FFUNDED vs FTMO (2026): Rules, Payouts and Costs Compared

FTMO is the industry's longest standing name, and any new firm should expect to be measured against it. This comparison lays out where FFUNDED and FTMO differ on the things that decide whether you get funded and paid: evaluation structure, drawdown mechanics, splits, and payout cadence. Competitor details reflect FTMO's published terms as of July 2026; always confirm current rules on the firm's own site before purchasing.

The quick version

• FFUNDED offers five plans: Instant, 1 Step, 2 Step Standard, 2 Step Pro and 3 Step. FTMO offers a 2-step evaluation and, since early 2026, a 1-step.
• FFUNDED publishes both drawdown types and lets you pick. 2 Step Standard and 3 Step are static; Instant, 1 Step and 2 Step Pro trail. FTMO's 1-step trails.
• FFUNDED profit splits start at 85% on every plan, reach 90% with the profit split upgrade and 95% at the top of the scaling plan. FTMO starts at 80% and scales to 90%.
• Both firms refund the evaluation fee, FFUNDED on its four evaluation plans, FTMO with the first payout.
• FFUNDED account sizes run from $5,000, so the entry point is lower than FTMO's $10,000 minimum.

Evaluation models

FTMO built its reputation on the classic 2-step: a 10% target in phase one, 5% in phase two, with a 5% daily loss limit and a 10% maximum loss. Its newer 1-step carries a 10% target with a 3% daily limit and a 10% trailing maximum loss.

FFUNDED covers more ground. The evaluation plans run 1 Step (10% target, 4% daily, 6% trailing maximum loss), 2 Step Standard (8% then 4%, 4% daily, 8% static), 2 Step Pro (10% then 4%, 4% daily, 10% trailing) and 3 Step (6% in each of three steps, 4% daily, 8% static). And if you would rather not take an evaluation at all, instant funding starts you on a funded simulated account from day one, something FTMO does not offer at all.

Drawdown: static against trailing

This is the deepest structural difference, and FFUNDED's answer is that you choose rather than accept whatever the firm offers. Two plans use a static maximum loss measured from your starting balance: on a $100,000 2 Step Standard account your floor is $92,000 and it never moves, and 3 Step works the same way at 8%. Three plans trail your highest recorded equity instead: Instant and 1 Step at 6%, 2 Step Pro at 10%.

FTMO's 1-step trails, so the loss limit follows your equity as you make progress and profit you have made becomes part of what you are protecting. Plenty of traders accept that trade off in exchange for a roomier headline number, which is exactly the bargain 2 Step Pro offers at 10%. If you would rather know the exact figure that ends the account on the day you buy it, pick one of the static plans. We wrote a full explainer on static versus trailing drawdown if you want the mechanics.

Profit split and payouts

FTMO pays 80% as standard, rising to 90% through its scaling plan, and its 1-step pays 90% from the start.

FFUNDED starts every plan at 85%, moves to 90% with the profit split upgrade, and reaches 95% at the top of the scaling plan. Instant runs a 14-day payout cycle; the four evaluation plans run Up To Weekly. The payout page has the full schedule, and the scaling plan grows accounts by 30% per completed 90 day cycle up to $2,000,000 in simulated capital.

Cost of entry

FTMO's smallest account is $10,000. FFUNDED starts at $5,000, which lowers the cheapest way to trade a funded ruleset for real. On refunds, FTMO returns the fee with your first payout; FFUNDED refunds the fee on its four evaluation plans under the published payout terms, while the Instant fee is not refundable.

What FTMO does well

An honest comparison names the other side's strengths. FTMO has a decade of operating history, a large trader community, deep educational content and a long payout track record. If maximum institutional polish matters more to you than rule flexibility or split ceiling, FTMO remains a credible default. FFUNDED's case is a more modern ruleset: static drawdown everywhere, an instant route, lower entry sizes and a split that reaches 100%.

Which should you choose?

• Choose FFUNDED if you want instant funding, a static drawdown you can plan around, a sub $10,000 entry point, or a split ceiling of 100%.
• Choose FTMO if a long operating history is your deciding factor and the 80% to 90% split range is acceptable.

Both firms run simulated accounts with real payouts for performance. Compare the full rulesets on our compare plans page before deciding.

Frequently asked questions

Is FFUNDED a good alternative to FTMO?

FFUNDED covers everything the classic FTMO evaluation does and adds routes FTMO lacks: instant funding, a choice between static and trailing drawdown, account sizes from $5,000 and a profit split that starts at 85% and reaches 95% at the top of the scaling plan. Traders who value operating history may still prefer FTMO, which has been running since 2015.

What is the biggest rule difference between FFUNDED and FTMO?

Choice of drawdown mechanics. FFUNDED publishes both: 2 Step Standard and 3 Step measure the maximum loss statically from your starting balance, while Instant, 1 Step and 2 Step Pro trail your highest recorded equity. FTMO's 1-step trails, which reduces your remaining room as you profit.

Do both firms refund the challenge fee?

Yes, with different mechanics. FTMO refunds the fee with your first payout. FFUNDED refunds the fee on its four evaluation plans with the first payout under its published payout terms, while the Instant fee is not refundable.

Can I get funded without a challenge at either firm?

Only at FFUNDED. Its Instant plan starts you on a funded simulated account from day one. FTMO requires passing an evaluation before any funded account.