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.
At 100K: Apex Trader Funding from $59, TradeDay from $119.
Side-by-side comparison
| Rule | Apex Trader Funding | TradeDay |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Futures (CME) | Futures (CME) |
| Watchlist | on watchlist | No |
| Evaluation | 1-Step | 1-Step (Quick Pay / Fast Pass) |
| Account sizes | $25K, $50K, $100K, $150K | $25K, $50K, $100K, $150K |
| Fee (100K) | $59 | $119 |
| Profit split | 100% | 50 to 90% |
| Max drawdown (100K) | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Drawdown type | Intraday trailing | End-of-day trailing |
| Daily loss (100K) | n/a | n/a |
| Consistency rule | n/a | 30% |
| Min trading days | 1 | 5 |
| First payout | 5 days | 1 days |
| News trading | Allowed | Allowed |
| EAs / bots | Allowed | Allowed |
| Weekend holding | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| US traders | Yes | Yes |
| Trustpilot | Trustpilot profile |
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 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
TradeDay strengths
Three drawdown types to match style, early payout eligibility, no activation fee, scaling profit split, real path to Funded Live capital, established track record
TradeDay weaknesses
Monthly subscription model, consistency rule, futures only