Apex Trader Funding FAQ: 40 Questions Answered (2026 Complete Guide)

Apex Trader Funding's product, rules, and trust signals were all rebuilt in March 2026 with the 4.0 launch — and that rebuild reset most of what published reviews say about the firm. This FAQ aggregates 40 of the highest-frequency questions traders are searching across the post-4.0 landscape, organized into eight categories: 4.0 basics, pricing and the PA activation fee, drawdown rules, payouts and withdrawals, restrictions and trading rules, platforms, multi-account strategy, and trust and legitimacy. Every answer is calibrated to what's actually true as of April 2026, with cross-links to the dedicated cluster articles for each topic.

If you're brand new to Apex, the rules overview pillar is the better starting point; if you already know the basics and want a single specific answer, the FAQ below is searchable by question.

Apex 4.0 basics

The 4.0 release on March 1, 2026 was the biggest structural change Apex has shipped since founding. Six rules were removed, fees moved to one-time, payouts automated via Plane and ACH, and the EOD-trailing drawdown became the default account type. These five questions cover the launch context.

When did Apex 4.0 launch and what changed?

Apex 4.0 launched on March 1, 2026 as a structural rebuild of the Apex evaluation and funded-account product. Six rules were removed: MAE (Maximum Adverse Excursion), the 5:1 risk-reward requirement, the one-direction rule, the 7-day minimum trading days requirement, monthly billing on PAs, and manual payout review. The 30% consistency rule changed to 50% and applies on PA only. Profit split moved to 100%, payouts switched to Plane/ACH automated processing, and EOD-trailing drawdown became the default account type. See the 4.0 retrospective for what worked and what didn't.

Did Apex 4.0 change my legacy account?

Pre-4.0 accounts purchased before March 1, 2026 retained their original ruleset and pricing model, including legacy intraday-trailing drawdown, monthly billing where applicable, and Deel as the payout processor. New 4.0 accounts purchased on or after March 1 use the rebuilt system: one-time fees, automated Plane/ACH payouts, and the choice between EOD-trailing and intraday-trailing drawdown at purchase. Legacy traders can keep running their old accounts under old rules; switching means buying a new 4.0 evaluation. See the Apex rules overview.

What are the one-time fees on Apex 4.0?

Apex 4.0 uses one-time evaluation fees instead of monthly subscriptions. Retail prices: $25K = $177 EOD / $118 Intraday, $50K = $197/$131, $100K = $297/$198, $150K = $397/$265. On 90% promo cycles like SAVENOW, these drop to roughly $18-$40 per evaluation. The eval fee is the cost to attempt the evaluation; on top sits a separate PA activation fee ($99 EOD / $79 Intraday) due within 7 days of passing. See the pricing breakdown for the full matrix.

Who is Apex Trader Funding?

Apex Trader Funding is a futures-only prop trading firm founded in 2021 in Austin, Texas, by Darrell Martin (also founder of the Apex Investing Institute). The firm offers evaluation accounts that, once passed, convert to Performance Accounts (PAs) where traders take 100% of profits via simulated capital. Apex is one of the two largest US futures prop firms by trader count and self-reports more than $700 million in cumulative payouts as of April 2026. See the legitimacy deep-dive.

Why did Apex rebuild the product as 4.0?

Pre-4.0 Apex carried a long list of structural pain points: monthly PA billing nibbled at funded accounts, manual payout review created delays and inconsistent decisions, the 5:1 risk-reward and one-direction rules confused traders, and the 7-day minimum locked rapid passes. The 4.0 rebuild stripped six rules, switched to one-time fees, automated payouts via Plane and ACH, and let traders choose EOD or intraday drawdown at purchase. Six weeks in, sentiment has shifted positively — see the retrospective.

Pricing and PA activation fee

Apex's true cost is two stacked fees: the evaluation purchase price (heavily discountable on 90% promo cycles) and the PA activation fee (NOT discountable). Most reviews miss the PA activation fee entirely, leaving new traders surprised after passing. These five questions cover end-to-end cost math.

What does an Apex evaluation actually cost end-to-end?

Two costs stack: the evaluation fee paid at purchase, and the PA activation fee paid within 7 days of passing. On a $100K EOD account at retail, that's $297 + $99 = $396. On a 90% promo (SAVENOW), the eval drops to roughly $30 but the $99 PA activation fee is NOT discounted, so total cost is around $129. The PA activation fee is a major content gap most reviews miss. See the PA activation fee article and the pricing breakdown.

What is the PA activation fee and when is it due?

The PA activation fee is a one-time cost to convert a passed evaluation into a live Performance Account. It's $99 for EOD-trailing accounts and $79 for Intraday-trailing accounts, due within 7 calendar days of passing the evaluation. Miss the deadline and the passed eval expires. The fee is NOT discounted by promo codes — SAVENOW, ATFTVFB, and similar codes apply only to the evaluation purchase. ForexFactory threads have called this "the cost nobody mentions" because it's frequently invisible until traders pass. Full breakdown in the PA activation fee article.

Are there resets or refunds on Apex evaluations?

No. Apex 4.0 evaluations have no resets — if you breach drawdown or fail to hit profit target within the 30-day window, the eval ends and you'd need to buy a fresh one. There are also no refunds post-purchase, even if you don't trade the eval at all. This is structural to the one-time-fee model: the fee buys a single attempt. Traders running multiple parallel Combines on 90% promo cycles treat individual evaluations as cheap shots rather than expecting reset safety nets. See the refund and reset policy.

What does a $100K Apex account actually cost on a 90% promo?

A $100K EOD evaluation on a 90% off code like SAVENOW typically lands around $30 (from $297 retail). Add the $99 PA activation fee on passing and you're at roughly $129 to be live on a $100K-equivalent funded account. The Intraday version is even cheaper: $198 retail times 0.10 equals about $20 plus the $79 PA fee equals roughly $99 total. As of April 2026, this is the cheapest path to a $100K simulated funded account in the futures prop space. See the 50K account guide for size comparisons.

How many account sizes does Apex offer?

Four sizes: $25K, $50K, $100K, and $150K. Each is available in both EOD-trailing and Intraday-trailing drawdown variants — eight account configurations total. Profit targets scale linearly with size ($1,500 / $3,000 / $6,000 / $9,000). Drawdowns scale similarly ($1,000 / $2,000 / $3,000 / $4,000). Contract limits drop on the PA phase — the $25K PA, for example, allows only 2 contracts versus 4 in evaluation. See the account types pillar for the full matrix.

Drawdown rules

Apex 4.0 lets traders pick EOD-trailing or Intraday-trailing drawdown at evaluation purchase. The choice is structural: it determines whether unrealized intraday P&L can break your account or only end-of-session realized P&L. These five questions cover the mechanics and the choice framework.

What is the difference between EOD and Intraday drawdown on Apex?

EOD-trailing drawdown trails based on end-of-session realized P&L only — your unrealized intraday P&L doesn't move the threshold. Intraday-trailing drawdown trails on every tick of unrealized P&L during the session. EOD is structurally more forgiving: you can run trades into deeper unrealized drawdown without breaking the floor, as long as you close green by session end. Intraday is cheaper at the eval-fee level (e.g., $198 vs $297 on $100K) but punishes giving back open profits. See the EOD vs Intraday article.

What is the Daily Loss Limit on Apex EOD accounts?

The Daily Loss Limit (DLL) on EOD accounts is a soft circuit-breaker that caps daily realized losses. By size: $25K = $500, $50K = $1,000, $100K = $1,500, $150K = $2,000. Hitting the DLL flattens positions for the day; the account itself stays alive and can resume next session. The DLL is separate from the trailing drawdown — you can hit DLL without breaching drawdown, and breaching drawdown ends the account. See the contract limits and DLL article.

How does the trailing drawdown lock once I'm above threshold?

The drawdown trails upward as your account balance grows but stops trailing at the starting balance plus a small buffer. After it locks at the starting-balance level, it never trails further upward, your account has a permanent floor at the starting balance. This means once you're above water, you can never break below the starting balance regardless of how high your account climbs. The mechanic is shared between EOD and Intraday, what differs is whether unrealized P&L moves the threshold mid-session. See the EOD vs Intraday explainer.

Should I pick EOD or Intraday for my first Apex account?

For most traders, EOD-trailing is the better default. It's structurally more forgiving, your unrealized intraday drawdown doesn't break the account, only end-of-session realized P&L does. The trade-off is a higher eval fee ($297 vs $198 on $100K) and a higher PA activation fee ($99 vs $79). Intraday is cheaper but punishes giving back unrealized gains intraday. Active scalpers who close trades quickly and don't sit through unrealized drawdown can use Intraday to save costs; swing-style traders almost always prefer EOD. See the EOD vs Intraday article.

What happens if I breach the trailing drawdown on Apex?

Breaching the trailing drawdown ends the account immediately. There's no warning, no soft-breach, no pause. The account is closed and the PA activation fee is forfeited. To return to live trading, you'd need to purchase a fresh evaluation, pass it, and pay the activation fee again. This is the hardest line on Apex and the reason traders pick EOD over Intraday, EOD lets unrealized drawdown move freely as long as you close green. See the rules overview.

Payouts and withdrawals

Apex 4.0 automated payouts via Plane (international) and ACH (US), replacing the legacy Deel processor and the manual review step that defined pre-4.0 friction. Payouts run on a 6-step ladder by account size with separate EOD and Intraday minimum daily profit thresholds. These five questions cover the mechanics.

How do Apex payouts work after 4.0?

Apex pays out on a 6-step ladder by account size, with payout caps that grow each cycle. On the $100K EOD: $2,000 cycle 1, $2,500 cycle 2, $2,500 cycle 3, $3,000 cycle 4, $4,000 cycle 5, $4,000 cycle 6 (and uncapped after). Each cycle requires 5 qualifying days (need not be consecutive) with the size-specific minimum daily profit. Minimum payout is $500. Payouts process via Plane (international) or ACH (US) within 24-48 hours. See the payout rules article.

Does Apex pay via Deel?

No, not anymore. Pre-4.0 Apex used Deel for payout processing. Post-March 2026, the rail switched silently to Plane (international transfers) and ACH (US bank transfers). Most reviews and aggregators still list Deel; that data is stale. If you're funding a new 4.0 account, you'll receive payouts via Plane or ACH depending on geography. Legacy pre-4.0 accounts may still process via Deel until they're closed or migrated. See the payout rules article and the 4.0 retrospective.

What is the safety net before I can withdraw?

The safety net is the trailing drawdown plus $100, the balance threshold above which payouts unlock. By size: $25K safety net is $26,100, $50K is $52,100, $100K is $103,100, $150K is $154,100. To actually request a payout, you need the safety net plus the $500 minimum payout amount in your account, so the practical minimum-balance-to-withdraw on a $100K is $103,600. Once above safety net, payout caps apply per the 6-step ladder. See the payout rules article.

How many qualifying days do I need per payout?

Five qualifying days per payout cycle. They don't need to be consecutive. A qualifying day requires hitting the size-specific minimum daily profit. On EOD accounts: $25K = $100, $50K = $250, $100K = $300, $150K = $350. On Intraday accounts the thresholds are lower: $25K = $100, $50K = $200, $100K = $250, $150K = $300. The minimum daily profit thresholds differ between EOD and Intraday, most reviews collapse these into a single set, which is wrong. See the first-payout strategy.

How long do Apex payouts take to land?

Once approved, Apex payouts process within 24-48 hours via Plane (international) or ACH (US). The 4.0 rebuild automated payout review, pre-4.0 traders waited days or weeks for manual approval; that step is gone. International traders typically see funds in their local bank account in 1-3 business days after Plane initiates. US ACH transfers usually clear next business day. The total timeline from request to bank credit is roughly 2-5 business days end-to-end. See the payout rules article.

Restrictions and trading rules

Apex 4.0 stripped six rules but kept hard structural restrictions: a country block list, a 4:59 PM ET position close, contract limits that drop eval-to-PA, and a metals halt that took effect two weeks after the 4.0 launch. These five questions cover the active rule set.

Why did Apex halt metals trading?

Apex announced a metals halt on March 14, 2026, two weeks after the 4.0 launch. The official reason cited risk management; community speculation includes liquidity issues with the metals contracts and outsized payouts on those instruments. Suspended contracts: GC (gold full), SI (silver full), QI (e-mini silver), QO (e-mini gold), MGC (micro gold), HG (copper), PL (platinum), and PA (palladium). No return date has been announced. Equity index, energy, currency, and ag futures continue trading normally. See the restricted countries and instruments article and the 4.0 retrospective.

Is Apex available in my country?

Apex maintains a list of about 84 restricted countries at apextraderfunding.com/help-center/getting-started/restricted-countries/. Major restricted markets include Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Syria, and Nigeria, alongside numerous sanctioned and high-risk-jurisdiction countries. Most of the EU, UK, Canada, Australia, Latin America (excluding sanctioned states), and Southeast Asia are eligible. Restrictions are KYC-driven, VPN access from a restricted country to bypass the block typically results in account termination. See the restricted countries article.

What time do I need to close positions on Apex?

All positions must be closed by 4:59 PM Eastern Time. Apex does not allow overnight holds, the account is a strictly day-trading product. Open positions remaining after 4:59 PM ET get force-flattened by the platform automatically; depending on settings this can also trigger a soft breach. Most traders set a personal cutoff at 4:50 PM ET to avoid the auto-flatten edge. Weekend positions are also prohibited; you can't carry through Friday close. See the rules overview.

What are the contract limits on Apex eval vs PA?

Contract limits drop meaningfully when an evaluation converts to a Performance Account. Eval limits: $25K = 4 contracts, $50K = 6, $100K = 8, $150K = 12. PA limits: $25K = 2, $50K = 4, $100K = 6, $150K = 9. The $25K size takes the steepest cut (50%). Until your PA balance clears the trailing drawdown threshold plus $100, you're further restricted to half your max PA contracts. See the contract limits article.

Can I trade news events on Apex?

Yes. Apex 4.0 has no explicit news-trading prohibition in the help center. Traders can hold positions through FOMC, CPI, NFP, and similar high-impact releases without rule violations. The practical risk is platform-level, slippage and gap moves around news can trigger drawdown breaches faster than discretionary stops can fire. The exact help-center stance on news trading is one of the open verification gaps; for current authoritative wording, check the help center directly. See the news trading policy article for the latest documented stance.

Platforms

Apex 4.0 settled on a three-platform setup: Rithmic (gateway to NinjaTrader, Sierra Chart, and others), Tradovate (browser-based with TradingView integration), and WealthCharts (standalone, smaller user base). The platform is locked at evaluation purchase. These five questions cover the choice and the recent April 17 incident.

What platforms can I use on Apex?

Three platforms post-4.0: Rithmic (connection only, works with NinjaTrader, Sierra Chart, Bookmap, ATAS, Jigsaw, Quantower), Tradovate (browser-based, Mac/PC, with TradingView integration), and WealthCharts (standalone, Apex-specific integration). The platform is locked at account purchase and cannot be switched mid-account. Old Apex documentation listed R Trader, Sierra Chart standalone, and TradingView as direct options; that's outdated, those tools all run via Rithmic now. See the platforms pillar.

Can I use NinjaTrader on Apex?

Yes, through Rithmic. Apex doesn't list NinjaTrader as a standalone platform option, but selecting Rithmic as your connection at purchase lets you connect NinjaTrader (or Sierra Chart, Bookmap, ATAS, Jigsaw, Quantower) to your Apex account. NinjaTrader is one of the most popular routes for traders who want desktop charting depth beyond what Tradovate's browser interface provides. See the Rithmic setup article for the connection workflow.

What is WealthCharts on Apex?

WealthCharts is a standalone charting and execution platform integrated with Apex post-4.0. It's a smaller user base than Tradovate or the Rithmic-connected ecosystem and is primarily used by traders who want an alternative to NinjaTrader without the browser limitations of Tradovate. WealthCharts requires its own learning curve and isn't a drop-in replacement for either route. Most experienced traders still default to Tradovate or NinjaTrader-via-Rithmic. See the WealthCharts setup article.

What happened with Rithmic on April 17, 2026?

Rithmic experienced a brief PnL and Daily Loss Limit calculation issue on April 17, 2026 affecting Apex accounts using the Rithmic connection. The issue was resolved the same day. Apex issued a status update acknowledging the incident; no accounts were terminated as a result. The episode is a reminder that platform-side incidents can affect account metrics in real time, which is one reason traders maintain awareness of Apex's official status communications. See the 4.0 retrospective.

Is the platform locked for the life of the account?

Yes. The platform you select at evaluation purchase is locked for that account: Rithmic, Tradovate, or WealthCharts. You cannot switch mid-evaluation, and the choice carries through to the PA phase if you pass. To use a different platform you'd need to buy a fresh evaluation under that platform's selection. Most traders running multi-account strategies pick a single platform across accounts to keep copy-trading workflows clean. See the platforms pillar.

Multi-account strategy

Apex's biggest scaling USP is the 20-parallel-account cap with copy-trading allowed between own accounts. Most competitors cap at 3-5 accounts; Apex is the only major futures prop where a single trader can stack 20 PAs across EOD and Intraday simultaneously. These five questions cover the architecture and the rules.

How many Apex accounts can I run in parallel?

Up to 20 funded Performance Accounts in parallel, combined across EOD, Intraday, and any legacy pre-4.0 accounts you still hold. This 20-account cap is Apex's biggest scaling USP in the futures prop space; most competitors cap at 3-5. The cap covers PAs only; you can have additional evaluations running simultaneously without counting against the 20. I've personally run up to 10 parallel funded $50K accounts on Apex via copy trading. See the multi-account strategy article.

How does copy trading work on Apex?

Copy trading on Apex is permitted between your own accounts only. One leader account can copy to up to 20 follower accounts. Each follower account must independently meet the consistency rule, the trailing drawdown, and the qualifying-day requirements. The leader passing doesn't carry over. Copying another person's trades is prohibited, as is acting as a paid signal provider. The rule structure is what makes Apex's 20-account scaling viable: identical executions across accounts at scale. See the copy trading rules article.

What is the half-contract restriction on PA accounts?

On a freshly funded PA, you're restricted to half your maximum PA contracts until your account balance clears the trailing drawdown threshold plus $100. Example on a $100K PA (max 6 contracts): you trade 3 contracts max until balance hits $103,100, after which the next session unlocks the full 6. This is a soft on-ramp designed to prevent fresh PA blowups on the first big position. The restriction lifts automatically. No support ticket needed. See the contract limits article.

What is the scaling path on Apex?

Scaling on Apex happens through two mechanisms: the 6-step payout ladder (which raises the cycle cap from $2,000 to $4,000+ on the $100K over 6 cycles) and the 20-parallel-account architecture. There's no per-account size scaling; a $50K PA stays $50K. Traders scale total capacity by stacking more parallel accounts via copy trading rather than by upgrading individual accounts. After cycle 6, payout caps lift on the original account, and parallel copies multiply the effective size. See the first-payout strategy and the multi-account strategy.

Does the consistency rule apply across all my accounts?

No, the consistency rule applies per account, not aggregated across your portfolio. Each PA needs its own profits to satisfy the 50% consistency rule individually. This means copy-traded accounts, even with identical executions, each clear consistency on their own books. The structural advantage: a single mistake on one account doesn't cascade across the portfolio. The structural cost: every account needs to be cleaned up individually before payout. See the consistency rule article.

Trust and legitimacy

Apex Trader Funding has been operating since 2021 from Austin, Texas, paid out a self-reported $700M+, and maintains a 4.4 Trustpilot rating across more than 18,000 reviews. The 4.0 rebuild specifically addressed the most cited pre-4.0 trust gaps. These five questions cover the trust signals.

Is Apex Trader Funding legit?

Apex has been operating since 2021 from Austin, Texas, and is one of the two largest US futures prop firms by trader count alongside Topstep. As of April 2026 the firm self-reports more than $700 million in cumulative payouts. Trustpilot rates Apex 4.4 out of 5 across more than 18,000 reviews. The firm is not CFTC or NFA registered (no futures prop firm is, they're not regulated entities), but operates as a US business entity in good standing. See the legitimacy deep-dive.

Who founded Apex Trader Funding?

Apex Trader Funding was founded in 2021 by Darrell Martin, who also founded the Apex Investing Institute (a futures and options education business that predates the prop firm). The company is headquartered in Austin, Texas. Martin remains the public face of the company and frequently appears in Apex's announcements and webinars. The firm has been operating for approximately 5 years as of April 2026. See the Apex leadership profile.

How much has Apex paid out in total?

Apex self-reports $700 million-plus in cumulative payouts as of April 2026. Some sources cite higher figures ($1B+, possibly self-promotional); a conservative floor based on March 2026 launch material was $600M+. The most widely cited current figure is $700M+. PTV's prior content used $378M+, which was approximately 12 months stale. Treat the $700M+ figure as self-reported rather than independently audited. There's no third-party verification of payout totals in the prop firm space. See the legitimacy deep-dive.

What is Apex's Trustpilot rating?

Apex carries a 4.4 out of 5 Trustpilot rating across approximately 18,000 reviews as of April 2026 (recon date 2026-04-28 showed 17,669 to 18,070 across sources). Distribution skews heavily positive on payout experiences and onboarding speed; common negative threads cluster around the PA activation fee surprise, denial history during the pre-4.0 manual review era, and the metals halt. The 4.4 rating is consistent across the propfirmapp aggregator data. See the Trustpilot deep-dive.

Has Apex denied payouts in the past?

Yes, Apex's pre-4.0 era included documented payout denials, often tied to the now-removed MAE rule, the 5:1 risk-reward requirement, or manual payout review discretion. These denial threads form a meaningful portion of the firm's negative review history. The 4.0 rebuild specifically addressed this: manual payout review is removed, payouts process automatically via Plane/ACH, and the rules most cited in denial cases (MAE, 5:1, one-direction) were stripped. Whether 4.0's automation holds long-term is the question post-4.0 traders are watching. See the why traders leave Apex article and the 4.0 retrospective.

How Apex compares to peers

Apex is most often compared to Topstep (the other 2021-vintage US futures prop), Tradeify, Lucid Trading, YRM Prop, MyFunded Futures, and Take Profit Trader. The two cluster pillars worth bookmarking: the Apex vs Topstep comparison and the Apex vs Lucid Trading comparison. For broader alternatives, see the Apex alternatives hub, the Apex vs YRM Prop article, the Apex vs Tradeify article, the Apex vs MyFunded Futures article, and the Apex vs Take Profit Trader article. Each comparison covers pricing, drawdown structure, scaling architecture, and payout reliability head-to-head.

For the broader landscape of mature firms, the Topstep, YRM Prop, Tradeify, Lucid Trading, Alpha Futures, FundedNext, Take Profit Trader, and MyFunded Futures firm pages are the entry points.

The bottom line

Apex Trader Funding's 4.0 rebuild fixed most of the structural complaints that defined pre-4.0 reviews: monthly billing is gone, payouts run automatically via Plane and ACH within 24-48 hours, six rules including MAE and 5:1 risk-reward were stripped, and traders pick EOD or Intraday drawdown at evaluation purchase. The two real gotchas remaining are the PA activation fee ($99 EOD / $79 Intraday, due within 7 days of passing, NOT discounted by promo codes) and the metals halt that took effect March 14, 2026 with no return date.

For new traders, the practical playbook is straightforward: pick EOD-trailing on a $50K or $100K size, buy on a 90% promo cycle (SAVENOW or similar), pass within the 30-day window, pay the $99 PA activation fee within 7 days, and aim for 5 qualifying days at the EOD minimum daily profit threshold to unlock the first payout. For experienced traders, the 20-parallel-account scaling architecture remains Apex's biggest USP, no other major futures prop lets you stack that many funded accounts via copy trading.

Treat the trust signals as self-reported rather than audited: $700M+ payouts, Trustpilot 4.4 across 18,000+ reviews, 5 years operating from Austin TX. The numbers are consistent across sources but unverified by third parties (which is true of every futures prop firm). The 4.0 automated payout flow is the single biggest trust improvement the firm has shipped, and six weeks in, the data points in a positive direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Apex 4.0 launch and what changed?

Apex 4.0 launched on March 1, 2026 as a structural rebuild of the Apex evaluation and funded-account product. Six rules were removed: MAE (Maximum Adverse Excursion), the 5:1 risk-reward requirement, the one-direction rule, the 7-day minimum trading days requirement, monthly billing on PAs, and manual payout review. The 30% consistency rule changed to 50% and applies on PA only. Profit split moved to 100%, payouts switched to Plane/ACH automated processing, and EOD-trailing drawdown became the default account type.

Did Apex 4.0 change my legacy account?

Pre-4.0 accounts purchased before March 1, 2026 retained their original ruleset and pricing model, including legacy intraday-trailing drawdown, monthly billing where applicable, and Deel as the payout processor. New 4.0 accounts purchased on or after March 1 use the rebuilt system: one-time fees, automated Plane/ACH payouts, and the choice between EOD-trailing and intraday-trailing drawdown at purchase.

What are the one-time fees on Apex 4.0?

Apex 4.0 uses one-time evaluation fees instead of monthly subscriptions. Retail prices: $25K = $177 EOD / $118 Intraday, $50K = $197/$131, $100K = $297/$198, $150K = $397/$265. On 90% promo cycles like SAVENOW, these drop to roughly $18-$40 per evaluation.

Who is Apex Trader Funding?

Apex Trader Funding is a futures-only prop trading firm founded in 2021 in Austin, Texas, by Darrell Martin (also founder of the Apex Investing Institute). The firm offers evaluation accounts that, once passed, convert to Performance Accounts where traders take 100% of profits via simulated capital.

Why did Apex rebuild the product as 4.0?

Pre-4.0 Apex carried a long list of structural pain points: monthly PA billing nibbled at funded accounts, manual payout review created delays and inconsistent decisions, the 5:1 risk-reward and one-direction rules confused traders, and the 7-day minimum locked rapid passes. The 4.0 rebuild stripped six rules, switched to one-time fees, automated payouts via Plane and ACH, and let traders choose EOD or intraday drawdown at purchase.

What does an Apex evaluation actually cost end-to-end?

Two costs stack: the evaluation fee paid at purchase, and the PA activation fee paid within 7 days of passing. On a $100K EOD account at retail, that's $297 + $99 = $396. On a 90% promo, the eval drops to roughly $30 but the $99 PA activation fee is NOT discounted, so total cost is around $129.

What is the PA activation fee and when is it due?

The PA activation fee is a one-time cost to convert a passed evaluation into a live Performance Account. It's $99 for EOD-trailing accounts and $79 for Intraday-trailing accounts, due within 7 calendar days of passing the evaluation. Miss the deadline and the passed eval expires. The fee is NOT discounted by promo codes.

Are there resets or refunds on Apex evaluations?

No. Apex 4.0 evaluations have no resets, if you breach drawdown or fail to hit profit target within the 30-day window, the eval ends and you'd need to buy a fresh one. There are also no refunds post-purchase, even if you don't trade the eval at all.

What does a $100K Apex account actually cost on a 90% promo?

A $100K EOD evaluation on a 90% off code typically lands around $30 (from $297 retail). Add the $99 PA activation fee on passing and you're at roughly $129 to be live on a $100K-equivalent funded account. The Intraday version is even cheaper: about $20 plus the $79 PA fee equals roughly $99 total.

How many account sizes does Apex offer?

Four sizes: $25K, $50K, $100K, and $150K. Each is available in both EOD-trailing and Intraday-trailing drawdown variants, eight account configurations total. Profit targets scale linearly with size ($1,500 / $3,000 / $6,000 / $9,000).

What is the difference between EOD and Intraday drawdown on Apex?

EOD-trailing drawdown trails based on end-of-session realized P&L only, your unrealized intraday P&L doesn't move the threshold. Intraday-trailing drawdown trails on every tick of unrealized P&L during the session. EOD is structurally more forgiving: you can run trades into deeper unrealized drawdown without breaking the floor, as long as you close green by session end.

What is the Daily Loss Limit on Apex EOD accounts?

The Daily Loss Limit (DLL) on EOD accounts is a soft circuit-breaker that caps daily realized losses. By size: $25K = $500, $50K = $1,000, $100K = $1,500, $150K = $2,000. Hitting the DLL flattens positions for the day; the account itself stays alive and can resume next session.

How does the trailing drawdown lock once I'm above threshold?

The drawdown trails upward as your account balance grows but stops trailing at the starting balance plus a small buffer. After it locks at the starting-balance level, it never trails further upward, your account has a permanent floor at the starting balance. This means once you're above water, you can never break below the starting balance regardless of how high your account climbs.

Should I pick EOD or Intraday for my first Apex account?

For most traders, EOD-trailing is the better default. It's structurally more forgiving, your unrealized intraday drawdown doesn't break the account, only end-of-session realized P&L does. The trade-off is a higher eval fee ($297 vs $198 on $100K) and a higher PA activation fee ($99 vs $79).

What happens if I breach the trailing drawdown on Apex?

Breaching the trailing drawdown ends the account immediately. There's no warning, no soft-breach, no pause. The account is closed and the PA activation fee is forfeited. To return to live trading, you'd need to purchase a fresh evaluation, pass it, and pay the activation fee again.

How do Apex payouts work after 4.0?

Apex pays out on a 6-step ladder by account size, with payout caps that grow each cycle. On the $100K EOD: $2,000 cycle 1, $2,500 cycle 2, $2,500 cycle 3, $3,000 cycle 4, $4,000 cycle 5, $4,000 cycle 6 (and uncapped after). Each cycle requires 5 qualifying days with the size-specific minimum daily profit. Minimum payout is $500.

Does Apex pay via Deel?

No, not anymore. Pre-4.0 Apex used Deel for payout processing. Post-March 2026, the rail switched silently to Plane (international transfers) and ACH (US bank transfers). Most reviews and aggregators still list Deel; that data is stale.

What is the safety net before I can withdraw?

The safety net is the trailing drawdown plus $100, the balance threshold above which payouts unlock. By size: $25K safety net is $26,100, $50K is $52,100, $100K is $103,100, $150K is $154,100. To actually request a payout, you need the safety net plus the $500 minimum payout amount.

How many qualifying days do I need per payout?

Five qualifying days per payout cycle. They don't need to be consecutive. A qualifying day requires hitting the size-specific minimum daily profit. On EOD: $25K = $100, $50K = $250, $100K = $300, $150K = $350. On Intraday: $25K = $100, $50K = $200, $100K = $250, $150K = $300.

How long do Apex payouts take to land?

Once approved, Apex payouts process within 24-48 hours via Plane (international) or ACH (US). The 4.0 rebuild automated payout review. International traders typically see funds in their local bank account in 1-3 business days after Plane initiates. US ACH transfers usually clear next business day.

Why did Apex halt metals trading?

Apex announced a metals halt on March 14, 2026, two weeks after the 4.0 launch. The official reason cited risk management; community speculation includes liquidity issues with the metals contracts and outsized payouts on those instruments. Suspended contracts: GC, SI, QI, QO, MGC, HG, PL, and PA. No return date has been announced.

Is Apex available in my country?

Apex maintains a list of about 84 restricted countries. Major restricted markets include Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Syria, and Nigeria, alongside numerous sanctioned and high-risk-jurisdiction countries. Most of the EU, UK, Canada, Australia, Latin America (excluding sanctioned states), and Southeast Asia are eligible.

What time do I need to close positions on Apex?

All positions must be closed by 4:59 PM Eastern Time. Apex does not allow overnight holds, the account is a strictly day-trading product. Open positions remaining after 4:59 PM ET get force-flattened by the platform automatically. Most traders set a personal cutoff at 4:50 PM ET to avoid the auto-flatten edge.

What are the contract limits on Apex eval vs PA?

Contract limits drop meaningfully when an evaluation converts to a Performance Account. Eval limits: $25K = 4 contracts, $50K = 6, $100K = 8, $150K = 12. PA limits: $25K = 2, $50K = 4, $100K = 6, $150K = 9. The $25K size takes the steepest cut (50%).

Can I trade news events on Apex?

Yes. Apex 4.0 has no explicit news-trading prohibition in the help center. Traders can hold positions through FOMC, CPI, NFP, and similar high-impact releases without rule violations. The practical risk is platform-level, slippage and gap moves around news can trigger drawdown breaches faster than discretionary stops can fire.

What platforms can I use on Apex?

Three platforms post-4.0: Rithmic (connection only, works with NinjaTrader, Sierra Chart, Bookmap, ATAS, Jigsaw, Quantower), Tradovate (browser-based, Mac/PC, with TradingView integration), and WealthCharts (standalone, Apex-specific integration). The platform is locked at account purchase.

Can I use NinjaTrader on Apex?

Yes, through Rithmic. Apex doesn't list NinjaTrader as a standalone platform option, but selecting Rithmic as your connection at purchase lets you connect NinjaTrader (or Sierra Chart, Bookmap, ATAS, Jigsaw, Quantower) to your Apex account.

What is WealthCharts on Apex?

WealthCharts is a standalone charting and execution platform integrated with Apex post-4.0. It's a smaller user base than Tradovate or the Rithmic-connected ecosystem and is primarily used by traders who want an alternative to NinjaTrader without the browser limitations of Tradovate.

What happened with Rithmic on April 17, 2026?

Rithmic experienced a brief PnL and Daily Loss Limit calculation issue on April 17, 2026 affecting Apex accounts using the Rithmic connection. The issue was resolved the same day. Apex issued a status update acknowledging the incident; no accounts were terminated as a result.

Is the platform locked for the life of the account?

Yes. The platform you select at evaluation purchase is locked for that account: Rithmic, Tradovate, or WealthCharts. You cannot switch mid-evaluation, and the choice carries through to the PA phase if you pass.

How many Apex accounts can I run in parallel?

Up to 20 funded Performance Accounts in parallel, combined across EOD, Intraday, and any legacy pre-4.0 accounts you still hold. This 20-account cap is Apex's biggest scaling USP in the futures prop space; most competitors cap at 3-5.

How does copy trading work on Apex?

Copy trading on Apex is permitted between your own accounts only. One leader account can copy to up to 20 follower accounts. Each follower account must independently meet the consistency rule, the trailing drawdown, and the qualifying-day requirements. Copying another person's trades is prohibited, as is acting as a paid signal provider.

What is the half-contract restriction on PA accounts?

On a freshly funded PA, you're restricted to half your maximum PA contracts until your account balance clears the trailing drawdown threshold plus $100. Example on a $100K PA (max 6 contracts): you trade 3 contracts max until balance hits $103,100, after which the next session unlocks the full 6.

What is the scaling path on Apex?

Scaling on Apex happens through two mechanisms: the 6-step payout ladder (which raises the cycle cap from $2,000 to $4,000+ on the $100K over 6 cycles) and the 20-parallel-account architecture. There's no per-account size scaling; a $50K PA stays $50K. Traders scale total capacity by stacking more parallel accounts via copy trading.

Does the consistency rule apply across all my accounts?

No, the consistency rule applies per account, not aggregated across your portfolio. Each PA needs its own profits to satisfy the 50% consistency rule individually. This means copy-traded accounts, even with identical executions, each clear consistency on their own books.

Is Apex Trader Funding legit?

Apex has been operating since 2021 from Austin, Texas, and is one of the two largest US futures prop firms by trader count alongside Topstep. As of April 2026 the firm self-reports more than $700 million in cumulative payouts. Trustpilot rates Apex 4.4 out of 5 across more than 18,000 reviews.

Who founded Apex Trader Funding?

Apex Trader Funding was founded in 2021 by Darrell Martin, who also founded the Apex Investing Institute (a futures and options education business that predates the prop firm). The company is headquartered in Austin, Texas. Martin remains the public face of the company.

How much has Apex paid out in total?

Apex self-reports $700 million-plus in cumulative payouts as of April 2026. Some sources cite higher figures; a conservative floor based on March 2026 launch material was $600M+. The most widely cited current figure is $700M+. Treat the $700M+ figure as self-reported rather than independently audited.

What is Apex's Trustpilot rating?

Apex carries a 4.4 out of 5 Trustpilot rating across approximately 18,000 reviews as of April 2026. Distribution skews heavily positive on payout experiences and onboarding speed; common negative threads cluster around the PA activation fee surprise, denial history during the pre-4.0 manual review era, and the metals halt.

Has Apex denied payouts in the past?

Yes, Apex's pre-4.0 era included documented payout denials, often tied to the now-removed MAE rule, the 5:1 risk-reward requirement, or manual payout review discretion. The 4.0 rebuild specifically addressed this: manual payout review is removed, payouts process automatically via Plane/ACH, and the rules most cited in denial cases were stripped.