1. Corporate Stability and Global Reach
The contrast in seniority between these two firms defines the level of counterparty risk. FTMO, founded in 2015, is the industry benchmark with a high TrustPilot score (4.8) and a proven track record of payouts. Sure Leverage Funding is a 2023 newcomer based in the UAE, offering more aggressive features but with a shorter history and a lower TrustPilot rating (4.2).
- Banned Countries: FTMO has a highly restrictive policy, excluding major markets like India, Indonesia, and several African nations, which are typically allowed by other firms. Sure Leverage follows a more standard restricted list (Cuba, Iran, North Korea, etc.), making it accessible to a wider global audience.
- Infrastructure: FTMO operates with its own Liquidity Provider and customized tools, whereas Sure Leverage relies on a mix of platforms like MatchTrader and TradeLocker, which have become popular following the MetaQuotes crackdown on prop firms.
2. Evaluation Models and Capital Allocation
Both firms offer diverse paths to funding, but their philosophies differ regarding how a trader accesses capital.
- Step Variety: FTMO provides standard 1-step and 2-step evaluations. Sure Leverage goes further by offering Instant Funding, an EA-specific challenge, and a "Buy Now, Pay Later" model where the trader enters for $10 and pays the rest only after passing.
- Maximum Allocation: Both firms cap initial allocation at $400,000. However, FTMO has a superior scaling plan that can lead to a $2,000,000 cap and institutional employment opportunities through Quantlane.
- Scaling vs. Add-ons: FTMO rewards performance with organic growth (increasing balance by 25% every 4 months). Sure Leverage focuses on paid add-ons, allowing traders to purchase a higher profit split or faster payouts at checkout.
3. Drawdown Mechanics and Risk Constraints
This is the most critical technical difference for a trader's survival.
- Daily Drawdown: FTMO uses Equity-based daily drawdown, meaning floating profits/losses are calculated. Sure Leverage uses Balance-based drawdown, which is generally more "trader-friendly" as it ignores floating equity at the start of the day.
- Maximum Drawdown:
- FTMO: Always Static. The floor never moves, providing more breathing room as the account grows.
- Sure Leverage: Uses Trailing Drawdown for 1-step, Instant Pro, and EA challenges. This is a significant disadvantage as the drawdown limit "trails" the highest equity point, making it harder to secure profits. Only their 2-step and Instant models are Static.
- Maximum Risk Limit (Sure Leverage): A unique and strict rule where falling 1% below the starting balance (including floating losses) results in a halved profit split or account closure on the second breach. This makes Sure Leverage much riskier for traders who experience initial drawdowns.
4. Trading Rules and Strategy Restrictions
FTMO is significantly more permissive regarding how you trade, while Sure Leverage imposes strict "anti-gambling" and consistency rules.
- Expert Advisors (EAs): FTMO fully allows EAs. Sure Leverage restricts them to the evaluation phase of the "EA Challenge" only; they are prohibited once the account is funded.
- Scalping: FTMO allows it without time restrictions. Sure Leverage enforces a 2-minute rule: any trade closed in less than 2 minutes will have its profits discarded from the payout. This effectively bans true scalping.
- Consistency Rules:
- FTMO: Only has a 50% "Best Day" rule for its 1-step program.
- Sure Leverage: Enforces both Profit Consistency (25% limit) and Lot Size Consistency (+100%/-75% of average). This prevents "all-in" strategies but makes it harder for manual traders whose performance naturally fluctuates.
- Stop Loss Requirements: FTMO does not require a Stop Loss. Sure Leverage mandates a Stop Loss on funded accounts within 5 minutes of entry.
5. Payouts, Fees, and Refund Policy
- Refunds: FTMO offers a full refund after the first payout for 2-step accounts. Sure Leverage does not offer refunds on its standard challenges.
- Payout Speed: FTMO pays every 14 days (can be improved to 90% split). Sure Leverage offers on-demand payouts for many models but charges a payout fee (2% or $10), whereas FTMO does not charge a direct fee on withdrawals.
- Payout Guarantee: Sure Leverage offers a unique 10% bonus if a payout is not processed within 24 business hours, providing a safeguard for the trader's time.
6. Financial Analysis of Challenges
Comparing the 100k accounts:
- FTMO (2-Step): Costs approximately €540. It has higher profit targets (10% / 5%) but the price reflects its market reputation and the static drawdown.
- Sure Leverage (2-Step): Costs approximately $359. It is significantly cheaper and has similar targets, but lacks the institutional-grade environment of FTMO.
- Leverage: FTMO offers 100:1 on Forex, which is double what Sure Leverage offers (50:1). This is a major factor for traders who need margin for multi-position strategies.
7. Summary and Recommendations
Choose FTMO if:
- You prioritize capital security and brand reputation above all else.
- You are a Scalper or EA user who needs to hold trades for seconds or use automated logic.
- You live in a country not included in their restricted list and want a path to institutional trading (Quantlane).
- You want Static Drawdown and higher leverage (100:1) to manage your margin effectively.
Choose Sure Leverage Funding if:
- You are looking for low entry costs (e.g., the $10 Buy Now Pay Later option).
- You want Instant Funding without undergoing a multi-phase evaluation.
- You live in a country banned by FTMO (like India or Indonesia).
- You are a swing trader who doesn't mind the 2-minute rule or the Stop Loss requirement in exchange for a cheaper challenge price.
