Funded Trading Plus and FTMO both offer funded futures challenges, but Funded Trading Plus generally uses simpler multi-phase profit targets with static drawdown limits and fixed fees, while FTMO runs a stricter two-step evaluation with daily loss limits, structured risk rules, and scaling opportunities.
The reader outcome is behavioural: turn this guidance into a repeatable decision without relying on urgency, hindsight or one-off results.
The Behaviour to Practise
Use a written due-diligence checklist before you pay for, recommend or rule out a firm.
Why This Behaviour Matters
Comparison pages are useful only when they improve a decision. A fixed checklist reduces brand bias, prevents one attractive headline from dominating the choice, and makes changing fees or rules easier to verify.
- Funded Trading Plus typically uses two-phase futures challenges with defined profit targets.
- FTMO uses a two-step evaluation system (Challenge + Verification).
- Funded Trading Plus charges fixed challenge fees.
- FTMO uses tiered pricing depending on account size.
- FTMO enforces daily loss limits and overall drawdown rules.
- Funded Trading Plus usually applies static drawdown limits per phase.
- FTMO offers scaling plans and structured payouts, while Funded Trading Plus focuses on simplicity.
This article compares Funded Trading Plus and FTMO proprietary trading programs for futures traders in 2025. The comparison focuses on evaluation fees, drawdown and risk rules, challenge structure, and payout policies. Funded Trading Plus typically uses a two-phase evaluation with fixed profit targets and static drawdown limits. FTMO uses a two-step evaluation consisting of a Challenge and Verification phase with stricter daily loss and maximum drawdown rules. FTMO also provides scaling plans for successful traders and structured payout cycles. Understanding the differences in cost, risk controls, and payout mechanics helps traders choose the funded program that best fits their strategy and experience level.
Prop Firm A company that provides traders with capital and shares profits generated from trading.
Futures Contract A standardized agreement to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a future date.
Evaluation / Challenge A testing phase where traders must meet profit targets and risk rules to qualify for funding.
Verification The second stage of FTMO’s evaluation where traders confirm their trading consistency after passing the Challenge.
Profit Split The percentage of profits retained by the trader after the firm’s share.
Drawdown Limit The maximum loss allowed before the account fails the evaluation.
Daily Loss Limit A restriction on the maximum loss allowed within a single trading day.
Scaling Plan A program that increases trading capital after consistent profitable performance.
Quick Answer
Funded Trading Plus uses two-phase futures challenges where traders must reach profit targets while staying within drawdown limits.
Why it matters
Dividing the evaluation into phases helps traders demonstrate consistent performance before receiving funded capital.
How to do it
- Select a futures challenge size (for example $50K or $100K).
- Pay the fixed challenge entry fee.
- Reach the phase one profit target within the allowed drawdown limit.
- Move to phase two and complete a second profit objective.
- Pass both phases to receive funded account status.
- Follow payout rules once funded.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring drawdown limits between phases
- Using overly aggressive trading strategies to reach targets faster
- Failing to plan position sizing for volatile futures markets
Example
A trader selects a $100K challenge, achieving 6% profit in phase one and 4% profit in phase two, each within a 5% drawdown cap to qualify for funding.
Quick Answer
FTMO uses a two-step evaluation process consisting of a Challenge phase followed by a Verification phase.
Why it matters
The two-step structure ensures traders demonstrate both profitability and consistency before receiving a funded account.
How to do it
- Choose an FTMO account size (e.g., $50K or $100K).
- Complete the Challenge phase by reaching the profit target while respecting daily and overall loss limits.
- Enter the Verification phase with a smaller profit target.
- Pass Verification without breaching drawdown rules.
- Receive a funded account.
- Trade within FTMO’s risk rules and withdraw profits according to the payout schedule.
Common mistakes
- Breaching the daily loss limit
- Ignoring maximum drawdown rules
- Using inconsistent trading strategies between phases
Example
In a $100K FTMO Challenge, a trader may need to reach 10% profit without exceeding daily or overall loss limits, then complete Verification with a 5% profit target.
Quick Answer
Funded Trading Plus charges fixed challenge fees, while FTMO charges tiered fees based on account size and evaluation stage.
Why it matters
Evaluation fees determine the cost of entering a funded trading program and budgeting for multiple attempts.
- Feature — Funded Trading Plus — FTMO
- Fee structure — Fixed challenge fee — Tiered pricing
- Account sizes — Multiple options — Multiple options
- Refund policy — Depends on plan — Often refunded after success
Example
A $100K Funded Trading Plus challenge might cost around $249, while an FTMO Challenge may cost around $300–$400 depending on the account size.
Quick Answer
FTMO enforces stricter risk controls including daily loss limits and maximum drawdown caps, while Funded Trading Plus typically uses static drawdown limits for each evaluation phase.
Why it matters
Risk rules affect position sizing, trade frequency, and overall strategy.
- Risk Rule — Funded Trading Plus — FTMO
- Daily loss limit — Often not required — Strict daily cap
- Overall drawdown — Static per phase — Strict max drawdown
- Drawdown type — Static — Balance/equity based
Example
FTMO may limit daily losses to around 2–4% with max drawdown near 5–8%, while Funded Trading Plus may allow a flat 5% drawdown per stage.
Quick Answer
Funded Trading Plus and FTMO both offer profit withdrawals after funding, but FTMO uses a more structured payout schedule.
Why it matters
Payout timing determines how quickly traders can access profits and reinvest capital.
- Feature — Funded Trading Plus — FTMO
- Payout schedule — Scheduled windows — Typically twice per month
- Profit split — High percentage — Often 80–90% or more
- Scaling plan — Limited — Available
Example
FTMO typically allows withdrawals around the 15th and 30th of each month, while Funded Trading Plus may allow monthly payout windows after funding.
Quick Answer
Choose Funded Trading Plus if you prefer simpler evaluation rules and fixed costs, and choose FTMO if you want strict risk controls and long-term scaling opportunities.
Why it matters
Different challenge structures suit different trading styles and levels of discipline.
Consider Funded Trading Plus if you want
- Simpler rules
- Fixed challenge fees
- Static drawdown limits
Consider FTMO if you want
- Structured risk management
- Scaling opportunities
- Institutional-style trading discipline
Example
A trader seeking clear and simple challenge rules may prefer Funded Trading Plus, while a trader comfortable with strict risk limits and structured evaluations may choose FTMO.
- Compare challenge fees and account sizes
- Understand drawdown and risk definitions
- Review profit targets for each phase
- Check payout schedules and minimum withdrawal conditions
- Practice strategies on demo accounts first
- Plan position sizing and risk management
- Budget for multiple evaluation attempts
- Verify supported futures instruments and platforms
- Track trading performance during evaluation
- Review official documentation for rule updates
Which program costs more?
FTMO often has higher fees due to its two-step evaluation structure.
Are drawdown rules stricter at FTMO?
Yes, FTMO generally enforces daily loss limits and strict maximum drawdowns.
Can I trade any futures contracts?
Available instruments depend on the firm’s supported markets.
Do both firms offer scaling plans?
FTMO offers scaling programs, while Funded Trading Plus usually focuses on fixed account structures.
Are challenge fees refundable?
FTMO often refunds fees after successfully completing the challenge.
Which program pays out faster?
FTMO typically follows structured payout cycles twice per month.
Which challenge is easier?
Ease depends on how well your trading style aligns with the firm’s rules.
Do rules change frequently?
Yes, proprietary trading firms may update rules periodically.
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Proprietary trading challenges involve risks, including the loss of evaluation fees and potential trading losses. Always review official documentation and risk disclosures before participating.
Recognise the Trigger
- Trigger: You feel ready to choose a firm after seeing one attractive fee, payout split or promotional claim.
- Automatic response: Buy immediately or compare firms from memory.
- Coached response: Pause, verify the current official terms, score the same decision criteria for every firm, and record the date checked.
- Stop condition: Do not proceed when a decisive rule, restriction, fee or payout condition is unclear.
How to Practise the Behaviour
- Write the non-negotiable rules that fit your strategy and market.
- Verify each material claim on the firm’s current official website or terms.
- Compare total cost, drawdown method, trading restrictions, payout conditions and support.
- Score each option using the same criteria; do not change the weighting midway.
- Wait until the next day, review the evidence again, and then decide.
Worked Example
A trader reviewing funded trading plus vs ftmo (futures): fees, drawdown rules, and payouts compared (2025) notices the trigger before acting. Instead of making an immediate decision, the trader follows the written steps, records the evidence and accepts a no-trade or no-purchase outcome when a required condition is missing. The coaching win is following the process; one profitable or unprofitable result does not prove the rule works.
Common Mistakes and Reset
- Changing the rule after seeing the outcome. Reset by returning to the version written before the decision.
- Treating confidence as evidence. Reset by naming the observable condition that is present or absent.
- Increasing risk to recover time or money. Reset by applying the pre-agreed limit or ending the session.
After a mistake, do not try to repair the outcome with another impulsive action. Record the trigger, step away, and resume only when the checklist and risk conditions are valid again.
Self-Coaching Questions
- What exactly triggered the decision?
- Which observable evidence supported the action?
- Did I respect the risk limit and stop condition?
- What is the one behaviour I will repeat or reset next time?
Sources & Further Reading
- FTMO’s official Trading Objectives — Defines the current objectives and loss limits that must be checked before evaluating an FTMO programme.
- Topstep’s official Trading Combine parameters — Explains the current objectives, loss limit, consistency target and account parameters for Topstep evaluations.
- NFA BASIC registration and disciplinary checks — Shows how to verify US derivatives firms and review regulatory or disciplinary history.
- CFTC’s checks before trading leveraged forex — Provides independent guidance on leverage, counterparties, withdrawals and registration.
- FCA guidance on contracts for difference providers — Sets out risk warnings and retail protections relevant when assessing leveraged trading offers.
Now Practise This Behaviour
Immediate exercise: use the next 10 minutes to complete this practice loop.
- Write the trigger for this behaviour in one sentence.
- Write the coached response and the condition that means stop.
- Apply the rule to one recent chart, decision or firm comparison.
- Record whether you followed the process, without scoring the financial outcome.
Open the 60-Day Challenge Ready
Now practise this behaviour.
