What you are signing up for
An evaluation is a skills test where you trade with simulated capital to prove you can hit a profit target—a specific amount of money you must earn to pass—without breaking risk rules.
FTMO Futures uses a monthly subscription model. For a $50,000 account, you pay $119 every month until you pass or cancel. If you fail, you can buy a "reset" (starting over for a fee) or wait for your next billing cycle for a fresh start.
The5ers Futures uses a one-time fee model. For their smallest $25,000 account, you pay $59 once. There is no recurring monthly cost, which is often less stressful for someone just starting out. Neither firm currently offers a free trial, so your first attempt will require an upfront investment.
How hard each one is
The main difficulty lies in the drawdown, which is the maximum amount your account balance is allowed to drop before you are disqualified. Both firms use a "trailing" drawdown calculated at the end of the day. This means the loss limit moves upward as your account balance reaches new highs at the market close, but it never moves back down if you lose money.
- FTMO Futures: Offers two paths. The "Growth" plan has no daily loss limit during the test, giving you more breathing room. The "Pro" plan is stricter, with a daily drawdown—a limit on how much you can lose in a single day—of $1,000 to $2,000 depending on account size.
- The5ers Futures: Uses a flat 4% trailing drawdown. It is simple to understand but requires disciplined risk management because the margin for error is relatively tight.
How long it takes
Both firms offer "one-step" evaluations, meaning you only need to pass one testing phase to qualify for a funded account.
There are no maximum time limits to pass either challenge. As long as you pay your monthly fee at FTMO or place at least one trade every 14 days at The5ers, you can take as long as you need. Regarding minimum days, The5ers allows you to pass in a single day if you hit the target. FTMO does not have a fixed number of days, but their consistency rules usually require you to trade for several days to prove your results weren't just a lucky break.
Where beginners fail
Most beginners fail because of consistency rules, which are designed to ensure your success comes from a repeatable strategy rather than one massive, lucky trade.
- FTMO Consistency: Your best trading day cannot account for more than 40% (Growth) or 50% (Pro) of your total profit. If you make $3,000 in one day but your target is $6,000, you will have to keep trading until that big day represents a smaller portion of your total gains.
- The5ers Consistency: They use a "per-position" rule. No single trade can represent more than 40% of your total profit. This forces you to spread your risk across many different entries.
Another hurdle is "overnight" trading. Neither firm allows you to hold positions open when the market closes for the day (with minor exceptions for specific "Swing" accounts at The5ers), which can be frustrating if you are used to long-term investing.
What happens if you make it
Once you pass, you become a "funded" trader. You stop paying fees and start receiving a profit split, which is the percentage of the gains you get to keep.
FTMO offers a very high 90% profit split. However, they limit how much you can withdraw at once. For a $50,000 "Pro" account, you can only take out $5,000 per payout cycle. The5ers offers an 80% split and also uses withdrawal caps during the early stages to protect their capital.
FTMO provides more platform choices, including TradingView and NinjaTrader. The5ers requires you to use BlackArrow, which may have a steeper learning curve for a beginner.
If it is your first time
For a total beginner, The5ers Futures is generally the safer recommendation. The one-time fee removes the "ticking clock" pressure of a monthly subscription, allowing you to learn at your own pace without worrying about the next $119 charge.
However, if you are already comfortable with popular platforms like TradingView, FTMO Futures might be worth the subscription cost simply for the superior technology and the higher 90% profit share once you succeed.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper for a first attempt, FTMO Futures or The5ers Futures?
The5ers Futures is significantly cheaper for a first attempt because it uses a one-time fee starting at $59 for a $25,000 account. FTMO Futures requires a monthly subscription that starts at $119 for a $50,000 account, meaning you will have to pay that amount every month until you pass the evaluation.
Who gives a better profit share, FTMO Futures or The5ers Futures?
FTMO Futures offers a higher profit split, allowing traders to keep 90% of the gains they generate. The5ers Futures offers an 80% profit split across all its funded account sizes.
Which firm has more platform options for beginners, FTMO Futures or The5ers Futures?
FTMO Futures offers much more flexibility with support for NinjaTrader, Tradovate, and TradingView. The5ers Futures currently limits its traders to a single platform, BlackArrow, which is less common in the industry and may require more time for a beginner to learn.
Which firm has stricter rules for automated trading (EAs), FTMO Futures or The5ers Futures?
FTMO Futures is more lenient toward automation, allowing the use of Expert Advisors (EAs) and algorithmic trading as long as they are not used for prohibited strategies like high-frequency trading. The5ers Futures strictly prohibits all forms of algorithmic and automated trading.
