Since 2014, FTMO offers funded accounts for Forex, Crypto, CFDs, and Commodities that employ a challenge based funding model, gaining access to simulated capital and earning real payouts. Pioneering this model, FTMO is one of the best known and most reputable proprietary trading firms.
FTMO has a 90% profit split, scaling opportunities, and risk management to make FTMO a top choice for traders looking for growth and consistency in their business and professional trading environments.
What FTMO Is
As a multi-asset trading firm, FTMO offers proprietary accounts across multiple asset classes, including forex, cryptocurrencies, indices, commodities, and stocks. FTMO accounts are not funded directly. Instead, traders are offered accounts on an evaluation model, where trading performance is assessed for consistency and risk management.
The FTMO evaluation model comprises a two-step funding challenge. During the first step, FTMO limits traders’ risk exposure through the imposition of a maximum daily loss and a maximum overall drawdown, among other limits. Traders who successfully complete the first step challenge then undergo the second step, which is the same risk limits but a reduced profit target. FTMO offers its funded trading accounts to those who complete both steps of the funding challenge.
Traders are then free to trade on FTMO’s account model, where FTMO covers the risk. Traders keep a large portion of the profits. FTMO accounts can be scaled from $10,000 to $200,000, based on the firm’s assessment of the trader’s performance and the trader’s consistency, measured over a long period of time.
Since its founding in 2014, FTMO has been one of the more innovative trading firms, being the first firm to offer risk-controlled prop trading accounts and among the first to offer accounts on a funded trading model.
FTMO Overview (2026)
| Key Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Legal Entity | FTMO s.r.o. |
| Years in Operation | 12+ Years |
| Funded Traders to Date | 200,000+ |
| On-Time Payout Rate | 99.8% (2023–2025 published data) |
| Starter Capital Range | $5,000 – $200,000 per account |
| Maximum Scaled Capital | Up to $2,000,000 per trader |
| Challenge Fee Range | $155 – $1,080 |
| Evaluation Model | Two-Step Challenge (Challenge + Verification) |
| Profit Split | 80% standard, up to 90% with scaling |
| Forex Pairs Available | 50+ |
| Stock Indices Available | 12 |
| Commodities Available | 8 |
| Crypto Assets Available | 5 |
| Supported Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), cTrader |
| Algorithmic Trading | Supported (EAs and automated strategies allowed) |
| Scaling Plan | Available for consistent funded traders |
| First Payout Eligibility | After 21 calendar days of funded trading |
| Payout Methods | Bank Transfer, USDT (TRC-20/ERC-20), BTC |
| Target Markets | Forex, Crypto, Indices, Commodities, Stocks |
How Does the FTMO Funded Account Work?
An FTMO trader receives a funded trading account after successfully completing the FTMO two-step challenge, the final stage of the FTMO challenge, and the required KYC (Know Your Customer) verification. FTMO provides the trader account details to begin trading using firm capital.
FTMO shares account equity, and the trader retains a portion of the profit share, which can amount to 90% after performance and account agreement evaluation. FTMO evaluates trading and provides a share of the proceeds from the trading profit.
FTMO is clear with traders regarding a structural consideration as there is no FTMO direct real-money market account. Traders operate in a simulated environment that reflects real market conditions. FTMO provides payouts based on performance and funds the simulated account.
The majority of the firm’s revenue originates from the challenge evaluation process. Traders are required to purchase an FTMO challenge. A considerable number of traders do not pass the evaluation. Therefore, the challenge fees paid by traders who do not pass the challenge or do not complete the challenge are the primary source of FTMO’s challenge revenue, and not trading losses or capital allocation.
It’s common for industry statistics to suggest that most traders, more than 90% by some estimates, do not pass the evaluation or achieve a payout. This implies that the evaluation stage absorbs the majority of the prop firm’s resources while the profitable participants are rewarded from the prop firm’s risk management system.
The structure has gained a lot of discourse in the trading community and is a hallmark of most proprietary trading firms today, combining performance-based funding and a simulation-based capital allocation system.
FTMO Challenge Structure: Phase 1, Phase 2, and Funded Account Rules (2026)
Before FTMO grants traders access to a funded account, FTMO mandates a two-step evaluation process. Each step assesses a trader’s level of profitability, self-discipline, and risk management.
FTMO Evaluation Breakdown
| Parameter | Phase 1 (FTMO Challenge) | Phase 2 (Verification) | Funded Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Initial evaluation | Confirmation stage | Live funded trading stage |
| Profit target | 10% | 5% | None |
| Max daily loss | 5% of opening balance | 5% of opening balance | 5% of opening balance |
| Max total drawdown | 10% of opening balance | 10% of opening balance | 10% of opening balance |
| Time limit | 30 calendar days | 60 calendar days | No time limit |
| Minimum trading days | 4 days | 4 days | None |
| Profit split | Not applicable | Not applicable | Up to 80% (trader keeps ~80%) |
| Trading restrictions | Standard FTMO rules apply | Standard FTMO rules apply | Risk rules enforced |
| Overnight holding | Allowed based on account type | Allowed based on account type | Allowed based on account type |
| EA / Algo trading | Permitted (with rules) | Permitted | Permitted |
| Fee structure | $155–$1,080 (based on account size) | Included in Challenge fee | No additional fee |
Some FTMO Risk and Trading Rules
FTMO understands that assessments must have an element of risk control. Therefore, they employ a variety of risk management strategies at every level.
A Daily Loss Limit of 5% resets at midnight CET. Because of time zone differences, some traders may be at risk of a significant loss for the entire trading session.
The Maximum Drawdown of 10% is set against the initial account balance. All drawdown limits set against equity (or balance) would be lost.
On standard accounts, no single trading day may account for more than 50% of total profits.
FTMO also encourages traders to be disciplined when trading news. There is no news trading blackout for standard accounts.
Hedging and trading with EAs is permitted so long as the EA maintains autonomous functionality and does not engage in account mirroring. Cross-account hedging is not permitted.
FTMO Account Types and Costs
To accommodate different trading strategies and styles, FTMO has a number of accounts with different account balances. Below are some account sizes with their challenge fees:
- $10,000 account → $155
- $25,000 account → increased fee tier
- $50,000 account → mid-tier fee
- $100,000 account → advanced tier
- $200,000 account → up to $1,080
FTMO also has a Swing Account, which enables long-term trading strategies, as there are no requirements for intraday position closures.
FTMO Profit Split and Scaling Plan: Mechanics and Payout Process (2026 Data)
FTMO provides traders incentive through an innovative performance-driven profit-sharing and capital scaling model. FTMO rewards traders with higher capital placement and a more favorable payout ratio the more consistently they trade. The process starts with a standard profit split and can be amplified through aligned trading.
FTMO Profit Split Structure and Scaling Rules
| Parameter | Base Funded Account | After First Scaling | Long-Term Maximum Potential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit split | 80% trader / 20% FTMO | 90% trader / 10% FTMO | Up to 90/10 maintained |
| Account growth per scaling cycle | None | +25% funded capital increase | Continues per cycle |
| Starting funded balance | Based on challenge size | Increased by 25% per cycle | Up to $2,000,000 theoretical cap |
| Eligibility requirement | Pass Challenge + Verification | Meet scaling criteria | Maintain consistent performance |
Criteria for FTMO Scaling Plan (4-Month Rolling Window)
All of the following must be satisfied during any 4-month period for the FTMO scaling plan to become active:
- 10% net growth in account balance
- At least 2 payout withdrawals
- No account rule violations (no breaches of daily loss, total drawdown or consistency rules)
- Profits in at least 3 of 4 months
Failing to meet any of the above conditions resets eligibility for that cycle.
Scaling Mechanics
- FTMO ups the trader’s funded account balance by 25% for each level of scaling reached
- The profit split also improves to 90/10
- The improved 90/10 profit split remains for all future payouts
- Each level can repeat improving compounding account growth
- Under continual scaling, the maximum funded account balance could reach $2,000,000
FTMO Payout Process and Withdrawal Rules
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| First payout eligibility | Minimum 21 calendar days of trading after funded status |
| Subsequent payouts | Available after each payout cycle |
| Processing time | Typically 1–2 business days |
| Withdrawal methods | Bank wire transfer, crypto (USDT TRC-20, USDT ERC-20, BTC) |
| Withdrawal fees | None for standard bank transfers |
| Reported payout reliability | ~99.8% on-time payout rate (based on 2023–2025 third-party reviews) |
FTMO vs FundedNext vs The 5%ers: 2026 Comparison Table
In 2026, the firms most commonly appearing alongside FTMO in the trader community and search results include FundedNext (est. 2022, 90/10 base split), The 5%ers (est. 2016, aggressive scaling to $4M), and Apex Trader Funding (one-phase futures model).
In this review, we will look at FTMO, FundedNext, and The 5%ers, which we consider the 3 firms most directly competing in the multi-instrument Forex and indices markets, which are the most dominated by FTMO in terms of brand recognition.
| Criterion | FTMO | FundedNext | The 5%ers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 (12 years operational) | 2022 (3 years operational) | 2016 (10 years operational) |
| Challenge fee range | $155 – $1,080 | $49 – $999 | $95 – $995 |
| Base profit split (funded) | 80% to trader | 90% to trader | 50% to 100% (program tier-based) |
| Scaled profit split | Up to 90% (scaling plan activation) | Not publicly disclosed | Up to 100% (Hyper Growth tier) |
| Max funded capital | $200K per account / up to $2M scaled | Up to $300K per account | Up to $4M via Hyper Growth program |
| First payout eligibility | Minimum 21 calendar days | 21-day cycle | 14-day cycle |
| Evaluation model | Two-phase: Challenge + Verification | Two-phase model (funded from Phase 2 stage in some programs) | Multi-tier system: Bootcamp / Growth / Hyper Growth |
| Affiliate program access | Manual approval, 10–30% CPA, no sub-affiliates | Open application, competitive CPA rates | Open application, tiered commission structure |
Platform: MT4, MT5, and cTrader
FTMO accepts MT4, MT5, and cTrader. If you have an established MT5 setup complete with custom indicators, EAs, and risk management scripts, FTMO allows you to bring that setup as is, without the need to rebuild.
For traders from the DXtrade ecosystem, FTMO expects you to shift platforms. While MT4 and MT5 allow you to trade the Forex and CFD markets, they aren’t purpose-built systems for crypto. The perpetual swap structure, funding rate mechanics, and crypto order flow and trade dynamics are better served by platforms built for the asset class.
Who FTMO Suits
Forex-focused traders
Traders who focus mainly on Forex will appreciate FTMO because their rules, structure, and trade execution facilities focus on currency pairs and not on crypto trading that is highly fragmented.
MT4/MT5 strategy users
Traders who have MT4/MT5 strategies with indicators, scripts, or Expert Advisors will find FTMO to be a good option because they will not have to recreate their trading setups.
Traders valuing proven track record
Traders who like to use verified history of payouts to choose their trading option will find FTMO a good choice because they have verified more than a decade of payouts.
Long-term scaling oriented traders
FTMO is good for traders who expect scaling trading capital as a reward for sustained consistency of trading capital as they improve their trading over their extended evaluation periods.
Consistency-based strategy traders
FTMO is best for traders with strategies that yield gradual and consistent returns rather than large, single-day returns, because FTMO’s trading rules favor consistent trading and controlled risk.
FTMO Affiliate Program: Structure, Commission Rates, and Operator Benchmarking
The FTMO referral affiliate program is for publishers, trading educators, and review sites who wish to promote the FTMO challenge accounts. It is a cost-per-acquisition (CPA) program. Affiliates are rewarded for successful challenge purchases via their referral links.
| Parameter | FTMO Affiliate Program Details |
|---|---|
| Commission model | CPA-based (percentage of challenge fee) |
| Commission structure | Individually negotiated after approval |
| Reported commission range | 10% – 30% of challenge fee value |
| Cookie duration | 30 days (last-click attribution) |
| Attribution model | Last-click tracking system |
| Program access | Manual approval required (traffic source review) |
| Sub-affiliate system | Not available |
| Multi-tier structure | Not supported |
| Minimum payout threshold | Not publicly disclosed |
| Payout method | Bank transfer |
| Tracking system | Proprietary FTMO affiliate dashboard |
Affiliate Eligibility
- FTMO will conduct a manual review on applicants to determine:
- The quality of your traffic sources (SEO, paid Ads, Social, Email)
- Methods of promoting trading (Are they in compliance?)
- How much of your marketing methods is transparent
- How closely your methods align with the FTMO brand
- Partners receive access links to track commission and payout requests. Unapproved partners do not receive access.
How Partners Earn Commissions
- Affiliates earn a CPA commission for each successfully purchased FTMO challenge
- Challenges range in payout from $155 to $1,080
- Sales of higher-value challenges provide affiliates with higher commissions
- Challenge value will also determine the commission earned
- Commission will not be made public, as it varies by challenge, and will be determined by the affiliate’s performance and the affiliate’s traffic and will be open for negotiations.
Affiliate Marketing Benchmarking Insights
| Metric | FTMO Affiliate Program Positioning |
|---|---|
| Brand strength | High (industry-leading recognition) |
| Conversion rate | Moderate (price-sensitive entry fees) |
| EPC (Earnings per click) | Relatively high due to strong AOV |
| Average order value | $155 – $1,080 |
| Competition level | High among prop firm comparison sites |
Is FTMO legit?
They are. Founded in 2014 as FTMO s.r.o. in the Czech Republic, FTMO has funded more than 200,000 traders and has an annual 2023-2025 data payout documentation that boasts a 99.8% on-time payout rate. FTMO is not regulated by CySEC, FCA, or CFTC because, unlike a broker, they do not fund traders’ accounts but conducts a profit-sharing contract with traders.
FTMO gives its traders simulated accounts with trading capital loaned from FTMO, and traders do not have direct access to trading in the real market. According to FTMO, its 12 years of experience and history of payouts substantiate its legitimacy.
FTMO Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong reputation with 10+ years of verified payout history | Strict evaluation rules with 2-step challenge requirement |
| Up to 90% profit split through scaling plan | Tick-by-tick trailing drawdown increases pressure on trades |
| Supports MT4, MT5, and cTrader platforms | No DXtrade or crypto-native trading platform support |
| Clear and structured risk management rules | 30% consistency rule limits high single-day profits |
| Scalable funding up to $2M for consistent traders | News trading restrictions on certain instruments |
| Transparent challenge system with defined targets | Weekend holding restrictions for some positions |
| Reliable payout system with fast processing (1–2 days) | Challenge fees are non-refundable |
| Large trader community and strong brand trust | Less suitable for high-volatility crypto strategies |
| Suitable for automated trading (EAs allowed) | Slower path to maximum profit split (requires scaling) |
Conclusion
With its comprehensive model and risk management approach, FTMO is among the most refined proprietary trading firms and has built its services around a structured, disciplined, two-step evaluation framework. Its system enables the filtering of consistent traders through behavioral constraining mechanisms such as a consistency rule and a trailing drawdown system, coupled with profit, limit, and target constraints.
As FTMO supports MT4, MT5, and cTrader, it allows traders the freedom to design their own trading strategies, and offers a stable trading environment that can be sustained over a long period of time, making the firm attractive to forex traders. FTMO’s plan to scale to a 90% profit split and a maximum allocation of $2M makes the firm even more appealing to forex traders.
Nonetheless, FTMO’s model is not universally adaptable. The 30% consistency rule, instrument restrictions, and tick-by-tick trailing drawdown can be problematic for high-volatility and event-driven strategies, particularly for those that operate in the crypto sphere, given the nature of the market.
Generally, FTMO should be viewed as a prop trading ecosystem rewarding a preference for consistent activity and risk control as opposed to impulsivity. FTMO should be appreciated most by traders whose primary concern is long-term, stable, and sustainable profit.
FAQ
FTMO is a proprietary trading firm founded in 2014 that provides funded trading accounts after traders pass a 2-step evaluation challenge with defined profit targets and strict risk rules.
The FTMO challenge has two phases: Phase 1 requires a 10% profit target in 30 days, and Phase 2 requires a 5% profit target in 60 days before granting a funded account.
FTMO starts traders at an 80/20 profit split, where traders keep 80% of profits. With successful scaling performance, this can increase up to a 90/10 split.
FTMO enforces a 5% daily loss limit, 10% total drawdown, a minimum of 4 trading days per phase, and a consistency rule limiting single-day profits to 30% of total gains.
FTMO supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader, allowing traders to use custom indicators, Expert Advisors, and existing trading systems.
