Side-by-side: FTMO 2-Step vs The5ers High Stakes
| FTMO | The5ers | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | FTMO s.r.o., Prague, Czech Republic — since 2015 | Five Percent Online Ltd (England & Wales; also registered in Israel) — since 2016 |
| Entry price | €89 (10K — its smallest account) | $19 (High Stakes NEW, 2.5K); $35 for the 5K |
| 100K price | €540 list (€439 promo seen 23 Oct) | $405 (NEW) / $455 (Classic) |
| Profit targets | 10% then 5% | NEW: 10% then 5% · Classic: 8% then 5% |
| Daily loss | 5% of initial capital, equity-based, recalculated nightly from the prior midnight balance | 5% (2.5K–25K), 4% at 50K/100K per its table — a hard equity breach measured from the higher of day-start balance or equity |
| Maximum loss | 10%, static, equity-based | 10% of initial balance ("absolute drawdown"); its table shows 8% at 50K/100K — a conflict we flag |
| Extra gate | Minimum 4 trading days per phase | 3 profitable days of at least 0.5% per step ($25 on the 5K) |
| Consistency rule | None on the 2-Step (50% on 1-Step) | None on High Stakes (its Pro Growth programme has a 50% per-day rule) |
| News trading | Free in evaluation; on funded Standard, no executions within ±2 min of selected releases (Swing exempt) | Allowed — only bracketing strategies around high-impact news are prohibited |
| Weekend holding | Restricted on funded Standard; allowed on Swing at 1:30 leverage | Allowed (indices over the weekend carry high swaps) |
| Profit split | 80%, up to 90% via Scaling Plan / Premium | Starts 80/20 and climbs the scaling ladder — up to 100% plus fixed payouts at the top tiers |
| Scaling | +25% capital every 4 months, up to $2M | Account grows on each 10% target through a published ladder, up to $500K on High Stakes |
| Payouts | On request once eligible (day 14); minimum $20 (bank/card) / $50 (crypto) | First 14 days after activation, then every 2 weeks; minimum withdrawal $150; on the 100K, minimum P&L $500; 3.5% commission on Rise/crypto/bank withdrawals |
| Fee refund | 2-Step fee refunded with the first Reward withdrawal | Not stated for High Stakes on the programme pages we checked |
| Free trial | Yes — 14 days, real rules | None listed on its site (checked 23 Oct 2026) |
| Leverage | Up to 1:100 (Standard) | FX 1:100; crypto 1:2 |
| Our deal | No partner code exists — use their own promos and the free trial | No partner code — their own sales only; beware invented codes |
Both firms sell more than the headline model — FTMO's 1-Step and Instant, The5ers' Hyper Growth, Pro Growth and Bootcamp — compared in the full reviews: FTMO review · The5ers review.
The five differences that actually decide it
1. Price — and it is not close
The5ers undercuts FTMO at every comparable size, and starts two sizes lower: $19 against a smallest FTMO ticket of €89. At 100K it is $405 (NEW) against €540 list. If the same trader needs two attempts, The5ers' total can be half of FTMO's. FTMO's counterweight is the free trial — the only zero-cost rehearsal here — and a fee that returns with the first withdrawal.
2. Profitable days vs trading days
FTMO asks for 4 days of trading per phase, win or lose. The5ers asks for 3 days that each close at least +0.5% — a rule that quietly extends challenges for steady traders and tempts impatient ones into forcing trades at the end of a phase. Neither is a consistency rule, but they shape behaviour very differently.
3. Swing traders live at The5ers
Holding through news and over the weekend is simply allowed at The5ers (news bracketing aside). At FTMO, the funded Standard account restricts both, and the Swing account that lifts the restrictions cuts leverage to 1:30. If your strategy holds positions for days, this row of the table may outweigh everything else on the page.
4. Getting paid is easier at FTMO
FTMO's minimum reward is $20 by bank or card, requested when you choose. The5ers pays on a fixed rhythm (14 days, then biweekly), sets a $150 minimum withdrawal, requires minimum P&L before the 100K can pay out ($500), and takes a 3.5% commission on Rise, crypto and bank withdrawals. Small, frequent payouts favour FTMO; The5ers rewards patience and size.
5. The fine print
The5ers' terms include two clauses FTMO's do not: a mandatory video interview if the firm requests one — miss the 5-business-day window and pending payouts can be denied — and wording restricting public criticism of the firm, which we flag in our review. Set against that: FTMO's decade of operating history and an evaluation with no equivalent clauses. Traders who have been burned by fine print before will weigh this section heaviest — it is why both firms' terms, not just their prices, are in this comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FTMO or The5ers cheaper?
The5ers, clearly: $19–$35 at the small end against FTMO's €89 minimum, and $405 against €540 list at 100K. FTMO claws some back with its free trial (a failed trial costs nothing) and its fee refund on the first withdrawal, which The5ers does not state for High Stakes.
Which is better for swing trading?
The5ers. News trading and weekend holding are allowed on High Stakes, while FTMO's funded Standard account restricts both and its Swing alternative drops leverage to 1:30. The5ers' daily loss is a hard equity breach, though — size positions for it.
Which firm has the better scaling plan?
Different shapes: FTMO grows capital by 25% every four months up to $2M with the split rising to 90%. The5ers grows the account on every 10% target through a published ladder to $500K, with the split climbing to 100% plus fixed payouts at the top tiers. The5ers scales faster; FTMO's ceiling is higher.
Why does the FTMO daily loss feel tighter than 5%?
Because it is recalculated nightly from your previous midnight balance rather than fixed to the starting balance, and it is measured on equity including open trades. After a losing day, the next day's room shrinks. The5ers' 5% is measured from the higher of the day-start balance or equity — read both mechanics in our drawdown guide before choosing.