FTMO is one of the oldest and most established prop firms in the space, founded in Prague in 2015. It offers 1-Step and 2-Step challenge models on accounts from $10,000 to $200,000, with up to 90% profit split and a scaling path to $2,000,000. Over $500M has been paid out in trader rewards across 140+ countries. FTMO supports MT4, MT5, and cTrader with Standard and Swing account variants to suit different trading styles.
Rating Breakdown
Pros
- Founded 2015 — one of the longest-running prop firms
- $500M+ paid in trader rewards worldwide
- 4.8/5 Trustpilot from 44,700+ reviews
- MT4, MT5, and cTrader all supported
- No time limit on challenge or verification phases
- Swing account: no overnight, weekend, or news restrictions
- Fee fully refunded with first payout
- Scaling plan up to $2,000,000 account
- EAs and copy trading allowed
- Free trial available before purchasing a challenge
Cons
- Best Day Rule (1-Step): one profitable day cannot exceed 50% of total profits
- News and overnight trading restricted on Standard funded accounts
- Informal “1% risk per trade” rule reported to be applied at payout review
- 80% default split — only reaches 90% after Scaling Plan qualification
- Monthly payout cycle by default
- Aggressive account limited to $200K total capital
- Standard account: no overnight/weekend holding on funded accounts
- No confirmed public coupon code available
Account Plans and Pricing
2-Step Challenge Rules
| Evaluation type | Two-step (FTMO Challenge + Verification) |
| Phase 1 profit target | 10% of initial simulated capital |
| Phase 2 profit target | 5% of initial simulated capital |
| Time limit | None |
| Min. trading days | 4 per phase (a day where at least one position is opened) |
| Max drawdown type | Static (fixed from initial capital) |
| Max drawdown amount | 10% of initial simulated capital |
| Daily loss limit | 5% of balance at 00:00 CET (recalculated daily) |
| Consistency rule | None on 2-Step |
| Best Day Rule | Not applied on 2-Step |
| Fee refund | 100% refunded with first reward withdrawal |
1-Step Challenge Rules
| Evaluation type | Single phase (FTMO Challenge only) |
| Profit target | 10% of initial simulated capital |
| Time limit | None |
| Min. trading days | None required |
| Max drawdown type | End-of-day (EOD) trailing from highest daily closing balance |
| Max drawdown amount | 10% of initial simulated capital |
| Daily loss limit | 3% of balance at 00:00 CET (recalculated daily) |
| Best Day Rule | Yes — no single day can exceed 50% of total positive days’ profit |
| Swing account type | Not available on 1-Step (Standard only) |
| Fee refund | 100% refunded with first reward withdrawal |
Account Types: Standard vs Swing
| Standard account | Higher leverage; overnight and weekend position holding restricted on funded account; news trading restricted on funded account; restrictions do NOT apply during evaluation |
| Swing account | Lower leverage; overnight, weekend, and news trading all permitted on funded account; available on 2-Step only |
| Platform switch | Allowed before first trade is placed; after each reward withdrawal on funded accounts |
| Account type switch | Standard to Swing available on 2-Step; not available on 1-Step |
Payouts
| First payout timing | 30-day cycle from account activation; request once 30 days have passed |
| Default payout cycle | Monthly (every 30 days) |
| Profit split (default) | 80% to trader |
| Profit split (Scaling Plan) | 90% to trader (2-Step only, after qualifying) |
| Profit split (1-Step) | 90% from the first payout |
| KYC required | Yes, identity verification required before first reward |
| Verified total paid | $500M+ to traders worldwide |
Trading Conditions
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), cTrader |
| Instruments | CFDs: forex pairs, indices, commodities, stocks, crypto |
| Leverage | Standard: higher leverage (exact ratio not publicly listed); Swing: lower leverage |
| News trading | Allowed during evaluation on both account types; restricted on Standard funded accounts; unrestricted on Swing funded accounts |
| Overnight / weekend | Allowed during evaluation; restricted on Standard funded; allowed on Swing funded |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | Allowed |
| Copy trading | Allowed; max $400K capital per strategy per person across accounts |
| Third-party trading | Not permitted; account must be traded by the account holder |
| Inactivity rule | Must place at least one trade every 30 days; account freeze available for 7 days to 6 months |
| Scaling plan | 25% account boost every 4 months; min 10% net profit, 2 processed rewards, positive balance; up to $2,000,000 |
Our Verdict
FTMO is the most established prop firm on the market. Founded in 2015, it has outlasted a wave of competitors that launched, paid out briefly, and folded. That track record matters: $500M+ in verified trader rewards and 44,700+ Trustpilot reviews at 4.8/5 are the kind of numbers that take years to build. If longevity and proven payment history are your top criteria, FTMO sits at the top of the CFD prop firm list.
The challenge structure is one of the cleanest in the space. The 2-Step has a fixed 10% static drawdown, which is more forgiving than end-of-day trailing models used by some competitors. No time limit on either phase removes the pressure that kills traders who have a solid method but run into a slow market stretch. The fee refund policy means the entry cost is effectively zero for anyone who passes and gets a payout. On these fundamentals, FTMO scores well.
The 1-Step model is where things get more complex. The Best Day Rule is the rule that catches traders off guard most often. If you have one standout winning day early in your challenge, you cannot stop there and request a payout. You have to keep trading until that best day represents 50% or less of your total positive profit. Traders who front-load their results and then coast into a low-activity period will hit this wall. Check your numbers with our consistency calculator if you are running a strategy with uneven day-to-day returns.
The Standard funded account restrictions are a real consideration for certain traders. News trading and overnight holding are both blocked on Standard funded accounts once you pass the evaluation. This is a meaningful rule change between evaluation and live conditions. The Swing account removes these restrictions entirely but costs you leverage. Traders need to decide which version matches their actual strategy before buying in, not after.
The community has raised a pattern worth flagging. Multiple Reddit threads in 2025 and 2026 document traders who met all published rules but had payouts denied or partially reduced. FTMO’s payout review process appears to include discretionary checks around position sizing relative to account capital, even though a specific percentage risk limit is not listed in the public trading objectives. This does not make FTMO a scam, but it does mean the published rules may not be the complete picture for heavily allocated accounts.
Overall, FTMO is the right choice for traders who want stability, MT4/MT5/cTrader support, and a firm that will still exist in two years. The 2-Step model is the safer entry point. The 1-Step suits traders who understand the Best Day Rule and can manage their equity curve accordingly. If you prefer a prop firm with fewer post-evaluation restrictions or a faster payout cycle, compare FTMO against other firms in our CFD prop firm category before deciding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FTMO a legitimate prop firm?
FTMO was founded in 2015 and is one of the longest-running prop firms in the space. It has 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot from over 44,700 reviews and has paid out $500M+ in rewards to traders in 140+ countries. It is not regulated by a financial authority, which is standard for prop firms. Trading is conducted on demo accounts with fictitious capital, and payouts are real performance-based rewards.
What challenge types does FTMO offer?
FTMO offers two challenge models: 1-Step and 2-Step. The 2-Step has a 10% profit target in Phase 1 (FTMO Challenge) and 5% in Phase 2 (Verification), with a 10% static max drawdown and 5% daily loss limit, and a minimum of 4 trading days per phase. The 1-Step has a single 10% target, 10% end-of-day trailing drawdown, 3% daily loss limit, and a Best Day Rule. Both have no time limit. Account sizes are $10K, $25K, $50K, $100K, and $200K.
What is the FTMO Best Day Rule and how does it affect payouts?
The Best Day Rule applies to the 1-Step challenge and funded account. It requires that no single trading day accounts for more than 50% of your total positive days’ profit. Exceeding it is not an immediate breach — you must continue trading until your best day drops below that threshold. Traders who have one large winning day and then try to lock in their gains will find they cannot request a payout until they generate more profit from other days.
What platforms does FTMO support?
FTMO supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader. The Standard account type offers higher leverage but restricts overnight and weekend holding and news trading on the funded account. The Swing account type has no such restrictions but offers lower leverage. Platform and account type selection can be changed before your first trade is placed.
Does FTMO have a coupon code or discount?
No confirmed public coupon code for FTMO was found at the time of this review. FTMO occasionally runs promotional pricing campaigns, but these are time-limited and region-specific. Check the FTMO website directly or use our affiliate link to see current pricing before purchasing.
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1-Step and 2-Step challenges. MT4, MT5, cTrader. $500M+ paid to traders. Scale to $2M.
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