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TLDR: FTMO is the industry's most trusted prop firm with a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating across 40,000+ reviews, an 80–90% profit split, scaling up to $2M, and no withdrawal caps. Maven Trading is the budget option — challenges start at $13, account sizes go as low as $2K, and payouts come every 10 business days. But Maven locks you at an 80% profit split with a $10,000-per-cycle withdrawal cap, bans EAs entirely, and restricts news trading within 2 minutes of red-folder events. If you want long-term scaling and unrestricted withdrawals, FTMO wins. If you want the cheapest possible entry into prop trading and can live with the limits, Maven has a place.

FTMO has been operating since 2015 and has built what is arguably the strongest reputation in the prop firm space. Over a decade of consistent payouts, transparent rules, and a Trustpilot profile with tens of thousands of verified reviews gives it a credibility lead that newer firms are still chasing.

Maven Trading carved out its niche by being one of the most affordable prop firms available. With challenges starting as low as $13 and account sizes from $2,000 to $100,000, Maven targets traders who want funded account experience without significant upfront financial risk. The firm has paid out over $60 million to traders and holds a 4.6/5 Trustpilot rating across 5,000+ reviews. But lower cost comes with tighter restrictions — an 80% fixed profit split, a $10,000 withdrawal cap per payout cycle, a full ban on Expert Advisors, and news trading restrictions that apply at every stage.

This comparison breaks down pricing, evaluation rules, funded account rules, profit splits, payouts, platforms, and trust metrics. Understanding how prop firm evaluations actually work will give you useful context before diving in.

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	FTMO	Maven Trading
Challenge types	2-Step, 1-Step	1-Step, 2-Step, 3-Step, Instant Funding
Account sizes	$10K – $200K	$2K – $100K
Entry price (100K)	~€540 ($590) [UNVERIFIED — FTMO runs frequent promos]	~$379 (2-Step, MT5/Match-Trader) [UNVERIFIED — varies by challenge type and platform]
Profit target (Phase 1 / Phase 2)	10% / 5% (2-Step)	8% / 5% (2-Step)
Daily drawdown	5% (Standard) / 10% (Aggressive)	4% (2-Step) / 3% (1-Step) / 2% (3-Step)
Max drawdown	10% (Standard) / 20% (Aggressive)	8% static (2-Step) / 5% trailing (1-Step) / 3% static (3-Step)
Time limit	None	None
Min trading days	4 per phase	None [UNVERIFIED]
Profit split	80% (90% with Scaling Plan / 90% on 1-Step)	80% (flat, no increase)
Scaling plan	+25% balance increase, up to $2M	Up to $1M (10% profit over 4 months with monthly payouts)
Withdrawal cap	None	$10,000 per payout cycle [UNVERIFIED]
Payout cycle	Every 14 calendar days	Every 10 business days
Payout processing	1–2 business days	~1 business day
Platforms	MT4, MT5, cTrader	MT5, Match-Trader, cTrader
EAs allowed	Yes	No — account termination risk
News trading	Allowed (no restrictions)	Restricted (no trades within 2 min of red-folder events)
Weekend holding	Allowed	Allowed
Fee refund	With first payout	With third payout
Max capital allocation	$400K (per trader/strategy)	$100K starting, up to $1M with scaling
Trustpilot	4.8/5 (40,000+ reviews)	4.6/5 (5,000+ reviews)

How Does Pricing Compare?

FTMO charges a one-time fee that covers both the Challenge and Verification phases of the 2-Step evaluation. Standard pricing runs approximately €155 ($10K), €250 ($25K), €345 ($50K), €540 ($100K), and €1,080 ($200K) [UNVERIFIED — FTMO adjusts pricing regularly and runs frequent promotions]. The 1-Step Challenge, introduced in 2026, starts at roughly €155 for the $10K account. FTMO refunds the entire fee with your first funded payout.

Maven Trading is dramatically cheaper. The 3-Step Challenge starts at $13 for a $2,000 account. The 1-Step starts at $15, and the 2-Step starts at $19 for $2K. For a $100K 2-Step account, expect to pay around $379 on MT5 or Match-Trader — though choosing cTrader roughly doubles the fee [UNVERIFIED — pricing varies by platform and promotional codes]. Maven refunds the evaluation fee, but not until your third successful payout rather than the first.

On raw entry cost, Maven wins by a wide margin at every account size. For traders who want to test the prop firm experience without meaningful financial risk, paying $13–$38 to attempt a challenge is hard to beat. But entry cost is only part of the equation — the profit split, withdrawal limits, and funded account rules determine how much you actually keep.

How Do the Evaluation Rules Compare?

FTMO's 2-Step Challenge requires a 10% profit target in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2, with a minimum of 4 trading days per phase and no maximum time limit. The daily drawdown is 5% and max drawdown is 10% of initial balance. FTMO also offers an Aggressive variant with 10% daily drawdown and 20% max drawdown for traders who want more breathing room. The newer 1-Step Challenge has a single evaluation phase with a 10% profit target, keeping the same 5% daily and 10% max drawdown limits.

Maven Trading offers more evaluation paths. The 2-Step requires 8% in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2, with a 4% daily drawdown and 8% static max drawdown. The 1-Step sets an 8% profit target with a 3% daily limit and 5% trailing max drawdown. The 3-Step breaks the target into three smaller ~3% phases with just 2% daily drawdown and 3% static max drawdown — the most conservative option in the industry. Maven also offers Instant Funding, which skips the evaluation entirely but comes with the tightest drawdown limits (2% daily, 3% trailing).

Maven's lower profit targets (8%/5% vs. 10%/5%) make the evaluation slightly easier to pass on paper. But the tighter drawdown limits — especially 4% daily on the 2-Step versus FTMO's 5% — give you less margin for error on any given session. If your strategy occasionally takes larger intraday drawdowns before reversing, FTMO's wider buffer could be the difference between staying active and getting breached. For a deeper look at these mechanics, see our guide on prop firm risk management rules.

What Happens After You're Funded?

FTMO's funded account rules mirror the evaluation: 5% daily drawdown, 10% max drawdown, no profit target, no time pressure. You trade your strategy, request a payout after 14 calendar days from your first trade, and keep 80% of profits (90% once you hit the Scaling Plan, or 90% from the start if you passed the 1-Step). News trading is allowed at every stage. EAs are permitted. There are no additional restrictions layered on after funding — the rules you evaluated under are the rules you trade under.

Maven's funded account retains the same drawdown parameters from the evaluation, but several additional restrictions apply. Expert Advisors are banned across all account types — using one risks account termination. News trading is restricted: you cannot open or close trades within 2 minutes before or after red-folder high-impact news events listed on Forex Factory, and any profits made during restricted windows are voided. The Instant Funding path adds an additional constraint with a 1% max open risk rule [UNVERIFIED]. On the positive side, Maven removed the Martingale restriction in January 2026, now allowing traders to hold up to five concurrent drawdown positions on the same instrument.

The practical difference: FTMO gives you a funded account with no strategy restrictions beyond the drawdown limits. Maven layers on news restrictions and EA bans that could force changes to strategies that worked during the evaluation.

How Do Payouts and Profit Splits Compare?

FTMO starts all funded traders at an 80% profit split on the 2-Step path. Once you meet the Scaling Plan criteria — consistent profitability over multiple payout cycles — the split increases to 90% and your balance grows by 25% at each milestone, up to a $2M cap. Traders who pass the 1-Step Challenge start directly at 90%. Payouts are requested every 14 calendar days and processed in 1–2 business days. There is no cap on how much you can withdraw per cycle.

Maven Trading offers a flat 80% profit split across all funded account types with no current path to a higher split. Payouts are available every 10 business days and process within approximately 1 business day. However, Maven imposes a $10,000 withdrawal cap per payout cycle [UNVERIFIED]. The evaluation fee is refunded with your third successful payout, not the first.

The gap here is significant for serious traders. FTMO's path to 90% plus compounding balance increases means your earning potential grows over time. Maven's fixed 80% split and $10,000 withdrawal cap create a ceiling — even if you generate $20,000 in profit during a cycle, you can only pull $10,000 of it. Over months of consistent trading, the compounding difference between FTMO's scaling model and Maven's flat structure adds up substantially.

Which Platforms Are Available?

FTMO supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader. Leverage reaches up to 1:100 depending on the instrument, with roughly 70+ tradable instruments across forex, indices, commodities, and crypto CFDs. If you run a strategy on MT4 — still widely used for legacy EAs and custom indicators — FTMO is one of the few top-tier firms that still supports it.

Maven Trading offers MT5, Match-Trader, and cTrader. MT5 was briefly removed in 2024 but reinstated as of January 2026. Maven provides access to over 400 tradable instruments including forex majors, minors, exotics, indices, commodities, metals, energies, and some crypto-linked pairs. Leverage is capped at 1:75 for forex, 1:20 for commodities and indices, and 1:2 for crypto. One important pricing note: choosing cTrader at Maven roughly doubles the evaluation fee compared to MT5 or Match-Trader for the same account size [UNVERIFIED].

If you need MT4 support, FTMO is your only option between these two. If you want the widest instrument selection, Maven's 400+ assets edge out FTMO's ~70. If platform pricing matters, Maven's cTrader surcharge is worth checking before you commit.

What Does Trust and Track Record Look Like?

FTMO holds a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating with over 40,000 reviews — by far the largest volume of verified feedback for any prop firm. The firm has operated since 2015 and has publicly shared payout statistics. Positive reviews consistently mention reliable payouts, transparent rules, and responsive support. Negative reviews exist but are proportionally rare given the volume.

Maven Trading holds a 4.6/5 Trustpilot rating across 5,000+ reviews (listed under their corporate entity Mavsoft). The firm reports paying out over $60 million to traders. Approximately 85% of reviews are five-star, with traders praising fast payouts, responsive support, and low entry costs. Negative reviews tend to cluster around wider-than-expected spreads, occasional slippage, and spread-related impacts on risk-to-reward ratios. Some traders report that commission on top of spreads erodes profitability, particularly on smaller account sizes.

Both firms pay their traders — that much is clear from the review volume and payout figures. But FTMO's decade-long track record and 8x review advantage make it the safer bet from a pure trust perspective. Maven is credible, but the firm is newer and has a smaller body of verified feedback.

Choose FTMO If...

You want the most trusted name in the industry. A decade of operation, 40,000+ Trustpilot reviews, and a 4.8/5 rating. No other prop firm matches this level of verified social proof.
You plan to scale capital long-term. FTMO's Scaling Plan adds 25% to your balance at each milestone, up to $2M, with the profit split increasing to 90%. If you're treating funded trading as a career, this compounding path has serious value.
You use Expert Advisors or automated strategies. FTMO allows EAs across all account types. Maven bans them entirely — if automation is part of your edge, this is an immediate disqualifier.
You trade around news events. FTMO has zero restrictions on news trading at any stage. If NFP, CPI, or FOMC releases are central to your strategy, you need a firm that won't restrict them.
You want unlimited withdrawals. FTMO places no cap on how much you can pull out per payout cycle. Maven's $10,000 ceiling limits your take-home if you're consistently profitable.

Choose Maven Trading If...

You want the cheapest entry point in the market. A $13 challenge fee for a $2K 3-Step account is nearly unmatched in the industry. If you want to test prop trading without meaningful financial exposure, Maven is one of the lowest-risk starting points available.
You prefer more evaluation options. Four challenge paths (1-Step, 2-Step, 3-Step, Instant Funding) versus FTMO's two give you more flexibility to match your risk tolerance and style.
You want a smaller starting account. Maven starts at $2K. FTMO starts at $10K. If you're building confidence and want to manage less capital initially, Maven accommodates that.
You want access to 400+ instruments. Maven's instrument selection across forex, indices, commodities, metals, energies, and crypto is broader than FTMO's roughly 70 instruments.
You trade manually and don't rely on news events. If you're a discretionary trader who avoids high-impact releases and doesn't use EAs, Maven's restrictions won't affect your approach — and the cost savings are meaningful.

The Verdict

For traders who are serious about building a funded trading career in 2026, FTMO is the stronger choice. The firm's decade-long track record, 40,000+ Trustpilot reviews, path to 90% profit split, $2M scaling cap, unlimited withdrawals, and unrestricted trading rules (EAs allowed, news trading allowed) create an environment where consistent profitability compounds over time. You pay more upfront, but the rules stay the same after funding, and nothing caps your earnings.

Maven Trading earns its place as the best budget entry point into prop trading. Starting a challenge for $13–$15 is genuinely low-risk, the 4-path evaluation system lets you pick the structure that fits your style, and the 4.6/5 Trustpilot rating across 5,000+ reviews confirms the firm pays out. But the flat 80% profit split, $10,000 withdrawal cap, EA ban, and news trading restrictions mean you're accepting real limitations on earning potential and strategy flexibility in exchange for that lower entry cost.

If you're choosing between the two: take FTMO if you want to scale, automate, trade news, or withdraw without limits. Take Maven if you want the cheapest possible entry, prefer manual trading, and want to prove yourself before committing to a higher-fee firm. Some traders even start with Maven to build funded account experience, then move to FTMO for the scaling and split advantages once they've confirmed their edge.

Read our full reviews: FTMO review | Maven Trading review

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FTMO or Maven Trading cheaper?

Maven Trading is significantly cheaper at every level. Maven's cheapest challenge starts at $13 for a $2K 3-Step account, while FTMO's minimum entry is approximately €155 (~$170) for a $10K account. For a $100K evaluation, Maven charges roughly $379 on MT5 or Match-Trader versus FTMO's ~€540 (~$590) [UNVERIFIED — both firms adjust pricing and run promotions]. The trade-off is that FTMO refunds your fee with the first payout, while Maven delays the refund until your third successful withdrawal.

Which firm has the better profit split?

FTMO wins on profit split. FTMO starts at 80% but scales to 90% through the Scaling Plan (or starts at 90% on the 1-Step Challenge). Maven Trading offers a flat 80% split with no current mechanism to increase it. Over multiple payout cycles with scaling, the 10-percentage-point difference compounds into a substantial gap in actual take-home profit.

Can I use Expert Advisors at Maven Trading?

No. Maven Trading prohibits Expert Advisors and automated trading bots on all account types. Getting caught using one can result in immediate account termination. FTMO allows EAs without restriction. If automated or semi-automated trading is part of your strategy, FTMO is the clear choice between these two firms.

Does Maven Trading restrict news trading?

Yes. Maven prohibits opening or closing trades within 2 minutes before or after red-folder high-impact news events as listed on Forex Factory. Any profits generated during restricted news windows are voided. This restriction applies to all account types — evaluation and funded. FTMO has no news trading restrictions at any stage. If your strategy involves trading around NFP, CPI, FOMC, or similar releases, this is a meaningful limitation at Maven.

What is Maven Trading's withdrawal cap?

Maven Trading imposes a $10,000 maximum withdrawal per payout cycle [UNVERIFIED]. If you generate more than $10,000 in profit during a cycle, the excess remains in the account and can be withdrawn in subsequent cycles. FTMO has no withdrawal cap — you can pull out whatever you've earned. For consistently profitable traders, this structural difference meaningfully impacts how quickly you can extract value from your funded account.

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