Prop Firms/The Funded Trader vs Apex Trader Funding

The Funded Trader vs Apex Trader Funding: Which Prop Firm Is Better in 2026?

Side-by-side comparison of rules, drawdown limits, payout ratios, and evaluation structure. Both firms tracked automatically with FundedOps — no more manual rule-checking.

The Funded Trader

Full review
Max DrawdownRoyal: 5% daily / 10% static · Knight Pro: 5% daily (soft breach) / 8% trailing (locks at start balance once 8% up)
Profit TargetRoyal: 8% (P1) / 5% (P2) · Knight Pro: 10% (one phase)
PayoutKnight Pro: 80% anytime payouts · up to 95% via VIP program (Royal & Knight Pro)
Categoryforex
Weekend holding IS allowed on Royal & Knight Pro (all phases and funded); EAs, cBots & trade copiers allowed on Royal (not on DXtrade/Match-Trader); 20–30% off Royal Pro promos running

Apex Trader Funding

Full review
Max DrawdownEOD trailing — $1k (25k) / $2k (50k) / $3k (100k) / $4k (150k); intraday plan optional
Profit Target6%
Payout100% payout split (per-payout caps; max 6 payouts per PA)
Categoryfutures
Up to 90% off with code SAVENOW (Apex's standing house code — applies if you have no other coupon). New Apex: one-time eval fees (no subscription), 100% payout split
RuleTheApex
Max DrawdownRoyal: 5% daily / 10% static · Knight Pro: 5% daily (soft breach) / 8% trailing (locks at start balance once 8% up)EOD trailing — $1k (25k) / $2k (50k) / $3k (100k) / $4k (150k); intraday plan optional
Drawdown TypeBothBoth
Profit TargetRoyal: 8% (P1) / 5% (P2) · Knight Pro: 10% (one phase)6%
Payout RatioKnight Pro: 80% anytime payouts · up to 95% via VIP program (Royal & Knight Pro)100% payout split (per-payout caps; max 6 payouts per PA)
Min Trading DaysRoyal: 5 days per phase · Knight Pro: none, but 3 profitable days of 0.25%+ (Daily March) requiredNone to pass eval; 5 qualifying profit days per payout ($100–$350/day min by size)
News Trading Allowed
Weekend Holding
Consistency RuleKnight Pro funded: 50% Steadfast Gains — best day must stay under 50% of net profit to withdraw; none stated on Royal50% at payout (Performance Accounts) — no single day ≥50% of profit since last payout

The Funded Trader — Overview

The Funded Trader runs several challenge families with rules that vary by type. Royal is the two-phase flagship: 8%/5% targets, 5% daily / 10% static drawdown, 5 minimum days per phase, unlimited time, EAs and trade copiers allowed, and weekend holding permitted — but no news trading. Knight Pro is a one-phase route: 10% target against a 5% daily (soft-breach) and 8% trailing drawdown that locks at the starting balance, no minimum days (3 profitable days of 0.25%+ required), news trading allowed, anytime 80% payouts, and a 50% Steadfast Gains consistency rule once funded. VIP status raises the split to 95%. Daily drawdown resets at 5pm ET on both.

Weekend and overnight holding allowed on Royal and Knight Pro (all phases + funded)
EAs, cBots, and trade copiers allowed on Royal (except DXtrade/Match-Trader)
Anytime payouts on Knight Pro funded accounts (80%, up to 95% VIP)
No news trading on Royal challenges (allowed on Knight Pro only)
Knight Pro funded: 50% Steadfast Gains rule gates withdrawals after big days

Apex Trader Funding — Overview

Apex Trader Funding is one of the largest US-based futures prop firms. Products purchased after March 1, 2026 (the "new Apex") use one-time evaluation fees with a 30-day access period — no subscriptions and no resets (a failed or expired eval means buying a new one). EOD-drawdown evaluations (25k–150k) have no consistency rule, no minimum days, and a soft daily loss limit that pauses the day without failing you. Funded Performance Accounts pay a 100% payout split with per-payout caps and a maximum of 6 payouts per account, a 50% consistency rule at payout, and a safety net of drawdown + $100.

100% payout split on Performance Account payouts
No minimum trading days to pass the evaluation — one day is possible
Frequent discount promotions (up to 90% off eval fees)
50% consistency rule at payout — no single day can be 50%+ of profit since last payout
Performance Accounts are capped at 6 payouts (with per-payout dollar caps), then the account closes

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