FTMO Review 2025: Fees, Rules, Payouts, and the Honest Verdict
Each faint trail is one simulated future for this strategy. The bold line is the median — half of runs finished above it, half below. The shaded band spans the lucky 10th to unlucky 90th percentile, so an outcome inside the band was reasonable to expect; outside, less so.
- ✓ FTMO is the most established prop firm globally — founded 2015, acquired Oanda Dec 2025
- ✓ Two-phase challenge: 10% profit target, 5% daily loss, 10% max drawdown, no time limit
- ✓ Fees range from €155 to €1,080 — fully refunded with the first payout if you pass
- ✓ Profit split starts at 80%, scales to 90% with consistent performance
- ✓ Monthly payout cycle is the main drawback — slower than most competitors
FTMO is the prop firm that most retail traders encounter first — and for good reason. Founded in Prague in 2015 by Marek Vašíček and Otakar Šuffner, it was among the first to systematise the challenge-based funding model that is now the industry standard. In December 2025 it acquired Oanda, one of the most recognisable names in retail forex, signalling a move toward institutional credibility that no other prop firm has matched.
This review covers the rules, fees, and payouts honestly. TradeOnMath has an affiliate relationship with FTMO — meaning we earn a commission if you sign up through our link. That relationship is disclosed on every page that links to them, and it does not change the assessment: FTMO earns its high ranking through ten years of consistent payouts, not through commission size.
How the FTMO challenge works
FTMO uses a two-phase evaluation. Phase 1 (the Challenge) and Phase 2 (Verification). Both are included in one fee.
| Rule | Phase 1 (Challenge) | Phase 2 (Verification) |
|---|---|---|
| Profit target | 10% | 5% |
| Max daily loss | 5% of account balance | 5% of account balance |
| Max overall loss | 10% of account balance | 10% of account balance |
| Min trading days | 4 | 4 |
| Time limit | None | None |
| Fee | One-time (covers both phases) | Included |
The no-time-limit rule is genuinely significant — most beginners need longer than 30 days to hit a 10% profit target while staying within the drawdown rules. FTMO removed the time limit in 2022 and has kept it removed, which differentiates it from firms that still impose 30 or 60 day deadlines.
| Account Size | Standard Fee | Aggressive Fee |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | €155 (~$170) | €250 (~$275) |
| $25,000 | €250 (~$275) | €395 (~$435) |
| $50,000 | €345 (~$380) | €545 (~$600) |
| $100,000 | €540 (~$595) | €870 (~$955) |
| $200,000 | €1,080 (~$1,190) | N/A |
Aggressive accounts use a higher leverage setting. Standard is 1:100 on forex, Aggressive is 1:200. The fee is fully refunded with your first payout once funded — if you pass and generate your first profit withdrawal, the challenge cost comes back. If you fail, you lose the fee. Reset fees (to retry after failure) are discounted at approximately 20% of the original cost.
Profit split and payouts
The funded FTMO Account operates on an 80% profit split by default — 80% to you, 20% to FTMO. When you qualify for the Scaling Plan (by generating consistent returns), the split increases to 90%. The Scaling Plan also increases your account balance by 25% every 4 months with no ceiling up to $2M.
Payouts are monthly. You can request your first reward after a minimum of 14 calendar days of trading. After that, payouts process within 1–2 business days via bank transfer, Skrill, or crypto. The monthly cycle is the most common complaint from FTMO traders — FunderPro pays in 8–24 hours, E8 Markets pays every 14 days. If payout speed is your priority, FTMO is not the right choice.
Platforms and markets
FTMO supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, and DXtrade — four platforms covering the full range of retail trading preferences. Available markets include 93 instruments: forex pairs (major, minor, exotic), indices, commodities, crypto, and stocks. US-based traders are restricted from MT4, MT5, and cTrader due to NFA regulations, but DXtrade remains available.
The honest assessment
FTMO's strengths are real: ten years of operation, consistent payouts, institutional credibility, clear rules, no time pressure, and the fee refund policy. Its weaknesses are also real: monthly payouts, higher fees than newer competitors, and no public disclosure of pass rates (the industry estimate is 14% from FPFX data across 300,000+ accounts — FTMO likely sits near the industry average or slightly above given its more experienced client base).
The question every trader should answer before paying: does my strategy's actual drawdown profile fit FTMO's 10% maximum drawdown and 5% daily loss rules? Run the Strategy Reality Check with your real parameters and check the 10th percentile 1-month outcome. If it shows potential drawdowns above 7%, you will breach the rules on a bad-luck run even with a profitable strategy.
FAQ
Does FTMO refund the fee if I fail?
No — the fee is only refunded with your first funded account payout if you pass. Failed attempts and resets are separate costs. Reset fees are approximately 20% of the original challenge fee.
Can I trade news events on FTMO?
FTMO permits trading during news events. There are no specific rules restricting entries around high-impact news. However, positions held through extreme volatility that breach the daily loss limit will still count as a rule violation regardless of the news context.
What is the FTMO Scaling Plan?
After 4 months of consistent profitability in the funded stage, FTMO increases your account balance by 25% and upgrades the profit split to 90%. The scaling plan repeats every 4 months with no ceiling up to $2M.
Is FTMO available to Indian traders?
Yes — FTMO accepts traders from India. Payouts are available via bank transfer and crypto. Note that any prop firm income is taxable as business income under Indian tax law and should be declared in your ITR.