Scalping
Both firms allow scalping, but the technical environment and costs vary significantly:
- Platforms: FTMO is limited to NinjaTrader, Tradovate, and TradingView. Phidias offers a vast array of professional order-flow tools, including ATAS, Bookmap, Jigsaw, and Quantower, which are often preferred by high-frequency manual scalpers.
- Costs: FTMO charges a flat commission of $0.50 per mini contract side. Phidias commissions range from $0.74 to $2.92 per side depending on the contract, which may impact ultra-short-term strategies.
- Risk: FTMO Pro accounts have a "hard" daily loss limit ($1,000 on 50K) that terminates the account, whereas Phidias has no daily loss limit, providing more breathing room for scalpers during volatile sessions.
- Execution: Phidias permits "Stacking" and DCA to smooth entries, provided risk management remains consistent.
Swing Trading
The ability to hold positions for days or weeks is one of the biggest dividers between these two firms:
- Holding Rules: FTMO Futures strictly prohibits holding positions overnight or over the weekend. All trades must be closed before the daily market halt.
- The Premium Exception: Phidias also prohibits overnight holding on its "Fundamental" and "Express to Live" accounts. However, its Premium plan specifically allows both overnight and weekend holding, making it the only viable option for swing traders between the two.
- Drawdown Interaction: Since both firms use end-of-day trailing drawdown, swing traders at Phidias Premium must be careful; their drawdown limit will update based on the highest closing balance of the day, even if the trade remains open and later retraces.
Automated Trading (EA)
If you rely on robots or algorithmic systems, the choice is binary:
- FTMO Stance: FTMO allows the use of EAs and algorithmic trading, provided they do not use prohibited strategies like latency arbitrage or high-frequency trading (HFT). This makes FTMO compatible with automated portfolios.
- Phidias Stance: Phidias explicitly prohibits robots and fully automated algorithms. They only allow semi-automated software where the trader must manually adjust every trade.
- Technical Constraints: Even though FTMO allows EAs, the lack of overnight/weekend holding means any bot must be programmed to flatten all positions before the daily close, which can disrupt many long-term automated strategies.
News Trading
Both firms are relatively permissive regarding economic releases, but with different safety nets:
- Permissions: Both FTMO Futures and Phidias allow trading during high-impact news events.
- Phidias Restrictions: Phidias prohibits "lottery-style" or full-margin trades specifically during high-volatility news. If a trader gambles their entire margin on a single news candle, the account may be closed.
- FTMO Drawdown: FTMO’s "Growth" Sim-Funded accounts use a "soft" daily limit. If a news spike hits the limit, positions close and trading pauses until the next day, but the account is not lost. On "Pro" accounts, a news-driven breach is terminal.
Copy Trading and Hedging
Rules for managing multiple accounts or directions vary as follows:
- Copy Trading: FTMO allows copying between accounts owned by the same trader. Phidias also allows it within their maximum account limits (up to 5 accounts of the same type). Both firms prohibit copying signals from third parties.
- Hedging: FTMO allows hedging (opposing positions) within a single account. Phidias strictly prohibits hedging on the same underlying asset within an account (e.g., ES vs MES) or between different accounts.
- Account Limits: FTMO allows unlimited evaluations but only 3 Sim-Funded accounts. Phidias allows up to 15 CASH/LIVE accounts across different categories (5 Fundamental, 5 Premium, 5 Express).
If you trade like this
- The Bot Developer: You should choose FTMO Futures, as Phidias does not allow fully automated systems.
- The Professional Swing Trader: You should choose Phidias (Premium Plan), as it is the only path that allows holding positions over nights and weekends.
- The Order Flow Scalper: You should choose Phidias, to gain access to specialized platforms like ATAS, Sierra Chart, or Jigsaw.
- The Conservative Beginner: You should choose FTMO Futures, due to the lower entry price ($119 vs Phidias' combined fee of $313) and the "soft" daily loss limit on Growth accounts.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a 50K evaluation, FTMO Futures or Phidias?
FTMO Futures is significantly cheaper for a first-time buyer. A 50K Growth evaluation at FTMO costs $119 as a monthly subscription. In contrast, a 50K Fundamental evaluation at Phidias costs $164 per month plus a $149 activation fee once you pass, totaling $313 for the first funded stage.
Does FTMO Futures or Phidias allow fully automated EAs?
FTMO Futures allows the use of EAs and algorithmic trading as long as they avoid prohibited behaviors like latency arbitrage. Phidias Propfirm strictly prohibits robots and fully automated algorithms, only allowing semi-automated tools that require active manual intervention for every trade.
Which firm offers a better profit split, FTMO Futures or Phidias?
FTMO Futures offers a higher initial split of 90% from the start. Phidias begins at 80% for most plans, though its Premium plan can eventually reach 100% after the fifth payout. However, FTMO's 90% is available immediately upon reaching the qualifying day requirements.
Can I hold positions over the weekend at FTMO Futures or Phidias?
You cannot hold positions over the weekend at FTMO Futures under any circumstances. At Phidias, weekend holding is prohibited on Fundamental and Express accounts, but it is specifically permitted if you purchase a Premium plan, making Phidias the only choice for weekend swing trading.
