At a glance

Category winners across the firms you picked

Cheapest to start

Apex Trader Funding

$39 true cost

Highest rated

E8 Markets (Futures)

4.5 / 5 trader rating

Best profit split

Apex Trader Funding

100% to the trader

Most funding

Apex Trader Funding

$3M max funding

Fastest payout

E8 Markets (Futures)

On demand

The bottom line

Accounts compared here

True cost here means the initial account fee plus activation after the displayed promotion. It excludes renewals, resets, taxes and optional charges. Open each account for its billing terms, evaluation rules and funded payout requirements; a lower entry cost does not guarantee a payout.

41 of 61 metrics differ

Apex Trader Funding4.2Details

E8 Markets (Futures)4.5Details

Side-by-side comparison of Apex Trader Funding, E8 Markets (Futures)
	Apex Trader Funding$50K	E8 Markets (Futures)$50K
Account Pricing
Price	Best value: $39$49092% OFF	$128$17025% OFF
Activation Fee	None	None
True Cost	Best value: $39after discount + activation	$128after discount + activation
Reset Fee	Not available	Not published
Current Promotion	LUMI (92% off)	LUMI: $128.00 initial fee
Evaluation Phase
Profit Target	$3,0006.0% of account	$3,0006.0% of account
Max Drawdown	$2,000	$2,000
Drawdown Type	Intraday	End of Day
Daily Loss Limit	None	None
Max Position Size	Best value: 6 contracts	4 contracts
Consistency Rule	No	No
Funded Phase
Max Drawdown	$2,000	$2,000
Drawdown Type	Intraday	End of Day
Daily Loss Limit	$1,000	$1,000
Max Payout/Cycle	Best value: $3,000Min: $500	$2,000Min: $100
Consistency Rule	50%	35%
Value MetricsDerived from price, discount, targets and payout caps — fewer breakeven cycles and higher first-cycle ROI mean the account pays for itself faster.
Breakeven Winning Cycles	1 cycle	1 cycle
Max First-Cycle ROI	Best value: 3727%	877%
Target : Drawdown	1.50lower = easier to pass	1.50lower = easier to pass
Company Info
Established	2021	2021
CEO	Darrell Martin	Dylan Elchami
Country	United States	United States
Trader Rating	4.2	Best value: 4.5
Features
Allows Scaling	Yes	Yes
Daily Payouts	No	Yes
1-Day Pass	Yes	Yes
KYC Required	Required	Required
Trading
Instruments	ES, NKD, NQ, YM, EMD, RTY, 6A, 6B +46 more	Not published
Evaluation Types	1-step	1-step
Platforms	NinjaTrader, TradingView, Quantower +11 more	Tradovate, TradingView
Max Funding	Best value: $3M	$750,000
Profit Split	Best value: 100%	80%
Max Accounts	20 funded · Not published evaluation	8 funded · Unlimited evaluation
Trading Rules
Scalping	Allowed	Allowed
Payouts
Payout Frequency	Every 5 trading days	On demand
Min Payout	$500	$100
Payout Methods	ACH direct deposit to a US bank account (US-resident traders), Local bank transfer through the Plane payment platform (non-US traders)	WorkMarket, Rise
Payout StructureHow money actually leaves the account: what you must do to qualify, how much each payout may be, and when the cap stops applying.
Payout cadence	Every 5 trading days	On demand
Eligibility	5 trading days · 5 profitable days · profit above buffer	5 profitable days · profit above buffer
Payout cap	$1,500 (#1) → $2,000 (#2) → … → $3,000 (#5-#6)	$1,250 (#1-#2) → $2,000 (#3-#4)
Payout limit	6 payouts	4 payouts
Safety-net buffer	Max loss + $100	Max loss + $0
Scaling	Tiered by balance · 4 tiers	None
Activation fee	One-time	None
Evaluation TermsThe shape of the challenge itself, including where the consistency rule applies — an evaluation-only rule and one that binds for the life of the account are very different obligations.
Evaluation type	1-step	1-step
Time limit	30 days	None
Min trading days	None	None
Fastest possible pass	1 day	1 day
Resets	Not available	Allowed
Consistency rule	50%	35%
Consistency applies to	Every payout cycle	Every payout cycle
What You May TradeEach firm's own position on the strategies traders get breached for, with its published qualification. A restriction is not the same as a ban.
News trading	! RestrictedTrading through a news release with a normal day-to-day strategy is allowed, but strategies built around the release…	✓ AllowedDedicated futures news policy allows news trading on Zero and Signature, both Challenge and Performance, without…
Weekend holding	? Not publishedNo weekend-specific rule is published, but every position must be closed before the daily 4:59 PM ET close, which…	✗ Not allowed
Overnight holding	✗ Not allowedAll positions must be closed before the 4:59 PM ET close; “Traders engaging in these prohibited activities will forfeit”…	✗ Not allowedAll positions must close by 15:10 CT; trading resumes at 17:00 CT.
Bots & automation	✗ Not allowed“No Automation or Algorithm Usage allowed: Rewards are intended to recognize human traders actively participating in”…	✗ Not allowedBots and Expert Advisors (EAs) are prohibited on E8 Signature Futures accounts.…
High-frequency trading	✗ Not allowedListed under manipulation of the simulated environment: “including High Frequency Trading (HFT) or any other”…	✗ Not allowedSemi-automated and fully automated systems, AI tools and HFT exceeding 300 trades per day are prohibited.
Dollar-cost averaging	? Not publishedThe only published DCA rule sits in the Legacy PA compliance and consistency articles: “DCA is allowed under this”…	✓ Allowed
Hedging	✗ Not allowed“No Hedging of Any Kind – Directional Trading only.”…	✗ Not allowed
Copy trading	! RestrictedCopying between the trader's own accounts is permitted — “Copy trading across PA accounts under your personal name and”…	! RestrictedSelf-owned Challenge, Performance and personal accounts may copy using any compatible tool.…
Microscalping	✓ AllowedNo minimum hold time or entry/exit spacing is imposed, and the firm markets the absence of one (…	! RestrictedAt least 50% of all profits must come from trades held at least 10 seconds.…
VPN	! RestrictedNot banned outright — banned for concealment: “You may not use VPNs, proxy servers, cloud servers, anonymizing tools,”…	? Not publishedNo specific VPN/VPS rule was found in current official help searches or Terms.…

Apex Trader Funding vs E8 Markets (Futures): Full Comparison

Apex Trader Funding, founded in 2021, based in US, and E8 Markets (Futures), founded in 2021, based in US, are both popular choices among futures prop traders. Apex Trader Funding offers up to $3,000,000 in funding across 20 accounts, while E8 Markets (Futures) provides up to $750,000 across 8 accounts. Both firms support TradingView, Tradovate.

The verdict

Apex Trader Funding is the cheaper way in at $39 true cost versus $128 for E8 Markets (Futures). Apex Trader Funding returns more to the trader with a 100% profit split. E8 Markets (Futures) has the stronger reputation with a 4.5/5 trader rating. Apex Trader Funding scales the furthest with up to $3M in funding. True cost compares Apex Trader Funding's $50,000 Intraday Trail No Activation Fee account with E8 Markets (Futures)'s $50,000 Signature account, after current discounts and activation fees.

Key statistics for Apex Trader Funding and E8 Markets (Futures)
Feature	Apex Trader Funding	E8 Markets (Futures)
Profit Split	100%	80%
Trader rating	4.2/5	4.5/5
Max Funding	$3,000,000	$750,000
Entry cost (cheapest account)	$39.20	$84
True Cost (selected account)	$39 · $50,000	$128 · $50,000
Max Drawdown (selected account)	$2,000	$2,000
Daily Loss Limit (selected account)	$1,000	$1,000
Largest Account	$300,000	$200,000
Payout Frequency	Every 5 trading days	On demand
Trading days per payout cycle (selected account)	5 trading days	Not published
Evaluation Type	1-step	1-step
Platforms	14	2
Discount	up to 92% off	up to 40% off

Where Apex Trader Funding Wins

+Higher profit split (100% vs 80%)
+Higher max funding ($3,000,000 vs $750,000)
+More allowed accounts (20 vs 8)
+Lower entry cost on its cheapest account, a $50,000 ($39.20 vs $84 for a $25,000)
+More platform options (14 vs 2)
+Bigger current discount (up to 92% vs up to 40%)

Read the full Apex Trader Funding review for rules, pricing tiers and payout details.

Where E8 Markets (Futures) Wins

+Higher trader rating (4.5 vs 4.2)
+Offers daily payouts

Read the full E8 Markets (Futures) review for rules, pricing tiers and payout details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Apex Trader Funding and E8 Markets (Futures)?

Apex Trader Funding offers a 100% profit split with 1-step evaluation, while E8 Markets (Futures) offers a 80% profit split with 1-step evaluation. Apex Trader Funding supports 14 trading platforms and E8 Markets (Futures) supports 2. Apex Trader Funding has a trader rating of 4.2/5 compared to E8 Markets (Futures)'s 4.5/5.

Which is cheaper, Apex Trader Funding or E8 Markets (Futures)?

Apex Trader Funding is cheaper to enter: $39.20 all-in for a $50,000 account, against $128 for E8 Markets (Futures)'s $50,000 account. Both figures are after the current discount and include the activation fee. Entry cost excludes renewals, resets, taxes and optional charges; it is not the total cost of reaching a payout. Both firms offer discounts — Apex Trader Funding at up to 92% off and E8 Markets (Futures) at up to 40% off.

Which has better payout terms, Apex Trader Funding or E8 Markets (Futures)?

Apex Trader Funding pays out every 5 trading days with a minimum of $500, while E8 Markets (Futures) pays out on demand with a minimum of $100. Apex Trader Funding's selected account requires at least 5 trading days per payout cycle, and The trading-day requirement for E8 Markets (Futures)'s selected payout cycle is not published. Qualifying-day profit thresholds, buffers, consistency rules and approval requirements still apply. A trading-day minimum is not a payment-delivery estimate.

Can I use trading bots with Apex Trader Funding and E8 Markets (Futures)?

Apex Trader Funding does not allow trading bots, while E8 Markets (Futures) does not allow trading bots. On VPNs, Apex Trader Funding permits VPN use under published conditions and E8 Markets (Futures) does not publish a VPN policy.

Apex Trader Funding vs E8 Markets (Futures) — quick answer

Apex Trader Funding vs E8 Markets (Futures) for 2026: compare evaluation types (1-step vs 1-step), payout cadence for the selected accounts (Every 5 trading days vs On demand), platforms, and true challenge cost. Apex Trader Funding offers a higher profit split (100% vs 80%). Use the tables below for drawdown, minimum days, and current promotion status before you buy.

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