| Year Established | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Prague, Czech Republic |
| CEO | Otakar Suffner |
| Mission | To identify and nurture talented traders by providing them with a rigorous evaluation process and the necessary resources to succeed in a competitive trading environment. |
| Funding Models/Programs | Single funding program with a two-step evaluation process: FTMO Challenge and Verification |
| Account Sizes | Up to $200,000 |
| Profit Splits | Up to 90% |
| Leverage | 1:100 |
| Trading Instruments | Forex, commodities, indices, stocks, cryptocurrencies |
| Trading Fees | Low spreads, variable commissions, and swaps depending on the trading platform and instrument |
| Payout Frequency | Monthly |
| Payment Methods | Bank Transfers, Debit/Credit Cards, Skrill, Cryptocurrencies |
| Restricted Countries |
Iran, Syria, Myanmar, North Korea, USA; persons listed on sanction lists, persons with criminal records related to financial crime or terrorism, persons previously banned because of breach of contract; and legal persons who are company trusts. Due to business decisions based on risk management considerations, FTMO does not provide services to clients in Afghanistan, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bouvet Island, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Cook Islands, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See (Vatican City State), India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niger, Niue, Papua New Guinea, the Russian Federation, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine (Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia), Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Western Sahara. |
| Support Channels | Live Chat, Email, Phone, Discord, FAQ, WhatsApp |
| Educational Resources | Webinars, articles, mentorship programs, performance coaching |
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, DXtrade |
| Account Currencies | AUD, CAD, CHF, CZK, EUR, GBP, USD |
| Brokers | Partnered with tier-1 liquidity providers |
| Rules | 5% maximum daily loss, 10% maximum loss, minimum 4 trading days per phase |
| Deposit and Withdrawal Methods | Bank Transfers, Debit/Credit Cards, Skrill, Cryptocurrencies |
| Pros | High profit splits, flexible rules, comprehensive support, extensive educational resources, diverse trading platforms |
| Cons | Strict risk management rules, geographical restrictions |
Introduction
FTMO is a proprietary trading firm that offers traders a single two-step evaluation process to demonstrate their trading skills.
FTMO partners with tier-1 liquidity providers to ensure the best simulated real market trading conditions. Traders can choose to trade on popular platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, or DXtrade.
In this FTMO review, we’ll get into the company’s background, examine the various funding programs they offer, and explore the trading conditions and requirements. We’ll also cover profit splits and payout processes, weigh the pros and cons, analyze broker partnerships and the trading environment, and review the support and resources available to traders. Furthermore, we’ll highlight user experiences and testimonials, provide expert opinion, and conclude with final thoughts and recommendations.
FTMO Company Overview
FTMO is a proprietary trading firm with the legal name FTMO Evaluation Global s.r.o., incorporated in September 2015. The firm is headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, and managed by CEO Otakar Suffner.
Otakar Suffner, born and raised in Prague, holds a master’s degree in Economics from Prague University and also studied at Seoul National University in South Korea. With a strong passion for sports, Otakar engages in fitness, calisthenics, and kickboxing regularly. His trading journey began nearly a decade ago with Futures, later transitioning to Forex and CFDs to gain more flexibility in position sizing. Otakar is a statistics-driven trader, focusing on probabilities to create unique trading ideas.
FTMO seeks disciplined traders who can efficiently manage risk and maintain long-term consistency. Traders can manage account sizes up to $200,000 and receive up to 90% profit splits, trading a variety of financial instruments, including forex pairs, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies.
Key Highlights
- Headquarters: Prague, Czech Republic
- Year Established: 2015
- Mission: To encourage traders to become successful by providing optimal trading conditions and support.
- Vision: To find disciplined traders who can efficiently manage risk and focus on long-term consistency.
In the next sections, we will explore the specific services and opportunities provided by FTMO.
FTMO Funding Programs
FTMO offers a single funding program option, structured into a two-step evaluation process to provide traders with access to significant capital. At FTMO, you may choose between:
- Evaluation (Demo): Traders start with the FTMO Challenge and Verification, demonstrating their skills in a simulated environment.
- FTMO Account (Monetised Demo): Successful traders receive an FTMO Account with access to substantial capital and can retain up to 90% of simulated profits.
- Quantlane (Pro-Trading): Top FTMO Traders may join Quantlane, trading with real capital, receiving a fixed salary, and benefiting from institutional-level conditions.
FTMO Challenge (Demo)
FTMO Challenge
The first step is the FTMO Challenge, designed to test traders’ skills and risk management:
- Profit Target: 10% of the initial balance.
- Maximum Daily Loss: 5% of the initial balance.
- Maximum Loss: 10% of the initial balance.
- Minimum Trading Days: 4 trading days.
Traders must meet these targets within 30 days to advance.
Verification
The second step, Verification, confirms the consistency of the trader’s performance:
- Profit Target: 5% of the initial balance.
- Maximum Daily Loss: 5% of the initial balance.
- Maximum Loss: 10% of the initial balance.
- Minimum Trading Days: 4 trading days.
The lower profit target emphasizes consistent, disciplined trading. Successful traders receive an FTMO Account.
This account type is ideal for traders looking to prove their trading skills and discipline in a risk-free environment. It’s perfect for beginners or those testing new strategies without risking real capital.
FTMO Account (Monetised Demo)
Traders who pass both stages gain access to an FTMO Account, allowing them to trade with substantial capital:
- Capital Allocation: Up to $200,000 in fictitious funds.
- Profit Sharing: Traders retain up to 90% of simulated profits.
- Trading Conditions: Access to premium platforms and tools.
- Scaling Plan: Opportunities to increase account size and profit-sharing percentages based on performance.
This account suits experienced traders who have successfully demonstrated their skills in the Evaluation stage and are ready to trade larger volumes while retaining a high percentage of profits.
Quantlane (Pro Trading)
Top FTMO Traders may join Quantlane, trading with real capital, receiving a fixed salary, and benefiting from institutional-level conditions.
Benefits: Fixed salary, performance coaching, institutional trading conditions, and access to custom platforms and tools.
This is best for highly skilled and consistent traders who have proven their performance and are looking for a professional trading career with real capital, fixed salary, and advanced trading resources.
FTMO Trading Conditions and Requirements
Leverage
FTMO offers traders a leverage of up to 1:100, allowing them to control larger positions with a relatively small amount of capital.
Trading Instruments
Traders can access a wide range of trading instruments, including Forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. This variety enables traders to diversify their strategies and take advantage of different market conditions.
Specific Rules
Stop-Loss Requirements: While FTMO does not mandate specific stop-loss requirements, risk management is crucial. Traders must adhere to the Maximum Daily Loss and Maximum Loss rules to avoid breaching their account conditions.
Maximum Daily Loss: Traders must not exceed 5% of their initial account balance in losses within a single day.
Maximum Loss: The total loss must not exceed 10% of the initial account balance.
Trading Days
A minimum of 4 trading days is required in both the FTMO Challenge and Verification stages. This ensures that traders demonstrate consistent performance over a reasonable period.
FTMO’s trading conditions are designed to balance flexibility and strict risk management. The leverage allows for significant market exposure, while the diverse range of instruments caters to various trading styles. The specific rules and trading days requirements ensure traders maintain disciplined and consistent trading practices.
FTMO Profit Splits and Payment Methods
Profit Splits
FTMO offers a generous profit-sharing scheme, where traders can retain up to 90% of their simulated profits. Initially, traders receive 80% of their profits, which can be increased to 90% through FTMO’s Scaling Plan.
This profit split is highly competitive and rewarding, making it an excellent choice for traders looking to maximize their earnings from successful trades.
Payout Frequency
Payouts are processed monthly, ensuring traders receive their earnings regularly and can manage their finances effectively.
Monthly payouts provide a steady income stream, which is beneficial for traders managing their personal and trading-related expenses.
Payment Methods
FTMO supports various payment methods for both deposits and withdrawals, including:
- Bank Transfers
- Debit/Credit Cards
- Skrill
- Cryptocurrencies (e.g., Bitcoin)
Important note:
Due to regulatory reasons, bank transfers are not available for payments/payouts in the case of the following countries: Venezuela, Cuba, Sudan, and Ukraine.
The variety of payment methods caters to the diverse needs of traders worldwide, offering flexibility and convenience in managing funds.
Unique Payout Features
One unique feature of FTMO’s payout system is the refund of the Challenge fee after the first profit split. This encourages traders to succeed in their initial evaluation.
Refunding the Challenge fee is a significant incentive, reducing the initial cost for traders and increasing their net earnings from the first payout.
FTMO Pros and Cons
Pros
- High Profit Splits: Traders can retain up to 90% of profits, making FTMO one of the most generous prop trading firms.
- Flexible Rules: FTMO offers a range of trading platforms and instruments, catering to various trading styles.
- Low Minimum Trading Days: Only 4 minimum trading days required during evaluation, allowing for quick progression.
- Comprehensive Support: Access to educational resources, performance coaches, and analytical tools.
- Refundable Challenge Fee: The fee for the FTMO Challenge is refunded after the first profit split.
FTMO’s advantages provide a balanced and supportive environment for traders to develop and succeed, particularly highlighting the high profit retention and flexible trading conditions.
Cons
- Strict Risk Management Rules: Traders must adhere to the Maximum Daily Loss and Maximum Loss limits, which can be challenging.
- Geographical Restrictions: Bank transfers for payments/payouts are not available in Venezuela, Cuba, Sudan, and Ukraine due to regulatory reasons.
- Monthly Payouts: Payouts are processed monthly, which may not suit traders who prefer more frequent withdrawals.
While FTMO offers many advantages, the strict risk management rules and geographical restrictions on bank transfers can be potential drawbacks for some traders.
FTMO Broker Partnerships and Trading Environment
Brokers and Trading Platforms
FTMO collaborates with tier-1 liquidity providers to ensure optimal trading conditions. Traders have access to multiple trading platforms, including:
- MetaTrader 4 (MT4): Known for its user-friendly interface and robust trading tools, MT4 is a staple in the forex trading community.
- MetaTrader 5 (MT5): The advanced version of MT4, offering additional features such as market depth and enhanced charting tools, making it suitable for algorithmic trading.
- cTrader: A modern platform that supports both manual and automated trading, featuring advanced charting tools and fast execution.
- DXtrade: A multi-asset trading platform that offers extensive customization options and advanced trading tools, catering to both retail and institutional traders.
Trading Fees
FTMO’s trading environment includes competitive trading fees:
- Spreads: Tight spreads, thanks to their partnerships with top-tier liquidity providers.
- Commissions: Variable, depending on the trading platform and instrument.
- Swaps: Overnight fees for holding positions, which vary by instrument and platform.
Specific Rules
- Stop-Loss Requirements: While not mandatory, adhering to strict risk management is essential. Traders must follow the Maximum Daily Loss (5% of initial balance) and Maximum Loss (10% of initial balance) rules.
- Trading Days: A minimum of 4 trading days is required during both the FTMO Challenge and Verification stages to ensure consistent performance.
FTMO’s trading environment, backed by reliable brokers and versatile platforms, is designed to cater to diverse trading styles and strategies. The competitive trading fees and extensive range of instruments provide an excellent foundation for both novice and experienced traders.
FTMO Support and Resources for Traders
FTMO provides a range of support channels and educational resources to assist traders. Available support channels include:
- Live Chat
- Phone
- Discord
- FAQ
FTMO offers support in multiple languages including English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Czech, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Serbian, Ukrainian, Turkish, Russian, Polish, and Arabic.
Educational Resources
FTMO also offers a variety of educational resources such as webinars, articles, mentorship programs, and more. These resources are designed to help traders enhance their skills and succeed in the trading environment.
FTMO User Experiences and Testimonials
FTMO boasts an impressive rating of 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot, based on over 12,065 reviews. This high rating reflects FTMO’s commitment to customer satisfaction and its reputation as a trustworthy and reliable prop trading firm.
Positive Feedback
Payouts and Profit Splits: Many users commend FTMO for its prompt and reliable payout process. Successful traders can expect their profits to be processed within hours and deposited within a day. The profit split, starting at 80:20 and potentially increasing to 90:10, is highly valued.
Trading Conditions and Freedom: Traders appreciate the flexibility FTMO offers in trading strategies and instruments, including forex, stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. There are no restrictions on strategies, allowing traders to use their preferred methods without limitations.
Support and Educational Resources: FTMO provides extensive support through performance coaches, trading journals, statistical apps, and personalized mentoring, helping traders improve and maintain their performance. Their customer service is often described as excellent, with prompt and helpful responses.
Reputation and Trustworthiness: FTMO is renowned for its reliability and trustworthiness, never missing payments and maintaining a high standard of service, which reassures traders in the volatile prop trading market.
Negative Feedback
Initial Delays: Some users have reported delays in receiving their funded accounts after completing the verification process, causing frustration for those affected.
Challenge and Verification Rigor: The stringent requirements of the FTMO Challenge and Verification stages can be challenging for some traders, leading to complaints from those who did not meet the criteria.
Fee Structure: Although FTMO refunds the initial registration fee upon the first profit split, the upfront cost can be a barrier for some traders, cited occasionally as a drawback.
From an expert trader’s viewpoint, FTMO stands out for its robust usability and comprehensive support system, making it accessible to both novice and experienced traders. The educational resources offer valuable insights and strategies to enhance trading performance. Despite minor drawbacks in response times, the overall efficiency and support provided by FTMO significantly contribute to a positive trading experience.
FTMO Trading Dashboard
FTMO provides a comprehensive and user-friendly trading dashboard, integrated with multiple trading platforms to ensure a seamless trading experience. The dashboard is designed to help traders manage their accounts, track performance, and make informed trading decisions.
Key Features of the Trading Dashboard
- Advanced Charting Tools: The dashboard provides access to a wide range of charting tools and indicators, helping traders analyze market trends and make informed decisions.
- Risk Management: Built-in tools for managing risk, including setting stop-loss and take-profit levels, ensuring traders can control their exposure effectively.
- Trade Management: The ability to place, modify, and monitor trades in real-time, allowing for precise and responsive trading actions.
- Performance Tracking: Comprehensive reports and analytics to track trading performance, identify strengths and weaknesses, and optimize strategies.
- Cloud-Based Access: DXtrade, in particular, offers cloud-based access, enabling traders to manage their accounts from almost any device with a web browser, providing flexibility and convenience.
Mobile Application
FTMO also offers a mobile application that includes all Client Area features, making it easy to manage accounts on the go. The app allows traders to track their progress, analyze their performance, and optimize their strategies directly from their mobile devices.
The FTMO trading dashboard, with its integration across multiple platforms and robust set of tools, provides an exceptional trading environment. The inclusion of real-time data, comprehensive risk management tools, and performance tracking makes it highly suitable for both novice and experienced traders. The mobile app further enhances its usability, ensuring traders can stay connected and manage their accounts efficiently from anywhere.
Expert Opinion
Analysis from an Experienced Trader’s Perspective
FTMO stands out as a premier proprietary trading firm, offering a well-structured and transparent pathway for traders to access significant capital. The firm’s rigorous two-step Evaluation Program, consisting of the FTMO Challenge and Verification, ensures that only disciplined and skilled traders advance to manage funded accounts.
Key Strengths:
- Robust Evaluation Process: The Evaluation Program’s two phases effectively filter out undisciplined traders while providing a fair chance to prove trading skills. The profit targets of 10% and 5% in the FTMO Challenge and Verification respectively are achievable with proper risk management.
- High Profit Splits: With profit retention rates of up to 90%, FTMO offers one of the most attractive profit-sharing models in the industry.
- Diverse Trading Platforms: The availability of MT4, MT5, cTrader, and DXtrade caters to various trading styles and preferences, enhancing trader flexibility.
- Comprehensive Support and Education: FTMO provides extensive educational resources, including webinars, articles, and performance coaching, which are invaluable for continuous trader development.
Considerations:
- Strict Risk Management Rules: The 5% maximum daily loss and 10% maximum loss rules require strict adherence, which can be challenging but ultimately beneficial for long-term trading success.
- Geographical Restrictions: Due to regulatory reasons, certain payment methods like bank transfers are not available in specific countries, which may limit accessibility for some traders.
FTMO is a reputable and trustworthy proprietary trading firm that offers traders a well-defined path to managing substantial capital. The firm’s Evaluation Program, with its achievable profit targets and realistic risk management rules, provides a solid foundation for traders to demonstrate their abilities. The generous profit-sharing model, coupled with comprehensive support and advanced trading platforms, makes FTMO an excellent choice for both novice and experienced traders.
I highly recommend FTMO to traders looking for a robust, supportive, and rewarding proprietary trading environment. The firm’s commitment to trader development, coupled with its competitive profit splits and professional trading conditions, positions it as a leader in the industry.
