FTMO vs The 5ers: 2026 Comparison - Rules, Payouts, Pros & Cons (Updated)

TLDR: At the $100K tier, FTMO charges ~$590 (€540) for a strict 2-step challenge with a 10% Phase 1 target and 80–90% profit split. The5ers charges $850 for its High Stakes 2-step with an 8% Phase 1 target and profit splits scaling from 80% to 100%. The5ers also offers a budget-friendly 3-step Bootcamp starting at $39 and a 1-step Hyper Growth program for traders who want faster funding. If you want the industry's most recognized evaluation with a proven 10-year track record, choose FTMO. If you want more program flexibility, a path to $4 million in capital, and the potential for a 100% profit split, choose The5ers.

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Quick Comparison: FTMO vs The5ers (2026)

Feature	FTMO (2-Step)	The5ers (High Stakes 2-Step)
Account Sizes	$10K – $200K	$2.5K – $100K
$100K Challenge Price	~$590 (€540)	~$850
Phase 1 Profit Target	10%	8%
Phase 2 Profit Target	5%	5%
Daily Drawdown	5% (balance-based)	5% (equity/balance-based)
Max Drawdown	10% (initial balance, static)	10% (initial balance, static)
Min Trading Days	4 per phase	3 profitable days per phase
Time Limit	None	None
Profit Split	80% (up to 90% via Scaling)	80% (up to 100% via Scaling)
Payout Frequency	Biweekly (every 14 days)	Biweekly (every 14 days)
Scaling Cap	$2,000,000	$4,000,000
Platforms	MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade	MT5, cTrader
Trustpilot Rating	4.8/5 (~40,000+ reviews)	4.8/5 (~21,000+ reviews)
News Trading	Restricted on funded (2 min buffer)	Restricted on High Stakes (2 min buffer)
Weekend Holding	Swing accounts only	Allowed (all programs)
EA/Bot Policy	Allowed (max 2,000 server requests/day)	Allowed (must use stop-loss on every trade)
Challenge Types	1-Step, 2-Step	Bootcamp (3-Step), High Stakes (2-Step), Hyper Growth (1-Step)

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Pricing Breakdown

FTMO keeps it simple: one challenge structure (2-Step or 1-Step) across five account sizes, priced in euros. The5ers offers three distinct programs — Bootcamp, High Stakes, and Hyper Growth — each with its own fee schedule.

FTMO Pricing (Standard Risk, 2-Step)

Account Size	Price (EUR)	Price (approx. USD)	Cost per $1 Funded
$10K	€155	~$170	$0.0170
$25K	€250	~$275	$0.0110
$50K	€345	~$380	$0.0076
$100K	€540	~$590	$0.0059
$200K	€1,080	~$1,180	$0.0059

The5ers Pricing (High Stakes 2-Step)

Account Size	Price (USD)	Cost per $1 Funded
$5K	~$95	$0.0190
$10K	~$260	$0.0260
$20K	~$450	$0.0225
$50K	~$595	$0.0119
$100K	~$850	$0.0085

The5ers Pricing (Hyper Growth 1-Step)

Account Size	Price (USD)	Cost per $1 Funded
$5K	~$257	$0.0514
$10K	~$437	$0.0437
$20K	~$817	$0.0409

The cost-per-dollar-funded comparison tells a clear story. FTMO's $100K challenge comes in at $0.0059 per funded dollar — significantly cheaper than The5ers' High Stakes at $0.0085. At the $50K tier, FTMO costs roughly $0.0076 per funded dollar versus The5ers' $0.0119. If entry cost is your priority, FTMO wins at every comparable tier.

The5ers' Bootcamp is the exception. Starting at just $39 for entry into a 3-step evaluation, it's the cheapest door into funded trading from either firm — but you'll start with a smaller account ($2.5K–$10K range) and need to clear three phases instead of two.

Active discount codes: FTMO periodically offers 10–20% off (code SAVE10 has been available for 10% off). The5ers has been running up to 15% off through mid-2026. Always verify current promos at checkout.

Both firms refund the challenge fee with your first funded payout. If you pass, the entry cost is effectively zero.

For the latest pricing on each firm, check our detailed breakdowns: FTMO | The5ers.

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Rules That Actually Matter

On paper, the drawdown limits look identical: 5% daily, 10% maximum. But the practical implications differ based on how each firm structures its challenge and funded phases.

The Phase 1 Target Gap

FTMO requires 10% profit in Phase 1. The5ers' High Stakes asks for 8%. On a $100K account, that's $10,000 vs $8,000 in required profit — while operating under the same $5,000 daily loss limit. For a trader averaging 2–3% monthly returns, the 8% target shaves roughly 3–4 weeks off the evaluation timeline. Over months of trading, that extra breathing room compounds into meaningfully less psychological pressure.

The5ers' Hyper Growth flips the script by requiring 10% in a single phase — no verification step. You hit the target once and you're funded. For aggressive traders who can generate 10% within a few weeks, this is the fastest path to live capital from either firm.

Drawdown Calculation

Both firms use initial-balance-based maximum drawdown. Your $100K account's stop-out stays fixed at $90,000, regardless of how high your equity climbs. If you build the account to $108,000 and then draw down $18,000, you breach the 10% max even though $8,000 of that was "house money."

The daily drawdown resets each day based on the previous day's closing balance or equity (whichever is higher). FTMO resets at midnight CE(S)T. The5ers follows a similar calculation. Both firms will terminate accounts that breach this limit intraday — there's no grace period.

For a deeper explanation of how these calculations work across major prop firms, read our guide on prop firm risk management rules.

Minimum Trading Days

FTMO requires 4 trading days per phase. The5ers' High Stakes requires 3 profitable trading days per phase. The distinction matters: The5ers doesn't just want you to show up for 3 days — it wants you to be profitable on those days. If you have 5 trading days with only 2 profitable, you haven't met the requirement.

Inactivity Rules

The5ers closes accounts that go 30 consecutive days without a trade. FTMO does not currently enforce a strict inactivity timeout, though they reserve the right to close dormant accounts. If you're a swing trader who occasionally steps away from the markets for weeks, FTMO offers more leeway.

News and Weekend Restrictions

Both firms restrict news trading on funded accounts with a 2-minute buffer around high-impact events (NFP, CPI, FOMC). The5ers applies this restriction during the High Stakes evaluation as well, while FTMO keeps the evaluation phase unrestricted.

Weekend holding is where the firms diverge. The5ers allows holding through weekends across all programs. FTMO restricts weekend holding on standard funded accounts — only Swing account holders can carry positions through Saturday and Sunday. If your strategy relies on holding multi-day positions through weekends, The5ers provides more freedom by default.

For a broader overview of how evaluation phases work, see our guide on how prop firm evaluations actually work.

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Payout Experience

Both firms process payouts on a biweekly (14-day) cycle. Here's how the experience compares once you're funded.

FTMO

The default profit split is 80/20 in the trader's favor. After meeting the Scaling Plan criteria — 10% total net profit across 4 months with at least 2 payouts — FTMO bumps you to a 90% split and increases your account balance by 25%. Payouts are processed within an average of 8 hours via bank transfer, Skrill, or cryptocurrency. FTMO has paid out over $200 million since inception and their payout reliability is among the most documented in the industry.

The5ers

The5ers starts funded traders at an 80% split on the High Stakes program, with a scaling path to 100%. The Hyper Growth program also offers up to 100% profit retention at advanced scaling levels. Payouts are available every 14 days via bank transfer, Wise, or crypto, with most traders reporting 1–3 day processing times.

The5ers' scaling system operates across 8 levels. A $20K High Stakes account doubles to $40K after a 10% profit milestone, then to $80K, and so on — up to a maximum allocation of $4,000,000. At each level, the profit split improves. Reaching the upper tiers ($1M+) requires consistent profitability across multiple scaling events, but the ceiling is twice FTMO's $2,000,000 cap.

The Bottom Line on Payouts

FTMO's maximum 90% split means you keep $900 of every $1,000 in profit. The5ers can reach 100%, meaning you keep the full $1,000. On a $100K funded account generating $5,000/month in profit, the difference between 90% and 100% is $500/month — $6,000/year. That gap widens as you scale.

However, reaching 100% at The5ers takes significant time and multiple successful scaling events. FTMO's 90% split kicks in after just 4 months of qualifying performance. For most traders in their first year of funded trading, the effective payout difference is smaller than the headline numbers suggest.

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Platform and Execution

FTMO

FTMO supports 4 platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and DXtrade. The MT4/MT5 options run through a partnership with OANDA, giving you institutional-grade liquidity. cTrader offers depth of market (DOM) visibility and advanced order types. DXtrade provides a browser-based alternative that requires no software installation — useful for traders who work across multiple devices.

The5ers

The5ers offers MetaTrader 5 and cTrader. MT4 support has been phased down in favor of the newer platforms. The firm selected cTrader as its premier platform in late 2025, signaling a long-term investment in cTrader's ecosystem for advanced and algorithmic traders.

Platform Verdict

If you trade on MT4 or need DXtrade's browser-based flexibility, FTMO is your only option between these two firms. If you're already on MT5 or cTrader, both firms support you equally. The5ers' commitment to cTrader means it may offer tighter integration and faster updates on that platform going forward.

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Choose FTMO If...

You want the safest reputation bet. FTMO has operated since 2015, holds a 4.8 Trustpilot rating across 40,000+ reviews, and has paid out hundreds of millions. No other prop firm matches its track record for longevity and transparency.

You want the lowest entry cost at $100K+. At ~$590 for a $100K challenge ($0.0059 per funded dollar), FTMO is roughly 30% cheaper than The5ers' equivalent High Stakes tier. If you plan to attempt multiple challenges, that savings compounds.

You need MT4 or DXtrade. FTMO is one of the few firms still supporting MetaTrader 4, and its DXtrade integration gives you a no-download browser option that The5ers lacks.

You prefer a pure 2-step structure. FTMO's evaluation path is straightforward: hit 10%, then hit 5%, get funded. No choosing between 3 different program types, no split fees. One challenge, one set of rules.

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Choose The5ers If...

You want more program flexibility. Three distinct programs — Bootcamp (3-step, from $39), High Stakes (2-step), and Hyper Growth (1-step) — let you match the challenge to your trading style and budget. No other major firm offers this range.

You're chasing maximum profit split and scaling. The5ers' path to 100% profit retention and a $4,000,000 account cap is double FTMO's 90% split and $2,000,000 ceiling. For traders building a long-term funded career, the upper-end potential is significantly higher.

You hold trades through weekends. The5ers allows weekend holding across all programs without needing a special account type. FTMO restricts this to Swing accounts only.

You want a lower Phase 1 target. The High Stakes' 8% Phase 1 requirement (vs FTMO's 10%) gives conservative traders a more achievable first hurdle without changing the drawdown parameters.

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The Verdict

FTMO and The5ers are both top-3 prop firms in 2026, and neither is a bad choice. The decision comes down to what you value most.

FTMO is the industry benchmark — the firm every other prop firm gets compared against. Its $100K challenge at ~$590 is the best value per funded dollar at that tier. The 10-year operating history, 40,000+ Trustpilot reviews, 4-platform support, and sub-8-hour payout processing give it a reliability advantage that newer firms haven't matched. The tradeoff is a higher Phase 1 target (10%), a lower maximum profit split (90%), and a $2M scaling cap.

The5ers offers more paths to funding and a higher ceiling once you're there. The Bootcamp program starting at $39 is the most accessible entry point in the industry. The Hyper Growth 1-step evaluation is the fastest route to funded capital. And the 100% profit split at the top scaling tiers — combined with a $4M cap — rewards consistent traders more generously than FTMO's structure.

For most traders taking their first funded challenge, FTMO's lower cost and simpler structure make it the safer starting point. For experienced traders who know their edge and want to maximize long-term earnings, The5ers' scaling plan and profit split ceiling offer a stronger endgame.

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FAQ

Is FTMO cheaper than The5ers?

Yes, at comparable account sizes. FTMO's $100K 2-step challenge costs ~$590 (€540) versus approximately $850 for The5ers' High Stakes $100K. However, The5ers' Bootcamp program starts at just $39, making it cheaper for traders entering at smaller account sizes. Both firms refund the challenge fee with the first funded payout.

Which firm has easier evaluation targets?

The5ers' High Stakes requires an 8% Phase 1 target versus FTMO's 10% — a 2-percentage-point advantage. Both require 5% in Phase 2. The5ers also offers a 1-step Hyper Growth program with a single 10% target and no verification phase. FTMO requires 4 minimum trading days per phase; The5ers requires 3 profitable days.

Can I use Expert Advisors (EAs) on both platforms?

Yes, both firms allow automated trading with conditions. FTMO caps server requests at 2,000 per day and prohibits strategies that exploit latency or identical cross-account trading. The5ers requires a valid stop-loss on every EA-opened position and bans signal copying, tick scalping, and latency arbitrage. Always review each firm's prohibited practices list before deploying an EA.

What's the maximum account size I can scale to?

FTMO's Scaling Plan caps at $2,000,000. The5ers' scaling path extends to $4,000,000 across an 8-level system. Reaching either cap requires sustained profitability over multiple scaling cycles — typically 12–18+ months of consistent performance.

Do both firms allow news trading?

Both firms restrict news trading on funded accounts with a 2-minute buffer around high-impact events (NFP, CPI, FOMC). FTMO allows unrestricted news trading during the evaluation phase but restricts it once funded. The5ers applies the 2-minute restriction during the High Stakes evaluation and funded phases. The5ers' Bootcamp and Hyper Growth programs permit news trading.

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