FTMO Review 2026: Challenge Rules, Fees, Profit Split, and Payout Truth

Last updated: June 2026 | Sources verified against FTMO official documentation, Finance Magnates, FX Empire, and Trustpilot data

FTMO is a Prague-based proprietary trading firm founded in 2015 by Otakar Šuffner and Marek Vašíček. It operates a challenge-based evaluation model through which traders access simulated funded accounts ranging from $10,000 to $200,000, retaining up to 90% of the profits they generate. As of 2026, FTMO has recorded over $450 million in cumulative payouts to traders across 140+ countries, holds a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating from 38,000+ verified reviews, and completed the acquisition of global broker OANDA in December 2025. (Source: FX Empire, April 2026) (Source: FTMO Official Press Release, December 2025)

This review covers FTMO’s evaluation structure, challenge rules, account types and fees, profit split mechanics, trading platforms, the OANDA acquisition, country availability, and a factual assessment of the firm’s track record.

What Is FTMO and How Does It Work?

FTMO operates on a funded-account model. Traders pay a one-time evaluation fee to enter the FTMO Challenge, a two-phase assessment that tests profit generation within defined risk parameters. Traders who pass both phases gain access to a funded FTMO Account, trade with simulated capital, and receive a share of the profits.

The firm does not function as a retail broker. FTMO accounts are simulated, and profits distributed to traders come from FTMO’s operating revenue, not from live market positions placed by the trader. This structure is common across the proprietary trading industry and has no bearing on the legitimacy of payouts. (Source: FTMO.com)

FTMO generated approximately $329 million in revenue and $62 million in net profit in 2024, providing the financial foundation underlying its payout obligations to funded traders. (Source: PropTradingVibes, May 2026)

The FTMO Evaluation Process: Two Steps to a Funded Account

The FTMO evaluation consists of two sequential phases. Both must be completed before a trader qualifies for a funded account.

Step 1: The FTMO Challenge

The FTMO Challenge is the first phase of evaluation. Traders must meet the following objectives simultaneously:

• Profit Target: 10% of the initial account balance
• Maximum Daily Loss: 5% of the initial account balance
• Maximum Loss (Total): 10% of the initial account balance
• Minimum Trading Days: 4 calendar days
• Time Limit: None

There is no longer a fixed time limit on the Challenge phase. Traders may take as long as necessary to reach the profit target, provided they do not breach the daily loss or maximum loss rules. If a trader fails to reach the profit target without breaching hard risk rules, FTMO offers a free retry. (Source: The Payout Report, August 2025)

The Challenge uses a “Best Day” consistency mechanic in some account variants, which limits how much of the total profit can come from a single trading day. Traders should review the specific conditions for their selected account type before beginning.

Step 2: The FTMO Verification Phase

The Verification phase applies the same risk framework as the Challenge, but with a reduced profit target:

• Profit Target: 5% of the initial account balance
• Maximum Daily Loss: 5% (unchanged)
• Maximum Loss (Total): 10% (unchanged)
• Minimum Trading Days: 4 calendar days
• Time Limit: None

Passing both phases qualifies the trader for an FTMO Account. The evaluation fee paid at the start of the Challenge is refunded with the trader’s first profit payout on the funded account — not upon passing the evaluation. Traders who pass but never generate a profit payout do not receive the refund. (Source: TradersSecondBrain, March 2026)

First-Attempt Pass Rate

Available industry data estimates the first-attempt FTMO Challenge pass rate at approximately 8–10%. Community estimates place it at around 8%, while some third-party data sets report values ranging from 7–14% across the evaluation industry. Most traders fail on the first attempt. (Source: CoinLaw FTMO Statistics, March 2026)

FTMO Account Types

FTMO currently offers two evaluation paths, each leading to the same funded FTMO Account:

2-Step Challenge (Standard)

The classic evaluation path. Traders complete the Challenge and Verification phases before receiving funded account access. The default profit split on the resulting funded account is 80% to the trader, rising to 90% upon qualifying for the Scaling Plan.

Account variants within the 2-Step path include:

• Standard: 10% Challenge target, 5% daily loss limit, 10% max loss, 1:100 leverage on forex pairs
• Aggressive: 20% Challenge target, 10% daily loss limit, 20% max loss, 1:100 leverage. Designed for traders with higher-risk, higher-reward strategies
• Swing: 10% Challenge target, with weekend holding and news trading permitted. Maximum leverage is 1:30. Suited for position and swing traders who cannot close all positions before market close each day

1-Step Challenge (Rapid)

The 1-Step Challenge condenses the evaluation into a single phase. Traders who pass receive a funded account with a 90% profit split from day one, compared to the 80% default on the 2-Step path. Challenge fees for the 1-Step path are typically higher than the 2-Step equivalent for the same account size. (Source: PropTradingVibes, May 2026)

FTMO Account Sizes and Fees

FTMO offers six account sizes across both evaluation paths. Fees below reflect Standard risk pricing and are one-time charges covering both the Challenge and Verification phases (for the 2-Step path). Fees vary by platform, with cTrader accounts priced higher than MetaTrader accounts due to platform licensing costs.

Account Size	Approximate Standard Fee (2-Step)
$10,000	~€155
$25,000	~€250
$50,000	~€345
$100,000	~€540
$200,000	~€1,080

FTMO runs seasonal promotional discounts. Fees listed above are standard pricing and may differ at checkout. Always verify the current fee on FTMO’s official order screen before purchasing, as pricing is subject to change. (Source: The Payout Report, August 2025)

The maximum capital allocation per strategy across all FTMO accounts is $400,000. Traders holding multiple accounts may not run identical strategies across them simultaneously.

FTMO Profit Split and Payout Structure

Default Profit Split

The standard profit split on a funded FTMO Account is 80% to the trader, 20% to FTMO. Traders who qualify for the Scaling Plan receive an upgraded 90/10 split going forward. The 1-Step Challenge path delivers the 90% split from the first payout. (Source: The Payout Report, March 2026)

When Payouts Can Be Requested

Traders may request their first payout after a minimum of 14 calendar days from the date of the first trade on the funded account. The account must be in profit at the time of the payout request. Subsequent payouts follow a bi-weekly cycle.

FTMO processes payouts on a bi-weekly schedule with an average processing time of approximately 8 hours after invoice confirmation. The minimum payout threshold is $20 for bank wires and $50 for cryptocurrency withdrawals. (Source: CoinLaw FTMO Statistics, March 2026)

Fee Refund Mechanics

The challenge fee is refunded with the trader’s first profit split on the funded account. The refund is not issued upon passing the evaluation phases. Traders who pass both phases but do not generate a qualifying profit payout do not receive a refund. This distinction is material for traders assessing the true cost of the evaluation. (Source: TradersSecondBrain, March 2026)

The FTMO Scaling Plan

FTMO’s Scaling Plan allows funded traders to grow their account balance incrementally based on demonstrated performance. The mechanics are as follows:

• Cycle duration: 4 months minimum
• Profit requirement: At least 10% net profit over the four-month period (20% for Aggressive account holders)
• Payout requirement: At least 2 processed payouts within the four-month cycle
• Balance increase: 25% of the original account balance per qualifying cycle
• Profit split upgrade: 90% (if not already at that level)
• Maximum balance: $2,000,000 per trader

Balance increases are additive, not compounding. A trader starting with a $200,000 account receives $50,000 increments per qualifying cycle. The Scaling Plan runs automatically in the background and applies to all FTMO Account types. (Source: FTMO Official Scaling Plan, October 2025) (Source: The Payout Report Scaling Plan Guide, August 2025)

Trading Platforms Supported by FTMO

FTMO supports four trading platforms:

• MetaTrader 4 (MT4): The most widely used platform among FTMO clients globally. Supports algorithmic trading via Expert Advisors (EAs) and offers a broad library of technical indicators.
• MetaTrader 5 (MT5): Provides six pending order types, market depth (DOM), and enhanced backtesting tools. MT5 is the exclusive platform for FTMO US accounts.
• cTrader: Offers Level II pricing, algorithmic trading via cTrader Automate (C#-based), and cTrader Copy for strategy sharing. Adoption among FTMO clients has grown, though it remains less prevalent than MT4/MT5.
• DXtrade: A web-based, browser-accessible platform from Devexperts that requires no software installation. Supports custom interface configuration and advanced charting.

Platform availability may vary by account type and geographic region. FTMO US is limited to MT5 in netting/FIFO mode. (Source: TradingBrokers.com, July 2025)

Tradable Instruments

FTMO provides access to 130+ tradable instruments across the following asset classes:

• Forex: Major, minor, and exotic currency pairs
• Indices: Global equity indices, including the S&P 500, DAX, and others
• Commodities: Energy (crude oil, natural gas) and metals (gold, silver)
• Stocks: Selected individual equities (availability varies by platform)
• Cryptocurrencies: Major digital assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum

Gold is reported as the most popular instrument among FTMO-funded traders. Instrument availability varies by platform; traders building multi-asset strategies should confirm availability for each instrument within their chosen platform before beginning the evaluation. (Source: FX Empire, April 2026) (Source: CoinLaw, March 2026)

The FTMO-OANDA Acquisition: What It Means for Traders

Timeline

• February 2025: FTMO signs a purchase agreement with CVC Asia Fund IV to acquire OANDA Global Corporation
• August 26, 2025: FTMO and OANDA announce a strategic partnership, launching FTMO US access for the first time through a simulated trading and educational product
• December 1, 2025: FTMO completes the acquisition of OANDA after securing all necessary regulatory approvals
• March 2026: FTMO co-founders Otakar Šuffner and Marek Vašíček assume co-CEO roles at OANDA

(Source: FTMO Official Press Release, December 2025) (Source: Finance Magnates, August 2025)

What Changed for Traders

OANDA is maintaining its brokerage operations as a standalone entity under FTMO Group ownership. OANDA’s own prop trading program (OANDA Prop Trader) has transitioned to FTMO Group, with existing OANDA prop traders migrating to FTMO accounts. (Source: DripInvesting, March 2026)

For existing FTMO traders outside the US, the acquisition does not directly change the day-to-day challenge or funded account experience. The strategic significance lies in FTMO Group now operating a regulated brokerage alongside its prop trading platform, which strengthens the group’s regulatory standing and infrastructure.

FTMO US Access

U.S. residents can access FTMO products through the FTMO US platform (ftmo.oanda.com), powered by the FTMO-OANDA partnership. All U.S. offerings are educational and simulated in nature, with no real capital trading or direct financial transactions involving personal funds from participants. Successful participants can earn rewards by engaging in simulated trading using simulated capital through an FTMO Rewards Account. U.S. availability is subject to state-level restrictions; residents should confirm eligibility on the FTMO US website. (Source: FTMO Official Press Release, August 2025)

FTMO Availability by Country

India

FTMO officially relaunched access for Indian traders on December 4, 2025, after suspending services to India on February 28, 2023. The relaunch coincided with FTMO’s 10th anniversary. India is now one of the largest retail prop trading markets globally, accounting for approximately 40% of organic traffic across the top 50 prop trading firms. (Source: Finance Magnates, December 2025)

Indian traders should independently verify compliance with applicable Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations before participating in any prop trading evaluation. FTMO’s services are educational and simulated in nature; however, regulatory frameworks for simulated trading and prop firm activities in India continue to evolve.

United States

U.S. residents can now access FTMO through the FTMO US platform. Some U.S. states remain excluded. Traders must complete KYC verification and provide a W-9 and U.S. bank account proof for reward processing. (Source: The Payout Report, August 2025)

Global Reach

FTMO currently serves traders in 140+ countries and has processed more than 4 million customer accounts since 2015. Country availability is subject to internal business decisions and evolving regulatory standards. Traders should verify current eligibility on FTMO’s official website.

Risk Management Rules and Prohibited Strategies

Core Risk Parameters

FTMO enforces the following risk rules across all account types (Standard):

• Maximum Daily Loss: 5% of initial balance (measured on a tick-by-tick basis intraday, not at day close)
• Maximum Total Loss: 10% of initial balance
• Minimum Trading Days: 4 per phase

Breaching either the daily loss or maximum loss rule at any point results in immediate disqualification from the evaluation or termination of the funded account. There is no grace period or warning system for hard-limit breaches.

Prohibited Activities

FTMO explicitly prohibits the following:

• Latency arbitrage and reverse arbitrage
• High-frequency trading that exploits server latency or data feed errors
• Cross-account hedging (opening opposite positions across multiple FTMO accounts)
• Using identical trading strategies across multiple FTMO accounts simultaneously
• Any trading approach that does not reflect real market conditions

Violation of these rules results in permanent account termination and forfeiture of all profits. (Source: TheTrustedProp, 2026)

News Trading and Weekend Holding

For Standard and Aggressive accounts, FTMO applies restrictions on major news event trading and overnight/weekend position holding during the funded stage. The Swing account variant explicitly permits both news trading and weekend holding, with the trade-off of lower maximum leverage (1:30).

FTMO’s Reputation and Track Record

FTMO holds a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating derived from 38,000+ verified trader reviews, representing one of the largest review volumes of any proprietary trading firm on the platform. The volume of reviews provides statistical weight to the rating; ratings derived from fewer than 1,000 reviews carry substantially more variance. (Source: Responsible Trading, April 2026)

Additional recognition includes:

• Deloitte Technology Fast 50 award winner from 2019 to 2023 (Central Europe’s fastest-growing technology companies)
• Finance Magnates London Summit “Best Prop Trading Firm” award in both 2023 and 2024
• Featured in Forbes for 25% revenue growth
• $329 million in 2024 revenue, $62 million net profit (Source: PropTradingVibes, May 2026)

Reported trader complaints include spread widening on gold (XAUUSD), longer customer support response times (3–5 business days for complex queries as of late 2025), and extended withdrawal processing times of 3–5 business days compared to 1–2 business days in prior years. Traders using scalping strategies or precision-entry approaches report more friction with execution than swing traders or those using wider stops. (Source: PropFirmPaid, April 2026)

Educational Resources and Trader Tools

FTMO Academy

FTMO provides a free educational platform (FTMO Academy) covering trading fundamentals, risk management, and strategy development. Content includes webinars, written courses, and performance analysis guides.

Account MetriX

Account MetriX is FTMO’s proprietary performance dashboard, available to traders during and after evaluation. It tracks real-time progress toward profit targets, daily loss consumption, maximum loss exposure, trading day count, and other challenge metrics. This tool removes the need to manually calculate drawdown headroom during active trading.

Performance Coaches

FTMO employs four dedicated performance coaches with qualifications in psychology and sport psychology. These coaches address trading mindset, decision-making under pressure, and discipline — areas identified as primary drivers of evaluation failure. Most proprietary trading firms do not offer direct psychology coaching of this nature. (Source: TheStockDork, May 2026)

Premium Programme

FTMO’s Premium Programme creates a pathway from funded trader to Quantlane professional. Traders who demonstrate consistent long-term performance may be offered a fixed salary, relocation package to Prague, and access to institutional-grade trading infrastructure through Quantlane (acquired by FTMO Group in 2024).

FTMO vs. Other Prop Trading Firms: Key Differences

FTMO competes in a market that includes FundedNext, The5ers, FundingPips, Apex Trader Funding, and Topstep, among others. The following factual distinctions are relevant for trader decision-making:

Evaluation fee refund: FTMO refunds the challenge fee with the first profit payout. Several competitors refund fees upon passing, not upon first payout. These represent meaningfully different financial outcomes for traders.

No consistency rule: FTMO does not restrict how profits are distributed across trading days. A trader may hit the entire profit target in a single day. Many newer firms impose consistency rules limiting single-day profit to a fixed percentage of total gains. (Source: MyPropGenius, February 2026)

No time limit: FTMO removed the 30-day Challenge time limit. Traders may complete phases at their own pace.

Maximum funding cap: The $400,000 per-strategy allocation cap is a structural constraint for experienced traders managing larger positions. Some competitors such as The5ers offer higher scaling ceilings over time.

Pass rate vs. fee cost: FTMO’s challenge fee is higher on an absolute basis than some budget-oriented competitors. For traders testing the evaluation multiple times, the cumulative fee cost is a material consideration.

Summary: Key FTMO Facts at a Glance

Attribute	Detail
Founded	2015, Prague, Czech Republic
Founders	Otakar Šuffner (CEO), Marek Vašíček (CTO)
Total payouts	$450M+ (cumulative since 2015)
Trustpilot rating	4.8/5 (38,000+ reviews)
Countries served	140+
Account sizes	$10,000 – $200,000
Scaling plan cap	$2,000,000
Profit split	80% (default) / 90% (scaling)
Evaluation fee refund	Yes – with first profit payout
Platforms	MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade
Instruments	130+ (forex, indices, commodities, crypto, stocks)
Challenge pass rate	~8–10% (first attempt)
Payout cycle	Bi-weekly, avg. ~8 hours processing
OANDA acquisition	Completed December 1, 2025
India availability	Relaunched December 4, 2025
US availability	Yes (via FTMO US / OANDA platform)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is FTMO, and how does it work?

FTMO is a Prague-based proprietary trading firm founded in 2015. It awards funded accounts to traders who pass a two-step evaluation: the FTMO Challenge (Step 1) and the Verification phase (Step 2). Traders who complete both phases receive access to a simulated funded account ranging from $10,000 to $200,000, retaining 80–90% of the profits they generate. The evaluation fee is refunded with the trader’s first profit payout. (Source: FTMO.com)

2. What are the FTMO Challenge rules in 2026?

The FTMO Challenge (Step 1) requires traders to achieve a 10% profit target, maintain a maximum daily loss of no more than 5% of the initial account balance, keep total account drawdown below 10% of the initial balance, and trade on a minimum of 4 calendar days. There is no time limit. The Verification phase (Step 2) uses a 5% profit target with the same 5% daily loss and 10% max loss limits. (Source: The Payout Report, August 2025)

3. How much does the FTMO Challenge cost?

Standard pricing is approximately €155 for the $10,000 account, €250 for $25,000, €345 for $50,000, €540 for $100,000, and €1,080 for $200,000. Fees are one-time, cover both evaluation phases, and are refunded with the first profit payout on the funded account. FTMO runs periodic promotions that reduce these fees. Always confirm the current price on FTMO’s official checkout page before purchasing. (Source: The Payout Report, August 2025)

4. What is FTMO’s profit split?

The default profit split is 80% to the trader. Traders who qualify for the Scaling Plan receive 90% going forward. The 1-Step Challenge path delivers a 90% split from the first funded account payout. (Source: FTMO Official Scaling Plan)

5. Is FTMO available in the United States?

U.S. residents can access FTMO products through the FTMO US platform, launched via the FTMO-OANDA strategic partnership in August 2025. The platform uses MT5 in netting/FIFO mode with a maximum leverage of 1:33 on selected instruments. All U.S. offerings are educational and use simulated capital. Some states are excluded; traders should verify eligibility at ftmo.oanda.com. (Source: FTMO Official Press Release, August 2025)

6. Is FTMO available in India?

Yes. FTMO officially relaunched access for Indian traders on December 4, 2025, after suspending services on February 28, 2023. Indian traders should independently verify compliance with applicable SEBI and RBI regulations before registering. (Source: Finance Magnates, December 2025)

7. What trading platforms does FTMO support?

FTMO supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), cTrader, and DXtrade. FTMO US is limited to MT5. Platform availability varies by account type and region. Traders should confirm their preferred platform is available for their selected account before purchasing an evaluation. (Source: TradingBrokers.com, July 2025)

8. How does the FTMO Scaling Plan work?

Funded traders who generate at least 10% net profit over four consecutive months and process at least two payouts in that period become eligible for a 25% increase in their account balance and an upgraded 90% profit split. Each qualifying cycle adds another 25% increment. The maximum funded balance is $2,000,000. (Source: FTMO Official Scaling Plan)

9. What is the FTMO Challenge pass rate?

Available data estimates the first-attempt pass rate at approximately 8–10%. Most traders fail on the first attempt. Traders who fail without breaching hard risk limits (daily loss or max loss) are eligible for a free retry. (Source: CoinLaw, March 2026)

10. What trading strategies are prohibited at FTMO?

FTMO prohibits latency arbitrage, reverse arbitrage, cross-account hedging, high-frequency strategies that exploit server latency, and identical strategies run across multiple accounts simultaneously. Violations result in permanent account termination and forfeiture of all accumulated profits. (Source: TheTrustedProp, 2026)

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. All statements are sourced from publicly available information and FTMO official documentation. Prop trading involves significant risk of capital loss; the FTMO Challenge evaluation fee is non-refundable in the event of rule violation. Readers should conduct independent due diligence and consult a qualified financial advisor before participating in any proprietary trading program.