Apex 4.0: what changed and what it means for a systematic strategy
The March 2026 rulebook removed the two rules that disqualified most coded strategies and replaced the monthly subscription with a one-time fee. The before-and-after, row by row.
What 4.0 changed on 1 March 2026
| Rule | Before 4.0 | Since 4.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | monthly subscription | one-time evaluation fee with 30 days of access; passed accounts must be activated within 7 calendar days |
| Drawdown products | one trailing model | EOD and Intraday sold as separate products |
| MAE rule | 30% of profit target per trade | removed |
| 5:1 risk-reward rule | in force | removed |
| Consistency at payout | 30% | 50% |
| Resets | available | discontinued |
| Bracket orders | recommended | mandatory on Rithmic and Tradovate |
| Legacy accounts | — | keep their original rules |
Why it matters for a coded strategy
Two removals are the point. The MAE rule (maximum adverse excursion per trade) forced stops to sit inside a fixed fraction of the profit target and disqualified most mean-reversion logic; without it, the only intraday constraint is the drawdown model itself. The 5:1 rule capped position sizes relative to the stop. With both gone, the sizing question reduces to the drawdown and, on EOD products, the soft daily loss limit.
The 50% consistency rule at payout replaces the 30% rule; it still applies to every Performance Account request. Bracket orders being mandatory is neutral for a system that already sends stop and target with every entry and a breaking change for one that manages exits by signal only: the platform rejects orders without both.
Which product to buy is on EOD vs Intraday; the payout checklist on PA payout rules; the full card at Apex rules.
FAQ
When did Apex 4.0 start?
1 March 2026. Accounts bought before that date keep their original rules.
Did Apex remove the MAE rule?
Yes. The maximum adverse excursion rule and the 5:1 risk-reward rule were both removed in the 4.0 rulebook.
Is the Apex consistency rule 30% or 50%?
50% since 4.0, applied at every Performance Account payout: the largest day may not exceed half of the amount requested.
Source: the firm’s help center and program pages, cross-checked with the Apex Trader Funding rules card, September 2026. Rules change quarterly; the help center is binding.