FTMO
Multi-asset prop firmFTMO is one of the longest-established forex/CFD prop firms, with structured evaluations — a newer 1-Step Challenge and the classic 2-Step (Challenge then Verification) — and published rules. It now also runs a separate futures product, FTMO Futures, which its own navigation labels beta. It suits disciplined traders who can respect defined loss limits.
FTMO is running 19% off the $100,000 FTMO Challenge (2-Step, FTMO Standard account only): €540 becomes €439 including VAT, with no code needed. It is FTMO's public promotion for anyone without an active $100,000 Challenge, not a discount for coming through SMCM. The price is the same either way; using the Visit button is how FTMO knows you came from us. The 1-Step shows a separate 20% offer we have not checked. Seen at the FTMO checkout on 2026-09-17. Offers change, so confirm the price before you pay.
Quick facts
- Funding type
- 1-Step or 2-Step Challenge
- Max account
- $200,000 to buy; scales to $2,000,000 under the scaling plan
- Profit split
- Up to 90%
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, cTrader
- Trustpilot
- 4.8 (~49k reviews)
Where you can trade
Available in most countries as evaluation and simulated-funded accounts; certain restricted and sanctioned jurisdictions are excluded. US residents go to a separate FTMO/OANDA joint venture at ftmo.oanda.com — note its own disclosure that you have no client relationship with OANDA Corporation and so do not get the regulatory protections OANDA's own customers receive. Confirm availability for your country on FTMO's official site.
Notable restrictions (3)
Checked by SMCM 2026-07-09. The provider's official list is authoritative and can change. See the official list ↗
Eligibility depends on your country of residence and which entity you are onboarded to, and can change. Always confirm you can open an account — and under which entity — on the provider's official site before funding.
Our take
FTMO helped define the modern prop-firm model and remains one of the most widely discussed firms in it. Its evaluations — a newer 1-Step Challenge and the classic 2-Step path of Challenge then Verification — are built to filter for consistency, and its rules are published in detail. Its public review base is among the largest in the category, which is a useful place to check payout experiences for yourself.
The trade-off is discipline. Daily-loss and maximum-loss limits are enforced strictly: breach one and the account is gone regardless of how profitable you were overall. That rewards steady risk management over big swings, which is exactly why rules-first traders favour it and gamblers wash out.
It is not the cheapest entry or the flashiest split on paper, but it is one of the longest-established firms in the category, with a correspondingly large public review base. Treat it as a long-term partner rather than a quick flip — and always confirm the current rulebook, since profit targets and news-trading rules have changed over time.
Pros
- Long track record; fee refunded on first payout
- Clear, well-documented rules
- Up to 90% profit split; scaling plan available
Cons
- Two-step evaluation takes time
- Strict maximum loss and daily loss limits
- The futures product is new and FTMO still labels it beta
Rules by account type
The rules belong to the product, not the brand — read the row for the account you are actually buying.
| Account | Profit target | Daily loss limit | Max loss limit | Min trading days | Best Day Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Step | 10% | 3% | 10% — trailing | None stated | 50% |
| 2-Step | 10% then 5% | 5% | 10% — static | 4 per phase | None |
The same on every model
- The two products are opposites
- Same brand, same website, and the two rules that decide whether an account survives run the other way on each. The 1-Step trails your maximum loss and caps your best day; the 2-Step does neither, and asks for a second phase instead.
- Does the open trade count?
- Yes. FTMO states the daily loss is “based on equity, not only on closed results” — closed positions plus the floating P/L of open ones, plus commissions and swaps. It resets at 00:00 CE(S)T from the previous day’s midnight balance, so a position dipping past the line at any moment breaches it even if it later closes in profit.
- How the 1-Step trail works
- The maximum loss is recalculated daily from the highest account balance recorded at 00:00 CET on any preceding trading day. It follows your best close upward and never comes back down.
- Best Day Rule is a delay, not a breach
- Exceeding it does not fail the account. You keep trading until the best day is back under 50% of total positive-day profit. It applies to the 1-Step Challenge and to the 1-Step funded account.
- Time limit
- None. FTMO removed the 30 and 60 calendar-day limits, so the trading period is open-ended — only the minimum trading days remain, and on the 2-Step they need not be consecutive.
- Requesting a payout
- A reward request can be made from day 14 after the first trade.
Read from FTMO's published trading objectives on 2026-08-31. These change — check the current page for the product you are buying.
Full details
- Evaluation model
- Two paths — 1-Step Challenge (single phase) or 2-Step Challenge (Challenge + Verification)
- Account sizes
- $10k–$200k
- Profit target
- 1-Step 10%; 2-Step 10% then 5%
- Daily loss limit
- 2-Step 5%; 1-Step 3% of the initial simulated capital — measured on equity, so floating P/L on open trades counts toward it
- Max loss
- 10% — static on the 2-Step; end-of-day trailing on the 1-Step
- Best Day Rule
- 1-Step only — the best day may not exceed 50% of total positive-day profit. Exceeding it is not a breach; you keep trading until it falls back under
- Min trading days
- 4 per phase on the 2-Step, and they need not be consecutive; none stated on the 1-Step
- Profit split
- 2-Step from 80%; 1-Step from 90%; up to 90% via the scaling plan
- News trading
- Restricted around high-impact news on standard accounts; Swing accounts allow news + weekend holding
- Payout
- A reward request can be made from day 14 after the first trade
Who it may fit
- • Traders who can follow strict risk rules
- • Forex and index CFD traders
- • Futures traders, via the separate FTMO Futures product
Who should avoid it
- • Traders who want a long-established futures product
- • Traders who dislike consistency-style / best-day rules
FAQ
- Does FTMO have a 1-Step Challenge?
- Yes — alongside the classic 2-Step (Challenge then Verification), FTMO offers a 1-Step Challenge with a single 10% target. The 1-Step uses a tighter daily loss limit and an end-of-day trailing maximum loss plus a best-day rule, and starts at a higher profit split. Confirm the current rules for each model on FTMO's site.
- Does FTMO allow news trading?
- On standard accounts, trading around high-impact news is restricted; Swing accounts allow news trading and weekend holding. Verify the current policy on FTMO's official terms.
- How fast are FTMO payouts?
- FTMO runs a regular payout cycle with on-demand options. We do not verify payouts ourselves — confirm current timing on their site and check recent trader reports before you rely on it.
Head-to-head comparisons
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Last checked: September 2026