Entry price
The cost of starting depends heavily on the speed you want. Dolvero is aggressive with its pricing for those with less capital, while FTMO maintains a premium standard in Euros.
- 100k 2-Step Account: Dolvero costs $549, whereas FTMO costs €540 (approx. $585).
- 100k 1-Step Account: Dolvero costs $689 for a 6% drawdown, while FTMO costs €499 (approx. $540) but with a higher 10% drawdown.
- Smallest accounts: You can start in Dolvero for as little as $49 ($5,000 account), while FTMO starts at €89 ($10,000 account).
- Instant Funding: Only Dolvero offers this, costing $749 for $100,000 to bypass evaluations entirely.
What you pay while trading
Operating costs are invisible but erode your balance daily. FTMO offers more platform variety (MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXTrade, TradingView), which allows for better fee optimization than Dolvero, which is restricted to MT5.
- Forex Commissions: Dolvero charges $20 per $1M nominal (approx. $2 per lot). FTMO charges a flat $5 per lot. For high-volume traders, Dolvero is significantly cheaper in execution.
- Crypto and Stocks: Dolvero is expensive here, charging $200 per $1M on stocks. FTMO uses percentages (0.004% for stocks), which is generally more predictable for swing traders.
- Add-ons: This is where Dolvero increases its price. If you want to trade news, hold over the weekend, or get a 90% split, you must pay an extra 15% to 20% on top of the initial fee. In FTMO, these features are included for free in the "Swing" account type.
What mistakes cost you
In prop trading, the cost of an error is the loss of the account. Dolvero has a much higher "management cost" due to its restrictive risk rules.
- Drawdown Type: FTMO uses static drawdown (the floor never moves up), which is the most trader-friendly. Dolvero uses static for 2-step but trailing for 1-step and Instant, meaning as you make profit, your safety net tightens and never loosens.
- The 2% Rule: In Dolvero 1-step and 2-step, losing more than 2% of your balance on a single trade idea is a hard breach. This "cost" forces you to trade small or pay for an add-on to remove the limit. FTMO has no such restriction.
- Approval Costs: Dolvero requires prior approval for EAs (24-48 hours). Using an unapproved bot is a mistake that costs you the entire account fee.
What it costs to get paid
The final profit is where the two firms diverge the most. FTMO is objectively more generous with the final check.
- Profit Split: FTMO gives you 90% by default. Dolvero starts at 80% (or 70% for Instant) and only reaches 90% if you pay for an add-on or reach your third payout on an Instant account.
- Fee Refund: FTMO returns your entry fee with your 1st payout. Dolvero makes you wait until the 2nd successful payout to get your money back.
- Payment Guarantee: Dolvero has a unique "negative cost" for them: if they don't process your payout within 24 hours, they add a 10% bonus to your payment.
Where each one hides its cost
Dolvero hides its costs in the Add-ons. The base price looks cheap, but a trader who wants to trade like a professional (holding trades, trading news, no per-trade risk limits) will end up paying nearly double the base price in "upgrades."
FTMO hides its cost in the Consistency Rule for 1-step accounts. Your "Best Day" cannot exceed 50% of your total profit. If it does, you don't lose the account, but your payout is delayed until you trade more days to balance the average. This is a "time cost" that prevents "lucky" traders from cashing out quickly.
Cheapest for whom
- Dolvero is the cheapest for low-budget traders looking for 2-step evaluations or those who want to skip the evaluation via Instant Funding and are comfortable with strict risk management.
- FTMO is the cheapest for consistent professionals and Swing traders. Although the entry fee is higher, the 90% split and the lack of paid add-ons for basic features make it the most profitable choice after the first month of trading.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to get a $100,000 account, Dolvero or FTMO?
Dolvero is cheaper for a 2-step evaluation at $549, while FTMO costs approximately $585 (€540). However, if you prefer a 1-step evaluation, FTMO is cheaper at approximately $540 (€499) compared to $689 at Dolvero.
Who offers a better profit split for the trader, Dolvero or FTMO?
FTMO offers a superior profit split of 90% by default on its accounts. Dolvero starts at 80% for evaluations and 70% for Instant accounts, and you must either pay for an extra add-on or wait for multiple payouts to reach the 90% level.
Which firm has more restrictive rules for EAs and bots, Dolvero or FTMO?
Dolvero is significantly more restrictive, as EAs require a prior approval process that takes 24 to 48 hours. In contrast, FTMO allows the use of EAs without prior authorization, provided they do not engage in prohibited strategies like latency arbitrage.
Is it more expensive to trade news on Dolvero or FTMO?
It is more expensive on Dolvero, where news trading is prohibited by default and requires a paid add-on to be unlocked. On FTMO, news trading is permitted without extra costs if you choose the "Swing" account type, or with minor restrictions (2 minutes before/after) on the "Standard" type.
