E8 Markets vs Apex Trader Funding: Honest 2026 Comparison
The desk’s prop firm pick
E8 Markets
Through the prop-sector shakeout, E8 has kept paying and kept operating. Flexible challenge, fast verified payouts, EA and news trading allowed. Confirm the live rules on E8’s own site before you buy.
Start with E8 Markets (code KENMACRO, 5% off) →
Capital at risk. KenMacro earns a referral commission at no cost to you, this does not change the editorial verdict.
Affiliate disclosure: this article contains partner links. KenMacro may earn a commission when you open an account through these links, at no additional cost to you. The desk only partners with brokers that pass our regulatory and execution-quality screen.
Quick answer
Affiliate disclosure: this article contains partner links. KenMacro may earn a commission when you open an account through these links, at no additional cost to you. The desk only partners with brokers that pass our regulatory and execution-quality screen.
E8 Markets is the partner prop firm for CFD evaluation (forex, indices, metals, crypto). Apex Trader Funding is the futures-only prop firm with the 100 per cent profit on first $25,000 model. The two compete on different asset classes, the choice is asset-class-driven rather than feature-driven.
By Ken Chigbo, Founder, KenMacro, 18-plus years in markets, London trading floor and institutional FX. The framework runs daily inside the MACRO MASTERY desk.
Quick verdict
- For CFD asset coverage, E8 wins. Forex, indices, metals, crypto via broker partner.
- For futures-only architecture, Apex wins. The largest futures prop firm by trader count.
- For profit-split on first 25k, Apex wins. 100 per cent up to first 25,000 dollars.
- For minimum trading days, E8 wins. No minimum days.
- For pricing model, different. E8 one-off evaluation fee. Apex monthly subscription from 137 dollars.
- For multi-account scaling, Apex wins. Up to 20 funded accounts simultaneously.
Open E8 Markets (KENMACRO for 5% off) →
Capital at risk. CFD and margin trading carry significant risk of loss. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
At a glance
| Variable | E8 Markets | Apex Trader Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 | 2021 |
| Regulation | Prop firm (educational simulation, not a regulated broker) | Prop firm, futures-only (educational simulation, not a regulated broker) |
| Min deposit / fee | Evaluation fee from $33 (E8 One $25k) | Subscription from $137 per month ($25k account) |
| EUR/USD spread | Execution via broker partner | Futures execution only, no forex CFDs |
| Commission | Built into evaluation fee structure | Per-contract fees passed through to the trader |
| Max leverage | Up to 1:100 forex, asset-class specific | Contract-based, scaled position sizing rules |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, TradingView via execution partner | Rithmic, Tradovate, NinjaTrader for futures execution |
| Payment / payouts | Bi-weekly payouts via wire, ACH, crypto. 80 to 100 per cent profit splits. | Bi-weekly payouts via wire and ACH. 100 per cent profit on first $25k, 90 per cent thereafter. |
| Trustpilot 2026 | 4.3 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Key strength | 6 per cent profit target plus no minimum trading days plus 100 per cent split add-on | Futures-only architecture plus 100 per cent first-$25k profit split |
Regulation and trust
Neither E8 Markets nor Apex Trader Funding is a regulated broker. Both are proprietary trading firms operating evaluations as educational simulations. E8 is US-based, founded 2021, with 68 million dollars paid out to 18,900-plus funded traders. Apex is US-based, founded 2021, headquartered in Texas, with over 100,000 funded traders globally, making it the largest futures prop firm by trader count. Both are credible inside their respective asset-class categories.
E8 Markets, the regulator footprint runs E8 Markets is a US-based proprietary trading firm, not a regulated broker. Evaluations are educational simulations and payouts are discretionary per the firm’s terms. Documented track record of over $68 million paid out to 18,900-plus traders.
Apex Trader Funding, by contrast, operates under Apex Trader Funding is a US-based futures-only proprietary trading firm, founded 2021, headquartered in Texas. Largest futures prop firm by trader count with over 100,000 funded traders globally. Not a regulated broker.
Spreads and commission
E8’s CFD execution runs through broker partners on raw-spread accounts. Apex executes through futures-broker partners (Rithmic, Tradovate, NinjaTrader) with per-contract fees passed through. The cost structures are not directly comparable, CFD spread plus commission on E8 vs futures per-contract fees on Apex. Each fits a different trading style.
On the headline raw account tier, E8 Markets posts execution via broker partner on EUR/USD with built into evaluation fee structure. Apex Trader Funding posts futures execution only, no forex cfds with per-contract fees passed through to the trader. Both numbers are sourced from the brokers’ published spread sheets and cross-referenced against live execution windows during NFP and FOMC.
Platforms
E8 supports MT4, MT5, and TradingView via execution partner. Apex supports Rithmic, Tradovate, and NinjaTrader for futures execution. The platform sets do not overlap, the choice is asset-class-driven.
E8 Markets’s platform stack covers mt4, mt5, tradingview via execution partner, while Apex Trader Funding runs rithmic, tradovate, ninjatrader for futures execution. Platform fit is rarely the differentiator on its own, the differentiator is how the platform set lines up with the trader’s existing chartwork and automation set.
Payments and withdrawals
E8 processes bi-weekly payouts via wire, ACH, crypto, with profit splits scaling from 80 to 100 per cent via add-on. Apex processes bi-weekly payouts via wire and ACH with 100 per cent profit on the first 25,000 dollars per account and 90 per cent thereafter. Apex’s first-25k 100 per cent split is the standout structural feature, especially for traders running multiple funded accounts simultaneously.
E8 Markets: Bi-weekly payouts via wire, ACH, crypto. 80 to 100 per cent profit splits.
Apex Trader Funding: Bi-weekly payouts via wire and ACH. 100 per cent profit on first $25k, 90 per cent thereafter.
Who should pick E8 Markets
Pick E8 Markets if you are
Pick E8 Markets if you trade CFDs (forex, indices, metals, crypto), you want the no-minimum-days flexibility, the 100 per cent profit-split add-on, or you want to use the KENMACRO 5 per cent off discount.
Who should pick Apex Trader Funding
Pick Apex Trader Funding if you are
Pick Apex Trader Funding if you trade futures specifically (US-style futures contracts), you want the 100 per cent first-25k split, you are running a multi-account scaling strategy (up to 20 accounts), or you prefer the subscription pricing model over one-off evaluation fees.
The desk’s verdict
Desk verdict
Both E8 Markets and Apex Trader Funding are credible options inside their respective archetypes. The differentiation lives in the layer-specific details: regulation, commission, platforms, and the operating track record. Match the broker to the trader profile rather than chasing the lowest spread in isolation.
Open E8 Markets (KENMACRO for 5% off) →
Capital at risk. CFD and margin trading carry significant risk of loss. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
The MACRO MASTERY angle
Broker selection is one piece of the framework. Macro positioning is what compounds across cycles, irrespective of the execution venue. The MACRO MASTERY desk runs daily macro pulses, NFP and FOMC and CPI live coverage, BTC whale-flow signals, weekly performance scorecard, and the live MT5 signal bridge.
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Related from the desk
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, E8 Markets or Apex?
Different asset classes. E8 for CFD traders (forex, indices, metals, crypto). Apex for futures-only traders. The choice is asset-class-driven not feature-driven.
Is Apex legit?
Yes. US-based, founded 2021, over 100,000 funded traders globally, documented payouts via wire and ACH. Largest futures prop firm by trader count. As with any prop firm, evaluations are educational simulations.
Can I trade forex on Apex?
No. Apex is futures-only, supporting US-style futures contracts via Rithmic, Tradovate, and NinjaTrader. For forex CFD trading, E8 is the right route.
Which has better profit split?
Apex on first 25k (100 per cent). E8 reaches 100 per cent via the add-on path. For futures traders, Apex’s first-25k 100 per cent split is the structural standout.
Does E8 offer a discount code?
Yes. The KENMACRO code provides 5 per cent off the evaluation fee on E8 Markets.
How many funded accounts can I run on each?
Apex supports up to 20 funded accounts simultaneously, the deepest multi-account scaling architecture in the prop space. E8 supports multiple accounts but with stricter aggregate-drawdown rules.
Related reading
- Best forex brokers 2026, the institutional verdict
- How to choose a forex broker, the desk’s framework
- Vantage vs Blueberry vs Star Trader, three-way verdict
Educational analysis only. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Manage risk against your own portfolio. CFD and margin trading carry significant risk of loss. Verify current E8 Markets and Apex Trader Funding terms against each official documentation before opening an account.
Sources cross-referenced for this E8 Markets vs Apex Trader Funding comparison: https://www.e8markets.com/about-us, https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/e8markets.com, https://apextraderfunding.com/, https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/apextraderfunding.com, Trustpilot aggregations 2026.
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