FTMO vs FTUK - Prop Firm Comparison (March 2026)

Head-to-head comparison of FTMO and FTUK. Check max funding, profit splits, daily and overall drawdown rules, leverage, tradable assets, payout frequency, payment and payout methods, trading permissions and KYC restrictions before you buy a challenge. Data refreshed March 2026.

FTMO vs FTUK - Prop Firm Comparison (March 2026)
FTMO
FTMO is a Prague-based prop trading evaluation company founded in 2015 that uses a two-step challenge (FTMO Challenge + Verification) with unlimited time, strict 5% max daily loss and 10% max loss limits, and Normal or Swing funded account types....
FTUK
FTUK (FTUK Inc.) is a US-based prop firm offering simulated Forex and Futures funding via Instant Funding and 1-step/2-step evaluation programs, with trading on DXtrade, MatchTrader and TradeLocker, profit shares that scale up to 80%, and a published maximum scaling...
Overview
Trustpilot Rating 4.8 3.8
Trustpilot Reviews 40,041 602
Headquarters Czech Republic United States
Age (Years) 11 N/A
Max Funding $400,000 $6,400,000
Profit Split Start 80% 50%
Profit Split Max 90% 80%
Platforms MT4 MT5 cTrader DXtrade Match-Trader DXtrade TradeLocker
Assets FX Indices Commodities Stocks Crypto FX Metals Indices Commodities Crypto Futures
Leverage
FX Leverage 100 100
Metals Leverage 30 10
Crypto Leverage 3.3 2
Risk & Drawdown Rules
Max Daily Loss Maximum Daily LossFTMO applies a 5% Maximum Daily Loss. It is calculated from the account’s balance at midnight CE(S)T (platform time) each day and includes the running total of the day’s closed trades + floating P/L, including commissions and swaps. If the daily limit is exceeded at any time, the account fails. Maximum Daily LossDaily drawdown limits depend on the program: Instant Funding uses a 5% daily drawdown, One Step uses a 4% daily drawdown, and Two Step uses a 5% daily drawdown in both evaluation phases and funded levels.FTUK states daily drawdown is calculated using the higher value of balance or equity at the end-of-day snapshot (22:00 UTC), which means open profit can increase the daily-loss threshold but open losses still count toward it.
Max Total Loss Maximum LossFTMO applies a 10% Maximum Loss (overall loss limit). This is a static cap measured against the account’s starting balance, and it is evaluated on equity (closed + floating results, including trading costs). Breaching it at any time results in account failure. Maximum Overall LossFTUK applies different overall drawdown models across programs: Instant Funding uses a 6% relative max drawdown, One Step uses an 8% relative max drawdown, and the Two Step program uses static maximum drawdown limits of 10% (Phase 1) and 5% (Phase 2) calculated on equity.
Drawdown Type Drawdown ModelFTMO uses static loss limits: a daily loss limit that resets at midnight (platform time) and an overall loss limit based on the starting balance. Both limits include floating P/L and trading costs (commissions/swaps), so equity protection matters as much as closed P/L. Drawdown ModelFTUK distinguishes between relative (trailing) drawdown and static drawdown. On One Step and Instant Funding, the trailing max drawdown is based on balance (not equity) and only moves upward as profits accumulate. On the Two Step program, drawdown is static and calculated on equity, meaning floating profit/loss is included in the drawdown check.
Payouts
Payout Frequency Payout FrequencyFTMO rewards are processed on request. Once you have access to the FTMO Account, you can request your reward after a minimum of 14 calendar days from your first day of trading on the FTMO Account (biweekly request cadence).Minimum profit thresholds apply to cover transaction costs (e.g., $20 minimum for bank transfer, $50 minimum for crypto withdrawals). Payout FrequencyInstant Funding: Payouts are available on demand, subject to meeting the Consistency Score requirement.One Step & Two Step: Payouts are typically available every 14 days (bi-weekly) once the trader meets minimum trading-day requirements and other eligibility checks (including the challenge-program Payout Locker terms where applicable).
Days to First Payout 14 14
Payout Processing Time Payout ProcessingReward requests go through a review step (typically 1–2 business days). After approval, payments are usually processed within an additional 1–2 business days, depending on the chosen payout method and banking/processor timelines. Payout ProcessingFTUK states payout requests are usually approved within 1–2 working days after account review. After approval, funds are typically reflected in the trader’s wallet within 1–3 working days depending on the payout method.
Payout Methods Bank Transfer Cryptocurrency Skrill Neteller RiseWorks USDT (TRC20)
Payments
Payment Methods Credit/Debit Card Bank Transfer Cryptocurrency Skrill Credit/Debit Card Crypto
Trading Permissions
News Trading Evaluation (FTMO Challenge + Verification): news trading is allowed freely during all releases.FTMO Account (Normal): for specified high-impact announcements and targeted instruments, you must not open or close trades (including SL/TP triggers) in the 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after the release.FTMO Account Swing: news trading restrictions do not apply. Instant Funding: News trading is permitted at all stages with no restrictions.One Step & Two Step: FTUK applies a 10-minute no-trade window around major economic releases (from 5 minutes before to 5 minutes after). Trades opened or closed inside this window are treated as a soft breach where profits are erased and losses are not compensated.
Weekend Trades Evaluation (FTMO Challenge + Verification): holding trades over the weekend is allowed.FTMO Account (Normal): positions must be closed before the weekend market close (or if the market break/rollover is longer than 2 hours). Some cryptocurrencies may be tradable during specific weekend hours.FTMO Account Swing: no restrictions on holding positions over the weekend. Forex programs: Holding positions overnight and over the weekend is allowed on Instant Funding, One Step and Two Step accounts.Futures programs: FTUK Futures does not allow holding positions overnight or over the weekend; positions must be closed by the daily cutoff time specified by FTUK.
Copy Trading Trade copying tools can be used as long as your trading remains compliant with FTMO’s rules. FTMO’s services are for personal use only: you must not allow any third party to access or trade your accounts, and coordinated/manipulative trade patterns between connected accounts (e.g., opposite positions across accounts for manipulation) are forbidden. Forex programs: Copy trading is allowed between your FTUK account and your personal external accounts, but copying between multiple FTUK accounts (or running identical trades across multiple FTUK accounts) is prohibited.Futures programs: Copy trading is not permitted.
EA Allowed EAs are allowed as long as the strategy is legitimate, replicable in real markets, and does not fall into forbidden practices. Note that automated trading that overloads servers (e.g., excessive server requests) is prohibited, and widely used third-party EAs may risk breaching maximum capital allocation constraints if multiple users run the same strategy. Expert Advisors (EAs) and automated trading are permitted for standard intraday strategies, but FTUK’s permitted-styles matrix restricts EAs from a range of behaviors (e.g., martingale, scalping, tick scalping, hedging, and prohibited arbitrage styles). FTUK also warns that any trading style that constitutes high-frequency trading is not allowed.
KYC & Restrictions
KYC Required No Yes
KYC Stage FTMO requires identity verification before becoming an FTMO Trader and signing the FTMO Account Agreement. For individuals, this is KYC and typically requires a government-issued ID and proof of address. Businesses may require KYB documentation. Once the verification is complete, the FTMO Account Agreement is unlocked for signing in the Client Area. FTUK uses RiseWorks for payout processing and requires trader verification to access and withdraw via Rise. FTUK states payouts above $500 are processed via RiseWorks in USD, while payouts below $500 are processed via USDT (TRC20). If Rise is not supported in a trader’s country, FTUK can manually send payouts via USDT (TRC20).
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