FTMO vs The5ers

FTMO and The5ers are two of the longest-running forex and CFD prop firms. Both set no time limit on their evaluations. They differ on price, daily loss rules, refunds and how far an account can scale. This comparison uses prices and rules checked on each firm's official site on 3 November 2026.

At a glance

FTMO

• Founded: 2015, Prague, Czech Republic.
• Programs: 1-Step and 2-Step challenges.
• Entry price: €79 (1-Step 10K) or €89 (2-Step 10K).
• Max account: 200K.
• Drawdown: static on the 2-Step; end-of-day trailing on the 1-Step.
• Split: up to 90%.
• Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView.

The5ers

• Founded: 2016, registered office in London.
• Programs: High Stakes (2-Step), a 2-Step $100K plan, a 1-Step plan, Hyper Growth and the 3-Step Bootcamp.
• Entry price: $52 (Hyper Growth) or $72 in total for the $20K Bootcamp.
• Drawdown: static on the 2-Step plans, measured from the initial balance.
• Split: 75% or 80% to start, rising to 100% through scaling on some programs.
• Platforms: MT5, cTrader and TradingView for non-US clients; TradingView only for US clients.

Pricing

FTMO (EUR, one-time)

• 1-Step: €79 (10K), €199 (25K), €319 (50K), €499 (100K), €999 (200K).
• 2-Step: €89 (10K), €250 (25K), €345 (50K), €540 (100K), €1,080 (200K).
• Current deal: 19% off the 100K FTMO Challenge, applied automatically.

The5ers (USD, one-time)

• 2-Step $100K plan: $149 (10% then 5% targets) or $179 (8% then 5%).
• $200K 2-Step: $249 (10/5) or $279 (8/5), marked "Limited Time Only" with no end date.
• High Stakes: sizes from $2.5K to $100K. The payout FAQ uses a $545 cost for the 100K in its example. Per-size prices were not clear on the program page, so check at checkout.
• 1-Step $100K: the official Summer Plan page shows both $179 and $249. Confirm the price before you buy.
• Hyper Growth: a one-time fee of $52, with sizes from $5K to $50K.
• Bootcamp $20K: $22 at Step 1 plus $50 at the Pro Trader stage.

What this means: The5ers has the cheaper headline prices. At 100K, its 2-Step plan costs $149 or $179 against €540 for FTMO's 2-Step. That plan has tighter funded terms, covered below, so price alone doesn't settle it.

Refunds

• FTMO 2-Step: the official page lists the fee as 100% refundable after success.
• FTMO 1-Step: not refundable.
• The5ers High Stakes: 10% of the fee as Hub Credit after Step 1, 20% after Step 2, and 70% back with the first payout once the account has been active 14 days.
• The5ers 2-Step $100K plan: the same Hub Credit steps, but the remaining 70% comes with the third payout.

Hub Credit can be used toward new challenges. It can't be withdrawn.

Challenge rules

Two-step side by side

• FTMO 2-Step: 10% then 5% targets, 5% daily loss, 10% static max loss, 4 minimum trading days, no time limit. Official rules.
• The5ers High Stakes: 10% then 5% targets, 5% daily loss, 10% max loss, 3 minimum profitable days per step, no time limit. A profitable day needs at least 0.5% closed profit. Official rules.
• The5ers 2-Step $100K plan: 10/5 or 8/5 targets, 3% daily loss, 10% max loss from the initial balance, no consistency rule during the evaluation. Official rules.

FTMO and High Stakes are close on targets and loss limits. The cheaper 2-Step plan halves the daily room to 3%. Its daily limit uses the previous day's closing balance or equity, whichever is higher.

One-step side by side

• FTMO 1-Step: 10% target, 3% daily loss, 10% max loss that trails your highest end-of-day balance, no time limit. Official rules.
• The5ers 1-Step: 10% target, 3% daily loss, 6% max loss from the initial balance, unlimited time.

Both 1-Step programs have a 50% best-day rule. At FTMO, breaking it isn't a breach; you keep trading until your best day falls to 50% of total profit. FTMO gives more room (10% vs 6%), but its floor moves up with your end-of-day high. Our guide to trailing vs static drawdown explains the trade-off.

The5ers-only options

• Hyper Growth: 10% target, 6% stop-out, 3% daily loss, leverage 1:30. The page is unclear on whether the daily limit pauses or fails the account.
• Bootcamp: three steps at $5K, $10K and $15K, each with a 6% target and a 5% max loss. No daily limit until the $20K Pro Trader stage, which adds a 3% daily pause.

Accounts at The5ers expire after 30 days without activity, so "no time limit" still needs you to trade.

Payouts and profit split

FTMO

• Up to 90% of simulated profits. Our data shows the 2-Step starting at 80% and the 1-Step at 90%.
• Payouts on request. The first claim opens 14 days after your first trade.

The5ers

• Funded traders can request a payout every two weeks.
• High Stakes: 80% base split, rising to 85%, 90% and then 100% as the account scales. Caps are $3,000 per payout on 50K and $4,000 on 100K.
• 2-Step $100K plan and 1-Step: 75/25 split and a $250 minimum. The 2-Step plan has a $2,000 cap per cycle and a 50% consistency rule once funded.
• $200K plans: 80/20, a $3,000 cap per cycle and no scaling.

What this means: FTMO starts with a higher split on most plans. The5ers caps each payout but offers a scaling route to 100% on High Stakes. Run the numbers with our profit calculator.

Trading restrictions

FTMO

• News trading and weekend holding are allowed during the evaluation.
• Funded Standard accounts restrict trading around selected news and holding over weekends. The Swing account has no such limits.
• EAs are allowed.

The5ers

• High Stakes bars placing orders from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after high-impact news. Holding through news is fine.
• Overnight and weekend holding are allowed. Index positions held over a weekend carry a high swap.
• EAs are allowed on the 2-Step plans, except latency arbitrage, tick scalping and rollover scalping.
• cTrader costs an extra $10, and you can't change platform after purchase.

See our guide to news trading rules for how these limits work in practice.

Downsides of each

FTMO

• Prices are in EUR, which adds conversion costs for many traders.
• The 1-Step fee is non-refundable and its drawdown trails.
• Funded Standard accounts limit news and weekend trading unless you choose Swing.
• Higher headline prices than The5ers' cheapest plans.

The5ers

• Official pages contradict each other on some prices and rules, such as the 1-Step fee.
• Per-payout caps and minimums on funded accounts.
• Refunds are partly paid as Hub Credit, and some plans return the rest only from the third payout.
• The cheaper 2-Step plan has a 3% daily loss and a 75% split.
• 30 days of inactivity closes an account.

Frequently asked questions

Is FTMO or The5ers cheaper?

The5ers, on headline price. Hyper Growth starts at $52 and the 2-Step $100K plan at $149. FTMO starts at €79 and charges €540 for a 2-Step 100K. FTMO refunds the full 2-Step fee after success, which narrows the real gap.

Which has the bigger daily loss limit?

FTMO's 2-Step and The5ers High Stakes both allow 5%. The5ers' cheaper 2-Step and 1-Step plans allow 3%. Our guide to daily loss limits covers how each is measured.

Do either have a time limit?

No. Both list unlimited trading periods. The5ers closes accounts after 30 days without activity.

Which scales further?

The5ers. High Stakes splits rise to 100% as the balance grows, with fixed payouts at higher levels. FTMO's split tops out at 90%.

Verdict by trader type

• Traders on a tight budget: The5ers Hyper Growth from $52, or the Bootcamp at $72 for $20K.
• Traders who want the full fee back: FTMO 2-Step, refunded 100% after success.
• Traders who want a high split from day one: FTMO 1-Step at 90%, against 75% or 80% at The5ers.
• Long-term traders who want to scale: The5ers High Stakes, with a split that rises to 100%.
• News traders: FTMO's Swing account, which has no news restriction once funded.
• Swing traders holding over weekends: either. Pick FTMO Swing or any The5ers program.
• US-based traders: check eligibility at both. The5ers offers US clients TradingView only.

Read the full FTMO review and The5ers review, or line up more firms on our comparison page. Current offers are on prop firm discounts.

Prices and rules were checked on each firm's official site on 3 November 2026. Some The5ers pages conflict, so confirm current terms on the firm's site before you buy. This is educational content, not financial advice; trading involves risk. FundedKings may earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.