FTMO remains in 2026 the benchmark prop firm of the market. Based in Prague and founded in 2017, it boasts a Trustpilot score of 4.7/5 across over 18,000 reviews and has paid out hundreds of millions of dollars to funded traders. This article details the rules, pricing, and complete method to pass an FTMO challenge on your first attempt this year.
Before diving into conditions, note that you can find the complete profile of the firm on our dedicated FTMO page, as well as our FTMO review in brief and our detailed FTMO challenge analysis.
FTMO in 2026: The Benchmark Prop Firm
FTMO established itself as the industry benchmark thanks to over ten years of existence in a market where many actors disappear within months. The firm offers funded accounts ranging from $10,000 to $400,000, with a scaling plan allowing traders to reach up to $2 million for the most consistent performers.
Its main strength lies in transparent rules published before registration and full reimbursement of challenge fees upon validation of the funded account. To locate FTMO against competition, consult our ranking of best prop firms in 2026 or our prop firm comparator.
FTMO Challenge Rules
The FTMO challenge takes place in two distinct phases before obtaining a funded account. The first phase, FTMO Challenge, requires reaching a profit target of 10% of initial capital. The second, Verification, reduces the target to 5%. Neither phase imposes a time limit, making it one of the least stressful prop firms on the market.
- Daily Drawdown: 5% of initial capital, calculated on the lowest equity balance of the day.
- Maximum Drawdown: 10% static, calculated on initial balance. Unlike many firms, drawdown does not trail profits, a major advantage for swing traders.
- Profit Split: 80% standard, up to 90% with scaling plan (first 90% split after 4 consecutive profitable months).
- Payouts: First withdrawal at 14 days, then up to twice a month. Methods: bank transfer, crypto (USDT, USDC), Wise, PayPal.
- Platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, DXtrade — covering all trader profiles.
Mastering drawdown is the decisive factor for success. To dive deeper, read our prop firm risk management guide and our article on understanding prop firm drawdown.
How Much Does an FTMO Challenge Cost in 2026
Registration fees depend on desired account size:
- $10,000: approx. €155
- $25,000: approx. €250
- $50,000: approx. €345
- $100,000: approx. €540
- $200,000: approx. €1,080
These fees are fully refunded on your first payout validation. The 50k account offers the best price-to-risk ratio with $5,000 daily buffer. To compare prices across account sizes, visit our 50k account, 100k account, and 200k account pages.
5-Step Method to Pass
- Choose the right size: a 50k account ($5,000 target, $5,000 drawdown) offers optimal value. The 100k account is ideal for experienced traders.
- Respect the 5% drawdown: never risk more than 1-2% per trade. Strict stop-loss is mandatory from day one.
- Aim for 10% without rushing: with no time limit, 1% per week reaches 10% in 10 weeks. About 70% of successful traders pass within 30-60 days.
- Manage consistency rules: no single trading day should account for more than 40% of total profit. Spread profits across sessions.
- Maximize free practice: FTMO offers a free trial account. Use it to test your strategy under real challenge conditions.
For a complete method applicable to all firms, read our complete prop firm challenge passing method and our article on time required to pass a challenge.
Pitfalls to Avoid
- News trading is allowed, but check specific account floating spread restrictions before trading.
- EAs (expert advisors) are permitted, but HFT (high-frequency trading) is banned. Trades must last at least several seconds.
- Copy trading between your own accounts is allowed, but not from external accounts. Read our guide on how trade copiers work.
Most failures stem from avoidable mistakes. Discover the 5 mistakes that cause prop firm challenge failure to avoid them.
FTMO vs Other Prop Firms in 2026
FTMO stands out through longevity, static drawdown, and no time limits. FundedNext offers challenges from $32 but has a newer track record. For detailed comparisons, read our FTMO vs FundedNext comparison and FundedNext vs E8Markets comparison.
If still undecided, our guide on which prop firm to choose helps you decide.
Our Verdict and How to Start
FTMO remains the essential benchmark in 2026: solid reputation, static drawdown, no time limits, and reliable payouts. It is the safest choice for your first challenge.
Ready to pass? FundedTrader supports you: discover our prop firm challenge validation services and our prop firm account management.
