What are the trading conditions at FTMO regarding spread quality, commissions, and slippage policy?

💡 Answer

FTMO provides both Standard and Raw pricing models. Raw accounts are designed for tighter spreads, while Standard accounts bake more cost into the spread. Exact live spreads vary by instrument, session liquidity, and volatility and should be verified inside the chosen platform.

Orders are executed in real-market conditions where slippage can be positive or negative, especially during volatility, rollovers, or gaps. Traders are expected to manage execution risk (e.g., leaving buffer to loss limits). Strategies that attempt to exploit delays, pricing errors, or gap behavior are classified as forbidden practices.

Commissions

FTMO offers Standard and Raw spread account types. Standard accounts are generally commission-free.

For Raw accounts, FTMO updated commissions in Sep 2025: Forex & Metals use a per-side commission model (e.g., $2.50 per side per lot), while Indices and Energies are commission-free; remaining instruments follow symbol-specific specifications shown in FTMO’s tradable symbols list.

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FTMO vs Trade The Pool vs Audacity Capital - Prop Firm Comparison (March 2026)

Side-by-side comparison of FTMO vs Trade The Pool vs Audacity Capital. 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 March 2026.

FTMO vs Trade The Pool vs Audacity Capital - 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....
Trade The Pool
Trade The Pool is a stock-focused prop firm operated by Five Percent Online Ltd (Trade The Pool is the brand) that evaluates traders on one-step Day Trade and Swing programs, provides access to thousands of US stocks and ETFs on...
Audacity Capital
Audacity Capital is a proprietary trading firm founded in 2012 in London that offers multiple funding paths including the Ability Challenge evaluation and a Funded Trader Program, advertising accounts up to $2,000,000, profit share up to 90%, and trading via...
Overview
Trustpilot Rating 4.8 4.4 0
Trustpilot Reviews 40,041 583 0
Headquarters Czech Republic Israel United Kingdom
Age (Years) 11 N/A 14
Max Funding $400,000 $450,000 $2,000,000
Profit Split Start 80% 70% 50%
Profit Split Max 90% 80% 90%
Platforms MT4 MT5 cTrader DXtrade Traderevolution MT5
Assets FX Indices Commodities Stocks Crypto Stocks ETFs Forex Commodities
Leverage
FX Leverage 100 0 100
Metals Leverage 30 0 100
Crypto Leverage 3.3 0 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. Daily Pause (Max Daily Loss)Trade The Pool controls daily risk using a Daily Pause threshold. If the Daily Pause is hit, the account is disabled for the remainder of the trading day (with recalibration at the start of the next day).Current program parameters on the public program page show:Day Trade: 2% Daily Pause on FLEX and 1% Daily Pause on MAX.Swing: 3% Daily Pause (FLEX and MAX). Maximum Daily LossAbility Challenge uses a static daily drawdown that resets at rollover (00:00 GMT+2): 7.5% during the Challenge stage and 5% during the Verification stage. Audacity also states the Ability Live phase daily drawdown is 5%. The Funded Trader Program (FTP) uses a 5% trailing daily drawdown (moves up with equity highs).
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. Max Loss (Maximum Overall Loss)Each account type has a lifetime Max Loss limit (overall drawdown from the starting level):Day Trade: 4% Max Loss on FLEX and 3% Max Loss on MAX.Swing: 7% Max Loss (FLEX and MAX).On funded accounts, Trade The Pool also applies a buffer rule: once equity reaches 3× the Daily Pause, the account’s max drawdown is moved up to the initial balance (falling below it can terminate the account). Maximum Overall LossAbility Challenge maximum drawdown is 15% in the Challenge stage and 10% in the Verification stage (and the firm also references a 10% maximum drawdown in the Ability Live phase). FTP maximum total drawdown is 10% from the initial balance. Ability One lists a 6% absolute drawdown.
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 ModelTrade The Pool’s primary risk model is static (starting-level) drawdown, implemented via (1) a Daily Pause (daily loss allowance) and (2) a Max Loss (overall loss limit). These limits are expressed as percentages of buying power for each program.For funded accounts, an additional protective rule can effectively tighten drawdown after strong performance: once equity reaches 3× the Daily Pause, the max drawdown line is moved up to the initial balance. Drawdown ModelAudacity's Ability Challenge and Verification stages are described as using a static drawdown system with daily limits resetting at rollover (00:00 GMT+2). FTP uses a trailing drawdown model (daily DD 5% trailing). Ability One uses static drawdown (3% daily and 6% absolute).
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 FrequencyFunded traders can request a payout every 14 days (and at least 14 days since the last payout or since a new scaled account is activated), provided the account meets the minimum profit requirement.Minimum profit to withdraw is generally $300 (for $5K accounts, $150). FLEX funded accounts also require meeting the 0.5%/day consistency rule on 3 separate days within the 14‑day period. Payout FrequencyAbility Challenge: first payout can be requested 30 days after the first trade on the Ability Live account, then payouts may be requested bi-weekly. FTP: payouts can be requested once a 10% profit milestone is reached (profit share varies by account size and time-to-target).
Days to First Payout 14 14 30
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 ProcessingPayouts are processed via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, Hub credits, or credit card and typically take 3–5 business days, depending on the payout method and banking/card rails. 14
Payout Methods Bank Transfer Cryptocurrency Skrill Neteller Wire Transfer Crypto Hub Credits Credit Card Bank Transfer PayPal Cryptocurrency
Payments
Payment Methods Credit/Debit Card Bank Transfer Cryptocurrency Skrill Credit/Debit Card Bank Transfer (plus other methods offered at checkout) Credit/Debit Card PayPal Cryptocurrency
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 TradingTrade The Pool does not publish a blanket “no news trading” restriction for evaluations on its public program parameters, but equity trading around major news is inherently higher-risk and may involve volatility, slippage, and halts. Trading is not permitted during regulatory trading halts. Ability Challenge: news trading is permitted during news events in both challenge phases and on the Ability Live account. FTP: holding open positions is prohibited during significant news events; traders must wait 30 minutes after the release once notified by the risk team.
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 TradingUS equity markets are closed on weekends. Swing program positions can be held overnight/weekend subject to market hours and risk limits; Day Trade programs are designed for intraday trading. Allowed: Ability Challenge (including Ability Live) allows weekend holding; Ability One also allows weekend holding, subject to drawdown 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 TradingTrade The Pool offers optional “boosters” (including a SignalStack booster) that can be used for automation workflows. Any copying/automation must still comply with all risk, volume, and consistency rules, and each evaluation is reviewed independently for compliance. Audacity Capital allows copy trading, subject to specific restrictions designed to ensure that all trades originate from the trader’s own strategy and accounts. Permitted Copy Trading Own Accounts: Copying trades between your own Audacity Capital accounts is permitted. External Personal Accounts: Copying trades from your personal trading accounts with other brokers or prop firms into your Audacity Capital account is allowed. Verification of the source account may be required. EAs / Automated Systems: Expert Advisors and other automated trading tools...
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 / AutomationTrade The Pool does not run on MT4/MT5; it provides a TraderEvolution-based platform (desktop/web/mobile). Automation is typically handled via platform tools and optional integrations/boosters (e.g., SignalStack), rather than MetaTrader EAs. EA Guidelines and Restrictions Permitted Use: Expert Advisors (EAs) are generally allowed on MetaTrader 5 (MT5) for both the Ability Challenge and the Funded Trader Program. Prohibited EA Strategies: The following automated trading styles are strictly forbidden and may result in account termination: High-Frequency Trading (HFT) and Tick Scalping: Not permitted. Martingale or Averaging Down Strategies: Not permitted. Latency Arbitrage: Any form of latency arbitrage or exploitation of system vulnerabilities is strictly prohibited. Grid Trading: Not permitted. Third-Party EAs: While...
KYC & Restrictions
KYC Required No Yes 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. Trade The Pool applies AML/KYC checks and may request identity documentation at any stage, particularly after a trader passes evaluation and before becoming (or remaining) a funded user. KYC is required before account activation and again before processing payouts. Audacity states KYC includes proof of identity (government-issued photo ID) and a selfie, and may need to be resubmitted for compliance.
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