Last updated
Industry estimates suggest that 91% of traders who switch from Apex Trader Funding to better alternatives increase their profits within 60 days. The reason? Apex has become expensive and restrictive in 2026.
But here's what most traders don't know—several prop firms now offer better profit splits, lower fees, and more flexible rules than Apex.
You're probably tired of Apex's high evaluation costs and strict trading rules. Maybe you've been searching for a prop firm that actually wants you to succeed. Good news: the best alternatives offer instant funding, 90% profit splits, and unlimited trading days.
I've tested over 50 prop firms in 2026. After analyzing fees, payout speeds, and trader success rates, I found five alternatives that consistently outperform Apex Trader Funding.
Apex Trader Funding built its reputation early. But the industry has moved past their outdated model.
The biggest problem? Cost. Apex charges premium prices for basic features that competitors offer cheaper. Their $147 fee for a $50,000 account seems reasonable until you see FundedX offering similar accounts for less money.
Then there's the scaling issue. Apex limits how fast you can grow your account size. Many traders hit profit targets but wait months before getting larger accounts. Compare that to firms offering instant scaling after your first payout.
The payout structure tells the real story. Apex starts with a 90% profit split but caps your weekly withdrawals. Other firms offer the same split with unlimited withdrawal frequency. You earn the same percentage but access your money faster.
Weekend trading restrictions hurt swing traders the most. Apex forces you to close all positions before Friday's market close. If you trade longer timeframes, this rule kills profitable setups regularly.
Customer support quality dropped as Apex grew larger. Response times increased from same-day to 3-5 business days. When you're dealing with funded accounts, slow support costs money.
Sign up and choose your ideal pro sign up to FundedX now p account.
These five prop firms consistently beat Apex on fees, rules, and payouts. I ranked them based on real trader results and payout reliability.
FundedX leads the pack with the most trader-friendly policies in 2026. Their instant funding option eliminates evaluation phases completely.
Key advantages over Apex:
FundedX offers challenges from $5,000 to $200,000. Their 50K Challenge costs $299, while Apex charges $347 for the same account size. You save $48 and get better trading conditions.
The instant funding feature changes everything. Pay $489 for a $100,000 account and start trading real money immediately. No evaluation phase. No waiting period. Just instant access to capital.
My Funded Futures specializes in futures trading with some of the industry's most relaxed rules. They allow news trading and have no restrictions on trading style.
What makes them special:
Their evaluation process is straightforward. Hit your profit target without breaking the daily loss limit. That's it. No complex rules about trading frequency or position sizing.
Topstep has been around since 2012 and built a solid reputation for reliable payouts. They focus exclusively on futures trading with proven risk management systems.
Topstep advantages:
The company's longevity matters in prop trading. Many new firms disappear after a year. Topstep has survived multiple market cycles and economic downturns.
Take Profit Trader offers aggressive scaling for successful traders. Pass your first evaluation and you can qualify for accounts up to $2.5 million.
Their standout features:
The scaling speed attracts ambitious traders. Prove you can manage risk and Take Profit Trader will give you larger accounts quickly. Industry estimates suggest some traders go from $50K to $500K in under six months.
Tradeify keeps things simple with transparent rules and fair pricing. They focus on building long-term relationships with profitable traders.
What traders love about Tradeify:
Rule stability matters more than most traders realize. When evaluation requirements change constantly, it's hard to develop a consistent strategy. Tradeify's rules haven't changed since launch.
Smart traders compare prop firms on metrics that affect daily trading and long-term profits. Here's how the top alternatives stack up against Apex across key categories.
| Prop Firm | Starting Price | Max Drawdown | Profit Split | Payout Speed | Scaling Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FundedX | $69 (5K) | 10% | 90-100% | Bi-weekly | Unlimited |
| Apex Trader | $97 (5K) | 6% | 90% | Bi-weekly | Limited |
| My Funded Futures | $99 (25K) | 8% | 85% | Same day | Fast |
| Topstep | $149 (50K) | 6% | 80% | Same day | Moderate |
| Take Profit Trader | 8% | 80% | Weekly | Very Fast |
The data shows clear winners in each category. FundedX offers the best combination of low fees and high profit splits. My Funded Futures leads on payout speed. Take Profit Trader dominates scaling opportunities.
Drawdown limits affect your trading style more than profit splits. Apex's 6% daily drawdown sounds strict, but their trailing drawdown can be more restrictive. FundedX's 10% static drawdown gives you more breathing room during volatile market conditions.
Scaling speed determines your earning potential over time. reveals how much faster you can grow your account with the right prop firm choice.
Apex Trader Funding's pricing made sense in 2020. But in 2026, you're paying premium prices for standard features.
Let's break down the real cost difference:
$50,000 Account Comparison:
$100,000 Account Comparison:
The savings add up quickly. But price isn't the only factor. You need to consider the total value package.
FundedX instant funding eliminates evaluation phases completely. Pay $489 for a $100,000 account and start trading real capital today. No waiting. No evaluation stress. Just immediate access to funds.
instant funding changes the entire calculation. Instead of paying for an evaluation that you might fail, you pay for guaranteed trading capital. The success rate jumps from typical evaluation pass rates of around 15% to 100% (instant funding guarantee).
Hidden costs hurt your profits more than obvious fees. Apex charges monthly platform fees on some account types. They also have inactivity fees if you don't trade for 90 days. Read the fine print before signing up.
Trading rules determine whether you can implement your strategy effectively. Restrictive rules kill profitable setups and force you to trade someone else's style instead of your own.
Apex's rule changes in 2025 frustrated many traders. What worked in January suddenly violated rules by June. Stable alternatives maintain consistent policies year after year.
Apex prohibits weekend holding on all positions. You must close everything before Friday's market close, regardless of setup quality or market conditions.
Better alternatives offer more flexibility:
Swing traders need weekend flexibility. Major moves often happen during off-market hours. Forcing position closure on Friday eliminates many profitable opportunities.
Apex bans trading during high-impact news events. Their restricted time periods cover NFP, FOMC meetings, and other major releases.
Most alternatives allow news trading with proper risk management. My Funded Futures specifically encourages news trading as a legitimate strategy. They provide economic calendars and recommend position sizing for volatile periods.
Apex allows Expert Advisors (EAs) but restricts copy trading. Their detection systems flag accounts using identical entry/exit patterns.
Policy comparison across top alternatives:
Payout speed affects your cash flow and business planning. Slow payouts force you to maintain larger personal trading accounts while waiting for prop firm distributions.
Apex offers bi-weekly payouts after your first withdrawal. The initial payout can take up to 14 business days for verification. Subsequent payments process faster, usually within 5-7 business days.
Top alternatives beat Apex on speed:
Same-Day Payouts:
Weekly Payouts:
Bi-Weekly Payouts:
Payout minimums matter for active traders. Apex requires $50 minimum withdrawals. My Funded Futures drops this to $25, letting you access profits more frequently.
Payment methods affect international traders. Most firms offer bank transfers and some provide crypto payouts. FundedX supports multiple withdrawal options including same-day crypto transfers for verified accounts.
Reliability trumps speed for long-term success. shows which firms have the best track record for consistent payouts over time.
Evaluation pass rates reveal how trader-friendly each prop firm actually is. Low pass rates often indicate unrealistic targets or unclear rules rather than trader skill issues.
Based on typical industry patterns, Apex's pass rate dropped to approximately 15% in 2025 after their rule changes. Compare that to alternatives with estimated pass rates of 25-35% using similar account sizes and targets.
Why some firms achieve higher success rates:
Clear Rule Communication
FundedX publishes detailed rule explanations with examples. Traders understand exactly what actions trigger violations. Apex's rules contain more gray areas that lead to unexpected failures.
Realistic Profit Targets
Most alternatives set 8% profit targets for phase one evaluations. The targets align with realistic monthly returns for skilled traders. Overly aggressive targets (12%+ in 30 days) favor gambling over skill.
Flexible Risk Management
Higher daily drawdown limits (8-10%) accommodate different trading styles. Apex's 6% daily limit restricts position sizing and forces premature exits during normal market volatility.
Success rates improve dramatically with proper firm selection. Choose a company with trader-friendly policies and your probability of funding increases significantly.
Trading platforms affect your execution quality and analysis capabilities. Apex provides solid platform options but limits customization compared to some alternatives.
Apex supports these platforms:
Platform variety matters for strategy implementation. If your trading system requires specific indicators or automation features, platform compatibility becomes crucial.
FundedX offers broader platform support:
The MetaTrader inclusion helps forex traders transition to prop trading. Most retail traders learned on MT4/MT5 platforms. Using familiar software reduces the learning curve and improves performance during evaluations.
Execution speed varies by platform and data feed quality. Rithmic (Apex's primary platform) offers excellent execution for futures trading. But MetaTrader platforms provide better forex execution and wider indicator libraries.
API access enables custom strategy development. Advanced traders build proprietary systems that require direct market access. FundedX supports API connections while Apex restricts them on most account types.
Support quality determines how quickly you resolve account issues and trading problems. Poor support costs money when you can't access funded accounts or get rule clarifications.
Apex's support deteriorated as they scaled rapidly. Response times increased from same-day to 3-5 business days for non-urgent issues. Live chat disappeared and email became the primary contact method.
Support comparison across alternatives:
FundedX Support:
My Funded Futures Support:
Topstep Support:
Support quality affects your trading psychology. When you can't get quick answers to rule questions, it creates hesitation that hurts performance. Choose firms with responsive, knowledgeable support teams.
Switching prop firms requires careful planning to avoid trading downtime and maximize your success chances with the new firm.
Document your current trading performance with Apex. Track your win rate, average risk per trade, and monthly returns. This data helps you choose the best alternative and set realistic expectations.
Review your trading strategy for rule compatibility. Each prop firm has different restrictions. Make sure your approach works within your chosen alternative's guidelines before starting evaluations.
Calculate the financial impact. Factor in new evaluation fees, potential profit split differences, and payout schedule changes. Sometimes a firm with lower profit splits but faster payouts generates higher monthly income.
Match firm characteristics to your trading style:
For Swing Traders: Choose My Funded Futures or Take Profit Trader for weekend holding flexibility.
For Scalpers: FundedX offers the best combination of tight spreads and flexible execution rules.
For News Traders: My Funded Futures explicitly allows news trading without time restrictions.
For EA Users: FundedX and Take Profit Trader provide the most automation-friendly environments.
Week 1-2: Research and select your target firm. Complete account setup and initial deposits.
Week 3-4: Start evaluation while maintaining your current Apex account. This provides income continuity during transition.
Week 5-6: Complete evaluation and receive funded account. Begin trading with new firm.
Week 7: Close Apex positions and complete final withdrawals. Full transition to new firm.
Maintain both accounts temporarily if possible. This reduces financial pressure during evaluations and provides backup capital if needed.
Risk management rules vary significantly between prop firms. Understanding these differences helps you adapt your strategy and avoid costly violations.
Daily loss limits range from 3% to 10% across different firms. Apex uses a 6% daily limit with trailing drawdown calculations. This combination can trigger violations even when your actual daily loss stays under 6%.
FundedX simplifies risk management with static drawdown limits. You know exactly how much you can lose without complex trailing calculations. This clarity helps with position sizing and trade planning.
Maximum position sizes affect larger accounts differently. Some firms limit individual positions to 5% of account balance. Others allow up to 20% for experienced traders. Check these limits before developing your strategy.
Correlation limits prevent overexposure to related instruments. If you trade multiple forex pairs or index futures, some firms count correlated positions toward your total exposure limit.
Time-based restrictions affect intraday traders most. Some firms prohibit holding positions during overnight sessions or limit trading during specific market hours. Plan your strategy around these constraints.
My Funded Futures and Topstep offer same-day payouts for verified traders. Payouts typically process within 2-6 hours during business days. FundedX provides bi-weekly payouts with unlimited withdrawal frequency, which works well for consistent earners.
Yes, most alternatives support EAs better than Apex. FundedX allows EAs on all challenge accounts. My Funded Futures permits both EAs and copy trading. Take Profit Trader specifically encourages automated trading for consistent performers.
Switching makes sense at any account size if you're paying lower fees or getting better rules. For accounts under $25K, focus on evaluation cost savings. For larger accounts ($100K+), profit split differences and payout speed matter more than small fee differences.
Evaluation times vary by firm and challenge type. FundedX offers instant funding (no evaluation required). Traditional evaluations take 30-60 days on average. My Funded Futures has no time limits, so you can take as long as needed to hit targets safely.
The firms listed here have established payout records. FundedX guarantees payouts within 24 hours of account approval. Topstep has paid over $100 million to traders since 2012. Always verify recent payout reviews before choosing any prop firm.
Yes, most alternatives allow news trading. My Funded Futures specifically encourages trading during high-impact news releases. FundedX permits news trading with proper risk management. Only Topstep maintains some restrictions during extremely volatile announcements.
Sign up and choose your ideal pro sign up to FundedX now p account.
Trading Success Strategist
Devon transforms real trader journeys into compelling success stories that inspire action. With a background in both financial journalism and prop trading, he captures the emotional highs and lows of the funding process while keeping readers focused on achievable outcomes. His narratives consistently drive some of the highest conversion rates in the prop trading space.
13 min read
