FTMO vs QT Funded: Which Prop Trading Firm Is Better in 2026?

Introduction

As more traders explore the world of proprietary trading, two names have come to the foreground: FTMO and QT Funded (also known as Quant Tekel Funded). Both firms provide access to simulated capital and pay traders a portion of the profits they generate. Yet the way they structure their programs—profit targets, drawdown rules, and payout schedules—differs markedly. We analyzed the latest policies of each firm to help you understand how these differences might impact your trading journey. From evaluation structures to platform support and scaling plans, this comparison aims to present a clear, balanced look at both companies without promoting either one.

FTMO Overview

FTMO is one of the oldest and most respected names in the prop‑trading space. Founded in the Czech Republic in 2015, the company offers a two‑phase evaluation—often known as the FTMO Challenge and Verification. During the first stage, traders must achieve a 10% profit target without violating a 5% daily loss limit or a 10% overall drawdown. The Verification stage requires only 5% profit, with the same drawdown limits, to confirm the trader can be consistent. Both phases have unlimited trading days but require at least four trading days to complete. Once funded, FTMO traders adhere to the same risk parameters (5% daily and 10% total drawdown) but no longer have profit targets.

FTMO uses a bi‑weekly payout schedule; traders can request their first withdrawal 14 days after the funded account is issued and every 14 days after that. The firm’s standard profit split is 80/20, though successful traders who participate in the scaling plan—earning at least 10% net profit over a four‑month cycle with two withdrawals—can see their share rise to 90%. FTMO supports trading on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 and provides access to forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. While news trading is allowed during the evaluation, funded traders on standard accounts must avoid opening or closing positions within two minutes of major economic announcements. Overnight and weekend holding is permitted, but traders are advised to manage swaps and carry costs carefully.

Want to learn more you can read our full review here [Full FTMO Review]

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QT Funded Overview

QT Funded is a newer prop firm operating under the Quant Tekel umbrella. It offers several models that cater to different trader profiles:

• QT Prime – a multi‑phase evaluation with two‑step and three‑step variations.
• QT Power – a lower‑priced two‑phase program aimed at beginners.
• QT Instant – a direct funding model with no evaluation.
• QT Futures – a separate futures trading program (not covered here, as this comparison focuses on their forex/CFD models).

QT Funded’s programs use MetaTrader 5 and TradeLocker platforms, with cTrader available for QT Prime. Traders can choose to denominate accounts in US dollars, British pounds or euros and can opt for raw spreads with a commission or wider spreads with no commissions. The firm advertises profit shares up to 80% and, in the case of QT Prime, touts that there are no consistency rules for the two‑step and three‑step evaluations.

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Evaluation Model & Trading Rules Comparison

FTMO’s Two‑Phase Challenge

FTMO’s evaluation is straightforward. In the first phase, traders must grow the account by 10% while keeping losses below the 5% daily and 10% overall limits. The absence of a time limit removes deadline pressure, though participants need to log at least four trading days. After meeting the objective, they move to the Verification phase, where the target is halved to 5%. Once both phases are completed without breaches, the trader signs a funded account agreement. Drawdown calculations are static—loss limits are based on the initial balance rather than trailing equity—so a profit cushion effectively raises the allowable risk over time. News trading is unrestricted during the evaluation, but funded traders (unless they opt for a swing account) must avoid executing trades within two minutes before or after major economic releases. FTMO does not impose a strict consistency rule; traders may have a large winning day as long as they respect drawdown limits.

QT Prime – Two‑Step and Three‑Step Evaluations

QT Prime’s two‑step program requires traders to hit an 8% profit target in Step 1 and 5% in Step 2. Both phases have a 4% daily drawdown and a 10% maximum drawdown. There is no minimum trading‑day requirement and no consistency rule, meaning traders can complete the challenge at their own pace. Once funded, payouts occur on a bi‑weekly schedule and the profit split remains at 80%. QT Funded enforces a news‑rule buffer on funded accounts—traders may not open or close trades for five minutes around high‑impact news—but allows unrestricted trading during the evaluation.

For those wanting a gentler curve, the QT Prime three‑step program lowers the profit target to 6% in each of three phases while keeping the same 4% daily drawdown and 10% overall drawdown. This structure is billed as “easier” because each target is smaller, but traders must complete an additional stage. Payouts and profit splits mirror the two‑step version.

QT Power – Two‑Step Program for Beginners

QT Power is marketed as the most affordable entry point. Both Step 1 and Step 2 require a 6% profit target, slightly lower than QT Prime’s two‑step target. The daily drawdown limit remains at 4%, but the maximum drawdown is reduced to 8%, making the risk threshold tighter. QT Power introduces a 35% consistency rule: no single day’s profit may exceed 35% of the total profits generated. Payouts are available on demand once the account is funded, and there is no news‑trading restriction for funded traders. The profit split is 80%, and traders can request withdrawals whenever they meet or exceed the required profit, subject to a minimum withdrawal amount.

QT Instant – Instant Funding Plan

For experienced traders who want to skip evaluations altogether, QT Instant provides immediate access to a funded demo account. There is no profit target to reach; however, traders must respect a 3% daily drawdown and a 6% maximum drawdown. A minimum withdrawal of 5% of the starting balance applies before the first payout can be requested. QT Instant enforces a 25% consistency rule, meaning the best trading day cannot represent more than 25% of total profits. Payouts are available on demand, and the profit split is 80%. Because the account is funded from day one, traders pay a higher one‑time fee compared with the evaluation programs.

Drawdown, Consistency, and News Rules

FTMO’s drawdown model is static; the 5% daily and 10% overall limits are calculated from the initial balance and do not trail equity. This can be advantageous for traders who build a profit buffer because the stop‑out point stays at the original level. QT Funded uses a similar static drawdown for its evaluation programs—4% daily and 10% total for QT Prime, 4% daily and 8% total for QT Power, and 3%/6% for QT Instant—but introduces consistency rules only in QT Power and QT Instant. FTMO does not impose a specific consistency rule; performance can be uneven so long as losses remain within the risk parameters.

Both firms allow news trading during the evaluation phases. FTMO restricts news trading in funded accounts by requiring a two‑minute buffer around high‑impact releases, whereas QT Funded’s evaluation rules remain open, imposing a five‑minute buffer only after traders become funded under QT Prime (not under QT Power or QT Instant). QT Power and QT Instant accounts therefore provide more flexibility for news‑oriented traders.

Payouts, Profit Split, and Scaling

FTMO traders can withdraw profits every 14 days. The standard profit share is 80%, increasing to 90% for traders who meet the scaling‑plan requirements (10% net profit over a four‑month cycle, at least two withdrawals, and a positive balance). The scaling plan increases the starting capital by 25% at each qualifying period and can grow accounts up to $2 million. FTMO offers withdrawal via bank transfer, crypto, and selected online payment processors. The firm processes payouts quickly—often within 8 hours of approval—though traders must close all positions and respect drawdown limits to qualify.

QT Funded’s profit splits are uniformly 80% across QT Prime, QT Power, and QT Instant. The difference lies in payout timing. QT Prime programs pay bi‑weekly, similar to FTMO. QT Power and QT Instant accounts provide on‑demand payouts, enabling withdrawals as soon as the minimum profit threshold or consistency requirement is satisfied. QT Funded caps account growth at $200,000 for a single funded account but allows traders to combine multiple accounts to manage larger capital allocations. There is no formal scaling plan that increases account size over time; to grow beyond the initial funding, traders purchase additional evaluations or renewals.

Platforms, Markets and Trading Flexibility

Both FTMO and QT Funded support MetaTrader 5, and FTMO also offers MetaTrader 4. QT Funded provides TradeLocker as an alternative platform, and cTrader is available to QT Prime clients. Asset coverage is comparable: forex majors and minors, stock indices, precious metals, energy commodities, and an expanding selection of cryptocurrencies. FTMO’s leverage stands at roughly 1:100 for evaluation accounts and drops after funding (1:30 for major forex pairs). QT Funded offers variable leverage depending on the program and asset class; for most CFD instruments, leverage is around 1:100 during the evaluation and may decrease after funding. QT Instant accounts have similar leverage to evaluation accounts but require careful risk management due to the small drawdown limits.

Trading Restrictions and Strategies

FTMO requires every trade to have a stop‑loss and disallows martingale strategies, arbitrage, or copy‑trading across multiple prop accounts. The firm monitors traders for automated or tick‑scalping practices and reserves the right to terminate accounts exhibiting suspicious behavior. Traders can hold positions overnight and through weekends but must be mindful of swap charges and news restrictions.

QT Funded allows more flexibility in strategy. Traders are not mandated to use stop‑loss orders, and hedging within the same account is permitted. However, cross‑account copy‑trading is not allowed, and the consistency rules in QT Power and QT Instant discourage one‑off large trades. QT Funded’s evaluation accounts have no minimum or maximum number of trading days, making them attractive for both high‑frequency traders and those who trade less frequently. News trading restrictions are minimal, particularly in QT Power and QT Instant funded accounts.

Reputation, Trust and User Feedback

FTMO’s longevity and consistent payouts have earned it widespread trust among prop‑trading participants. Reviews often praise the firm’s clear rules, responsive support and reliable payment processing. The primary criticism is the strict drawdown structure, which has ended otherwise profitable evaluations when traders briefly exceeded the daily limit. Some traders also note that FTMO’s scaling process requires patience because accounts scale only every four months.

QT Funded is newer and still establishing its reputation. Early reviews highlight the firm’s responsive customer service, user‑friendly platform choices and generous promotions (such as discounted fees and free retakes). Traders appreciate the ability to select between two‑step, three‑step and instant models, as well as the on‑demand payout option in QT Power and QT Instant. Negative feedback tends to focus on the consistency rules—which some traders find confusing—and on the smaller maximum account sizes relative to FTMO. Because QT Funded does not have a long track record, some traders remain cautious until they see more long‑term payout data.

Which Firm Is Better for Different Trader Types?

• New traders may find QT Power appealing thanks to its low entry cost, manageable 6% targets, and on‑demand payouts. FTMO’s evaluation requires larger targets and strict drawdown limits, which could be daunting for beginners.
• Experienced traders who can handle higher targets and have patience for longer scaling cycles might gravitate to FTMO, where completing the two‑phase challenge unlocks larger potential account sizes and a 90% split over time. Traders seeking immediate funding might consider QT Instant, but they must adhere to the 3%/6% drawdown and 25% consistency rule.
• Swing traders and position traders benefit from FTMO’s unlimited time and ability to hold positions through news events with minimal restrictions (except for the two‑minute buffer in funded accounts). QT Funded also allows overnight and weekend holding but imposes a 5‑minute news buffer on QT Prime funded accounts and none on QT Power or QT Instant.
• Scalpers and high‑frequency traders may prefer QT Funded’s evaluation models because there is no restriction on the number of trades or frequency, and on‑demand payouts provide immediate rewards. FTMO’s stop‑loss requirement and strict daily drawdown may limit certain high‑frequency strategies.
• Traders seeking long‑term scaling might choose FTMO because of its formal scaling plan, which can expand account sizes to well over a million dollars. QT Funded caps single accounts at $200k and offers no incremental scaling beyond purchasing additional evaluations.

Final Verdict

FTMO and QT Funded each deliver value to different kinds of traders. FTMO offers seasoned discipline: higher profit targets, fixed drawdown rules and a structured scaling plan that rewards consistent profitability with larger account sizes and higher profit splits. It suits traders willing to trade under strict risk parameters in exchange for long‑term growth and reliability. QT Funded, by contrast, emphasizes flexibility. With its variety of programs—two‑step, three‑step, beginner‑friendly or instant—it caters to traders who want lower targets, on‑demand withdrawals and the option to skip evaluations altogether. The firm’s consistency rules encourage steady performance, and its broader platform choices (including TradeLocker and cTrader) may appeal to certain traders.

Ultimately, the choice depends on your priorities. Pick FTMO if you want a time‑tested firm with large scaling potential, bi‑weekly payouts and a clear path to a 90% profit split. Choose QT Funded if you value diverse program options, smaller profit targets, on‑demand withdrawals and less restrictive news‑trading rules. Each firm can be a valuable partner when matched with the right trading style.