FTMO vs FundingPips: Forex CFD Prop Firms Compared (2026)

FTMO and FundingPips are two of the most Forex-focused prop firms in the evaluation space, both built around CFD trading, both offering up to $200K in simulated capital, and both competing for the same audience of retail Forex traders looking to get funded without risking their own money. That shared focus makes this one of the most meaningful head-to-head comparisons in prop trading as of May 2026.

The firms look similar on the surface but diverge significantly underneath. FTMO acquired OANDA (completed December 2025), giving it regulated-broker infrastructure that no other pure-play prop firm can claim. FundingPips, founded in the UAE, remains offshore and competes on its scaling model and profit split ceiling instead. Both have paying traders. Both have legitimate track records. The question is which structure suits you better.

This comparison covers account structure, drawdown rules, pricing, profit splits, platforms, asset classes, payouts, and trust, giving you everything needed to make a grounded decision.

FTMO vs FundingPips: which is better in 2026?

Neither firm is objectively better. They are built for different trading priorities.

FTMO is the older, larger firm: founded in 2014, it has paid out $500M+ to traders across 140+ countries, reported $329M in revenue and $62M net profit for 2024, and now operates with the institutional backing of OANDA behind it. Its 1-Step Challenge delivers 90% profit split from day one with no scaling required. Its platform suite of MT4, MT5, and cTrader is the deepest of any prop firm.

FundingPips is the newer challenger: UAE-based, built as a Forex-pure alternative, with a Hot Seat scaling mechanism that can push profit splits toward 95% for consistent performers. It has built a legitimate reputation and a 42-article PTV cluster covering its rules, accounts, and payouts in depth.

For a Forex trader who wants the safest, most institutional option with the broadest platform choice and a decade of payout history, FTMO is the clear anchor. For a trader who wants aggressive scaling potential and is comfortable with offshore firm risk, FundingPips is a credible alternative.

Read the full FTMO review at /prop-firms/ftmo and the FundingPips review at /prop-firms/fundingpips before making your decision.

Account structures compared

FTMO runs two evaluation paths: the 1-Step Challenge and the 2-Step Challenge. Both lead to an FTMO Account (the funded stage) and both are available across five account sizes: $10K, $25K, $50K, $100K, and $200K.

The 1-Step Challenge is FTMO's newer product. It requires a single 10% profit target, carries a 3% daily loss limit, and uses a 10% trailing max loss (end-of-day). The Best Day Rule applies: no single profitable day can exceed 50% of your total positive days' profit combined, though this is a dilutable ratio rather than an auto-breach trigger.

The 2-Step Challenge is the original FTMO path. Phase 1 requires 10%, Phase 2 requires 5%, and both phases share a 5% daily loss limit and a 10% static (non-trailing) max loss. The Standard vs Swing account choice is available on the 2-Step: Standard restricts overnight/weekend holding on the funded stage, Swing allows it. The 1-Step has no Swing variant.

FundingPips runs its own evaluation structure with 1-Step, 2-Step, and Zero (no-evaluation) challenge variants. For a detailed breakdown of FundingPips' programmes, see /prop-firms/fundingpips, the FundingPips account types guide, and the dedicated FundingPips 1-Step Challenge and FundingPips 2-Step Challenge articles.

Drawdown comparison

Drawdown is where the two firms diverge most meaningfully.

FTMO's 1-Step max loss rule is a trailing drawdown calculated end-of-day. If your $100K account grows to $110K, your floor rises to $99K, protecting you from giving back profits but also tightening your room if you are in drawdown. The daily loss limit on the 1-Step is 3%, the tightest FTMO offers.

The 2-Step uses a static 10% max loss from initial balance; the floor never moves. The daily limit is 5%, which gives more intraday breathing room. Traders who prefer predictable risk parameters often find the 2-Step structure more intuitive; traders who want a faster path to funding often pick the 1-Step despite the tighter daily limit.

FundingPips has its own drawdown mechanics. The FundingPips max drawdown article and FundingPips daily loss limit guide cover these in detail. As a general note: FundingPips' drawdown architecture differs from FTMO's and should be verified at /prop-firms/fundingpips before you assume parity.

One structural advantage of FTMO's 2-Step static drawdown: the breach threshold is fixed regardless of how your account fluctuates. Many traders use this specifically to run higher-volatility strategies without fear of a rising trailing stop.

Pricing head-to-head

FTMO's pricing is in EUR. The 2-Step Standard pricing figures below are high-confidence; 1-Step pricing is medium-confidence and should be verified at ftmo.com before trading.

FundingPips' current evaluation fees are not listed here because they change periodically and any static number risks being stale. For live FundingPips pricing, see the FundingPips evaluation fees guide or the FundingPips purchase guide.

One important note on FTMO pricing: 100% of the challenge fee is refunded with your first reward withdrawal. The net cost of passing is zero if you succeed. FundingPips also offers a fee refund; confirm the exact terms at /prop-firms/fundingpips.

There are no active public promo codes for FTMO as of May 2026. The Prime Programme gives a 10% discount after four qualifying payouts, which is a loyalty mechanic rather than a public code. For FundingPips discounts, check the FundingPips payment methods guide for any current promotions.

Profit splits

Profit splits are a major point of differentiation between these two firms.

FTMO's 1-Step Challenge delivers 90% from day one with no scaling, no waiting, and no eligibility gates. This is one of the highest base profit splits available among established Forex prop firms. The 2-Step starts at 80% and upgrades to 90% via the Scaling Plan after consistent payouts and meeting a 10% net profit threshold over four months.

FundingPips competes on the upside ceiling. Its Hot Seat scaling programme allows traders who hit consistent milestones to unlock profit splits reported up to 95%, higher than FTMO's ceiling on paper. The trade-off is that you earn the 95% through demonstrated consistency rather than receiving a high split immediately. For traders who plan to trade long-term at high volume, that ceiling matters; for traders who want maximum certainty from day one, FTMO's flat 90% on the 1-Step is simpler.

The FundingPips 90% profit split breakdown and FundingPips profit split and scaling guide cover the FundingPips mechanics in full.

Platforms

Platform depth is one of FTMO's clearest advantages over FundingPips.

FTMO supports three platforms: MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader. All three are available on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and web. cTrader adds C# and Python automation via cTrader Automate and the Open API, which is meaningful for algo traders. MT5 is FTMO's primary platform and, as of August 2025, FTMO is the first prop firm to offer MT5 access to US traders via its OANDA partnership.

FundingPips primarily uses MT5. For a detailed FundingPips platform guide, see FundingPips MT5 setup and the FundingPips platforms overview.

For traders who need MT4 (legacy EAs, familiar charting), FTMO is the only option between these two firms. For traders purely on MT5, both firms cover it. For algo traders who want an open API or C# automation layer, FTMO's cTrader is in a different class.

Asset classes

Both FTMO and FundingPips are Forex/CFD firms. Neither offers futures. This is worth stating plainly because US traders often conflate prop firm categories: FTMO and FundingPips are in a different segment from futures-focused firms like Topstep or Apex Trader Funding.

FTMO's tradable instruments cover:

• Forex (major, minor, and exotic pairs; primary asset class)
• Indices (major global indices including DAX, S&P, Nasdaq)
• Commodities (crude oil, natural gas)
• Metals (gold, silver)
• Cryptocurrencies (available with variable weekend trading hours)

FundingPips covers a similar range. Their prohibited instruments list defines what you cannot trade, and the FundingPips news trading rules are important to read before placing orders around high-impact events.

For traders who want the most instrument depth within the Forex/CFD universe, FTMO's cTrader access opens up a broader symbol set alongside its MetaTrader offerings.

Payouts

FTMO pays bi-weekly (every 14 days) with an average processing time of about 8 hours. The challenge fee is refunded in full with the first reward. Payment methods include bank transfer, Skrill, and crypto; verify current options at ftmo.com.

The FTMO payout process guide and FTMO payout rules overview cover the full mechanics including withdrawal minimums and payout calendars.

FundingPips also pays bi-weekly. The FundingPips first payout guide, FundingPips payout frequency breakdown, and FundingPips minimum payout article are the best resources for their specific schedule. FundingPips is known for a Tuesday payout cycle; see FundingPips Tuesday payday for context.

One notable FTMO payout mechanic: the FTMO Scaling Plan increases account size by 25% every four months if you achieve 10% net profit over the period and have processed at least two payouts. This is separate from the profit-split upgrade but compounds it. As your account grows, your absolute payout increases even at a static percentage.

Trust and regulation

This is where FTMO and FundingPips diverge most sharply in 2026.

FTMO is not just a prop firm any more. In February 2025, FTMO announced the acquisition of OANDA, one of the oldest regulated forex brokers in the world, operating since 1996. The acquisition closed in December 2025 after receiving five regulatory approvals. In March 2026, FTMO founders Otakar Šuffner and Marek Vašíček became co-CEOs of OANDA. The FTMO OANDA acquisition article covers this in detail.

What this means practically: FTMO now operates alongside a firm that holds regulatory licences from the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), IIROC (Canada), and the NFA (US). FTMO itself is still a prop firm operating under Czech commercial law, but the institutional backing and financial scale are categorically different from any offshore competitor. For a deeper look at FTMO's trust signals, see the FTMO Trustpilot and reviews analysis.

FundingPips is UAE-registered and operates without the regulatory framework of an FCA- or ASIC-licensed broker. It is not a scam; it has a documented payout record and an established reputation in the Forex prop community. The is FundingPips legit? article covers its trust profile in full. But the trust gap with FTMO is real and widening as OANDA's infrastructure is integrated.

For European traders, FTMO's Czech domicile and EU legal framework have always offered a degree of structural comfort that UAE-based firms cannot match. For traders in regulated-market jurisdictions (UK, Australia, Canada), FTMO's OANDA connection is a genuine differentiator.

FTMO scale statistics as of May 2026:

• $500M+ in total cumulative payouts
• 3.5M+ customers across 140+ countries
• $329M revenue and $62M net profit in 2024
• $721M in total assets (OMHC parent holding company)
• Founded 2014, over a decade of operation

When to pick FTMO

FTMO is the stronger choice if:

• You want the most regulated and institutionally backed Forex prop firm available in 2026
• You trade on MT4 (legacy EA strategies, familiar interface); FundingPips does not offer MT4
• You want 90% profit split from day one without meeting scaling milestones
• You use cTrader or algo-trade with C#/Python via the Open API
• You are a US trader and want access via the OANDA/MT5 partnership
• You are a European trader and value Czech/EU legal structure
• You want the firm with the longest payout track record ($500M+ cumulative, decade of operation)
• You scalp and need Standard account evaluation without overnight restrictions (Standard restrictions apply to the funded stage only, not the evaluation phase)

Paul has traded FTMO for about 4 years and withdrawn $15K+ across multiple accounts, primarily scalping the 1-Step Challenge on Standard $50K and $100K sizes. FTMO was one of his first prop firms as a European trader.

For a complete picture, read the FTMO main review, the FTMO accounts overview, and the FTMO rules overview.

When to pick FundingPips

FundingPips is the stronger choice if:

• You want to chase a 95% profit split ceiling via the Hot Seat scaling model and are willing to earn it through consistency
• You want a no-time-limit evaluation; the FundingPips no time limit guide is a meaningful differentiator if you trade slowly
• You prefer FundingPips' drawdown structure after reviewing both sets of rules side by side
• You want to trade the Zero programme (no-evaluation direct funding path); FTMO has no equivalent product
• You have existing experience with FundingPips' specific rules and want to leverage that familiarity
• You want weekend holding flexibility across all account types (check FundingPips weekend holding rules)

For a full picture, read the FundingPips main review, the FundingPips rules overview, and the FundingPips strategy guide.

The bottom line

FTMO and FundingPips are the two most directly comparable Forex/CFD prop firms on the market as of May 2026. Both are legitimate. Both pay. Both serve the same core audience of retail Forex traders who want funded accounts without personal capital at risk.

The gap is sharpest on trust and platforms. FTMO's OANDA acquisition gives it regulated-broker infrastructure that no other pure-play prop firm can match. Its MT4/MT5/cTrader depth gives algo traders and legacy-EA users options that FundingPips simply does not cover. The 1-Step's 90% split from day one is one of the cleanest payout structures in the industry.

FundingPips competes on scaling ceiling (95% via Hot Seat), the Zero programme for traders who want to skip evaluation, and its no-time-limit evaluation for slow-pace traders.

Neither firm offers futures. Both are Forex/CFD only. If you need futures access, look at a different category entirely.

For most Forex traders who want the safest, most institutional, longest-running option: FTMO. For traders who want maximum scaling upside and are comfortable with offshore firm risk: FundingPips is a credible second choice.

Full reviews: FTMO at /prop-firms/ftmo and FundingPips at /prop-firms/fundingpips.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FTMO better than FundingPips?

It depends on your priority. FTMO offers more evaluation options, regulated-broker backing via OANDA, MT4/MT5/cTrader depth, and a decade of payout history ($500M+ cumulative). FundingPips competes on a 95% profit-split ceiling via Hot Seat scaling and a Zero no-evaluation programme that FTMO does not offer. For most Forex traders who value institutional trust and platform flexibility, FTMO is the stronger option. For traders who want aggressive scaling upside, FundingPips is a legitimate alternative.

Does FundingPips have the same rules as FTMO?

No. FTMO's 1-Step uses a 3% daily loss limit and a 10% trailing max loss (end-of-day). The 2-Step uses 5% daily and 10% static. FundingPips has its own drawdown architecture; see FundingPips max drawdown and FundingPips daily loss limit for the specifics, and confirm current rules at /prop-firms/fundingpips.

Which firm pays out faster — FTMO or FundingPips?

FTMO averages approximately 8 hours processing time on bi-weekly payouts. FundingPips also operates on a bi-weekly schedule and is known for a Tuesday payout cycle; see FundingPips payout times for detail. Confirm FundingPips' current average processing time at /prop-firms/fundingpips.

Is FundingPips regulated?

FundingPips is UAE-based and operates offshore without FCA, ASIC, or equivalent regulatory licensing. FTMO's completed acquisition of OANDA (December 2025) gives FTMO access to regulated-broker infrastructure across multiple jurisdictions. This is a genuine trust differentiator in 2026.

Does FTMO allow scalping?

Yes. Paul has traded FTMO for about 4 years using a scalping strategy on the 1-Step Challenge, primarily on Standard $50K and $100K accounts, and has withdrawn $15K+ in real payouts. Standard accounts restrict news trading on the funded stage only, not during the evaluation phase. See FTMO prohibited strategies for the full restrictions list.

What is the FundingPips Hot Seat scaling programme?

Hot Seat is FundingPips' mechanism for scaling both account size and profit split percentage. Traders who demonstrate consistent profitability over defined periods can increase their allocation and work toward the reported 95% profit split ceiling. See FundingPips Hot Seat scaling for detail, and confirm current programme terms at /prop-firms/fundingpips.

Can US traders use FTMO or FundingPips?

FTMO relaunched for US traders in August 2025 via its OANDA partnership, offering MT5 access. It is the first prop firm to offer US traders MT5 as of that date. See FTMO and US traders for full detail. FundingPips' US availability should be confirmed at /prop-firms/fundingpips.

Which firm has the bigger account sizes?

Both FTMO and FundingPips cap at $200K on a single account. FTMO's Scaling Plan increases account size by 25% every four months for qualifying traders; see FTMO scaling plan. FundingPips' scaling works differently via the Hot Seat programme; see FundingPips Hot Seat scaling.

Does FundingPips offer MT4?

No. FundingPips operates primarily on MT5. FTMO supports MT4, MT5, and cTrader. If you rely on MT4 EAs or prefer the MT4 charting environment, FTMO is your only option between these two firms. See FTMO MT4 guide and FTMO MT5 vs MT4 comparison.

Is the FTMO challenge fee refunded?

Yes. FTMO refunds 100% of the evaluation fee with your first reward withdrawal, regardless of whether you used the 1-Step or 2-Step path. FundingPips also offers a fee refund; confirm the current terms via the FundingPips evaluation fee refund guide or at /prop-firms/fundingpips.

What assets can I trade at FTMO vs FundingPips?

Both firms are Forex/CFD focused and neither offers futures. FTMO covers forex, indices, commodities, metals, and crypto. For the exact tradable symbol list, check ftmo.com/en/symbols/. FundingPips covers a similar range; for their specific instruments and any restricted symbols, see FundingPips prohibited instruments.

Does FTMO have a consistency rule?

The 1-Step Challenge has a Best Day Rule: no single profitable day can exceed 50% of your total positive days' profit combined. This is not a hard breach trigger; you continue trading and dilute the ratio by generating more profitable days. The 2-Step Challenge does not apply this rule. See FTMO Best Day Rule for the full mechanics.