Apex Trader Funding vs TradeDay: Compared Rule by Rule for 2026
Apex and TradeDay are two of the most differentiated futures props in 2026. Apex leans on trailing drawdown and aggressive scaling; TradeDay 2.0 shipped a static-drawdown, no-scaling-plan alternative that removes the mechanic most traders complain about.
Side-by-side comparison
| Rule | Apex Trader Funding | TradeDay |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Futures (CME) | Futures (CME) |
| Audited variants | 2 on watchlist | 3 |
| Evaluation | 1-Step | 1-Step (Quick Pay / Fast Pass) |
| Account sizes | $25K to "50K | $50K, "00K, "50K |
| Fee (100K) | ~"67 one-time (promos to ~$30) | ~$230 to $320/month |
| Profit split | 100% (flat — Apex 4.0) | 50/50 first $4K then 80/20; 90/10 on Funded Live |
| Max drawdown | Trailing ($3K on 100K) | $2K to $3K (choice of Intraday/EOD/Static) |
| Drawdown type | Trailing | Static |
| Daily loss | None | None on funded |
| Consistency rule | 50% | 30% (Quick Pay) / 45% (Fast Pass) eval-only |
| Min trading days | 5 | 5 |
| Payout speed | 3 to 5 days | Under 24 hours |
| Payout frequency | Weekly (2x/month) | On-demand (day-one eligibility) |
| News trading | Allowed | Allowed |
| EAs / bots | Allowed | Allowed |
| Weekend holding | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Scaling cap | 6 payouts per PA | Funded Sim → Funded Live |
| US traders | Yes | Yes |
| Trustpilot | 4.3 (17,860+) | 4.6 (~2,500) |
| Value score | 84 | 83 |
Verdict
Pick Apex if you want the largest community, one-time fees and the biggest scaling ceiling. Pick TradeDay if a static drawdown and a rule set built around consistency rather than scaling activations fits your style.
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 100% profit split, one-time eval fee, large funded account base, simplified rule set
Apex Trader Funding weaknesses
Trailing drawdown, 6 payouts per PA cap, $85/month PA fee, ongoing Riot v. Apex litigation
TradeDay strengths
Three drawdown types to match style, day-one payouts, no activation fee, scaling to 95% split, real path to Funded Live capital, 8+ year track record
TradeDay weaknesses
Monthly subscription model, 30% consistency rule, futures only