FTMO Review 2026: the leading prop firm with 1-step or 2-step challenge
FTMO is the most well-known and established challenge-based prop firm on the market, founded in 2015 in Prague. It now offers both 1-step and 2-step challenge paths with reward from 80 to 90% and accounts from $10,000 to $200,000. Its main drawback remains the absence of official financial regulation and a 5% daily drawdown that can be restrictive. For traders seeking immediate access without a challenge under official regulation, RaiseMyFunds remains our top pick.
What is FTMO?
FTMO is a prop firm founded in 2015 in Prague, Czech Republic. With over 300 million euros paid to its traders and a presence in more than 180 countries, it is the most well-known and longest-standing prop firm on the funded trading market.
FTMO's model now includes both 1-step and 2-step challenge paths. The 2-step path remains the historical format (Challenge + Verification), while the 1-step path provides access to an FTMO Account after a single evaluation phase if objectives are met.
FTMO is not regulated by an official financial authority, unlike RaiseMyFunds which operates under FSCA licence. Its solid payout history and reputation within the trading community partially compensate for the lack of formal regulation.
Trading conditions in detail
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulation | No official financial regulation |
| Headquarters | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Model | 1-step or 2-step challenge |
| Account sizes | $10,000 / $25,000 / $50,000 / $100,000 / $200,000 |
| Profit split | 80% (standard) → 90% (Scaling Plan) |
| Daily drawdown | 5% maximum |
| Overall drawdown | 10% maximum |
| Step 1 profit target | 10% in 30 days |
| Step 2 profit target | 5% in 60 days |
| Overnight trading | Allowed |
| News trading | Restricted (±2 min around announcements) |
| Expert Advisors | Allowed (except HFT) |
| Platforms | MT4 / MT5 / cTrader |
| Payouts | 1st of the month, $1 minimum |
How does FTMO challenge work (1-step and 2-step)?
Pros and cons
- Solid track record since 2015, over €300M paid to traders
- Profit split up to 90% via the Scaling Plan
- Challenge fees refunded with first payout
- Three platforms available: MT4, MT5, cTrader
- Monthly payouts from just $1 minimum
- Challenge accessible from $155 for a $10K account
- Presence in over 180 countries
- No official financial regulation (unlike RaiseMyFunds)
- 5% daily drawdown can be restrictive for some strategies
- News trading restricted (±2 minutes around announcements)
- HFT prohibited
- Max account limited to $200,000 (vs $400,000 at RaiseMyFunds)
- 30 to 90 day delay before accessing funded account
Our scores by criteria
FTMO vs RaiseMyFunds: head-to-head comparison
| Criteria | FTMO | RaiseMyFunds |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation | None | FSCA licence ✓ |
| Model | 1-step or 2-step challenge | Instant Funding |
| Time to capital | 30 to 90 days | Immediate |
| Max account | $200,000 | $400,000 |
| Max profit split | 90% | 85% |
| Daily drawdown | 5% | None |
| News trading | Restricted | Allowed |
| Consistency rule | Yes | None |
Who is FTMO for?
FTMO is ideal for traders who want to validate their strategy before accessing capital. The 1-step and 2-step paths let traders choose the level of selection they prefer while keeping a disciplined risk framework close to real market conditions.
It is also a good choice for traders seeking the highest possible profit split: 90% via the Scaling Plan is hard to beat on the funded trading market.
However, FTMO is not suited for traders who want immediate access to capital without delay, nor for those whose strategy is impacted by the 5% daily drawdown or news trading restrictions. For these profiles, RaiseMyFunds is better suited.
Final verdict
The benchmark challenge prop firm, but not the best overall option
FTMO remains the most reliable challenge-based prop firm thanks to its track record since 2015 and its flawless payout history. The profit split up to 90% and challenge fee refund are concrete advantages. However, the absence of official regulation, the 5% daily drawdown and the $200,000 maximum account place it behind RaiseMyFunds for experienced traders seeking the best overall conditions.
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This review is based on real testing by our analyst team, official website consultation, terms and conditions analysis, regulatory status verification with relevant authorities, and user reviews from Trustpilot and specialized forums. Our complete methodology is detailed on our methodology page. Last verified: May 2026.