Head to head
FTMO vs The5ers
Two CFD firms founded in 2015 and 2016: which should you buy?
The two CFD firms with the earliest founding years in our database, with very different rule books. FTMO is more permissive on strategy and lists its fees in euros on its main site, so the two cannot be compared directly on price. The5ers restricts news trading, HFT and copy trading, which rules it out for traders whose strategy depends on them.
Rules and prices may change
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FTMO
CFD evaluations since 2015, with a static loss line on the 2-Step
- Entry from
- Priced in EUR
- Highest included split
- 90%
- Max loss
- 10% static
- Daily loss
- 5%
- Sizes
- $10K–$200K
- Consistency
- Applies
The5ers
High Stakes accounts from $19, with a long list of restricted strategies
- Entry from
- $19
- Highest included split
- 80%
- Max loss
- 10% static
- Daily loss
- 5%
- Sizes
- $2.5K–$250K
- Consistency
- None
The short answer
The biggest differences
Ranked by how far apart the two firms actually are, not by what is easiest to put in a table.
| Attribute | FTMO | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Published payout proof | Yes | Not independently verified by PropScouting |
| Hedging | Restricted | Not allowed |
| Entry price | Priced in EUR | $19 |
| $100K account price | Priced in EUR | $95 |
| Minimum payout | $20 | $150 |
| EAs and algos | Allowed | Restricted |
Full matrix
Every attribute compared
34 rows across cost, evaluation terms, payouts, rules and access.
Comparing 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
At a glance | ||
| User ratingAverage of reviews submitted by PropScouting users | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| Asset class | Forex / CFD | Forex / CFD |
| Operating since | 2015 | 2016 |
| Programmes listed on PropScouting | 2 2-step, 1-step | 3 3-step, 2-step, 1-step |
Cost | ||
| Entry priceLowest published ticket across all programmes | Priced in EUR not converted to USD | $19 smallest account $2.5K |
| $100K account priceCheapest published ticket for a $100,000 account | Priced in EUR | $95 + $205 activation |
| Account sizes | $10K – $200K 5 sizes | $2.5K – $250K 8 sizes |
| Fee refundedReturned once funded; timing varies by firm | Yes Evaluation fee is returned with the first payout. | Yes |
| Pricing model | One-time fee no clock on the evaluation | One-time fee no clock on the evaluation |
Evaluation | ||
| Profit targetPer phase, on the widest programme | 10% → 5% FTMO Challenge (2-Step) | 10% → 5% High Stakes ($2.5K - $25K) |
| Maximum loss | 10% FTMO Challenge (2-Step) | 10% High Stakes ($2.5K - $25K) |
| Daily loss limitNo limit means a bad morning cannot end the account | 5% balance based | 5% balance based |
| Drawdown modelStatic never moves; trailing rises with your profit | Static | Static |
| Minimum trading days | 4 | 3 |
| Time limit | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Max leverage | 1:100 | 1:100 |
Payouts | ||
| Profit splitHighest included split on any programme | 90% included | 80% included |
| Payout cadence | Bi-weekly on FTMO Challenge (2-Step) | Bi-weekly on Bootcamp |
| First payout after | 14 days | 14 days |
| Minimum payout | $20 | $150 |
| Published payout proof | Yes FTMO publishes aggregate payout statistics on its own site. | Not independently verified by PropScouting |
Rules that decide whether you get paid | ||
| Consistency capCaps how much of total profit one day may represent. Set per programme, not per firm. | None on some plans tightest elsewhere 50% - breach raises the target | None no programme carries a cap |
| News trading | Restricted News trading is unrestricted during the evaluation. On a Standard FTMO Account you may not open or close trades on the affected instruments from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after selected high-impact releases, though positions opened earlier can be held through them. Swing accounts have no news restriction. | Restricted Holding trades through news is allowed on every programme. On High Stakes no order may be executed from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after a high-impact release, and profit made in that window is deducted. On Hyper Growth and Bootcamp news trading is allowed except for bracketing, placing a buy stop and a sell stop around the release. |
| EAs and algos | Allowed EAs and algorithmic trading are allowed if the trading is legitimate and could be replicated on a live account. A third-party EA risks breaching the maximum capital allocation when other traders run the same strategy, and an EA that sends more than 2,000 server requests a day is a forbidden practice. | Restricted The5ers' answers conflict. One allows any EA whose source code you own, provided it does not copy other people's signals, tick-scalp, run arbitrage or high-frequency trading, or use emulators. A more recent answer says algorithmic trading is strictly forbidden. Confirm with the firm before running any automation. |
| Copy trading | Restricted Accounts are for personal use only: no third party may trade your account or trade in coordination with you. Running an identical strategy across several accounts is subject to the $400,000 maximum capital allocation. | Restricted You may copy your own trades across your own accounts, but multiple Bootcamp accounts must use different strategies, and on Hyper Growth copying stops once your total managed capital reaches $500,000. Copying other people's signals is not allowed. |
| Weekend holding | Restricted Positions may be held over the weekend during the evaluation and on Swing accounts. A Standard FTMO Account must be flat shortly before the weekend market close. | Allowed Positions may be held overnight and over the weekend on every programme. Indices carry a high weekend swap. |
| Overnight holding | Restricted Positions may be held overnight during the evaluation and on Swing accounts. On a Standard FTMO Account they must be closed before any market break (rollover) lasting longer than two hours. | Allowed Overnight positions are permitted. |
| Hedging | Restricted Opposite positions are allowed within a single account. Holding them across connected accounts or with other traders is forbidden, as is hedging used to spread profit across days to get round the Best Day Rule. | Not allowed Hedging is strictly forbidden, as are high-frequency trading and arbitrage strategies. |
Access | ||
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader +2 MetaTrader 4 · MetaTrader 5 · cTrader · DXtrade · TradingView | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 5 |
| Markets | Forex, Indices, Metals, Commodities +2 Forex · Indices · Metals · Commodities · Crypto · Stocks | Forex, Indices, Metals, Commodities Forex · Indices · Metals · Commodities |
| Payout methods | Bank transfer, Crypto, Skrill, Visa Direct, Mastercard Send | Rise, Crypto, Bank transfer |
| Scaling plan | Yes The split rises from 80% to 90% once the Scaling Plan or Premium Programme conditions are met, and the Scaling Plan increases allocated capital once payout milestones are met. | Yes Balance grows as targets are met across steps. |
| Country restrictions | 75 listed FTMO excludes nationals and residents of Iran, Syria, Myanmar and North Korea, though nationals of the first three can be accepted with proof of residency and a bank account in the European Economic Area. The rest of the list is a risk-based exclusion by country of residence. Clients in the United States are served by FTMO US, and clients in Australia through an affiliated FTMO entity. | 35 listed These are the countries The5ers says it cannot accept. Traders must also be 18 or older. |
| Record verified | 25 Sept 2026 | 25 Sept 2026 |
At a glance
User rating
Average of reviews submitted by PropScouting users
- FTMO
- No reviews yet
- The5ers
- No reviews yet
Asset class
- FTMO
- Forex / CFD
- The5ers
- Forex / CFD
Operating since
- FTMO
- 2015
- The5ers
- 2016
Programmes listed on PropScouting
- FTMO
- 22-step, 1-step
- The5ers
- 33-step, 2-step, 1-step
Cost
Entry price
Lowest published ticket across all programmes
- FTMO
- Priced in EURnot converted to USD
- The5ers
- $19smallest account $2.5K
$100K account price
Cheapest published ticket for a $100,000 account
- FTMO
- Priced in EUR
- The5ers
- $95+ $205 activation
Account sizes
- FTMO
- $10K – $200K5 sizes
- The5ers
- $2.5K – $250K8 sizes
Fee refunded
Returned once funded; timing varies by firm
- FTMO
- YesEvaluation fee is returned with the first payout.
- The5ers
- Yes
Pricing model
- FTMO
- One-time feeno clock on the evaluation
- The5ers
- One-time feeno clock on the evaluation
Evaluation
Profit target
Per phase, on the widest programme
- FTMO
- 10% → 5%FTMO Challenge (2-Step)
- The5ers
- 10% → 5%High Stakes ($2.5K - $25K)
Maximum loss
- FTMO
- 10%FTMO Challenge (2-Step)
- The5ers
- 10%High Stakes ($2.5K - $25K)
Daily loss limit
No limit means a bad morning cannot end the account
- FTMO
- 5%balance based
- The5ers
- 5%balance based
Drawdown model
Static never moves; trailing rises with your profit
- FTMO
- Static
- The5ers
- Static
Minimum trading days
- FTMO
- 4
- The5ers
- 3
Time limit
- FTMO
- Unlimited
- The5ers
- Unlimited
Max leverage
- FTMO
- 1:100
- The5ers
- 1:100
Payouts
Profit split
Highest included split on any programme
- FTMO
- 90%included
- The5ers
- 80%included
Payout cadence
- FTMO
- Bi-weeklyon FTMO Challenge (2-Step)
- The5ers
- Bi-weeklyon Bootcamp
First payout after
- FTMO
- 14 days
- The5ers
- 14 days
Minimum payout
- FTMO
- $20
- The5ers
- $150
Published payout proof
- FTMO
- YesFTMO publishes aggregate payout statistics on its own site.
- The5ers
- Not independently verified by PropScouting
Rules that decide whether you get paid
Consistency cap
Caps how much of total profit one day may represent. Set per programme, not per firm.
- FTMO
- None on some planstightest elsewhere 50% - breach raises the target
- The5ers
- Noneno programme carries a cap
News trading
- FTMO
- RestrictedNews trading is unrestricted during the evaluation. On a Standard FTMO Account you may not open or close trades on the affected instruments from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after selected high-impact releases, though positions opened earlier can be held through them. Swing accounts have no news restriction.
- The5ers
- RestrictedHolding trades through news is allowed on every programme. On High Stakes no order may be executed from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after a high-impact release, and profit made in that window is deducted. On Hyper Growth and Bootcamp news trading is allowed except for bracketing, placing a buy stop and a sell stop around the release.
EAs and algos
- FTMO
- AllowedEAs and algorithmic trading are allowed if the trading is legitimate and could be replicated on a live account. A third-party EA risks breaching the maximum capital allocation when other traders run the same strategy, and an EA that sends more than 2,000 server requests a day is a forbidden practice.
- The5ers
- RestrictedThe5ers' answers conflict. One allows any EA whose source code you own, provided it does not copy other people's signals, tick-scalp, run arbitrage or high-frequency trading, or use emulators. A more recent answer says algorithmic trading is strictly forbidden. Confirm with the firm before running any automation.
Copy trading
- FTMO
- RestrictedAccounts are for personal use only: no third party may trade your account or trade in coordination with you. Running an identical strategy across several accounts is subject to the $400,000 maximum capital allocation.
- The5ers
- RestrictedYou may copy your own trades across your own accounts, but multiple Bootcamp accounts must use different strategies, and on Hyper Growth copying stops once your total managed capital reaches $500,000. Copying other people's signals is not allowed.
Weekend holding
- FTMO
- RestrictedPositions may be held over the weekend during the evaluation and on Swing accounts. A Standard FTMO Account must be flat shortly before the weekend market close.
- The5ers
- AllowedPositions may be held overnight and over the weekend on every programme. Indices carry a high weekend swap.
Overnight holding
- FTMO
- RestrictedPositions may be held overnight during the evaluation and on Swing accounts. On a Standard FTMO Account they must be closed before any market break (rollover) lasting longer than two hours.
- The5ers
- AllowedOvernight positions are permitted.
Hedging
- FTMO
- RestrictedOpposite positions are allowed within a single account. Holding them across connected accounts or with other traders is forbidden, as is hedging used to spread profit across days to get round the Best Day Rule.
- The5ers
- Not allowedHedging is strictly forbidden, as are high-frequency trading and arbitrage strategies.
Access
Platforms
- FTMO
- MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader +2MetaTrader 4 · MetaTrader 5 · cTrader · DXtrade · TradingView
- The5ers
- MetaTrader 5MetaTrader 5
Markets
- FTMO
- Forex, Indices, Metals, Commodities +2Forex · Indices · Metals · Commodities · Crypto · Stocks
- The5ers
- Forex, Indices, Metals, CommoditiesForex · Indices · Metals · Commodities
Payout methods
- FTMO
- Bank transfer, Crypto, Skrill, Visa Direct, Mastercard Send
- The5ers
- Rise, Crypto, Bank transfer
Scaling plan
- FTMO
- YesThe split rises from 80% to 90% once the Scaling Plan or Premium Programme conditions are met, and the Scaling Plan increases allocated capital once payout milestones are met.
- The5ers
- YesBalance grows as targets are met across steps.
Country restrictions
- FTMO
- 75 listedFTMO excludes nationals and residents of Iran, Syria, Myanmar and North Korea, though nationals of the first three can be accepted with proof of residency and a bank account in the European Economic Area. The rest of the list is a risk-based exclusion by country of residence. Clients in the United States are served by FTMO US, and clients in Australia through an affiliated FTMO entity.
- The5ers
- 35 listedThese are the countries The5ers says it cannot accept. Traders must also be 18 or older.
Record verified
- FTMO
- 25 Sept 2026
- The5ers
- 25 Sept 2026
Beyond the numbers
Which one should you buy?
Our assessment of each, labelled as opinion. If the two lists below point at different firms, the honest answer is that you should buy the one whose rules your strategy needs.
FTMO
If your priority is a long operating record, FTMO has run evaluations since 2015, earlier than any other CFD firm we have a founding year for. You pay for that with news restrictions that rule out a whole class of strategies. Traders chasing the highest headline split will find higher numbers elsewhere.
Suitable for
- Traders who weight firm longevity above headline split
- Swing traders who want a static drawdown line
- Anyone planning to scale capital over years rather than months
Less suitable if
- Your edge is trading economic releases
- You want the cheapest possible entry ticket
The5ers
The5ers suits a discretionary manual trader on a small budget: a High Stakes account starts at $19, and a Bootcamp at $22 upfront with the rest of its fee due after passing. But the prohibited-strategy list is long enough that algorithmic, news-driven and high-frequency traders should look elsewhere.
Suitable for
- Manual discretionary traders on a tight budget
- Traders who want a long-established firm at a low ticket
- Traders testing a strategy with real rules but small downside
Less suitable if
- You run EAs or high-frequency strategies
- You trade economic releases
- You need cTrader or TradingView
FTMO vs The5ers questions
Is FTMO or The5ers cheaper?
The5ers publishes its fees in US dollars and FTMO in euros. PropScouting does not convert currencies, so a like-for-like price comparison is not possible here. Check each firm for its current fee.
Which has the better drawdown rules, FTMO or The5ers?
FTMO allows 10% total loss on a static basis with a 5% daily limit. The5ers allows 10% on a static basis with a 5% daily limit.
Which pays a higher profit split?
FTMO pays more, up to 90% against 80%. Check whether the headline figure is included or a paid upgrade - the matrix above flags which.
Which allows news trading?
FTMO: News trading is unrestricted during the evaluation. On a Standard FTMO Account you may not open or close trades on the affected instruments from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after selected high-impact releases, though positions opened earlier can be held through them. Swing accounts have no news restriction. The5ers: Holding trades through news is allowed on every programme. On High Stakes no order may be executed from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after a high-impact release, and profit made in that window is deducted. On Hyper Growth and Bootcamp news trading is allowed except for bracketing, placing a buy stop and a sell stop around the release.
Can I trade both firms at once?
Yes, and traders often do to diversify rule risk. The one thing to avoid is running correlated or hedged positions across accounts at different firms - most terms prohibit coordinated hedging, and it is detectable.
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