Compare / Apex vs FundedNext
Apex Trader Funding vs FundedNext
Two Good-tier firms that serve completely different traders. Apex is futures-only, one-step, with a 100% split on the first $25K. FundedNext is multi-asset (forex, indices, commodities, crypto), two-step, with a stronger payout cadence on funded accounts.
| — | Apex Trader Funding 72 Good | FundedNext 78 Good |
|---|---|---|
| Score Dimensions | ||
| Payout Integrity30% | 7.0 | 8.5 |
| Rules Integrity22% | 7.3 | 7.7 |
| Rules Stability8% | 7.0 | 7.5 |
| Business Viability18% | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| Platform & Execution9% | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| Cost Fairness10% | 6.0 | 9.0 |
| Specifications | ||
| Payout Split | 100% on first $25,000 lifetime profits, then 90/10 | 80% standard (90% after scaling plan) |
| Max Funded | $300,000 (up to 20 accounts simultaneously) | $200,000 |
| Payout Cap | $4,000/payout at step 6 on $100K EOD. Account closes after 6 payouts — new eval required. | None |
| Drawdown Model | EOD Trailing — ratchets up with peak end-of-day balance, closed balance basis | Static max loss 8% from initial balance |
| Min Days | 5 qualifying days per payout cycle (each day must hit minimum daily profit threshold) | 3 |
| Challenge Fee | One-time: ~$399 eval + $139 PA activation ($538 total on $100K EOD). Frequent 70-90% discount periods. | $549 for $100K Stellar 2-Step |
| Fee Refundable | No — one-time fee, not refunded on first payout | Yes — refunded with first payout |
| News Trading | Allowed — no restrictions on futures news trading | Restricted — 60-second window before/after named events on funded account (evaluation: unrestricted) |
| Platforms | NinjaTrader, Tradovate (Rithmic-based) | MT4, MT5, cTrader |
| Payout Schedule | On demand after 5 qualifying days — 1-3 business days processing | Bi-weekly cycle; on-demand after first payout |
| Visit → | Visit → | |
The Verdict
Choose Apex (72/100) if you trade futures exclusively. The one-step evaluation, 100% first-$25K split, and the largest pool of available account sizes in the futures category make it the default for CME futures traders. The 4.0 overhaul (March 2026) tightened the rules but kept the structure. Choose FundedNext (78/100) if you trade forex, indices, or crypto and want a firm with a verified payout cadence on funded accounts. Two-step evaluation, broader instrument list, and stronger Payout Integrity scores make it the right call outside futures. These firms are not interchangeable — pick by instrument, not by score.