Short answer: this page compares three evaluation firms — Topstep, the original futures prop firm with 13 years in business and $1B+ paid out; Apex Trader Funding, the high-volume futures challenger known for deep promotional pricing and up to 20 simultaneous accounts; and WICK Funded, a newer forex/CFD firm with a static drawdown model, no monthly or activation fees, and a native AI-agent connection. Apex and Topstep are futures-only on CME; WICK trades forex, metals, crypto and oil — so this is as much a choice of asset class as it is a choice of firm.
What Apex Trader Funding, Topstep and WICK Funded actually are
Apex and Topstep are both futures-only evaluation firms: you trade CME products (index futures, energy, micros and similar) in a simulated or sim-funded environment, pass an evaluation, then trade a funded account for a profit split. Topstep has run this model for 13 years and claims over $1B paid to more than 200,000 traders — the longest track record in the futures-prop category, though its Trustpilot score has slipped to 3.4/5 (13,900+ reviews) from around 4.5 a year earlier. Apex has a massive review base of its own — roughly 18,000-20,000 reviews at 4.3-4.4/5 — built partly on aggressive promotional discounts. WICK Funded launched in 2026 as an explicitly simulated forex/CFD firm, running on its own in-house web and mobile terminal rather than the futures platforms both rivals use.
Apex vs Topstep vs WICK Funded: the comparison table
| Apex Trader Funding | Topstep | WICK Funded | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asset class | Futures only (CME index, energy, micros) | Futures only — CME (ES, NQ, GC, CL, etc.) | Forex, metals, crypto, oil |
| Trustpilot | 4.3-4.4/5 (~18,000-20,000) | 3.4/5 (13,900+) — down from ~4.5 a year ago | Building |
| Cheapest entry | ~$30 on heavy promo; ~$199 list ($25K) | From $49/mo + $149 activation fee | $49 (10K 2-Step, one-time) |
| Fee model | One-time fee, no monthly fee since v4.0 (March 2026) | Recurring monthly subscription until you pass | One-time fee, all-in |
| Activation / hidden fees | ~$69-$149 one-time, due within days of passing | Included in subscription + activation structure | None |
| Profit split | 100% of first ~$25K withdrawn, then 90/10 | 90/10 from dollar one (since Jan 2026) | 80% → 95% |
| Payout | 24-48h via Wise/ACH, needs 8 trading days incl. 5 profitable | After 5 winning days ($150+ each); Wise/ACH, often near-instant | Bi-weekly, USDC on Solana |
| Drawdown | Trailing max loss (EOD or intraday), no daily limit | Trailing Max Loss Limit; resets to $0 after each payout | 5-6% static (fixed from initial balance) |
| Time limit | No daily minimum mentioned | No time limit on Combine; winning-day rules apply to payouts | None |
| AI agent connection | Via Rithmic / Tradovate platform API | Yes — TopstepX/ProjectX REST + WebSocket | Yes — public API + one-click MCP |
Last checked: October 2026 — confirm on each firm's site, since fee structures in this category change often.
Where the three firms actually differ
Asset class is the real first filter. Apex and Topstep trade CME-listed futures contracts exclusively. WICK doesn't offer futures at all — it covers forex, metals, crypto and oil instead. If you specifically want to trade futures, the decision is between Apex and Topstep, full stop; WICK isn't a relevant option. If you trade spot/CFD-style markets, Apex and Topstep aren't relevant either.
Fee model. Apex moved to a one-time fee with no recurring monthly charge as of its v4.0 update. Topstep still runs on a monthly subscription until you pass, plus an activation fee. WICK's challenge price is also all-in, one-time, with no separate activation charge — closer to Apex's current structure than Topstep's.
Drawdown mechanics. Apex and Topstep both use trailing drawdown, which moves against you as equity changes. WICK uses a static 5-6% max drawdown fixed from your initial balance and doesn't trail — a tighter ceiling, but a floor that never moves, which some traders find easier to plan around than a trailing limit.
Trust trajectory. Topstep's Trustpilot score has dropped from around 4.5 to 3.4 over roughly a year despite 13 years of history. Apex's score has stayed more stable. WICK's Trustpilot profile is still building as a brand-new 2026 firm — it has no history to decline or hold steady yet.
Payout mechanics and currency. Apex and Topstep both pay via Wise/ACH in fiat, with specific day-count requirements. WICK pays bi-weekly in USDC on Solana — a different rail entirely, worth weighing if you're not already comfortable with crypto payouts.
AI and automation. Topstep's TopstepX/ProjectX offers a documented REST and WebSocket API — a genuinely comparable first-party integration to WICK's. Apex's automation runs through Rithmic or Tradovate's platform-level API rather than its own account API. WICK adds a native one-click MCP connection for Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor on top of its public API, which neither futures firm offers.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Topstep if you specifically want futures and value the longest track record in that category, even with its recent Trustpilot decline. Pick Apex if you want futures with a cheaper, promo-driven one-time fee, no monthly charge, and the ability to run up to 20 simultaneous accounts. Pick WICK Funded if you trade forex, metals, crypto or oil rather than futures, and want a one-time all-in fee, a static (non-trailing) drawdown, and native AI-agent support — while accepting it's a brand-new firm without either futures firm's track record.
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FAQ
Does any of the three charge a monthly fee? Topstep does — a recurring subscription until you pass, plus a $149 activation fee. Apex moved to a one-time fee with a smaller activation charge. WICK charges one all-in fee with no monthly or activation charge at all.
Why has Topstep's Trustpilot score dropped? Its score fell from roughly 4.5 to 3.4 over about a year, per Trustpilot. Check Trustpilot directly for current detail before deciding.
Can I trade forex or crypto on Apex or Topstep? No — both are futures-only, trading CME-listed contracts. For forex, metals, crypto or oil, WICK Funded is the relevant option of the three.
Which firm has a documented API for algorithmic trading? Topstep, through TopstepX/ProjectX's REST and WebSocket API, and WICK, through its public REST API plus a native one-click MCP connection. Apex's automation runs through Rithmic or Tradovate's platform-level API rather than a first-party account API.
Is WICK Funded a direct alternative to Apex or Topstep? Only if you're open to switching asset classes — WICK doesn't trade futures. If futures is non-negotiable, compare Apex and Topstep directly; if you're flexible on market, WICK's static drawdown and all-in pricing are worth a look.
Simulated trading evaluation — no real funds are traded. Not financial advice.