Apex Trader Funding vs FTMO: Which Is Better in 2026?

A detailed head-to-head comparison of Apex Trader Funding and FTMO across trust scores, pricing, rules, profit splits, and payouts to help you choose the right prop firm.

Company Background & Trust

Apex Trader Funding was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA, holding a trust score of 82/100 with 4.4/5 stars from 18,288+ reviews. FTMO, founded in 2015 in Prague, Czech Republic, carries a trust score of 93/100 with 4.8/5 stars from 42,210+ reviews. FTMO leads on trust metrics, but both have demonstrated reliability in the prop trading space.

Rules & Evaluation Comparison

Apex Trader Funding offers a 1-step evaluation with a profit target of $1,500 – $9,000, max drawdown of Trailing (Intraday or EOD), and daily drawdown of EOD accounts only. FTMO features a 2-step evaluation with a 10% / 5% (2-Step) or 10% (1-Step) profit target, 10% max drawdown, and 5% daily drawdown. Apex Trader Funding has fewer evaluation steps, making it faster to get funded.

Pricing & Profit Splits

Apex Trader Funding challenges start at $118 – $397 (one-time) with a 100/0 profit split and every 5 trading days payouts. FTMO starts at $155 – $1,080 with a 80/20 – 90/10 split and bi-weekly payouts. When comparing value for money, consider not just the upfront cost but the profit split and payout frequency as key factors in your long-term earnings.

The Verdict

Choose Apex Trader Funding if you prioritize a high trust score and generous profit splits. Choose FTMO if you value strong community trust and reliable payouts. Both are solid options — use our comparison tool to see the full side-by-side breakdown.