FTMO vs Apex Trader Funding

Name: FTMO Review 2026
Item: FTMO
Rating: 4
Author: TraderVerdict

Left firmRight firm

FTMO

80/100

Strong

Apex Trader Funding

66/100

Strong

FTMO scores 13.7 higher under TVSM-PF/2.0.2.

Payout split

FTMO80% standard (90% after scaling plan)

Apex Trader Funding100% on first $25,000 lifetime profits, then 90/10

Max funded

FTMO$200,000

Apex Trader Funding$300,000 (up to 20 accounts simultaneously)

Payout cap

FTMONone

Apex Trader Funding$4,000/payout at step 6 on $100K EOD. Account closes after 6 payouts — new eval required.

Drawdown model

FTMOStatic (max 10% from initial balance)

Apex Trader FundingEOD Trailing — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, closed balance basis

Min trading days

FTMO4

Apex Trader Funding5 qualifying days per payout cycle (each day must hit minimum daily profit threshold)

Challenge fee

FTMOEUR 155–1,080

Apex Trader FundingOne-time: ~$399 eval + $139 PA activation ($538 total on $100K EOD). Frequent 70-90% discount periods.

Fee refundable

FTMOYes — refunded with first payout

Apex Trader FundingNo — one-time fee, not refunded on first payout

News trading

FTMORestricted — 2-minute window before/after named events on funded account (evaluation: unrestricted)

Apex Trader FundingAllowed — no restrictions on futures news trading

Platforms

FTMOMT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade

Apex Trader FundingNinjaTrader, Tradovate (Rithmic-based)

Payout schedule

FTMOOn demand (min 14 days after first trade)

Apex Trader FundingOn demand after 5 qualifying days — 1-3 business days processing

Specification	FTMO 80/100 Strong	Apex Trader Funding 66/100 Strong
Payout split	80% standard (90% after scaling plan)	100% on first $25,000 lifetime profits, then 90/10
Max funded	$200,000	$300,000 (up to 20 accounts simultaneously)
Payout cap	None	$4,000/payout at step 6 on $100K EOD. Account closes after 6 payouts — new eval required.
Drawdown model	Static (max 10% from initial balance)	EOD Trailing — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, closed balance basis
Min trading days	4	5 qualifying days per payout cycle (each day must hit minimum daily profit threshold)
Challenge fee	EUR 155–1,080	One-time: ~$399 eval + $139 PA activation ($538 total on $100K EOD). Frequent 70-90% discount periods.
Fee refundable	Yes — refunded with first payout	No — one-time fee, not refunded on first payout
News trading	Restricted — 2-minute window before/after named events on funded account (evaluation: unrestricted)	Allowed — no restrictions on futures news trading
Platforms	MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade	NinjaTrader, Tradovate (Rithmic-based)
Payout schedule	On demand (min 14 days after first trade)	On demand after 5 qualifying days — 1-3 business days processing
	Visit FTMO	Visit Apex Trader Funding

Which one fits?

FTMO is best for forex traders in europe, asia, australia, or latam with at least 6 months of strategy experience who want the strongest payout record in the industry.
Apex Trader Funding is best for cme futures intraday traders who can work within an eod trailing drawdown and want the cheapest entry to multiple funded accounts.

See the full FTMO review and Apex Trader Funding review for the verified specs and editorial verdict on each.

Dimension by dimension: who wins where

Computed live from the per-variable evidence behind each firm's TVSM-PF score — FTMO takes 6 of 6 dimensions at current scores. Every variable links to a primary source on the firm pages.

Payout ReliabilityFTMO 25.3 · Apex 23.5 / 32

FTMO wins. FTMO pays 80% standard (90% after scaling plan); Apex Trader Funding pays 100% on first $25,000 lifetime profits, then 90/10. Per-payout caps — FTMO: None; Apex Trader Funding: $4,000/payout at step 6 on $100K EOD. Account closes after 6 payouts — new eval required. — decide who keeps more in a big month.

Rule FairnessFTMO 16.6 · Apex 13.0 / 24

FTMO wins. Drawdown models differ: FTMO runs Static (max 10% from initial balance); Apex Trader Funding runs EOD Trailing — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, closed balance basis. The model decides how much intraday heat you can take before breaching.

Rules StabilityFTMO 7.8 · Apex 5.8 / 10

FTMO wins. Mid-stream rule changes are penalized here, and every change is tracked in our append-only changelog — so a recent payout or drawdown change shows up in this dimension rather than being quietly absorbed.

Business ViabilityFTMO 14.4 · Apex 12.3 / 16

FTMO wins. Operating history and scale matter most when a payout goes sideways — the longer-running, better-capitalised firm carries less counterparty risk, and this dimension reflects each firm's track record to date.

Platform & ExecutionFTMO 6.8 · Apex 6.0 / 8

FTMO wins. Platforms: FTMO — MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade; Apex Trader Funding — NinjaTrader, Tradovate (Rithmic-based). If your edge depends on a specific platform, this is the deciding line.

Cost & ValueFTMO 9.0 · Apex 5.6 / 10

FTMO wins. Evaluation cost: FTMO — EUR 155–1,080; Apex Trader Funding — One-time: ~$399 eval + $139 PA activation ($538 total on $100K EOD). Frequent 70-90% discount periods.. Fee refundable — FTMO: Yes — refunded with first payout; Apex Trader Funding: No — one-time fee, not refunded on first payout.

Rule by rule, in each firm's own terms

Verbatim from our verified spec database — the conditions are the product, so nothing here is flattened to a yes/no. Where a rule has tiers or conditions, you are reading them.

Rule	FTMO	Apex Trader Funding
Drawdown model	Static (max 10% from initial balance)	EOD Trailing — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, closed balance basis
Max drawdown	10% static from initial balance	EOD Trailing — $3,000 drawdown limit on $100K EOD. Safety Net at $103,100.
Daily loss limit	5% (equity-based, open P&L counts)	Dynamic Daily Loss Limit — tier-based by account size and scaling tier
Payout split	80% standard (90% after scaling plan)	100% on first $25,000 lifetime profits, then 90/10
Payout cap	None	$4,000/payout at step 6 on $100K EOD. Account closes after 6 payouts — new eval required.
Payout schedule	On demand (min 14 days after first trade)	On demand after 5 qualifying days — 1-3 business days processing
Min trading days	4	5 qualifying days per payout cycle (each day must hit minimum daily profit threshold)
Consistency rule	No formal consistency rule on standard accounts	30% rule — single best day cannot exceed 30% of total profit at payout
News trading	Restricted — 2-minute window before/after named events on funded account (evaluation: unrestricted)	Allowed — no restrictions on futures news trading
Weekend holds	Standard account: must close before weekend. Swing Account: exempt.	Not permitted (futures-only — flat by close on Friday)
Evaluation cost	EUR 155–1,080	One-time: ~$399 eval + $139 PA activation ($538 total on $100K EOD). Frequent 70-90% discount periods.
Fee refundable	Yes — refunded with first payout	No — one-time fee, not refunded on first payout
Platforms	MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade	NinjaTrader, Tradovate (Rithmic-based)
Max funded	$200,000	$300,000 (up to 20 accounts simultaneously)
Scaling	+25% balance every 4 months. Requires 10% net profit over 4 months + 2 payouts. Max $2,000,000. Split upgrades to 90% on qualification.	Horizontal scaling via multiple accounts. Each PA closes after 6 payouts — buy new eval to continue.

Verified June 2026 (FTMO) · June 2026 (Apex Trader Funding). Source extracts for every scored variable are on the firm pages.

The verdict, by trader type

A comparison that ends in “it depends” is not a verdict. Picks below are per trading style — find yours.

Most traders

FTMO

FTMO takes 6 of the 6 scored dimensions at current scores, which makes it the safer default for a trader without a strong style preference. Read the per-dimension breakdown above first — a single dimension you care about can flip the decision.

Cost-conscious

FTMO

Entry cost: FTMO — EUR 155–1,080; Apex Trader Funding — One-time: ~$399 eval + $139 PA activation ($538 total on $100K EOD). Frequent 70-90% discount periods.. FTMO wins on cost-value once refunds and discounts are weighed.

Rules-sensitive trader

FTMO

If clean, predictable rules matter most, read the drawdown model first: FTMO runs Static (max 10% from initial balance); Apex Trader Funding runs EOD Trailing — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, closed balance basis. FTMO scores better on rule fairness and clarity.

High earner

FTMO

Profit splits: FTMO — 80% standard (90% after scaling plan); Apex Trader Funding — 100% on first $25,000 lifetime profits, then 90/10. FTMO has the stronger payout profile once caps are factored in. Always read the per-payout cap in full before a large withdrawal.

FTMO vs Apex Trader Funding — the questions traders actually search

Is FTMO or Apex Trader Funding better in 2026?

Under TraderVerdict's independent TVSM methodology, FTMO scores in the Strong band and Apex Trader Funding in the Strong band. FTMO wins 6 of the 6 scored dimensions at current scores. The right pick depends on which firm's payout, drawdown, and cost terms fit how you trade.

What is the main difference between FTMO and Apex Trader Funding?

FTMO and Apex Trader Funding differ across the TVSM-scored variables that decide whether a funded trader actually gets paid — profit split, drawdown model, payout caps, pricing, and operating stability. The rule-by-rule table on this page shows each one verbatim from our verified specs.

Which is cheaper — FTMO or Apex Trader Funding?

FTMO: EUR 155–1,080. Apex Trader Funding: One-time: ~$399 eval + $139 PA activation ($538 total on $100K EOD). Frequent 70-90% discount periods.. Weigh the fee against how long the evaluation takes you — a one-time fee beats a subscription on a slow pass, and the reverse on a fast one.

Which pays out more — FTMO or Apex Trader Funding?

Profit split: FTMO — 80% standard (90% after scaling plan). Apex Trader Funding — 100% on first $25,000 lifetime profits, then 90/10. Per-payout caps: FTMO — None; Apex Trader Funding — $4,000/payout at step 6 on $100K EOD. Account closes after 6 payouts — new eval required.. Read both cap rules in full before buying — they bind hardest in your best months.

What is the difference between FTMO and Apex Trader Funding drawdown rules?

FTMO: Static (max 10% from initial balance). Apex Trader Funding: EOD Trailing — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, closed balance basis. The drawdown model is the single most common reason funded accounts fail, so match it to whether you hold through intraday heat.

Do FTMO and Apex Trader Funding allow news trading?

FTMO: Restricted — 2-minute window before/after named events on funded account (evaluation: unrestricted). Apex Trader Funding: Allowed — no restrictions on futures news trading.

What account sizes do FTMO and Apex Trader Funding offer?

FTMO: $200,000. Apex Trader Funding: $300,000 (up to 20 accounts simultaneously). Scaling: FTMO — +25% balance every 4 months. Requires 10% net profit over 4 months + 2 payouts. Max $2,000,000. Split upgrades to 90% on qualification.; Apex Trader Funding — Horizontal scaling via multiple accounts. Each PA closes after 6 payouts — buy new eval to continue..

Are TraderVerdict's prop-firm comparisons independent?

Yes. Every firm is scored against a public, versioned methodology before any commercial relationship, and affiliate links are only added to firms that clear our editorial bar. A firm cannot pay for a higher score or to remove a critical finding.

Dimension by dimension: who wins where

Rule by rule, in each firm's own terms

The verdict, by trader type