Two of the most well-known prop firms in the forex industry are The 5ers and FTMO. Both firms offer funded trading accounts, clear risk rules, and structured evaluation programs. However, their funding models, drawdown systems, scaling plans, and trading conditions are quite different.
In this guide, we will provide a complete side-by-side comparison of The 5ers vs FTMO, including account sizes, pricing, trading rules, profit splits, and payout systems. This will help you understand which prop firm is better suited for your trading style.
Who This Comparison Is For
This comparison is designed for:
- Traders deciding between The 5ers or FTMO
- Forex traders looking for a reliable prop trading firm
- Beginners researching which prop firm is easier to pass
- Experienced traders comparing scaling opportunities and risk rules
If you’re trying to choose between The 5ers vs FTMO, this guide will help you clearly understand the key differences before buying a challenge.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | The 5ers | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Israel | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Regulatory Body | Not a regulated broker (operates as a proprietary trading firm) | Not a regulated broker (operates as a proprietary trading firm) |
| Evaluation Model | Multiple programs (Bootcamp, High Stakes, Hyper Growth) | Two-step evaluation (FTMO Challenge + Verification) and 1-Step program |
| Maximum Funding | Up to $4,000,000 scaling | Up to $2,000,000 scaling |
| Profit Split | Up to 100% (depending on program & scaling) | Up to 90% |
| Platforms | MT5, cTrader, Match-Trader | MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXTrade |
| Asset Classes | Forex, Indices, Metals, Crypto | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Stocks |
| Payout Frequency | Bi-weekly (varies by program) | On-demand after first payout cycle |
| Scaling Plan | Aggressive scaling in Hyper Growth | Gradual scaling plan |
| Reputation | Known for long-term scaling programs | Industry benchmark prop firm |
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FTMO One Step Vs 5ers One Step
| Product Info |
![]() FTMO One Step Challenge |
![]() The5ers One Step Hyper Growth Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| Account Sizes Available | 100k, 10k, 200k, 25k, 50k | 10k, 20k, 5k |
| Consistency | 50% | 3 Profitable Days |
| Crypto Leverage | 1:2 | 1:0.60 |
| Fee Refund | Yes | Yes |
| FX Leverage | 1:100 | 1:30 |
| Indices Leverage | 1:50 | 1:7.5 |
| Leverage | 1:100 | 1:30 |
| Maximum Daily Loss | 3% | 3% |
| Maximum Loss | 10% | 6% |
| Metals Leverage | 1:100 | 1:10 |
| Minimum Trading Days | 4 Days | 3 Profitable Days |
| News Trading | Allowed with Restrictions | Not Allowed |
| Profit Split | 90% | 100% |
| Profit Traget | 10% | 10% |
| Rewards | Bi weekly, On Demand | Bi weekly |
FTMO One Step
- Fixed high profit split: Earn up to 90%, but only after you pass and get funded.
- Strict risk structure: Clear daily & overall loss limits with disciplined rules.
The 5ers One Step
- Profit share starts immediately: You earn profit share as soon as you pass(share from evaluation) and get funded.
- Scaling advantage: Account size and profit split increase over time, up to 100% profit share.
FTMO Two Step Vs 5ers Two Step
| Product Info |
![]() FTMO Two Step Challenge |
![]() The5ers Two Step High Stakes Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| Account Sizes Available | 100k, 10k, 200k, 25k, 50k | 100k, 10k, 20k, 5k, 60k |
| Consistency | NO | 3 Profitable Days |
| Crypto Leverage | 1:2 | 1:2 |
| Fee Refund | Yes | Yes |
| FX Leverage | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Indices Leverage | 1:50 | 1:25 |
| Leverage | 1:100 | 1:30 |
| Maximum Daily Loss | 5% | 5% |
| Maximum Loss | 10%+10% | 10%+10% |
| Metals Leverage | 1:30 | Metals (Precious Metals): For accounts from $5,000 to $60,000: 1:15 For accounts $60,000 and above: 1:10 |
| Minimum Trading Days | 4 Days | 3 Days For Scaling Otherwise No |
| News Trading | Allowed with Restrictions | Allowed with Restrictions |
| Profit Split | 90% | 100% |
| Profit Traget | 10%+5% | 10% Scaling, 8%+5% |
| Rewards | Bi weekly, On Demand | Bi weekly |
Key Differences at a Glance
Profit Target
- FTMO: 10% + 5% evaluation structure
- The 5ers: 8% + 5% target, which is slightly easier to pass.
Profit Split
- FTMO: Up to 90%
- The 5ers: Up to 100%
Minimum Trading Days
- FTMO: Requires 4 trading days to pass the challenge.
- The 5ers: No minimum trading days unless scaling is involved.
Leverage on Indices and Metals
The 5ers is slightly more conservative with leverage.
FTMO generally offers higher leverage on indices and metals.
Other Plans (Three step)
There is no three step in FTMO to compare the 5ers have a bootcamp version for beginners.
Major Differences Between FTMO and The 5ers
While both FTMO and The 5ers offer similar evaluation structures and risk limits, their overall philosophy and trading conditions differ in several important ways.
| Aspect | FTMO | The 5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Scaling Model | Traditional scaling plan with periodic increases | Very structured scaling system, especially in Hyper Growth |
| Metals Trading | More friendly due to higher leverage | Lower leverage on metals |
| Crypto Trading | Low leverage (not ideal for crypto traders) | Also low leverage |
| Risk Enforcement | Historically strict, including occasional 1% risk guidance enforcement | Less history of strict risk caps |
| Profit Split | Up to 90% | Up to 100% |
| Focus | Evaluation quality and trader discipline | Long-term capital growth |
Platforms Supported
| Platform | FTMO | The 5ers |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | No |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| DXTrade | Yes | No |
Summary
- FTMO supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, and DXtrade.
- The 5ers mainly supports MT5 and cTrader depending on the program and broker infrastructure.
This means FTMO offers more platform flexibility, especially for traders who rely on MT4 EAs or automation.
Payout System Comparison
| Feature | FTMO | The 5ers |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Withdrawal Methods | Bank Transfer, Visa Direct / Mastercard Send, Skrill, Crypto | Rise, Crypto, Bank Transfer, Hub Credits |
| Payout Frequency | On-demand after ~14 days | Every 14 days |
| Processing Time | 1–2 business days | Typically 1–3 business days |
| Minimum Withdrawal | ~$20–$50 depending on method | ~$150 |
| Profit Split | Up to 90% | Up to 100% |
Sources
- FTMO payouts are processed within 1–2 business days after invoice confirmation and support bank transfer, cards, Skrill, and crypto.
- The 5ers supports Rise, crypto, bank transfer, and hub credits, with payouts typically requested every 14 days.
- The 5ers payouts are generally processed within about 1–3 business days.
Scaling Model Philosophy
One of the biggest differences between the two firms is their scaling model clarity.
The 5ers has one of the most clearly defined scaling systems in the prop firm industry. Programs like Hyper Growth allow traders to double their account size every time they achieve a predefined profit milestone. Because the rules and milestones are clearly published, traders can realistically plan how to scale from smaller accounts to very large capital allocations.
FTMO, on the other hand, offers a more traditional scaling plan. Account size increases periodically based on performance, but the scaling path is not as aggressive as The 5ers.
Metals Trading Conditions
FTMO is generally considered more friendly for metals traders, particularly for traders who focus on instruments like gold (XAUUSD).
This is mainly due to higher leverage on metals, which allows traders to maintain smaller margin requirements and more flexibility in position sizing.
The 5ers tends to offer more conservative leverage on metals, especially on smaller accounts.
Crypto Trading Limitations
Neither firm is particularly attractive for crypto-focused traders.
Both FTMO and The 5ers typically offer very low crypto leverage (around 1:2), which makes it difficult for traders who rely on higher leverage or short-term volatility in cryptocurrency markets.
For this reason, most dedicated crypto traders prefer prop firms that offer higher leverage or specialized crypto trading environments.
Risk Enforcement and Trading Restrictions
FTMO has historically been known for strict rule enforcement.
At various points, the firm has implemented or reinforced guidelines around the common 1% risk rule, encouraging traders to limit risk per trade to around 1% of account balance. While not always a formal rule written into the challenge conditions, FTMO has occasionally enforced stricter risk management expectations.
The 5ers is also strict with risk rules, but it generally has less history of additional risk-control enforcement beyond the official drawdown limits.
Which One Is Better for Different Traders?
Best for Beginners → FTMO
FTMO is generally more beginner-friendly because it provides extensive educational tools, performance analytics, and structured evaluation rules that help traders improve their discipline.
Beginners may benefit from the clear evaluation process and trading tools.
Best for Experienced Traders → The 5ers
Experienced traders often prefer The 5ers because of its aggressive scaling potential and the ability to reach very large account sizes over time.
The possibility of scaling accounts up to $4M in capital makes it appealing for traders focused on long-term growth.
Best for Scalpers → FTMO
FTMO tends to be better suited for scalpers due to:
- Higher leverage on some instruments
- Multiple trading platforms including MT4
- Strong execution infrastructure
These conditions allow scalpers to execute high-frequency strategies more efficiently.
Best for Swing Traders → The 5ers
Swing traders may prefer The 5ers because:
- Scaling programs reward consistent long-term performance
- Less emphasis on strict evaluation structure compared to FTMO
- Programs designed for steady capital growth
Which Is Easier to Pass: FTMO or The 5ers?
Overall, The 5ers is generally considered slightly easier to pass than FTMO for most traders.
The main reason is the lower Phase-1 profit target (8%) in the High-Stakes program, compared to FTMO’s 10% Phase-1 target. Reaching a smaller target naturally requires less performance during the evaluation.
Another difference is how the daily loss rule is handled. At The 5ers, hitting the daily loss limit usually results in a temporary trading pause (soft breach) rather than immediately failing the entire challenge. FTMO, by contrast, treats violations of risk limits as a hard breach, which typically means the account is terminated.
FTMO also requires at least 4 trading days to complete the evaluation, while The 5ers does not impose the same requirement in its High-Stakes challenge.
Simple Summary
- Profit Target: Lower at The 5ers (8% vs 10%)
- Daily Loss Handling: Softer at The 5ers (pause vs immediate failure)
- Minimum Trading Days: FTMO requires 4 days
Conclusion:
Because of the lower initial target and softer daily loss handling, many traders consider The 5ers slightly easier to pass, while FTMO is known for stricter evaluation rules.
Verdict
Lets not waste time , when it comes to one step 5ers is better and for two step challenge and gold trading FTMO is much better with more leverage.
Choose FTMO if:
- You want the most established prop firm with a long reputation
- You trade metals like gold (XAUUSD) frequently
- You prefer MT4 platform support
- You like a structured and disciplined evaluation model
Choose The 5ers if:
- You plan to compound capital over time
- Your goal is long-term account scaling
- You want profit splits up to 100%
- You prefer more flexibility in growth programs and a salary in future

