Apex Trader Funding logo

Apex Trader Funding vs FTMO

FTMO logo

Source review:

Source checked Mar 21, 2026 | Primary source: Apex Trader Funding and FTMO official rules

Apex Trader Funding uses trailing intraday (floor moves with every tick) drawdown with 100-90% profit split. FTMO uses static (floor never moves) drawdown with 80-90% profit split. Apex Trader Funding starts at $147, FTMO starts at €155.

KEY FACTS

Apex Trader Funding: Trailing Intraday (floor moves with every tick), 100-90% split, from $147
FTMO: Static (floor never moves), 80-90% split, from EUR155
Daily loss: None vs 5%
Max split: 90% vs 90%
Markets: futures vs forex, indices, commodities, stocks, crypto

Apex Trader Funding vs FTMO: Which Firm Is Better?

Apex Trader Funding uses trailing intraday (floor moves with every tick) with a no daily loss limit and 100-90% profit split. FTMO uses static (floor never moves) with a 5% daily loss limit and 80-90% profit split. Apex Trader Funding starts from $147; FTMO from €155.

If you want more forgiving drawdown rules, FTMO is the better choice. Static drawdown means your profits create genuine breathing room, while Apex Trader Funding's trailing intraday (floor moves with every tick) raises the floor as you profit. Both offer the same maximum profit split of 90%.

How to Choose Between Apex Trader Funding and FTMO

1. Start with drawdown type. If one firm uses static and the other does not, that is usually the biggest structural edge for the static-drawdown firm.

2. Check whether your actual market and holding style fit. A cheaper firm is irrelevant if it blocks the products or holding windows your strategy needs.

3. Use profit split and payout frequency as secondary filters after survivability and rule-fit are clear.

Choose Apex Trader Funding if...

  • You need access to futures, which FTMO does not offer in this comparison.
  • You want the cheaper starting path at $147.

Choose FTMO if...

  • You want the more forgiving drawdown model, and FTMO is the only one here using static drawdown.
  • You need access to forex, indices, commodities, stocks, crypto, which Apex Trader Funding does not offer in this comparison.
  • You trade around macro events and need a cleaner news-trading policy.

Evidence Driving This Comparison

  • Apex Trader Funding uses trailing intraday (floor moves with every tick) while FTMO uses static (floor never moves).
  • Apex Trader Funding starts at $147, while FTMO starts at €155.
  • Apex Trader Funding pays 100-90% and FTMO pays 80-90%.
  • Apex Trader Funding restricts news trading; FTMO allows it.
  • Apex Trader Funding does not allow weekend holding; FTMO allows weekend holding.

Highlighted differences in the table below are the fields where these two firms diverge most materially for traders.

Apex Trader Funding

Evaluation Type
1-step
Drawdown Type
Trailing Intraday (floor moves with every tick)
Daily Loss Limit
None
Max Drawdown
Fixed $
Profit Target
None
Min Trading Days
7
Profit Split
100-90%
Payout Frequency
Monthly (after first month)
News Trading
restricted
Overnight Holding
No
Weekend Holding
No
EA / Bots
Allowed
Markets
futures
Platforms
NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Rithmic, TradingView
Cheapest Account
$147 ($25,000)

FTMO

Evaluation Type
2-step
Drawdown Type
Static (floor never moves)
Daily Loss Limit
5%
Max Drawdown
10%
Profit Target
10%
Min Trading Days
4
Profit Split
80-90%
Payout Frequency
Every 14 days
News Trading
allowed
Overnight Holding
Yes
Weekend Holding
Yes
EA / Bots
Allowed
Markets
forex, indices, commodities, stocks, crypto
Platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader
Cheapest Account
€155 ($10,000)
Source: (verified )Source: (verified )Source: Source:

Drawdown Type Comparison: Apex Trader Funding vs FTMO

Scalping / Day Trading

FTMO allows overnight holding, giving more flexibility. FTMO's static drawdown is more forgiving for scalpers.

Swing Trading

FTMO is better — allows weekend holding. Apex Trader Funding requires you to flatten before close.

Budget-Conscious

Apex Trader Funding is cheaper to start ($147 vs €155).

Who Should Choose Apex Trader Funding?

Apex Trader Funding is the better fit if you trade futures exclusively. The intraday trailing drawdown demands tight risk management, but rewards disciplined scalpers who rarely give back large unrealized gains.

  • +No daily loss limit in evaluation
  • +100% of first $25K profit, then 90%
  • +Frequent 80-90% off sales — cheapest entry point
  • +Multiple platform options including TradingView

Apex Trader Funding supports NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Rithmic, TradingView and processes payouts monthly (after first month). Automated trading with EAs is permitted.

Community reputation: 4.7/5 on Trustpilot (5,400 reviews)

Who Should Choose FTMO?

FTMO is the better fit if you focus on forex and CFDs. The static drawdown means every dollar of profit adds to your safety cushion, making it ideal for traders who build equity gradually and want protection from losing streaks.

  • +Static drawdown — floor never moves up
  • +No time limit to pass challenge
  • +Allows overnight and weekend holding
  • +Most trusted brand in the industry

FTMO supports MT4, MT5, cTrader and processes payouts every 14 days. News trading is fully allowed, so you can trade NFP, FOMC, and CPI without restrictions. Both overnight and weekend holding are permitted, giving swing traders full flexibility. Automated trading with EAs is permitted.

Community reputation: 4.8/5 on Trustpilot (7,200 reviews)

Audit Your Trades Against Apex Trader Funding or FTMO Rules

Comparing rules on paper is step one. Step two: check whether your actual trades follow them. Pick either firm below and paste a trade to see which rules you break.

Apex Trader Funding

Run a Free Audit

Check a trade against Apex Trader Funding's rules. Sign in to save results and unlock the full verdict list.

Apex Trader Funding
▶Add trade details (optional)

FTMO

Run a Free Audit

Check a trade against FTMO's rules. Sign in to save results and unlock the full verdict list.

FTMO
▶Add trade details (optional)

Bottom Line: Apex Trader Funding vs FTMO

Choosing between Apex Trader Funding and FTMO comes down to three things: the markets you trade, how much drawdown flexibility you need, and your budget. If you trade futures, Apex Trader Funding is your only option here. If you trade forex or indices or commodities or stocks or crypto, go with FTMO. Apex Trader Funding is cheaper to get started at $147 vs €155.

The biggest structural difference is drawdown type: Apex Trader Funding uses trailing intraday (floor moves with every tick) while FTMO uses static (floor never moves). Static drawdown is objectively more forgiving because profits create a permanent cushion. Trailing drawdown follows your equity peaks, meaning you can lose an account even while net profitable. If you are still undecided, take the firm finder quiz for a personalized recommendation based on your trading style, risk tolerance, and budget.

Platform Comparison: Apex Trader Funding vs FTMO

Apex Trader Funding supports 4 platforms: NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Rithmic, TradingView. FTMO supports 3 platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader. There is no platform overlap, so switching between these firms requires adapting to a different trading platform.

Markets: Apex Trader Funding vs FTMO

Apex Trader Funding offers futures while FTMO offers forex, indices, commodities, stocks, crypto. Only Apex Trader Funding provides futures. Only FTMO provides forex, indices, commodities, stocks, crypto. This is often the deciding factor -- choose the firm that covers the instruments you actually trade.

Trading Rules and Restrictions Comparison

News trading: Apex Trader Funding restricts news trading, while FTMO allows it. If you trade NFP/FOMC/CPI, choose FTMO.

Consistency rule: Apex Trader Funding enforces "No single day > 30% of total profit". FTMO has no consistency rule. Consistency rules penalize traders who earn most profits in a single day.

Free download

Get the full 20+ firm comparison spreadsheet with drawdown rules, fees, and payout data.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Not sure which firm is right for you?

Answer 5 questions. Get a personalized recommendation based on your trading style, risk tolerance, and budget.

Take the Prop Firm Finder Quiz

No public community benchmark yet for this firms page. Run an audit to help build anonymized violation patterns and compliance benchmarks for traders researching this setup.

Vigil only publishes aggregate trends after enough private audits exist to avoid thin, misleading samples.

Contribute an Audit

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Apex Trader Funding and FTMO?

The main difference between Apex Trader Funding and FTMO is drawdown type: Apex Trader Funding uses trailing intraday (floor moves with every tick) while FTMO uses static (floor never moves). Apex Trader Funding has a no daily loss limit vs FTMO's 5%. Profit splits are 100-90% vs 80-90%.

Is Apex Trader Funding or FTMO cheaper?

Apex Trader Funding is cheaper to start. Apex Trader Funding's smallest account costs $147 ($25,000), while FTMO starts at €155 ($10,000).

Which is better for beginners, Apex Trader Funding or FTMO?

For beginners, FTMO may be more forgiving. FTMO's static drawdown means profits add extra buffer, which is safer for new traders. Also consider that Apex Trader Funding is a 1-step evaluation while FTMO is 2-step.

Does Apex Trader Funding or FTMO have a higher profit split?

Both firms offer the same maximum profit split of 90%. Apex Trader Funding ranges from 100% to 90%, while FTMO ranges from 80% to 90%.

Can I trade news on Apex Trader Funding and FTMO?

Apex Trader Funding restricts news trading, while FTMO allows it. FTMO is better for news traders.

Which has better drawdown rules, Apex Trader Funding or FTMO?

Apex Trader Funding uses trailing intraday (floor moves with every tick) (fixed), while FTMO uses static (floor never moves) (10%). FTMO's static drawdown is more forgiving since profits create extra buffer.

Embed this comparison

<iframe src="https://runvigil.app/compare/apex-vs-ftmo?embed=true" width="600" height="400" frameborder="0" title="Apex Trader Funding vs FTMO Comparison"></iframe>
VR

Vigil Research

Reviewed | Rules verified against official firm websites