If you’re a futures trader looking for a reliable prop firm, chances are you’ve come across Apex Trader Funding and Take Profit Trader. Both firms are well-established and offer solid opportunities for traders, but which one is the better fit for you? Let’s break down their similarities, differences, and key advantages so you can make an informed choice.
The Basics: What You Need to Know
At first glance, Apex and Take Profit Trader seem quite similar. Both offer funded accounts, trailing drawdowns, and competitive evaluations. However, when you dig deeper, you’ll see that each firm has unique strengths.
- Apex Trader Funding: The largest futures prop firm, known for frequent discounts and high account limits.
- Take Profit Trader: A newer firm with faster payouts and no consistency rule in funded accounts.
If you’ve made money with one, chances are you can succeed with the other. But depending on your trading style, one might suit you better than the other.
Evaluation Process: Speed vs. Flexibility
One of the biggest differences between these firms is the evaluation phase.
- Apex: You can pass an evaluation in just one day if you hit your profit target. There’s no limit on how much profit you can make in a single session.
- Take Profit Trader: Requires five trading days to qualify, and you can’t make more than 50% of your profit target in one day.
Winner: Apex – If you want to speed through the evaluation, Apex is the clear choice.
Payout Rules: How Fast Can You Get Paid?
This is where Take Profit Trader shines.
- Take Profit Trader: Allows same-day payouts as soon as you start trading in a pro account. No waiting, no delays—just withdraw whenever you want.
- Apex: Requires eight trading days before you can request a withdrawal, and you must make at least $50 per day during that period.
Winner: Take Profit Trader – If you value instant access to your profits, this firm is the better option.
Account Resets: A Major Difference
What happens if you blow your funded account?
- Apex: If you lose your account, you must restart the evaluation from scratch and pass again before getting funded.
- Take Profit Trader: Allows up to three resets on a pro account. This means if you fail, you don’t have to go through the evaluation again—you can simply reset and keep trading.
Winner: Take Profit Trader – The ability to reset a funded account is a game-changer.
Contract Limits and Scaling
Both firms allow you to trade the maximum number of contracts permitted by your account. However, there are some differences:
- Apex: In the funded phase, you must follow a scaling plan at first (e.g., starting with 50% of allowed contracts). Once you grow your balance, you can trade at full size.
- Take Profit Trader: No scaling limits—once you’re funded, you can trade the full contract size immediately.
Winner: Take Profit Trader – More freedom to trade without restrictions.
Cost and Fees
Apex often runs heavy discounts, making their evaluations and resets more affordable. They also offer an $85 lifetime account fee, which helps keep costs low.
Take Profit Trader’s fees are slightly higher, but their faster payouts and account resets may justify the extra cost.
Winner: Apex – If you’re budget-conscious, Apex’s discounts and lower fees make it more appealing.
Number of Funded Accounts
How many accounts can you manage at once?
- Apex: Allows up to 20 funded accounts, giving traders massive scalability.
- Take Profit Trader: Limits you to five funded accounts.
Winner: Apex – If you want to scale aggressively, Apex provides more flexibility.
Final Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
It really depends on your priorities:
- Go with Apex if: You want fast evaluations, lower fees, and more accounts to trade.
- Go with Take Profit Trader if: You want instant payouts, no scaling limits, and the ability to reset a funded account.
For many traders, the best strategy is to trade both firms simultaneously. That way, you can double your earning potential and avoid dependency on just one firm.
So, which firm do you prefer? Let me know in the comments!
Stay tuned for more prop firm comparisons, trading insights, and payout updates. Happy trading!
