Apex Trader Funding (ATF) is a leading futures proprietary trading firm that gives traders worldwide the opportunity to trade funded accounts using the firm’s capital—eliminating the need to risk personal funds. Founded in January 2021 by Darrell Martin, ATF has rapidly established itself as one of the most trusted and recognized names in the futures prop trading space.
The firm offers account sizes ranging from $25,000 to $150,000, all through straightforward 1-step evaluations, making the path to funding simple and accessible. Traders can scale significantly, with the ability to hold up to 20 funded accounts, equating to a potential $3 million in total funding.
One of ATF’s biggest advantages is its 100% profit share model, allowing traders to keep all of their profits, making it an especially attractive choice for both new and experienced futures traders.
ATF specializes exclusively in futures markets, giving traders direct access to CME-listed contracts including the E-mini S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, Dow, Gold, and Crude Oil. The firm offers traders the opportunity to trade large balances, while its flexible and trader-friendly evaluation rules make it accessible for a wide range of trading styles and strategies.
For traders seeking funded futures accounts, professional trading conditions, and access to significant capital, Apex Trader Funding provides a reliable path to live trading with firm capital.
Apex Trader Funding holds a solid reputation in the futures trading community:
Category | Details |
Firm Name | Apex Trader Funding |
Founder/ CEO | Darrell Martin |
Country/ Headquarters | United States |
Founded/ Years in Operation | January 2021 - over 4 years. |
Trustpilot Rating | 4.5 / 5 |
Platforms Supported | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, WealthCharts and Rithmic Platforms |
Payment Methods (Entry/ Subscription) | Credit/Debit Card, PayPal, Bank Transfer, Crypto |
Payout/ Withdrawal Methods | Bank Transfer, PayPal, Crypto |
Tradeable Assets | CME-listed contracts (E-mini S&P, NASDAQ, Dow, Gold, Crude, etc.) |
Commissions | Between $0.74 and $4.54 per contract. Examples YS, ES, NQ, RTY: $3.1. NKD: $4.64. Currency Futures: $3.54. Agricultural Futures: $4.54. Metal Futures: 3.54. Micro Futures: $1.04. MBTC: $5.34. METH: $0.74. |
Scaling Potential | Not available. However you can have up to 20 accounts per person. |
Discount/ Promo | 85% OFF all purchases — code SAVENOW |
Payout Frequency | Apex Trader Funding allows traders to request a payout five trading days after receiving funding or since their last payout, as long as all other conditions are met, such as meeting the minimum balance or safety-net requirements. Once a payout is requested, Apex typically reviews and approves it within two business days, and the funds are usually sent to the trader’s bank within three to four business days |
Demo Accounts | Not available |
Account Currency Options | USD only |
US Traders Allowed | Allowed |
Restricted Countries | Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo (Republic of), Cuba, Cyprus, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, New Caledonia, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine (State of), Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of the Congo, Réunion, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye (Turkey), Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe. |
Apex Trader Funding Evaluation Details and Costs
Apex Trader Funding offers a one-step evaluation with two drawdown options: trailing, which adjusts as profits grow, or static, which stays fixed.
*Tip: Wait For Promotional Offers Before Purchasing Evaluations
Account Size | Evaluation Fee (Monthly) | Performance Account Activation Fee (Lifetime) | Profit Target | Drawdown | Profit Split | Max Contract Size (Leverage) | Max Number Of Payout Requests Allowed |
$25,000 (Trailing) | $118 ($17.7 with 85% discount) | $79 | 6% | 4% | 100% | 2 Minis | 6 |
$50,000 (Trailing) | $131.33 ($19.7 with 85% discount) | $79 | 6% | 4% | 100% | 4 Minis | 6 |
$100,000 (Trailing) | $198 ($29.7 with 85% discount) | $79 | 6% | 3% | 100% | 6 Minis | 6 |
$150,000 (Trailing) | $264.67 ($39.71 with 85% discount) | $79 | 6% | 2.67% | 100% | 10 Minis | 6 |
$25,000 (EOD Trailing) | $177 ($26.55 with 85% discount) | $99 | 6% | 4% | 100% | 2 Minis | 6 |
$50,000 (EOD Trailing) | $197 ($29.55 with 85% discount) | $99 | 6% | 4% | 100% | 4 Minis | 6 |
$100,000 (EOD Trailing) | $297 ($44.55 with 85% discount) | $99 | 6% | 3% | 100% | 6 Minis | 6 |
$150,000 (EOD Trailing) | $397 ($59.55 with 85% discount) | $99 | 6% | 2.67% | 100% | 10 Minis | 6 |
What is the Performance Activation Fee?
Apex Trader Funding uses a flexible pricing model where the evaluation is low-cost, and the main fee is only paid after you pass. This post-evaluation charge is known as the Performance Account Activation Fee. With traditional firms, you pay the full evaluation fee upfront whether you pass or fail, but Apex works differently: the evaluation phase is relatively inexpensive, and most of the cost is only charged once you pass, known as the Performance Account Activation Fee.
Account Types: Trailing vs. Static
Feature | Trailing Account | EOD Trailing Account |
Drawdown | Moves with account balance | Moves with account balance from previous end of day |
Flexibility | Less flexible during open trades | More freedom for longer holds |
Availability | Available for all account sizes | Available for all account sizes |
Best For | Active day traders | Conservative or strategy-based traders |
Trading Rules and Conditions
Rule / Feature | Details |
Account Types Available | 1-Step only. Either Trailing Drawdown or EOD Trailing Drawdown |
Expert Advisors (EAs) | Allowed |
Copy Trading | Allowed for personal accounts (trade copier supported) |
Account Merging | Not allowed |
Maximum Account Capital | $150k x 20 accounts. $3 million is the total amount possible. |
VPS Usage | Allowed |
News Trading | News trading is allowed at Apex Trader Funding as long as it follows your normal trading strategy and adheres to all standard risk management and account rules. No hedging both directions. |
Overnight / Weekend Trades | Not allowed; positions closed at 4:59 PM ET daily |
Leverage | Depends on account size how many contracts you can trade: $25k: 2 minis, $50k: 4 minis, 100k: 6 minis, $150k: 10 minis |
Profit Split | 100% |
Consistency Rule | No consistency rules for evaluations. Funded accounts only: Any one days profit cannot be 50% of total profit since last payout or since start of trading the funded acount. |
Number of Accounts | Up to 20 active funded accounts allowed |
Scaling Plan | No scaling plan available. |
Refund Policy | No refund policy or reawrd |
Martingale | Not allowed |
Scaling into Trades | Allowed |
Stop Loss Required | Every trade should have a fixed risk, either with a stop-loss or a strategy-based plan |
Prohibited Strategies | Trading without stop losses or proper risk management.Using high-risk or reckless strategies that exceed per-trade limitsTreating the trailing drawdown as a substitute for stop-losses.Exploiting evaluation accounts for “lucky payouts,”.Using automated bots or system exploits.Sharing accounts or login credentials.Opening multiple accounts beyond allowed limits. |
Apex supports a wide range of industry-leading futures trading platforms, ensuring traders can operate within their preferred ecosystem. These platforms integrate directly with Rithmic and Tradovate, providing fast execution and stable data feeds.
Prop Firm | Evaluation Type | Account Sizes | Cost | Profit Target | Max Loss | Scaling Max | Discount |
Apex Trader Funding | 1-Step | $25k-$150k | $118-$397 | 6% | 2.67-4% | None | 85% off (SAVENOW) |
Top Step | 1-Step | $50k-$150k | $49-$209 | 6% | 3-4% | None | None |
Tradeify | Instant, 1-Step | $25k-$150k | $139-$759 | 5-6% | 3-4% | None | 30% off (MAR) |
Apex Trader Funding Pro's
Apex Trader Funding Con's
Top Step Pro's
Top Step Con's
Tradeify Pro's
Tradeify Con's
Is Apex Trader Funding Right for You?
Apex Trader Funding stands out as one of the most trader-friendly futures prop firms on the market, offering a streamlined one-step evaluation, no daily drawdown, and strong profit potential. With affordable pricing when discount codes are applied, it provides an accessible path to funding for both beginner and experienced traders.
A key advantage is the ability to scale, with traders able to hold up to 20 funded accounts—equating to up to $3 million in total funding—and manage them efficiently using Apex’s built-in copy trader, allowing for seamless execution across multiple accounts.
However, there are some rules to keep in mind. Each funded account is limited to a maximum of 6 payouts, requires at least 2 trades per month to remain active, and all accounts operate under a trailing drawdown system, requiring disciplined risk management.
Overall, if you trade CME futures and want a fast, scalable, and cost-effective path to funding, Apex Trader Funding remains a strong and competitive choice.
Otherwise, explore these strong alternatives:
Topstep Review: A leading platform for futures traders seeking funding.
Tradeify Review: Straightforward futures funding with flexible rules.
E8 Markets Review: Up to 100% splits, stackable accounts
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