WHY APEX IS SO POPULAR IN 2026
(First $25K)
RULE
DISCOUNTS
PROCESS
Apex runs promotional discounts so frequently that paying full price is almost unnecessary. Check our Hot Deals page for current Apex discount codes before purchasing.
APEX CHALLENGE RULES — KNOW THESE BEFORE TRADING
| Rule | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | Varies by account size | 50K account = $3,000 target |
| Trailing Drawdown | Account specific | 50K account = $2,500 trailing DD |
| Consistency Rule | NONE ✓ | Big advantage vs other firms |
| Minimum Trading Days | 7 profitable days | Must be 7 profitable days, not just 7 days |
| News Trading | Allowed | Can trade during NFP, CPI etc. |
| Overnight Holds | Allowed | Some restrictions on certain instruments |
| Weekend Holds | Not allowed | Must be flat by Friday close |
STEP 1 — SET UP YOUR RITHMIC ACCOUNT
Apex uses Rithmic as their data feed — you'll connect your trading platform (NinjaTrader, Tradovate, or Sierra Chart) to Rithmic to access Apex's simulated funded account.
- After purchasing your Apex challenge, check your email for Rithmic credentials
- Download and install your preferred platform (NinjaTrader recommended for beginners)
- In NinjaTrader: Connections → Add → Rithmic → Enter your Apex Rithmic credentials
- Connect and verify your account balance matches your Apex dashboard
- Always verify the account shows as sim/paper trading — not live
STEP 2 — UNDERSTAND YOUR TRAILING DRAWDOWN
The trailing drawdown is the most important rule to understand at Apex. Unlike EOD drawdown firms, Apex trails intraday — your floor moves up as soon as your account reaches a new high.
Example for 50K account ($2,500 trailing DD):
- Starting balance: $50,000 → Floor: $47,500
- Account grows to $52,000 → Floor moves to $49,500
- Account hits $53,000 → Floor moves to $50,500
- If you give back and hit $50,499 → Account closed
The key is: lock in profits before they disappear. Many traders fail because they let a $2,000 winner turn into a $500 loss, not realizing their floor has moved up significantly.
STEP 3 — THE 7 PROFITABLE DAYS STRATEGY
Since Apex has no consistency rule but requires 7 profitable days, your strategy should be:
- Make a small profit each day — even $50 counts as a "profitable day"
- Have 1-3 bigger days where you push toward the target
- Never try to hit the entire target in 1-2 days — you'll still need 7 profitable days
- Stop trading once you've secured a small green number each day
STEP 4 — POSITION SIZING
Never over-size your positions at Apex. The trailing drawdown punishes over-leverage severely. Use our Free Risk Calculator to determine your max position size:
- 50K account: Max 2 contracts NQ (at standard volatility)
- 100K account: Max 3-4 contracts NQ
- 150K account: Max 5-6 contracts NQ
If you're unsure about sizing, start with 1 contract and increase only after your first 3-4 profitable days when your trailing floor has moved up.
STEP 5 — TRACK EVERY TRADE
Use our Free AI Trading Journal to log every Apex trade. The Prop Firm tracker lets you set your Apex account details, track your trailing drawdown level, and see your progress toward the profit target and 7-day requirement.
Apex Dashboard showing "Passed" status
Screenshot: Add your own Apex passed screenshot here
COMMON MISTAKES THAT CAUSE FAILURES
- Revenge trading after a loss — If you hit your daily loss limit, stop immediately. Come back tomorrow.
- Forgetting the 7-day rule — Traders hit the profit target in 5 days and keep trading, only to give back gains waiting for days 6 and 7.
- Ignoring the trailing floor — Always know exactly where your floor is before opening a position.
- Trading with too many contracts — Greed kills Apex accounts. Size down, especially early in the challenge.
- Holding through big news — Even though Apex allows news trading, major events can spike against you and wipe your trailing drawdown in seconds.
GET APEX AT THE BEST PRICE
Check our Hot Deals page for current Apex discount codes — often 70-80% off.
CHECK CURRENT DEALS → APEX FULL REVIEW