Apex Trader Funding vs FTMO: Compared Rule by Rule for 2026
Apex and FTMO are not direct competitors (Apex is futures-only, FTMO is forex-led with futures launched recently) but they are the two most-searched prop firms in 2026. The comparison usually surfaces when a trader is deciding which asset class to pursue, not which firm within an asset class.
At 100K: Apex Trader Funding from $59, FTMO from €399.
Side-by-side comparison
| Rule | Apex Trader Funding | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Futures (CME) | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Stocks |
| Watchlist | on watchlist | No |
| Evaluation | 1-Step | 1-Step or 2-Step |
| Account sizes | $25K, $50K, $100K, $150K | $5K, $10K, $25K, $50K, $100K, $150K, $200K |
| Fee (100K) | $59 | €399 |
| Profit split | 100% | 80 to 90% |
| Max drawdown (100K) | $3,000 | 10% |
| Drawdown type | Intraday trailing | End-of-day trailing |
| Daily loss (100K) | n/a | $3,000 |
| Consistency rule | n/a | 50% |
| Min trading days | 1 | n/a |
| First payout | 5 days | 14 days |
| News trading | Allowed | Restricted on funded accounts (2-min window) |
| EAs / bots | Allowed | Allowed with restrictions |
| Weekend holding | Not allowed | Swing account only |
| US traders | Yes | Via FTMO US / OANDA only |
| Trustpilot | Trustpilot profile | Trustpilot profile |
Verdict
Pick Apex if you want US futures market access through Tradovate or Rithmic, one-time fees and the largest payout track record in the futures space. Pick FTMO if you want forex, indices, metals and crypto through MT4, MT5 or cTrader, with the longest payout history in that category.
Heads up: Apex Trader Funding has announced model changes in the past 90 days. We re-audit watchlisted firms every 7 days; double-check the live rules page before purchasing.
Apex Trader Funding strengths
Flat profit split, one-time eval fee, large funded account base, simplified rule set
Apex Trader Funding weaknesses
Trailing drawdown, capped payouts per PA, monthly PA fee, ongoing Riot v. Apex litigation
FTMO strengths
Longest track record, static drawdown, no consistency rule
FTMO weaknesses
Capped scaling, no futures, news restrictions on funded accounts, US traders via FTMO US only