The bottom line first
FTMO and The5%ers are the two veteran giants, both with 10+ years in operation and top-tier trust ratings. The first fork in the road: take an evaluation, or start instantly.
| Your priority | Pick |
|---|---|
| Start right now with no evaluation | The5%ers (Instant Funding) |
| Start cheap on the industry-standard Challenge model | FTMO |
| Highest profit-split ceiling | The5%ers (up to 100%) |
| Evaluation fee refund | FTMO (on first payout) |
| MT4 / cTrader / DXtrade | FTMO |
| Plans with no daily loss limit | The5%ers (High-Stakes etc.) |
1. Background — twin pillars of the old guard
| FTMO | The5%ers | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Czech Republic (Prague) | Israel |
| Years in operation | 11 | 10 |
| Trust rating (this site) | High | High |
| Payout record | Industry-largest, continuously published | Continuously published |
Both firms sailed unscathed through industry turmoil like the MyForexFunds enforcement action (2023). By our own count, only 5 of 23 firms have 10+ years in operation — and these two sit at the core of that group.
2. Evaluation model — fundamentally different philosophies
FTMO: the two-step Challenge model (the industry’s template)
- Challenge (+10% target) → Verification (+5% target) → funded account
- This model itself became the industry standard — FTMO is the original
- Built on proving your skill by passing the evaluation
The5%ers: the Instant Funding pioneer
- Real-capital trading starts immediately after purchase (no evaluation)
- Also offers Challenge-style plans such as High-Stakes and Bootcamp
- The answer for traders who underperform under exam pressure
In short: confident you can pass an exam, go FTMO; want to avoid the exam altogether, go The5%ers.
3. Profit split — FTMO for stability, The5%ers for growth
| FTMO | The5%ers | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial split | 80% | From 50% depending on plan |
| Maximum split | 90% | 100% |
| Path to the cap | Automatic on meeting conditions | Reaching scaling milestones |
If you want a reliable 80% in the short term, FTMO. If you prefer a design where you grow the account and raise your split over time, The5%ers. The5%ers’ “up to 100%” is a post-scaling figure, so choose with a clear view of the gap from the starting split.
4. Pricing and refunds
| FTMO | The5%ers | |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | $89–$1,080 | Depends on program and account size |
| Refund policy | Evaluation fee refunded on first payout (conditions apply) | None (Instant has no exam to begin with) |
| Coupon | None | Referral code “HZZS4” |
FTMO’s “pass and the exam is effectively free” is a psychologically powerful mechanism. The5%ers has no exam, so your upfront cost is simply the entry fee. At checkout, see how to use referral code HZZS4.
5. Platforms and rule flexibility
| FTMO | The5%ers | |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 / MT5 | Yes / Yes | Partial (plan-dependent) / Yes |
| cTrader / DXtrade | Yes / Yes | No / No |
| Daily loss limit | Yes (5%) | Plans without one available |
| News trading | 2-minute window restriction | Allowed depending on plan |
| Consistency rule | Yes | Plan-dependent |
FTMO offers the wider toolset, while The5%ers wins on rule flexibility. “No daily loss limit” in particular matters for swing traders (prop firms for swing trading). For news trading policies, see our restrictions roundup.
6. Who each firm suits
FTMO suits you if
- You want to prove your skill on the industry-standard Challenge model
- You want MT4 / cTrader / DXtrade
- You want the refund policy to cap your downside
- You trade well within clearly defined rules
The5%ers suits you if
- You want to avoid evaluation pressure (Instant Funding)
- You want to grow an account toward the 100% split over the long run
- You want to run swing trades without a daily loss limit
- You want flexibility on news trading
The third option: run both in parallel
Because the two designs complement each other, using both is also rational. FTMO for Challenge-model discipline, The5%ers for pressure-free trading — splitting roles this way improves your adaptability to market conditions. See the guide to running multiple prop firms in parallel.
Summary
- Both have 10+ years in operation and top-tier trust ratings. A rare two-way choice where neither pick is a serious mistake
- Confident you can pass the exam → FTMO; want to avoid the exam → The5%ers
- Stable short-term split → FTMO; long-term ceiling of 100% → The5%ers
Always make your final investment decisions yourself. This site does not provide investment advice.
Recommended firms
The5%ers — for those who want to skip the evaluation
10 years in operation (since 2016). The Instant Funding pioneer, with profit splits scaling up to a maximum of 100%.
→ Visit The5%ers official site (how to use referral code “HZZS4”)
FTMO — the reassurance of the industry leader
11 years in operation (since 2015). Publishes one of the industry’s largest cumulative payout records.