FTMO is the firm that made challenge-based prop trading mainstream. It has run since 2015, has paid out more than $500 million, and in December 2025 it bought the regulated broker OANDA, which puts it on firmer ground than almost any rival. It funds traders up to $200,000 through a 1-step or 2-step evaluation, with splits from 80% to 90%. The trade-off is strict rules and a news-trading restriction on standard funded accounts.
Pros
- Running since 2015 with one of the longest payout records in the industry
- Owns regulated broker OANDA after the December 2025 acquisition
- 1-Step pays a 90% split from day one
- 2-Step refunds the full challenge fee with the first payout
- Over $500 million paid to traders
- Trustpilot around 4.8/5 from 40,000+ reviews
- Wide platform choice: MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade
- Scaling plan reaches a $2 million account and a 90% split
Cons
- No instant-funding route, you must pass an evaluation
- Standard funded accounts cannot trade a 2-minute window around high-impact news
- Leverage dropped to 1:50 on accounts above $50,000
- 1-Step uses a trailing max loss and a Best Day consistency rule
- Fees are higher than budget competitors
- Some traders report tighter risk enforcement after a first payout
Best for
Traders who want a long-established, financially transparent firm with a proven payout record and are willing to trade within strict rules.
Not ideal for
Traders who want instant funding, need to trade the news on a standard funded account, or want the very cheapest challenge fees.
Our Take
FTMO is a Prague-based prop firm founded in 2015 by Otakar Suffner and Marek Vrba. It runs two evaluation routes: a 1-step Challenge that pays a 90% split from day one, and a 2-step Challenge that starts at 80% and refunds your full fee with the first payout. Account sizes run from $10,000 to $200,000. In December 2025 FTMO Group completed its acquisition of OANDA, a regulated broker founded in 1996, which also opened a US route for the first time.
Key Facts
| Country | Czech Republic |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 |
| Evaluation types | 1-step, 2-step |
| Max profit split | 90% |
| Starting fee | From €89 / $139 |
| Payout processing | Fast (often same day once requested) |
| First payout | 14 days after first funded trade |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade |
| News trading | Allowed in evaluation; restricted on standard funded accounts |
| Weekend holding | Standard restricted; Swing allowed |
| Expert Advisors | Allowed |
| Restricted countries | A number of countries are restricted. US traders are now served through the FTMO US route on OANDA. Check eligibility at checkout. |
| Trustpilot | 4.8/5 (40,000+ reviews) |
Challenge Accounts
FTMO offers two evaluation routes. The 1-Step Challenge is a single phase that pays a 90% split once you are funded. The 2-Step Challenge runs an FTMO Challenge then a Verification phase, starts at 80%, and refunds your full fee with the first payout. Both cover account sizes from $10,000 to $200,000, and neither has a maximum time limit.
Challenge Comparison
| Attribute | Product 1 | Product 2 | Product 3 | Product 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 1 phase | 2 phases | 2 phases | |
| Profit target | 10% | 10% then 5% | 10% then 5% | |
| Daily loss | 3% | 5% | 5% | |
| Max loss | 10% trailing | 10% static | 10% static | |
| Starting split | 90% | 80% | 80% | |
| Leverage (forex) | 1:100 / 1:50 | 1:100 / 1:50 | 1:30 | |
| News on funded | Restricted | Restricted | Allowed | |
| Consistency rule | Best Day Rule | None | None |
Challenge Add-Ons
FTMO does not sell paid add-ons in the way many newer firms do. Its extra value sits in the free tools and the scaling plan rather than checkout upgrades.
| Add-On | Fee | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free | 14-day demo of the Challenge, no funded eligibility |
Scaling Plan
FTMO’s scaling plan grows both your account and your split. Meet the criteria over four cycles and your account increases by 25% every 4 months, up to a $2 million allocation, and your split rises to 90%. To qualify you need at least 10% net profit over the period and to have taken two payouts. The 1-Step already pays 90% from day one, so scaling there mainly grows the account size.
Commissions, Spreads & Pricing
You pay a one-time evaluation fee and nothing else up front. The fee is refunded with your first payout on eligible programs. Pricing is mid-market: higher than budget firms, lower than the most premium tiers, and you are paying partly for FTMO’s track record.
Spread models
| Account Type | Spread From | Commission |
|---|---|---|
| FTMO account | Market spreads | Commission on forex and metals |
| Account Type | Forex | Commodities/Metals | Crypto | Indices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTMO account | ~$3-4/lot | Varies | Varies | No commission |
Verdict: Fees are higher than budget rivals, but the full refund on a first payout and the firm's reliability soften that for traders who pass.
Markets & Leverage
FTMO covers forex, indices, commodities, metals, and crypto CFDs. Leverage was reduced in 2026: accounts of $10,000 to $25,000 keep 1:100, while accounts above $50,000 are capped at 1:50. The Swing variant caps forex leverage at 1:30.
| Model / Stage | Forex | Indices | Commodities | Crypto |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10K – $25K | 1:100 | 1:100 | 1:100 | 1:2 |
| $50K and above | 1:50 | 1:50 | 1:50 | 1:2 |
| Swing variant | 1:30 | 1:30 | 1:30 | 1:2 |
Verdict: A solid multi-asset range, though the 2026 leverage cut to 1:50 on larger accounts changes position sizing for anyone trading the bigger challenges.
Trading Platforms
FTMO supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and DXtrade, each with desktop, web, and mobile versions. US traders access FTMO through the OANDA route on MT5. There are no extra platform fees.
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
The classic forex platform, still popular for its wide EA and indicator support.
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
A multi-asset platform with more order types, more timeframes, and a built-in economic calendar. It is also the platform for the US OANDA route.
cTrader
A modern platform with depth-of-market pricing and clean charting, with support for automated trading.
DXtrade
A web-based platform option for traders who prefer a browser terminal without a download.
Verdict: One of the widest platform line-ups in the industry, and every option supports the core tools most traders need.
Payouts & Profit Split
Funded traders can request a payout 14 days after their first funded trade, then on a regular cycle after that. Processing is fast, often the same day once a request is in. The 1-Step pays 90% from the start, and the 2-Step pays 80% rising to 90% through scaling.
| Product | First Reward Available |
|---|---|
| 1-Step | 14 days after first funded trade |
| 2-Step | 14 days after first funded trade |
Withdrawal methods
- Bank transfer
- Cryptocurrency
- Skrill / other processors
Refundable fee
The evaluation fee is refunded with your first payout on eligible programs. The 2-Step refunds the full fee, which makes it effectively free once you pass and get paid.
Minimum payout thresholds
You can request a payout after at least 14 days from your first funded trade, provided you are in profit with no open or pending orders.
KYC requirement
Identity verification is required before you are funded. You upload ID documents to complete FTMO's identity checks.
Verdict: A decade of reliable payouts, fast processing, a 90% ceiling, and a refundable fee make payouts one of FTMO's strongest areas.
Trading Rules
News trading
News trading is allowed during the evaluation on every program. On standard funded accounts you cannot open or close a trade within a 2-minute window before or after high-impact news on the affected instrument. The Swing variant removes this restriction at every stage.
Weekend & overnight holding
Standard accounts restrict weekend holding, while the Swing variant allows it. Check which account type you hold before leaving trades open over the weekend.
Copy trading
Traders commonly run multiple accounts, subject to FTMO's combined-capital and account rules. Copying signals from other people is not allowed.
Expert Advisors (EAs)
Expert Advisors are allowed, but they must reflect your own strategy rather than exploit the simulated environment. Practices that game the platform rather than show real skill are banned.
Consistency rule
The 2-Step has no consistency rule. The 1-Step uses a Best Day Rule: your single best day cannot be more than 50% of your total positive-day profit.
Prohibited strategies
- Exploiting the simulated environment
- Latency and arbitrage strategies
- Copying other people's signals
- Gap and tick manipulation strategies
Support & Education
FTMO offers support through live chat and email, backed by a large help center. It also runs a full performance suite for funded traders, including analytics, coaching content, and account tools that most traders never fully use.
- Live chat
- Help center
FTMO puts real weight behind trader development, with account analytics, mentoring content, trading journals, and psychology tools built into the funded experience.
Trust & Community
FTMO is one of the most established and financially transparent firms in the industry. Its parent group has published nine-figure revenue, it has paid out more than $500 million since 2015, and in December 2025 it acquired the regulated broker OANDA, becoming the first prop firm in the category to own a regulated broker outright.
Trustpilot: 4.8/5 (40,000+ reviews)
| Channel | Members/Followers |
|---|---|
| Trustpilot reviews | 40,000+ |
| Years operating | Since 2015 |
| Total paid to traders | $500 million+ |
Verdict: A decade of operation, more than $500 million paid out, published financials, and ownership of a regulated broker make FTMO one of the safest names in prop trading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FTMO legit?
What is the profit split at FTMO?
How much does an FTMO challenge cost?
What is the difference between the 1-Step and 2-Step?
How and when does FTMO pay out?
Does FTMO refund the challenge fee?
Can US traders use FTMO?
Can I trade the news on FTMO?
Related Reading
Compiled from FTMO's published rules and public sources. FTMO changed leverage and pricing in 2026 and acquired OANDA in December 2025, so check current terms on the official site before you buy.
Data last verified: 2026-08-26
Data sources:
Affiliate Disclosure: This review contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up via our link, at no extra cost to you. This never influences our scoring.
Community Reviews (26)
See all →Decent but room to improve
The challenge parameters are reasonable. Platform works fine most of the time. Had a few execution issues during high volatility news events — got into a dispute about one trade that was eventually resolved in my favor after 2 weeks back and forth. — PipHunter99
Life-changing experience
I have tried 4 different prop firms and this is by far the best. The rules make sense, payouts come fast, and scaling is real. Just got upgraded to a $200K account. Could not be happier. — SteadyReturns
Life-changing experience
I have tried 4 different prop firms and this is by far the best. The rules make sense, payouts come fast, and scaling is real. Just got upgraded to a $200K account. Could not be happier. — TraderMindset
