FTMO Review
Data verified 2026-04-11
FTMO Review 2026: The World’s Most Trusted Prop Firm: Is It Right for You?
Rating: 4.4/5 | Forex + Multi-Asset | Prague, Czech Republic | Founded 2015
When people talk about prop trading firms, FTMO is usually the first name that comes up. Since 2015, this Prague-based firm has paid out over $200 million to funded traders worldwide, making it the most proven prop firm in existence. But “most popular” doesn’t always mean “best for you.” Let’s break down exactly how FTMO works, what it costs, and who should, and shouldn’t, use it.
What Is FTMO?
FTMO is a multi-asset proprietary trading firm based in Prague, Czech Republic, founded in 2015. They fund traders in forex, crypto, indices, and commodities (but not futures contracts like ES or NQ). Traders who pass a two-phase evaluation receive funded accounts from $10,000 to $200,000 and keep 80–90% of their profits.
FTMO is the benchmark of the industry. Their track record, 10+ years of consistent payouts, a transparent website, and $200M+ paid to traders, gives them a credibility that newer firms simply can’t match.
Key facts:
- Account sizes: $10K to $200K (scalable to $400K)
- Evaluation type: 2-step (Challenge + Verification)
- Starting profit split: 80%, scalable to 90%
- Platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, DXtrade
- Based in Prague, Czech Republic, operating since 2015
- Note: No futures trading, forex, crypto, indices, commodities only
The Two-Phase Evaluation Process
FTMO’s evaluation has two distinct phases. Both must be completed before you receive a funded account. This is stricter than 1-step firms, but it serves a purpose: FTMO wants to make sure you’re consistent, not just lucky.
Phase 1: The FTMO Challenge
You pay a one-time fee ($155–$1,080 depending on account size) and get a simulated trading account. Your goals:
- Hit 10% profit within 30 calendar days
- Trade at least 4 different days
- Never lose more than 5% in a single day
- Never lose more than 10% total (max drawdown)
This phase weeds out traders who can hit big numbers but can’t manage risk. The 5% daily loss limit is strict, one bad day where you go all-in and blow 6% means you fail and need to restart.
Phase 2: Verification
After passing Phase 1, you enter the Verification phase. Same rules, easier targets:
- Hit 5% profit within 60 calendar days (half the target, twice the time)
- Same 5% daily / 10% max drawdown limits apply
- Trade at least 4 different days
This phase confirms your Phase 1 results weren’t a fluke. The extended 60-day window gives consistent traders plenty of room to reach the lower target.
Total minimum time to funded status: 8 trading days (4 in Phase 1, 4 in Phase 2), though in practice most traders take longer.
Account Sizes and Pricing
| Account Size | Challenge Fee | Phase 1 Target | Phase 2 Target | Daily Loss Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $155 | $1,000 | $500 | $500 |
| $25,000 | $250 | $2,500 | $1,250 | $1,250 |
| $50,000 | $345 | $5,000 | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| $100,000 | $540 | $10,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| $200,000 | $1,080 | $20,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 |
The fee refund: After you pass both phases and receive your first payout as a funded trader, FTMO refunds your original challenge fee. This effectively makes the evaluation free if you pass and trade successfully, though you do need to front the cost initially.
The Drawdown Rules Explained
FTMO uses a static drawdown model rather than trailing drawdown. Here’s what that means for you:
The 10% max drawdown is calculated from your initial account balance, not from your equity high. So if you start with $100K, your absolute floor is $90,000, and that floor never moves. Whether you’re up $5K or down $9K, your liquidation point stays at $90,000.
The 5% daily loss limit resets each day at midnight Central European Time (CET). It’s calculated based on your balance OR your equity at the start of the day, whichever is higher. If your account grew to $105K yesterday, today’s daily limit is based on $105K, meaning you can lose up to $5,250 today before hitting the limit.
This is generally more forgiving than trailing drawdown models, since a good early run doesn’t compress your room to maneuver.
Funded Account Rules
Once funded:
- Starting profit split: 80% to you, 20% to FTMO
- Scaling to 90%: After 4 consecutive months with profit, you can scale to 90/10
- Payout frequency: Biweekly (every 14 days), paid within 1–2 business days
- Max drawdown: Same 5%/10% rules continue indefinitely
- No time pressure: No profit targets in the funded phase, just don’t breach drawdown
Scaling: FTMO’s scaling plan can grow your account from $200K up to $400K based on performance. At $400K with 90% split, you can earn up to $36,000 per month on a single account.
Platform Support
FTMO supports the most popular forex platforms:
- MetaTrader 4 (MT4): industry standard, massive library of EAs
- MetaTrader 5 (MT5): updated version with more order types
- cTrader: modern alternative with great charting
- DXtrade: web-based, no download required
Importantly, EAs (automated trading bots) are fully allowed on FTMO. This sets it apart from many competitors who restrict or ban automated strategies.
News trading and weekend position holding are also allowed, unusual in the prop firm space and valued by many professional forex traders.
Important Note for Futures Traders
If you’re primarily a futures trader (ES, NQ, CL, etc.), FTMO is not for you. They do not support CME futures contracts. Their instruments are all forex pairs, crypto CFDs, stock index CFDs, and commodity CFDs, all traded through the MetaTrader ecosystem.
If you trade both forex and futures, FTMO complements a futures firm like Topstep or Apex nicely.
Community Reputation
FTMO consistently holds a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating with tens of thousands of reviews, one of the highest in the prop firm industry. The sheer volume of positive verified reviews and the publicly documented $200M+ payout figure make them the most trusted name in the space.
Common complaints are minor: the 5% daily loss limit catching swing traders, the biweekly payout schedule (vs. faster competitors), and the two-phase evaluation being longer than single-phase firms.
Reddit communities (r/Forex, r/PropFirms) consistently recommend FTMO for forex traders, citing payout reliability and the fee refund policy.
Who Should Use FTMO?
FTMO is ideal for:
- Forex traders with a consistent, disciplined strategy
- EA traders who need full algorithmic trading permission
- Swing traders who want to hold over weekends (allowed!)
- Anyone who values track record above all else
- International traders, FTMO operates globally with excellent support
FTMO may not be ideal for:
- Futures traders (no CME contract access)
- Beginners who struggle with the 5% daily loss limit
- Traders who want the simplicity of 1-step evaluations
- Traders who need frequent payouts (biweekly minimum)
Final Verdict
FTMO earns its reputation as the most trusted prop firm in the world. The $200M+ in documented payouts, 10-year track record, and transparent fee refund policy create a level of credibility that newer firms can’t match. The two-phase evaluation ensures funded traders are genuinely skilled, which is part of why FTMO has such a high payout success rate compared to firms that fund anyone who passes a simpler test.
The 80% starting profit split is lower than some competitors, and the lack of futures trading limits the audience. But for forex and multi-asset traders who prioritize reliability over maximum short-term profit, FTMO remains the industry gold standard.
Overall Score: 4.4/5
Data current as of March 2026. Pricing and rules subject to change, always verify on the official FTMO website before purchasing.
Scores
Account Plans
| Account | Price | Max Drawdown | Profit Target | Profit Split | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000FTMO Challenge $10K | $155 | n/a | 10% | 80% | bi-weekly |
| $10,00010K FTMO Challenge | $89 | n/a | n/a | 90% | bi-weekly |
| $10,000FTMO Challenge | $155 | 10% | 10% | 80% | bi-weekly |
| $25,000FTMO Challenge $25K | $250 | n/a | 10% | 80% | bi-weekly |
| $25,00025K FTMO Challenge | $250 | n/a | n/a | 90% | bi-weekly |
| $25,000FTMO Challenge | $250 | 10% | 10% | 80% | bi-weekly |
| $50,000FTMO Challenge $50K | $345 | n/a | 10% | 80% | bi-weekly |
| $50,00050K FTMO Challenge | $345 | n/a | n/a | 90% | bi-weekly |
| $50,000FTMO Challenge | $345 | 10% | 10% | 80% | bi-weekly |
| $100,000FTMO Challenge $100K | $540 | n/a | 10% | 80% | bi-weekly |
| $100,000FTMO Challenge | $540 | 10% | 10% | 80% | bi-weekly |
| $100,000100K FTMO Challenge | $540 | n/a | n/a | 90% | bi-weekly |
| $200,000FTMO Challenge $200K | $1080 | n/a | 10% | 80% | bi-weekly |
| $200,000FTMO Challenge | $1080 | 10% | 10% | 80% | bi-weekly |
| $200,000200K FTMO Challenge | $1080 | n/a | n/a | 90% | bi-weekly |
Pricing data last verified 2026-04-11. See methodology.