Side-by-side: FTMO 2-Step vs FundedNext Stellar 2-Step
| FTMO | FundedNext | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | FTMO s.r.o., Prague, Czech Republic — since 2015 | GrowthNext – F.Z.E., Ajman Free Zone, UAE — founding year not stated on its site |
| Entry price | €89 (10K 2-Step) | $29.99 promo — Stellar Lite 5K (list $32.99); 2-Step from $59.99 list (6K) |
| 100K price | €540 list (€439 promo seen 23 Oct) | $549.99 list (2-Step) |
| Profit targets | 10% then 5% | 8% then 5% (Lite: 8% then 4%) |
| Daily loss | 5% of initial capital, equity-based, recalculated nightly from the prior midnight balance | 5% of initial balance (Lite 4%, 1-Step 3%) |
| Maximum loss | 10%, static, equity-based | 10%, static (all limits are % of initial size) |
| Minimum days | 4 per phase | 5 per phase (Lite: their own pages say 2 and 5 — unresolved) |
| Consistency rule | None on the 2-Step (50% on 1-Step, 30% on Instant) | None in the challenges; the On-Demand payout option adds a 40% best-day condition |
| News trading | Free in evaluation. On funded Standard: no order executions within ±2 min of selected releases (Swing accounts exempt) | Allowed — but trades opened within ±5 min of high-impact news on funded accounts keep only 40% of their profit; losses count in full |
| Weekend holding | Restricted on funded Standard; unrestricted on Swing (at 1:30 leverage) | Allowed on all models |
| Profit split | 80%, up to 90% via Scaling Plan / Premium | 80% standard; 90% via On-Demand option or scale-up; 95% lifetime add-on (paid) |
| Scaling | +25% capital every 4 months, up to $2M | +40% balance steps, marketed up to $4M allocation |
| Payout timing | On request once eligible (day 14); no fixed cycle stated | 2-Step: first after 21 days, then 14-day cycles; processed within 24h of approval, with a $1,000 late promise |
| Fee refund | 2-Step fee refunded with the first Reward withdrawal | 2-Step fee refunded with the 1st Performance Reward (1-Step/Lite: 3rd) |
| Free trial | Yes — 14 days, real rules | None listed on its site (checked 23 Oct 2026) |
| EAs | Allowed, with server-activity limits | Allowed only below $50K — $50K+ accounts must be traded manually |
| Our deal | No partner code exists — use their own promos and the free trial | PROPDIS — 7% off CFD, up to 50% off Futures, checkout-verified 26 Oct 2026 |
Headline match uses each firm's classic two-phase model. Both firms sell other shapes — FTMO's 1-Step (EOD-trailing drawdown, 50% consistency) and Instant (intraday trailing), FundedNext's Lite, 1-Step and Instant (trailing, capped at the starting balance) plus a separate futures line — compared in the full reviews: FTMO review · FundedNext review.
The five differences that actually decide it
1. The daily-loss clock works differently
Both say "5% daily", but FTMO recalculates its daily limit every midnight CE(S)T from the previous midnight balance minus 5% of the initial capital — so after a losing day the limit tightens toward your reduced balance, and it is measured on equity, open trades included. FundedNext's limits are a flat percentage of the initial size. Same headline, different bite: FTMO's version punishes a bad day twice.
2. News: a ban vs a tax
FTMO bans order executions within ±2 minutes of selected releases on funded Standard accounts (and bans nothing during evaluation). FundedNext allows news trading everywhere but counts only 40% of the profit from trades opened within ±5 minutes of a high-impact release on funded accounts — losses, of course, count in full. For example, $1,000 of news-window profit → $400 counts. News traders keep more at FTMO's Swing account; everyone else should note that FundedNext's window is wider and applies to profit, not permission.
3. Payout rhythm: defined vs on-request
FundedNext publishes its rhythm — first reward after 21 days on the 2-Step, then every 14 days, processed within 24 hours of approval with a $1,000 promise if the firm itself is late. FTMO states no fixed cycle: rewards are requested once eligible (from day 14). Predictable vs flexible — and FundedNext's first cycle is a week longer.
4. The EA line nobody expects
FundedNext permits EAs only on accounts below $50,000; at $50K and above, trading must be manual (an EA add-on exists but is likewise unavailable at those sizes). FTMO allows EAs across sizes, subject to server-activity limits. Algo traders sizing up will hit FundedNext's ceiling first.
5. Price is closer than the marketing suggests
FundedNext's entry is genuinely cheaper (a $29.99 promo Lite against €89), and its first target is lower (8% vs 10%). At the flagship size the gap nearly vanishes — €540 list at FTMO (seen at €439 on promo) against $549.99 at FundedNext — and FTMO's fee comes back with the first withdrawal, as does FundedNext's on the 2-Step. The honest decider at 100K is rules, not price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FTMO or FundedNext cheaper?
At entry, FundedNext — its Lite starts at $29.99 on promo against FTMO's €89. At 100K they are nearly level (€540 list, seen €439 on promo, vs $549.99), and both refund the 2-Step fee with the first payout. FTMO also offers the only free trial, which is the cheapest evaluation of all: €0.
Which is better for beginners?
FTMO, mainly because of the free 14-day trial and the absence of a consistency rule on its 2-Step. FundedNext's lower first target (8%) is friendlier on paper, but the 40% news-profit rule catches beginners constantly. Our beginners list explains the full ranking.
Which firm pays out faster?
FundedNext is more predictable: published cycles (21 days to the first 2-Step reward, then 14 days) and a 24-hour processing promise. FTMO pays on request once you are eligible from day 14, with no fixed cycle stated — flexible, but less schedulable.
Can I trade news at FTMO or FundedNext?
At FTMO, freely during evaluation; on funded Standard accounts, not within ±2 minutes of selected releases (Swing accounts are exempt). At FundedNext, yes — but only 40% of profits from trades opened within ±5 minutes of high-impact news counts on funded accounts, while losses count in full.
Sources — evidence links, not partner links: FTMO — Can I trade news? ↗ (±2 minutes on funded Standard accounts, Swing and evaluation accounts exempt) and Trading Objectives ↗; FundedNext — Is News Trading Allowed at FundedNext? ↗ (5 minutes either side, only 40% of news-window profit counts, losses count in full) and Help Centre ↗. The partner buttons elsewhere on this page are separate from these evidence links.