FTMO vs The5%ers: Which Prop Firm Wins in 2026?

Side-by-side breakdown of rules, fees, payouts and who should pick which.

Quick Verdict

FTMO and The5%ers both have strong cases, and the tiebreaker is your trading style. See the side-by-side table below and the "who should pick which" section for an honest answer.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Metric	FTMO	The5%ers
Founded	2015	2016
HQ	Prague, Czech Republic	Tel Aviv, Israel
Market	Forex/CFD	Forex/CFD
Minimum fee	$89	$39
Account size range	$10,000 – $200,000	$6,000 – $100,000
Profit split	80%	50% → 75% with scaling
Payouts	Monthly (on-demand after first)	Monthly
Challenge model	2-step (Challenge + Verification)	Bootcamp (1-step) OR High-Stakes Challenge (2-step)
Platforms	MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade	MT4, MT5

FTMO Pros

Longest-running major prop firm: proven track record since 2015
Strong reputation and reliable payouts (TrustPilot 4.8)
Generous 80% profit split, scalable to 90%
Allows EAs, scalping and news trading on most accounts

The5%ers Pros

10-year track record (since 2016): one of the oldest prop firms
Instant funding option (no challenge) on Bootcamp accounts
No daily drawdown limit on most plans
Strong educator-style approach, good for newer traders

Who Should Pick Which?

Pick FTMO if: Serious traders who value reputation and payout reliability over cheap fees.

Pick The5%ers if: New-to-prop traders who want a slower-paced, education-focused experience.

Test Both Against Your Strategy Before You Pay

Run your backtest through JPTradingCapital's Prop Firm Checker. We evaluate your trades against FTMO's and The5%ers's exact rulesets and tell you which one your strategy would actually pass.

Open the Prop Firm Checker →

If the decision is really about who runs the evaluation rather than which firm, our prop firm challenge passing service trades it for you on either firm. The account is bought in your name and we take no share of your payouts.

Full FTMO and The5%ers Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, FTMO or The5%ers?

The5%ers is cheaper to start, with a minimum challenge fee of $39. FTMO starts at $89 and The5%ers starts at $39. Cheaper entry doesn't always mean better value. Check the profit split, account ceiling, and payout reliability before deciding.

Which has the better profit split, FTMO or The5%ers?

FTMO offers 80% and The5%ers offers 50% → 75% with scaling. Note: most prop firms scale the split with consecutive payouts, so the headline number is just the starting point.

Can I run the same EA on both FTMO and The5%ers?

Yes, both firms support MT4 and MT5, so any EA compiled for those platforms will run on both. You'd still need to verify each firm's news-trading and scalping rules to make sure your strategy is allowed.

Which is more reputable, FTMO or The5%ers?

FTMO (founded 2015) has the longer track record. The5%ers was founded in 2016 and is still building its payout reputation. For larger account sizes the older firm is usually the safer pick.

Which is better for swing traders, FTMO or The5%ers?

Swing traders need to check two things: (1) whether the firm allows weekend holds, and (2) whether the daily drawdown is static or trailing. Trailing DD is brutal for swing positions because intraday peak equity becomes the new floor. See the Pros/Cons section above for each firm's specifics.

Can I use both FTMO and The5%ers simultaneously?

Yes, most prop firms allow you to hold multiple accounts at different firms (their rules apply only to their own accounts). Some traders deliberately diversify across 2-3 firms to reduce single-firm risk and stack payouts.