Rules compared
| Rule | Apex Trader Funding | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Market | Futures | Futures |
| Phases | One-phase | One-phase |
| Eval cost (mid tier) | $167 | $175 |
| Profit target | 6% | 6% |
| Max drawdown | Trailing (EOD) · 5% | Trailing (EOD) · 5% |
| Daily loss limit | None | None |
| Consistency rule | 30% | 30% |
| Min trading days | 1 | 1 |
| Max days | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Profit split | 90% | 90% |
| Payout buffer | 5% | 4% |
| Trailing on funded | No | No |
| Payout frequency | Every 8 days | Every 14 days |
Simulated outcomes, same trader
Identical balanced archetype (50% win rate, 1.2R average winner, 3 trades a day), 10,000 simulated evaluations against each firm's exact ruleset.
| Metric | Apex Trader Funding | Elite Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Pass rate | 58.6% | 58.6% |
| Payout rate (if passed) | 32.0% | 36.6% |
| Joint withdrawal probability | 18.7% | 21.4% |
| Expected P&L over 50 challenges | $59.8k | $35k |
| Failures from drawdown breach | 53% | 53% |
| Failures from daily loss | 0% | 0% |
Which should you pick?
Apex Trader Funding: Apex is one of the cheaper, more forgiving futures evaluations — no daily loss limit and a trailing-until-target drawdown that locks once you clear the target. The catch is on the funded side: strict consistency (30%) and multiple funded rules trip up traders who pass easily. Best for disciplined swing/scalpers; punishes lumpy P&L.
Elite Trader Funding: ETF is the classic Apex-style ruleset with tweaks — trailing-until-target, no daily loss, high theoretical pass rate for scalpers. Consistency and multiple funded-account rules matter more than the eval itself. Frequent promo pricing makes cost-adjusted EV attractive.
On the numbers above, Elite Trader Funding is the better expected-value choice for a balanced profile — but archetypes are not you. A scalper and a swing trader can flip this ranking entirely, because drawdown type punishes lumpy P&L far more than frequent small P&L. Run your own drawdown numbers first, then simulate your real stats.
Frequently asked
Is Apex Trader Funding or Elite Trader Funding easier to pass?+
In our simulation of a balanced 50%-win-rate trader, Apex Trader Funding passes 58.6% of the time and Elite Trader Funding passes 58.6% — so Apex Trader Funding is the easier evaluation for that profile. The gap is driven mostly by drawdown type (Trailing (EOD) vs Trailing (EOD)) and the number of phases.
Which is cheaper, Apex Trader Funding or Elite Trader Funding?+
The mid-tier evaluation costs $167 at Apex Trader Funding and $175 at Elite Trader Funding. Sticker price is the wrong comparison though: over 50 attempted challenges our simulation nets $59.8k at Apex Trader Funding versus $35k at Elite Trader Funding, because a cheaper eval you fail more often is not cheaper.
Which pays out more reliably, Apex Trader Funding or Elite Trader Funding?+
Conditional on passing, our model gives Apex Trader Funding a 32.0% chance of reaching a first payout versus 36.6% at Elite Trader Funding. End to end — pass and withdraw — that is 18.7% vs 21.4%. Profit splits are 90% and 90%.
What is the biggest rule difference between Apex Trader Funding and Elite Trader Funding?+
Apex Trader Funding uses a trailing (eod) drawdown of 5% with no daily loss limit; Elite Trader Funding uses a trailing (eod) drawdown of 5% with no daily loss limit. Elite Trader Funding is the stricter ruleset for most trading styles.
Compare both firms using YOUR trading stats
Log your trades in the journal, push your real win rate and R-multiple into the simulator, and see which of these two rulesets you actually clear.
Run my simulationMore Apex Trader Funding comparisons
Based on publicly listed rules as of 2026-07-15. Independent — not affiliated with Apex Trader Funding or Elite Trader Funding. Rules change; verify before paying. Simulations are estimates, not guarantees.