Apex Trader Funding vs FundedFast
Apex Trader Funding is the largest US futures prop firm, with over $777M paid to traders since 2022. But Apex only trades CME futures (ES, NQ, CL, GC) on Rithmic and Tradovate -- no forex, no crypto, no stocks. If you're trading anything other than US futures, here's how FundedFast compares.
Updated May 2026 · 7 min read
Quick Comparison
Where FundedFast
Has the Edge
Trade Everything, Not Just Futures
Apex is locked to CME futures: ES, NQ, CL, GC, and their micros. No forex. No crypto. No stocks. FundedFast covers forex, crypto, indices, stocks, metals, and oil in a single challenge -- trade what you actually trade.
$49 Total Cost vs $150-$550 with Apex
Apex's eval looks cheap on sale (~$20-50 with discount codes), but the activation fee after passing is $85-$105/month or $130-$360 lifetime per account -- and that fee is never discounted. FundedFast charges one $49 entry, refunded on your first payout. No activation fee. No monthly subscription.
No Activation Fee. No Monthly Fee.
Pass the FundedFast challenge and trade. Pass an Apex evaluation and you still pay $85-$105 every month (or a one-time $130-$360) per funded account before you can place your first trade. Multiply that across multiple accounts and the math gets steep.
Free Trading Competition
Apex has no free entry path -- every account requires payment. FundedFast runs the Open every 2 weeks: free entry, $100K virtual account, $25/$20/$15 cash prizes. Try the platform and the rules with zero risk before you buy a paid challenge.
Where Apex Trader Funding
Has the Edge
No comparison is honest without showing where the competition wins. Here’s where Apex Trader Funding is stronger — and why the FundedFast Open, no time limits, and 90-day affiliate window still tip the balance for many traders.
$777M+ Paid Since 2022
Apex has the longest payout track record in futures prop trading: $777M+ distributed since 2022, $107M in the last 90 days alone. FundedFast launched in 2024 and is still building its publicly verifiable payout history. If raw track record matters most, Apex wins.
Scale to 20 Accounts ($3M Aggregate)
Apex allows up to 20 funded accounts simultaneously, with copy-trader support across all of them -- up to $3M in aggregate funded capital for traders running multi-account strategies. FundedFast caps at $400K in a single account. For high-volume traders, Apex's multi-account model is unmatched.
Built for US Futures Day-Traders
If you trade ES, NQ, CL, or GC on Rithmic or Tradovate, Apex is purpose-built for you. Native CME execution, US tax-friendly structure, and a 100% profit retention on the first $25K of profit per account. For pure US futures day-trading, Apex is the gold standard.
What Traders
Actually Say
Real themes from Trustpilot, Investing.com, and trading communities. Not cherry-picked, patterns across dozens of reviews.
- $777M+ paid out since 2022; automated payouts via Deel in 24-48h
- 100% of first $25K kept -- industry-leading early-stage profit split
- Up to 20 accounts with copy-trader support for scaling strategies
- March 2026 rule update removed manual payout reviews and the 30% consistency cap
- Activation fees compound: $85-$105/month or $130-$360 lifetime PER funded account, never discounted; running 5+ accounts adds $400-$1,800 in fees on top of evaluation costs
- Legacy account holders stuck: traders who bought before March 2026 cannot convert to the new 4.0 rules -- operating under worse legacy rules with no remedy
- Trailing intraday drawdown: the Intraday variant moves the loss threshold against unrealized peaks and never resets down -- punishing for traders who don't lock in profits quickly
- Futures only: no forex, crypto, stocks, or indices CFD -- Apex cannot serve traders outside the CME futures universe
- One-time fee, no surprises: $49 entry, refunded on first payout. No activation fee. No monthly subscription. The price you see is the price you pay
- Multi-asset in one challenge: forex, crypto, indices, stocks, metals, and oil -- all on a single account, no separate evaluations per asset class
- Free competition every 2 weeks: the FundedFast Open runs bi-weekly with $100K virtual accounts and real cash prizes; no purchase or card required
- Web-based platform: MatchTrader runs in the browser with TradingView charts built in -- no Rithmic or Tradovate desktop install or data-feed setup
- No futures: FundedFast does not offer CME futures contracts. If you trade ES, NQ, CL, or GC exclusively, Apex is the right fit
- Single-account focus: FundedFast is built for traders running one account at a time, not multi-account capital-stacking strategies
- Newer firm: founded October 2024. Smaller payout track record than Apex's $777M+. EU-registered (Malta) for compliance credibility
Something Apex Trader Funding Doesn’t Offer: Free Trading Competitions
Enter the FundedFast Open every 2 weeks: completely free. $100K virtual account, same rules as a real challenge. Top 3 win cash. No purchase, no card details.
Join the Open: It’s FreeWhich Firm Is Right for You?
Choose Apex Trader Funding if:
- You trade US futures (ES, NQ, CL, GC, MES, MNQ) and nothing else
- You want to scale across multiple funded accounts (up to 20)
- You're a US-based trader who values native CME execution on Rithmic or Tradovate
- You're confident hitting $25K+ in profit per account regularly (to maximize the 100% first-$25K split)
Choose FundedFast if:
- You trade forex, crypto, indices, stocks, metals, or oil -- not just futures
- You want one transparent fee with no activation cost or monthly subscription after passing
- You prefer single-account simplicity over juggling 20 PAs and a copy trader
- You want a free competition to test the platform and rules before paying
- You're EU-resident and value Malta (EU) jurisdiction for compliance
- You don't want to install Rithmic, Tradovate, or set up CME data feeds
Common Questions
Can I trade futures on FundedFast?
No. FundedFast is multi-asset CFD-focused: forex, crypto, indices, stocks, metals, and oil. For pure CME futures trading on Rithmic, Tradovate, or NinjaTrader, Apex Trader Funding is purpose-built and the right fit. FundedFast and Apex serve different traders -- pick the firm that matches the markets you actually trade.
Why is FundedFast cheaper than Apex Trader Funding?
At retail, FundedFast's $49 entry is roughly one-third of Apex's $147 minimum. But the bigger gap is the activation fee -- Apex charges $85-$105 per month OR $130-$360 lifetime per funded account before you can place your first trade, and that fee is never discounted. FundedFast charges $49 once, refunded on your first payout. Total cost to start trading funded: $49 with FundedFast vs $150-$550 with Apex.
Does Apex Trader Funding offer forex or crypto?
No. Apex Trader Funding is exclusively for CME futures: ES (S&P 500), NQ (Nasdaq-100), CL (crude oil), GC (gold), and their micro equivalents (MES, MNQ). Apex does not offer forex, crypto CFDs, stocks, or any non-futures product. Traders who want forex or crypto need a multi-asset firm like FundedFast.
Which has the better profit split?
Apex pays 100% on the first $25,000 of profit per account, then switches to a 90/10 split. FundedFast starts at 80%, with a 90% upgrade available at checkout. For high-volume traders who consistently hit $25K+ in profit per account, Apex's first-$25K bonus is technically better. For most traders making smaller, more frequent payouts, the difference is marginal -- and FundedFast's lower upfront cost often offsets it.
Can I trade FundedFast on Tradovate or Rithmic?
No. FundedFast uses MatchTrader, a web-based platform with TradingView charts built in. There's no desktop install, no data-feed configuration, and no monthly platform subscription. Apex requires a Rithmic, Tradovate, or WealthCharts setup with separate data fees per platform. If you don't want to manage a futures-trading desktop stack, MatchTrader is simpler.
How does Apex's trailing drawdown compare to FundedFast's daily/max?
Apex uses a trailing drawdown that follows your peak balance -- either End-of-Day (recalculated at session close) or Intraday (real-time, never resets down). The Intraday variant punishes unrealized peaks and is the harder of the two. FundedFast uses a fixed 5% daily / 10% max drawdown -- the standard FTMO-style rule set, which is easier to plan around for traders new to prop firm rules. Different risk profiles, neither is inherently better.
Does FundedFast have multi-account scaling like Apex?
FundedFast is currently single-account focused -- you trade one funded account at a time. Apex's headline scaling is up to 20 funded accounts simultaneously with copy-trader support, allowing aggregate funded capital up to $3M. If multi-account capital-stacking is core to your strategy, Apex's model is purpose-built for it. FundedFast suits traders running a single, focused strategy.
Everything Apex Trader Funding offers. At a fraction of the cost.
From $49. No time limits. Up to 90% profit share. Fee refunded on passing.