- Choose E8 Markets if: You want to trade forex, crypto, and futures under one brand with a fully customizable drawdown and split.
- Choose Apex Trader Funding if: You want the largest futures-only firm with the highest first-tier profit retention and 20-account scaling.
Table of Contents
E8 Markets and Apex Trader Funding both launched in 2021 and have grown into two of the most flexible prop firms in their respective categories, but they serve different types of traders. E8 Markets covers forex, futures, and crypto under a single customizable account structure, while Apex Trader Funding focuses exclusively on futures with the largest payout volume in that category. This guide compares pricing, drawdown flexibility, profit split, and Trustpilot data to help you pick the right fit for your asset class.
The problem: Traders often assume more customization automatically means a better deal, but E8 Markets’ configurable drawdown and profit-split matrix means the price you pay varies significantly based on the combination you choose — a detail that’s easy to misjudge without carefully comparing tiers. Apex, meanwhile, markets its 100% first-$25K retention heavily, but traders frequently overlook that this applies per account, and the subsequent 90/10 split combined with a 30-50% consistency rule can reduce realized take-home pay more than expected on inconsistent trading weeks.
Quick Comparison
| E8 Markets | Apex Trader Funding | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $33 per $5K E8 Signature challenge | $118 per $25K one-time evaluation |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Free Trial | No | No |
| Best For | Traders who want to customize drawdown and profit split independently across multiple asset classes | Futures traders who want to scale across many accounts at once with a one-time fee |
| Ease of Use | 8 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Support Rating | 8 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| Explore E8 Markets → | Start Apex Evaluation → |
Pros & Cons
- Fully customizable drawdown (4%-14%) and profit split (80%-100%)
- Multi-asset access — forex, futures, and crypto under one brand
- No minimum trading days or time limits on evaluations
- On-demand payout eligibility checker shows real-time Best Day Rule status
- Smaller Trustpilot review base than the largest competitors
- Best-day rule has blocked some traders’ first payout attempt
- E8 One drawdown mechanics can confuse traders switching from Signature
- Keep 100% of your first $25,000 in profit per account
- Largest futures firm by payout volume, with $700M+ paid since 2021
- Up to 20 simultaneous funded accounts for aggressive scaling
- Choice between end-of-day (EOD) and intraday trailing drawdown
- Futures-only — no forex, crypto, or CFD access at all
- Strict 30-50% consistency rule catches traders with uneven daily performance
- Stacked one-time fees across multiple accounts can add up quickly
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
| Feature | E8 Markets | Apex Trader Funding | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asset Classes | Forex, futures, crypto | Futures only | E8 Markets |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.4/5 (3,300+ reviews) | 4.3/5 (19,000+ reviews) | Tie |
| Max Profit Split | Up to 100% (configurable) | 100% first $25K, then 90/10 | Tie |
| Simultaneous Accounts | Multiple, no fixed public cap | Up to 20 | Apex Trader Funding |
| Starting Challenge Fee | $33 | $118 | E8 Markets |
| Integrations | TradeLocker, cTrader, Match-Trader, MT5, E8 Futures | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Rithmic, 14+ platforms | — |
Final Verdict
Winner: E8 Markets
Frequently Asked Questions
Which firm offers more asset classes?
E8 Markets is the multi-asset option, supporting forex, futures, and crypto trading under a single account structure. Apex Trader Funding is futures-only, focused exclusively on CME Group contracts like ES, NQ, and CL with no forex or crypto access.
How does E8 Markets’ customizable drawdown work?
E8 Markets’ E8 One program lets traders choose their own combination of account size, drawdown level (4%-14%), and profit split (80%-100%), with each combination producing a different price. Conservative traders can select a wider drawdown for more breathing room, while aggressive traders can opt for the tightest drawdown at the lowest entry cost.
What does Apex’s ‘100% of first $25K’ actually mean?
Apex Trader Funding pays traders 100% of the first $25,000 in profit generated on a funded account before switching to a standard 90/10 split for profits beyond that threshold. This structure rewards early performance heavily but means the effective long-term split converges toward 90% as an account matures.
Which firm has the larger Trustpilot review base?
Apex Trader Funding has a substantially larger review base at roughly 19,000-20,000 Trustpilot reviews, compared to E8 Markets’ approximately 3,300 reviews. Both firms carry similar star ratings in the 4.3-4.4 range despite the difference in review volume.
Does either firm allow news trading?
Both E8 Markets and Apex Trader Funding generally permit news trading under their published rulesets, though specific restrictions can vary by account type and evaluation stage. Always confirm the current news-trading policy on each firm’s help center before trading around major economic releases.