Key numbers at a glance
Winning value in champagne. Bars normalised to the larger value per row.
Min trading days
FTMO scores 4.4 higher under TVSM-PF/2.0.2.
Payout split
Max funded
Payout cap
Drawdown model
Min trading days
Challenge fee
Fee refundable
News trading
Platforms
Payout schedule
| Specification | FTMO 80/100 Strong | The5ers 76/100 Strong |
|---|---|---|
| Payout split | 80% standard (90% after scaling plan) | 80% (scales to higher tiers over time) |
| Max funded | $200,000 | $4,000,000 (via scaling plan) |
| Payout cap | None | First four payouts are capped, tiered by account size (25K: $1,250 each; 50K: $1,500 to $3,000; 100K: $3,000 then 3% of balance; 150K: $4,500 then 3% of balance). Uncapped after the fourth payout. |
| Drawdown model | Static (max 10% from initial balance) | Static max loss from initial balance (never trailing) |
| Min trading days | 4 | 3 |
| Challenge fee | EUR 155–1,080 | ~$500–$700 for $100K Hyper program |
| Fee refundable | Yes — refunded with first payout | Yes — refunded with first payout (Hyper program) |
| News trading | Restricted — 2-minute window before/after named events on funded account (evaluation: unrestricted) | Generally allowed; minimal restrictions vs. peers. Scalping restrictions apply. |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade | MT4, MT5 |
| Payout schedule | On demand (min 14 days after first trade) | Weekly; on-demand within 1–3 business days |
| Visit FTMO | Visit The5ers |
Verify regulator standing
Cross-check both firms against NFA BASIC, FCA Register, CFTC, and the CME Group rulebook for futures drawdown rule context. FTMO: trader.ftmo.com. The5ers: www.the5ers.com.
The Verdict
Choose FTMO if you can pass a two-step evaluation and want the best payout terms in the dataset — 90% split, no payout cap, and the longest verified payout track record in the industry. The static drawdown is forgiving for swing traders. Choose The5ers if you want to skip the challenge entirely and trade real funded capital from day one. Their one-step instant funding model and lower entry cost are the right call for traders who already have a proven edge and would rather not pay for a multi-phase evaluation. Both are firms we recommend — the choice is structural, not quality.
Dimension by dimension: who wins where
Computed live from the per-variable evidence behind each firm's TVSM-PF score — FTMO takes 4 of 6 dimensions at current scores. Every variable links to a primary source on the firm pages.
FTMO wins. FTMO pays 80% standard (90% after scaling plan); The5ers pays 80% (scales to higher tiers over time). Per-payout caps — FTMO: None; The5ers: First four payouts are capped, tiered by account size (25K: $1,250 each; 50K: $1,500 to $3,000; 100K: $3,000 then 3% of balance; 150K: $4,500 then 3% of balance). Uncapped after the fourth payout. — decide who keeps more in a big month.
The5ers wins. Drawdown models differ: FTMO runs Static (max 10% from initial balance); The5ers runs Static max loss from initial balance (never trailing). The model decides how much intraday heat you can take before breaching.
The5ers wins. Mid-stream rule changes are penalized here, and every change is tracked in our append-only changelog — so a recent payout or drawdown change shows up in this dimension rather than being quietly absorbed.
FTMO wins. Operating history and scale matter most when a payout goes sideways — the longer-running, better-capitalised firm carries less counterparty risk, and this dimension reflects each firm's track record to date.
FTMO wins. Platforms: FTMO — MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade; The5ers — MT4, MT5. If your edge depends on a specific platform, this is the deciding line.
FTMO wins. Evaluation cost: FTMO — EUR 155–1,080; The5ers — ~$500–$700 for $100K Hyper program. Fee refundable — FTMO: Yes — refunded with first payout; The5ers: Yes — refunded with first payout (Hyper program).
Rule by rule, in each firm's own terms
Verbatim from our verified spec database — the conditions are the product, so nothing here is flattened to a yes/no. Where a rule has tiers or conditions, you are reading them.
| Rule | FTMO | The5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Drawdown model | Static (max 10% from initial balance) | Static max loss from initial balance (never trailing) |
| Max drawdown | 10% static from initial balance | 4–6% static from initial balance (varies by program) |
| Daily loss limit | 5% (equity-based, open P&L counts) | 4% static EOD balance-based |
| Payout split | 80% standard (90% after scaling plan) | 80% (scales to higher tiers over time) |
| Payout cap | None | First four payouts are capped, tiered by account size (25K: $1,250 each; 50K: $1,500 to $3,000; 100K: $3,000 then 3% of balance; 150K: $4,500 then 3% of balance). Uncapped after the fourth payout. |
| Payout schedule | On demand (min 14 days after first trade) | Weekly; on-demand within 1–3 business days |
| Min trading days | 4 | 3 |
| Consistency rule | No formal consistency rule on standard accounts | No formal consistency rule on instant funding accounts |
| News trading | Restricted — 2-minute window before/after named events on funded account (evaluation: unrestricted) | Generally allowed; minimal restrictions vs. peers. Scalping restrictions apply. |
| Weekend holds | Standard account: must close before weekend. Swing Account: exempt. | Allowed — swing trading is core use case |
| Evaluation cost | EUR 155–1,080 | ~$500–$700 for $100K Hyper program |
| Fee refundable | Yes — refunded with first payout | Yes — refunded with first payout (Hyper program) |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade | MT4, MT5 |
| Max funded | $200,000 | $4,000,000 (via scaling plan) |
| Scaling | +25% balance every 4 months. Requires 10% net profit over 4 months + 2 payouts. Max $2,000,000. Split upgrades to 90% on qualification. | Consistent profitability scales account size up to $4M. Split improves with milestones. |
Verified June 2026 (FTMO) · June 2026 (The5ers). Source extracts for every scored variable are on the firm pages.
The verdict, by trader type
A comparison that ends in “it depends” is not a verdict. Picks below are per trading style — find yours.
Most traders
FTMO
FTMO takes 4 of the 6 scored dimensions at current scores, which makes it the safer default for a trader without a strong style preference. Read the per-dimension breakdown above first — a single dimension you care about can flip the decision.
Cost-conscious
FTMO
Entry cost: FTMO — EUR 155–1,080; The5ers — ~$500–$700 for $100K Hyper program. FTMO wins on cost-value once refunds and discounts are weighed.
Rules-sensitive trader
The5ers
If clean, predictable rules matter most, read the drawdown model first: FTMO runs Static (max 10% from initial balance); The5ers runs Static max loss from initial balance (never trailing). The5ers scores better on rule fairness and clarity.
High earner
FTMO
Profit splits: FTMO — 80% standard (90% after scaling plan); The5ers — 80% (scales to higher tiers over time). FTMO has the stronger payout profile once caps are factored in. Always read the per-payout cap in full before a large withdrawal.
FTMO vs The5ers — the questions traders actually search
Is FTMO or The5ers better in 2026?
Under TraderVerdict's independent TVSM methodology, FTMO scores in the Strong band and The5ers in the Strong band. FTMO wins 4 of the 6 scored dimensions at current scores. The right pick depends on which firm's payout, drawdown, and cost terms fit how you trade.
What is the main difference between FTMO and The5ers?
FTMO and The5ers differ across the TVSM-scored variables that decide whether a funded trader actually gets paid — profit split, drawdown model, payout caps, pricing, and operating stability. The rule-by-rule table on this page shows each one verbatim from our verified specs.
Which is cheaper — FTMO or The5ers?
FTMO: EUR 155–1,080. The5ers: ~$500–$700 for $100K Hyper program. Weigh the fee against how long the evaluation takes you — a one-time fee beats a subscription on a slow pass, and the reverse on a fast one.
Which pays out more — FTMO or The5ers?
Profit split: FTMO — 80% standard (90% after scaling plan). The5ers — 80% (scales to higher tiers over time). Per-payout caps: FTMO — None; The5ers — First four payouts are capped, tiered by account size (25K: $1,250 each; 50K: $1,500 to $3,000; 100K: $3,000 then 3% of balance; 150K: $4,500 then 3% of balance). Uncapped after the fourth payout.. Read both cap rules in full before buying — they bind hardest in your best months.
What is the difference between FTMO and The5ers drawdown rules?
FTMO: Static (max 10% from initial balance). The5ers: Static max loss from initial balance (never trailing). The drawdown model is the single most common reason funded accounts fail, so match it to whether you hold through intraday heat.
Do FTMO and The5ers allow news trading?
FTMO: Restricted — 2-minute window before/after named events on funded account (evaluation: unrestricted). The5ers: Generally allowed; minimal restrictions vs. peers. Scalping restrictions apply..
What account sizes do FTMO and The5ers offer?
FTMO: $200,000. The5ers: $4,000,000 (via scaling plan). Scaling: FTMO — +25% balance every 4 months. Requires 10% net profit over 4 months + 2 payouts. Max $2,000,000. Split upgrades to 90% on qualification.; The5ers — Consistent profitability scales account size up to $4M. Split improves with milestones..
Are TraderVerdict's prop-firm comparisons independent?
Yes. Every firm is scored against a public, versioned methodology before any commercial relationship, and affiliate links are only added to firms that clear our editorial bar. A firm cannot pay for a higher score or to remove a critical finding.
Full breakdowns with per-variable sources: FTMO review · The5ers review