1. Evaluation Models and Funding Paths
Both firms offer a variety of paths to capital, but their philosophies differ significantly in terms of flexibility and speed.
- Funding Traders focuses on three main pillars: 1-Step, 2-Step (Pro and Novice), and Instant Funding. Their "Novice" account is particularly unique as it allows traders to start Phase 1 for free, only paying once they unlock Phase 2.
- Funded Trading Plus (FTP) offers a more granular selection: Experienced (1-Step), Advanced/Premium/Prestige (2-Step), and Master (Instant). This allows traders to choose a program that specifically matches their risk appetite and drawdown preference (Static vs. Trailing).
- Instant Funding Differences: While both offer instant capital, Funding Traders allows accounts up to $400,000, whereas FTP’s Master Program is more conservative, scaling up to $100,000 initially. However, FTP's instant model has no evaluation, while Funding Traders' instant model includes a "safety cushion" requirement.
2. Drawdown Mechanics and Risk Calculations
The way drawdown is calculated is perhaps the most critical difference for a trader's longevity.
- Daily Drawdown: Both firms utilize a balance-based or equity-based daily limit depending on the program. Funding Traders uses the highest value between equity and balance for Instant accounts, while FTP applies this logic across its programs.
- Max Drawdown Type:
- Funding Traders offers Static Drawdown on their Pro and Novice 2-Step evaluations, which is a significant advantage for traders who prefer a fixed floor. Their Instant accounts, however, use a Trailing Drawdown that stops trailing once the trader reaches a 3% profit mark (locked at the starting balance).
- Funded Trading Plus primarily uses Trailing Drawdown (Experienced, Advanced, Premium), which follows the highest recorded balance. Only their Prestige lines offer Static Drawdown, making them the preferred choice for traders who dislike trailing mechanics.
- Risk Management Rules: Funding Traders is much stricter, enforcing a maximum risk per trade (1% for Instant, 2% for Pro/Novice). FTP does not have a hard cap on risk per trade, except for a specific 2% Symbol Loss Limit on Prestige accounts.
3. Trading Restrictions and Strategies
This is where the two firms diverge most sharply, especially regarding automation and news.
- Expert Advisors (EAs): Funded Trading Plus allows EAs across its programs, making it a destination for algorithmic traders. Funding Traders prohibits EAs, restricting the platform to manual traders only.
- News Trading:
- FTP allows news trading without restrictions.
- Funding Traders is restrictive: strictly prohibited on Instant accounts (10-minute window) and limited on Pro/Novice funded accounts (2 minutes before/after), where news-related profits cannot exceed 30% of total gains.
- Hedging and Copy Trading: FTP allows hedging but strictly prohibits copy trading (even between your own accounts). Funding Traders prohibits hedging but allows copy trading and stacking positions.
- Consistency and Profitable Days: Funding Traders requires 5 profitable days (minimum 0.25% gain) per 30-day period on Instant accounts. FTP has a much lower barrier, requiring only 3 profitable days (0.5%) on their Prestige lines and 0 days on others.
4. Payout Structure and Safety Cushions
- The "Safety Cushion" (Funding Traders): A unique and restrictive rule for Instant accounts where the first 3% of profit is non-withdrawable. Attempting to withdraw this cushion results in account termination. This acts as a buffer for the firm but delays the trader's first real profit.
- Payout Frequency: FTP is generally faster, offering payouts every 7 to 14 days after the first request. Funding Traders defaults to 14 or 21 days, though this can be shortened via paid add-ons.
- Profit Split: Both firms offer high splits. FTP has a scaling split that can reach 100% after achieving 30% total profit. Funding Traders offers 80-90% by default, which can also be upgraded to 100% via an add-on.
5. Platform Availability and Technology
- Broker Choice: FTP uses GooeyTrade and Intertrader, providing a wide range of platforms including cTrader, MatchTrader, DXTrade, MT4, and MT5.
- Funding Traders Ecosystem: They utilize FUTRAD and Galaxy Path, focusing on TradeLocker, MT5, and DXTrade. They do not offer MT4 or cTrader, which may be a dealbreaker for some legacy traders.
- Customer Experience Tools: Funding Traders offers a "Reset Account" option at a 50% discount for failed challenges, integrated directly into their dashboard. FTP offers a standard 20% discount on failed evaluations for most accounts.
6. Summary: Which Firm to Choose?
Choosing between these two depends on your trading style and how much "micromanagement" you can tolerate from a firm's ruleset.
Choose Funding Traders if:
- You are a manual trader who does not use EAs.
- You want to start for free (Novice Phase 1) to test your skills before paying.
- You need very large instant funding (up to $400k).
- You prefer Static Drawdown on evaluation accounts and don't mind the 2% risk-per-trade limit.
Choose Funded Trading Plus if:
- You use Expert Advisors (EAs) or automated strategies.
- You trade News events frequently and don't want to worry about "forbidden windows."
- You want access to cTrader or MT4.
- You want the potential to reach a 100% profit split through performance rather than buying add-ons.
- You prefer a firm with a longer track record (founded 2021 vs 2023) and more flexible hedging rules.
