Head-to-head comparison · 2026
FTMO vs The5ers
Side-by-side on the metrics that actually matter: true cost to funded, drawdown type, profit split and payout speed.
Market
Forex / CFD
Forex / CFD
Founded
2014
2016
Total cost to funded
$345
Best$278
Eval cost
$345
$278
Activation fee
-
-
Pricing model
One-time
One-time
Challenge type
2-Step
2-Step
Drawdown type
Static
Static
Max profit split
90%
Best100%
First profit
80% to 90% via scaling
50% to up to 100%
Payout speed
On demand / bi-weekly
Every 14 days
Max account
$2.0M
Best$4.0M
Consistency rule
None
None
News trading
Allowed
Allowed
Platforms
MT4DXtradecTraderMT5
MT5cTrader
Strengths & watch-outs
FTMO
Strengths
- OANDA-backed, 12-yr track record
- No consistency rule
- 99.8% on-time payouts
Watch-outs
- No futures support
- 80% base split undercut by newer firms
- Pricier challenges
The5ers
Strengths
- No time limit on evals
- Scales to $4M
- Strong education + ratings
Watch-outs
- Split starts low (50%)
- Capital-growth model is slow
- Fewer platforms
🐨 PropKoala verdict
The5ers is cheaper to get funded at $278 total. Both use EOD or static drawdown, a plus for both.
This verdict is generated from our verified data. Always check each firm's current terms before purchasing.
Figures are list prices for the 50K account, last updated Sep 2026. Verify all details directly with each firm before purchasing. PropKoala may earn affiliate commissions. Trading involves substantial risk.