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OVERVIEW
FTMO
review
FTMO is the global industry leader in proprietary trading, founded in 2015 in Prague by Otakar Suffner and Marek Vašíček. Setting the benchmark for institutional simulated evaluations, FTMO provides traders with funding up to $400K (scalable to $2M) across MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade, and its proprietary FTMO Platform.
Our verdict
4.9
★★★★★ · PropFirm score
3400
FTMO remains the gold standard of the prop trading industry. With an unmatched track record of prompt payouts, transparent rules, robust account metrics, and institutional broker liquidity, it is the top choice for serious day and swing traders worldwide.
Payout speed & reliability
4.9
Rule fairness & clarity
4.9
Challenge value
4.8
Platform & data feed
4.9
Support & payout UX
4.9
About the firm
Who FTMO is, company history, and market reputation
FTMO operates out of Prague, Czech Republic, as a fully compliant and audited financial technology enterprise. The firm provides two-step evaluation programs with static drawdowns, custom performance metrics apps, and zero time limits. Traders benefit from institutional execution, raw spreads, fee refunds on the first payout, and reliable bi-weekly or on-demand payout processing.
FTMO Evaluation Provider / Raw Institutional Liquidity
Funding model
Simulated capital, real payouts
Payout rails
Bank Wire, Skrill, Crypto (USDT/USDC/BTC), Rise
Country availability
Global — US and standard OFAC restricted regions excluded
The team — who's behind it?
Executive founders, leadership, and operational desk
MV
Marek Vašíček
Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer
Financial technology architect who co-founded FTMO and designed its core software stack. He leads product development, performance analytics, and account safety architecture.
ftmo
#16A34A
Founded by Otakar Suffner (CEO) and Marek Vašíček (CTO).
The challenges they sell
$10K
€155
Phase 1: 10% / Phase 2: 5%
5%
10% static
FTMO Challenge Standard
ftmo
Up to 1:100
4
$0
Rebuy fee
80% or 90%
2-Step evaluation, Static drawdown, 1:100 leverage, 100% fee refund, Up to 90% split
Choose between Standard high-leverage evaluation accounts or flexible Swing tiers without news restrictions.
The FTMO Challenge 100K (Standard or Swing) is the most popular choice, featuring static 10% total drawdown, 100% fee refund, and 80-90% profit split.
$10K
€155
Phase 1: 10% / Phase 2: 5%
5%
10% static
FTMO Challenge Swing
ftmo
Up to 1:30
4
$0
Rebuy fee
80% or 90%
2-Step evaluation, Weekend & news trading permitted, 1:30 leverage, Static drawdown, Up to 90% split
$25K
€250
Phase 1: 10% / Phase 2: 5%
5%
10% static
FTMO Challenge Standard
ftmo
Up to 1:100
4
$0
Rebuy fee
80% or 90%
$25K
€250
Phase 1: 10% / Phase 2: 5%
5%
10% static
FTMO Challenge Swing
ftmo
Up to 1:30
4
$0
Rebuy fee
80% or 90%
$50K
€345
Phase 1: 10% / Phase 2: 5%
5%
10% static
FTMO Challenge Standard
ftmo
Up to 1:100
4
$0
Rebuy fee
80% or 90%
$50K
€345
Phase 1: 10% / Phase 2: 5%
5%
10% static
FTMO Challenge Swing
ftmo
Up to 1:30
4
$0
Rebuy fee
80% or 90%
$100K
€540
Phase 1: 10% / Phase 2: 5%
5%
10% static
FTMO Challenge Standard
ftmo
Up to 1:100
4
$0
Rebuy fee
80% or 90%
MOST POPULAR
$100K
€540
Phase 1: 10% / Phase 2: 5%
5%
10% static
FTMO Challenge Swing
ftmo
Up to 1:30
4
$0
Rebuy fee
80% or 90%
MOST POPULAR
$200K
€1,080
Phase 1: 10% / Phase 2: 5%
5%
10% static
FTMO Challenge Standard
ftmo
Up to 1:100
4
$0
Rebuy fee
80% or 90%
$200K
€1,080
Phase 1: 10% / Phase 2: 5%
5%
10% static
FTMO Challenge Swing
ftmo
Up to 1:30
4
$0
Rebuy fee
80% or 90%
Hidden rules & fine print
Static Maximum Drawdown [TRADER-FRIENDLY]
The 10% maximum drawdown is static based on the initial balance, meaning equity gains never move the drawdown limit upward.
100% Fee Refund on First Payout [TRADER-FRIENDLY]
The original challenge registration fee is fully reimbursed to the trader upon completing the first profit withdrawal.
30-Day Inactivity Account Termination [KNOW THIS]
Accounts without any executed positions for 30 consecutive calendar days are automatically breached and deleted.
News Window Execution Rules on Standard Account [STRICT]
Holding or executing trades 2 minutes before or after major macroeconomic news releases is restricted on Standard FTMO Accounts (permitted on Swing Accounts).
Tick Scalping & Arbitrage Prohibited [STRICT]
Exploiting execution latency feeds, platform errors, or toxic tick data leads to immediate evaluation termination.
Who this firm is best for — and not
Who benefits most from FTMO rules, and who should look elsewhere
✓ Best for
Professional traders seeking maximum financial safety and reliable payouts
Swing and day traders looking for static drawdown calculations on 2-step plans
Users who value custom analytical tools, performance coaching, and Account MetriX
Traders who prefer raw institutional spreads and deep liquidity on major pairs
✕ Not the best fit
Micro-scalpers relying on latency arbitrage or high-frequency tick exploits
Traders looking for instant funding accounts with zero evaluation phases
Retail traders domiciled in restricted jurisdictions (US retail restrictions)
Payout terms
Payout requests unlock bi-weekly every 14 days initially and can be customized to on-demand schedules after first successful payout verification.
Profit split
80% (Up to 90% via scaling)
Payout schedule
Bi-weekly
First payout eligibility
14 days from first placed trade on FTMO Account
Minimum withdrawal
$20 ($50 for bank wire)
Payout method
Bank Wire, Skrill, Crypto (USDT/USDC/BTC), Rise
Consistency rule
No lot-size consistency rule; standard risk guidelines apply
Drawdown model
Static drawdown based on starting balance
Platforms
FTMO Platform / MT4 / MT5 / cTrader / DXtrade
Recent tracked payouts
Tracked payout records, transaction confirmations, and rail speeds
No items found.
Strengths & trade-offs
✓ What PropFirm likes
Unmatched payout reliability and financial solvency since 2015
100% fee refund included with the first profit payout
Static drawdown based on initial starting account balance
Proprietary trading tools, Performance Coach, and MetriX app
! Worth checking
Higher initial evaluation fee compared to low-cost budget prop firms
Strict 2-minute news trading restrictions on standard FTMO Account tiers
Common online complaints
What traders discuss online, and the official operational policy behind each topic
Inquiries primarily relate to news restrictions on Standard tiers and US restrictions.
"News execution restrictions on Standard accounts" [FREQUENTLY RAISED]
Traders on Standard accounts face profit forfeitures if trades are executed within the 4-minute news release window.
"Higher evaluation fee compared to newer firms" [SOMETIMES RAISED]
The upfront cost for FTMO challenges is premium, reflecting the firm's reputation and financial stability.
"US clients are restricted from opening challenges" [SOMETIMES RAISED]
Regulatory constraints prevent retail clients from the United States from registering for new challenge accounts.