Head-to-head · Independent comparison
Apex Trader Funding vs The5ers
How Apex Trader Funding and The5ers stack up on profit split, pricing, payouts and the rules that bind a funded account — advertised claims separated from what we could verify.
Strong value and flexibility for active futures traders, balanced against simulated-funding mechanics and a strict trailing drawdown.
Established firm with transparent High Stakes rules; a stricter 'profitable days' gate and MT5-only core product are the trade-offs.
On our five-dimension scorecard, Apex Trader Funding rates marginally higher overall — but the dimension-by-dimension breakdown below matters more than the average.
Advertised maximums
The numbers, head-to-head
Headline figures from the structured plan data for each firm. “Up to” splits and max funding are ceilings reached via tiers or scaling — not the figure every trader gets.
Profit split — headline maximum (%)
Higher is betterEntry price — lowest advertised ($)
Lower is betterMax funding — headline ($)
Higher is betterOur editorial scorecard (0–5)
Who wins each dimension
| Dimension | Apex Trader Funding | The5ers | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing & value | 5.0 | 4.0 | Apex Trader Funding |
| Profit split | 4.0 | 5.0 | The5ers |
| Payout speed | 4.0 | 3.0 | Apex Trader Funding |
| Rules flexibility | 4.0 | 3.0 | Apex Trader Funding |
| Transparency | 4.0 | 4.0 | Tie |
Scores are The Prop Examiner’s editorial assessment, not user reviews. See our methodology.
Advertised vs verified
At a glance
Apex Trader Funding
The5ers
- Payout minimum & methods
- Not confirmed from the official pages reviewedverify before launch
What actually binds you
Key trading rules compared
Apex Trader Funding
| Phase / model | Rule | Published value |
|---|---|---|
| Intraday eval | Profit target | 25K $1,500; 50K $3,000; 100K $6,000; 150K $9,000 |
| Intraday eval | Trailing drawdown | Follows Peak Balance (incl. unrealized); 25K $1,000 → 150K $4,000 |
| Intraday eval | Daily loss limit | None in eval (optional DLL; EOD Trail option offered) |
| Intraday eval | Contract limits | 25K 4 (40 micro); 50K 6; 100K 8; 150K 12 |
| Eval | Minimum trading days | None — may pass in a single day (30-day access) |
| Funded (PA) | Consistency | 50% consistency rule applies (none in eval) |
| All | Prohibited styles | No hedging/offsetting across accounts; rule-circumvention closes the account |
The5ers
| Phase / model | Rule | Published value |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Profit target | 10% (Classic variant 8%) |
| Phase 2 | Profit target | 5% |
| All | Daily loss limit | 5% (from higher of prior day close or 00:00 balance) |
| All | Max overall loss | 10% from initial balance — static |
| All | Minimum trading days | 3 profitable days (closed positions netting ≥ +0.5%) |
| All | Inactivity | Accounts expire after 30+ consecutive days with no activity |
| All | Prohibited styles | Not detailed on pages reviewed — check full termsverify |
Rules vary by product. For a plan-by-plan comparison, use the account comparison tool.
Balanced view
Pros & cons
Apex Trader Funding
Strengths
- One-time evaluation fee (no recurring billing on new products) with frequent deep discount codes.
- 100% of requested rewards retained in simulated funded accounts, with a 5-trading-day cadence.
- No minimum trading days and no consistency rule in the evaluation — can pass quickly.
- Up to 20 accounts allowed and multiple platform/data vendors to choose from.
Cons & open risks
- Performance Accounts are explicitly simulated; payouts are discretionary, and 6 payouts close the PA.
- The Intraday Trailing Drawdown follows peak balance including unrealized gains — punishing if you give back open profit.
- A 50% consistency rule applies to funded accounts even though the eval has none.
- Site states services are intended for US users only — international eligibility must be checked.
The5ers
Strengths
- Long operating history (since 2016) with UK and Israel company registrations.
- High Stakes profit split scales from 80% toward 100%, rewarding sustained performance.
- No maximum trading-period limit on High Stakes evaluations; only an inactivity expiry.
- Low advertised entry price for the smallest account size.
Cons & open risks
- A 'profitable days' requirement (not just trading days) can lengthen the path to a payout.
- Minimum payout amount and exact withdrawal methods were not confirmable from the pages reviewed.
- Prohibited trading styles were not clearly listed on the pages reviewed.
- Forex/CFD trading is MT5-only on the core product.
Our take
Which should you choose?
Apex Trader Funding rates marginally higher on our scorecard, but "better" depends on what you trade and the rules you can live within. Read each verdict, then verify the figures for your exact product before buying.
Apex is a high-volume futures evaluation firm with trader-friendly mechanics — one-time fees, fast passes, and 100% requested rewards in sim funded accounts — frequently paired with steep discount codes. The trade-offs are a simulated funded environment with discretionary payouts, a peak-balance trailing drawdown, and a 6-payout-per-account cap. The Prop Examiner has no affiliate relationship with Apex at this time.
The5ers is one of the more established names in the space, with a clearly documented High Stakes ruleset and a profit split that scales meaningfully for consistent traders. The 'profitable days' requirement and MT5-only core product are tradeoffs worth weighing, and a few payout specifics need confirming at checkout.
Affiliate disclosure: The Prop Examiner is an independent project and may earn a commission if you sign up through some of our links. We are not affiliated with any firm reviewed. Trading challenges are simulated/educational products; no profits or payouts are guaranteed.
Common questions
Apex Trader Funding vs The5ers FAQ
- Is Apex Trader Funding or The5ers better?
- Our independent ratings: Apex Trader Funding 4.0/5, The5ers 4.2/5. Apex Trader Funding edges it on our scorecard, but the right pick depends on your market, budget and the rules you can trade within.
- Which is cheaper to start, Apex Trader Funding or The5ers?
- Lowest advertised entry price: Apex Trader Funding from $100, The5ers from $15. The5ers has the lower starting price, but compare like-for-like account sizes — cheapest is not always best value.
- Which has the higher profit split, Apex Trader Funding or The5ers?
- Headline ("up to") maximums: Apex Trader Funding 100%, The5ers 100%. Apex Trader Funding advertises the higher ceiling — but top splits are usually gated behind tiers or scaling, not what every trader gets.
- Does Apex Trader Funding or The5ers pay out faster?
- Apex Trader Funding: 5 trading days between payouts; $500 minimum; max 6 payouts per PA then it closes. The5ers: Withdrawals available from the dashboard every 14 days. Payout speed and eligibility depend on the product and on meeting each firm's rules; no payout is guaranteed.
Cited & dated
Sources
Figures trace to each firm’s own pages, accessed on the dates shown. Re-verify before relying on any number — pricing and promos change.
- 1.Apex — homepage / product selector & instruments· accessed 2026-06-17
- 2.Apex — Intraday Trailing Drawdown Evaluations (Help Center)· accessed 2026-06-17
- 3.Apex — Intraday Trailing Drawdown Payouts (Help Center)· accessed 2026-06-17
- 4.Apex — Payouts page· accessed 2026-06-17
- 5.The5ers — High Stakes program page· accessed 2026-06-17
- 6.The5ers — High Stakes general rules (Help Center)· accessed 2026-06-17
- 7.The5ers — About· accessed 2026-06-17
- 8.The5ers — instruments (Help Center)· accessed 2026-06-17
- 9.The5ers — where is The5ers registered (Help Center)· accessed 2026-06-17
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