FTMO vs The 5ers: The Ultimate 2026 Comparison
FTMO and The 5ers are two of the most respected forex prop firms. FTMO is the largest and best-capitalized, with a simple 2-step evaluation; The 5ers counters with a $19 entry, static drawdown across every program and a path to a 100% profit split. Here is the 2026 breakdown.
FTMO
The 5ers
FTMO vs The 5ers: 2026 at a glance
| Feature | FTMO | The 5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Founded | Forex/CFD prop, 2015 / Prague | Forex/CFD prop, 2016 / Israel & London |
| Evaluation models | 1-step & 2-step (+ demo Free Trial) | 1-step, 2-step, 3-step & instant (Hyper Growth) |
| Account sizes | $10k-$200k, scale to $2M | $2.5k-$250k, scale to $4M |
| Cheapest challenge | $10k from ~$89 (2-step) | $2.5k = $19 (High Stakes) |
| Profit target | 2-step 10% + 5% (1-step 10%) | High Stakes 10% + 5% (Pro Growth 10%) |
| Max daily loss | 5% (2-step); 3% (1-step) | 5% (High Stakes); 3% (Pro Growth) |
| Max overall drawdown | 10% — static (2-step) / EOD trailing (1-step) | 6-10% — static (all CFD programs) |
| Profit split | 80% to 90% | up to 100% (starts 50-80% by program) |
| Payout | On-demand; first after 14 days | Every 14 days; first after 14 days |
| Consistency rule | None (2-step); best-day 50% (1-step, payout-gated) | None on CFD programs (min 3 profitable days) |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader | MT5, cTrader (TradingView US only) |
| Best for | Established, well-capitalized, simple 2-step | Static drawdown, low entry, 100% split path |
FTMO: the established, well-capitalized benchmark
FTMO is the reference point for the industry. Its flagship 2-step Challenge (10% then 5% profit targets, 5% max daily loss, 10% static overall drawdown) has no consistency rule, and profit split starts at 80%, scaling to 90% via the Scaling Plan up to $2,000,000. A newer 1-step Challenge is also available, though it uses a stricter end-of-day trailing drawdown and a payout-gated best-day rule.
Accounts run from $10k to $200k on MT4, MT5 and cTrader. Payouts are on-demand: the first can be requested 14 days after the first trade, then any time, typically paid within a couple of business days. In late 2025 FTMO acquired OANDA, further strengthening its backing.
Pros
- 11-year track record; largest and best-capitalized firm
- No consistency rule on the flagship 2-step
- Three platforms (MT4, MT5, cTrader)
- On-demand payouts and $450M+ cumulative payouts
Cons
- No genuine instant-funding product
- 1-step uses a stricter end-of-day trailing drawdown
- No TradingView support
- List price varies with frequent promotions
Best for: Traders who want the most established, well-capitalized firm with a straightforward 2-step and no consistency-rule pressure.
Visit FTMO →The 5ers: low entry, static drawdown, 100% split path
The 5ers offers one of the widest program lineups: 1-step (Pro Growth, launched March 2026), 2-step (High Stakes), 3-step (Bootcamp) and an instant/bonus-funded track (Hyper Growth). Entry starts at just $19 for a $2,500 High Stakes account, and accounts scale up to $4,000,000.
A key strength is that all current CFD programs use static drawdown (6-10% depending on track), confirmed with worked examples on the official rules page. Profit splits scale to 100%, though some programs start as low as 50%. Platforms are MT5 and cTrader (TradingView for US clients only); the broker/liquidity provider is deliberately undisclosed.
Pros
- Very low entry cost ($19 at $2,500)
- Static drawdown across all CFD programs
- Profit split scales to 100% on every track
- High scaling ceiling (up to $4M)
Cons
- Complex multi-program lineup with different rules
- Starting split as low as 50% on some programs
- Broker/liquidity provider is undisclosed
- No MT4 support
Best for: Traders who want static drawdown and low-cost entry, and are willing to navigate a multi-tier structure to reach a 100% split.
Visit The 5ers →Head-to-head: the key differences
Two decade-old prop firms with real credibility. These points decide it.
Track record & scale
FTMO is the largest and most established firm (since 2015, $450M+ cumulative payouts, and it acquired OANDA in late 2025). The 5ers is also about a decade old (2016) but smaller. For sheer scale and capitalization, FTMO leads.
Drawdown rules
Both use static drawdown on their flagship 2-step tracks, which is trader-friendly. FTMO 1-step uses a stricter end-of-day trailing drawdown, while The 5ers keeps static drawdown across all its current CFD programs, an edge if you want a trailing-free 1-step.
Entry cost & scaling
The 5ers is cheaper to start ($19 at $2.5k vs ~$89 at $10k on FTMO) and scales higher (up to $4M vs $2M). FTMO offers a cleaner, simpler product lineup.
Profit split
The 5ers can scale to 100% (but some programs start as low as 50%); FTMO starts at 80% and scales to 90%. Top-end split favours The 5ers; starting split favours FTMO.
Final verdict
Choose FTMO if you want the most established, best-capitalized firm, a simple 2-step with no consistency rule, and a higher 80% starting split. Choose The 5ers if you want the lowest entry cost, static drawdown across every program, and the potential to scale to a 100% split and larger $4M accounts.
Both are simulated-capital prop firms; read each program rule set carefully before buying a challenge.
Frequently asked questions
Is FTMO or The 5ers cheaper?
The 5ers starts at just $19 for a $2,500 High Stakes account, versus about $89 for the cheapest FTMO $10k 2-step challenge.
Which has better drawdown rules?
Both use static drawdown on their flagship 2-step programs. The 5ers keeps static drawdown across all current CFD programs, while the FTMO 1-step uses a stricter end-of-day trailing drawdown.
What is the profit split on FTMO and The 5ers?
FTMO starts at 80% and scales to 90%. The 5ers ranges from 50-80% at entry depending on the program and can scale to 100%.
Which prop firm is more established?
FTMO, founded in 2015, is the largest firm in the space with $450M+ in cumulative payouts, and it acquired OANDA in late 2025. The 5ers has operated since 2016.
What platforms do FTMO and The 5ers support?
FTMO offers MT4, MT5 and cTrader. The 5ers offers MT5 and cTrader, with TradingView available to US clients only.