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Data refreshed 24 Sep 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan · Apex Trader Funding facts verified by BrokerCatalogue research desk (from the firm's own site) on 2026-09-24 · BrightFunded facts verified by BrokerCatalogue research desk (from the firm's own site) on 2026-09-24
AI visibility score 16.7 / 100 · AI visibility rank #6 · Founded 2021
Apex Trader Funding is a proprietary trading firm based in Austin, United States, founded in 2021. It offers one-step evaluations on futures. Funded accounts go up to $150,000 (up to 20 accounts).…
Open the Apex Trader Funding profileAI visibility score 2.4 / 100 · AI visibility rank #26 · Founded 2023
BrightFunded is a proprietary trading firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2023. It offers one-step, two-step evaluations on forex, indices, commodities, crypto, futures. Funded accounts go up to $200,000 (scaling to…
Open the BrightFunded profileApex Trader Funding (Austin, United States, founded 2021) scores 16.7 / 100 on the Q3 2026 AI Visibility Index (rank #6 of 76 prop firms), named in 23% of AI answers, runs One-step evaluations, funds accounts up to $150,000 (up to 20 accounts), pays a 90% (100% of first $25,000) profit split and offers NinjaTrader, Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts. BrightFunded (Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded 2023) scores 2.4 / 100 on the Q3 2026 AI Visibility Index (rank #26 of 76 prop firms), named in 4% of AI answers, runs One-step, Two-step evaluations, funds accounts up to $200,000 (scaling to $400K) and offers cTrader, DXtrade, MT5.
Scored on 8 measurable dimensions where both prop firms have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.
| Criteria | Apex Trader Funding | BrightFunded |
|---|---|---|
| AI visibility score | 16.7 / 100 | 2.4 / 100 |
| AI visibility rank | #6 | #26 |
| Named in AI answers | 23% | 4% |
| AI sentiment (0–100) | 21 | 3 |
| Founded | 2021 | 2023 |
| Headquarters | Austin, United States | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Evaluation models | One-step | One-step, Two-step |
| Asset classes | Futures | Commodities, Crypto, Forex, Futures, Indices |
| Platforms | NinjaTrader, Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts | cTrader, DXtrade, MT5 |
| Maximum allocation | $150,000 (up to 20 accounts) | $200,000 (scaling to $400K) |
| Profit split | 90% (100% of first $25,000) | Not verified |
| Challenge fee from | Not verified | $97.50 ($5K) |
| Account sizes | $25k, $50k, $100k, $150k | $5k, $10k, $25k, $50k, $100k, $200k |
| Payout frequency | every 5 trading days | Not verified |
| Daily drawdown limit | none | Not verified |
| Maximum drawdown | trailing (end-of-day or intraday, by account type) | Not verified |
| Minimum trading days | 1 | Not verified |
| Time limit | none | Not verified |
| News trading | Yes | Not verified |
| Weekend holding | No | Not verified |
| EAs / algos allowed | Restricted | Not verified |
| Status | active | active |
Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that prop firm — we never fill gaps with estimates.
| Engine | Apex Trader Funding | BrightFunded |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | 10.2 | 2.2 |
| Perplexity | 25.8 | 0 |
| Gemini | 32.8 | 2.4 |
| Claude | 17.3 | 5.1 |
| Google AI Mode | 12.9 | 4.3 |
| Google AI Overview | 25.5 | 5.8 |
| Google top-10 | 0 | 0 |
Scores 0–100 from the Pipswire AI Visibility Index, Q3 2026. Higher means the engine names the firm more often and more favourably.
Apex Trader Funding scores higher on the Q3 2026 Pipswire AI Visibility Index (16.7 / 100 vs 2.4 / 100), which measures how often ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude and Google name a firm when traders ask which prop firm to use.
Apex Trader Funding: NinjaTrader, Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts. BrightFunded: cTrader, DXtrade, MT5.
Risk warning: prop firms are not regulated brokers or investment firms. Evaluations are paid, fees are usually non-refundable, most accounts are simulated, and a firm can change its rules or stop paying out. Most participants fail the evaluation. Nothing on this page is financial advice; read the firm's terms before you pay. Full risk disclosure.