- A free, single-phase, shortened version of the FTMO Challenge — same environment, same tools.
- Profit target reduced from 10% to 5%; minimum trading days reduced from 4 to 2 (2-Step version).
- Unlimited retakes, but only one active Free Trial at a time; sizes up to $200,000.
- Passing it gets you nothing except information — a funded account still requires the paid Challenge.
Most prop firms let you risk money to find out whether their rules suit you. FTMO lets you find out for free first. The Free Trial is a shortened, simplified version of the Challenge that runs in the same environment with the same tools — and understanding what it does and does not offer will save you a wasted entry fee.
What the Free Trial is
Officially, it exists so new clients can familiarise themselves with the trading environment and assess their approach before buying the FTMO Challenge (1-Step or 2-Step). It is a practice product, not a shortcut to funding.
The rules
| Item | Free Trial (2-Step version) | Paid Challenge (2-Step, Phase 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Profit target | +5% | +10% |
| Max loss | 10% | 10% |
| Max daily loss | 5% | 5% |
| Minimum trading days | 2 | 4 |
| Price | Free | Paid (varies by size) |
There is also a 1-Step version of the trial, again with the target cut from 10% to 5%, other conditions following the 1-Step Challenge.
Sizes go up to $200,000, and per FTMO’s FAQ you can take as many trials as you need with no time limit — but only one Free Trial at a time. Details change occasionally, so check the official page for current terms.
The one thing to be clear about
Passing a Free Trial does not grant a funded account. FTMO states this outright: trial results give no eligibility for an FTMO Account, and passing the trial does not guarantee you will pass the real Challenge. Whatever happens in the trial, funding requires passing the paid evaluation.
What tools you get
The trial includes most of FTMO’s proprietary applications:
- Account MetriX (the dashboard where pass/fail is tracked)
- Statistical Application
- Trading Journal
- A shortened version of Account Analysis
Since the real evaluation is managed through these same tools, learning them in advance is genuinely useful.
How to start
- Register a free account at FTMO.
- Select the Free Trial, an account size, and a platform (MT4 / MT5 / cTrader).
- Trade once your login credentials arrive.
No payment details are needed, and KYC only happens after you pass the real Challenge — not at trial stage.
Using it properly
Treated as a demo account, the trial is a toy. Treated as a dress rehearsal, it directly improves your odds:
- Calibrate against the daily loss limit. The 5% daily loss rule is the most common reason traders fail FTMO. Trade your normal size for a few days and watch how close floating drawdown takes you to the line.
- Verify the environment. Spreads, execution, server time (GMT+2 +DST on MetaTrader) — all match what you will face in the paid evaluation.
- Run your strategy under the rules. The 5% target is half the real one, but it answers the question that matters: can you compound gains without breaching a limit? If you cannot pass the trial consistently, you are not ready to pay for the Challenge.
For evaluation strategy itself, see 10 tips to pass a prop challenge and risk management for the evaluation.
Bottom line
The Free Trial is one of the more honest free offerings in the industry: full environment, real tools, zero cost — and zero funding. Use it as a gate: only buy the Challenge once you can pass the trial repeatably. That single habit protects your entry fee better than any discount code.
Want funding without any evaluation? The5%ers offers instant funding — see The5%ers official (coupon code HZZS4 for a discount).