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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 · Topstep 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 31.4 / 100 · AI visibility rank #4 · Founded 2012
Topstep is a proprietary trading firm based in Chicago, United States, founded in 2012. It offers one-step evaluations on futures. Funded accounts go up to $150,000. The profit split is 90% (100%…
Open the Topstep 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. Topstep (Chicago, United States, founded 2012) scores 31.4 / 100 on the Q3 2026 AI Visibility Index (rank #4 of 76 prop firms), named in 39% of AI answers, runs One-step evaluations, funds accounts up to $150,000, pays a 90% (100% of first $10,000) profit split and offers NinjaTrader, TopstepX, 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 | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| AI visibility score | 16.7 / 100 | 31.4 / 100 |
| AI visibility rank | #6 | #4 |
| Named in AI answers | 23% | 39% |
| AI sentiment (0–100) | 21 | 39 |
| Founded | 2021 | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Austin, United States | Chicago, United States |
| Evaluation models | One-step | One-step |
| Asset classes | Futures | Futures |
| Platforms | NinjaTrader, Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts | NinjaTrader, TopstepX, TradingView |
| Maximum allocation | $150,000 (up to 20 accounts) | $150,000 |
| Profit split | 90% (100% of first $25,000) | 90% (100% of first $10,000) |
| Challenge fee from | Not verified | $49/month ($50K Combine) |
| Account sizes | $25k, $50k, $100k, $150k | $50k, $100k, $150k |
| Payout frequency | every 5 trading days | on demand (instant payouts after 5 winning days or 3-day consistency path) |
| Daily drawdown limit | none | none (optional Daily Loss Limit $1,000 on $50K) |
| Maximum drawdown | trailing (end-of-day or intraday, by account type) | trailing $2,000 on $50K (4%, end-of-day) |
| Minimum trading days | 1 | 2 |
| Time limit | none | none |
| News trading | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend holding | No | No |
| EAs / algos allowed | Restricted | Restricted |
| Broker backing | Not verified | Topstep Brokerage LLC (NFA-registered introducing broker, affiliate) |
| 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 | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | 10.2 | 56 |
| Perplexity | 25.8 | 38.6 |
| Gemini | 32.8 | 33.9 |
| Claude | 17.3 | 17.9 |
| Google AI Mode | 12.9 | 41.6 |
| Google AI Overview | 25.5 | 30.7 |
| Google top-10 | 0 | 0.2 |
Scores 0–100 from the Pipswire AI Visibility Index, Q3 2026. Higher means the engine names the firm more often and more favourably.
Topstep scores higher on the Q3 2026 Pipswire AI Visibility Index (16.7 / 100 vs 31.4 / 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 pays 90% (100% of first $25,000); Topstep pays 90% (100% of first $10,000) (as published on each firm's site when we last checked).
Apex Trader Funding: NinjaTrader, Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts. Topstep: NinjaTrader, TopstepX, TradingView.
Apex Trader Funding: maximum drawdown trailing (end-of-day or intraday, by account type), daily none. Topstep: maximum drawdown trailing $2,000 on $50K (4%, end-of-day), daily none (optional Daily Loss Limit $1,000 on $50K).
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.