Apex vs TradeDay: the rules compared
Apex and TradeDay differ most in daily loss limit, evaluation fee and billing. Apex sets a daily loss limit on 8 of 18 evaluations ($500 to $2,000), while TradeDay sets no daily loss limit in its evaluations. Apex charges $17.70 to $79.70 a month and $16.70 to $249 once, while TradeDay charges $45 to $265 a month.
The verdicts at 50K
Cheaper to start
TradeDay$79 against $123.90 to reach a funded account.
Better odds trading small
TradeDayAt $300 a day 24% of attempts pass, against 4%.
More money a year, no edge
TradeDayBest size +$1,843 a year against +$1,225, after every fee.
Runs your bot
TradeDayApex does not allow automated trading.
Each firm’s 50K plan whose rules treat a trader with no edge best, or its least expensive when none is simulated.
Simulated · a trader with no edge
Which rulebook suits how big you trade?
Daily swing
An attempt passes
Apex
4%
TradeDay
24%
Days to pass, when it does
Apex
16
TradeDay
52.5
Net a year, after fees
Apex
−$190
TradeDay
−$184
A coin-flip trader with no edge and no costs, thousands of simulated years at each size, every rule of both accounts, fees included.
Simulated results. They have inherent limitations. Read the full statementHide the statement
These results are based on simulated or hypothetical performance results that have certain inherent limitations. Unlike the results shown in an actual performance record, these results do not represent actual trading. Also, because these trades have not actually been executed, these results may have under-or over-compensated for the impact, if any, of certain market factors, such as lack of liquidity. Simulated or hypothetical trading programs in general are also subject to the fact that they are designed with the benefit of hindsight. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to these being shown.
12 rules differ
- Price$24.90 once$79 a month
- Activation$99$0
- ResetNo reset sold$79
- Maximum loss$2,000, intraday$2,000, end of day
- Time limit30 calendar daysNo time limit
- Best day, evaluationNo consistency rule30%
- Minimum daysNo minimum5 trading days
- Contracts6 contracts5 contracts
- First payout5 winning days of $200 or more1 trading day
- Largest payout$1,500 (first payout)No cap
- Profit split100%50%
- Automated tradingBannedAllowed with conditions
Plans on record
Apex sells 22 plans from 25K to 300K, while TradeDay sells 12 plans from 25K to 150K.
Evaluation fee
Apex charges $17.70 to $79.70 a month and $16.70 to $249 once, while TradeDay charges $45 to $265 a month.
Billing
Apex sells both monthly and one-time plans, while TradeDay bills its evaluations monthly until they are passed.
Activation fee
Apex charges a $0 to $199 activation fee, while TradeDay charges no activation fee.
Daily loss limit
Apex sets a daily loss limit on 8 of 18 evaluations ($500 to $2,000), while TradeDay sets no daily loss limit in its evaluations.
Consistency
Apex has no consistency rule in its evaluations, while TradeDay caps the evaluation's best day at 30% to 45% of the profit.
Minimum trading days
Apex asks for at least 0 to 7 trading days, while TradeDay asks for at least 3 to 5 trading days.
First payout
Apex pays a first payout after 5 trading days, depending on the size, while TradeDay pays a first payout after 1 to 5 trading days, depending on the size.
Profit split
Apex pays a 100% profit split, while TradeDay pays a 50% to 80% profit split.
Funded accounts at once
Apex allows up to 20 funded accounts at once, while TradeDay allows up to 5 funded accounts at once.
Automated trading
Apex bans automated trading, while TradeDay allows automated trading with conditions.
What they share
- Drawdown type: End of day and intraday
Apex: Banned
Apex bans automated and algorithmic trading. Automation and algorithms are banned; rewards are meant for human traders, not preprogrammed systems. A strategy tested on AlgoLift can only be traded there by hand.
Checked 16 Oct 2026 · Source: apextraderfunding.com
TradeDay: Allowed with conditions
TradeDay allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Your own automated system may run on NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Jigsaw or Quantower; third-party bots, API access and identical trades across users are banned.
Checked 21 Oct 2026 · Source: tradeday.freshdesk.com
Apex and TradeDay, topic by topic across each firm’s plans on saleShowHide
| Topic | Apex | TradeDay |
|---|---|---|
| Plans on record | 22 plans, 25K to 300K | 12 plans, 25K to 150K |
| Evaluation fee | $17.70 to $79.70 a month and $16.70 to $249 once | $45 to $265 a month |
| Billing | Monthly and one-time plans | Billed monthly until passed |
| Activation fee | $0 to $199 | None |
| Drawdown type | End of day and intraday | End of day and intraday |
| Daily loss limit | $500 to $2,000 on 8 of 18 evaluations | None in the evaluation |
| Consistency | None in the evaluation | Best day at most 30% to 45% |
| Minimum trading days | 0 to 7 trading days | 3 to 5 trading days |
| First payout | After 5 trading days, depending on the size | After 1 to 5 trading days, depending on the size |
| Profit split | 100% | 50% to 80% |
| Funded accounts at once | Up to 20 | Up to 5 |
| Automated trading | Banned | Allowed with conditions |
25K
- Apex EOD 25K$49 once, $1,000, end of day
- Apex Intraday 25K$16.70 once, $1,000, intraday
- Apex No Activation Fee 25K$109 once, $1,000, end of day
- Apex 5-Pack 25KNot stated by the firm, $1,000
- Apex Legacy 25K$17.70 a month, $1,500, intraday
- TradeDay QP Intraday 25K$45 a month, $1,000, intraday
- TradeDay QP EOD 25K$54 a month, $1,000, end of day
- TradeDay Fast Pass 25K$65 a month, $1,000, end of day
50K
- Apex EOD 50K$59 once, $2,000, end of day
- Apex Intraday 50K$24.90 once, $2,000, intraday
- Apex No Activation Fee 50K$119 once, $2,000, end of day
- Apex 5-Pack 50KNot stated by the firm, $2,000
- Apex Legacy 50K$19.70 a month, $2,500, intraday
- TradeDay Fast Pass 50K$95 a month, $2,000, end of day
- TradeDay QP Intraday 50K$59 a month, $2,000, intraday
- TradeDay QP EOD 50K$79 a month, $2,000, end of day
100K
- Apex EOD 100K$119 once, $3,000, end of day
- Apex Intraday 100K$79 once, $3,000, intraday
- Apex No Activation Fee 100K$159 once, $3,000, end of day
- Apex 5-Pack 100KNot stated by the firm, $3,000
- Apex Legacy 100K$39.70 a month, $3,000, intraday
- TradeDay Fast Pass 100K$175 a month, $3,000, end of day
- TradeDay QP Intraday 100K$108 a month, $3,000, intraday
- TradeDay QP EOD 100K$129 a month, $3,000, end of day
150K
- Apex EOD 150K$219 once, $4,000, end of day
- Apex Intraday 150K$119 once, $4,000, intraday
- Apex No Activation Fee 150K$249 once, $4,000, end of day
- Apex 5-Pack 150KNot stated by the firm, $4,000
- Apex Legacy 150K$59.70 a month, $5,000, intraday
- TradeDay Fast Pass 150K$265 a month, $4,500, end of day
- TradeDay QP Intraday 150K$162 a month, $4,500, intraday
- TradeDay QP EOD 150K$180 a month, $4,500, end of day
Only Apex sells 250K, 300K.
Apex or TradeDay?
At 50K, the Apex No Activation Fee 50K costs $119 to fund on a first attempt and the TradeDay QP Intraday 50K $59.
Apex sets a daily loss limit on 8 of 18 evaluations ($500 to $2,000), while TradeDay sets no daily loss limit in its evaluations. Apex charges $17.70 to $79.70 a month and $16.70 to $249 once, while TradeDay charges $45 to $265 a month. Apex sells both monthly and one-time plans, while TradeDay bills its evaluations monthly until they are passed. Apex has no consistency rule in its evaluations, while TradeDay caps the evaluation's best day at 30% to 45% of the profit. Apex pays a first payout after 5 trading days, depending on the size, while TradeDay pays a first payout after 1 to 5 trading days, depending on the size. Apex pays a 100% profit split, while TradeDay pays a 50% to 80% profit split. Apex charges a $0 to $199 activation fee, while TradeDay charges no activation fee. Apex asks for at least 0 to 7 trading days, while TradeDay asks for at least 3 to 5 trading days. Apex bans automated trading, while TradeDay allows automated trading with conditions. Apex allows up to 20 funded accounts at once, while TradeDay allows up to 5 funded accounts at once.
On a first attempt with no reset, the TradeDay QP Intraday 50K costs $59 ($59 evaluation (1 month)) against $119 for the Apex No Activation Fee 50K ($119 evaluation). Resets and extra months can change the order.
Apex bans automated and algorithmic trading. Automation and algorithms are banned; rewards are meant for human traders, not preprogrammed systems. A strategy tested on AlgoLift can only be traded there by hand. TradeDay allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Your own automated system may run on NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, Jigsaw or Quantower; third-party bots, API access and identical trades across users are banned.
- Topstep vs Apex
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- Apex vs Alpha Futures
- Apex vs Bulenox
- Apex vs Earn2Trade
- Apex vs FundedNext Futures
- Apex vs Lucid Trading
- My Funded Futures vs TradeDay
- Tradeify vs TradeDay
- TradeDay vs Take Profit Trader
- TradeDay vs Alpha Futures
- TradeDay vs Bulenox
- TradeDay vs Earn2Trade
- TradeDay vs FundedNext Futures
- TradeDay vs Lucid Trading
Replay of trade 1210 from an AlgoLift engine backtest of a research strategy on NQ, 13 February 2025: real bars, the trade still open.
Simulated results. They have inherent limitations. Read the full statementHide the statement
These results are based on simulated or hypothetical performance results that have certain inherent limitations. Unlike the results shown in an actual performance record, these results do not represent actual trading. Also, because these trades have not actually been executed, these results may have under-or over-compensated for the impact, if any, of certain market factors, such as lack of liquidity. Simulated or hypothetical trading programs in general are also subject to the fact that they are designed with the benefit of hindsight. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to these being shown.
Test yours
Run your strategy through both rulebooks at once.
One backtest, both accounts, every rule, before you pay either fee.
- 1Describe it to Algo, or build it yourself
- 2Backtest it on years of real futures data
- 3Replay every trade under your firm's rules
Rules checked against the firms’ own pages, most recently on 21 October 2026. This is a summary of each firm’s published rules, not financial advice and not a recommendation of any firm. Firms change their rules and prices; read the firm’s own page before you buy. Facts are paraphrased and linked to their source. Firm names are used only to say which firm a rule belongs to; they belong to their owners, and AlgoLift is not affiliated with or endorsed by any firm.