- Choose Apex Trader Funding if: You want the largest futures firm by payout volume, a one-time fee, and up to 20 simultaneous accounts.
- Choose Topstep if: You want the original, longest-running Combine model with education and a broker-grade platform.
Table of Contents
Apex Trader Funding and Topstep are the two most-searched names in futures prop trading, representing opposite ends of the industry’s evolution. Topstep is the original, having invented the Trading Combine model back in 2012, while Apex has grown into the largest futures firm by payout volume through aggressive pricing and a 2026 overhaul that replaced monthly billing with one-time fees. This guide compares pricing, drawdown structure, profit split, and Trustpilot data to help futures traders choose between them.
The problem: Futures traders comparing these two firms often underestimate how differently their fee structures behave over multiple attempts. Topstep’s monthly subscription model means an unsuccessful Combine attempt that drags on for several months can cost more than expected, while Apex’s one-time fee is predictable but stacks up fast if you’re running the 20-account scaling strategy the firm markets heavily. Apex’s March 2026 rule overhaul also introduced a stricter consistency requirement that some traders migrating from the older model have found catches them off guard on otherwise profitable weeks.
Quick Comparison
| Apex Trader Funding | Topstep | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $118 per $25K one-time evaluation | $49 per $50K Trading Combine (monthly) |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 3.6 / 5 |
| Free Trial | No | No |
| Best For | Futures traders who want to scale across many accounts at once with a one-time fee | Futures traders who want the original, most established Combine-style evaluation |
| Ease of Use | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Support Rating | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| Start Apex Evaluation → | Start Topstep Combine → |
Pros & Cons
- 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
- March 2026 ‘4.0’ overhaul removed overnight positions on several plans
- Strict 30-50% consistency rule catches traders with uneven daily performance
- Stacked one-time fees across multiple accounts can add up quickly
- Pioneered the Trading Combine model that most futures prop firms now copy
- Over 13 years of operation with $102M+ paid to traders since 2012
- Up to 90% profit split with fast Express Funded Account payouts
- Deep CME futures coverage plus a 155,000+ member Discord community
- Monthly subscription fee stacks up if you don’t pass the Combine quickly
- TopstepX platform has documented reliability and freeze complaints
- Trustpilot rating has slipped into the 3.4-3.6 range from recent reviews
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
| Feature | Apex Trader Funding | Topstep | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.3/5 (19,000+ reviews) | 3.6/5 (14,500+ reviews) | Apex Trader Funding |
| Fee Structure | One-time fee | Monthly subscription | Apex Trader Funding |
| Simultaneous Accounts | Up to 20 | Up to 5 (Express Funded) | Apex Trader Funding |
| Operating Since | 2021 | 2012 | Topstep |
| Max Profit Split | 100% first $25K, then 90/10 | Up to 90% | Apex Trader Funding |
| Integrations | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Rithmic, 14+ platforms | TopstepX, NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Quantower, TradingView | — |
Final Verdict
Winner: Apex Trader Funding
Frequently Asked Questions
Which firm is cheaper for a $50K account?
Apex Trader Funding’s one-time evaluation fees start considerably lower with frequent promotional discounts, often bringing entry pricing down to double digits, while Topstep’s $50K Trading Combine uses monthly billing starting around $49 per month. The right comparison depends on how many months it takes to pass the evaluation.
Can I run multiple accounts at Apex Trader Funding?
Yes, Apex allows up to 20 simultaneous Performance Accounts per trader, which is significantly more than Topstep’s limit of up to five Express Funded Accounts. This makes Apex the stronger choice for traders specifically pursuing an aggressive multi-account scaling strategy.
What changed in Apex’s March 2026 update?
Apex’s ‘4.0’ overhaul replaced its old monthly subscription model with one-time evaluation fees, removed the previous MAE and risk-reward rules, and introduced a choice between end-of-day (EOD) and intraday trailing drawdown. It also eliminated overnight position holding on several account types, a trade-off traders should factor into their strategy.
Which firm has the better Trustpilot score?
Apex Trader Funding currently holds a stronger Trustpilot score, typically cited between 4.3 and 4.5 out of 5 from roughly 19,000-20,000 reviews. Topstep’s score has declined into the 3.4-3.6 range following platform stability complaints tied to its TopstepX transition in late 2025.
Does either firm support NinjaTrader?
Yes, both Apex Trader Funding and Topstep support NinjaTrader alongside several other execution platforms. Apex additionally supports over 14 platform options including Tradovate, TradingView, and Rithmic, giving it the wider platform selection of the two firms.