Build your comparison
FTMO vs The5erswhich prop firm deserves your challenge fee?
Quick verdict
Safer counterparty
FTMO
Faster payouts
The5ers
Better for smaller budgets
The5ers
Rule stability
Too close to call
Feature comparison
| Feature |  FTMO |  The5ers | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $79 | $19 | The5ers |
| Challenge model | 1-step, 2-step | 2-step, 3-step, instant | Tie |
| Max funding | $2M | $4M | The5ers |
| Max profit split | 90% | 100% | The5ers |
| Payouts | On demand | Bi-weekly | Tie |
| Track record | Established 2015 | Established 2016 | FTMO |
| Trader rating | New — no ratings yet | New — no ratings yet | Tie |
| Headquarters | 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 🇮🇱 Israel | Tie |
| Overall score | 81 | 80 | FTMO |
Both firms are scored from our ongoing research — the score dials above update as new data and trader input land. Read the full breakdowns on the FTMO review and the The5ers review.
FTMO — strengths & weaknesses
Pros
- Ten-year payout record, now backed by ownership of the OANDA brokerage group
- On-demand payouts averaging ~8 hours to process, with the challenge fee refunded at first payout
- New 1-Step Challenge pays 90% from the first payout; 2-step rules unchanged and time-unlimited
- Stable, transparent rules that are never applied retroactively — plus the excellent MetriX dashboard
Cons
- Pricing above newer discount-driven rivals
- Standard funded accounts restrict news trading (2-minute window) and weekend holding — you must pick Swing to avoid both
- No futures product, no TradingView or DXtrade; crypto is a handful of CFDs
The5ers — strengths & weaknesses
Pros
- Operating since 2016 — a decade of bi-weekly payouts with a ~16-day average payout time
- True instant funding on live accounts, doubling at each milestone up to $4M
- High Stakes two-step from just $19; 70% of the fee refunded with the first payout
- CME futures added in 2025 and US access restored via cTrader
Cons
- Low leverage (1:30) and mandatory stop-losses on Hyper Growth and Bootcamp programs
- Budget programs start at a 50/50 split until scaling milestones are hit
- Risk-department reviews at payout time have produced denial complaints from flagged accounts
81
VS80
Not sold on either? Browse every firm ranked by research score and build your own head-to-head.
Compare more firms