The5ers vs FTMO Rules, Payouts and Account Sizes Compared for 2026
Choosing a prop firm is rarely just about the advertised account size. The real decision usually comes down to a much more practical question: Can the firm's rules, drawdown model, payout schedule and scaling structure fit the way you actually trade?
That matters because two $100,000 prop accounts can have very different requirements. One may use a static maximum-loss model, another may trail losses based on end-of-day equity, while payout timing, consistency rules and news restrictions can create another layer of differences.
For traders comparing The5ers vs FTMO in 2026, the two firms offer several distinct evaluation paths. The5ers currently covers CFD programs such as Hyper Growth, Pro Growth, High Stakes and Bootcamp, as well as separate Futures programs. FTMO offers 1-Step and 2-Step evaluations, with a Swing account option available through the 2-Step route.
The important point is not simply which firm has the larger headline number. It is whether the specific program matches your risk model, trading frequency, holding period and expectations around scaling and payouts.
How Do The5ers and FTMO Compare at a Glance?
What are the key rules, payout terms and account sizes at each firm?
The quickest way to understand the comparison is to separate the firms by program rather than treating each company as having one universal rule set.
| Feature | The5ers | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Main evaluation structures | Hyper Growth, Pro Growth, High Stakes, Bootcamp; Futures separately | 1-Step and 2-Step |
| CFD starting sizes | Varies by program; High Stakes starts from $2.5K, Growth from $5K | $10K, $25K, $50K, $100K and $200K |
| Evaluation time limit | Core CFD programs generally have no fixed passing deadline, subject to inactivity rules | Unlimited |
| Typical CFD profit targets | 10% for Growth; 10%/5% for High Stakes | 1-Step: 10%; 2-Step: 10% then 5% |
| Maximum loss | Varies by program; Growth uses 6% stop-out, High Stakes 10% | 1-Step: 10% EOD trailing; 2-Step: 10% |
| Daily loss | Varies by program; Growth 3%, High Stakes 5% | 1-Step: 3%; 2-Step: 5% |
| Profit share | Program-dependent, with pathways up to 100% | 1-Step: 90%; 2-Step: 80%, with scaling pathway to 90% |
| First payout/reward timing | Many funded CFD programs: 14 days | From day 14 after the first trade |
| Scaling | Program-specific; Growth up to $4M, High Stakes up to $500K | Up to $2M through Scaling Plan |
| Futures | Day Trade and Swing programs | Not the same product structure |
The table is a starting point rather than a substitute for reading the program rules. The5ers' account sizes, payout ratios and drawdown mechanics vary considerably between programs. FTMO also separates its 1-Step and 2-Step structures.
Which evaluation programs does each firm offer in 2026?
The5ers currently gives traders several routes.
For CFD traders, the major programs are:
- ●Hyper Growth - a one-step growth model with a 10% target, 6% stop-out and 3% daily loss/pause framework.
- ●Pro Growth - another one-step Growth route, with a 10% target and program-specific profitable-day requirements.
- ●High Stakes - a two-step evaluation with 10% in Step 1, 5% in Step 2 and 10% required for funded scaling.
- ●Bootcamp - a three-phase evaluation structure followed by a funded stage.
- ●The5ers Futures - separate Day Trade and Swing programs with futures-specific drawdown, contract and consistency rules.
FTMO's current product structure is simpler:
- ●FTMO Challenge: 1-Step
- ●FTMO Challenge: 2-Step
- ●Swing account type, available with the 2-Step route rather than 1-Step.
That distinction is important for searchers comparing firms. "The5ers vs FTMO" is not really one comparison. It is a comparison between different combinations of evaluation structures.
What Account Sizes Do The5ers and FTMO Offer?
How do The5ers' starting sizes and scale-up ceilings work across programs?
One of The5ers' most distinctive features is the number of account pathways available.
High Stakes starts at $2,500 and offers larger tiers including $5K, $10K, $25K, $50K and $100K. Its published scaling plan can take an account through successive milestones toward $500,000.
Growth programs work differently. The current Hyper Growth structure starts with account sizes in the 5K–20K range, while its scaling model can eventually grow the funded account toward $4 million. The current Growth page also places a $40,000 ceiling on the combined starting capital of evaluation accounts for an individual trader.
Bootcamp provides another route, with current published account combinations reaching $250K. The program allows up to four active accounts under its stated conditions.
The Futures product starts at $25K and also offers $50K, $100K and $150K account levels, with funded scaling advertised up to $500K.
This creates an important buying consideration: the initial account size and the eventual scaling ceiling are not the same thing.
A trader choosing a $10K starting account may be more interested in how the account grows after consistent performance than in the starting headline alone.
What FTMO account sizes exist, and how does the $2M scaling cap work?
FTMO currently lists simulated account sizes of:
- ●$10,000
- ●$25,000
- ●$50,000
- ●$100,000
- ●$200,000
The 1-Step product currently uses these same headline sizes.
FTMO's Scaling Plan takes a different approach from The5ers. Instead of simply choosing a larger challenge whenever you want, the Scaling Plan can increase an FTMO Account by 25% every four months, subject to requirements including at least 10% net simulated profit over the period, at least two processed rewards and a positive balance. The published maximum is $2 million across FTMO Accounts.
For traders evaluating long-term account growth, this makes the scaling mechanism just as relevant as the initial challenge size.
Related Read: https://propfirmsinsider.com/guides/the5ers-vs-ftmo-account-scaling-a-side-by-side-growth-guide-for-2026
How Do the Evaluation Rules Compare on Targets, Drawdown and Daily Loss?
What targets, loss limits and drawdown mechanics apply at The5ers?
The5ers does not use one universal risk model across all programs.
The current Growth structure lists a 10% evaluation target, 6% stop-out and 3% daily loss for Hyper Growth and Pro Growth. Hyper Growth specifically describes the 3% daily threshold as a daily pause rather than an account termination: when triggered, trading is disabled for that day and resumes at the next trading day. The 6% stop-out level is the account-termination threshold.
Pro Growth has additional profitable-day requirements. The5ers defines a profitable day as closed-position profit of at least 0.5% of the initial balance under its published calculation.
High Stakes uses a different model:
- ●10% Step 1 target
- ●5% Step 2 target
- ●5% maximum daily loss
- ●10% maximum loss
- ●Three profitable days per phase under the current rules
- ●Unlimited evaluation time, subject to inactivity rules
Bootcamp uses a three-phase structure and currently allows unlimited time to complete its evaluation, while its 3% daily pause applies to the funded stage.
The practical lesson is simple: do not compare a 3% daily limit from one The5ers program with a 5% limit from another and assume the consequences are identical.
The terminology and enforcement mechanism matter.
How do FTMO's 1-Step and 2-Step rules differ on drawdown and daily loss?
FTMO's current 1-Step structure uses:
- ●10% profit target
- ●3% maximum daily loss
- ●10% maximum loss
- ●End-of-day trailing maximum-loss calculation
- ●50% Best Day Rule
- ●Unlimited trading period
- ●90% reward ratio
The 50% Best Day Rule is particularly important. It does not mean a profitable day automatically causes failure. If one day's profit represents more than 50% of Positive Days' Profit, the trader can continue trading until the ratio falls to 50% or below.
FTMO's 2-Step structure uses the more familiar:
- ●10% Challenge target
- ●5% Verification target
- ●5% maximum daily loss
- ●10% maximum loss
- ●At least four trading days in each phase
- ●Unlimited time
This creates two very different risk-management experiences.
A trader who dislikes trailing drawdown may pay particular attention to the 1-Step calculation. A trader who prefers a two-stage evaluation with a separate Verification phase may instead focus on 2-Step.
How Do Payout Schedules, Profit Splits and Fee Refunds Compare?
When does The5ers pay out, and how do splits progress as accounts scale?
The5ers' payout model depends on the program.
For Hyper Growth, the current official rules state that the first payout can be requested 14 days after receiving the funded account, with subsequent payouts every two weeks. The 14-day cycle resets when the account scales.
Bootcamp follows a similar 14-day funded payout cycle, also resetting after scaling.
High Stakes allows funded traders to request payouts every 14 days. Its current published rules also specify program-level minimums and payout caps for certain account sizes.
Profit sharing can also change as the account grows.
The5ers currently states that:
- ●Hyper Growth and Bootcamp start at 50% and can scale toward 100%.
- ●Pro Growth starts at 75% and can scale toward 100%.
- ●High Stakes starts at 80% and can scale toward 100%.
That makes the scaling plan more than an account-size mechanism. It can also change the economics of future withdrawals.
When can FTMO traders request rewards, and what do 80% and 90% splits mean?
FTMO traders can request a Reward from the 14th day after the first trade on the relevant FTMO Account, provided the applicable conditions are met and open positions and pending orders are closed.
The current reward structure is:
- ●1-Step: 90% of simulated profits.
- ●2-Step: 80% initially.
- ●2-Step with applicable Scaling Plan or Premium conditions: up to 90%.
The 2-Step model also provides a rollover option, allowing eligible rewards to remain on the account and increase the balance/drawdown buffer. The current 1-Step structure does not offer the same reward-rollover mechanism.
For 2-Step traders, FTMO also states that the initial Challenge fee is refunded with the first Reward withdrawal. The current 1-Step product is non-refundable.
This is one of the clearest examples of why comparing only advertised profit splits can be misleading. Payout timing, refund structure, rollover rules and scaling conditions all affect the actual trader experience.
Which Trading Rules and Restrictions Affect Payout Eligibility?
How do consistency, Best Day and minimum-trading-day rules differ?
Consistency rules are easy to overlook because they may not appear as prominently as the profit target or maximum loss.
The5ers' CFD programs have different requirements by program, but its Futures offering has a specific 40% consistency rule. A single trade cannot account for more than 40% of total profits for the relevant payout or scaling calculation.
For example, suppose a Futures trader has a $1,600 best trade. Under a 40% rule, total profit would need to reach $4,000 for that trade to represent 40% of the total.
FTMO's 1-Step uses its own 50% Best Day Rule, while the 2-Step structure does not use that same Best Day requirement.
The distinction matters psychologically.
A trader whose strategy occasionally produces one very large winning day should understand whether that result affects eligibility, even if the trader has never violated a loss limit.
How do news trading, overnight and weekend holding rules compare?
This is another area where the specific program matters.
The5ers' core CFD programs generally allow holding trades overnight and over the weekend. High Stakes explicitly permits overnight and weekend positions, although weekend positions in indices can carry high swap costs. News trading is also permitted under the published rules, with restrictions around order execution near high-impact releases.
The5ers Futures is different. Its Swing program permits limited overnight positions, while the Day Trade program requires positions to be closed before the market close. Neither Futures program permits weekend holding under the published overnight rules.
FTMO separates Standard and Swing account types. During the evaluation process, overnight and weekend restrictions do not apply. Once a trader reaches an FTMO Account, Standard accounts have restrictions around weekend holding and certain extended market closures, while the Swing account does not have those overnight, weekend or news restrictions.
Related Read: https://propfirmsinsider.com/guides/ftm-swap-free-accounts-explained-how-they-work-and-who-they-re-for-in-2026
How to Choose Between The5ers and FTMO and Verify Current Terms
Which trader profiles may suit each firm's size, payout and rule structure?
There is no useful way to make this decision without first matching the program to the trading method.
A trader who prioritizes long-term account scaling may focus heavily on the growth architecture. The5ers provides several scaling paths, including Growth programs that can scale toward $4 million and High Stakes scaling toward $500,000. FTMO provides a structured Scaling Plan with growth toward $2 million.
A trader who wants a simple 1-Step evaluation can compare The5ers Growth programs with FTMO 1-Step, but the drawdown mechanics are different.
A trader who prefers a two-stage evaluation can compare The5ers High Stakes with FTMO 2-Step, paying close attention to daily loss calculations, minimum trading days, profitable-day requirements and payout rules.
A swing trader should look beyond the headline evaluation target and examine overnight, weekend, news and swap rules. The5ers CFD programs and FTMO Swing provide flexibility in this area, while The5ers Futures has separate Day Trade and Swing restrictions.
Related Read: https://propfirmsinsider.com/guides/the5ers-vs-ftmo-which-prop-firm-is-the-better-fit-for-forex-funded-traders-in-2026
The correct buying decision therefore starts with a trading-style audit:
- ●How much drawdown can your strategy realistically tolerate?
- ●Do you need overnight or weekend positions?
- ●Do major news releases form part of your strategy?
- ●How quickly do you want access to your first payout?
- ●Do you care more about initial account size or eventual scaling?
- ●Can your strategy satisfy consistency or Best Day requirements?
Answer those questions before comparing prices.
Where should traders verify current rules, payouts and sizes before buying?
Prop firm rules can change, and both The5ers and FTMO have updated products and account structures during 2026.
Before purchasing an evaluation, check:
- ●The firm's current program page.
- ●The relevant official FAQ.
- ●The exact account type selected at checkout.
- ●Current drawdown and daily-loss definitions.
- ●Payout and refund conditions.
- ●News and overnight restrictions.
- ●Scaling requirements.
- ●Account-size and multiple-account limitations.
For The5ers, traders should cross-check the individual program page rather than assuming that a rule from Hyper Growth applies to High Stakes, Bootcamp or Futures.
For FTMO, check whether the account is 1-Step or 2-Step and whether Standard or Swing is selected where applicable.
That final verification step is particularly important for anyone reading an older comparison article. A page published in 2024 or 2025 may describe a product that has since changed.
Summary
The The5ers vs FTMO comparison in 2026 is ultimately a comparison of different program architectures.
The5ers provides a broader collection of pathways, including one-step Growth programs, two-step High Stakes, three-phase Bootcamp and separate Futures products. Its strongest point for comparison purposes is the depth of its scaling framework, with different programs designed around different account-growth paths.
FTMO takes a more concentrated approach around its 1-Step and 2-Step evaluations, with a structured Scaling Plan that can take accounts toward $2 million.
For traders, the most important decision is not the headline account size. It is whether the risk model, payout structure, consistency requirements and trading restrictions fit the strategy you intend to use.
Before purchasing either firm's program, verify the current official rules for the exact account type. Prop firm terms can change, and a small difference in how daily loss, trailing drawdown or payout eligibility is calculated can have a much larger practical impact than a difference in the advertised account size.
For more prop firm comparisons, scaling guides, payout explainers and trader education, explore Prop Firm Insider.
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