Founded
2015 Prague, Czech Republic
The most established name in prop trading — now backed by regulated broker OANDA.
Status: Active. Active and stronger than ever after completing its acquisition of regulated broker OANDA in December 2025. A compliant US pathway ("FTMO US", MT5-only) now exists, excluding five states.
On the weight of evidence FTMO is the most established and most trusted name in retail prop trading — a ~4.8/5 Trustpilot across tens of thousands of reviews, US$450M+ in documented payouts, and, since December 2025, ownership of regulated broker OANDA. The cautions are ordinary: it is a paid, unregulated evaluation with strict drawdown limits that most participants fail, and higher-than-average fees.
The score, by criterion
FTMO uses a two-step evaluation — an FTMO Challenge, then Verification — after which you trade a funded (simulated) FTMO Account and keep 80–90% of the profit. A newer 1-step program is also available. Account sizes run from US$10,000 to US$200,000, and the one-time fee is refunded with your first payout.
FTMO's rules are strict but transparent, and have become more trader-friendly over time (no time limit; minimum trading days cut to four). The 2-step evaluation uses a static, balance-based maximum loss, while the 1-step uses an end-of-day trailing limit — always confirm the current objectives for your program on ftmo.com.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Profit target | 10% Challenge / 5% Verification |
| Max daily loss | 5% |
| Max overall loss | 10% — static / balance-based (2-step) |
| Minimum trading days | 4 |
| Consistency rule | None on 2-step; 1-step "best day" ≤ 50% of total profit |
| Time limit | Unlimited — no maximum |
| News & EAs | Allowed, with a short window around high-impact news on funded accounts |
FTMO's payout record is the industry benchmark — the firm confirmed over US$450 million paid out at its 10-year anniversary, with the first payout available from day 14 and on-demand cycles thereafter, usually processed within a few business days. Reliable payouts are its most-praised feature across tens of thousands of reviews.
A natural choice for serious traders who prioritise trust, track record and quality tooling and can trade within strict drawdown discipline. Cost-focused traders, or US residents who need the full funded-account product, may find better value or fit elsewhere.
FTMO's evaluation business is not supervised by a financial regulator (standard for the sector), though via the OANDA acquisition FTMO now owns regulated broker entities in several countries. Challenge fees are at risk, the accounts are simulated, and most participants do not pass the evaluation.
A proprietary trading firm evaluation is a paid product, not employment or guaranteed income — most participants do not pass, and challenge fees are at risk. Prop firms are generally unregulated and can change rules or cease operating at short notice; details were verified as of August 2026 and may change. This is independent editorial analysis, not financial advice or a recommendation to trade.