FTMO Review

FTMO is a proprietary trading firm founded in 2015 and headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic. It is widely regarded as the industry standard in prop trading, with over 37,000 Trustpilot reviews and a 4.8/5 rating. FTMO offers funded accounts from $10,000 to $200,000 through a two-step evaluation process, with an 80% profit split that scales to 90%. The firm supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, and DXtrade, and trades forex, indices, commodities, stocks, and crypto CFDs.

How FTMO Works

FTMO operates a two-step evaluation model. Traders pay a one-time fee, pass two evaluation phases, and then trade a funded account with FTMO's capital. The fee is refunded with the first profit withdrawal on the funded account.

The model is straightforward: prove you can trade profitably within defined risk parameters, and FTMO gives you capital. There are no recurring fees and no hidden charges beyond the initial evaluation cost.

Evaluation Rules

The daily loss limit (5%) is calculated based on account balance or equity at the start of the day, whichever is higher. This resets at midnight CE(S)T. The maximum loss limit (10%) is based on the initial account balance and does not reset.

FTMO removed time limits on both evaluation phases — traders can take as long as needed to reach the profit targets. This is a significant change from the original 30/60 day structure and reduces pressure on traders.

Account Types

The Normal account offers higher leverage (1:100 on forex) but restricts weekend holding and applies news trading restrictions on targeted instruments. Positions must be closed before the weekend.

The Swing account reduces leverage to 1:30 on forex but allows weekend holding and unrestricted news trading. This suits position traders and swing traders who need to hold trades across sessions.

Pricing

All fees are one-time payments refunded with the first profit withdrawal on the funded account. FTMO supports accounts denominated in USD, EUR, GBP, CZK, CAD, AUD, and CHF. The Aggressive plan offers higher profit targets and drawdown limits for traders who want more room.

The €100,000 account at €540 is competitive but not the cheapest in the market. Firms like Funding Pips and FundedNext offer lower evaluation fees, though FTMO's reputation and payout reliability often justify the premium.

Profit Split and Payouts

FTMO pays an 80% profit split on a biweekly payout cycle. After meeting the scaling plan requirements, the split increases to 90%.

The first payout includes the evaluation fee refund. For example, on a €100,000 account where you earned €8,000 in the first cycle: (€8,000 x 0.80) + €540 refund = €6,940.

Payouts are processed via bank transfer, Skrill, and crypto. FTMO has a strong reputation for reliable, on-time payouts — this is consistently highlighted across Trustpilot reviews and is one of the firm's key differentiators in a market where payout delays are common.

Scaling Plan

FTMO's scaling plan increases account size by 25% at each milestone. Requirements:

• Achieve at least 10% net profit over four consecutive months
• Does not need to be profitable every single month
• Profit split increases to 90% after the first scale-up
• Maximum funded capital: $2,000,000 per trader

The $2M cap is generous compared to most prop firms but lower than some competitors like The5ers which offers scaling up to $4M.

Trading Platforms

FTMO supports four platforms:

• MetaTrader 4: The industry standard with full EA support and custom indicators
• MetaTrader 5: Updated version with more timeframes, depth of market, and improved backtesting
• cTrader: Advanced charting, Level II pricing, and cAlgo for algorithmic trading
• DXtrade: Web-based platform with no downloads required

The four-platform offering gives traders genuine choice. Most prop firms only support MT4/MT5, so the inclusion of cTrader and DXtrade is a notable advantage.

Instruments

FTMO provides access to CFDs across multiple asset classes:

• Forex: Major, minor, and exotic currency pairs
• Indices: Global stock indices including S&P 500, DAX, FTSE 100, Nikkei
• Commodities: Gold, silver, crude oil, natural gas
• Stocks: Individual share CFDs
• Crypto: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major cryptocurrencies

The instrument range covers all major asset classes. Traders can trade any instrument available on their chosen platform.

Trading Rules and Restrictions

What's Allowed

• Discretionary trading
• Expert Advisors (must be your own, not third-party copy services)
• Scalping
• Hedging
• News trading (Swing account only, or on non-targeted instruments for Normal accounts)

What's Restricted

• Third-party copy trading services or signal providers
• High-frequency trading or latency exploitation
• Manipulative strategies (gap trading exploitation, toxic order flow)
• Weekend holding on Normal accounts
• News trading on targeted instruments within 2 minutes of release (Normal accounts)

FTMO's rules are stricter than some newer prop firms but well-documented and consistently enforced. The firm prioritises traders who demonstrate genuine skill and risk management over those seeking to exploit edge cases.

Who Is FTMO Best For?

FTMO is best suited to disciplined forex and index traders who want a reliable, well-established prop firm with a proven payout track record. The two-step evaluation with no time limits gives traders room to prove themselves without artificial pressure.

It is particularly strong for traders who value:

• Payout reliability above all else
• Platform choice (MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade)
• A scaling plan to grow their funded capital over time
• A firm with a long track record and transparent rules

FTMO is less ideal for traders who want the cheapest evaluation fees, instant funding without a challenge, or aggressive leverage above 1:100. Newer firms may offer lower prices, but few match FTMO's track record and trustworthiness.

Final Thoughts

FTMO set the standard for the prop trading industry and continues to lead on trust, transparency, and payout reliability. The 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating from 37,000+ reviews speaks for itself — no other prop firm comes close on verified client feedback.

The evaluation fees are not the cheapest, and the rules are stricter than some competitors. But for traders who want confidence that their profits will actually be paid out, FTMO remains the benchmark. The removal of time limits on evaluation phases and the scaling plan to $2M funded capital make it a strong long-term option for serious traders.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the FTMO challenge cost?

FTMO evaluation fees range from €155 for a €10,000 Standard account to €1,080 for a €200,000 account. The fee is refunded with your first profit withdrawal on the funded account. Accounts are available in USD, EUR, GBP, CZK, CAD, AUD, and CHF.

What is the profit split at FTMO?

FTMO offers an 80% profit split on a biweekly payout cycle. After meeting the scaling plan requirements (10% net profit over four consecutive months), the split increases to 90%.

Does FTMO allow EAs and automated trading?

Yes. FTMO permits Expert Advisors and algorithmic trading provided the strategies are your own and not third-party copy services. EAs must follow proper risk management and cannot exploit high-frequency or manipulative strategies.

How long does FTMO take to pay out?

FTMO operates on a biweekly payout cycle. Payouts are processed via bank transfer, Skrill, or crypto. The firm has a strong reputation for on-time, reliable payouts — consistently one of the best-rated prop firms for payout speed.

Can I hold trades over the weekend with FTMO?

Only on the Swing account. The Normal account requires all positions to be closed before the weekend. The Swing account also allows unrestricted news trading, while the Normal account has restrictions around high-impact news releases.

What is FTMO's maximum funded capital?

FTMO's scaling plan allows traders to grow their funded account up to $2,000,000. Account size increases by 25% at each milestone after achieving 10% net profit over four consecutive months.