Apex vs Topstep: rules compared (2026)
The two most popular futures prop firms run very different risk engines. The difference decides how — and how often — traders blow accounts. Here's the side-by-side.
| Rule | Apex | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Drawdown type | Intraday OR End-of-day (you choose) | Intraday trailing (real-time) |
| Daily loss limit | None on Intraday; on EOD ($2,000 on 150K) | Yes — $1,000 / $2,000 / $3,000 (50/100/150K) |
| Max drawdown (150K) | $5,000 | $4,500 |
| Floor lock | Locks at start + $100 | Funded locks at starting balance |
| Consistency rule | 50% (funded payout) | 50% (best day vs profit) |
| Min payout days | 5 (≥ $100 each) | 5 winning days (Express Funded) |
| Account sizes | 25K / 50K / 100K / 150K | 50K / 100K / 150K |
The one that matters most: the drawdown engine
Apex lets you pick an Intraday account (floor follows your unrealized highs tick-by-tick, no daily loss) or an End-of-Day account (floor only updates at the close, but adds a daily loss limit). Topstep's Max Loss Limit trails intraday in real time. If you treat a Topstep account like an end-of-day one, a morning spike you give back can breach you flat — the classic mistake.
Which is "easier"?
Neither — they punish different mistakes. Apex's intraday option is unforgiving of round-trips; its EOD option trades that for a daily circuit-breaker. Topstep's daily loss limit caps single-session damage but its real-time trailing floor is strict. The right pick depends on whether your edge is scalping or holding — and on knowing your exact floor at all times.
See full rules: Apex · Topstep · free drawdown calculator.
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