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 three routes: instant funding, the Advance challenges, and the Scale challenges. FTMO offers a 2-step evaluation and, since early 2026, a 1-step.
• FFUNDED drawdown is static on every plan. FTMO's 1-step uses a trailing maximum loss that follows your equity up.
• FFUNDED profit splits climb to 100% on most plans. FTMO starts at 80% and scales to 90%.
• Both firms refund the challenge fee, FFUNDED on Advance and Scale plans, FTMO with the first payout.
• FFUNDED account sizes run from $2,500 to $200,000, 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 Advance plans come in 1-step (10% target, 4% daily, 7.5% maximum loss) and 2-step (7.5% then 5%, 4.5% daily, 9% maximum loss). The Scale plans mirror that structure with their own limits and a built in scaling track. 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. Every FFUNDED plan uses a static maximum loss measured from starting balance. If you start a $100,000 Advance 1-step, your floor is $92,500 and it never moves. You always know the exact number that ends the account.

FTMO's 1-step instead trails: the loss limit follows your equity as you make progress, which means profit you have made can shrink the room you have left. Plenty of traders accept that trade off, but a static floor is simpler to plan risk around, and it is one reason traders switch. 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 splits climb with progression: Instant Lite runs 75% to 95%, and Instant Standard, Advance and Scale all climb to 100%. First payout on every plan comes after 14 days, then repeats every 14 days. 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 $2,500, which lowers the cheapest way to trade a funded ruleset for real. On refunds, FTMO returns the fee with your first payout; FFUNDED marks the Advance and Scale fees refundable under the published payout terms, while instant funding fees are 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, static drawdown on every plan, account sizes from $2,500 and profit splits that climb to 100%. 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?

Drawdown mechanics. FFUNDED uses a static maximum loss on every plan, fixed from your starting balance. FTMO's 1-step uses a trailing maximum loss that moves up with your equity, 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 marks Advance and Scale challenge fees refundable under its published payout terms, while instant funding fees are not refundable.

Can I get funded without a challenge at either firm?

Only at FFUNDED. Its Instant Lite and Instant Standard plans start on a funded simulated account from day one. FTMO requires passing an evaluation before any funded account.