How Much Does FTMO Cost? Complete Fee Breakdown 2026

8 min read trading 4/7/2026

How Much Does FTMO Cost? The Complete 2026 Fee Breakdown

Before you dive into the world of proprietary trading, one of the first questions on every trader's mind is simple: how much does FTMO actually cost? Whether you're a seasoned forex trader or just starting to explore prop firm opportunities, understanding the full FTMO cost and price structure is critical for making a smart financial decision.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll break down every tier, fee, and pricing detail for 2026 — including what you get for your money, what hidden costs to watch out for, and whether the investment is genuinely worth it.

What Is FTMO and Why Does the Cost Matter?

FTMO is one of the most well-known proprietary trading firms in the world, offering traders access to funded accounts ranging from €10,000 to €200,000. Instead of risking your own capital, you pass a two-phase evaluation challenge, receive a funded account, and keep up to 90% of the profits you generate.

The FTMO cost and price you pay upfront is essentially the entry fee to access that funded capital. This is a one-time fee — and critically, FTMO refunds the full challenge fee once you become a funded trader and receive your first profit split. That refund policy makes the pricing model significantly more attractive than many competitors.

Still, before you spend money, you need to understand exactly what you're paying for and what the realistic total cost of your journey might be.

FTMO Challenge Cost by Account Size (2026)

FTMO offers two types of challenges: the standard FTMO Challenge and the Swing Challenge. Pricing is based on the account size you select. Here's the complete breakdown:

FTMO Challenge Pricing — Standard

€10,000 account: €155
€25,000 account: €250
€50,000 account: €345
€100,000 account: €540
€200,000 account: €1,080

FTMO Swing Challenge Pricing

€10,000 account: €155
€25,000 account: €250
€50,000 account: €345
€100,000 account: €540
€200,000 account: €1,080

The Swing Challenge carries the same pricing as the standard challenge but uses different rules — specifically, it allows traders to hold positions over the weekend and through news events, which the standard challenge does not permit. The core FTMO cost and price structure remains identical across both challenge types.

Currency Options

FTMO also allows you to choose your account denomination currency. While pricing is listed in euros (EUR), you can select accounts denominated in USD, GBP, CZK, or CHF. Currency conversion rates may slightly affect the final price you pay depending on your payment method and home currency.

What Do You Actually Get for the FTMO Cost?

Understanding the FTMO price means understanding the value delivered in return. Here's what's included when you purchase an FTMO Challenge:

Phase 1 Challenge Access: A trading account with a defined profit target (10%) and risk rules over an unlimited time period (30-day minimum trading day requirement)
Phase 2 Verification: A second-phase account with a 5% profit target to confirm your consistency
Free Retry Policy: If you violate a rule close to your profit target, FTMO may offer a free retry at their discretion
FTMO Account (Funded): Once you pass both phases, you receive a real funded account
Up to 90% Profit Split: Starting at 80%, with the option to scale up to 90% through their scaling plan
Fee Refund: Your challenge fee is fully refunded with your first profit payout
Trading Education & Tools: Access to FTMO's proprietary trading tools, performance analysis, and educational resources

When you factor in the fee refund policy, the real long-term FTMO cost for a successful trader is effectively zero — you get your money back on your very first payout.

Hidden Costs and Additional Fees to Know About

While the challenge fee is the primary FTMO cost and price you'll encounter, there are a few additional considerations worth understanding before you start:

Retake Fees

If you fail Phase 1 or Phase 2 of the challenge, you'll need to pay again to retake it. This is where costs can accumulate quickly. For example, failing the €100,000 challenge three times means you've spent €1,620 before ever becoming funded. This is one of the most significant real-world costs that traders underestimate.

Scaling Plan Considerations

The FTMO Scaling Plan allows funded traders to grow their accounts by up to 40% every four months, provided they meet profitability and consistency criteria. There's no additional fee for this — it's built into the funded account structure. However, it's worth noting that scaling is not guaranteed and depends entirely on your performance.

Withdrawal Fees

FTMO doesn't charge withdrawal fees directly, but your payment processor may. Bank wire transfers, Skrill, and cryptocurrency withdrawals all have different cost profiles depending on your location. Factor in potential 1–3% processing fees depending on your chosen withdrawal method.

Tax Obligations

Depending on your country of residence, profits from funded trading accounts may be subject to income tax or capital gains tax. This isn't an FTMO fee, but it is a real cost of trading that many beginners overlook entirely.

Is the FTMO Cost Worth It in 2026?

Let's run a straightforward numbers scenario to evaluate the return on investment:

Suppose you purchase the €50,000 FTMO Challenge for €345. You pass both phases and receive your funded account. In your first month of funded trading, you achieve a 5% profit — that's €2,500 in gross profit. At an 80% profit split, you receive €2,000 for the month. Your challenge fee of €345 is refunded with this first payout.

Your net position after month one: +€2,000, with €345 returned — a total of €2,345 in your pocket, plus a funded €50,000 account to continue trading.

Even if you fail once before passing, you've spent €690 total (two challenge fees) and your first month of funded trading still more than covers that investment. The FTMO cost and price model is genuinely designed to be accessible — provided you have a solid, consistent trading strategy before you start.

How to Minimize Your FTMO Costs

The smartest way to manage your FTMO investment is to go in prepared. Here are concrete strategies to reduce your total spending:

Use a demo account first: Simulate FTMO challenge conditions on a demo account for at least 30–60 days before purchasing. Track your drawdown, profit targets, and consistency metrics rigorously.
Start with a smaller account size: The €10,000 challenge at €155 is a cost-effective way to learn the FTMO rules and environment before scaling up to larger account sizes.
Master your risk management: The number one reason traders fail FTMO challenges is violating the maximum daily loss (5%) or maximum overall loss (10%) rules. Position sizing discipline is the single most important skill to develop.
Consider professional challenge assistance: Services like JPTradingCapital offer professional prop firm challenge passing services. Their team of expert traders uses proven algorithmic and manual strategies to navigate FTMO challenges with a high success rate — potentially saving you the cost of multiple failed attempts.

JPTradingCapital also offers algo trading and trade copier services, meaning you can leverage their systems across multiple prop firm accounts simultaneously. For traders serious about building consistent funded income, this kind of professional support can turn a high-risk expense into a calculated, managed investment.

FTMO vs. Other Prop Firms: Cost Comparison

How does the FTMO cost compare to other leading prop firms in 2026?

FundedNext: $49–$999 depending on account size and challenge type
FXify: $99–$799 for standard challenges
MyFundedFX: $59–$499 across their challenge tiers
The Funded Trader: $129–$999 depending on account type

FTMO sits in the mid-to-premium price range, but it's important to evaluate more than just the entry fee. FTMO's brand reputation, payout reliability, and fee refund policy make it consistently one of the top choices for professional traders — even when competitors offer lower entry costs. The total FTMO price must be evaluated alongside the track record and trustworthiness of the firm.

At JPTradingCapital, they work with multiple prop firms including FTMO, FundedNext, and FXify — allowing traders to choose the best fit for their strategy and budget, with professional support across all platforms.

Practical Tips Before You Buy an FTMO Challenge

Before committing to any FTMO cost and price tier, take these practical steps:

Review the latest FTMO rules on their official website — rules do update periodically
Check whether your trading style (scalping, swing trading, news trading) is compatible with FTMO's current terms
Confirm your broker's platform is compatible (MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, or cTrader)
Have a clearly documented trading plan with defined entry, exit, and risk parameters
Understand the consistency rule — FTMO requires that your best trading day does not exceed 30% of your total profits, which trips up many traders

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest FTMO challenge available?

The cheapest FTMO challenge is the €10,000 account challenge, priced at €155. This is the most affordable entry point into the FTMO ecosystem and is a great starting option for traders who want to learn the rules and environment before investing in a larger account size.

Does FTMO refund the challenge fee?

Yes. FTMO refunds the full challenge fee with your first profit split payout as a funded trader. This means that if you successfully pass both phases and generate profits on your funded account, the effective long-term FTMO cost is zero — your entry fee is returned in full.

What happens if I fail the FTMO challenge?

If you fail the FTMO challenge by violating the maximum daily loss or maximum overall drawdown rules, you will need to purchase a new challenge to try again. There is no automatic free retry — though FTMO does occasionally offer a free retry at their discretion in borderline cases. This is why proper preparation and risk management are essential before spending money on a challenge.

Can I get help passing the FTMO challenge?

Yes. Professional services like JPTradingCapital (jptradingcapital.com) specialize in prop firm challenge passing, including FTMO. Their team uses algorithmic trading systems and professional trade management to navigate challenge conditions effectively. This can significantly reduce the cost of failed attempts for traders who are still developing their strategy.

Is the FTMO cost the same worldwide?

The base FTMO cost and price is listed in euros, but FTMO accepts multiple currencies and payment methods including credit cards, bank transfers, Skrill, and cryptocurrency. The actual amount you pay in your local currency will depend on current exchange rates and any processing fees charged by your payment provider. Some minor variation in total cost is normal depending on your location and chosen payment method.

Final Verdict: Is FTMO Worth the Cost in 2026?

The short answer is yes — but only if you're prepared. The FTMO cost and price structure is fair, transparent, and genuinely refundable upon success. For a disciplined trader with a proven strategy, the upfront investment is modest compared to the potential monthly income from a funded account worth €50,000 to €200,000.

The real risk isn't the fee itself — it's repeated failed attempts due to poor preparation or undisciplined risk management. The traders who make FTMO work for them are the ones who invest time in preparation, treat the challenge like a professional evaluation, and have a systematic approach to trading.

If you want to maximize your chances of success and minimize wasted challenge fees, consider partnering with professionals like JPTradingCapital. With their challenge passing services, algorithmic trading tools, and trade copier technology, they help traders across all experience levels turn prop firm opportunities into consistent, scalable income streams.

Ready to take the next step? The FTMO cost is just the beginning of the journey — the real reward is building a sustainable funded trading career.

Try Algo Trading

Automated forex strategies, verified on MyFxBook.

Get Started

trading

Is Prop Firm Trading Worth It? Honest Review for 2025

9 min read