✍ Markets Coupons Team

FTMO Review 2026: 1-Step vs 2-Step, Rules, Payouts & Scaling Plan

Last updated: April 17, 2026 — 15 min read

FTMO Review 2026 editorial hero with global forex data visualization

TL;DR — FTMO is the largest multi-asset prop firm in the world, rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot across 41,000+ reviews and active since 2015. The entry plan on the $10K account costs €89, profit split is up to 90%, and the evaluation has no time limit. FTMO now offers two routes: the classic 2-Step Challenge (10% then 5% targets) and the newer 1-Step Challenge (single 10% target with a wider 10% max loss). The two rules that decide most traders' fate: the 5% max daily loss and the 10% overall max loss. Both are explained in detail below.

Quick Facts
Firm type Multi-asset prop firm (forex, indices, commodities, crypto, stocks, bonds)
Founded 2015 (Prague, Czech Republic)
Products FTMO Challenge 2-Step or FTMO Challenge 1-Step
Account sizes $10K, $25K, $50K, $100K, $200K
Entry price ($10K) €89 (one-time, refundable)
Entry price ($100K) €540 (€439 on current sale)
Profit target (2-Step) Phase 1: 10% · Phase 2: 5%
Profit target (1-Step) Single phase: 10%
Max daily loss 5% of initial balance
Max loss (overall) 10% (2-Step) / 10% (1-Step)
Min trading days 4 days per phase
Trading period Unlimited
Profit split 80% baseline, up to 90% via Scaling/Premium
Fee refund 100% with first reward withdrawal
Platforms MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, DXtrade
Swing account Available (2-Step only)
Trustpilot 4.8/5 (41,000+ reviews)
Customers worldwide 3.5M+
Total paid to traders $500M+ since 2015

What Is FTMO?

FTMO is a proprietary trading evaluation firm headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, that has been operating since 2015. It gives retail traders a simulated account to prove their skill, and traders who pass the evaluation operate a funded demo account where their performance is mirrored into FTMO's live capital operation. Every reward paid to the trader comes from FTMO's own funds.

FTMO is the single largest brand in the prop-firm industry by customer count. As of 2026 it reports more than 3.5 million customers worldwide, with cumulative rewards paid out exceeding $500 million. Its Trustpilot page carries 41,000+ reviews at an average of 4.8/5 — one of the strongest public trust signals in the sector.

Unlike U.S. futures-only firms (Apex, Bulenox, Take Profit Trader), FTMO is a multi-asset operation. You can trade forex pairs, major indices (NAS100, SPX500, DAX, FTSE, Nikkei), commodities (XAU/USD, XAG/USD, WTI, Brent, natural gas), crypto (BTC, ETH, and select altcoins as CFDs), individual stocks as CFDs, and government bonds — all from a single funded account.

What makes FTMO different

The three things that set FTMO apart from the rest of the prop-firm pack:

  1. Track record. Ten years operating, one of only two firms that survived the 2024 MetaQuotes / U.S. regulatory shakeout unscathed
  2. No time limit on the evaluation. You get unlimited time to hit the profit target — the only time pressure comes from your own discipline
  3. Fee refund on first payout. The entry fee is returned 100% when you request your first reward withdrawal from the funded account, making the effective cost of a successful evaluation zero

FTMO Pricing (2026)

FTMO sells five account sizes across two products (1-Step and 2-Step). Pricing is in Euros, paid once, and refunded in full with your first profit payout.

FTMO 2-Step Challenge pricing

Account Fee Currency
$10,000 €89 USD, GBP, EUR
$25,000 €250 USD, GBP, EUR
$50,000 €345 USD, GBP, EUR
$100,000 €439 (sale) · €540 regular USD, GBP, EUR
$200,000 €1,080 USD, GBP, EUR

The $100K account is marketed as the "best value" tier and is currently discounted. It's also the most popular entry point for serious traders, since the scaling plan caps at $200K per account and $400K total exposure.

FTMO 1-Step Challenge pricing

The 1-Step was launched in late 2025 and uses the same fee schedule. You pick your size, pay once, trade through a single evaluation phase, and move straight to the funded account.

What's included in every FTMO account

No recurring fees

FTMO does not charge monthly subscriptions, data fees, platform fees, or any recurring cost. Your evaluation fee is the entire out-of-pocket cost, and it is refunded on your first successful payout — net cost of a cleared evaluation is therefore zero.


2-Step vs 1-Step Challenge: Which One to Pick

Diagram comparing FTMO 2-Step and 1-Step Challenge flows

FTMO's two challenge formats exist because traders have different psychology. The 2-Step rewards disciplined, multi-week trading. The 1-Step rewards fast, decisive execution.

FTMO 2-Step Challenge (classic)

This is the original FTMO product. You trade through two simulated phases:

Only after clearing both does FTMO onboard you to a funded account. The logic behind the split target is conservative: the firm wants to see that a trader who went big in Phase 1 can still be profitable at a gentler pace in Phase 2. It filters out one-shot gamblers.

2-Step is best for: Traders who size conservatively, swing/position traders, anyone who has never been funded before, and anyone who wants access to the FTMO Swing account type.

FTMO 1-Step Challenge (new, launched 2025)

One phase, one shot. You hit the 10% profit target once while respecting the drawdown rules, and you're funded.

The 1-Step is faster to fund but has subtle differences: no Swing account option, slightly stricter consistency review at the funding stage, and the entire pass happens in one continuous account.

1-Step is best for: Experienced intraday traders, scalpers who pass in under 2 weeks, traders with a proven edge who want minimal friction.

Side-by-side comparison

Feature 2-Step Challenge 1-Step Challenge
Phases 2 (Challenge + Verification) 1 (Challenge only)
Phase 1 profit target 10% 10%
Phase 2 profit target 5%
Max daily loss 5% 5%
Max overall loss 10% 10%
Min trading days 4 per phase (8 total) 4 total
Time limit Unlimited Unlimited
Swing account available Yes No
Profit split on funded account Up to 90% Up to 90%
Fee Same for both products Same for both products
Fee refund 100% on first payout 100% on first payout

Which one should you pick?

Pick 2-Step if you want the most flexibility (Swing account, longer track record of funded traders, easier "soft" path). Pick 1-Step if you have an intraday edge you can prove in 4-10 sessions and you want to get to capital quickly.


Evaluation Rules (Trading Objectives)

FTMO calls its rule set the "Trading Objectives." These are the hard constraints you must respect during the evaluation. Miss any one of them and the account is terminated — no reset unless you re-purchase.

Profit target

The profit target is the only objective that must be achieved, not merely respected. Every other objective is a ceiling or a floor you must not cross.

For a $100,000 account, that's $10,000 in Phase 1 and $5,000 in Phase 2 (2-Step), or $10,000 in a single phase (1-Step).

You hit the target by closing positions at a cumulative profit equal to or greater than the target. Unrealized profit does not count.

Minimum trading days

4 days per phase. A "trading day" is any day you have at least one position opened and closed. Demo weekends and bank holidays don't count.

This rule exists to stop traders from passing with a single lottery-ticket trade. Even if you hit the profit target on day 1, you have to trade 3 more days before you can submit.

Trading period

Unlimited. There is no deadline to pass the evaluation. This is one of the biggest structural advantages of FTMO over firms like Apex (30-day limit) or FundedNext (30-60 day limit). You can take months if your strategy needs it.

Weekend holding and overnight holding

This is the main operational difference between the two account types.

Consistency rule (implicit)

FTMO does not have a hard-coded consistency percentage like Apex's 50% rule. However, the funded account review process includes a subjective "trading according to the real market" check: if your results come overwhelmingly from a single reckless trade, the compliance team may flag the payout. In practice, this almost never triggers for traders running normal risk (1-2% per trade) — it only catches gamblers who risk 10%+ on a single position.


Drawdown Rules: Max Daily Loss and Max Total Loss

FTMO drawdown rules diagram showing 5% daily loss and 10% max loss thresholds

Drawdown rules are the single most-misunderstood part of any prop-firm evaluation. FTMO uses a static drawdown system, which is friendlier to traders than a trailing one — but still punishing if you size too large.

Max Daily Loss (5%)

The Max Daily Loss is 5% of the initial account balance. For a $100K account, that's $5,000. This rule applies during the evaluation and on the funded account.

Key detail: the threshold is calculated on equity, not balance. If your balance is $100,000 but you have an open position showing a $4,500 floating loss, you are already at -4.5% for the day. One more tick down and the account is terminated.

The daily loss resets at midnight CET (Prague server time) every trading day.

Max Loss (10%)

The Max Loss is 10% of the initial account balance. For a $100K account, that's $10,000. This threshold is static — it does not trail your peak balance, it does not update as you profit. It sits at initial balance − 10% for the entire life of the evaluation and the funded account.

For a $100K account: $100,000 − $10,000 = $90,000. If your equity ever touches $90,000, the account is terminated.

How the two interact

Daily loss and overall loss run in parallel. You breach whichever one you hit first.

Example — Day 1 on a $100K account:

Same account, different sequence:

Why FTMO uses static drawdown

Static drawdown is friendlier than trailing:

The tradeoff is that the daily loss rule is relatively aggressive — 5% is tighter than what most firms allow on the daily. This rewards traders who respect position sizing and punishes revenge trading.


Funded FTMO Account and Scaling Plan

After you pass the evaluation (whether 2-Step or 1-Step), FTMO sets up a simulated funded account with your starting capital. You sign the FTMO Account Agreement, complete FTMO Identity verification, and you're cleared to trade.

How the funded account works

Technically, the FTMO Account is a simulated demo account. FTMO takes your trades as signals and mirrors them in real markets using the firm's own capital. Your reward is a share of the profits generated in that mirrored book.

The Scaling Plan (+25% every 4 months)

FTMO Scaling Plan visualization showing 25% account growth every 4 months

FTMO rewards consistent traders with an automatic account-size upgrade every 4 months — assuming you hit the requirements:

Example progression on a $100K account:

Month Account Size Cumulative Growth
0 $100,000 Starting
4 $125,000 +25%
8 $150,000 +50%
12 $175,000 +75%
16 $200,000 +100%

After that, you can continue scaling toward the $400K cap via the Premium Programme (Prime and Supreme tiers).

Premium Programme (Prime and Supreme)

Prime and Supreme are tiered reward programs for high-performing FTMO traders. They come with profit split upgrades, dedicated account managers, direct Telegram access to senior analysts, and exclusive event invitations.


Trading Platforms

FTMO supports four platforms. Your choice is permanent for the life of that evaluation account — you cannot switch mid-challenge.

MetaTrader 4 (MT4)

The industry standard for forex traders worldwide. Still heavily used for legacy EAs (expert advisors) and custom indicators built on the MQL4 language.

Good for: Forex, precious metals, most algorithmic strategies
Less ideal for: Modern crypto assets, advanced order types

MetaTrader 5 (MT5)

The newer MetaQuotes platform with full multi-asset support, faster execution, and more advanced order management. Most new FTMO traders default to MT5.

Good for: Multi-asset trading (forex + indices + stocks + crypto), modern algo development (MQL5)
Less ideal for: Traders with large MQL4 legacy codebases

cTrader

A cleaner, more modern alternative to MetaTrader. Popular among forex scalpers for tight spreads and advanced Level 2 depth-of-market data. Uses cBots (not EAs) for automation.

Good for: Scalpers, anyone who dislikes the MetaTrader UI, professional manual traders
Less ideal for: Anyone with existing MQL strategies

DXtrade

FTMO's newest platform addition. Web-based, fully responsive, no software install required. Similar conceptually to Tradovate on the futures side.

Good for: Traders who want zero-install browser access, mobile-heavy trading workflows
Less ideal for: Heavy algo users (limited scripting ecosystem so far)


Normal Account vs Swing Account

FTMO offers two account types on the 2-Step product. The Swing account is designed for traders who want to hold positions through news releases and across weekends.

Normal account

Swing account

The Swing account is the right pick for any trader whose strategy requires holding through NFP, CPI, FOMC, or keeping trades open Friday→Monday. The wider spread is the cost of the operational flexibility.


FTMO Payout System

FTMO has one of the cleanest payout mechanisms in the industry, with a track record of over $500M paid since 2015.

Payout frequency

Profit split

Payout methods

Method Speed Minimum
Wire transfer 1–3 business days None
Rise (instant) Hours None
Skrill Hours to 1 day None
Cryptocurrency (USDT, USDC, BTC) Hours None
Deel / contractor 1–2 business days None

Rewards can be paid in EUR, USD, GBP, or select cryptocurrencies. FTMO's reward operation is independent of the trading platform, so a delay with MT4/MT5 servers doesn't delay your withdrawal.

The 100% fee refund

Your entry fee is 100% refunded with your first payout. If you paid €540 for the $100K account and your first payout is $2,000, FTMO sends the $2,000 plus €540 back to you. This makes the net cost of a passed evaluation zero.

Maximum payout

There is no hard cap on a single payout, and no limit on the number of payouts per account. The only throttle is the 14-day minimum between withdrawals.


What You Can Trade on FTMO

FTMO offers one of the widest instrument sets in prop trading. All trades are executed as CFDs or spot-equivalent simulated positions.

Forex

All major pairs (EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, AUD/USD, USD/CAD, USD/CHF, NZD/USD), all crosses (EUR/GBP, GBP/JPY, etc.), and 15+ emerging-market pairs (USD/ZAR, USD/MXN, USD/TRY, USD/CNH).

Indices

Commodities

Crypto (CFD)

BTC/USD, ETH/USD, XRP/USD, LTC/USD, ADA/USD, SOL/USD, DOT/USD, DOGE/USD, and a handful of altcoins. Spreads are wider than major forex.

Stocks (CFD)

50+ U.S. large-cap stocks (AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, TSLA, META, GOOGL, AMZN, etc.) and select European names. CFD execution only — no actual share ownership.

Bonds

U.S. 10-year Treasury, German Bund, U.K. Gilts — mostly for macro traders.


Prohibited Strategies

FTMO is stricter than U.S. futures firms on what kind of trading is allowed. Violating any of these rules results in termination with no refund.

News trading is permitted on Swing accounts. On Normal accounts it is restricted for 2 minutes before and after the release.


FTMO Pros & Cons

FTMO pros vs cons side-by-side comparison

Pros

Cons


Who Is FTMO Best For?

1. Forex and multi-asset traders
If your edge is in EUR/USD, GBP/JPY, XAU/USD, or NAS100, FTMO is the obvious choice. No U.S. futures firm competes on forex breadth.

2. Traders who need unlimited evaluation time
Apex gives you 30 days. FundedNext gives you 30-60 days. FTMO gives you forever. If your strategy is slow-burn or position-based, this is decisive.

3. Traders who want the safest firm in the industry
Ten years of operation, public profit numbers, EY-audited, Forbes-featured. FTMO has the strongest institutional trust of any prop firm.

4. Traders targeting the Scaling Plan
The automatic +25% every 4 months is a genuine path to $200K-$400K capital. No other major firm has an automatic scaling rule this predictable.

Who should look elsewhere:


FTMO vs Other Prop Firms

A brief comparison against the firms you're probably also evaluating:

Firm Evaluation Profit Split Drawdown Time Limit Best For
FTMO 1-Step or 2-Step Up to 90% 5% DD / 10% max static Unlimited Forex, multi-asset
Apex Trader Funding 1-Step 100% (simulated) Trailing (−5%) or EOD 30 days U.S. futures scalpers
Take Profit Trader 1-Step Up to 90% Trailing EOD Unlimited Futures swing
FundedNext 1-Step, 2-Step, or Evaluation Pro Up to 95% 5% DD / 10% max 30-60 days Forex + crypto
The5ers Instant Funding or Bootcamp 50-100% Static Unlimited Risk-averse starters
Bulenox 1-Step 90% Static Unlimited U.S. futures, news
FundingPips 2-Step Up to 90% 5% DD / 10% max Unlimited Forex, low-cost entry

FTMO vs FundedNext

Both target the same customer (multi-asset retail forex). FundedNext is cheaper on entry ($99 for $15K vs €89 for $10K) and has a higher split ceiling (95% vs 90%). FTMO wins on track record, platform choice, and scaling plan clarity. If it's your first funded account, FTMO is the safer bet.

FTMO vs Apex

Different asset classes, so not directly competing. If you're a futures trader, Apex is the default. If you trade forex or indices, FTMO is the default. A small number of traders run both simultaneously — Apex for U.S. session ES/NQ scalping and FTMO for overnight EUR/USD swing.

FTMO vs FundingPips

FundingPips (owned by FundedNext's parent company, 2025+) offers a similar 2-step structure at a lower price point. The tradeoff is shorter operational history (launched 2022 vs FTMO's 2015) and less mature support. For serious long-term funded capital, FTMO is the safer choice.


FTMO Frequently Asked Questions

Is FTMO legit?
Yes. FTMO has operated since 2015, has paid out over $500M in rewards, maintains 4.8/5 on Trustpilot across 41,000+ reviews, and has been featured by Forbes, EY, and the Financial Magnates awards. It's the most established prop firm in the industry.

How long does it take to pass the FTMO Challenge?
The minimum is 4 trading days per phase (so 8 trading days for the 2-Step, 4 for the 1-Step). In practice, most passing traders take 2–6 weeks on the 2-Step and 1–3 weeks on the 1-Step.

What happens if I fail the FTMO Challenge?
The account is terminated and the fee is forfeited. You can purchase a new challenge at any time — FTMO does not restrict repeat attempts. There's no official "reset" option, but the fee is low enough that buying a fresh challenge is typically cheaper than a reset on many other firms.

Can I use expert advisors (EAs) on FTMO?
Yes, on MT4 and MT5. Copy trading from a paid signal service is not permitted, but your own EAs and your own copy trading across your own FTMO accounts are both allowed.

Is there a time limit on the FTMO Challenge?
No. The Trading Period is unlimited. You can take as long as you need to hit the profit target.

Can I trade news on FTMO?
Yes on the Swing account. On the Normal account, there is a 2-minute blackout before and after major news releases in the relevant currency. Trading outside that window is fine.

Can I hold positions over the weekend?
Only on the Swing account (2-Step product). Normal accounts must close all positions before Friday market close.

What is the FTMO scaling plan?
Every 4 months, if you have at least 10% cumulative profit with at least 2 profitable months in that period, FTMO automatically increases your account by 25% of the original balance and raises your profit split to 90%. The scaling continues until your account reaches $400,000.

Does the FTMO fee refund apply to every challenge?
The 100% fee refund applies once per successfully passed challenge, triggered by your first reward withdrawal on the resulting funded account. If you fail a challenge and buy a new one, that new fee is a separate cost.

Can I have more than one FTMO account?
Yes. FTMO lets you hold multiple accounts simultaneously, up to a maximum combined capital allocation of $400,000. You can mix 1-Step and 2-Step accounts in any combination.

Is FTMO available in the United States?
FTMO has a U.S.-specific operation (FTMO US) for certain states. The global FTMO entity does not onboard retail U.S. traders in restricted states. Check FTMO's jurisdiction page before purchase.

How much can I earn on FTMO?
There is no cap on earnings. Your 80-90% profit share applies to every dollar generated. Traders at the top of the FTMO distribution have collected multi-hundred-thousand-dollar annual rewards.

What is the FTMO Discipline Score?
A proprietary metric that evaluates your risk management behavior during the evaluation. It is informational only — it doesn't block passes — but it's used for Premium Programme qualification.

Does FTMO pay actual money or simulated?
Actual money. Profits generated on the simulated funded account are paid from FTMO's real capital via wire, Rise, Skrill, Deel, or cryptocurrency.


How to Start on FTMO: 8-Step Walkthrough

Step 1 — Try the Free Trial first.
FTMO offers an unlimited Free Trial. Take at least 5 trading days on it to get comfortable with spreads, execution, and platform quirks before paying for the real challenge.

Step 2 — Pick your product (1-Step or 2-Step).
If you're a disciplined swing or position trader, pick 2-Step. If you're an experienced intraday scalper who wants minimum friction, pick 1-Step.

Step 3 — Pick your account size.
The $100K tier has the best balance of risk budget and accessible price. The $10K tier is the cheapest entry point at €89 — ideal if you want to prove your strategy on FTMO before scaling capital.

Step 4 — Pick your platform.
MT5 is the safest default. Pick MT4 only if you have legacy EAs. Pick cTrader if you're a tight-spread scalper. Pick DXtrade if you want browser-only access.

Step 5 — Choose Normal or Swing.
Swing if you hold overnight or trade news. Normal if you close everything intraday. Swing is only on the 2-Step.

Step 6 — Complete KYC (FTMO Identity).
Upload proof of ID and proof of address. This is a hard requirement before your first payout. Do it early — the verification can take 24-72 hours.

Step 7 — Trade the evaluation.
Stick to 1-2% risk per trade. Respect the 5% daily cap religiously — it's the #1 cause of evaluation failure. Don't chase the profit target; let it come to you.

Step 8 — Pass, activate, and request your first payout after 14 days.
Once you clear the evaluation(s), sign the FTMO Account Agreement, wait 14 days on the funded account, and submit your first withdrawal. Your 100% fee refund comes with it.


Final Verdict

FTMO is the gold standard of prop trading, full stop. It has the longest operational history, the highest Trustpilot rating, the widest instrument list, the best platform choice, and the most generous scaling plan in the industry. It is not the cheapest, and it is not the fastest to pass — but it is the safest long-term home for a serious trader's funded capital.

The weakness of FTMO is that its discipline gates are genuine: a 5% daily loss on equity is tight, the consistency review at the funding stage is real, and U.S. access is limited. None of these are deal-breakers for a disciplined trader, but they are deal-breakers for gamblers — which is by design.

For forex and multi-asset traders looking for their first (or best) funded account, FTMO is the default recommendation. For U.S. futures traders, Apex is the right default. For anyone anywhere on the spectrum, doing the Free Trial before paying is the single highest-ROI action.


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