaluations require a minimum of 7 trading days. There is no maximum on legacy accounts, and ITD/EOD accounts run on a 30-day access window.
Q: How long is my Apex evaluation active?
A: New-style evaluations are active for 30 consecutive calendar days from purchase and expire if not passed. Legacy subscription evaluations stayed active while your subscription renewed monthly.
Q: Can I pass an Apex evaluation in one day?
A: On ITD and EOD structures, yes — if you hit the profit target in a single session while respecting the drawdown and other rules. On legacy accounts, no: 7 minimum trading days apply.
Apex Fees and Costs
Q: How much does an Apex evaluation cost?
A: List prices range from roughly $137 for a 25K account up to $1,000+ for large accounts, but Apex almost always runs 80-90% off sales. A 50K eval is frequently available for $30-$70. The actual price you pay depends on the current promo.
Q: Is there a monthly fee?
A: On new-style evaluations, no — you pay a one-time fee for 30 days of access. Legacy subscription evaluations billed monthly until you passed, canceled, or reset. Funded accounts (PAs) have a platform/data subscription fee you pay monthly, which is standard across futures prop firms.
Q: What is the Apex activation fee?
A: When you pass an evaluation, you pay a one-time activation fee (historically around $69-$149 depending on account size) to convert it into a funded Performance Account. You typically have 7 calendar days to activate after passing.
Q: Are there hidden fees?
A: The main recurring cost is the monthly platform/data subscription on funded accounts. Payouts are paid out and any payout-related processing follows the current policy. Resets on funded accounts cost money (see the resets section below). Otherwise the cost structure is transparent.
Q: Does Apex offer discounts or promo codes?
A: Yes — constantly. Sales of 80-90% off are routine, and discount codes are widely available. Never buy an Apex evaluation at list price; wait for a sale or use a code. This is also why buying a new discounted eval is often cheaper than paying for a reset.
Apex Rules Explained
Q: Does Apex have a daily loss limit?
A: ITD accounts enforce an intraday trailing drawdown that works like a daily loss limit during the session. Legacy evaluation accounts historically had no separate daily loss limit — they used a trailing maximum drawdown instead. The answer depends on your account structure.
Q: How does the Apex trailing drawdown work?
A: Your equity trail is tracked and your drawdown limit follows your highest balance. If your balance drops from that high by more than the drawdown amount, the account terminates. The trail updates continuously (intraday on ITD accounts) or at day's end (on EOD accounts).
Q: Does Apex have a consistency rule?
A: On evaluations, generally no — legacy and new-style evals do not impose the 50%-of-target best-day rule that firms like TopStep use. However, funded-account payouts require minimum qualifying trading days and a minimum daily profit, and there is a consistency requirement on payouts. So the consistency concept exists on Apex, but it gates payouts rather than the eval.
Q: Does Apex allow news trading?
A: Apex generally allows news trading on standard accounts, but you should verify the current policy for your specific account type. Some accounts restrict trading around high-impact events, and violating the news rule is a fast way to lose an account.
Q: Can I hold positions overnight or over the weekend?
A: Most Apex accounts are day-trading accounts — you must be flat before the session close. Some account types allow holds. Check the specific rules for the account you buy; assuming you can hold overnight is how accounts get terminated.
Q: Can I trade all futures products?
A: Apex covers the major CME futures (ES, NQ, YM, RTY, CL, GC, etc.). Micro contracts are allowed on many accounts. Some instruments or trading styles (e.g., arbitrage, latency exploitation) are prohibited; see the prohibited-activities policy.
Q: What is the Apex prohibited activities policy?
A: Apex prohibits copy trading, arbitrage, latency exploitation, and any behavior that abuses the platform or data feeds. It also restricts certain order types and strategies on funded accounts. This is one of the most common reasons for account termination, so read the full policy before trading.
Q: Does Apex allow EA / automated trading?
A: Yes, automated trading is generally allowed on Apex evaluations, but copy trading is restricted and some strategies are prohibited. Verify the current automated trading policy for your account type.
Q: What platforms can I use with Apex?
A: Apex supports Tradovate, Rithmic, and NinjaTrader, plus TradingView via the Rithmic connection. All are available on desktop, web, and mobile, which matters for the "can I trade on my phone" question — yes, you can manage positions from mobile apps.
Apex Payouts
Q: How much of the profits do I keep?
A: Apex profit splits range from 75% to 100% depending on the account size and plan. Larger accounts often start at 100% (you keep everything) after the first payout; smaller accounts commonly start around 75-90% and increase as you take payouts.
Q: How long does an Apex payout take?
A: Apex is known for fast payouts — requests are typically processed within 1-3 business days after approval, and funds arrive by ACH or wire depending on your location. First payouts can take slightly longer while your account and identity are verified.
Q: What is the minimum payout?
A: The minimum payout is $500, and you must meet the minimum trading-day and minimum-daily-profit requirements (for example, 5 qualifying trading days with a required minimum daily profit on ITD accounts).
Q: Is there a maximum number of payouts?
A: Yes — Apex caps payouts per Performance Account (6 payouts per account on the current ITD structure, after which the PA is closed and you activate a new one). This changed in the 2026 rule updates and is a frequent source of confusion, so check the current policy.
Q: How do I get paid?
A: You request a payout from your Apex dashboard, it goes through compliance review (consistency and rules check), and you receive funds by ACH (US) or wire (international). The exact methods depend on your region and current policy.
Q: Why would a payout be rejected?
A: The usual reasons: not meeting minimum trading days, failing the consistency requirement, a rule violation (news trading, prohibited activity), or a data/identity issue. Read the payout rules for your account type before requesting so you do not waste a payout slot.
Apex Resets and Account Management
Q: Can I reset my Apex evaluation?
A: New-style evaluations (the 30-day one-time fee model) have no resets — if you fail, you buy a new evaluation. Legacy subscription evaluations could reset automatically at renewal if failed. This is the single biggest change from the old days of "reset for half price."
Q: How much does it cost to reset a funded Apex account?
A: Performance Account resets cost around $80 (Rithmic) or $100 (Tradovate) and are non-refundable. A reset restores your original balance and drawdown limits.
Q: Can I have multiple Apex accounts?
A: Yes — running multiple evaluations and multiple PAs is standard practice. Copy trading between them is prohibited, so each account must be traded independently (or by your own independent signals).
Q: Can I upgrade my Apex account size?
A: Yes, through the scaling plan. As you take qualifying payouts, your account size grows — historically scaling up to $5 million accounts. The exact scaling increments are in the help center.
Q: What happens if my funded account blows up?
A: You can reset it for the PA reset fee, or buy a new evaluation — and with the frequent 80-90% discounts, a new eval is often cheaper than the $80-$100 reset fee. Many experienced traders keep a small stack of cheap discounted evals ready.
The 2026 Apex Changes You Must Know
Apex made sweeping changes in late 2025 and early 2026. If you learned Apex from a video older than about six months, re-read this section:
- New evaluation structures: ITD (intraday trailing drawdown) and EOD (end-of-day) accounts replaced the old single structure as the headline products. No minimum trading days on either; both run on 30-day access windows.
- New billing: One-time fee, no rebill, 30-day eval access, no resets on evals. The old monthly subscription + reset model only survives on legacy accounts.
- New payout rules: Minimum qualifying trading days with a minimum daily profit, $500 minimum payout, 50% consistency requirement, and a cap of 6 payouts per Performance Account.
- News and holding rules: Tightened and now vary by account type — always confirm before trading the calendar or holding overnight.
Because Apex iterates quickly, treat this guide as a map, not a contract. Before you spend money, open the official help center for the specific account you plan to buy and read the rules for that account type.
Platforms, Setup, and Trading Logistics
Q: Do I need a VPS to trade Apex?
A: No, but it helps if you run EAs or want zero downtime. Apex works fine on a normal desktop or laptop for manual trading. If you automate, a cheap VPS near the CME matching engine (Chicago) reduces latency and keeps your strategies running while your computer sleeps.
Q: Can I trade Apex on my phone?
A: Yes. Tradovate and Rithmic both have mobile apps, and NinjaTrader is available on mobile too. You can open, manage, and close positions from your phone — just remember that a mobile chart is still a chart: position sizing and risk rules do not relax because you are on a smaller screen.
Q: Can I use TradingView with Apex?
A: Yes — TradingView connects through the Rithmic platform, giving you TradingView's charting with Apex's execution. This is a hugely popular setup among Apex traders.
Q: What is the Apex copy trading policy?
A: Copy trading is prohibited — you cannot link multiple Apex accounts to copy one another's trades. Each evaluation and funded account must be traded independently or by your own independent signals. This is one of the most common causes of account termination, and Apex monitors for it.
Q: Can I trade the same strategy on multiple Apex accounts?
A: Yes, as long as each account places its own independent trades — placing identical trades across accounts by hand is fine and standard practice; automating the copy is what gets flagged. When in doubt, stagger entries slightly and keep the accounts genuinely independent.
Q: What time zone do Apex rules use?
A: US Central Time, matching the CME session. Your "trading day" and daily limits reset on the Central Time session close, so if you trade from Europe or Asia, be deliberate about when your day starts and ends.
Taxes and Money Logistics
Q: Are Apex payouts taxed?
A: Profit splits are taxable income in most countries. In the US, payouts are typically reported as income; in other countries, treat them as trading income and consult a tax professional. Apex does not withhold taxes for most traders — you are responsible for declaring the income.
Q: What payout methods does Apex offer?
A: ACH and wire are the standard methods, with availability depending on your region. Some regions have additional options. Check the current payout methods in the help center — and note that payout method availability can change with your account size and location.
Q: Can I withdraw before my first payout is approved?
A: No — you must meet the payout requirements first (minimum qualifying days, minimum daily profit, consistency rule) and submit a request that passes compliance review. There is no partial or early withdrawal on funded accounts.
Q: What happens to my profit if I breach the funded account?
A: If you breach a PA, the account terminates. Any unpaid profit that has not been requested and approved is lost with the account — which is exactly why the discipline rule is "request payouts the moment you qualify," not when you feel like it.
Before You Buy: The 10-Point Apex Checklist
Run this list before you hand over money, and you will avoid 90% of the "I wish I had read the rules" posts on Reddit:
- Pick the right structure: ITD if you trade tight intraday with hard stops; EOD if midday noise spooks you.
- Confirm the profit target for your exact account size and promo — it is printed at checkout.
- Confirm the drawdown type — trailing or static — and write down your floor in dollars.
- Check the 30-day window: on new-style evals you have 30 days; plan your trading days accordingly.
- Buy on a sale. 80-90% off is the normal price, not a special occasion.
- Know the activation fee you will pay after passing, so the total cost is not a surprise.
- Read the news trading policy for your account type.
- Read the holding rules: day-trading only, or holds allowed?
- Read the prohibited activities policy: copy trading, arbitrage, latency exploitation.
- Set your risk per trade (0.25%-0.5%) before you ever open the platform.
That last point deserves emphasis. Every rule above is knowable in five minutes; the risk-per-trade decision is the one that actually decides whether you pass. Apex's rules are generous compared to most firms — the drawdowns are the only thing standing between you and a funded account, so treat them as the boss.
FAQ (Quick Answers)
Q: Is Apex better than FTMO?
A: Different products. Apex is futures-only with a single eval phase and no time limit (legacy) or fast ITD/EOD pass, while FTMO is forex-focused with a two-phase challenge. Futures traders usually prefer Apex; forex traders usually prefer FTMO. See our FTMO vs Apex comparison for the full breakdown.
Q: Is Apex better than TopStep?
A: Apex has simpler eval rules (no consistency rule during the eval) and better discounts; TopStep has a stronger brand, more educational resources, and (on Combine) a 90/10 split with no per-account payout cap. Both are excellent — the choice is mostly about your trading style.
Q: Can I make a living trading Apex?
A: Some traders do, but most funded traders treat it as supplemental income. The realistic economics: consistent small profits plus scaling and multiple accounts is a real income path; expecting to get rich from one 50K account is not.
Q: How many people pass Apex evaluations?
A: Estimates vary, but industry-wide pass rates for futures challenges sit in the 15-25% range, and Apex's single-phase, no-time-limit structure tends to run at the higher end. Our Apex pass rate guide breaks down the data.
Q: What is the fastest way to pass an Apex evaluation?
A: On ITD/EOD structures: trade every day, bank 1-2% per day, never risk more than 0.5% per trade, and take the target as soon as you hit it — do not "keep trading for more." On legacy accounts, the 7-day minimum means a minimum of one week regardless.
Q: Should I use Apex or a challenge passing service?
A: If you can pass the eval yourself, that is always cheapest and keeps you in control. If you have the capital but not the time or consistency to grind evals, a passing service converts cash into a funded account at a flat rate. See our Apex passing service cost guide for the honest pricing comparison.
Q: Does Apex have a monthly minimum trading requirement on funded accounts?
A: Funded accounts have activity requirements tied to payout eligibility (minimum qualifying trading days per payout cycle), but the exact monthly minimums vary by account type. Check the PA rules for your specific account before assuming you can go silent for months.
Done Reading? Ready to Pass Apex?
You now know the rules — but knowing and passing are different things. We pass Apex challenges for traders every week at a flat rate for any account size, with a free test available. Focus on your strategy; we handle the evaluation.
The Bottom Line
Apex Trader Funding in 2026 is not the Apex of 2024. The evaluation is faster (ITD/EOD, no minimum trading days), the billing is simpler (one-time fee, no resets), and the payouts are more rule-bound (minimum days, consistency, 6-payout cap). None of that makes Apex a worse deal — if anything, the no-time-limit legacy feel is replaced by a faster, clearer path — but it makes current, accurate information worth real money.
Bookmark the official help center, verify every number for your specific account type, and treat 80-90% discount sales as the default price rather than a special occasion. Do that, respect the drawdowns, and Apex remains one of the best-funded paths available to retail futures traders in 2026.