Overview
Smart Trader Funds and FTMO target the same market — traders looking for funded accounts — but they are at very different stages of maturity. FTMO has been operating since 2014 with over 7,000 Trustpilot reviews. Smart Trader Funds launched in 2025 with 19 reviews. This comparison breaks down how they stack up on the metrics that matter.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Smart Trader Funds | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2025 | 2014 |
| Trustpilot | 3.4/5 (19 reviews) | 4.8/5 (7,000+ reviews) |
| Max Funding | $300,000 | $200,000 (scales to $2M) |
| Profit Split | 70-90% | 80-90% |
| Challenge Types | 1-Phase, 2-Phase, Swing | 2-Phase, 1-Phase Swing |
| Profit Target (Phase 1) | 9% | 10% |
| Profit Target (Phase 2) | 4% | 5% |
| Daily Drawdown | 4-5% | 5% |
| Max Drawdown | 6-10% | 10% |
| Payout Frequency | Bi-weekly | Bi-weekly |
| Fee Refund | No | Yes (with first payout) |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5 | MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade |
| Leverage | 1:30 to 1:50 | 1:100 |
| Scaling | Up to $400K | Up to $2M |
Profit Splits
FTMO starts at 80% and scales to 90% across all programmes. Smart Trader Funds starts at just 70% on its Fast Track (1-Phase) programme, though Regular and Pro accounts start at 80% and can reach 90%.
The 70% Fast Track split is the weakest offering here. If you are choosing a 1-phase challenge, FTMO's equivalent gives you 80% from day one — a 10 percentage point advantage on every payout.
Challenge Targets
Smart Trader Funds has slightly easier profit targets: 9% in Phase 1 and 4% in Phase 2, compared to FTMO's 10% and 5%. The 1% difference on each phase may seem small, but over hundreds of trades it can be the difference between passing and failing a challenge.
However, STF's daily drawdown on Fast Track and Pro accounts is tighter at 4% versus FTMO's 5%. The max drawdown on the Fast Track is also more restrictive at 6% compared to FTMO's 10%. This means you have less room for losing streaks, which partially offsets the easier profit targets.
Platforms and Leverage
FTMO offers four platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, and DXtrade. Smart Trader Funds offers only MT4 and MT5. If you trade on cTrader or prefer its depth-of-market features, STF is not an option.
Leverage is a bigger gap. FTMO provides 1:100, while STF caps at 1:30 to 1:50 depending on the programme. Lower leverage means you need more margin per trade and cannot scale into positions as aggressively. For strategies that rely on higher leverage, FTMO is the clear choice.
Payouts and Fees
Both firms offer bi-weekly payouts. The critical difference is fee treatment. FTMO refunds your challenge fee with your first profit split — meaning the evaluation is effectively free if you pass and trade profitably. Smart Trader Funds does not refund fees under any circumstances.
STF also uses Rise for payouts, which charges up to 3% processing fee. FTMO uses Deel with lower fees, and offers bank transfer and crypto options.
Track Record and Trust
This is where the comparison is most lopsided. FTMO has been operating for over 10 years, has paid out millions to traders, and holds a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating from over 7,000 reviews. Smart Trader Funds has been operating for one year with 19 reviews and a 3.4/5 rating.
FTMO's track record is one of the strongest in the industry. Smart Trader Funds has not yet had enough time to build comparable trust. This does not mean STF is a scam — it means there is less data to assess reliability.
Where Smart Trader Funds Wins
- Lower profit targets — 9%/4% vs 10%/5% makes challenges slightly easier to pass
- Larger starting accounts — up to $300,000 vs FTMO's $200,000
- Dedicated swing trading programme — the Pro account allows weekend holding, which FTMO restricts on standard challenges
Where FTMO Wins
- Higher profit splits — 80-90% across all programmes vs 70-90%
- Fee refund policy — challenge fee returned with first payout
- More platforms — MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade vs MT4/MT5 only
- Higher leverage — 1:100 vs 1:30-1:50
- Scaling to $2M — vs $400K at STF
- Proven track record — 10+ years, 7,000+ reviews, 4.8/5 rating
Final Thoughts
FTMO is the stronger choice by almost every measurable metric. It offers better splits, more platforms, higher leverage, fee refunds, and a decade of proven payouts. The only areas where Smart Trader Funds leads are slightly easier targets, larger starting accounts, and a dedicated swing programme.
If you are an experienced trader who values reliability and platform choice, FTMO is the safer bet. If you specifically want a large swing trading account with lower targets and are willing to accept the risks of a younger firm, Smart Trader Funds may suit your needs — but go in with realistic expectations about the company's limited track record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smart Trader Funds cheaper than FTMO?
STF's challenge fees start at $99 for a $10,000 account. FTMO's equivalent is $155. However, FTMO refunds the fee with your first payout, making it effectively free. STF does not refund fees.
Which has easier challenge rules?
Smart Trader Funds has slightly lower profit targets (9%/4% vs 10%/5%), but tighter daily drawdown limits on some programmes (4% vs 5%). Overall, the difficulty is comparable.
Can I use cTrader with Smart Trader Funds?
No. Smart Trader Funds only supports MT4 and MT5. FTMO offers cTrader and DXtrade in addition to MetaTrader platforms.
Which pays out faster?
Both offer bi-weekly payouts. FTMO processes through Deel with generally faster turnaround. STF uses Rise with up to 3% fees and 3-7 business day processing.