What is FTMO and how does it work?

FTMO is a proprietary trading firm based in Prague, Czech Republic. Rather than operating as a traditional broker, it identifies skilled traders and provides them with funded accounts to trade. Traders must pass a two-phase evaluation challenge before gaining access to funded capital up to $200k.

FTMO operates as a proprietary trading firm, not a regulated broker. This means trader funds are not protected under financial services compensation schemes.

Reviews Prop firms FTMO.com

FTMO.com Review & Trader Rating

3.3/ 5

Mixed

Traders · 1 vote: 5.0At 3 votes
Editorial: 3.325%
External: —25%

Editorial summary

FTMO is a Prague-based proprietary-trading evaluation firm offering simulated accounts through one-step and two-step challenges. It publishes trading objectives, reward rules, and a scaling plan, but it is not a retail broker and all accounts use fictitious funds in a simulated environment.

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5.0 / 5 1 trader vote

Is FTMO.com right for you?

Best for

Experienced traders with proven track records
Strategy developers seeking capital without personal risk
Traders comfortable with strict risk management rules
Disciplined traders pursuing scaling opportunities

Avoid if

Traders seeking regulated financial protection and compensation scheme coverage
Traders who require fast dispute resolution and consistent customer support quality
Traders with strategies dependent on news trading or weekend holding without understanding FTMO's specific conditions

Evidence and transparency breakdown

Dimensions our methodology can assess from the evidence stored for this review.

Regulator strength1.0 / 5 · Poor
FTMO operates as an unregulated proprietary trading firm with no tier-1 or tier-2 financial services license; trader funds lack regulatory protection.
Segregated funds1.0 / 5 · Poor
As a prop firm rather than a regulated broker, FTMO does not maintain segregated client funds under financial services rules.
Compensation scheme1.0 / 5 · Poor
FTMO is not subject to investor compensation schemes; traders have no statutory protection if the firm fails or disputes arise.
Company history2.0 / 5 · Weak
FTMO was founded in Prague in 2015 and has built an established presence in proprietary-trading evaluations. Its services use simulated accounts rather than regulated retail brokerage accounts.
Transparency2.0 / 5 · Weak
FTMO publishes its trading objectives, reward conditions, scaling rules, terms, and support channels. Disputes are governed by its contractual terms rather than a retail-broker compensation framework.

Challenge stages

Each phase a trader must clear before earning a funded payout.

Stage	Profit target	Max loss	Daily loss cap	Time limit	Min trading days	Fee	Refund
Phase 1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Phase 2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Funded	—	10%	5%	Unlimited	14	—	—

Rule book

Conditions that disqualify or warn. Always read the firm's full agreement before depositing.

breach
Traders are not protected under financial services compensation schemes; FTMO operates as a proprietary trading firm, not a regulated broker.
info
Challenge fees are refunded on the first payout.
info
Payouts are processed on a monthly cycle, with the first payout available after a minimum of 14 days on the funded account.
breach
Daily drawdown limit of 5% and maximum total drawdown of 10%, calculated from the initial account balance.
info
Expert Advisors (EAs), news trading, and weekend holding are permitted, subject to specific conditions.
info
Funded accounts available up to $200,000 after passing a two-phase challenge.

Payout policy

First payout after: 14 days
Frequency: monthly
Profit split: —
Max consecutive payouts: —

Scaling plan

How account size + profit-split grow when a trader hits performance milestones.

Tier	Account size	Profit split	Requirement
Tier 1	—	—	—

Trading platforms

Supported clients and automation features per platform.

Platform	Win	Mac	Web	iOS	Android	EAs	Indicators
MetaTrader 4	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	30
MetaTrader 5	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	38
cTrader	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	70

Customer support

Channel	Hours	Languages
Live chat	24/7	—
WhatsApp	24/7	—
Email	24/7	—
Phone	09:00–17:00 CET, Monday–Friday	—

Trust

2.5 /5

FTMO operates as a proprietary trading firm, not a regulated broker, which means trader funds are not protected under financial services compensation schemes.

Pros

Established in 2015 with a transparent Prague, Czech Republic corporate identity
Challenge fee refunded upon passing evaluation and receiving first payout
Free FTMO Challenge demo allows risk-free familiarisation with rules

Cons

Operates outside financial regulatory frameworks — no investor compensation scheme applies
Dispute resolution governed solely by FTMO's internal terms, not a regulator

FTMO was founded in Prague in 2015 and provides proprietary-trading evaluations using simulated accounts with fictitious funds. It is not a retail broker, does not accept client deposits for brokerage trading, and is not covered by a retail-broker investor compensation scheme. Its trading objectives, reward conditions, scaling rules, and contractual terms are published on its official website.

Cost

3.5 /5

Challenge fees are competitive within the prop firm sector and are refunded on the first payout, reducing the net cost for traders who pass.

Pros

Challenge fee refunded on first successful payout
No ongoing monthly fees on funded FTMO accounts
Up to 90% profit split on funded account earnings

Cons

Failed challenges result in full fee forfeiture with no partial refund
Repeated failures create cumulative fee costs with no cap

FTMO charges a one-time fee to enter the two-phase evaluation. The fee for a $100,000 account challenge is €540, and for a $50,000 account it is €345. These fees are refunded as part of the first profit split payout, meaning a successful trader recovers the entry cost. Traders who fail the challenge forfeit the fee, though FTMO offers a free retry under certain conditions. Compared to the capital allocation on offer, the fee-to-account-size ratio is reasonable. However, traders who repeatedly fail evaluations face cumulative fee costs that can become significant. There are no monthly subscription fees on funded accounts, and the profit split of up to 90% compares favourably within the prop firm model.

Payout speed

3.5 /5

FTMO processes payouts on a monthly cycle, with the first payout available after a minimum of 14 days on the funded account.

Pros

First payout eligible after 14 days on the funded account
Monthly payout cycle with multiple payment method options
Profit split of up to 90% under the scaling plan

Cons

Monthly payout cycle means earnings are not accessible on demand

FTMO states that reward requests can be made after a minimum of 14 calendar days from the first trading day on an FTMO Account. Reward conditions and available methods are governed by FTMO's current official terms and withdrawal guidance, and the profit split can increase under the scaling plan.

Drawdown rules

3.0 /5

FTMO uses a static drawdown model with a 5% daily limit and 10% maximum total drawdown, calculated from the initial account balance.

Pros

Drawdown rules are clearly published and consistent across all account sizes
Static model is predictable — limits are fixed and easy to calculate in advance

Cons

5% static daily drawdown can be breached in a single volatile session
Total drawdown limit does not scale upward as account equity grows
Same strict limits apply during evaluation and funded phases with no grace period

FTMO applies a static drawdown methodology. The daily drawdown limit is 5% of the initial account balance, and the maximum total drawdown is 10% of the initial balance. Static drawdown means the limits do not trail upward as the account grows — they are fixed from the starting equity. This is a stricter model than trailing drawdown for traders who build equity quickly, as the absolute loss threshold does not increase with profits. A single high-volatility session can consume the entire daily allowance. During the evaluation phases, the same 5%/10% limits apply, meaning traders must manage risk tightly from day one. The rules are clearly published and consistent across account sizes, which aids planning.

Scaling plan

4.0 /5

FTMO offers a structured scaling plan that increases the funded account size for traders who demonstrate consistent profitability.

Pros

Scaling plan allows funded accounts to grow up to $2,000,000
25% account size increase per qualifying period with objective criteria
Scaling eligibility based on transparent, published performance metrics

Cons

Minimum four-month qualifying window makes scaling a slow process
Account must remain in good standing throughout — any breach resets progress

FTMO's scaling plan rewards consistent performance. Traders who achieve a 10% profit over a minimum of four months, with at least two months of profitability, qualify for a 25% increase in their account size. This process can be repeated, with the maximum funded account size reaching $2,000,000 under the scaling programme. The scaling increments are clearly defined and tied to objective performance metrics rather than discretionary decisions. For traders who pass the evaluation and maintain disciplined risk management, the scaling plan provides a credible pathway to managing significantly larger capital. The 25% increment per qualifying period is a meaningful step-up, though the four-month minimum timeline means scaling is a gradual process.

Trading platform

4.0 /5

FTMO supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader, covering the most widely used retail trading platforms.

Pros

MT4, MT5, and cTrader all supported across evaluation and funded phases
Expert advisors and algorithmic trading permitted on all platforms
Proprietary analytics dashboard provides trade performance and risk metrics

Cons

Platform choice is limited to the three listed — no proprietary web terminal
Mobile trading experience depends on the third-party platform apps, not FTMO's own

FTMO provides access to MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader across both evaluation and funded account phases. This breadth of platform support is a genuine strength — traders can use their existing setups, indicators, and expert advisors without switching tools. MT5 offers a broader asset range and more order types than MT4, while cTrader appeals to traders who prefer its depth-of-market interface and algorithmic trading via cAlgo. All three platforms are available on desktop and mobile, ensuring flexibility. FTMO also provides a proprietary performance analytics dashboard that overlays trade data with risk metrics, which is a useful addition for self-review.

Customer support

2.5 /5

FTMO provides live chat, WhatsApp, and email support 24/7, plus weekday phone support in 21 languages.

Pros

Live chat, WhatsApp, and email are available 24/7
Phone support and 21 support languages are published

Cons

Phone support is limited to Monday–Friday, 09:00–17:00 CET.

FTMO publishes 24/7 support through live chat, WhatsApp, and email. Phone support is available Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00 CET at +420 910 920 310, and FTMO lists support in 21 languages.

Account opening

3.5 /5

The evaluation process is straightforward to begin — registration is online, and the free trial option lowers the barrier to entry.

Pros

Fully online registration with no upfront KYC requirement at challenge stage
Free trial challenge available before paying any fee
Account sizes from $10,000 to $200,000 to suit different trader profiles

Cons

KYC verification required before first payout, which can delay fund access
Two-phase evaluation means traders must pass two consecutive profit targets before funding

Opening an FTMO evaluation account requires basic personal details and payment of the challenge fee. The process is fully online and does not require identity verification at the challenge stage — KYC documentation is collected when a trader reaches the funded account stage and requests a payout. FTMO offers a free trial version of the challenge, allowing traders to test the rules and platform environment before committing a fee. Account sizes range from $10,000 to $200,000, giving traders flexibility in choosing an evaluation that matches their strategy and risk tolerance. The two-phase structure is clearly documented, with Phase 1 requiring a 10% profit target and Phase 2 requiring a 5% profit target, both subject to the 5%/10% drawdown limits.

Restrictions

3.0 /5

FTMO permits EAs, news trading, and weekend holding, but applies specific conditions that traders must understand before deploying strategies.

Pros

EAs and algorithmic strategies permitted across evaluation and funded phases
News trading and weekend holding both allowed
Copy trading permitted when the trader controls the signal source

Cons

News trading subject to post-trade review — certain execution patterns can trigger rule violations
Weekend gap risk falls entirely on the trader with no drawdown buffer adjustment
Prohibited strategy list includes conditions that can be ambiguous in practice

FTMO allows expert advisors and algorithmic trading across all account types. News trading is permitted, though FTMO reserves the right to review trades placed within two minutes of high-impact news events if they appear to exploit latency or price gaps rather than genuine market exposure. Weekend holding is allowed, but traders carry full drawdown risk over the weekend gap — positions held through the weekend are subject to the same daily drawdown rules on Monday's open. Copy trading is permitted provided the trader controls the master account. Strategies that exploit platform errors, arbitrage between demo and live feeds, or use tick scalping are prohibited. The instrument range covers forex, indices, commodities, and some cryptocurrency CFDs, though availability varies by account type.

Frequently asked questions

What is FTMO and how does it work?
FTMO is a proprietary trading firm based in Prague, Czech Republic. Rather than operating as a traditional broker, it identifies skilled traders and provides them with funded accounts to trade. Traders must pass a two-phase evaluation challenge before gaining access to funded capital up to $200k.
Is FTMO regulated?
FTMO operates as a proprietary trading firm, not a regulated broker. This means trader funds are not protected under financial services compensation schemes.
What are the challenge fees and are they refundable?
Challenge fees are competitive within the prop firm sector and are refunded on the first payout, reducing the net cost for traders who pass.
What are FTMO's drawdown rules?
FTMO uses a static drawdown model with a 5% daily limit and 10% maximum total drawdown, calculated from the initial account balance.
How often does FTMO pay out profits?
FTMO processes payouts on a monthly cycle, with the first payout available after a minimum of 14 days on the funded account.
Which trading platforms does FTMO support?
FTMO supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader, covering the most widely used retail trading platforms.
Does FTMO allow Expert Advisors and news trading?
FTMO permits EAs, news trading, and weekend holding, but applies specific conditions that traders must understand before deploying strategies.
What is FTMO's scaling plan?
FTMO offers a structured scaling plan that increases the funded account size for traders who demonstrate consistent profitability.
What customer support options are available?
FTMO publishes 24/7 support through live chat, WhatsApp, and email. Phone support is available Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00 CET at +420 910 920 310, and FTMO lists support in 21 languages.

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Trader reports

1 community vote on FTMO.com. Below: every report with a written comment.

★★★★★ 5.0 / 5 DE 9 May 2026

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