Apex Trader Funding vs TopStep (2026)
Both are single-step futures evaluations using an end-of-day trailing drawdown at matching account sizes — but they differ sharply on daily loss limits, time limits, and what happens to the drawdown floor once you're profitable.
Side by side (EOD Trail variant, matching sizes)
| Size | Firm | Profit target | Daily loss | Max drawdown | Time limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | Apex | 6% ($3,000) | 2% ($1,000), soft | EOD trailing, 4% ($2,000) | 30 days |
| TopStep | 6% ($3,000) | None | EOD trailing, 4% ($2,000), locks at start | None | |
| $100,000 | Apex | 6% ($6,000) | 1.5% ($1,500), soft | EOD trailing, 3% ($3,000) | 30 days |
| TopStep | 6% ($6,000) | None | EOD trailing, 3% ($3,000), locks at start | None | |
| $150,000 | Apex | 6% ($9,000) | 1.33% ($2,000), soft | EOD trailing, 2.67% ($4,000) | 30 days |
| TopStep | 6% ($9,000) | None | EOD trailing, 3% ($4,500), locks at start | None |
Apex also offers a $25,000 size (target $1,500 / DD 4%, $1,000) that TopStep doesn't have an equivalent for. Neither firm applies a minimum trading-day requirement or a consistency rule to these plans.
The two rule differences that actually matter
The lock. TopStep's trailing floor freezes permanently at your starting balance once your balance has climbed enough to earn it — after that point, the worst outcome is ending back near breakeven, never losing the account outright. Apex's EOD Trail floor has no confirmed lock in our data: it keeps trailing your balance high indefinitely, so a large enough pullback can still take a big bite even after you've been sitting on strong profits.
The daily loss limit. Apex's EOD Trail variant adds a soft daily loss limit — hit it and trading pauses for the rest of the day, but the account survives. TopStep has no daily loss limit at all. If you want zero daily-loss friction, TopStep (or Apex's Intraday Trail variant, which also drops the daily limit) is the closer match.
Which suits which trader
Apex Trader Funding suits you if…
- You want a $25,000 account size option TopStep doesn't offer.
- A 30-day time limit to hit your target doesn't worry you.
- You'd rather have a soft daily guardrail (a pause, not a fail) than none at all.
TopStep suits you if…
- You want unlimited time with no evaluation window.
- You want zero daily loss constraint, full stop.
- You value the floor permanently locking at breakeven once you've earned it, over a floor that keeps trailing your balance indefinitely.
Picked one? Track it properly.
Prop Firm Challenge Tracker logs your daily P&L against whichever firm's exact rules you're trading under — free for your first 2 challenges.
Get the free app →Frequently asked questions
Which is stricter, Apex's or TopStep's drawdown?
At matching sizes the trailing drawdown percentages and dollar amounts are nearly identical (both use end-of-day trailing at 50K/100K/150K). The real difference is the lock: TopStep's floor freezes permanently at your starting balance once earned; Apex's EOD Trail floor keeps trailing with no confirmed lock in our data, so it can theoretically keep rising as your balance grows.
Does Apex or TopStep have a daily loss limit?
Apex's EOD Trail variant has a soft daily loss limit (hitting it pauses trading for the day but doesn't fail the account). TopStep has no daily loss limit at all on any Combine size. Apex's Intraday Trail variant also has no daily loss limit, matching TopStep in that respect.