Last verified: November 1, 2026. Three of the biggest futures prop firms, compared on the rules that actually decide whether you get paid — not on marketing. All figures come from each firm’s official pages.
The 50K Comparison (Most Popular Size)
| Rule | Apex (EOD) | Take Profit Trader | Tradeify Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price to start | $590 one-time + $129 activation after passing | $170/month subscription + $130 activation after passing | $145 one-time, no activation fee |
| Profit target | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Drawdown | $2,000 EOD trailing | $2,000 EOD trailing (Test) | $2,000 EOD trailing |
| Evaluation consistency rule | None | Best day < 50% of profit (or target rises) | None |
| Minimum days to pass | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Time limit | 30 days, no resets | None (subscription) | None |
| Funded drawdown | EOD trailing, locks at $50,100 | Intraday trailing — stricter than the Test | EOD trailing, locks at $50,100 |
| Funded consistency rule | 50% (payout gate) | None | 35% |
| Profit split | 100% | 80% (90% on PRO+ live) | 90% |
| First payout requirements | 5 days × $250+, balance $52,600+, cap $1,500 | Above the $52,000 buffer — from day one, no cap | Balance $53,000+, 5 profitable days, cap $1,500 |
| Payout speed after that | Every 5 qualifying days, max 6 payouts ever | Daily, unlimited | Every 5 new profitable days, caps rise to $3,000 |
Every Size, Side by Side
Profit targets
| Size | Apex | Take Profit Trader | Tradeify (Growth / Select) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25K | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| 50K | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| 75K | — | $4,500 | — |
| 100K | $6,000 | $6,000 | $6,000 |
| 150K | $9,000 | $9,000 | $9,000 |
Targets are identical across the industry at each size (6% of the account). Nobody wins on target — the game is drawdown style, consistency traps, and payout rules.
Evaluation drawdown (the number that kills accounts)
| Size | Apex EOD | Take Profit Trader | Tradeify Growth | Tradeify Select |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25K | $1,000 | $1,500 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| 50K | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| 100K | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,500 | $3,000 |
| 150K | $4,000 | $4,500 | $5,000 | $4,500 |
All three trail end-of-day in the evaluation. Apex also offers an intraday-trailing version for the same price — stricter, and rarely the smart pick. Tradeify Growth gives the most room at 100K and 150K.
Price to get started
| Size | Apex (one-time + activation) | Take Profit Trader (monthly + activation) | Tradeify Growth (one-time) | Tradeify Lightning (instant funded) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25K | $490 + $109 | $150/mo + $130 | $99 | $345 |
| 50K | $590 + $129 | $170/mo + $130 | $145 | $492 |
| 100K | $1,190 + $139 | $330/mo + $130 | $255 | $660 |
| 150K | $2,190 + $159 | $360/mo + $130 | $369 | $796 |
Apex and Tradeify are one-time purchases (Tradeify charges no activation fee at all). Take Profit Trader is a subscription — cheap to start, but the meter runs while you pass. Firms discount aggressively and often, so confirm the live price before buying.
Apex prices above are the EOD Trailing list prices; Intraday Trailing evaluations cost less ($167–$1,190) with slightly lower PA fees.
The Verdicts
Best payout terms once funded: Take Profit Trader
No caps, no payout windows, no minimum days — clear the buffer and withdraw daily, from day one. The trade-offs: an 80/20 split (the lowest of the three) and a funded drawdown that trails intraday, which is harder to survive than the EOD floor you passed with.
Best split: Apex — with a clock and a cap on your career
100% of every payout is unmatched. But each account dies after 6 payouts (a 50K can pay at most $13,000 lifetime), the evaluation expires in 30 days with no resets, and a 50% consistency gate guards every withdrawal.
Cheapest and simplest to start: Tradeify
The lowest prices, no activation fees and no time limits. You pay for it later: a 35% consistency rule appears when funded (Growth), and per-payout caps keep early withdrawals small. Select’s Daily policy is the fastest payout route of the three firms’ evaluation products.
Which should an NQ trader pick?
If you want maximum cash out of one account and can live with intraday trailing risk, Take Profit Trader. If you are consistent and patient, Apex’s 100% split across multiple accounts (up to 20) is powerful — just respect the 30-day clock. If you are starting out or testing a new strategy cheaply, Tradeify Growth at $99–$369 is the lowest-risk tuition of the three.
Rules and prices change often — Apex rebuilt its entire program in March 2026 and most comparison sites still show the old one. We re-verify this page monthly. Last verified November 1, 2026.