Reviews Prop firms FTMO.com

FTMO.com Review & Trader Rating

4.4/ 5
Highly rated
Traders · 1 vote
5.067%
Editorial
3.333%
External
—0%
ftmo website homepage
ftmo mobile app screenshot
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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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 provides simulated trading evaluations and contractual cash rewards. It is not a retail brokerage account and does not accept deposits for client trading.

  • 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.

FTMO.com rules and payouts

Challenge stages

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

StageProfit targetMax lossDaily loss capTime limitMin trading daysFeeRefund
Phase 1———————
Phase 2———————
Funded—10%5%Unlimited14——

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

    The 2-Step fee may be refunded with the first Reward withdrawal; the 1-Step fee is not refunded.

  • info

    Reward requests become eligible from day 14 after the first FTMO Account trade, subject to account conditions.

  • 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

    Individual initial simulated accounts are available up to $200,000 through either 1-Step or 2-Step evaluation; qualifying scaling can increase the combined allocation to $2 million.

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.

TierAccount sizeProfit splitRequirement
Tier 1———

Trading platforms

Available details per platform.

PlatformWinMacWebiOSAndroidEAsIndicators
MetaTrader 4✓✓✓✓✓✓30
MetaTrader 5✓✓✓✓✓✓38
cTrader✓✓✓✓✓✓70

Customer support

ChannelHours
Live chat24/7
WhatsApp24/7
Email24/7
Phone09:00–17:00 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
  • 2-Step fee may be refunded with first Reward; 1-Step fee is not refunded
  • 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

The 2-Step evaluation fee may be refunded with the first Reward withdrawal; the 1-Step fee is not refunded.

Pros

  • 2-Step fee may be refunded with first Reward; 1-Step fee is not refunded
  • 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 offers separate 1-Step and 2-Step evaluations with one-time fees. The following prices refer to 2-Step. The fee for a $100,000 account challenge is €540, and for a $50,000 account it is €345. The 2-Step fee may be refunded with the first Reward withdrawal; the 1-Step fee is not refunded. 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

Reward requests become eligible from day 14 after the first FTMO Account trade, subject to account conditions.

Pros

  • Reward requests eligible from day 14 after the first FTMO Account trade, subject to conditions
  • Published Reward request process and payment methods
  • Profit split of up to 90% under the scaling plan

Cons

  • Positions and pending orders must be closed before requesting a Reward
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's Scaling Plan can increase simulated allocations when its eligibility conditions are met.

Pros

  • Qualifying simulated allocations can scale up to $2,000,000 in total
  • 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
Scaling eligibility requires four months under the same order, 10% net simulated profit in that period, two processed Rewards and a positive balance; qualifying allocations increase by 25%. Qualifying scale-ups can be repeated, up to a combined simulated allocation of $2,000,000 across FTMO Accounts. 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
  • Initial simulated account sizes from $10,000 to $200,000 for both 1-Step and 2-Step

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 documents are collected after the evaluation is passed, before the simulated FTMO Account is set up. FTMO offers a free trial version of the challenge, allowing traders to test the rules and platform environment before committing a fee. Both 1-Step and 2-Step evaluations offer initial simulated account sizes from $10,000 to $200,000. FTMO sets out the two-phase structure clearly, 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 Prague-based firm offering simulated trading evaluations. Traders can qualify for an FTMO Account through a 1-Step or 2-Step evaluation. Individual initial simulated accounts range from $10,000 to $200,000; qualifying allocations can grow to a combined $2 million under the Scaling Plan.
  • 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?
    The 2-Step evaluation fee may be refunded with the first Reward withdrawal; the 1-Step fee is not refunded.
  • 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?
    Reward requests become eligible from day 14 after the first FTMO Account trade, subject to account conditions.
  • 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's Scaling Plan can increase simulated allocations when its eligibility conditions are met.
  • 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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Florian Fendt

Florian Fendt

Written by

Founder of TraderJury and BrokerCheck. Trader since 2014. Focused on broker accountability and trader-led review systems.

Arsam

Arsam Javed

Fact checked by

Editor and reviewer at TraderJury. Verifies trader reports, audits broker disclosures, and writes risk explainers.

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