Apex Trader Funding launches its new Live program: how the move from SIM to real money works
Apex Trader Funding clarifies the conditions of its new Live program: 1 starting account, 20-40% Bonus Vault, level-based scaling and daily withdrawals from $500.
Daryl Martin (Apex Trader Funding founder) and Dan Cook (chief strategy officer) have published the full details of the new Apex Trader Funding Live program, clarifying the confusion sparked by a partial summary that spread on social media. Here is what changes, how scaling works and what it means for your trading in 2026.
Data verified as of May 27, 2026 against Apex Trader Funding's official communication. For always up-to-date figures, see the Apex Trader Funding review or the available discounts.
What changes with the new Apex Live program
The transition from SIM to Live is not a simple account switch. There are three key shifts:
🟢 Improvement: SIM profits are not lost. They transfer to a Bonus Vault that pays a 20% bonus on each Live withdrawal, and 40% during the first month of each new Live account. Apex also pays 100% of SIM withdrawals — no splits of any kind.
🔴 Restriction: Live accounts drop to 1 at the start. The regulatory maximum brokers allow is 5 Live accounts per trader — not 20. The 20 accounts remain SIM-phase only.
🟡 The risk structure changes in Live. An EoD (End of Day) drawdown of $3,000 applies at Level 1, with the max loss automatically adjusting to $100 once the trader reaches $3,100 in profit. The daily limit (Levels 2-4), where it exists, does not blow up the account — it closes the session to protect it.
SIM vs Live: comparative table of the new Apex Live program
| SIM (current phase) | Live (new program) | |
|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | -- |
| Available accounts | Up to 20 | 1 to start (max 5) |
| Capital traded | Simulated | Real (Apex's money) |
| Profit split | 100% | 100% (no splits) |
| Bonus Vault | — | 20% extra/withdrawal (40% month 1) |
| Withdrawals | Unrestricted | Every day (min $500) |
| Maximum per withdrawal | No cap | No cap |
| Max contracts (start) | No fixed limit | Up to 10 minis (Level 1) |
| Drawdown | Standard SIM rules | EoD $3,000 + auto-adjustment |
| Account scaling | Up to 20 in SIM | Up to 5 Live (every $4,500 profit) |
How scaling works in the new Apex Live program
| Level | Balance | Contracts | Drawdown / Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1 | $0 – $10,000 | Up to 10 minis | EoD drawdown of $3,000, no daily limit |
| 2 | $10,000 – $25,000 | Up to 25 minis | Daily limit of $5,000 |
| 3 | $25,000 – $50,000 | Up to 30 minis | Daily limit of $10,000 |
| 4 | +$50,000 | Custom portfolio | Tailored with risk manager |
- At $3,100 in profit, the max loss adjusts to $100.
- At $4,500 in profit, a second Live account unlocks. And so on up to 5.
- The daily limit does not blow up the account: it closes the session to protect it from flash crashes, internet outages or system failures.
What the new Live program means for the trader
The new Apex Trader Funding Live program means trading with real Apex money as a 1099 contractor, with power of attorney over a sub-account of the firm's corporate account. The progressive scaling is not arbitrary: 99% of traders who jump to Live with multiple accounts and copiers from day one blow the balance within 48 hours. The model protects both Apex's capital and the trader's record.
The Bonus Vault offsets the lower number of Live accounts compared to SIM: profits accumulated in SIM are not lost — they become an additional percentage on each Live withdrawal. You can compare this model with the full catalog in the prop firm comparator.
Verdict
The new Apex Live program strikes a balance between real capital and progressive scaling. It is not the mass access to multiple Live accounts that some expected, but the model — 1 starting Live account, 20-40% Bonus Vault, daily withdrawals with no splits or consistency rules — is solid for traders with a proven SIM track record. The key is prior payouts: if you arrive at Live with a $40,000 SIM history, the conditions are competitive. If you want multiple Live accounts from day one, this program is not for you.
Check Apex Trader Funding discounts if you are considering starting the SIM phase.
Frequently asked questions about the new Apex Live program
How many Live accounts can I have with the new Apex program?
The regulatory maximum is 5 Live accounts per trader. You start with 1 and unlock a new one each time you reach $4,500 in cumulative Live profit. The 20 accounts remain SIM-phase only.
Do I lose my SIM profits when I move to the new Live program?
No. SIM profits transfer to the Bonus Vault, which pays a 20% bonus on each Live withdrawal. During the first month of each new Live account, the bonus rises to 40%.
How often can I withdraw in the Apex Live program?
You can request a withdrawal every day. The minimum is $500 and there is no maximum. There is no consistency rule or minimum number of days traded. You just need to be above the $3,000 safety buffer.
Do I need prior payouts to access the Apex Live program?
Yes. Apex's risk department evaluates each case. In practice, most traders accumulate several payouts (around $40,000 in total) before the transition. Access after a single payout is exceptional and reserved for profiles with no risk flags.
What is the Bonus Vault in the new Apex Live program?
The Bonus Vault converts SIM profits into an additional percentage on Live withdrawals: a 20% bonus on each withdrawal (or 40% during the first month of each new Live account). It is not an immediate SIM payout — it is a multiplier applied to each Live withdrawal.