FTMO offers 1-Step Challenge (90% split from day 1) and 2-Step Challenge (Phase 1 + Verification, 80% base scaling to 90%) across $10K-$200K sizes. The 1-Step has no Swing variant. Full pricing and account-type breakdown in my FTMO accounts guide, or read the complete review. Sign up at FTMO.
The FTMO 1-Step Challenge is FTMO's streamlined evaluation path: one phase, one profit target, and a 90% profit split waiting for you from the first payout. There is no Verification phase, no second-phase target to grind through. Pass the 10% target on the 1-Step and FTMO sends you directly to a funded account with the maximum profit split already active.
The trade-off is tighter risk parameters. The 1-Step carries a 3% daily loss limit instead of the 2-Step's 5%, and a 10% trailing maximum loss instead of a 10% static floor. Those two differences change the daily risk calculus significantly, which is exactly why this path suits scalpers and disciplined intraday traders rather than swing or event-driven traders. Paul has traded FTMO for roughly four years, withdrawn $15K+ in real payouts, and scalps the 1-Step almost exclusively on Standard $50K and $100K accounts.
As of May 2026, FTMO is the world's largest prop trading evaluation firm by payout volume, having distributed $500M+ to traders across 3.5M+ customers in 140+ countries. The 1-Step Challenge is one of two evaluation paths FTMO offers, alongside the classic 2-Step Challenge.
What is the FTMO 1-Step Challenge?
The FTMO 1-Step Challenge is a single-phase proprietary trading evaluation that skips the traditional Verification phase found on the 2-Step path. You buy a challenge account, hit a 10% profit target while respecting two loss parameters, trade at least 4 days, and you are through. The funded FTMO Account that follows carries a 90% profit split from the very first payout.
FTMO describes the 1-Step as its newer product, launched after the firm had already established the 2-Step as the industry standard. The motivation for adding a 1-Step was straightforward: a meaningful segment of experienced traders wanted to skip Phase 2 and accept tighter risk rules in exchange for faster access to funded capital and a higher base split.
The 1-Step is a Standard-variant-only product. There is no Swing version. That means all 1-Step traders must close positions before the weekend and avoid holding through major news events on the live funded account. For the intraday-focused traders the 1-Step targets, this restriction is rarely a constraint.
How does the single-phase model work?
The 1-Step evaluation runs until you pass or breach. There is no time limit. You need to satisfy all four of the following conditions before FTMO transitions your account to funded status:
- Achieve a net profit of at least 10% on the starting balance (e.g. $10,000 on a $100K account)
- Never breach the 3% daily loss limit on any single trading day
- Never breach the 10% trailing maximum loss floor
- Trade on at least 4 calendar days (any day with at least one open position counts)
There is no second phase. Once you cross the 10% profit target while the two loss limits remain intact and the minimum-day count is satisfied, the evaluation is complete. FTMO then activates your funded FTMO Account with the same loss parameters that governed the challenge.
The Best Day Rule also runs throughout: no single trading day's profit can represent more than 50% of your total accumulated positive-day profit. If one session accounts for more than half of your profits, those excess earnings are excluded from your qualifying total. The challenge does not end; you simply need to accumulate more profitable days to dilute the ratio. This rule applies only to the 1-Step, not the 2-Step.
For a deep dive on how daily loss and max loss interact during the evaluation, see FTMO daily loss limit explained and FTMO max loss rule explained.
What are the profit target, DLL, and max loss on the 1-Step?
The three core numbers for the 1-Step are 10%, 3%, and 10% trailing. Understanding what each means in practice is the foundation for sizing your challenge correctly.
10% profit target: The target is calculated on the starting account balance, not your current equity. On a $50K account, you need $5,000 in net profit. On a $100K account, $10,000. The target does not adjust mid-challenge. You either hit it with both loss limits intact, or you keep going.
3% daily loss limit: The daily loss limit is the maximum you can lose in a single trading session, measured from midnight CE(S)T. It is calculated on the initial account balance, not the current balance. On a $100K account, you can lose at most $3,000 in one day before hitting the floor. Once the DLL triggers, all positions are closed and the account is breached. There is no recovery within that session. This 3% figure is the sharpest structural difference between the 1-Step and the 2-Step's 5% daily loss limit. A 1-Step trader has roughly 40% less intraday buffer than a 2-Step trader.
10% trailing maximum loss: The max loss floor starts at 10% below the opening balance ($90,000 on a $100K account). Unlike the 2-Step where this floor is static, the 1-Step floor rises with end-of-day equity peaks. If you grow your $100K account to $106,000 by end of day three, the max loss floor moves to $95,400 (10% below $106,000). If you then pull back to $95,500, you have $100 of breathing room left. The floor never drops; it only moves up. This trailing mechanic is covered in detail in the FTMO max loss rule guide.
A quick reference of how the numbers look across account sizes:
| Account Size | Profit Target | Daily Loss Limit | Max Loss Floor (start) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10K | $1,000 | $300 | $9,000 |
| $25K | $2,500 | $750 | $22,500 |
| $50K | $5,000 | $1,500 | $45,000 |
| $100K | $10,000 | $3,000 | $90,000 |
| $200K | $20,000 | $6,000 | $180,000 |
How does 90%-from-day-1 differ from the 2-Step?
The 90% split is the headline differentiator. On the 1-Step, your profit share is 90% from the moment you receive your first payout. There is no warm-up rate, no scaling runway to clear, no 4-month qualifying cycle. You hit the target, go funded, and the first withdrawal is split 90/10 in your favor.
The 2-Step Challenge opens at an 80% base split. That 80% applies until you meet the Scaling Plan criteria: 10% net profit over a 4-month funded cycle, profitable in at least 2 of the 4 calendar months, and zero rule violations. Only after qualifying does the split upgrade to 90% (and the account balance increases by 25%). For a trader who needs time to find their funded-account rhythm, the Scaling Plan is manageable. For a confident, execution-focused trader who wants the maximum rate from day one, the 1-Step delivers it immediately.
To put a number on it: on a $100K account with a $10,000 monthly payout, the 10% split difference equals $1,000 per month. Over 12 months, that is $12,000 in additional income the 1-Step trader earns that a 2-Step trader does not see until reaching scaled status.
The catch is that the 1-Step's tighter rules mean some traders will fail more evaluations before going funded, paying for retries. The 90% split advantage only materialises when you are consistently funded and paying out.
Why is there no Swing variant on the 1-Step?
FTMO offers Standard and Swing variants on the 2-Step, but the Swing option does not exist on the 1-Step. FTMO has confirmed this explicitly in their FAQ.
The structural reason is compatibility. The Swing variant exists to allow holding positions through the weekend and through high-impact news events: two situations that introduce overnight gap risk and event-driven volatility spikes. Those risk profiles are inconsistent with the 1-Step's 10% trailing drawdown floor and 3% daily loss cap.
The trailing drawdown mechanic is particularly relevant. A weekend gap that moves against a Swing position could consume a substantial portion of the trailing buffer in a single opening candle. The 3% DLL, while it technically applies per calendar day, is so tight that a large news gap could erase it before the trader can react. FTMO has effectively made a design decision: if you want the faster path and the higher base split, you accept the intraday-only constraint.
For traders who need overnight and weekend flexibility, the 2-Step Swing account is the correct path. For traders who close flat every evening and want 90% from day one, the 1-Step Standard is the better fit. See the FTMO weekend holding rule for the full details on what Standard accounts must follow on the live funded stage.
Account sizes and pricing
The 1-Step is available on all five of FTMO's standard account sizes. Pricing is denominated in EUR. As of May 2026, there is no active public promo code. The firm's Prime Programme generates a 10% loyalty discount after four qualifying payouts, but that is an earned benefit, not a publicly available coupon.
| Account Size | 1-Step Fee (EUR) | USD Approx |
|---|---|---|
| $10K | €79 | ~$85 |
| $25K | €199 | ~$215 |
| $50K | €319 | ~$344 |
| $100K | €499 | ~$539 |
| $200K | €999 | ~$1,079 |
Note: pricing is confirmed at MEDIUM confidence level from search snippet sources. Verify current fees at ftmo.com before purchasing. Pricing occasionally reflects promotional periods.
The $200K size is marked as "best value" on FTMO's site, delivering the largest funded allocation per euro spent at the top of the range. The 1-Step is cheaper than the 2-Step at every size: €79 vs €155 at the $10K tier, €999 vs €1,080 at the $200K tier. The challenge fee is refunded with your first profit payout from the funded account.
For a full side-by-side of all FTMO account types and pricing, see the FTMO accounts overview.
How does the 1-Step compare to the 2-Step?
The two evaluation paths share the same account sizes, the same platforms, and the same funded account structure. Everything else diverges. Here is a structured comparison:
| Feature | 1-Step Challenge | 2-Step Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation phases | 1 (no Verification) | 2 (Phase 1 + Verification) |
| Profit target | 10% (one phase) | 10% Phase 1, then 5% Phase 2 |
| Daily loss limit | 3% | 5% |
| Max loss type | 10% trailing (EOD) | 10% static |
| Base profit split | 90% from day one | 80% (scales to 90% via Scaling Plan) |
| Swing variant | No | Yes (Standard + Swing) |
| Best Day Rule | Yes (50% cap) | No |
| Minimum trading days | 4 | 4 per phase |
| Time limit | None | None |
| Fee ($10K tier) | €79 | €155 |
| Fee ($100K tier) | €499 | €540 |
| Fee refund | Yes, with first payout | Yes, with first payout |
When to choose 1-Step: You scalp or trade intraday, close flat before the weekend, have strong discipline around the 3% daily ceiling, and want the 90% split from your first payout without a scaling runway.
When to choose 2-Step: You run a multi-day or news-event strategy, need the Swing variant for weekend holds, prefer the wider 5% daily buffer, or are newer to FTMO's rule set and want the more forgiving static max loss.
Decision tree: If your strategy closes positions before end of day and your average daily drawdown never approaches 2%, choose the 1-Step. If your strategy occasionally holds through data releases or requires weekend exposure, choose the 2-Step Swing. If you are between the two, test your historical max daily loss first: if it ever exceeds 3%, the 1-Step will be the harder path.
What strategy fits the 1-Step Challenge?
The 1-Step Challenge is designed for intraday traders, and the rule set enforces that design. Three parameters drive the strategic fit:
Scalping and high-frequency intraday trading: The 3% daily loss limit rewards strategies that take many controlled entries rather than a few high-conviction swings. Paul scalps the 1-Step on $50K and $100K Standard accounts using exactly this approach: precise entry, defined stop, close before the end of the session. Scalping naturally produces a diversified daily P&L rather than relying on one or two large moves, which keeps the Best Day Rule from triggering.
Tight stop-loss discipline: The trailing max loss penalizes traders who let a few losing days compound. Every profitable close raises the floor, which means a runner-up session erases less total buffer in percentage terms. The discipline required is closing losers early and not adding to losing positions.
News avoidance on the evaluation: During the 1-Step evaluation phase, FTMO does not restrict news trading the way the live Standard funded account does. However, a large news spike that touches the 3% DLL or shaves the trailing floor significantly can end the challenge on a single candle. Experienced 1-Step traders typically go flat ahead of major data releases (NFP, CPI, FOMC) not because of a rule, but because the risk-to-buffer ratio is unfavorable.
Day trading equity and forex: FTMO's asset classes are forex, indices, commodities, metals, and crypto. There are no futures on FTMO. The 1-Step suits forex major pairs and liquid equity indices where tight spreads allow frequent intraday trading without excessive transaction cost drag. For FTMO's prohibited strategies and instruments, see FTMO prohibited strategies and FTMO restricted instruments.
For a full strategy framework applied to FTMO accounts, see the FTMO strategy guide.
FTMO context: why this firm and this product matter in 2026
Understanding the 1-Step within FTMO's broader trajectory makes the product choice more meaningful. FTMO was founded in 2014 in Prague, Czech Republic, and effectively created the prop-trading evaluation model that the entire industry copied. As of May 2026, $500M+ in cumulative payouts to 3.5M+ customers confirms the payout mechanism is real at scale.
The major 2025 development was FTMO acquiring OANDA, one of the oldest regulated forex brokers in the world, with the acquisition completing in December 2025. FTMO founders Otakar Šuffner and Marek Vašíček became co-CEOs of OANDA in March 2026. That transaction gave FTMO direct access to regulated brokerage infrastructure and a credibility signal no other prop firm evaluation platform can match. For traders evaluating where to place challenge fees, OANDA's regulated status under FTMO's ownership is a meaningful trust layer.
FTMO also relaunched US services in August 2025 via an OANDA partnership on MT5, making FTMO the only prop firm currently offering MT5 to US traders. For non-US traders evaluating the 1-Step against global alternatives like The 5%ers, FundedNext, or FundingPips, FTMO's financial scale, $329M revenue, $62M net profit in 2024, and $721M in total assets sets a floor of institutional credibility that most challengers have not matched.
The bottom line
The FTMO 1-Step Challenge delivers the fastest path to a funded FTMO Account with the highest profit split the firm offers. One phase, a 10% profit target, and 90% from your first payout. The price for that speed is a 3% daily loss ceiling that leaves almost no room for recovery within a bad session, and a trailing max loss floor that rises with every profitable day.
Paul has been on this exact path for roughly four years, scalping the 1-Step on Standard $50K and $100K accounts and withdrawing $15K+ across multiple recurring payouts. The product rewards the same discipline it demands: intraday execution, tight stops, flat before the weekend, and consistent positive sessions over one profitable blow-out day.
If your style fits inside those constraints, the 1-Step is the more efficient route compared to the 2-Step Challenge: cheaper at every size, one fewer evaluation phase, and the maximum split active from day one. If your style requires overnight holds, news-event positioning, or a wider daily loss buffer, the 2-Step Swing gives you the flexibility you need without sacrificing the FTMO Account at the end.
Companion reading before you buy: the FTMO accounts overview covers all three product variants side by side, and the FTMO rules overview maps every rule that applies once you are funded.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FTMO 1-Step Challenge?
The FTMO 1-Step Challenge is a single-phase evaluation that bypasses the traditional Verification phase. You need to hit a 10% profit target while staying within a 3% daily loss limit and a 10% trailing maximum loss. On passing, you receive a funded FTMO Account with a 90% profit split from the very first payout, with no Scaling Plan required to reach 90%.
How does the single-phase model work?
There is one phase only. Hit the 10% profit target on your account balance, trade at least 4 days, stay inside the 3% daily loss limit, and never let the trailing max loss floor get breached. Once you clear those conditions there is no Verification phase. FTMO sends you straight to a funded account. The time limit is unlimited, so you can pace yourself.
What is the profit target on the 1-Step?
The profit target is 10% of the starting account balance: $5,000 on a $50K account, $10,000 on a $100K account. The Best Day Rule also applies: no single profitable day can represent more than 50% of your total accumulated profit. Days that exceed the threshold have their excess earnings excluded from the qualifying total rather than triggering an immediate breach.
What is the daily loss limit on the 1-Step?
The daily loss limit is 3% of the starting account balance, calculated from midnight CE(S)T each day. On a $100K account that is a $3,000 intraday floor. This is notably tighter than the 5% daily loss limit on the 2-Step Challenge, roughly 40% less intraday buffer per session.
How does the trailing max loss work?
The 10% max loss on the 1-Step is trailing end-of-day. The floor rises with your closing equity highs and never drops back. If you grow a $100K account to $106K by end of a session, the max loss floor moves from $90K to $95,400. The 2-Step's max loss is static: it starts at $90K and stays there regardless of how much profit you make. See FTMO max loss rule for full mechanics.
What is the 90%-from-day-1 split and how is it different from the 2-Step?
On the 1-Step, your profit share is 90% from the very first payout. On the 2-Step, the base split is 80%, upgrading to 90% only after you meet the Scaling Plan criteria over a 4-month funded cycle. For a trader who wants the maximum split without a scaling runway, the 1-Step delivers 90% immediately. The trade-off is tighter intraday risk rules.
Why is there no Swing variant on the 1-Step?
FTMO confirmed in their FAQ that the Swing account type is not offered for the 1-Step Challenge. The 3% daily loss limit and 10% trailing drawdown floor are structurally incompatible with overnight and weekend holds, where gap risk can consume a large portion of available buffer in a single opening candle.
What sizes and pricing are available on the 1-Step?
Five sizes: $10K (€79), $25K (€199), $50K (€319), $100K (€499), $200K (€999). Pricing is in EUR. The 1-Step is cheaper than the 2-Step at every size. The challenge fee is refunded with your first payout from the funded account. No active public promo code as of May 2026.
How does the 1-Step compare to the 2-Step?
The 1-Step has one phase vs two, a 3% DLL vs 5%, trailing max loss vs static, 90% split from day one vs 80% base, and no Swing option vs Standard plus Swing. The 1-Step is cheaper and faster but stricter. The 2-Step offers more intraday buffer and the Swing variant for overnight/news trading. Full comparison table is in the article above.
What strategy fits the 1-Step best?
Scalping and tight intraday trading strategies fit best. The 3% DLL rewards controlled, frequent entries rather than high-conviction swings. Paul scalps the 1-Step on Standard $50K and $100K accounts. Swing strategies requiring overnight or news holds are not compatible with the Standard-only rule set. See the FTMO strategy guide for a full breakdown.
Is the challenge fee refunded if I pass?
Yes. The challenge fee is refunded with your first profit withdrawal from the funded FTMO Account. If you fail the challenge, there is no refund and you purchase a new attempt. The refund mechanic makes the fee a recoverable deposit once you pass and reach your first payout.
Does the Best Day Rule mean I can be disqualified for one strong day?
No. The Best Day Rule is a consistency mechanism, not an auto-breach. If one day's profit exceeds 50% of your total accumulated positive-day profit, those excess earnings are excluded from your qualifying total and the challenge continues. You need to dilute the ratio by accumulating more profitable days. It is not a hard stop.
What platforms can I use on the 1-Step?
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader. All three run on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and web. MT5 is FTMO's primary platform and the only one available to US traders since the August 2025 OANDA relaunch. For full platform details see FTMO platforms.