FTMO vs The5ers
On the numbers: The5ers pays the higher profit split; FTMO rates higher on Trustpilot. The right choice depends on which of those you weigh most - the rules, pricing and payout detail below is where they really separate.
At a glance
| FTMO | The5ers | |
|---|---|---|
| TradingBay Rating | 9.5 ★ | 8.8 |
| Category | Forex | Forex |
| Founded | 2015 | 2016 |
| Profit Split | Up to 90% | Up to 100% ★ |
| Payout Cycle | On demand | Bi-weekly |
| Account Sizes | $10K–$200K | $2.5K–$250K |
| Cheapest Challenge | €155 | $19 |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader | MetaTrader 5 (Hedge), cTrader |
| Trustpilot | 4.8 ★ | 4.7 |
Which is cheaper at $50K and $100K?
Prices shown in each firm's own currency or billing model, so not every size has a like-for-like winner.
| FTMO | The5ers | |
|---|---|---|
| $25K account | €250 | - |
| $50K account | €345 | $309 |
| $100K account | €540 | $545 |
| $200K account | €1,080 | - |
Rules head-to-head
Drawdown type is the rule that catches most traders out - read it before the profit split.
| FTMO | The5ers | |
|---|---|---|
| Rules grade | A - Clear, well-documented and stable ★ | B - Fair and transparent, but growth is gradual |
| Drawdown type | 2-Step: static 10% Maximum Loss. 1-Step: end-of-day trailing 10% Maximum Loss (recalculated 00:00 CE(S)T, only moves up; fully resets after each reward withdrawal) | Hyper/Pro Growth: 6% static stop-out from initial balance. High Stakes: 10% absolute max loss. Bootcamp: 5% max loss per step, 4% when funded. |
| Daily loss limit | 5% (2-Step) / 3% (1-Step) of initial capital, on equity, recalculated daily at 00:00 CE(S)T | Hyper Growth: 3% daily pause (not a breach). Pro Growth: 3% daily loss = account termination. High Stakes: 5% daily (from higher of balance/equity at server midnight). Bootcamp: 3% daily pause on funded stage only. |
| Profit target | 2-Step: 10% then 5%. 1-Step: 10%. No target on the funded FTMO Account | Hyper/Pro Growth: 10%. High Stakes: 10% then 5%; 10% per funded scaling step. Bootcamp: 6% per step, 5% per funded milestone. |
| Consistency rule | 1-Step only: Best Day Rule - best day must not exceed 50% of Positive Days' Profit (applies to the Challenge and the FTMO Account; not a breach, just blocks passing/payout until diluted) | No fixed best-day percentage; profitable-day minimums serve the same purpose. |
| News trading | Allowed throughout the Evaluation Process; funded Standard accounts restricted around selected news releases; Swing accounts unrestricted | Allowed; bracket strategies around high-impact news prohibited. High Stakes: no new orders within 2 minutes before/after high-impact news. |
| EAs / automation | Allowed; HFT/latency arbitrage and other Forbidden Trading Practices prohibited | EAs allowed except tick-scalping, HFT, arbitrage, emulators, copy/coordinated trading - banned EAs void the account without refund. |
| Weekend holding | Funded Standard accounts must close overnight/weekend positions; Swing accounts may hold. No restriction during the Evaluation Process | Overnight and weekend holding allowed (indices carry very high weekend swaps). |
| Min trading days | 4 trading days per phase (2-Step only); none on 1-Step or the FTMO Account | - |
| Time limit | No time limit on any phase | Unlimited time to pass; accounts inactive for 30+ consecutive days expire. |
Payouts head-to-head
| FTMO | The5ers | |
|---|---|---|
| Profit split (full terms) | 2-Step: 80% base, up to 90% via Scaling Plan. 1-Step: flat 90% | Starts at 50/50 (Hyper Growth, Bootcamp), 75/25 (Pro Growth) or 80/20 (High Stakes) and scales to 100% - top High Stakes tiers pay 100% plus $4,000-$10,000 fixed payouts |
| Payout frequency | On demand from 14 days; processed on a bi-weekly cycle, ~8h average processing | First payout 14 days after receiving the funded account, then every two weeks; the cycle resets each time the account scales |
| First payout | From 14 calendar days after first trade on the FTMO Account | 14 days after the funded account is issued |
| Minimum payout | - | $150 (after profit split); crypto withdrawals capped at $1,500 per request |
| Scaling | Scaling Plan: 25% balance increase per 4-month cycle (requires 10%+ net profit over the window, at least 2 processed rewards and a positive balance), reward upgraded to 90%, up to a $2,000,000 maximum initial balance | Hyper Growth doubles the account at every 10% target up to $4M; Pro Growth scales incrementally to $500K; High Stakes scales 10% steps to $500K with split rising 80/20 to 100/0 + fixed payouts; Bootcamp scales every 5% up to $4M |
Who should choose which?
· You want to withdraw more often (On demand vs Bi-weekly).
· You trade the news.
· You want clearer, more stable rules (rules grade A vs B).
· Independent reputation matters to you (Trustpilot 4.8 vs 4.7).
· The headline profit split matters most (100% vs 90%).
· You'd rather not trade under a consistency rule.
· You swing trade and hold over the weekend.
· You're trading from the United States.
Is FTMO better than The5ers?
It depends what you weigh: The5ers pays the higher profit split; FTMO rates higher on Trustpilot.
Which is cheaper, FTMO or The5ers?
Their entry prices are in different currencies or billing models (FTMO: €155, The5ers: $19), so there is no like-for-like winner - compare at your account size in the table above.
Does FTMO or The5ers allow EAs?
FTMO: Allowed; HFT/latency arbitrage and other Forbidden Trading Practices prohibited. The5ers: EAs allowed except tick-scalping, HFT, arbitrage, emulators, copy/coordinated trading - banned EAs void the account without refund..
Can US traders join FTMO or The5ers?
FTMO: no, the United States is on its restricted list. The5ers: yes, the US is not on its restricted list.
Which pays out faster, FTMO or The5ers?
FTMO: On demand from 14 days; processed on a bi-weekly cycle, ~8h average processing. The5ers: First payout 14 days after receiving the funded account, then every two weeks; the cycle resets each time the account scales.
Terms last verified against each firm's own site: 2026-06-12 / 2026-06-12. How we rate.