At a glance

Category winners across the firms you picked

Cheapest to start

Apex Trader Funding

$64 true cost

Highest rated

Earn2Trade

4.6 / 5 trader rating

Most funding

Apex Trader Funding

$3M max funding

Fastest payout

Apex Trader Funding

Every 5 trading days

Tied — shown first

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.

46 of 61 metrics differ

Apex Trader Funding4.2Details

Earn2Trade4.6Details

Side-by-side comparison of Apex Trader Funding, Earn2Trade
	Apex Trader Funding$50K	Earn2Trade$50K
Account Pricing
Price	Best value: $64$79992% OFF	$85$17050% OFF
Activation Fee	None	None
True Cost	Best value: $64after discount + activation	$85after discount + activation
Reset Fee	Not available	Not published
Current Promotion	LUMI (92% off)	LUMI (50% off)
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	Best value: None	$1,100
Max Position Size	6 contracts	6 contracts
Consistency Rule	No	30%
Funded Phase
Max Drawdown	$2,000	$2,000
Drawdown Type	Intraday	End of Day
Daily Loss Limit	$1,000	Best value: $1,100
Max Payout/Cycle	$3,000Min: $500	Not published
Consistency Rule	50%	No
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	2247%	—
Target : Drawdown	1.50lower = easier to pass	1.50lower = easier to pass
Company Info
Established	2021	2017
CEO	Darrell Martin	Not disclosed
Country	United States	United States
Trader Rating	4.2	Best value: 4.6
Features
Allows Scaling	Yes	Yes
Daily Payouts	No	No
1-Day Pass	Yes	No
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	NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView +20 more
Max Funding	Best value: $3M	$400,000
Profit Split	100%	Not published
Max Accounts	20 funded · Not published evaluation	3 funded · 5 evaluation
Trading Rules
Scalping	Allowed	Allowed
Payouts
Payout Frequency	Every 5 trading days	Weekly
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)	Rise, Deel +2 more
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	Weekly
Eligibility	5 trading days · 5 profitable days · profit above buffer	No minimum
Payout cap	$1,500 (#1) → $2,000 (#2) → … → $3,000 (#5-#6)	Not published
Payout limit	6 payouts	Not published
Safety-net buffer	Max loss + $100	None
Scaling	Tiered by balance · 4 tiers	Tiered by balance · 3 tiers
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	4 days
Resets	Not available	Allowed
Consistency rule	50%	30%
Consistency applies to	Every payout cycle	Evaluation only
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…	✓ Allowed
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 and working orders must be closed between 3:50 PM and 5:00 PM CT; overnight positions are prohibited in…
Bots & automation	✗ Not allowed“No Automation or Algorithm Usage allowed: Rewards are intended to recognize human traders actively participating in”…	! RestrictedSoftware, AI or ultra-fast inputs that manipulate the environment or create unfair advantage are prohibited.…
High-frequency trading	✗ Not allowedListed under manipulation of the simulated environment: “including High Frequency Trading (HFT) or any other”…	✗ Not allowedProhibited conduct includes unrealistic daily contract counts, spoofing and ultra-fast input techniques used for unfair…
Dollar-cost averaging	? Not publishedThe only published DCA rule sits in the Legacy PA compliance and consistency articles: “DCA is allowed under this”…	? Not publishedNo explicit rule is published for this practice; general anti-exploitation restrictions apply and permission should not…
Hedging	✗ Not allowed“No Hedging of Any Kind – Directional Trading only.”…	✗ Not allowedHedging between funded accounts and coordinated hedging or pooled risk among unrelated accounts are prohibited.
Copy trading	! RestrictedCopying between the trader's own accounts is permitted — “Copy trading across PA accounts under your personal name and”…	✗ Not allowedTrade copiers are prohibited in both evaluations and funded accounts; passing with a copier can result in account or…
Microscalping	✓ AllowedNo minimum hold time or entry/exit spacing is imposed, and the firm markets the absence of one (…	? Not publishedNo explicit rule is published for this practice; general anti-exploitation restrictions apply and permission should not…
VPN	! RestrictedNot banned outright — banned for concealment: “You may not use VPNs, proxy servers, cloud servers, anonymizing tools,”…	! RestrictedBypassing geographical or technical restrictions is prohibited.…

Apex Trader Funding vs Earn2Trade: Full Comparison

Apex Trader Funding, founded in 2021, based in US, and Earn2Trade, founded in 2017, 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 Earn2Trade provides up to $400,000 across 3 accounts. Both firms support NinjaTrader, TradingView, Quantower and 9 more platforms.

The verdict

Apex Trader Funding is the cheaper way in at $64 true cost versus $85 for Earn2Trade. Earn2Trade has the stronger reputation with a 4.6/5 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 Earn2Trade's $50,000 Gauntlet Mini account, after current discounts and activation fees.

Key statistics for Apex Trader Funding and Earn2Trade
Feature	Apex Trader Funding	Earn2Trade
Profit Split	100%	Not published
Trader rating	4.2/5	4.6/5
Max Funding	$3,000,000	$400,000
Entry cost (cheapest account)	$55	$75
True Cost (selected account)	$64 · $50,000	$85 · $50,000
Max Drawdown (selected account)	$2,000	$2,000
Daily Loss Limit (selected account)	$1,000	$1,100
Largest Account	$300,000	$200,000
Payout Frequency	Every 5 trading days	Weekly
Trading days per payout cycle (selected account)	5 trading days	No fixed trading-day minimum
Evaluation Type	1-step	1-step
Platforms	14	23
Discount	up to 92% off	up to 50% off

Where Apex Trader Funding Wins

+Higher max funding ($3,000,000 vs $400,000)
+More allowed accounts (20 vs 3)
+Lower entry cost on its cheapest account, a $25,000 ($55 vs $75 for a $25,000)
+One-day pass available
+Bigger current discount (up to 92% vs up to 50%)

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

Where Earn2Trade Wins

+Higher trader rating (4.6 vs 4.2)
+More platform options (23 vs 14)
+Longer track record (since 2017)

Read the full Earn2Trade review for rules, pricing tiers and payout details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Apex Trader Funding and Earn2Trade?

Apex Trader Funding offers a 100% profit split with 1-step evaluation, while Earn2Trade does not publish the profit split for the selected account. Apex Trader Funding supports 14 trading platforms and Earn2Trade supports 23. Apex Trader Funding has a trader rating of 4.2/5 compared to Earn2Trade's 4.6/5.

Which is cheaper, Apex Trader Funding or Earn2Trade?

Apex Trader Funding is cheaper to enter: $64 all-in for a $50,000 account, against $85 for Earn2Trade's $50,000 account. Both figures are after the current discount and include the activation fee. Both firms offer discounts — Apex Trader Funding at up to 92% off and Earn2Trade at up to 50% off.

Which has better payout terms, Apex Trader Funding or Earn2Trade?

Apex Trader Funding pays out every 5 trading days with a minimum of $500, while Earn2Trade pays out weekly with a minimum of $100. Apex Trader Funding's selected account requires at least 5 trading days per payout cycle, and Earn2Trade's selected account has no fixed trading-day minimum for a payout cycle. 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 Earn2Trade?

Apex Trader Funding does not allow trading bots, while Earn2Trade allows trading bots under published conditions. On VPNs, Apex Trader Funding permits VPN use under published conditions and Earn2Trade permits VPN use under published conditions.

Apex Trader Funding vs Earn2Trade — quick answer

Apex Trader Funding vs Earn2Trade for 2026: compare evaluation types (1-step vs 1-step), payout cadence for the selected accounts (Every 5 trading days vs Weekly), platforms, and true challenge cost. Profit split is not published for the selected Earn2Trade account. Use the tables below for drawdown, minimum days, and current promotion status before you buy.

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