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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 · FTMO 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 47.5 / 100 · AI visibility rank #1 · Founded 2015
FTMO is a proprietary trading firm based in Prague, Czech Republic, founded in 2015. It offers one-step, two-step evaluations on forex, indices, commodities, crypto, stocks, futures. Funded accounts go up to $200,000…
Open the FTMO 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. FTMO (Prague, Czech Republic, founded 2015) scores 47.5 / 100 on the Q3 2026 AI Visibility Index (rank #1 of 76 prop firms), named in 58% of AI answers, runs One-step, Two-step evaluations, funds accounts up to $200,000 (scaling to $2M), pays a 80% (up to 90%; 90% on 1-Step) profit split and offers cTrader, DXtrade, MT4, MT5, TradingView.
Scored on 9 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 | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| AI visibility score | 16.7 / 100 | 47.5 / 100 |
| AI visibility rank | #6 | #1 |
| Named in AI answers | 23% | 58% |
| AI sentiment (0–100) | 21 | 54 |
| Founded | 2021 | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Austin, United States | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Evaluation models | One-step | One-step, Two-step |
| Asset classes | Futures | Commodities, Crypto, Forex, Futures, Indices, Stocks |
| Platforms | NinjaTrader, Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts | cTrader, DXtrade, MT4, MT5, TradingView |
| Maximum allocation | $150,000 (up to 20 accounts) | $200,000 (scaling to $2M) |
| Profit split | 90% (100% of first $25,000) | 80% (up to 90%; 90% on 1-Step) |
| Challenge fee from | Not verified | €79 (1-Step $10k); €89 (2-Step $10k) |
| Account sizes | $25k, $50k, $100k, $150k | $10k, $25k, $50k, $100k, $200k |
| Payout frequency | every 5 trading days | bi-weekly (on demand after 14 days) |
| Daily drawdown limit | none | 5% (2-Step); 3% (1-Step) |
| Maximum drawdown | trailing (end-of-day or intraday, by account type) | 10% static (2-Step); trailing 10% end-of-day (1-Step) |
| Minimum trading days | 1 | 4 (2-Step); none (1-Step) |
| Time limit | none | none |
| News trading | Yes | Restricted |
| Weekend holding | No | Restricted |
| EAs / algos allowed | Restricted | Restricted |
| Broker backing | Not verified | OANDA (FTMO Group acquired OANDA Global Corporation, 2025) |
| 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 | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | 10.2 | 65.9 |
| Perplexity | 25.8 | 60.8 |
| Gemini | 32.8 | 49.3 |
| Claude | 17.3 | 58 |
| Google AI Mode | 12.9 | 48.7 |
| Google AI Overview | 25.5 | 64.4 |
| Google top-10 | 0 | 0.8 |
Scores 0–100 from the Pipswire AI Visibility Index, Q3 2026. Higher means the engine names the firm more often and more favourably.
FTMO scores higher on the Q3 2026 Pipswire AI Visibility Index (16.7 / 100 vs 47.5 / 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 pays 90% (100% of first $25,000); FTMO pays 80% (up to 90%; 90% on 1-Step) (as published on each firm's site when we last checked).
Apex Trader Funding: NinjaTrader, Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts. FTMO: cTrader, DXtrade, MT4, MT5, TradingView.
Apex Trader Funding: maximum drawdown trailing (end-of-day or intraday, by account type), daily none. FTMO: maximum drawdown 10% static (2-Step); trailing 10% end-of-day (1-Step), daily 5% (2-Step); 3% (1-Step).
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.