FTMO is a forex prop firm based in the Czech Republic. It has won Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 award for four straight years (2019 to 2022) and says it serves traders in 180+ countries. The firm offers a profit split as high as 90%, up to 1:100 leverage on its standard accounts, and a two-step evaluation to qualify. Traders can use MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, or cTrader, and FTMO doesn’t ban specific strategies on those platforms.
Pros and Cons
Every prop firm has trade-offs. Here are the points that stood out most.
Pros
- Traders from 180+ countries can qualify for an 80% to 90% profit share.
- Flexible evaluation settings, so you can pick risk parameters that fit your style.
- Strong platform choices: MT4, MT5, and cTrader.
- No strategy limits, including algo trading (EAs and bots).
Cons
- Like other prop firms, it’s not a regulated broker.
- FTMO doesn’t clearly list its brokers or liquidity providers.
Key Facts and Trading Conditions
- Headquarters: Czech Republic
- Founded: 2014
- Platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, proprietary apps/tools
- Minimum evaluation fee: €155
- Profit share: up to 90%
- Daily loss limit: 5% (standard rules vary by risk setting)
- Max trailing drawdown: 10% (standard rules vary by risk setting)
- Funded account options: 5 shown publicly (a sixth exists with approval)
- Minimum funded account: $10,000
- Maximum funded account: $200,000
Average costs listed in the original data included:
- EUR/USD: 0.6 pips ($6.00)
- GBP/USD: 0.8 pips ($8.00)
- WTI crude oil: $0.03
- Gold: $0.19
- Bitcoin: $171.00
Evaluation Setup and Why It Matters
One thing FTMO does well is customization during the evaluation. Your settings during the challenge (account size, risk type, and rules) carry over after you pass. That means you should choose carefully, because you can’t switch to different parameters later without starting a new evaluation.
Fees also rise as you increase the account size or pick more aggressive risk settings. The upside is that FTMO refunds the evaluation fee if you qualify and get approved.
Prop trading comes with a basic reality check. These firms are not the same as regulated brokers. A good reputation matters, and it helps when the firm is open about how accounts are handled.
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Is FTMO Legit and Safe?
FTMO has a strong public reputation. It was named a Deloitte Technology Fast 50 winner from 2019 through 2022. It also shows a 4.9 out of 5.0 Trustpilot rating based on 5,004 reviews (as stated in the source text).
FTMO operates through multiple entities:
- FTMO Evaluation Global s.r.o. handles non-US applications
- FTMO Evaluation US s.r.o. is for US-based traders
- FTMO s.r.o. owns and runs the website
No major red flags came up in the original review, but broker and liquidity provider disclosure would add more confidence for many traders.
Standout Features
FTMO’s main features include:
- A two-step evaluation with a 10% profit target in step one
- At least 4 trading days required to meet targets, with at least one trade per day
- MT4, MT5, and cTrader access
- Max leverage: 1:100 on the FTMO account, 1:30 on the FTMO Account Swing
- Daily loss limits ranging from 5% to 10%
- Trailing drawdown limits ranging from 10% to 20%
- Standard FTMO accounts restrict weekend holding and some news trading, Swing accounts allow more flexibility
- Evaluation fee refund for traders who pass and get approved
- A free trial
- A scaling plan that increases account size by 25% every four months
- Seven base currencies
- Market access that includes:
- 42 FX pairs (including some exotics and emerging market pairs)
- 8 metals and 4 futures contracts
- 14 cash indices and commodities
- 10 cryptocurrencies
- 23 large-cap stocks in the US and Eurozone
FTMO Fees and Profit Split
FTMO charges a one-time evaluation fee for each attempt. Based on the original figures, the fee ranges from €155 to €1,080, depending on the funded account size.
If you pass the evaluation on a $10,000 account, you manage a $10,000 account. If you want to trade a larger account, you need to qualify for that size.
The profit split ranges from 80% to 90%, which sits at the top end compared to many competing prop firms.
Fee Range (as listed)
- Minimum evaluation fee: €155
- Maximum evaluation fee: €1,080
- Profit share: 80% to 90%
Example: Smallest account fee (as listed)
For a $10,000 MT4 account (fully upgraded in the original example):
- One-time evaluation fee: €155
- Weekend holding fee: €0
- Double leverage: Not applicable
- Stop-loss required at entry: Not applicable
- Total:€155
Account Types and Funding Options
FTMO offers two main account types:
- FTMO (built more for active day trading rules)
- FTMO Account Swing (built for traders who hold positions longer)
There are six funding options in total, but only five are shown on the public comparison page. The sixth requires approval and is referenced in the scaling plan details.
The rules are generally trader-friendly for a prop firm, and the evaluation refund is a solid perk if you pass.
FTMO Trading Rules
Once you choose your account settings and pay the fee, the FTMO Challenge starts and runs for 30 days.
Under the Normal risk setting, the profit target is 10%, and you must trade for at least four days. Under the Aggressive setting, the profit target is 20%.
Breaking a rule usually means the account is closed. You can try again by paying the fee again. In some cases, FTMO may offer a 14-day extension or a free retry.
FTMO Challenge rules (as listed)
- Daily loss limit: 5% (Normal), 10% (Aggressive)
- Trailing drawdown limit: 10% (Normal), 20% (Aggressive)
- Trading activity rule: at least one trade per day, across four separate days, during the 30-day window
After you pass, the Verification stage lasts 60 days. The same risk rules apply, and the profit target is cut in half compared to the challenge.
How accounts work (important detail)
- FTMO does not provide access to live trading accounts directly.
- Approved traders trade on demo accounts.
- FTMO’s systems copy those trades into live accounts it controls.
- This structure helps with risk controls and oversight.
Platforms and Tools
FTMO supports:
- MT4
- MT5
- cTrader
It also offers its own apps and tools designed for tracking performance, journaling trades, and working on discipline. Strategy-wise, FTMO allows manual and algorithmic trading and doesn’t block common approaches.
The 1:100 leverage and liquid markets will appeal most to short-term traders. The Swing account option gives more space for longer holds.
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Education and Trader Support
FTMO Academy provides beginner-friendly education, and the blog includes solid written content. There’s also a dedicated focus on trading psychology, which is helpful for many traders.
At the same time, prop evaluations are tough. New traders usually struggle with the targets and risk limits, even with good education resources. This model tends to fit experienced traders far better.
FTMO also offers performance coaches, which shows effort to support funded traders.
Customer Support
FTMO provides:
- 24/7 support in 17 languages via email, live chat, and WhatsApp
- Phone support Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CEST)
The FAQ covers most basics, so many traders may not need to contact support often.
Account Sign-Up Process
To start, traders click “FTMO Challenge” on the homepage, then register or log in. Registration can be done with an email and password, or through Google, Apple, or Facebook. After that, traders pick evaluation settings and pay the one-time fee.
FTMO also posts ongoing interviews with funded traders on its official YouTube channel.
Payments, Countries, and Withdrawals
- Minimum evaluation fee: €155
- Payment methods: bank wire, debit/credit cards, Skrill, cryptocurrencies
- Accepted countries: FTMO says it has traders from 180+ countries and doesn’t publish a restriction list in the provided text
The same payment methods are also used for profit-share withdrawals, based on the original content.
Overall Take
FTMO stands out for clear rules, strong platform support, and a profit split that can reach 90%. The two account styles (standard and Swing) make it easier to match the rules to your trading style. The free trial and scaling plan are also useful features.
The biggest missing piece is transparency around the brokers and liquidity providers. That detail matters in an industry where trust is everything. One other concern is common across most prop firms, they often market heavily to beginners, even though most new traders won’t pass the evaluation.
FTMO still ranks as one of the stronger options in forex prop trading, backed by awards, public reviews, and a long track record in this space.
FAQ
What happens if you lose FTMO money?
If you break rules during the evaluation, your attempt is invalidated, but it doesn’t create real-money losses for you. You can pay the fee and start again. If you are funded and then violate rules, the agreement ends. You don’t owe FTMO for losses.
What is the success rate of the FTMO Challenge?
The source text states that over 90% of traders fail. Many retail traders push too hard to hit the target in the time limit and struggle with risk control.
Does FTMO actually pay out?
Yes. Payouts are automatic and monthly, and traders can request a custom withdrawal after 14 days from the first trade, according to the original content. FTMO also publishes trader interviews that discuss payouts.
Is FTMO trustworthy?
FTMO is often viewed as one of the more trusted and transparent prop firms. The original text says FTMO has paid over $130M to traders, and it holds a 4.9 out of 5.0 Trustpilot rating based on 5,000+ reviews.