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Apex trailing drawdown: EOD vs Intraday, explained. How each threshold moves, and which one fits you.
Both models give you the same drawdown. What changes is when the threshold moves, and whether open profit counts. Every rule below was checked on Apex's help center on 24 September 2026.
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EOD or Intraday: where does your floor end up?
Pick an account, then move the sliders: how far your open profit ran during the session, and where you closed. We show the threshold each model gives you for the next session.
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The Apex trailing drawdown is the lowest balance your account may reach before it fails. The amount is the same on both models: $1,000 to $4,000 by account size. The EOD threshold updates once a day at 4:59:59 PM ET from your closing balance. The Intraday threshold moves in real time with your peak balance, open profit included. On a Performance Account, both stop trailing at starting balance plus $100.
What is the Apex trailing drawdown?
Every Apex account has a threshold: a minimum balance that rises as your account makes money and never comes back down. Touch it, and the account is over. On an evaluation, you fail. On a Performance Account (PA), the account closes.
The distance between your balance and that threshold is your maximum drawdown. It is identical on EOD and Intraday accounts.
Drawdown by account size
Same figures on EOD and Intraday, evaluations and Performance Accounts.
| Account | Max drawdown | Starting threshold | Profit target | PA lock level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $1,000 | $24,000 | $1,500 | $25,100 |
| $50,000 | $2,000 | $48,000 | $3,000 | $50,100 |
| $100,000 | $3,000 | $97,000 | $6,000 | $100,100 |
| $150,000 | $4,000 | $146,000 | $9,000 | $150,100 |
● Drawdown and profit targets from Apex's EOD and Intraday evaluation articles. PA lock level from the drawdown articles: starting balance plus $100.
How the EOD trailing drawdown works
The EOD (end of day) threshold is calculated once, at the close. Apex takes your closing balance at 4:59:59 PM ET, subtracts your maximum drawdown, and that becomes your floor for the whole next session. It only moves up, on a day that closes at a new high.
“Even though the threshold is calculated at end-of-day, it is enforced in real time.”EOD Drawdown Explained, updated 28 April 2026
That sentence is the one to remember. The floor is set at the close, but if your balance touches it at any point during the next session, positions are liquidated on the spot.
EOD example, 50K account
Maximum drawdown $2,000. Starting threshold $48,000.
| Day | During the session | Closing balance | Next session floor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Climbs, then settles | $50,800 | $48,800 |
| Day 2 | Runs to $53,000, gives most back | $51,600 | $49,600 |
| Day 3 | Losing day | $51,000 | $49,600 |
● Days 1 and 2 follow Apex's own example. On Day 2 the intraday run to $53,000 changes nothing: only the close counts. On Day 3 the floor stays put, because it never moves down.
How the Intraday trailing drawdown works
The Intraday threshold follows your peak balance in real time. Every time the account reaches a new high, the floor moves up with it, and that includes profit on trades that are still open.
“The Peak Balance includes both realized and unrealized gains.”Intraday Trailing Drawdown Explained, updated 28 April 2026
Intraday example, 50K account
Maximum drawdown $2,000. Starting threshold $48,000.
| Moment | Balance | Peak balance | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open trade runs up | $50,900 | $50,900 | $48,900 |
| Runs further | $51,400 | $51,400 | $49,400 |
| Trade reverses | $50,100 | $51,400 | $49,400 |
| Trade closes | $50,300 | $51,400 | $49,400 |
● The first line follows Apex's own example ($50,900 gives a $48,900 threshold). The trade closed only $300 up, yet the floor rose by $1,400: that open profit is spent. Room left drops from $2,000 to $900.
EOD vs Intraday, side by side
Every difference that matters
Apex help center and pricing selector.
| Rule | EOD | Intraday |
|---|---|---|
| Threshold updates | Once a day, 4:59:59 PM ET | Continuously, in real time |
| Based on | Closing balance | Peak balance |
| Open profit moves the floor | No | Yes |
| Enforced | In real time | In real time |
| Max drawdown | $1,000 to $4,000 | $1,000 to $4,000 |
| Profit target | $1,500 to $9,000 | $1,500 to $9,000 |
| Daily Loss Limit, evaluation | $500 to $2,000 | None |
| Daily Loss Limit, PA | Tier-based | Tier-based |
| PA lock level | Starting balance + $100 | Starting balance + $100 |
| Activation fee | $109 to $159 | $89 to $149 |
● On both models, all trades must be closed before 4:59 PM ET. That is a separate rule from the EOD drawdown, and it applies to Intraday accounts too.
When the trailing drawdown stops
The threshold does not trail forever, except in one case. Where it stops depends on the account type and, for evaluations, on your platform.
Lock levels, 50K example
Same rule on EOD and Intraday.
| Account | Threshold stops at | Reached when highest balance hits |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Account | $50,100 | $52,100 |
| Evaluation, Rithmic or WealthCharts | $53,000 | $55,000 |
| Evaluation, Tradovate | Never | Trails indefinitely |
“Once the Intraday Threshold reaches Starting Balance + $100, it stops increasing.”Intraday Trailing Drawdown Explained; same rule in EOD Drawdown Explained, both updated 28 April 2026
In practice, the PA lock is the milestone that matters. Once your threshold sits at $50,100 on a 50K account, it never moves again: every dollar you make above that is pure cushion.
Trailing drawdown vs Daily Loss Limit
These are two separate rules, and confusing them is expensive. The Daily Loss Limit (DLL) pauses your day. The trailing drawdown ends your account.
Your day stops. Your account survives.
Positions are liquidated and trading is paused for the rest of the session. The account stays active and resumes at the next session.
Your account is over.
Touch the threshold at any moment and positions are liquidated. The evaluation fails, or the Performance Account closes.
“There is no DLL for Intraday Drawdown Evaluations.”Daily Loss Limit Explained, updated 15 April 2026
Daily Loss Limit by account
Evaluations are fixed. Performance Accounts start at the level shown, then scale up with profit.
| Account | EOD evaluation | Intraday evaluation | PA, first tier | PA, top tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $500 | None | $500 | $1,250 |
| $50,000 | $1,000 | None | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| $100,000 | $1,500 | None | $1,750 | $3,500 |
| $150,000 | $2,000 | None | $2,500 | $4,000 |
● PA tiers from Apex's Scaling Levels article (updated 16 April 2026), on both EOD and Intraday PAs. Tiers are updated once per trading day, before the session opens, from the previous close.
Where to check your threshold
Apex shows your trailing threshold in the Eval/PA Charts section of your dashboard, refreshed every night at midnight ET. There is one catch on Tradovate.
“The trailing stop value is displayed only for WealthCharts and Rithmic accounts; for Tradovate accounts, this field will always display as $0.”Apex Trader Funding Dashboard, updated 12 May 2026
Shown in the dashboard.
The trailing stop appears in Eval/PA Charts. On evaluations, the threshold locks at your profit target balance.
Shown in the dashboard.
Same as Rithmic: displayed nightly, and the evaluation threshold locks at your profit target balance.
Dashboard shows $0.
Track the threshold yourself from your peak balance. On Tradovate evaluations it trails indefinitely, with no lock.
● The dashboard figure is a nightly snapshot. During the session, the live balance in your trading platform is what the threshold is measured against.
Which model fits your trading style
Pick the model that matches how you trade, not the one with the cheaper activation fee. Neither is better in absolute terms.
Traders who let trades breathe.
Wider stops, positions that swing in open profit before the close, news trading, or anyone still working on position sizing. What happens during the session does not move your floor.
Traders who take profit fast.
Scalpers with tight stops, small targets and quick exits, who rarely let a winner run far then give it back. No Daily Loss Limit on the evaluation, and a cheaper activation fee.
Three mistakes that end accounts
Giving back open profit
A trade that runs $1,400 up and closes $300 up still moves your floor by $1,400. On Intraday, the danger is the winner you did not take.
Thinking the floor is soft intraday
The EOD floor is set at the close but enforced in real time. A sharp move against you during the session still ends the account.
Mixing up the DLL and the drawdown
Hitting the Daily Loss Limit pauses your day. Hitting the trailing threshold ends the account. Size for the second one.
Total cost to a funded account, by model
The two models are also priced differently. On a Standard account you pay the evaluation, then an activation fee when you pass.
Evaluation plus activation
The code lowers the evaluation only. The activation fee is always paid in full.
| Account | Evaluation | Activation | Total, list | Total, with code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $490 · $49 | $109 | $599 | $158 |
| $50,000 | $590 · $59 | $129 | $719 | $188 |
| $100,000 | $1,190 · $119 | $129 | $1,319 | $248 |
| $150,000 | $2,190 · $219 | $159 | $2,349 | $378 |
| Account | Evaluation | Activation | Total, list | Total, with code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $167 · $16.70 | $89 | $256 | $105.70 |
| $50,000 | $249 · $24.90 | $99 | $348 | $123.90 |
| $100,000 | $790 · $79 | $129 | $919 | $208 |
| $150,000 | $1,190 · $119 | $149 | $1,339 | $268 |
● Evaluation column: list price, then price with code ONKAGNVZ at Apex checkout on 23 September 2026. Full breakdown, including No Activation Fee accounts, in our Apex activation fee guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Apex EOD and Intraday trailing drawdown?
Timing and basis. The EOD threshold updates once a day at 4:59:59 PM ET from your closing balance. The Intraday threshold moves in real time with your peak balance, including open profit. The drawdown amount is the same on both.
What is the EOD trailing drawdown?
It is a threshold calculated from your closing balance minus your maximum drawdown, set at 4:59:59 PM ET for the next session. It only moves up and is enforced in real time during the session.
Does unrealized profit move the Intraday threshold?
Yes. Apex's peak balance includes realized and unrealized gains, so an open trade reaching a new high raises the threshold immediately, even if it later closes lower.
Does the EOD trailing drawdown reset each day?
It recalculates at each close but never moves down. After a losing day the threshold stays at its previous level.
When does the Apex trailing drawdown stop trailing?
On a Performance Account, at starting balance plus $100 ($50,100 on a 50K). On Rithmic and WealthCharts evaluations, at the profit target balance. On Tradovate evaluations it trails indefinitely.
Does the EOD evaluation have a Daily Loss Limit?
Yes: $500, $1,000, $1,500 or $2,000 by account size. Intraday evaluations have none. Both Performance Account types have a tier-based limit that scales with profit.
Can I switch from Intraday to EOD after passing?
No. The activation fee applies to the specific account size and type you passed, so your Performance Account keeps the model of your evaluation. To trade the other model, you buy and pass an evaluation of that type.
Do I have to close positions before 4:59 PM ET on Intraday accounts too?
Yes. Apex requires all trades to be closed before 4:59 PM ET on every account. That rule is separate from the EOD drawdown model.
Which model is better for beginners?
EOD is usually more forgiving while you work on position management, because what happens during the session does not move your floor. Keep in mind the EOD evaluation adds a Daily Loss Limit.
Sources
- EOD Drawdown ExplainedUpdated 28 Apr 2026
- Intraday Trailing Drawdown ExplainedUpdated 28 Apr 2026
- EOD EvaluationsUpdated 5 Jun 2026
- Intraday Trailing Drawdown EvaluationsUpdated 28 Apr 2026
- EOD Performance AccountsUpdated 28 Apr 2026
- Intraday Trailing Drawdown Performance AccountsUpdated 21 May 2026
- Daily Loss Limit ExplainedUpdated 15 Apr 2026
- Scaling Levels (PA) ExplainedUpdated 16 Apr 2026
- Apex Trader Funding DashboardUpdated 12 May 2026
- Futures Trading TimesUpdated 20 Apr 2026
- PA Activation Process & Deadline ExplainedUpdated 15 Apr 2026
- Apex pricing selector, all 16 configurationsRead 23 Sep 2026
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