Topstep costs $49 a month for 50K and has a published route to a live account, while Apex does not show its new evaluation prices outside checkout in every country. Apex sells a one-time evaluation with no consistency rule and a choice of drawdown, but closes each funded account after six payouts. Both cap 50K drawdown at $2,000 and both ban holding past the close.
Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep
| Apex Trader Funding | Topstep | |
|---|---|---|
| Market | Futures | Futures |
| Main 50K plan | — | $49 /mo |
| Profit target (50K) | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Max loss (50K) | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Drawdown | Depends on plan | End-of-day trailing |
| Consistency rule | Funded only | Eval only |
| Profit split | 100% of payouts | 90% |
| Payouts | After 5 qualifying days | Every 5 winning days |
| News trading | Allowed, with restrictions: trading during news is allowed as part of a normal strategy; placing orders on both sides to gamble on the outcome or 'chasing the market' is prohibited | Restricted: prohibited to purposefully trade your full maximum position size directly into a scheduled major news event |
| Bots and EAs | Not allowed: Prohibited Activities states automation and algorithm usage is not allowed; high-frequency trading is prohibited | Restricted: custom automated strategies are allowed through the TopstepX/ProjectX API ($29/month, 50% off with code 'topstep'), but not on Live Funded Accounts; HFT and software that gives an 'unfair advantage' are prohibited; VPS/VPN use is prohibited |
| US traders | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts, NinjaTrader (via Rithmic or Tradovate) | TopstepX, Quantower (via TopstepX, Combine and XFA only) |
| Public code | SAVENOW | — |
Which to pick
Pick Topstep if you want a low monthly entry price and an end-of-day drawdown on every account. Pick Apex if you want to pass fast in one payment and prefer no consistency target in the evaluation. Apex blocks some countries entirely, so check that it serves yours.