What payment methods does FTMO accept, and what is its refund policy?
💡 Answer
Payment Methods: Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Cryptocurrency, SkrillRefund Policy
FTMO’s fee is a one-time payment (not a recurring fee). After you successfully pass the Evaluation Process and receive your first reward payout on an FTMO Account, the FTMO Challenge fee is refunded together with that reward.
Accepted payment methods, refund eligibility criteria, and processing times are detailed on FTMO official website.
More FAQs about FTMO
- Are expert advisors (EAs), news trading, weekend trading, and copy trading allowed at FTMO, and which strategies are prohibited?
- How do payouts work at FTMO, including minimum payout, payout frequency, processing time, and payout methods?
- What is the maximum profit split offered by FTMO?
- What assets and markets can traders trade at FTMO?
- What leverage does FTMO offer for forex, indices, metals, and crypto trading?
- What trading platforms does FTMO support, and which broker does it use?
- What are the trading conditions at FTMO regarding spread quality, commissions, and slippage policy?
- What trading strategies are prohibited at FTMO, is martingale allowed, and are there any lot size limits?
- What type of drawdown does FTMO use for its trading accounts?
- What risk management and consistency rules must traders follow at FTMO?
- What program types does FTMO offer to traders?
- What challenge structure does FTMO use for its evaluation process?
- What is the maximum funding offered by FTMO, and is a scaling plan available for traders?
- What is the current Trustpilot rating and number of reviews for FTMO?
- What program types are available at FTMO?
- What are the account limits at FTMO, including the maximum number of accounts, account merging rules, and lot size limits?
- Is KYC required at FTMO, and at which stage does identity verification take place?
- Are there any restricted countries at FTMO?
Guides Where FTMO Is Featured
- Prop Firms Offering Crypto Leverage of 1:3 or Higher
- Prop Firms Offering FX Leverage of 1:75 or Higher
- Prop Firms Offering Maximum Profit Split of 90% or Higher
- Prop Firms Offering Metals Leverage of 1:25 or Higher
- Prop Firms Offering More Than $300k in Funding
- Prop Firms Offering Profit Split Starting at 80% or Higher
- Prop Firms Offering Stocks Trading
- Prop Firms With At Least 5 Years in Operation
- Prop Firms with More Than 2000 Trustpilot Reviews
- Prop Firms With MT5 Platform
- Prop Firms With Trustpilot rating of 3.1 or higher
- Top Prop Firms That Accept Clients From Chile
These guides include FTMO alongside other prop firms, grouped by trading features, platforms, availability, and trader requirements.
FTMO vs Funded7 vs SFX Funded - Prop Firm Comparison (November 2026)
Side-by-side comparison of FTMO vs Funded7 vs SFX Funded. Quickly scan maximum funding, profit splits, risk rules, leverage, platforms, instruments, payout schedules, payment options, trading permissions and KYC restrictions to narrow down your prop trading firm shortlist. Data updated November 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....
|
Funded7
Funded7 is a Cyprus-based next-generation prop trading firm founded in 2025, offering One-Phase, Two-Phase, Two-Phase NEO, and Instant Funding challenges with account sizes up to $500,000. With trader-friendly rules (no consistency requirements during challenges), static drawdown models, and up to...
|
SFX Funded
SFX Funded is a Dubai-based prop firm (SFX International FZCO) trading since 2023, with six routes to capital — Rapid 1-Step, 1-Step Pro, Ascend 2-Step, Ignite, Instant Funding and a $7 Pass First, Pay Later model — on Match-Trader and...
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.8 | 2.9 | 0 |
| Trustpilot Reviews | 55,127 | 52 | 0 |
| Headquarters | Czech Republic | Cyprus | United Arab Emirates |
| Age (Years) | 11 | 1 | 3 |
| Max Funding | $400,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Profit Split Start | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Profit Split Max | 90% | 90% | 100% |
| Platforms | MT4 MT5 cTrader DXtrade | MT5 cTrader | Match-Trader Platform5 |
| Assets | FX Indices Commodities Stocks Crypto | Forex (43 pairs: 7 Majors 21 Minors 15 Exotics) Indices (14) Precious Metals (Gold Silver Palladium Platinum) Oil (Energy) (USOIL UKOIL) Energies Crypto (BTC ETH LTC SOL BNB BCH XRP) | Forex Indices Commodities Metals Crypto |
| Leverage | |||
| FX Leverage | 100 | 50 | 30 |
| Metals Leverage | 30 | 10 | 10 |
| Crypto Leverage | 3.3 | 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 LossFunded7 applies different daily loss limits by challenge type: 4% for One-Phase, and 5% for Two-Phase, Two-Phase NEO, and Instant Funding. The daily loss is calculated from the day's starting equity and includes both closed trades and floating P/L. Breaching this limit results in account failure. | Maximum Daily Loss The daily loss limit varies by program: 3% on Rapid, Instant Funding and Pass First Pay Later, 4% on Ascend 2-Step, and none at all during the 1-Step Pro evaluation phase. How it is calculated: at the daily reset SFX takes the higher of your account balance or your account equity and subtracts the percentage to set that day's floor. Because the higher of the two is used, an account sitting in floating profit gets a higher... |
| 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 LossFunded7 applies different overall loss limits: 8% for One-Phase (static from initial balance), 10% for Two-Phase and Two-Phase NEO (static from initial balance), and 6% for Instant Funding (static). All drawdown calculations are balance-based and include floating P/L. Breaching this limit results in account failure. | Maximum Overall Loss SFX Funded's overall loss limit tops out at 8% on the Ascend 2-Step and tightens to as little as 4% on Rapid. The headline percentage is the less important half of the answer, because only one SFX program uses a static limit: Ascend 2-Step: 8% static, measured from the initial account balance Pass First, Pay Later: 7% trailing in evaluation, 6% trailing once funded 1-Step Pro: 6% trailing Instant Funding: 6% trailing Rapid 1-Step: 4% trailing Why... |
| 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 ModelFunded7 uses a static (balance-based) drawdown model across all challenge types. The maximum loss limit is fixed from the initial account balance and does not trail with equity. On funded accounts, a High Water Mark applies. Both closed trades and floating P/L are included in calculations. | Drawdown Model Mixed — and this is the most consequential difference between SFX programs. Trailing (most programs): Rapid (4%), 1-Step Pro (6%), Instant Funding (6%) and Pass First Pay Later (7% eval / 6% funded) all use a trailing maximum drawdown anchored to your highest-ever account value. In SFX's own words the level "moves up whenever your account reaches a new high" and "never moves down, even if your account value decreases later." Static (one program): Ascend 2-Step uses an... |
| 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 FrequencyFunded7 traders are eligible for payouts every 7 days from the last withdrawal or account creation date. First payout can be requested after 7 days of funded trading.Note: There is a maximum monthly payout cap of $10,000 per client. Two-Phase NEO accounts can scale this to $12,000 (1.2x) upon reaching the cap. | Payout Frequency SFX Funded runs a Payout on Demand model on its Ignite, Ascend and Rapid funded accounts. The first request can be made 3 trading days after your first trade, provided you have made at least 3% profit on the account size and your SFX Stability Index is inside your program's threshold. That first withdrawal is processed at a reduced 40% split; the standard 80%+ split applies from the second payout onward. After the first payout, requests are accepted... |
| Days to First Payout | 14 | 7 | 3 |
| 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 ProcessingPayout requests are processed within 1 business day. Withdrawals automatically close all open trades, and the account enters read-only mode until processing is complete. | Payout Processing SFX Funded states that withdrawal requests submitted through the dashboard are processed within 2 business days, and markets an average payout time of under 8 hours. It backs this with a Payout Guarantee: paid within 48 hours of risk-team approval, or SFX pays you $1,000. The 48-hour clock runs on business days only (Mon–Fri, Dubai time, 09:00–17:00, excluding UAE public holidays) and pauses over weekends, and it starts at approval rather than at submission — so the risk... |
| Payout Methods | Bank Transfer Cryptocurrency Skrill Neteller | Revolut Instant Crypto (ETH/USDC) Bank Transfer | Bank Transfer Cryptocurrency (USDT TRC20) |
| Payments | |||
| Payment Methods | Credit/Debit Card Bank Transfer Cryptocurrency Skrill | Credit Card PayPal Crypto | Credit/Debit Card Cryptocurrency Bank Transfer Mobile Money |
| 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. | News trading is allowed at Funded7. Traders can trade before, during, and after high-impact news releases for all challenge types and funded accounts. However, Funded7 advises trading news responsibly — excessive risk-taking around major releases that breaches daily or total loss limits will still result in account failure. | Evaluation phases: news trading is allowed, on every program. SFX only warns about the volatility risk. Funded accounts: news trading is restricted. A 4-minute blackout window applies around every red-folder event on the Forex Factory calendar — from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after the release. Inside that window SFX blocks market-order execution, pending limit-order activation, and stop-loss/take-profit triggers. Red-folder events marked "All Day" are exempt because they have no fixed release time. Penalties escalate and differ by program:... |
| 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. | Weekend holding is fully allowed at Funded7. Traders can hold positions over the weekend without restrictions for all challenge types and funded accounts. There are no requirements to close positions before market close. | Weekend crypto trading is allowed on all account types. SFX Funded is unambiguous on this: "you can trade crypto during the weekend with SFX Funded. This applies to all account types." Positions may be held open over the weekend and new positions may be opened. This is a genuine advantage over firms such as FTMO, which require Normal-account positions to be closed before the weekend break. Note two practical caveats: crypto leverage at SFX is only 1:2, and there are no swap-free accounts, so weekend and overnight financing costs apply and count against your loss limits. |
| 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. | Copy trading is strictly prohibited at Funded7. This includes automated copy trading services, 'pass my challenge' schemes, signal services, copy-trade platforms, and any trading that results in identical entries across multiple accounts. Reverse copy trading is also banned. | Copy trading is not allowed at SFX Funded, in any form. The rule is one of the strictest in the industry: "the use of Copy Trading Software is not permitted." The ban covers automatic or manual copying of trades or strategies from other traders or signal providers, and applies to every account combination — evaluation to evaluation, funded to funded, funded to evaluation. Running identical trades simultaneously across your own multiple accounts is also caught by the rule, as is... |
| 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. | EAs are allowed at Funded7, provided the strategy is legitimate and does not exploit system mechanics. However, the following are prohibited: ready-made EAs that result in identical entries for all users, EAs that overload servers with excessive requests, and any automated trading that bypasses the purpose of skill evaluation. | EAs are allowed only under unusually restrictive conditions — this is one of the strictest EA policies among mainstream prop firms. Permitted: EAs you developed yourself and own the source code to Trade managers and risk managers Calculators and utility tools Prohibited: Any third-party EA. "Using any other third-party Expert Advisor is not allowed." Any EA where you do not own the source code — and SFX requires you to hand over a copy of the source code for verification... |
| KYC & Restrictions | |||
| KYC Required | No | No | No |
| 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. | Funded7 requires KYC verification before the first payout. Documents are submitted via email to support. Required documents typically include government-issued ID and proof of address. KYC is not required to purchase a challenge or start trading – only when requesting the first withdrawal. | KYC is mandatory and is handled by Veriff, a third-party verification provider. SFX states that "all traders must submit and pass to gain full access to their funded account or become eligible to receive payouts." When it is triggered: On passing an evaluation — Rapid, 1-Step Pro, Ascend and Ignite traders complete KYC after the risk-team review and before the funded account is released. Before the first payout — Instant Funding traders, who skip the evaluation, verify before their first... |
| Restricted Countries | Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Barbados Belarus Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Central African Republic Cuba Democratic Republic of the Congo Eritrea Guam Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti Hong Kong Iran Iraq Kazakhstan Kosovo Libya Mali Morocco Myanmar Nicaragua North Korea Pakistan Palestine Panama Puerto Rico Russia Samoa Sierra Leone Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syria Tunisia Uganda Ukraine (Crimea Donetsk Luhansk) United Arab Emirates United States Minor Outlying Islands Venezuela Virgin Islands (US) Yemen Zimbabwe | Afghanistan Belarus Cuba Cyprus North Korea Iran Iraq Myanmar Russian Federation Syria Yemen Crimea Donetsk Palestine Palestinian Territory United States Vatican City | Cuba Iran North Korea Syria |
FTMO
Funded7
SFX Funded