Everything you need to know about FTMO's 2-step Challenge, daily loss limits, drawdown rules, and funded account requirements — updated for 2026.
✓ Last verified: March 2026| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Account Sizes | $10K / $25K / $50K / $100K / $200K |
| Evaluation Type | 2-step (Challenge + Verification) |
| Challenge Profit Target | 10% of starting balance |
| Verification Profit Target | 5% of starting balance |
| Max Daily Loss | 5% of starting balance |
| Max Overall Drawdown | 10% of starting balance (absolute, not trailing) |
| Consistency Rule | Best day ≤ 50% of total profit (funded accounts) |
| Min Trading Days | 4 per phase |
| Time Limit | No time limit on Challenge or Verification |
| Allowed Instruments | Forex, Futures, Metals, CFDs |
| News Trading | Allowed on Swing accounts; restricted on Normal accounts |
| Weekend Holding | Allowed on Swing accounts only |
| Payout Split | 80% → 90% via Scaling Plan |
| Payout Frequency | Monthly (first payout after 14 calendar days) |
| Platform | cTrader, DXtrade |
| Fee | $155–$1,080 (one-time, refunded when funded) |
FTMO uses an absolute (non-trailing) overall drawdown of 10% and a daily loss limit of 5%. This means your drawdown floor is fixed at 90% of your starting balance — it never moves up.
Starting balance: $100,000. Max drawdown: $10,000 (floor at $90,000). Daily loss limit: $5,000.
Key difference from Topstep/Apex: FTMO's drawdown floor never moves up. Even if your account grows to $120,000, your floor remains at $90,000. This gives funded traders significantly more room as they grow.
The daily loss limit resets each day and is calculated from your balance at the start of that trading day. If you start the day at $104,000, you cannot lose more than $5,200 (5%) that day.
FTMO uses a 2-step evaluation: the Challenge and the Verification.
There is no time limit on either phase — take as long as you need.
Once verified, you receive a funded account. Your first payout is available after 14 calendar days, then monthly. The profit split starts at 80/20 and can increase to 90/10 through FTMO's Scaling Plan.
Note: FTMO is primarily a forex/CFD prop firm but also supports futures instruments. If you are exclusively a futures trader, firms like Topstep or Apex may be a better fit.
FTMO's daily limit is strict — losing 5% of your starting balance in a single day ends your evaluation immediately. Set a personal daily stop well below this threshold.
Even if you hit the profit target in 2 days, you must trade at least 4 days in each phase. Plan your trading schedule accordingly.
News trading is only allowed on Swing accounts. Trading during high-impact news on a Normal account can result in disqualification.
Weekend holding is only permitted on Swing accounts. Normal account positions must be closed before the weekend.
In the funded account, your most profitable day cannot exceed 50% of your total profit. A single huge day can block your payout.
FTMO uses an absolute (fixed) drawdown. Your floor is set at 90% of your initial balance and never moves up, regardless of how much profit you make.
There is no time limit on either the Challenge or the Verification phase. You can take as long as you need.
Yes. If you successfully pass both phases and receive a funded account, FTMO refunds the evaluation fee with your first payout.
Yes, FTMO supports futures alongside forex, metals, and CFDs. However, FTMO is primarily a forex/CFD firm, so futures-only traders may prefer Topstep or Apex.