Topstep vs Apex: the rules compared
Topstep and Apex differ most in drawdown type, daily loss limit and evaluation fee. Topstep offers end-of-day and static drawdowns, while Apex offers end-of-day and intraday drawdowns. Topstep sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 7 evaluations ($500 to $5,000), while Apex sets a daily loss limit on 8 of 18 evaluations ($500 to $2,000).
The verdicts at 50K
Cheaper to start
Apex$123.90 against $198 to reach a funded account, and nothing more if it takes longer than a month.
Better odds trading small
TopstepAt $300 a day 27% of attempts pass, against 4%.
More money a year, no edge
TopstepBest size +$3,402 a year against +$1,225, after every fee.
Runs your bot
TopstepApex 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
Topstep
27%
Apex
4%
Days to pass, when it does
Topstep
49
Apex
16
Net a year, after fees
Topstep
−$233
Apex
−$190
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$49 a month$24.90 once
- Activation$149$99
- Reset$49No reset sold
- Maximum loss$2,000, end of day$2,000, intraday
- Time limitNo time limit30 calendar days
- Best day, evaluation55%No consistency rule
- Minimum days2 trading daysNo minimum
- Contracts5 contracts6 contracts
- First payout5 winning days of $150 or more5 winning days of $200 or more
- Largest payout$2,000$1,500 (first payout)
- Profit split90%100%
- Automated tradingAllowed with conditionsBanned
Plans on record
Topstep sells 7 plans from 25K to 250K, while Apex sells 22 plans from 25K to 300K.
Evaluation fee
Topstep charges $49 to $199 a month and $75 to $499 once, while Apex charges $17.70 to $79.70 a month and $16.70 to $249 once.
Activation fee
Topstep charges a $0 to $149 activation fee, while Apex charges a $0 to $199 activation fee.
Drawdown type
Topstep offers end-of-day and static drawdowns, while Apex offers end-of-day and intraday drawdowns.
Daily loss limit
Topstep sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 7 evaluations ($500 to $5,000), while Apex sets a daily loss limit on 8 of 18 evaluations ($500 to $2,000).
Consistency
Topstep caps the evaluation's best day at 55% of the profit on 6 of 7 plans, while Apex has no consistency rule in its evaluations.
Minimum trading days
Topstep asks for at least 2 trading days, while Apex asks for at least 0 to 7 trading days.
First payout
Topstep pays a first payout after 5 winning days of $150 or more, while Apex pays a first payout after 5 trading days, depending on the size.
Profit split
Topstep pays a 90% profit split, while Apex pays a 100% profit split.
Funded accounts at once
Topstep allows up to 5 funded accounts at once, while Apex allows up to 20 funded accounts at once.
Automated trading
Topstep allows automated trading with conditions, while Apex bans automated trading.
What they share
- Billing: Monthly and one-time plans
Topstep: Allowed with conditions
Topstep allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Bots and automated strategies may trade through the TopstepX / ProjectX API, under the platform rules, with high-frequency trading banned, orders sent from the trader's own device, and not on Live Funded Accounts.
Checked 21 Oct 2026 · Source: help.topstep.com
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
Topstep and Apex, topic by topic across each firm’s plans on saleShowHide
| Topic | Topstep | Apex |
|---|---|---|
| Plans on record | 7 plans, 25K to 250K | 22 plans, 25K to 300K |
| Evaluation fee | $49 to $199 a month and $75 to $499 once | $17.70 to $79.70 a month and $16.70 to $249 once |
| Billing | Monthly and one-time plans | Monthly and one-time plans |
| Activation fee | $0 to $149 | $0 to $199 |
| Drawdown type | End of day and static | End of day and intraday |
| Daily loss limit | $500 to $5,000 on 3 of 7 evaluations | $500 to $2,000 on 8 of 18 evaluations |
| Consistency | Best day at most 55% (1 with none) | None in the evaluation |
| Minimum trading days | 2 trading days | 0 to 7 trading days |
| First payout | After 5 winning days of $150 or more | After 5 trading days, depending on the size |
| Profit split | 90% | 100% |
| Funded accounts at once | Up to 5 | Up to 20 |
| Automated trading | Allowed with conditions | Banned |
25K
- Topstep Labs 25K Static$75 once, $1,000, static
- 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
50K
- Topstep 50K Combine$49 a month, $2,000, end of day
- Topstep Labs 50K Static$149 once, $2,000, static
- 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
100K
- Topstep 100K Combine$99 a month, $3,000, end of day
- 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
150K
- Topstep 150K Combine$199 a month, $4,500, end of day
- 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
250K
- Topstep Labs 250K Freedom$499 once, $10,000, end of day
- Apex Legacy 250K$69.70 a month, $6,500, intraday
Only Apex sells 300K.
Topstep or Apex?
At 50K, the Topstep Labs 50K Static costs $149 to fund on a first attempt and the Apex No Activation Fee 50K $119.
Topstep offers end-of-day and static drawdowns, while Apex offers end-of-day and intraday drawdowns. Topstep sets a daily loss limit on 3 of 7 evaluations ($500 to $5,000), while Apex sets a daily loss limit on 8 of 18 evaluations ($500 to $2,000). Topstep charges $49 to $199 a month and $75 to $499 once, while Apex charges $17.70 to $79.70 a month and $16.70 to $249 once. Topstep caps the evaluation's best day at 55% of the profit on 6 of 7 plans, while Apex has no consistency rule in its evaluations. Topstep pays a first payout after 5 winning days of $150 or more, while Apex pays a first payout after 5 trading days, depending on the size. Topstep pays a 90% profit split, while Apex pays a 100% profit split. Topstep charges a $0 to $149 activation fee, while Apex charges a $0 to $199 activation fee. Topstep asks for at least 2 trading days, while Apex asks for at least 0 to 7 trading days. Topstep allows automated trading with conditions, while Apex bans automated trading. Topstep allows up to 5 funded accounts at once, while Apex allows up to 20 funded accounts at once.
On a first attempt with no reset, the Apex No Activation Fee 50K costs $119 ($119 evaluation) against $149 for the Topstep Labs 50K Static ($149 evaluation). Resets and extra months can change the order.
Topstep allows automated and algorithmic trading with conditions. Bots and automated strategies may trade through the TopstepX / ProjectX API, under the platform rules, with high-frequency trading banned, orders sent from the trader's own device, and not on Live Funded Accounts. 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.
- Topstep vs My Funded Futures
- Topstep vs Tradeify
- Topstep vs TradeDay
- Topstep vs Take Profit Trader
- Topstep vs Alpha Futures
- Topstep vs Bulenox
- Topstep vs Earn2Trade
- Topstep vs FundedNext Futures
- Topstep vs Lucid Trading
- Apex vs My Funded Futures
- Apex vs Tradeify
- Apex vs TradeDay
- Apex vs Take Profit Trader
- Apex vs Alpha Futures
- Apex vs Bulenox
- Apex vs Earn2Trade
- Apex vs FundedNext Futures
- Apex 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.