Apex Trader Funding Review (2025): Rules, Payouts & Discount Code

Apex Trader Funding is one of the most popular futures prop firms in 2025, offering traders a fast track to a funded futures account without risking personal capital. In this updated Apex Trader Funding review, we’ll cover exactly how the program works, the evaluation rules you need to follow, how payouts work, and tips to pass your evaluation.

As a trader who actively uses Apex, I’ll also share my own experience with their evaluation and funded accounts, including the common mistakes that cause most traders to fail.

What is Apex Trader Funding?

Apex Trader Funding is a futures prop trading firm that funds traders who pass a one-time evaluation phase. Once you pass, you can trade with real buying power of up to $300,000 without risking your own money.

As someone who actively trades with Apex, I’ve found it to be a great way to scale up without the stress of risking personal funds. It’s ideal for traders who are consistent but don’t want to tie up their own cash in a margin account. You focus on following the rules, executing well, and once you pass the evaluation account test, you’re in. You can even get multiple funded accounts if you want to scale into trading multiple accounts.

Apex Account Highlights:

• Funded account sizes up to $300K
• Pass the evaluation → start trading live the next day
• Keep 100% of your first $25K in profits, then 90% after that
• Trade popular futures like MES, MNQ, ES, NQ, CL, RTY
• Multiple funded accounts allowed for scaling

The rules are fair and pretty straightforward, especially if you’re already trading with discipline. In the sections ahead, I’ll break down how the program works, what to expect during the evaluation, and how to get started with up to 90% off using coupon code LIVESTREAM.

Who is the Apex Trader Funding Program for?

The funded futures program is designed for traders who want to take their trading to the next level without risking personal capital. Whether you’re newer to the markets and looking for a structured way to build consistency, or more experienced and need access to more buying power, Apex gives you the flexibility to scale.

It’s a solid fit for traders who are who have limited personal funds to get into trading, and those who have a solid strategy and want to scale without putting their own personal funds at risk in a traditional brokerage account. Instead of tying up personal capital and worrying about losses, you’re focused on performance, following the rules, and trading with discipline. If you pass the evaluation, you’re rewarded with a funded account, and in many cases, traders can get started with less than $100 out of pocket during promotional periods.

The most you can ever lose out of pocket is the cost you put into the evaluation account, which is usually less than $100 during promotional periods, and the small fee to get funded after passing which is generally $160. After that you're eligible for payouts on profits and never have to worry about losing hard capital out of pocket. If you fail an evaluation account, you can simply reset it for a small fee of $50 and try again.

Personally, I’ve found this model to be a game changer for new traders and students of the market. It allows you to stay laser-focused on execution and building your strategy without the stress of protecting your own funds or potentially incurring big losses. And if you’re looking to scale, Apex makes it easy to manage multiple accounts and copy trade, so you’re not stuck hitting a ceiling once you’re funded.

What Are the Apex Evaluation Rules?

Before you can trade a funded account, Apex requires you to pass an evaluation. This is their way of making sure you can trade with discipline and proper risk management.

Each evaluation account has a set profit target, a daily loss limit, and a trailing drawdown. The specific numbers depend on the account size you choose. For example, a $50,000 evaluation account currently requires a $3,000 profit target to pass the evaluation, and you cant drop below a $2,500 trailing drawdown threshold (total accumulative losses before reaching the profit target to pass the evaluation).

You can trade popular futures products like MES, MNQ, ES, NQ, RTY, CL, and more. While there is no daily loss limit on evaluation accounts, the biggest thing to watch out for is the trailing drawdown; it moves up as your balance increases, but it does not stop trailing until you hit your profit target. This is where most traders fail, so it’s worth having a clear risk management plan in place before you start. We will explain trailing drawdown in the following sections.

Core Apex Evaluation Rules (2025):

1. Profit Target – Varies by account size. Example: $50K account requires $3,000 profit to pass.
2. Trailing Drawdown – If your balance drops by more than the set amount (realized or unrealized), you fail. Example: $50K account = $2,500 trailing drawdown.
3. No Time Limit – Take as long as you need to pass.
4. No Trading Style Restrictions – In evaluations, you can scalp, swing, trade news, and even dollar-cost average.
5. Tradable Products – All major futures including MES, MNQ, ES, NQ, RTY, CL, and more.

Key Tip: Most traders fail because of the trailing drawdown, not because they can’t hit the profit target. Always lock in profits instead of letting winning trades return to breakeven.

Apex Trader Funding Trailing Drawdown Explained

The trailing drawdown threshold can be misunderstood by many people, so we're going to try to make it as simple as possible. If you are doing an evaluation account of $25,000 and have a $1,500 trailing threshold, that means if you lose $1,500 from your account balance, you would fail the evaluation. This includes both realized and unrealized profits/losses.

Trailing Drawdown Threshold for Evaluation Accounts:

If you had a $25,000 evaluation account, which has a trailing threshold (loss limit) of $1,500, and you entered a trade that went into a $1,000 profit in your favor, and you didn't take profits, and it comes all the way back to breakeven, that would take $1,000 away from your $1,500 trailing threshold limit. Since the trailing threshold includes realized and unrealized profits/losses, your remaining loss limit (or trailing threshold), would be $500.

So, its very important if trading with an Apex evaluation account to realize and take profits when you can, and to cut losses quickly. You need to know when to exit positions before bigger reversals occur so you can realize more profits and not cut into your trailing threshold. 

Trailing Drawdown Threshold in Performance Accounts:

If you pass a $50,000 evaluation account, for example, (reaching $3,000 in profits on the evaluation without breaking your $2,500 trailing threshold limit), the account will be reset to the $50,000 starting balance and switched to a PA account, and now you will be eligible for payouts on profits once you reach over $3,000 in profits again.

In PA accounts, the trailing drawdown stops once you exceed the threshold in profit. This means if you have a $50,000 PA account (with $2,500 drawdown), you trailing drawdown stops after you reach $2,500+ in profits allowing you to trade with more freedom. For this reason, its recommended to get a nice buffer in the account before requesting payouts. If you get a $50,000 account to $58,000, for example, it allows for a lot of breathing room for both drawdown and payouts. For example:

• $50K account
• $2,500 trailing drawdown
• If your account reaches $54,200, your drawdown stops moving and locks at $52,200
• This gives you $4,200 of breathing room below your balance
• As long as the account remains over $50,000, you're safe.
• If the account gets up to $58,000, you could request a $2,000 payout and still have $56,000 ($6,000 of breathing room for losses and drawdowns). If your account balance drops below $50,000 after reaching $52,500+ you will have lost the account and will need to start over.
• NOTE: For peace of mind, you will never have to worry about losing your personal funds. The only thing you can lose is your evaluation account fee (less than $100 during promotions), reset fees ($50 if you fail and reset an evaluation account), and your time if you spent months building an account balance and losing it due to poor trading or risk management.
  

Trailing Drawdown Example 1:

Lets say the $50,000 performance account gets to $53,150, your total loss limit is now $3,150. After you reach $3,000 in profits, you now have a buffer of $3000 - You don't have to worry about the $2,500 trailing drawdown limit but your account can not drop below the $50,000 starting balance or that PA account will be failed and you would have to start over from the evaluation phase.

Trailing Drawdown Example 2:

If your PA account gets to $58,500, for example, you now have an $8,500 buffer from the starting balance and at any point if your account balance drops below $50,000 the performance account will be failed and you would have to start over at the evaluation phase.

In other words, the drawdown stops moving profit target of $3000. That gives you more room to work with and helps avoid getting knocked out by one losing day. If the account gets to $55,000, for example, you can now trade freely as long as the account remains above the $50,000 starting balance.

While some of these rules may seem harsh, they are necessary to reduce risk on their end, and it teaches you, the trader, the value of proper risk management and realizing profits without having big drawdowns or taking unnecessary risk. The good news, however, is that trailing threshold disappears after you pass your evaluation and trade live, at which point you will only have a daily loss limit to protect your account.

Tips to Pass the Apex Evaluation

Passing the Apex evaluation isn’t about taking big risks, it’s about showing consistency and discipline. Too many traders go into the evaluation thinking it’s a throwaway account or a test run, and they end blowing the trailing drawdown with oversized trades. Here are some tips that work:

1. Treat the evaluation as if it were a live account from day one.
2. Use a smaller account size like $50K or $75K if you’re new to funded programs, as the drawdowns are more forgiving.
3. Trade one or two tickers you know well, such as MES or MNQ, and avoid overtrading.
4. Always use a hard stop and track your trailing drawdown daily.
5. Take profits on winning trades instead of letting them return to break even.
6. Cut losses quickly to protect your cushion.
7. Remember there’s no time limit. Take it slow and focus on high-quality setups.

Most failed evaluations come from traders letting one bad trade or a reversal on an open gain knock them out. By trading small, locking in gains, and following your plan, you’ll greatly improve your odds of passing on the first attempt. Take profits on trades when available and avoid letting winning positions get back to breakeven or into a loss. The key to passing is cutting losses quick and properly managing winning trades while taking profits on positions when available.

Apex provides clear metrics on your dashboard so you’ll always know your targets and limits. Monitor you daily PnL closely and focus on small, consistent wins while cutting losing trades quick to avoid reaching the trailing drawdown limit.

Lastly, don’t rush. You have unlimited time to pass. Take it slow, trade clean setups, and remember, once you pass, you’ll have access to payouts on your profits.

What Happens After you Pass the Evaluation?

Once you hit the profit target for your evaluation account, you’re officially eligible for a funded account. Stop trading immediately and sell any open positions once you reach your profit target. Apex will send you a congratulations email and instructions to sign your funded trader agreement the same night that you pass.

Your account will be changed from an evaluation account to a PA account for the next trading day (and the balance will be reset), and from that point forward, you’re eligible for payouts on profits within that account.

You’ll still have to follow some basic rules in your funded account, like staying under the daily loss limit and avoiding slippage on news events, but the trailing drawdown works differently. Once you lock in profits above the starting balance, the drawdown stops trailing and gives you more breathing room. That alone makes the funded account feel a lot more manageable than the evaluation.

Withdrawals are processed through Deel, and Apex pays out pretty quickly. You’ll need to hit $1,000 in profits before requesting your first withdrawal, and after that, you can set your own pace. Many traders build up multiple funded accounts over time, and Apex makes that process simple once you’ve proven you can follow the rules.

In the next section, I’ll break down the pros and cons of trading with Apex, including some things that surprised me along the way.

Apex Funded Account (PA Account) Rules

Once you're funded by passing the evaluation phase and moving on to a performance account eligible for payouts, the rules are a bit different. Here's what to know:

Consistency Rule

Apex enforces a 30% consistency rule on PA accounts. This means no single day’s profits should exceed 30% of your total monthly profits. This is to discourage gambling with their accounts to "make a big score" and get a payout.

30% Negative Risk Rule

Your open trades cannot exceed 30% of your start-of-day profit in unrealized losses. For example, if you start the day with $1,000 in realized profit, your open P&L cannot fall below –$300. They don't cut your account off or punish you for breaking this rule immediately, they just ask that you quickly reduce your position and take action to correct it. Consistently breaking this rule and not correcting it could lead to disciplinary action and/or not getting paid out if its deemed to be malicious.

Dollar Cost Averaging is Allowed

As of 2025, DCA (dollar-cost averaging) is now allowed in funded accounts. You can add to a losing trade, provided you remain within the risk rules above.

Apex Trader Funding Payout Rules (2025)

Apex made significant improvements to its payout system in 2025, giving traders more flexibility and faster access to their profits. Once you're trading a Performance Account (PA account), you're eligible to request payouts as early as your 8th trading day, as long as you've had at least five trading days with $50 or more in profit. This allows disciplined traders to begin withdrawing earnings within their first two weeks of funded trading.

Perhaps the most exciting update is that the first $25,000 you earn is 100% yours with no profit split. After that, the standard 90/10 split applies, where you keep 90% of the profits. Apex processes payouts through Deel, and traders can request up to two withdrawals per month.

To protect account health and ensure consistent performance, Apex uses a tiered system for the first six payouts, which limits the max amount you can withdraw depending on your account balance. After your sixth withdrawal, there are no payout caps, and traders are allowed to withdraw the full amount of their available profits, even in the six-figure range.

Apex is currently the only futures prop firm publicly known to approve million-dollar payouts, making it one of the most scalable funding programs in the industry.

See the withdrawal table below to see the cap on the first 6 payouts per account size.

Apex Payout Withdrawal Table

Key Payout Highlights:

• First payout available after 8 trading days
• Must have 5 days with $50+ profit
• First $25,000 is paid at 100% (no split)
• 90/10 profit split begins after $25K
• Up to 2 payouts per month through Deel
• First 6 payouts are capped based on balance (e.g., $2,000 max payout requires at least $54,100 in account)
• No payout caps after 6th withdrawal

Pros and Cons of Apex Trader Funding

After using Apex for a while now, I’ve had the chance to really get a feel for what works and where the program has a few rough edges. Overall, I think it offers one of the best paths for traders looking to scale with minimal upfront risk, but like any prop firm, it’s not perfect. Here’s what stands out.

Pros of Apex Trader Funding:

• Low Barrier to Entry - Evaluation accounts often start for as little as $30–$70 during sales when using an 80% off promo code like LIVESTREAM.
  
  
• No Evaluation Account Rules - Trade however you like in the evaluation phase - no rules! You can pass evaluations in one day (no more rules of having to trade for 7 days to get funded).
  
  
• Free Platform and Data - Platform and data charges can get expensive with direct brokerages. Every Apex account comes with a free NinjaTrader license and real-time data fees. All other platforms offered such as Tradovate are also free for users of Apex Trader Funding.
  
  
• No Daily Loss Limit - While you do have to watch your trailing drawdown (more on this in the next section below), there are no daily loss limits that lock you out for the trading day.
  
  
• Fast Funding Process - Many traders pass and receive their funded account in under 48 hours. The system is automated and user-friendly. You will receive an email the evening after passing an evaluation account to sign the forms to switch to a funded account which will be ready for trading the following day.
  
  
• Multiple Account Options - You can run multiple funded accounts at the same time and scale up. You can trade up to 20 funded accounts at the same time via a copy trader for bigger profits.
  
  
• Frequent Sales and Promotions - Apex runs 70-90% off sales nearly every month, and sometimes offers up to 100% profit split during promo periods.
  
  
• TradingView Support - You can now connect your Apex account to TradingView via Tradovate.
  

Cons of Apex Trader Funding:

• No swing trading - Apex does not allow positions to be held over the session breaks or weekend, which limits swing trading strategies. Any open positions will be closed automatically by Apex at the 5pm EST session break - however, you can opt to buy them back and hold overnight at the 6pm open.
  
  
• Daily loss limits can feel tight on small accounts - If you take one or two bad trades early with too much leverage, you can lose the account, so you need a firm plan going in with proper position sizing, and trade smart. The good news is, to reset a lost account is only $50 (sometimes $35 during promotional periods), and sometimes it can be cheaper to buy a new account with a coupon code vs resetting it.
  
  
• Changes of rules - As they've evolved, sometimes their rules change, so its important to stay up to date on the most recent rules to make sure you are eligible for payouts on your performance accounts. Any major changes to their trading rules are typically sent out by email.

Apex Trader Funding Plans and Pricing

Apex offers multiple evaluation account sizes to choose from, each with its own fee, profit target, and risk parameters. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to scale with a larger account, there’s something here for every style of trader.

Personally, I think the $50K or $75K accounts offer the best balance between flexibility, affordability, and value. The rules are straightforward, the drawdown is manageable, and the profit targets are realistic; especially if you’re trading consistently.

Below are the list of account sizes you can start with, and their corresponding profit targets and loss limits (trailing threshold) to pass the evaluation and secure funding:

If you fail the evaluation, not to worry, you can reset the account (for a small fee) at any time and start over again. Many people need to try a couple times before they have a good risk management and trading strategy before they succeed.

Which Trading Platforms Can You Use with Apex?

Apex supports various trading platforms, offering traders flexibility in choosing the platform that best aligns with their trading preferences and expertise.

Some of the platforms you can use include Rithmic, Tradovate, Ninja Trader 8 (your evaluation and funded accounts come with a free Ninja Trader license key!), Trading View, and the newest addition on 2025 is Wealthcharts. The best part is that the data and platform fees are 100% included in the cost of your evaluation account. There are no hidden data or platform fees with Apex - they provide you everything you need to trade futures for less than $100 including: your evaluation account, real-time market data and trading platform of your choice. There is no cheaper way to get into futures trading and get a chance to get funded and get payouts on profits.

Copy Trading Multiple Accounts with Apex

One of the most unique features Apex offers is the ability to trade up to 20 accounts at once. That means if you’ve passed multiple evaluations or have multiple live accounts, you can execute a single trade and have it copy across all of them automatically.

For example, if you take a $300 scalp and you’re trading 20 accounts simultaneously, that same setup could net you $6,000 in total profits, all from one trade idea.

Several traders in our community use this approach to scale up without increasing risk in a single account. It also helps balance out drawdowns and lets you grow your trading business faster.

One of our trading group members trades up to 20 accounts at once to exponentiate his profits, and limit his risk across any one account to avoid any large drawdowns in a single trading account:

Rules that Catch Traders Off Guard

Besides the main evaluation rules like the trailing drawdown and daily loss limit, there are a few smaller rules you’ll want to be aware of once you get funded. These won’t trip you up if you’re trading responsibly, but it’s good to know what to expect so you don’t get caught off guard:

• Prohibited strategies: Anything goes in the evaluation accounts, but once funded with a PA account, Apex doesn’t allow things like latency arbitrage or other manipulative trading styles. If you’re trading price action or using clean setups, you’ll be fine - just don’t try to game the system.
  
• Trading hours: Positions are closed at session break 5pm EST. You can buy them back if you choose on the market re-open at 6pm EST Monday Friday. You can't hold trades over the weekend or anytime the market is closed.
  
• Position holding time: In certain scenarios, Apex may require that trades be held for a minimum time. That said, most common futures scalping and day trading strategies are allowed.
  
• Account verification: Before payouts, you’ll need to verify your ID. This is standard across prop firms and helps keep everything compliant.
  

Bottom line: the rules are transparent and pretty easy to follow. If you trade with discipline and read the current Apex terms when you sign up, you’ll be in good shape.

Apex Payouts 2025: Profit Split & Withdrawal Rules

One of the biggest advantages of Apex Trader Funding is how clear and fast the payout structure is once you're funded. After passing the evaluation, you’re issued a Performance Account, and from that point forward, you’re eligible to start receiving payouts from your trading profits.

The first $25,000 you earn is all yours. Apex lets you keep 100% of it. After that, the standard profit split is 90/10, where you keep 90% and Apex keeps 10%. Sometimes they run promos where that bumps up to a full 100%, so it’s worth watching for that.

You’ll need to hit the initial profit target just like in the evaluation, and once that’s done, you’ll see your balance reset to the starting value (for example, $50,000 on a 50K account). That extra profit stays in the account as a cushion to protect your trailing drawdown. After that, you can withdraw any additional profits you generate above that baseline.

Payouts begin 10 days after your first trade in the funded account, and you can request up to two payouts per month. Payments are made through Deel, and you can use bank transfer, PayPal, Wise, or crypto which is flexible and fast.

Just make sure your account is verified and in good standing before requesting a payout, and keep in mind there’s usually a $1,000 profit minimum before the first withdrawal is available. After that, you can scale at your own pace and build up multiple accounts if you choose.

Best Practices to Pass Your Apex Evaluation

Successfully passing the evaluation phase is a crucial step toward becoming a funded trader. Here are some tips to enhance your chances of success:

• Develop and refine your trading strategy: Demonstrate a well-defined and consistently profitable trading approach.
• Implement proper risk management: Emphasize capital preservation and employ sound risk management techniques.
• Consistency is key: Display consistent trading performance throughout the evaluation period.
• Adhere to program guidelines: Follow the rules and guidelines set forth by the Apex Trader Funding Program.
• Maintain a trading journal: Keep a detailed record of your trades to analyze your performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Continuously educate yourself: Stay updated with the latest market trends, trading techniques, and risk management strategies.
• Review and learn from your mistakes: Analyze your losing trades and identify patterns to avoid repeating them in the future.
  

My Experience with Apex Trader Funding

I’ve been trading futures for years, and like a lot of traders, I started out risking my own capital in a traditional brokerage account. As someone who’s been coaching and mentoring beginner trading students for years, I know how easy it is for an inexperienced futures trader to burn through capital in a traditional brokerage account. Don't spend thousands of dollars on beginner mistakes - the worst case scenario with Apex is you lose the evaluation account and reset it for $50. When you can pass and get paid by Apex is when you are ready to trade with a direct brokerage (see our list of preferred brokers and trader tools here.)

With Apex, you can start an evaluation for as little as $30 to $50 when they’re running a sale. And if you fail, the worst-case scenario is you lost a hundred bucks — not $10,000 of your own hard-earned savings. That’s a tradeoff I’d take every time.

I’ve personally passed many evaluations and traded both the $50K and $75K funded accounts with consistent payouts - but as a professional trader, I focus more on my live brokerage accounts.

As far as Apex goes - the process is smooth, payouts are reliable, and the rules are fair. But more than anything, it gives traders a chance to learn, grow, and build discipline without the pressure that comes from risking their own capital.

If you’re serious about improving as a trader, funded accounts are a smart way to test yourself without financial stress. Use a proper plan, trade small, and give yourself time to build consistency. Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been at this for years, I genuinely believe Apex is one of the most accessible ways to develop your skills and scale up.

If you’re serious about your trading and want to take the next step without risking tens of thousands of dollars up front, this is one of the most accessible and scalable ways to do it. And with the ongoing discount, it’s inexpensive to get started.

Apex Trader Funding Coupon Code: LIVESTREAM

We believe that Apex is a good route for anyone who wants to start trading or get funded as they will not have to put their own capital at risk, so we've partnered with Apex and they've agreed to give our members and readers a big discount. To get started, simply register for your Apex account here, and use coupon code: LIVESTREAM to receive the current promotional ongoing discount (up to 70-90% off during promotional periods.)

Final Thoughts on Apex Trader Funding

The Apex Trader Funding program offers a remarkable opportunity for talented traders to access substantial capital, unleash their trading potential, and gain practical experience in a risk-free environment. By understanding how the program works, who it caters to, the trailing threshold feature, eligible trading platforms, program rules, payout structure, and the best practices to succeed, aspiring traders can position themselves for success in the competitive trading industry.

Remember, the Apex is not only a means to secure funding but also a platform to refine your trading skills and pave the way for a rewarding trading career. If you are new to trading, we would highly recommend joining a community of skilled traders who can help you beat the learning curve and get you a proper foundation to set you up with the best chance of success.

Good luck with your trading journey!