SHARK Futures and Apex are both futures prop firms with funded-trader programs and public payout proof. They're targeting similar traders. They differ on pricing curve, payout speed, drawdown structure, and how much rulebook complexity they ship. This is a straight comparison — no spin, including where the other firm is stronger.

We don't think there's a universal "best firm" answer. There's a "best firm for the way you trade" answer. The conclusion calls out who each one is the right fit for.

Quick comparison

Factor	SHARK Futures	Apex Trader Funding
Account sizes	$25K / $50K / $100K / $150K	Multiple sizes including $25K through $300K
Evaluation pricing (starting)	From $59	Promotional pricing varies, often discounted
Profit split	90/10 from day one	Tier-dependent split, scales with payouts
Payout time	6 business days	Same-day on certain plans (with daily cap)
Min days before first payout	5 trading days	Plan-dependent
Drawdown type	EOD trailing	EOD trailing on most plans
Platform	Rithmic (Tradovate, NinjaTrader, Quantower)	Rithmic
Reset on failed evaluation	Discounted	Discounted
Number of plans	4 funded sizes	Wider menu of plans + promo accounts
Live trading required	Yes, by design	Yes

Where SHARK is stronger

Predictable 6-day payouts across every plan. SHARK ships a single payout SLA — 6 business days from request to bank — regardless of account size or plan tier. If you want to know exactly when money lands when you click Request, this is the firmer answer.

A short, readable rulebook. Daily loss, EOD trailing drawdown, contract limit, flat by close. That's the rulebook. Fits on one screen. Traders who've been terminated on a buried clause at another firm usually appreciate that.

90/10 split from the first payout. No "earn your way to a better split after $X profit" curve. Day-one trader is on the same split as day-100 trader.

Newer, hungrier support. Same-day Discord responses during trading hours from a small team. Bigger firms scale support with tickets; SHARK is still small enough to answer in chat.

Where Apex is stronger

Longer track record. Apex has been shipping funded accounts for years. The volume of public payout proof is larger. If you weight "how long has this firm existed" heavily, Apex wins on age alone.

Wider plan menu. Apex ships more plan variants — multiple account sizes, multiple discount cycles, multiple promotional account types. If you want to mix and match plans on different days, that optionality matters.

Larger funded-trader community. More traders = more public reviews, more YouTube content, more setups people share. Easier to find others trading the same firm if you want community.

Brand recognition. If you're going to mention your prop firm to a non-prop trader, more people have heard of Apex.

How drawdown structure changes the trade

Both firms use end-of-day trailing drawdown on most plans. The trailing maximum only steps up at the daily close, not on intraday equity highs. That helps traders who size up mid-session and give some back before close.

Read each plan's specific drawdown rule before buying — both firms ship promotional accounts that use different rules.

Platform and execution

Both run on Rithmic. Both offer Tradovate and NinjaTrader as front-end execution platforms. Latency and data quality are functionally identical because the underlying feed is the same. The differentiator is each firm's risk overlay on top of Rithmic, not the platform.

Pricing structure

SHARK ships a flat menu: 4 funded sizes ($25K-$150K), starting at $59 for evaluation. Discounts run during major promotional windows.

Apex's pricing model centers on aggressive discount cycles — the headline price changes often, sometimes weekly. If you're patient and watch for sales, the effective cost on a $25K account can be very low. If you want to buy on the day you decide, you might pay closer to list.

Customer support

SHARK: Discord-first, with email. Same-day responses during trading hours from a small team.

Apex: Mature ticket-based support plus Discord channels, plus a large funded-trader community that often answers questions before staff does.

Who is each one for

Pick SHARK if you:

• Want a single 6-day payout SLA you can plan around
• Prefer a short rulebook over plan-menu optionality
• Want a 90/10 split from the first payout, no tier curve
• Want same-day Discord response on questions
• Value a newer firm built around the funded trader's experience

Pick Apex if you:

• Want the longer track record + larger funded-trader base
• Prefer a wider plan menu with multiple account sizes and discount cycles
• Are patient enough to wait for promo pricing windows
• Want the larger community of funded traders to compare notes with
• Want the brand-recognition factor outside prop trading circles

Both are legitimate firms. The right pick is the one whose rule structure and payout cadence match how you already trade — not the one with the louder marketing or the deepest promo discount this week.

Try SHARK

If the SHARK side of this comparison fits, start with an evaluation or read the full rules first.