Compared Apex, Topstep, and FinanciaFutures.com – Here's What I Found

[alex82]

Over the past year, I’ve gone through more prop firm accounts than I care to admit — Apex, Topstep, you name it. I’ve passed challenges, been violated over a single trade, and reset more times than I should’ve. If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve been through some of the same.
So I decided to write this post for those who are seriously comparing firms — and want a fair breakdown without marketing fluff.

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🟥 Apex Trader Funding​

Pros:

• Frequent 80–90% off sales
• Fast support
• High leverage and scaling plans

Cons:

• Intraday trailing drawdown (your floating profits count against you)
• If you don’t close your trade fast enough, you might violate even when in profit
• High churn model — many traders reset multiple times

🧠 My take: Apex gives access, but the rules are designed to catch you in drawdown traps. It’s cheap to enter, but expensive to pass consistently.

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🟦 Topstep​

Pros:

• Long-standing reputation
• Some educational content
• Better customer service compared to Apex

Cons:

• Still uses trailing-style logic
• Payouts take longer
• More expensive than Apex, with strict evaluation rules

🧠 My take: It’s more professional, but feels outdated. The psychological pressure of trailing drawdown remains, especially for swing traders.

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🟩 FinanciaFutures.com​

Pros:

• Static drawdown – no floating PnL tricks
• No activation fee after passing
• Instant funding after challenge
• Faster withdrawal processing

Cons:

• Newer firm, not as well-known yet
• Limited plan types (focused on futures only)

🧠 My take: Honestly, this is where I finally got funded without any shady rules kicking me out. The static drawdown gives space to manage trades without fear of hidden violations. I passed and withdrew, and it felt like a real reward — not a trap.

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🔄 Side-by-Side Snapshot​

Feature	Apex	Topstep	FinanciaFutures.com
Drawdown Type	Trailing (intraday)	Trailing (slightly modified)	Static
Entry Fee	Frequent discounts	Premium pricing	Affordable, no activation fee
Payout Speed	Medium	Slower	Fast
Funding Time	Delayed	Delayed	Instant after pass
User Experience	Basic	Polished	Clean + transparent

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Final Thoughts​

Most prop firms make their money when you fail, not when you win. So it’s important to really read the rules, especially around drawdown. Apex and Topstep work for some traders, especially scalpers — but if you’re a swing or intraday trader who needs room to breathe, static drawdown is a huge difference.
FinanciaFutures.com may be the underdog now, but in my experience, it’s the only one that didn’t feel like a trap. You still have to trade smart — but at least you’re not fighting the rules.