Table of Content

Company Overview

FTMO is one of the most established and respected prop firms in the trading industry, and anyone searching for an honest FTMO review wants to know whether it still lives up to its reputation. Known for its rigorous evaluation process, transparent rules, and industry‑leading payout structure, FTMO has become the benchmark against which other prop firms are measured. With a global community of traders, professional‑grade technology, and a long track record of reliability, FTMO continues to attract both beginners and seasoned professionals looking for a trusted path to funded trading. This review breaks down everything you need to know—from rules and pricing to trading conditions and overall credibility to help you decide if FTMO is the right fit for your trading journey.

If you’re an ambitious forex or CFD trader looking to trade with serious capital, you’ve likely come across FTMO, one of the leading proprietary trading firms in the world. In this FTMO review we will cover all you need to know about the top prop firm of the market. With a reputation for transparency, trader support, and generous profit splits, FTMO has quickly become a top choice for both new and experienced traders.

But is FTMO worth the hype in 2026? In this comprehensive FTMO review, we’ll explore FTMO’s challenges, payout process, trading rules, and what truly sets them apart from other prop firms. We’ll also highlight the pros and cons to help you decide if FTMO is the right fit for your trading journey.

FTMO Pros and Cos

Who is this Prop Fim For

FTMO is best suited for disciplined, skilled traders who want access to significant trading capital within a structured and professional environment. It’s ideal for day traders, swing traders, and algorithmic traders who can follow clear rules, maintain consistent risk management, and thrive under a well‑defined evaluation process. FTMO appeals especially to traders who value transparency, reliable technology, and a long‑standing reputation in the prop firm industry. Whether you’re an experienced trader looking to scale your strategy or a developing trader seeking a credible funding partner, FTMO provides a stable, trusted pathway for those who approach the markets with patience, discipline, and a long‑term mindset.

Who it isn’t

FTMO isn’t the right choice for traders who rely on high‑risk, impulsive, or overly aggressive strategies that push drawdown limits to the edge. Their evaluation process demands discipline, consistency, and strict risk management so traders who frequently over‑leverage, chase losses, or depend on martingale or grid systems will likely struggle. FTMO is also not ideal for those seeking instant funding, ultra‑relaxed rules, or a shortcut to large capital, as the firm’s two‑step challenge is intentionally rigorous. If a trader prefers minimal oversight, loose risk parameters, or a more experimental trading environment, FTMO’s structured and rule‑driven model may feel too restrictive.

Challenges Structure Breakdown

1-Step (NEW)

This is a complete new challenge account where you only need 1 step to get funding:

2-Step Challenge

Drawdown & Risk Rules

FTMO is known for its strict yet fair drawdown and risk rules, designed to encourage disciplined, professional‑level trading. The firm enforces both a daily loss limit and a maximum overall loss of 10%, ensuring traders maintain consistent risk management throughout the evaluation and funded phases. You can see in this FTMO Review that these rules prevent over‑leveraging and emotional trading, pushing traders to operate with clear strategies rather than impulsive decisions. FTMO’s risk parameters are transparent and easy to understand, but they leave little room for reckless behaviour making them ideal for traders who value structure and accountability. While the limits may feel tight for aggressive traders, they ultimately create a stable, controlled environment that rewards consistency and long‑term skill.

Trading Rules & Restrictions

Consistency Rules

1-Step standard Best Day Rule

• Evaluation & Funded: No single trading day can account for more than 50% of the total profit

Firm Rules

Australian traders

• Clients in Australia can use FTMO services which are facilitated via our affiliated VRGK entity as https://ftmo.com/au/

USA Traders

• Clients in the United States of America can use FTMO services facilitated via our affiliated entity at https://ftmo.oanda.com

Min trading days

2-Step Standard & 2-Step Swing

• 4 days – Evaluation: 4 days | Funded: None

1-Step Standard

• Evaluation & Funded: 2 days tied to the consistency rule

News Trading

• Allowed: Swing accounts (Both funded and evaluation phase), Standard accounts (Evaluation phase only)
• Not allowed: Standard accounts (Funded stage only) within 2 minutes before or after high-impact news.

Weekend Trades

• Holding trades over the weekend and over a market rollover period longer than 2 hours is prohibited for funded traders (Standard accounts). Standard Market hours are available on trading platforms and at : https://ftmo.com/en/symbols/. All changes to standard market hours are announced in the Trading Updates section: https://ftmo.com/en/trading-updates/

Capital Allocation Limit

• FTMO Traders; 400k max capital per strategy per person. Accounts with identical trading strategies exceeding $400,000 allocated capital may be suspended. Prime Status; 600k. Supreme Prime Status; 1Million

Third-Party Trading

• Your account must not be traded by any third party.

Position Sizes

• Opening significantly larger position sizes or substantially different numbers of positions compared to other trades is prohibited.

1%–1.5% Risk Guidance Rule

• FTMO recommends risking no more than 1%–1.5% of your initial account balance per trade, helping traders avoid high-risk behavior that may trigger risk monitoring, warnings, or protective restrictions intended to prevent gambling-style trading.

Forbidden Trading Practices

• FTMO reserves the right to determine at its discretion if certain trades, practices, strategies, or situations are considered forbidden trading practices: https://ftmo.com/en/gambling-is-not-the-right-way-to-make-money/
• Forbidden trading practices explained: https://ftmo.com/en/forbidden-trading-practices/
• Forbidden trading practices per T&Cs: Price Feed Exploitation, External/Slow Data Feed Trading, Coordinated or Manipulative Trading, Trading Platform Violations, Unauthorized Automation or AI Trading, News & Gap Trading, Unrealistic or Harmful Trading Behavior
  See details: https://ftmo.com/en/terms-and-conditions/

Multiple Profile Accounts

• Opening multiple profile accounts is prohibited.

Copy Trading

• Allowed, copying other traders is strictly prohibited, you are the only one managing your accounts, and you respect the 400,000 simulated USD maximum capital allocation rule.

EAs

• Third Party EAs are strictly prohibited

Inactivity rule

• You must open at least one trade every 30 days to prevent account termination due to inactivity. Alternatively, you can request to freeze your account for 7 days to 6 months to avoid termination.

Payout System & Reliability

One of the strongest points highlighted in any ftmo review is the firm’s exceptional payout reliability and long‑standing track record of honoring trader profits. FTMO is known for fast, consistent, and transparent payouts, supported by a professional infrastructure that has earned the trust of thousands of traders worldwide. Whether through bank transfer, crypto, or other supported methods, payouts are processed smoothly and without unnecessary delays, reinforcing FTMO’s reputation as one of the most dependable prop firms in the industry. It’s no surprise that nearly every detailed ftmo review emphasizes the firm’s commitment to timely payments and operational integrity, making it a top choice for traders who value stability and trust.

Profit split

• 2-Step Standard & 2-Step Swing: 80%
• 1-Step Standard: 90%

Payout cycle

• 14 Days

Minimum withdrawal amount

• $20 for Bank Wire and $50 for Crypto

Scaling Plan

• Requirements: Minimum of 4 months cycle, at least 10% total net simulated profit, Process at least 2 rewards, Positive account balance at scale-up
• Benefits: Account size increases by 25% with each scaling cycle. Rewards upgraded to 90%, with a $2M scale-up cap. Continuous increases apply when criteria are met.

FTMO Premium Programme

https://ftmo.com/en/premium-programme/

Challenge Fairness

FTMO is widely regarded as one of the fairest and most transparent prop firm challenges in the industry, thanks to its clear rules, realistic profit targets, and well‑balanced risk parameters. The two‑step evaluation process is intentionally rigorous, but it’s designed to reward traders who demonstrate consistency, discipline, and proper risk management rather than aggressive or luck‑driven strategies. FTMO doesn’t impose hidden restrictions, surprise rule changes, or overly complex conditions, which gives traders a predictable and trustworthy environment to prove their skills. While the challenge can feel demanding especially for those who struggle with emotional control or over‑leveraging—it remains one of the most respected and professionally structured evaluations available, offering a fair and credible path to funded trading

Costs & Risk Value

FTMO’s pricing is structured around account size and evaluation type, offering traders a transparent and competitive fee model with no hidden costs. The challenge fee increases with larger account sizes, but FTMO remains one of the more cost‑effective options in the industry considering its reputation, payout reliability, and professional infrastructure. All fees are refunded once a trader passes the evaluation and receives their first profit split, which makes the upfront cost feel more like a temporary deposit than an expense. While FTMO isn’t the cheapest prop firm on the market, its pricing reflects the quality, stability, and long‑term credibility it provides—making it a strong value for traders who are serious about earning funded capital.

Pricing Table

Platform, Execution & Technology

FTMO delivers a highly professional trading experience backed by reliable technology and industry‑standard platforms. Traders can choose between MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader, giving them access to fast execution, stable performance, and advanced charting tools suitable for discretionary, algorithmic, and high‑frequency strategies. FTMO’s infrastructure is supported by top‑tier liquidity providers, ensuring tight spreads and smooth order flow even during volatile market conditions. Their proprietary FTMO Client Area and Performance Coach tools offer real‑time analytics, risk tracking, and detailed performance insights that help traders refine their strategies and stay within evaluation rules. Overall, FTMO’s technology stack is built for reliability, transparency, and professional‑grade trading, making it one of the strongest in the prop firm space. This is an example of how the dashboard look like

Traders can choose between:

• MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
• MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
• cTrader
• DXTrade

These platforms are well-integrated with FTMO’s custom dashboard, which provides real-time analytics, performance tracking, and rule monitoring.

Broker

• lnstitutional Liquidity provider

FTMO Scaling Plan: Grow Your Account

FTMO rewards consistency. If you generate at least 10% profit over two consecutive four-month cycles (and don’t violate any rules), you can scale your capital up to $2,000,000.

The plan allows you to:

• Increase your account size by 25% every 4 months
• Earn up to a 90% profit split
• Enjoy longer-term trading opportunities with more drawdown buffer

Transparency & Reputation

FTMO has earned one of the strongest reputations in the prop firm industry thanks to its long‑standing commitment to transparency, professionalism, and trader‑focused policies. The firm clearly outlines its rules, evaluation criteria, and payout structure, leaving little room for confusion or hidden conditions something traders consistently praise. FTMO’s track record of reliable payouts, consistent communication, and years of stable operation sets it apart from newer or less‑proven firms. Their active presence in the trading community, educational resources, and willingness to refine their programs further reinforce their credibility. Overall, FTMO’s reputation is built on trust, clarity, and a proven history of supporting traders, making it one of the most respected names in the prop trading space.

Trustpilot Score

It has the highest Trustpilot score from a prop firm

FTMO Support and Community

One of FTMO’s strongest features is its customer support and trading community. They offer:

• 24/7 live chat and email support
• Free psychological coaching
• In-depth performance analysis tools
• A YouTube channel and blog with regular updates, tips, and interviews
• A Discord and social media community where traders share strategies and success stories

Their commitment to helping traders succeed—not just pass—sets FTMO apart.

Strategy Compatibility Matrix

Final Verdict

FTMO remains one of the most respected and reliable prop firms in the industry, offering a professional trading environment backed by transparent rules, strong technology, and a proven track record of consistent payouts. Its two‑step evaluation process is challenging but fair, rewarding traders who demonstrate discipline, risk control, and long‑term consistency. For traders who value structure, credibility, and a firm that has stood the test of time, FTMO provides one of the most trustworthy pathways to accessing significant trading capital.

However, FTMO is not a shortcut to funding, and its strict drawdown limits and disciplined approach may feel demanding for traders who rely on aggressive strategies or emotional decision‑making. The firm is designed for serious traders who treat trading like a profession—not a gamble. While FTMO may not be the easiest prop firm to pass, its combination of transparency, stability, and long‑term reputation makes it a top choice for traders seeking a credible, well‑established partner in the prop trading space.

Best Alternatives

• Alpha Capital Review
• The 5%ers Review
• FundedNext Review
• Quant Tekel Review