Scaling rules are critical for managing risk and ensuring traders grow their accounts responsibly. At Apex Trader Funding, traders start with 50% of their maximum contract limit and must meet specific thresholds before unlocking full access. For example, a $50,000 account requires a balance of $52,600 to trade all 10 contracts. These rules prioritize steady growth over speculative trading. Violations result in forfeiting profits and an 8-day compliance period before the next payout.
Other firms, like Take Profit Trader and Topstep, offer full contract access from the start but have different consistency rules and payout structures. While Apex enforces a 30% daily profit cap for payouts, firms like Tradeify and FundedNext Futures focus on flexibility, with fewer restrictions on scaling and profit withdrawals.
| Firm | Initial Contract Limit | Scaling Threshold | First Payout Wait | Profit Split | Consistency Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Trader Funding | 50% until threshold met | Balance + drawdown + $100 | 8 days | 100% first $25K, then 90/10 | 30% max single day |
| Take Profit Trader | 100% from start | N/A | 10 days | 80/20 standard | Varies by account type |
| Topstep | 100% from start | N/A | 15 days | 100% first $10K, then 90/10 | 50% max single day |
| FundedNext Futures | 100% from start | N/A | 7–14 days | 80/20 to 90/10 | Varies by account type |
| Tradeify | 100% from start | N/A | 14 days | 90/10 standard | 20–35% tiered |
Key Takeaway: Apex Trader Funding is ideal for disciplined traders aiming for long-term growth, while other firms like Take Profit Trader and Tradeify cater to those seeking immediate access and flexibility. Your choice depends on your trading style and goals.
Prop Firm Scaling Rules Comparison: Contract Limits, Payouts, and Profit Splits
1. Apex Trader Funding
Scaling Thresholds
Apex Trader Funding uses a "Safety Net" threshold system to manage contract scaling. When you start with a Performance Account, you can only trade up to 50% of your maximum contract allocation. For example, a $50,000 account with a $2,500 trailing drawdown requires reaching $52,600 ($50,000 + $2,500 + $100) before unlocking all 10 contracts. Once unlocked, the full contract limit stays available, even if your balance later dips below $52,600. This approach contrasts with firms that impose multiple scaling steps or reset limits based on account fluctuations.
Account Size Growth
After hitting the required thresholds, your account’s growth directly impacts your trading capacity. At Apex, this growth is based on your actual equity gains rather than how long you’ve been trading. Importantly, scaling restrictions only apply after funding. Since January 2024, the firm has paid traders an average of $13,135,793 per month, proving that navigating these rules effectively can lead to high earnings.
Scaling thresholds differ by account size. For instance, a $25,000 account needs a balance of $26,600 to access all 4 contracts, while a $300,000 account must reach $308,100 to unlock its full 30 contracts. For 100K Static Accounts, the full contract limit becomes available after achieving $2,600 in profit.
Evaluation Rules
Once account thresholds are met, Apex enforces evaluation rules to maintain consistent performance. During the evaluation phase, scaling rules don’t apply – you can use your full contract allocation from the start to meet your profit target. However, you must trade on at least 7 unique days and maintain a 5:1 risk-to-reward ratio for all trades.
After funding, the rules shift: exceeding the 50% contract limit results in forfeiting profits from that trade and requires 8 additional compliant trading days before you’re eligible for payouts. If you accidentally exceed the limit, immediately closing excess positions won’t save the profits but may prevent account termination.
Flexibility in Scaling
Apex also provides flexibility in how you scale your trades. You can use strategies like dollar cost averaging (DCA) and add to winning positions without specific restrictions, as long as your overall trading approach stays consistent. For example, you might scale from 2 contracts to 5 as your account grows. However, drastically reducing your position – for instance, dropping from 10 contracts to 1 just to secure a payout – violates the consistency requirement. Such actions could result in probation or denied payouts.
To promote steady growth, Apex enforces a 30% Consistency Rule. This means no single trading day can account for more than 30% of your total profit when requesting a payout. The rule discourages risky "lottery ticket" trades and encourages disciplined trading. These policies apply across platforms like NinjaTrader 8, Tradovate, Rithmic, and WealthCharts.
2. Take Profit Trader
Scaling Thresholds
Take Profit Trader provides traders with full access to the maximum contract allocation right from the start of their PRO or PRO+ accounts. For instance, a $50,000 account is immediately allocated 6 contracts. This upfront access plays a key role in how the firm’s evaluation and risk rules are designed.
Evaluation Rules
During the evaluation phase, Take Profit Trader enforces a 50% consistency rule. This means no single winning day can contribute more than half of your total profit target, and you must trade on at least 5 days to meet the requirements.
Once funded, additional rules come into play. To keep your PRO account active, you must execute at least one round-trip trade every calendar week (Sunday through Friday). The firm also restricts trading during major news events like FOMC, NFP, and CPI announcements, prohibiting positions one minute before, during, and one minute after these events. Additionally, all positions must be closed by 5:00 PM ET daily. Any positions held past this time are liquidated immediately. These rules directly influence the way you can scale your trading activity.
Flexibility in Scaling
Take Profit Trader employs an intraday trailing drawdown for PRO accounts. This means your drawdown limit adjusts in real time based on unrealized profits. For example, if a trade reaches a peak during the day but later reverses, the higher drawdown limit remains, making careful position management critical. Automated trading is not allowed; all trades must be executed manually.
Funded traders can start withdrawing profits from day one, as long as the required drawdown buffer is maintained. The profit split is generous, offering 90% for PRO+ accounts and 80% for standard PRO accounts. The firm has also earned a high rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on hands-on testing.
3. Topstep
Scaling Thresholds
Topstep’s Trading Combine includes a unique rule for scaling: your best winning day must stay under 50% of your profit target. For example, on a $50,000 account with a $3,000 profit target, your top trading day should be below $1,500. Similarly, on a $150,000 account with a $9,000 target, your best day needs to remain under $4,500. If you exceed this threshold, your profit target is recalculated using the formula: Best Day Profit ÷ 0.5. For instance, if you earn $1,700 on your best day in a $50,000 account, your target increases to $3,400. To account for market fluctuations, Topstep provides a buffer to help traders stay on track.
Evaluation Rules
Once you transition to a funded account – whether it’s an Express Funded or Live Funded account – the consistency target no longer applies. This is a notable difference compared to Apex Trader Funding, where their 30% consistency rule remains in effect until the sixth payout. This flexibility allows for smoother scaling and opens up access to additional tools available on the TopstepX™ platform.
Flexibility in Scaling
TopstepX™ includes a handy Personal Daily Profit Target tool, which automatically stops trading once your daily goal is reached. This feature helps prevent accidental breaches of the 50% threshold during the evaluation phase. Since the consistency rule is only enforced during the Trading Combine, maintaining a balanced profit distribution can speed up the evaluation process. Additionally, Topstep doesn’t limit the number of contracts you can trade based on your account balance, giving traders more freedom to scale their strategies.
4. FundedNext Futures
Scaling Thresholds
FundedNext Futures doesn’t provide much public information about its scaling thresholds or contract limitations. This lack of clarity makes it harder for traders to map out their scaling strategies in advance. Without clear guidelines, planning for growth becomes a guessing game, which can be frustrating for those who like to strategize from the start.
Evaluation Rules
The evaluation rules for FundedNext Futures are equally unclear. While it seems traders need to hit profit targets and stay within drawdown limits during the evaluation phase, the exact details remain vague. For anyone considering an evaluation account, it’s essential to confirm these specifics directly with the company to avoid surprises.
Flexibility in Scaling
With limited public details about FundedNext Futures’ scaling rules, it’s tough to gauge how flexible their growth options are. Unlike firms such as Topstep or Apex Trader Funding, which offer clear documentation on scaling, FundedNext Futures leaves traders in the dark. For those who rely on structured scaling strategies, this lack of transparency could be a significant drawback.
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5. Tradeify
Scaling Thresholds
Tradeify takes a unique approach to scaling with its three distinct account programs: Advanced (intraday trailing drawdown), Growth (end-of-day trailing drawdown), and Straight to Sim Funded (which skips the evaluation process). Each program has specific profit targets based on account size: $3,000 for a $50,000 account, $6,000 for a $100,000 account, and $9,000 for a $150,000 account. This structure provides traders with a variety of funding options that set it apart from competitors like Apex Trader Funding. Unlike Apex, which limits contracts to 50% until a safety net is achieved, Tradeify imposes no such restrictions tied to account balance.
Evaluation Rules
Tradeify enforces a consistency rule to encourage steady performance, aligning with its distinct scaling strategy. For the Advanced and Growth Sim Funded Accounts, traders must meet a 35% consistency threshold. This means your largest profitable day cannot exceed 35% of your total profit when requesting a payout. For Lightning Funded Accounts, a tiered system applies: 20% for the first payout, 25% for the second, and 30% for subsequent payouts. Compared to other firms, this rule is less rigid than Apex Trader Funding’s fixed 30% consistency requirement but more stringent than Topstep’s 50% threshold.
Flexibility in Scaling
One of Tradeify’s standout features is its forgiving structure when it comes to consistency breaches. If you fail to meet the consistency requirement, your account remains active, and you can continue trading – though you won’t be able to request a payout until your performance aligns with the rule. Importantly, losing days don’t count against you. The formula used – Biggest End of Day PnL ÷ Consistency % = Total Balance Needed – is designed to promote disciplined growth without the risk of account suspension. This approach allows traders to focus on steady progress without fear of losing their funded status.
4 Step Plan To Scale Your Prop Trading (Safely)
Pros and Cons
Each firm’s scaling rules bring unique opportunities and challenges for account growth and profit potential. Let’s take a closer look at how these rules influence trading strategies by comparing the key benefits and drawbacks of each firm.
Apex Trader Funding stands out with a 100% profit retention on the first $25,000 and consistent terms after six withdrawals. However, funded accounts begin with a 50% contract limit until reaching the safety net threshold. Once this milestone is achieved, full contract access becomes permanent, even if the balance fluctuates.
Take Profit Trader offers full contract access right from the start, paired with an 80/20 profit split. This setup is straightforward and appealing for traders who value simplicity.
Topstep requires about 15 days for the first payout, which is longer compared to Apex’s 8 days. However, it allows traders to withdraw up to 50% of profits from a single day, a more lenient approach compared to Apex’s 30% daily cap.
FundedNext Futures processes payouts within 7 to 14 days. Over time, the profit split improves from 80/20 to 90/10, rewarding traders who stick with the platform.
Tradeify offers immediate flexibility in scaling. Even if you breach the consistency rule, your account remains active, allowing you to continue trading until you comply. Its tiered consistency requirements (20% for the first payout, 25% for the second, and 30% thereafter on Lightning accounts) provide a gradual onboarding process.
When comparing these firms, Apex is well-suited for traders focused on long-term earning potential, thanks to its structured profit splits and clear milestones. Tradeify and FundedNext Futures prioritize flexibility and faster scaling options, while Topstep offers a balance of a longer payout wait with a more forgiving daily profit limit. Your choice ultimately depends on whether you value immediate access or a strategy geared toward long-term growth.
| Firm | Initial Contract Limit | Scaling Threshold | First Payout Wait | Profit Split | Consistency Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Trader Funding | 50% until safety net | Initial balance + drawdown + $100 | 8 days | 100% for first $25K, then 90/10 | 30% max single day |
| Take Profit Trader | 100% from start | N/A | 10 days | 80/20 standard | Varies by account type |
| Topstep | 100% from start | N/A | 15 days | 100% on first $10K, then 90/10 | 50% max single day |
| FundedNext Futures | 100% from start | N/A | 7–14 days | 80/20 to 90/10 | Varies by account type |
| Tradeify | 100% from start | N/A | 14 days | 90/10 standard | 20–35% tiered |
Conclusion
The right prop firm for you depends on your trading approach and growth goals. For instance, Apex Trader Funding is tailored to traders who value discipline and long-term growth. They offer an enticing structure: traders keep 100% of their first $25,000 in profits and 100% after six withdrawals. Initially, funded accounts start at 50% of the maximum contract allowance. However, once you hit the safety net threshold (approximately $52,600 for a $50,000 account), you gain permanent full contract access. This setup encourages traders to focus on steady, sustainable progress.
On the other hand, some firms provide full contract access right from the start. Options like Take Profit Trader, Tradeify, and FundedNext Futures each feature unique scaling models, payout schedules, and profit-sharing arrangements, catering to a variety of trading preferences.
Meanwhile, Topstep stands out with its distinct payout structures and risk management rules. Apex also enforces a 30% consistency rule, which promotes disciplined trading by ensuring traders balance big wins with ongoing, consistent performance.
FAQs
What are the scaling rules for different account sizes at Apex Trader Funding?
Apex Trader Funding has tailored scaling rules depending on the size of your account. At the start, traders can only use up to half of their maximum allowed contracts. However, once the account balance surpasses the trailing drawdown amount by $100, traders gain access to their full contract allocation.
For instance, with a $50,000 account, you’ll be able to trade the full contract limit once your account balance hits $52,600. This system encourages responsible account growth while keeping risk in check.
What is the 30% consistency rule at Apex Trader Funding, and how does it affect my trading strategy?
The 30% consistency rule at Apex Trader Funding is all about encouraging disciplined and steady trading. It limits any single day’s profit to no more than 30% of your total accumulated profit. The idea is to shift your focus toward consistent, gradual gains instead of relying on one or two big-profit days.
To stick to this rule, you’ll need to design your trading strategy around long-term stability. This means steering clear of large, risky swings in your account balance. Not only does this help you qualify for payouts, but it also aligns with Apex’s mission to promote responsible trading practices. By prioritizing steady growth, you set yourself up for a more sustainable and successful trading journey while staying within the firm’s guidelines.
What should I do if I exceed the 50% contract limit at Apex Trader Funding?
If you go over the 50% contract limit at Apex Trader Funding, you’ll need to close any extra contracts right away. Profits made from exceeding this limit will be deducted during the weekend review. Repeated violations could lead to your account being closed and losing any remaining balance. To keep your trading smooth and uninterrupted, it’s crucial to stick to the contract limits.
