FTMO is a prop trading firm based in the Czech Republic. Rather than giving you a live account straight away, it asks you to pass an evaluation first. If you pass, you trade a funded account using the firm's capital and keep a share of the profits. This FTMO review covers how the evaluation works, what it costs, the rules that can end an attempt, the platforms available, how withdrawals work and who the model suits. Our own rating for FTMO is 3.00 out of 5.

FTMO Overview

FTMO says it serves traders in more than 180 countries. The firm was founded in 2014 and has won Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 award for four consecutive years, from 2019 to 2022. Its main offer is a two-step evaluation with a profit split of up to 90% once you are funded.

The model is different from a standard broker. You are not depositing money to trade your own capital. You pay a one-time evaluation fee, follow the firm's rules, and, if you succeed, trade an account funded by FTMO. That structure makes the rules the most important part of the product, so it is worth reading them in full before you pay anything.

Regulation and Safety

FTMO is a prop firm, not a regulated broker. That is the most important point for anyone assessing safety. Prop firms are judged on their track record, transparency and how they handle payouts, not on the same licensing framework that applies to brokers.

FTMO operates through several entities. FTMO Evaluation Global s.r.o. handles applications from outside the US, FTMO Evaluation US s.r.o. serves US-based traders, and FTMO s.r.o. owns and runs the website. Our review did not find major red flags. The firm's reputation is supported by its Deloitte recognition and a Trustpilot rating of 4.9 out of 5, based on more than 5,000 reviews as stated in our source material.

The main gap is disclosure. FTMO does not clearly list the brokers or liquidity providers it works with. Many traders would be more comfortable if that information were easier to find, because it helps show how trades are executed and how the firm is set up.

Account Types and Evaluation Setup

FTMO offers two main account styles. The standard FTMO account is built for active day trading rules. The FTMO Account Swing is designed for traders who hold positions for longer. There are six funding options in total, though only five appear on the public comparison page. The sixth requires approval and is referenced in the scaling plan details.

Funded accounts range from $10,000 to $200,000. Your settings during the evaluation, including account size, risk type and rules, carry over once you pass. You cannot change them later without starting a new evaluation, so it pays to choose carefully at the start.

FTMO also runs a scaling plan that increases account size by 25% every four months, provided you keep meeting the requirements. Traders can use the platform's free trial to get a feel for the process before committing to a paid evaluation.

FTMO Fees, Costs and Profit Split

FTMO charges a one-time evaluation fee for each attempt. Based on the figures in our source material, the fee ranges from €155 to €1,080 depending on the account size you choose. The evaluation fee is refunded if you pass and are approved, which is one of the firm's more attractive features.

The profit split is at the top end compared with many competing prop firms. For the smallest account in the original example, the total cost was the €155 evaluation fee, with no weekend holding fee and no additional charges listed.

Trading costs in our source data are shown per instrument: EUR/USD at 0.6 pips ($6.00), GBP/USD at 0.8 pips ($8.00), WTI crude oil at $0.03, gold at $0.19 and Bitcoin at $171.00. Our database also lists spreads at 0.0 pips, which does not match these per-instrument figures. Check the live cost table on the FTMO website before you trade, as conditions can change.

Evaluation Rules and Trading Conditions

The FTMO Challenge runs for 30 days after you choose your settings and pay the fee. Under the Normal risk setting, the profit target is 10% and you must trade on at least four separate days, with at least one trade per day. Under the Aggressive setting, the profit target is 20%.

The main limits are a daily loss limit and a trailing drawdown limit:

• Daily loss limit: 5% (Normal) or 10% (Aggressive)
• Trailing drawdown limit: 10% (Normal) or 20% (Aggressive)
• Trading activity: at least one trade per day, across four separate days within the 30-day window

Standard FTMO accounts restrict weekend holding and some news trading. Swing accounts allow more flexibility, which suits traders who hold positions longer. If you break a rule, the account is usually closed. You can try again by paying the fee again, and in some cases FTMO may offer a 14-day extension or a free retry.

After you pass, the Verification stage lasts 60 days. The same risk rules apply, but the profit target is halved compared with the challenge.

Once approved, you trade on a demo account and FTMO's systems copy those trades into the live accounts it controls. The firm says this structure supports risk control and oversight.

Leverage: Check the Current Terms

Leverage is an area where our data is inconsistent. Our database lists a maximum of 1:1000. The FTMO account terms in our source material state 1:100 on the standard FTMO account and 1:30 on the Swing account. Because leverage affects risk directly, confirm the current figures on the FTMO website before you start an evaluation.

Platforms and Tools

FTMO supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and cTrader. It also provides its own apps and tools for tracking performance, journaling trades and working on discipline. The firm allows both manual and algorithmic trading, including expert advisors and bots, and does not ban common strategies on those platforms.

The 1:100 standard leverage and liquid markets suit short-term traders. The Swing option gives more room for longer holds. Our review also lists access to 42 FX pairs, 8 metals, 4 futures contracts, 14 cash indices and commodities, 10 cryptocurrencies and 23 large-cap stocks in the US and Eurozone, with seven base currencies.

Deposits, Payments and Withdrawals

FTMO's evaluation fee can be paid by bank wire, debit or credit card, Skrill or cryptocurrency. The same payment methods are used for profit-share withdrawals, according to the original content. Payouts are described as automatic and monthly, and traders can request a custom withdrawal after 14 days from their first trade.

The source material says FTMO has traders in more than 180 countries but does not publish a restriction list. If you are unsure whether you are eligible, check the terms before you pay.

Bonuses and Current Offers

FTMO's main incentives are structural rather than promotional. The evaluation fee refund, the free trial and the scaling plan all reward traders who pass and stay within the rules. Our data also highlights a 100K FTMO Challenge special deal, but we could not confirm its full terms, so read the offer conditions on the FTMO site before relying on it.

If you are comparing prop firms, our reviews of GFunded and FundedNext cover similar evaluation models, and you can compare rules and profit splits side by side.

Education and Customer Support

FTMO Academy offers beginner-friendly education, and the blog contains solid written material. The firm also focuses on trading psychology, which many traders find useful. Performance coaches are available for funded traders, and FTMO publishes interviews with funded traders on its YouTube channel.

Support is available 24/7 in 17 languages through email, live chat and WhatsApp. Phone support runs Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CEST. The FAQ covers most basic questions. To start, click "FTMO Challenge" on the homepage, register or log in with an email address or through Google, Apple or Facebook, choose your evaluation settings and pay the fee.

Who FTMO Is For

FTMO suits experienced traders who already have a consistent strategy and can manage risk under tight limits. Traders who prefer short-term strategies will likely value the 1:100 standard leverage and the liquid markets, while those who hold positions longer may prefer the Swing account. Algorithmic traders benefit from the fact that automated strategies are not restricted.

FTMO is less suitable for beginners. Prop evaluations are demanding, and many new traders struggle with the profit targets and loss limits even when they have good educational resources. Trading involves risk, and failing an evaluation is a common outcome, so only use money you can afford to lose and treat the fee as a cost of the evaluation, not a guaranteed route to funding.